cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The need for prior information in characterizing snow water equivalent from microwave brightness temperatures

Abstract Microwave brightness temperatures (Tbs) contain information about snow properties, including the thickness, density, grain size, and temperature of stratigraphic layers; each of these properties generally varies vertically in the snowpack. Inverse solutions to characterize snow via Tbs have met with only limited success, not least because multiple sets of snow properties can lead to the same Tbs; the problem becomes more complex with increasing number of layers. Our objective is to address the question: Can an inverse solution be obtained with only very minimal prior information on snow properties under ideal conditions? We developed a new inverse algorithm: a Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo scheme solved using the Metropolis algorithm. We allowed the number of snowpack layers itself to be unknown by generating different chains for each possible number of layers (up to a maximum of four), then selecting the optimal chain using a model selection criterion. We generated synthetic Tb observations using the microwave emission model for layered snow (MEMLS), and then used the Metropolis algorithm, MEMLS, and the synthetic observations to estimate the snow properties for 150 snowpits measurements made during the NASA Cold Land Processes Experiment (CLPX) field campaign. We evaluated algorithm results using the accuracy criteria on snow water equivalent (SWE) imposed for the planned CoreH2O satellite mission. We obtained an accurate solution to number of layers, layer thickness, density, grain size, snow temperature and ground temperature from microwave measurements for shallow snow (less than 300 mm), with an RMSE of 18.2 mm. We examined the sensitivity of these results to error in MEMLS, and found that for model error less than 8 K standard deviation, the SWE RMSE is uniformly less than 30 mm. For deep snow, however, the problem appears to be intractable, with RMS errors greater than 20% even for an assumption of zero model error. We conclude that for deep snow, additional prior information is required for accurate SWE estimation from microwave Tbs. We suggest that such prior information could come from physical snowpack models.
Earthquakes Beneath the Himalayas and Tibet: Evidence for Strong Lithospheric Mantle

Eleven intracontinental earthquakes, with magnitudes ranging from 4.9 to 6, occurred in the mantle beneath the western Himalayan syntaxis, the western Kunlun Mountains, and southern Tibet (near Xigaze) between 1963 and 1999. High-resolution seismic waveforms show that some focal depths exceeded 100 kilometers, indicating that these earthquakes occurred in the mantle portion of the lithosphere, even though the crust has been thickened there. The occurrence of earthquakes in the mantle beneath continental regions where the subduction of oceanic lithosphere ceased tens of millions years ago indicates that the mantle lithosphere is sufficiently strong to accumulate elastic strain.
Specificity of the endonuclease activity of the Baculovirus alkaline nuclease for single-stranded DNA

The Autographa californica multiple nucleocapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) alkaline nuclease (AN) likely participates in the maturation of virus genomes and in DNA recombination. AcMNPV AN was expressed in a recombinant baculovirus as a His -tagged fusion and obtained in pure form (*AN) or as a (6)complex with the baculoviral single-stranded DNA-binding protein LEF-3 (*AN/L3). Both AN preparations possessed potent 5' --> 3'-exonuclease and weak endonuclease activities. Mutant *AN(S146A)/L3 with a change from serine to alanine at position 146 in a conservative motif was impaired in both activities. This proved that the endonuclease is an intrinsic activity of baculovirus AN. The AN endonuclease showed specificity for single-stranded DNA and converted supercoiled plasmid DNA (replicative form I, RFI) into the open circular form (RFII) by a single strand break. Plasmid DNA relaxed with topoisomerase I was resistant to *AN/L3 indicating that the partially single-stranded regions in negatively supercoiled molecules served as targets for the endonuclease. Unwinding the supercoiled DNA with ethidium bromide also made DNA resistant to AN/L3. In reactions with nicked circular DNA (RFII), AN and AN/L3 hydrolyzed exonucleolytically the broken strand or cut endonucleolytically the intact strand at the position opposite the nick (gap). When LEF-3 was added to the assay, the balance between the exonucleolytic and endonucleolytic modes of hydrolysis shifted in favor of the exonuclease. The data suggest that the AN endonuclease may digest the intermediates in replication and recombination at positions of structural irregularities in DNA duplexes, whereas LEF-3 may further regulate processing of the intermediates by AN via the endonuclease and exonuclease pathways.
The Interpretation and Calculation of Gravity Model Zone-to-Zone Adjustment Factors

Major unresolved questions surround the use of zone-to-zone adjustment factors in applications of the gravity model of trip distribution. Specifically, neither an unambiguous interpretation of these factors nor a systematic, efficient method for calculating them is available. The material in this paper represents an attempt at resolving these fundamental issues. A new interpretation of origin and destination effects on tripmaking is provided, after which two computational algorithms for estimating these effects from observed aggregate trip-distribution data are developed. Two examples illustrating the use of the recommended procedures are provided.
Translational control of bacteriophage MS2 RNA cistrons by MS2 coat protein: Affinity and specificity of the interaction of MS2 coat protein with MS2 RNA

Abstract The effect of MS2 coat protein on MS2-specific protein synthesis was studied in vitro. Protein synthesis was initiated by adding MS2 RNA to the in vitro protein-synthesizing system and MS2 coat protein was added to the system at varying time intervals afterwards. The addition of coat protein specifically reduced the rate of viral RNA polymerase synthesis (assayed by histidine incorporation) without significantly affecting the rate of coat protein synthesis (assayed by phenylalanine incorporation). The addition of coat protein to the on-going system rapidly reduced histidine incorporation to a rate comparable to that which occurred when coat protein was incubated with MS2 RNA (to form “complex I”) prior to their addition to the protein-synthesizing system. The concentrations of MS2 RNA and MS2 coat protein used in one experiment were quite low and probably in the range of their actual concentrations in the cytoplasm of the infected host cells. These results indicate (1) that the interaction of MS2 coat protein and MS2 RNA is highly specific, since various cellular components present in the protein-synthesizing system did not interfere with the effect of the added coat protein and (2) that the affinity of coat protein for MS2 RNA is high enough for the formation of complex I to take place at the relatively low concentrations of MS2 RNA and coat protein presumed to occur in the cytoplasm of the infected cells.
The major metabolite of equilin, 4-hydroxyequilin, autoxidizes to an o-quinone which isomerizes to the potent cytotoxin 4-hydroxyequilenin-o-quinone.

The risk factors for women developing breast and endometrial cancers are all associated with a lifetime of estrogen exposure. Estrogen replacement therapy in particular has been correlated with a slight increased cancer risk. Previously, we showed that equilenin, a minor component of Premarin (Wyeth-Ayerst), was metabolized to highly cytotoxic quinoids which caused oxidative stress and alkylation of DNA in vitro [Bolton, J. L., Pisha, E., Zhang, F., and Qiu, S. (1998) Chem. Res. Toxicol. 11, 1113−1127]. In this study, we have compared the chemistry of the major catechol metabolite of equilin (4-hydroxyequilin), which is found in several estrogen replacement formulations, to the equilenin catechol (4-hydroxyequilenin). Unlike endogenous catechol estrogens, both equilin and equilenin were primarily converted by rat liver microsomes to 4-hydroxylated rather than 2-hydroxylated o-quinone GSH conjugates. With equilin, a small amount of 2-hydroxyequilin GSH quinoids were detected (4-hydroxyequilin:2-hydroxyequi...
Cardiac index during therapeutic hypothermia: which target value is optimal?

Mild therapeutic hypothermia is now recognized as standard therapy in patients resuscitated from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), and is recommended in comatose patients suffering from cardiac arrest related to ventricular fibrillation (VF) [1]. In these patients, maintaining an adequate tissue oxygen delivery (DO2) is crucial. However, during hypothermia, clinical signs of hypoperfusion such as cold, clammy skin and delayed capillary refill are not reliable and monitoring devices must, therefore, be used to measure or estimate the cardiac index (CI). However, there are no recommendations regarding the target value of CI in the hypothermic patient. In this article, the authors attempt to provide clinicians with some rationale to guide their therapy for the management of CI in patients treated with mild therapeutic hypothermia.
Androgens Promote Oocyte Insulin-Like Growth Factor I Expression and Initiation of Follicle Development in the Primate Ovary

In the study reported here, we investigated the effect of androgens on recruitment of resting, primordial follicles into the actively growing pool. Healthy, random-cycling female rhesus monkeys were treated with testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), or vehicle for 3-10 days, after which ovaries were collected for histological analysis. The first stage of follicle growth is the formation of the primary follicle, consisting of an oocyte surrounded by a single layer of cuboidal granulosa cells. The number of primary follicles was significantly increased over time in testosterone-treated animals. In situ hybridization showed that androgen treatment resulted in an increase to 3-fold in insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and to 5-fold in IGF-I receptor mRNA in primordial follicle oocytes. DHT effects were comparable to those of testosterone, showing that these are androgen receptor-mediated phenomena. These data show that androgens promote initiation of primordial follicle growth and implicate oocyte-derived IGF-I in this activation process.
Q-enhancement of spiral inductor with N/sup +/-diffusion patterned ground shields

This paper discusses the quality factor enhancement by employing different patterned ground shields underneath the simple spiral inductor in a commercial BiCMOS technology. The effectiveness of the patterned ground shield technique depends heavily on the counter-effects between the reduction of substrate loss and the increase of parasitic capacitance. With proper choice of the shielding layer, the quality factor can achieve 21% enhancement for a 5-nH spiral inductor. The n/sup +/-diffusion layer is found to be the most effective layer for the patterned ground shield technique due to less associated parasitic capacitance.
BCR-ABL-induced oncogenesis is mediated by direct interaction with the SH2 domain of the GRB-2 adaptor protein

Summary BCR-ABL is a chimeric oncoprotein that exhibits deregulated tyrosine kinase activity and is implicated in the pathogenesis of Philadelphia chromosome (Ph 1 )-positive human leukemias. Sequences within the first exon of BCR are required to activate the transforming potential of BCR-ABL. The SH2/SH3 domain-containing GRB-2 protein links tyrosine kinases to Ras signaling. We demonstrate that BCR-ABL exists in a complex with GRB-2 in vivo. Binding of GRB-2 to BCR-ABL is mediated by the direct interaction of the GRB-2 SH2 domain with a phosphorylated tyrosine, Y177, within the BCR first exon. The BCR-ABL-GRB-2 interaction is required for activation of the Ras signaling pathway. Mutation of Y177 to phenylalanine (Y177F) abolishes GRB-2 binding and abrogates BCR-ABL-induced Ras activation. The BCR-ABL (Y177F) mutant is unable to transform primary bone marrow cultures and is impaired in its ability to transform Rat 1 fibroblasts. These findings implicate activation of Ras function as an important component in BCR-ABL-mediated transformation and demonstrate that GRB-2 not only functions in normal development and mitogenesis but also plays a role in oncogenesis.
SHP2 Is Overexpressed and Inhibits pSTAT1-Mediated APM Component Expression, T-cell Attracting Chemokine Secretion, and CTL Recognition in Head and Neck Cancer Cells

Purpose: Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I antigen processing machinery (APM) component downregulation permits escape of malignant cells from recognition by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and correlates with poor prognosis in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). Activated STAT1 (pSTAT1) is necessary for APM component expression in HNC cells. We investigated whether an overexpressed phosphatase was responsible for basal suppression of pSTAT1 and subsequent APM component-mediated immune escape in HNC cells. Experimental Design: Immunohistochemical staining and reverse transcription PCR of paired HNC tumors was performed for the phosphatases src homology domain-containing phosphatase (SHP)–1 and SHP2. Depletion of phosphatase activity in HNC and STAT1 −/− tumor cells was achieved by siRNA knockdown. HLA class I–restricted, tumor antigen-specific CTL were used in IFN-γ ELISPOT assays against HNC cells. Chemokine secretion was measured after SHP2 depletion in HNC cells. Results: SHP2, but not SHP1, was significantly upregulated in HNC tissues. In HNC cells, SHP2 depletion significantly upregulated expression of pSTAT1 and HLA class I APM components. Overexpression of SHP2 in nonmalignant keratinocytes inhibited IFN-γ–mediated STAT1 phosphorylation, and SHP2 depletion in STAT1 −/− tumor cells did not significantly induce IFN-γ–mediated APM component expression, verifying STAT1 dependence of SHP2 activity. SHP2 depletion induced recognition of HNC cells by HLA class I–restricted CTL and secretion of inflammatory, T-cell attracting chemokines, RANTES and IP10. Conclusion: These findings suggest for the first time an important role for SHP2 in APM-mediated escape of HNC cells from CTL recognition. Targeting SHP2 could enhance T-cell–based cancer immunotherapy. Clin Cancer Res; 19(4); 798–808. ©2012 AACR .
Ultra-wideband antenna arrays

The radiation characteristics of ultra-wideband (UWB) monopulse arrays are discussed in this paper. The UWB arrays considered here consist of ultra-wideband sources radiating coded sequences of ultra-narrow Gaussian mono-pulses with very low duty cycle. A pseudorandom (PN) time-hopping spread spectrum technique is utilized for further spreading the signal spectrum and providing multiple access interference rejection, and secure communication. Pulse position modulation (PPM) at the rate of many pulses per data bit is used for data modulation. At the receiver correlation is applied and the PN code is used to discriminate between the desired and interfering signals. A model for the general UWB monopulse volume array has been developed. Mathematical formulas for parameters of interest have been derived and computed results have been presented.
EFFECTS OF FROZEN STORAGE ON FUNCTIONALITY OF MEAT FOR PROCESSING

Frankfurter quality was monitored to evaluate effects of frozen storage on meat components. After fresh meat controls were tested, beef, pork, and pork fat were frozen and stored at −17.8°C for 1–37 wk. At 6-wk intervals, functional and quality tests were performed on thawed and control meat samples and on frankfurters made from the samples. Frozen storage significantly affected beef and pork lean (drip loss, % solids and N in drip, extractable protein, water binding, emulsifying capacity) and fat (beef-thiobarbituric acid and pork-peroxide values); frankfurters produced from these ingredients were also affected (cooking tests, penetration force, sensory panel scores).
Somatostatin and neuropeptide Y immunoreactivity in parkinson's disease dementia with alzheimer's changes

Somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SLI) and neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity (NPYLI) were measured in postmortem brain tissue from 12 control patients and 13 demented Parkinsonian patients who had Alzheimer-type cortical pathology. Twenty-two cortical regions were examined. Significant reductions in cortical SLI were found in 17 regions, while significant reductions in cortical NPYLI were found in nine regions. The reductions in SLI were typically 50-60%, while NPYLI reductions were 20-30%. These findings are similar to those in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and are consistent with a previous report of a dissociation between reductions in SLI and NPYLI in Parkinson's disease (PD) with dementia.
Using a genetic algorithm for multitarget tracking

The author has devised a technique that uses a genetic algorithm (GA) to address the multiscan assignment problem in multitarget tracking. The assignment problem involves taking detections from one or more sensors over multiple time intervals and dividing them into groups or tracks. A unique set of assignments (a hypothesis) can be expressed as a list which allows the space of possible hypotheses to be searched using a GA. In this paper, he describes how a GA can maintain a population of hypotheses and how it continuously updates this population as more scans of data arrive. Simulation results and comparisons with other track-assignment methods are presented.
Model of electroretinogram b-wave generation: a test of the K+ hypothesis

Generation of the electroretinogram b-wave is simulated with a computer model representing a dark-adapted amphibian retina. The simulation tests the K+ hypothesis of b-wave generation, which holds that b-wave currents arise from localized Muller cell depolarizations generated by light-evoked increases in extracellular K+ concentration, [K+]o. The model incorporates the following components and processes quantitatively: 1) two time-dependent K+ sources representing the light-evoked [K+]o increases in the inner and outer plexiform layers, 2) a time- and [K+]o-dependent K+ sink representing the [K+]o decrease in the rod inner segment layer, 3) diffusion of released K+ through extracellular space, 4) active K+ reuptake and passive K+ drift across the Muller cell membrane, 5) spatial variations in the tortuosity factor and the volume fraction of extracellular space, 6) an extraretinal shunt resistance. Muller cells are modeled with 1) cytoplasmic resistance, 2) spatial variations in membrane permeability to K+, and 3) a membrane potential specified by the Nernst equation and transmembrane current flow. For specified K+ source and sink densities, the model computes [K+]o variations in time and retinal depth. Based on these [K+]o distributions, Muller cell potentials, current source-density profiles, and intraretinal and transretinal voltages are calculated. Imposed [K+]o distributions similar to those seen experimentally during the b-wave lead to the generation of a transient b-wave response and to a prolonged Muller response in the model system. These response time courses arise because the b-wave is dominated by the short-lived distal [K+]o increase, while the Muller response primarily reflects the long-lived proximal [K+]o increase. Current source-density distributions and intraretinal voltage profiles that are generated by the model at the peak of the b-wave closely resemble experimental results. The model generates a realistic slow PIII potential in response to prolonged [K+]o decreases in the distal retina and reproduces the K+ ejection results of Yanagida and Tomita (50) accurately. Simulations also suggest that tissue damage caused by K+-selective micropipettes in experimental preparations can lead to an underestimation of the distal [K+]o increase. The simulations demonstrate that the spatiotemporal properties of intraretinal b-wave voltages and currents and Muller cell responses can be generated according to the K+ hypothesis: by passive Muller cell depolarization driven by variations in [K+]o.
Sarcomas of the head and neck region

Sarcomas of the head and neck are a heterogeneous group of rare malignancies with highly variable clinical presentation, pathologic classification, and biologic behavior. Managing patients with sarcoma is a formidable challenge for surgical, medical, and radiation oncologists. This article reviews current approaches in patient evaluation, staging, prognosis, and treatment, with emphasis on prolonged survival and quality of life.
Patterns of acquisition of /s/-clusters in Spanish-English bilinguals

This study examines the acquisition patterns of two member English onset /s/-clusters by Spanish-English bilingual children. While some /s/-clusters violate the Sonority Sequencing Principle (SSP), some others do not. The present study focuses on the question of whether all /s/- clusters behave the same way, or if there are differences between the ones that violate the SSP and the ones that do not, or if there are any other sub-groupings. Data from 15 bilingual children, ages 3;3 – 3;7, collected via picture descriptions, are looked at. Results reveal less than a uniform behaviour of the subjects regarding the SSP violating vs. SSP following clusters.
Issues in Biomedical Research Data Management and Analysis: Needs and Barriers

Objectives: A. Identify the current state of data management needs of academic biomedical researchers. B. Explore their anticipated data management and analysis needs. C. Identify barriers to addressing those needs. Design: A multimodal needs analysis was conducted using a combination of an online survey and in-depth one-on-one semi-structured interviews. Subjects were recruited via an e-mail list representing a wide range of academic biomedical researchers in the Pacific Northwest. Measurements: The results from 286 survey respondents were used to provide triangulation of the qualitative analysis of data gathered from 15 semi-structured in-depth interviews. Results: Three major themes were identified: 1) there continues to be widespread use of basic general-purpose applications for core data management; 2) there is broad perceived need for additional support in managing and analyzing large datasets; and 3) the barriers to acquiring currently available tools are most commonly related to financial burdens on small labs and unmet expectations of institutional support. Conclusion: Themes identified in this study suggest that at least some common data management needs will best be served by improving access to basic level tools such that researchers can solve their own problems. Additionally, institutions and informaticians should focus on three components: 1) facilitate and encourage the use of modern data exchange models and standards, enabling researchers to leverage a common layer of interoperability and analysis; 2) improve the ability of researchers to maintain provenance of data and models as they evolve over time though tools and the leveraging of standards; and 3) develop and support information management service cores that could assist in these previous components while providing researchers with unique data analysis and information design support within a spectrum of informatics capabilities.
Crush Initiators for Increased Energy Absorption in Composite Sandwich Structures

Sandwich composites loaded in edgewise compression often display low energy absorbing failures due to facesheet debonding and/or buckling-type failure modes. Although crush initiators have been used to trigger progressive crushing in monolithic composites, little research has been performed to investigate the use of crush initiators with sandwich composites. In this investigation, fixture-based crush initiators were evaluated for producing progressive crushing failures and high levels of energy absorption under dynamic edgewise compression loading. Four different sandwich configurations were investigated, fabricated using woven or random mat carbon/epoxy facesheets with foam or balsa wood cores. Results show that the effectiveness of crush initiators is highly dependant upon both the facesheet and core materials used in the sandwich construction. Additionally, the initiation of progressive crushing of a sandwich composite appears to be dependent on the stiffness and strength properties of both the faceshe...
Energetic Neutral Atom Beam Lithography/Epitaxy for Nanoscale Device Fabrication

Energetic neutral atom beam lithography/epitaxy (ENABLE) is a versatile technique recently developed for patterning nanoscale features into polymer substrates. ENABLE achieves the direct activation of surface chemical reactions by exposing substrates to a beam of energetic neutral atoms. Polymers that form volatile oxidation products may be anisotropically etched using a neutral beam of oxygen atoms at rates exceeding 100 nm/min, avoiding problems associated with charged species inherent to other etching techniques. We report on a top-down approach for producing high-aspect-ratio nanoscale structures in polymeric materials using ENABLE. Masking techniques suitable for ENABLE etching are discussed along with applications involving the rapid production of nanoscale features over large areas.
Association Between Preadmission Functional Status and Use and Effectiveness of Secondary Prevention Medications in Elderly Survivors of Acute Myocardial Infarction

Objectives To determine whether function-related indicators (FRIs), derived from preadmission claims data, help explain the frequent practice of forgoing secondary prevention medications observed in Medicare. Design Retrospective cohort. Setting National Medicare data. Participants Elderly Medicare beneficiaries discharged alive from an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) hospitalization in 2007–2008 (N = 184,156). Measurements Study outcomes were number of guideline-recommended secondary prevention medications (statins, beta-blockers, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers) used after discharge and 12-month survival. Preadmission data (FRIs, cardiovascular conditions, comorbid conditions), type of AMI (non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction, anterior, other), and procedures and complications during the hospitalization were from claims data. Results Function-related indicators (FRIs) were common before admission; 50% of individuals had at least one (range 0–11). After discharge, 85.8% used at least one class of guideline medication, and 30.2% used all three; 19.6% died within 12 months. Each additional FRI reduced the likelihood of receiving all three medication classes by 5% (adjusted odds ratio = 0.95, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.94–0.96) and increased 12-month mortality by 20% (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.19–1.21). Individuals taking all three classes of medication were 30% less likely to die within 12 months than those not taking guideline medications (aHR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.67–0.73). Similar survival benefit was observed in individuals with and without functional impairments. Conclusion Greater impairment in preadmission functional status, using a measure derived from claims data, was associated with less use of secondary prevention medications after AMI. Survival benefits of taking these medications were consistent across functional impairment levels.
Cecal ligation and puncture accelerates development of ventilator-induced lung injury

Sepsis is a leading cause of respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation, but the interaction between sepsis and ventilation is unclear. While prior studies demonstrated a priming role wit...
A path-analytic model for the measurement of selection on morphology

This paper describes a path model for the analysis of phenotypic selection upon continuous morphological characters. The path-analysis model assumes that selection occurs on unmeasured general size and shape allometry factors that summarize linear relations among sets of ontogenetically, phylogenetically, or functionally related traits. An unmeasured factor for general size is considered the only aspect of morphometric covariance matrices for which there is an a priori biological explanation. Consequently, selection coefficients are derived for each measured character by holding constant only a general size factor, rather than by using multiple regression to adjust for the full covariance matrix. Fitness is treated as an unmeasured factor with loadings, representing directional selection coefficients, computed as the covariances of the size-adjusted characters with the measured fitness indicator. The magnitudes and signs of the selection coefficients, combined with biological insight, may suggest hypotheses of selection on one or more shape allometry factors. Hypotheses of selection on general size and shape allometry factors are evaluated through cycles of measurement, analysis, and experimentation, designed to refine the path diagram depicting the covariances among the measured characters, the measured indicator of fitness, and unmeasured factors for morphology and fitness. The path-analysis and multiple-regression models were applied to data from remeasurement of Lande and Arnold's (1983) pentatomid bugs and to Bumpus's (1899) data on house sparrows. The path analysis suggested the hypothesis that variation in bug survivorship was an expression of directional selection on wing loading. Bumpus's data are consistent with a hypothesis of stabilizing selection on general size in females and directional selection for small wing size relative to body size in males.
Short-term outcomes with the use of bioprosthetics for the management of parastomal hernias.

PURPOSE:This study was undertaken to determine the safety and short-term outcomes using bioprosthetics for the management of parastomal hernias.METHODS:A retrospective review of prospectively collected data for all of the patients who underwent repair of a parastomal hernia was conducted.RESULTS:Bet
What Should Be the NIHSS Threshold for the Definition of Neurological Deterioration in Acute Ischemic Stroke? (S39.001)

Objective: To compare the prognostic value of a more sensitive definition against a more specific definition of neurological deterioration (ND) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Background About one-third of patients with AIS experience ND during the acute hospitalization. However, the true incidence of ND and risk for adverse outcomes remains unknown because no standardized definition exists. Design/Methods: All patients who presented to our center with AIS within 48hrs of symptom onset July 2008-June 2010 were retrospectively identified. Two definitions of ND were tested: increase in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score by (1) ≥2 or (2) ≥4 in a 24hr period. Patient demographics, admission and daily NIHSS scores, etiologies of ND, and outcome measures as well as sensitivity and specificity for death were compared in patients with the 2 definitions of ND. Results: Three hundred forty-seven patients met criteria (mean age 65, 56% male, 65% black). ND occurred in 37% using 2-pt definition vs. 17.3% using 4-pt definition. 2-pt ND was associated with significantly longer length of stay (p 2, p Conclusions: While ND by ≥4 points is highly predictive of death, even an increase of ≥2 is associated with significantly worse outcomes. Since many causes of ND are reversible with early intervention, 2-pt ND is clinically meaningful. An accepted definition is needed to systematically study and compare results across trials for ND in patients with stroke. Disclosure: Dr. Siegler has nothing to disclose. Dr. Siegler has nothing to disclose. Dr. Gillette has received research support from the Infectious Disease Society of America. Dr. Albright has nothing to disclose. Dr. Boehme has nothing to disclose. Dr. Martin-Schild has nothing to disclose.
Working Condition Diagnosis Techniques Using Electricity Parameter for Progressive Cavity Pump Well and Its Benefit Evaluation

Based on the feasibility analysis for using electrical parameters to diagnose working condition of progressive cavity pump well,working condition diagnosis techniques are described and assessed the social economic benefits and application prospects of the technology briefly,from some aspects respectively,such as the development of continuous condition monitoring diagnosis system software for progressive cavity pump,analysis for the distinction technical between tube leakage and pump leak,graphics analysis for electrical parameters technical and monitoring system for power line carrier oil,etc.It will fill the blank that efficiency evaluation software of the machine production system does not contain an evaluation for Progressive Cavity Pump Well,and provide a new approach for energy-saving work of production oil system.
Segregation Analysis Suggests That a Genetic Reason May Contribute to "the Dress" Colour Perception.

In early 2015, the debate of blue-black and white-gold color perception from “the dress” became an overnight internet phenomenon. According to the vote from the online social network Twitter, more people observed white-gold colors than those who observed blue-black colors. Biological explanations have been proposed by neurologist and other scientists, most of which mainly focus on the bias of color perception from visual cortex assuming different illuminants as backgrounds. The goal of this study was to investigate the genetic reason that might be underlying this phenomenon. We carried out a preliminary survey study using four complex pedigrees and examined the inheritance mode influencing the ability to perceive the real colors, blue-black, from the photograph. We evaluated the likelihood of sporadic, major gene in Mendelian mode, major gene in non-Mendelian mode and environmental models. Complex segregation analyses indicated that the inheritance was probably due to a non-Mendelian major gene effect. Our study also indicated the importance of environmental or epigenetic factors in this color perception trait.
Design of Stomach Acid-Stable and Mucin-Binding Enzyme Polymer Conjugates

The reduced immunogenicity and increased stability of protein–polymer conjugates has made their use in therapeutic applications particularly attractive. However, the physicochemical interactions between polymer and protein, as well as the effect of this interaction on protein activity and stability, are still not fully understood. In this work, polymer-based protein engineering was used to examine the role of polymer physicochemical properties on the activity and stability of the chymotrypsin–polymer conjugates and their degree of binding to intestinal mucin. Four different chymotrypsin–polymer conjugates, each with the same polymer density, were synthesized using “grafting-from” atom transfer radical polymerization. The influence of polymer charge on chymotrypsin–polymer conjugate mucin binding, bioactivity, and stability in stomach acid was determined. Cationic polymers covalently attached to chymotrypsin showed high mucin binding, while zwitterionic, uncharged, and anionic polymers showed no mucin bind...
Co-Designing with Preschoolers Using Fictional Inquiry and Comicboarding

In this case study, we describe a design workshop with 7 children age 4-6 using existing co-design techniques known to elicit design insights in older individuals. We found that our 5- and 6-year-old participants successfully generated design ideas using these methods, while 4-year-olds were unable to use create solutions in a traditional format. How-ever, these younger children enthusiastically offered opportunities where, with methodological guidance, the research-er could have followed the child's lead and shifted the design question to one that was potentially more meaningful for the participant. We propose a future work to examine the effectiveness of giving these younger participants great-er authority in defining and scoping the problem space.
Divergence of species responses to climate change

Climate change can have profound impacts on biodiversity and the sustainability of many ecosystems. Various studies have investigated the impacts of climate change, but large-scale, trait-specific impacts are less understood. We analyze abundance data over time for 86 tree species/groups across the eastern United States spanning the last three decades. We show that more tree species have experienced a westward shift (73%) than a poleward shift (62%) in their abundance, a trend that is stronger for saplings than adult trees. The observed shifts are primarily due to the changes of subpopulation abundances in the leading edges and are significantly associated with changes in moisture availability and successional processes. These spatial shifts are associated with species that have similar traits (drought tolerance, wood density, and seed weight) and evolutionary histories (most angiosperms shifted westward and most gymnosperms shifted poleward). Our results indicate that changes in moisture availability have stronger near-term impacts on vegetation dynamics than changes in temperature. The divergent responses to climate change by trait- and phylogenetic-specific groups could lead to changes in composition of forest ecosystems, putting the resilience and sustainability of various forest ecosystems in question.
Scaling in the Dark: Explaining Repertoire Escalation in Dark Communities

A large literature examines how communities organize for activism, social support, recreation or production goals, but organizational research seldom examines communities where secrecy is paramount...
How Do Investors Compute the Discount Rate? They Use the CAPM (Corrected June 2017)

We provide guidance to corporate managers and investors on how to select the discount rate when evaluating investment opportunities. When making corporate investment decisions on behalf of the equity investors in a firm, an obvious choice is to use the method that equity investors use in making their own investment decisions. We infer how investors compute the discount rate by looking at mutual fund investors’ capital allocation decisions. We find that investors adjust for risk by using the beta of the capital asset pricing model (CAPM). Extensions to the CAPM perform poorly, implying that investors do not use these models to compute discount rates.
Nonconvulsive Status Epilepticus After Electroconvulsive Therapy: A Review of Literature

Background The clinical presentation and risk factors of nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) in the context of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) are poorly understood, and guidance regarding diagnosis and management remains scarce. In this article, we identify case reports of ECT-induced NCSE from literature, and discuss the presentation, diagnosis, and management of these cases in the context of what is known about NCSE from the neurology literature. Methods A literature search on PubMed for case reports of NCSE after ECT. Results We identified 13 cases for this review. Diagnosis in all cases was based on clinical features and electroencephalogram (EEG) findings. Clinical presentation was altered mental status or unresponsiveness, with subtle motor phenomena in some cases. All cases had nonspecific risk factors that have been associated with prolonged seizures and convulsions, such as recent discontinuation/reduction of benzodiazepines or anticonvulsants, and concurrent use of antipsychotics and antidepressants. All patients were treated with either benzodiazepines or antiepileptic agents. Outcomes in these post-ECT NCSE cases were generally favorable. Discussion Although rare, post-ECT NCSE should be kept in mind by physicians when confusion or unresponsiveness develops and continues after ECT; multilead EEG is gold standard for diagnosis. An intravenous (IV) antiepileptic drug (AED) challenge can help clarify the diagnosis. Initial treatment is recommended with IV benzodiazepines, with a repeat dose if necessary. If seizures persist, IV AEDs are warranted. NCSE refractory to this treatment should be treated with a scheduled IV or oral AED. Serial multilead EEGs should be used to monitor resolution of symptoms. Conclusion NCSE after ECT is a rare but recognizable clinical event. A high clinical suspicion and low threshold for EEG is necessary for prompt diagnosis.
Physiological responses to fluctuating temperatures are characterized by distinct transcriptional profiles in a solitary bee

ABSTRACT Exposure to stressful low temperatures during development can result in the accumulation of deleterious physiological effects called chill injury. Metabolic imbalances, disruptions in ion homeostasis and oxidative stress contribute to the increased mortality of chill-injured insects. Interestingly, survival can be significantly increased when chill-susceptible insects are exposed to a daily warm-temperature pulse during chilling. We hypothesize that warm pulses allow for the repair of damage associated with chill injury. Here, we describe transcriptional responses during exposure to a fluctuating thermal regime, relative to constant chilled temperatures, during pupal development in the alfalfa leafcutting bee, Megachile rotundata, using a combination of RNA-seq and qPCR. Pupae were exposed to either a constant, chilled temperature of 6°C, or 6°C with a daily pulse of 20°C for 7 days. RNA-seq after experimental treatment revealed differential expression of transcripts involved in construction of cell membranes, oxidation–reduction and various metabolic processes. These mechanisms provide support for shared physiological responses to chill injury across taxa. The large number of differentially expressed transcripts observed after 7 days of treatment suggests that the initial divergence in expression profiles between the two treatments occurred upstream of the time point sampled. Additionally, the differential expression profiles observed in this study show little overlap with those differentially expressed during temperature stress in the diapause state of M. rotundata. While the mechanisms governing the physiological response to low-temperature stress are shared, the specific transcripts associated with the response differ between life stages.
Abstract 18792: Beclin-1 Haploinsufficiency Protects Against Obesity-induced Cardiac Dysfunction Through Compensatory Mitophagy and Alternative Autophagy

Background: Though autophagy including the selective mitophagy is essential for cellular homeostasis, its role in obese heart function remains controversial. Beclin-1 plays a cardinal role in conve...
Of Reality: The Purposes of Philosophy

Gianni Vattimo, Professor Emeritus at the University of Turin, is the author of many books which luckily have been translated into multiple languages. This book was originally published in his nati...
Linking Academic Integrity and Ethics Across the Curriculum: Groundwork for Sustainability in Practical and Professional Ethics

The piece argues that there is a connection between academic integrity (AI) and teaching ethics across the curriculum (EAC) that extends beyond shared terminology in a practical and purposeful way, i.e., in a way that is responsive to a challenge in practical and professional ethics. The twofold purpose of the essay is (a) to explain how linking AI and EAC is responsive to this challenge and (b) to make the case for the approach it involves. Two large questions are addressed. The first is about how EAC should be done, if it is connected to AI. The second (two-part) question is (a) What would success look like? and (b) How would we know that it had been achieved—how would it (success) be measured? The first concern receives the lion’s share of attention and involves taking cues from Jonathan Haidt’s social intuitionism and writing about logic and the law by Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., and, in particular, John Dewey. Several considerations that argue for the connection are discussed before the two-part question about success is addressed in the conclusion.
Purely electronic nanometallic resistance switching random-access memory

Resistance switching random-access memory (ReRAM), with the ability to repeatedly modulate electrical resistance, has been highlighted as a feasible high-density memory with the potential to replace negative-AND flash memory. Such resistance modulation usually involves ion migration and filament formation, which usually lead to relatively low device reliability and yield. Resistance switching can also come from an entirely electronic origin, as in nanometallic memory, by electron trapping and detrapping. Recent research has revealed additional merits of its mechanism, which entails smart, atomic-sized floating gates that can be easily engineered in amorphous Si, oxides, and nitrides. This article addresses the basic ideas of nanometallic ReRAM, which may also be a contender for analogue computing and non-von Neumann-type computation.
The recovery of normal plasma progesterone levels in the postpartum female

The return of fertility in postpartum women is gradual. This may be related to ovarian hormonal deficiencies, in particular, inadequate stimulation of the endometrium by progesterone (P). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the recovery of normal luteal function in four postpartum women who were followed for four cycles with serum P, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), and prolactin (PRL) taken three times weekly. PRL decreased immediately after delivery and was at normal levels before the first cyclic increases in serum LH and P. E2 and FSH cyclic changes were identical over the four menstrual cycles. LH peak values rose consistently from the first to the fourth cycle. P increased statistically each subsequent cycle in all parameters studied. These parameters of P were peak levels, days to the peak, duration of the luteal phase, and area under the P curve. The postpartum woman thus seems an excellent model for the study of ovarian hormonal disorders, particularly as they relate to disordered luteal P.
Culturally relevant risk and protective factors for nonmedical use of prescription opioids among incarcerated African American men

Abstract Background Recent studies have demonstrated that nonmedical use of prescription opioids (NMUPO) is a national phenomenon affecting a multitude of subpopulations, including incarcerated African American men. However, there has been little investigation of the correlates of NMUPO among this population. Objective Grounded in primary socialization theory, the current study aimed to examine the association between family bonds, family history of prescription drug misuse, and mental health symptoms on NMUPO among African American incarcerated men. Method A step-wise logistic regression was conducted to determine whether family and mental health factors affected the likelihood of lifetime NMUPO. Results Prescription drug misuse among immediate family members (p Conclusions/Importance Risk and protective factors are identified that can be incorporated into interventions aimed at reducing or preventing NMUPO among African American men. Directions for future research on NMUPO among African American incarcerated men are discussed.
Sandpile Groups of Cayley Graphs of $\mathbb{F}_2^r$

The \textbf{sandpile group} $K(G)$ of a connected graph $G$, defined to be the torsion part of the cokernel of its Laplacian matrix $L(G)$, is a subtle graph isomorphism invariant with combinatorial, algebraic, and geometric descriptions. Past work has focused on determining the sandpile group of the hypercube. In this project, we study the sandpile group for a more general collection of graphs, the Cayley graphs of the group $\mathbb{F}_2^r$. While the Sylow-$p$ component of such groups has been classified for $p \neq 2$, much less is known about the Sylow-$2$ component. In this paper, we use ring theory to prove a sharp upper bound for the largest Sylow-$2$ subgroup of these sandpile groups. In the case of the hypercube, we provide an exact formula for the largest $n-1$ among its Sylow-$2$ cyclic factors. We also find the number of Sylow-$2$ cyclic factors for "generic" Cayley graphs. With these methods, we also classify the sandpile group for $r = 2$ and $r = 3$ in the "generic" case.