cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 5054: Transcriptional changes in breast cancer initiation

Background: Identifying the earliest stages of breast cancer carcinogenesis, present well before any clinical signs of disease, is the necessary underpinning of an effective breast cancer prevention strategy. We propose to elucidate transcriptomic changes occurring in the breast tissue during cancer initiation. by analyzing biospecimens donated by women before any clinical sign of sporadic breast tumor (here labeled “susceptible”). In the present work, we report on the transcriptome differences in the microdissected breast compartments (epithelium, stroma and fat) of susceptible versus healthy premenopausal women. Methods: The specimens were obtained from the Susan G. Komen Tissue Bank at IU Simon Cancer Center. We compared the transcriptome profiles of breast tissues from 7 susceptible and 17 healthy premenopausal women between the age of 34 and 52 years, who were free of breast pathology at the time of donation. Donors in the two experimental groups were matched according to age, racial background and menstrual phase. Differential expression analysis was performed using EdegR. False discovery rate (FDR) was computed from p-values using the Benjamini-Hochberg procedure. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis was used to identify relevant signaling pathways. Because circulating hormones variations during menstrual cycle affect the breast epithelium gene expression, we also examined transcriptome differences independently from the menstrual phase. Results/Discussion: We found 536 transcripts differentially expressed between the two groups (p 2 and FDR Conclusion: This study shows that earliest alterations in breast cancer initiation affect metabolic pathway as well as transcriptional regulation. Interestingly, cell adhesion signaling may also be dysregulated at this early stage of cancer development. The findings will contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms of cancer initiation, as well as the identification of new therapeutic targets and thus, improvement of preventive interventions. Citation Format: Natascia Marino, Rana German, Mariah L. Johnson, Xi Rao, Xiaoling Xuei, Jun Wan, Anna Maria V. Storniolo. Transcriptional changes in breast cancer initiation [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5054.
DXA Measured Distal Femur Bone Mineral Density in Patients After Total Knee Arthroplasty: Method Development and Reproducibility.

Abstract Introduction: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is increasingly being performed. Distal femur periprosthetic fracture is a potentially catastrophic complication following TKA and existing data document substantial distal femur bone mineral density (BMD) loss following TKA. However, distal femur BMD is virtually never measured clinically as no consensus approach exists. This pilot study's purpose was to define regional BMD variation throughout the femur, suggest standard dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) regions of interest (ROIs) and evaluate BMD reproducibility at these ROIs. Methods: Thirty volunteers 2–5 yr post TKA had both entire femurs imaged twice using a Lunar iDXA with subject repositioning between scans; the atypical femur fracture feature of enCORE software was utilized. To define femoral BMD distribution, custom 1 cm ROIs were stacked one atop the other starting at the intercondylar notch and continuing to the base of the lesser trochanter. Femur length was measured with the ruler tool to calculate distance at 5% increments. ROIs encompassing each 5% increment were utilized to measure BMD at each location. Descriptive statistics were used to determine mean BMD at each ROI and reproducibility at the 15%, 25%, 45%, 60%, and 80% ROIs. Results: The 5 and 10% ROIs included prosthetic and/or patella, causing high BMD values. Distal femur BMD was lowest at the 15% ROI and was higher (p
Comparison of Cancer Fatalism Among Rural Smokers and Nonsmokers

This study examined the relationship of cancer fatalism, using the Powe Fatalism Inventory (PFI), and smoking status (active smoker and nonsmoker) among rural adults. Utilizing a convenience sample, a cross-sectional study was performed. Inclusion criteria included being at least 18 years of age and a resident of one of the selected counties in the rural region. Analyses conducted were two-sample t tests, Fisher’s exact tests, and logistic regression. Among 485 participants, the overall fatalism mean score and five PFI items had statistically significant outcomes. Using multiple significance tests, significance remained when adjusting for demographic variables for the individual PFI items. Analyses indicated that smokers possessed a heightened level of fatalistic views compared to nonsmokers. Future directions includes the creation of a community-informed, multi-level intervention to increase perceived susceptibility of smoking-related health risks and foster healthcare seeking behaviors. This approach has the potential to reduce rates of morbidity and mortality in rural, underserved communities.
In vitro activity of neem (Azadirachta indica) oil extract against Helicobacter pylori.

Abstract Ethnopharmacological relevance The neem tree (Azadirachta indica A.Juss), of the Meliaceae family, has been used in India for millennia in traditional medicine. Parts of the tree are used to treat problems with the gastrointestinal tract, urinary tract, and hair; to combat infections of smallpox and plasmodium; and to treat ulcers, diabetes, blood pressure, headache, and heartburn. Natural products and extracts from the tree have been reported to have antimicrobial, antifungal, and antiparasitic activities. Aim of the study Antibiotic resistance in the gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori is increasing, and novel therapeutics to eradicate this bacterium are needed. Given the growing interest in the use of natural products as antimicrobials, this study was designed to examine the bactericidal effects of an extract of neem oil against H. pylori. Materials and methods Neem oil was obtained from a commercial source and subjected to liquid-liquid extraction with diethyl ether and aqueous methanol; the methanol-soluble fraction was retained. The minimum inhibitory (MIC) and bactericidal (MBC) concentrations were determined against nine strains of H. pylori. Additionally, specific properties of the extract were characterized using H. pylori strain G27: bactericidal kinetics, reversibility, and effectiveness under growth arrest conditions and at low pH. The hemolytic activity of the extract was measured in vitro. Results The MIC and MBC of the extract against the H. pylori strains were between 25 and 51 µg/mL and 43–68 µg/mL, respectively. The bactericidal activity was time- and concentration-dependent, and at the highest concentrations (75–105 µg/mL), no detectable bacteria were present by 6 h. The activity of the extract was reversible, independent of H. pylori growth, and increased at low pH. The extract exhibited no appreciable hemolytic activity. Conclusions Neem oil extract has significant bactericidal activity against H. pylori. The extract has several favorable pharmacological properties, including ability to kill non-growing bacteria, increased activity at low pH, and no hemolytic activity. The compound(s) present in the extract could potentially be used as a future treatment for H. pylori infection.
Health care use during cancer survivorship: Review of 5 years of evidence

Improvements in treatment strategies have resulted in increasing survival rates among patients diagnosed with cancer but also result in a growing population of individuals who have greater health care needs. These needs will persist from diagnosis throughout the continuing phase of care, or the survivorship phase. To better define models of survivorship care, there must be a strong evidence base in survivor health care use patterns. The objective of this review, which covers studies from 2012 to January 2018, was to evaluate the available evidence on patterns of health care visits among survivors of adult cancers and to understand what is known about the rate of health care visits, the physician specialties associated with these visits, and/or the types health care settings (eg, outpatient, emergency room). The findings underscore the importance of primary care, with the majority of studies reporting that >90% of survivors visited a primary care provider in the prior year. Visits to oncologists and/or other physician specialties were positively associated with receiving cancer screenings and obtaining quality care for noncancer-related conditions. High care density/low care fragmentation between physician specialties had lower costs and a lower likelihood of redundant health care utilization. The follow-up in almost all studies was 3 years, providing short-term evidence; however, as the survivorship period lengthens with improved treatments, longer follow-up will be required. The long-term patterns with which survivors of cancer engage the health care system are critical to designing long-term follow-up care plans that are effective in addressing the complex morbidity that survivors experience.
Infectious Anterior Uveitis

Worldwide, anterior uveitis predominates as the most prevalent anatomic subtype of intraocular inflammation, and up to one-third of these cases are attributable to infection. By far, herpetic etiologies outweigh all other causes of infectious anterior uveitis; however, bacterial pathogens, such as syphilis, tuberculosis, and less so, Lyme disease, have an important role. In vivo confocal microscopy and other ancillary, clinic-based tests may have increasing diagnostic potential, but a definitive diagnosis often relies upon aqueous fluid analysis. Treatment depends upon the inciting pathogen. Specific antimicrobial, along with concurrent topical corticosteroid, may mitigate the development of ocular complications, such as cataracts, glaucoma, and corneal pathology. However, disease course and outcomes vary significantly, depending upon the microbe, host immune response, and effectiveness of therapy.
Black Contemporary Brasília Poets’ Insurgent Books

This chapter postulates that the surge of young, black poets publishing solo-authored books in Brasilia since 2015 has altered the aesthetics, demographics, and themes of the capital’s literary sphere. The majority of these poets also identify as female, LGBTQ+, low-income, or from the geographic periphery, and their intersectional identities are central to their writing. This chapter examines how Kika Sena, Marcos Fabricio Lopes da Silva, Nanda Fer Pimenta, Katiana Souto, Meimei Bastos, and tatiana nascimento claim black (as well as intersectional) Brasilia residents’ creative right to the city. This creative right involves what I, drawing on James Holston, term insurgent books, created via alternative publishing practices that insist on marginalized groups’ place within the literary sphere. These authors decry black and otherwise subaltern residents’ experiences of hostility in public space, particularly transit spaces.
How Ambient Environment Influences Olfactory Orientation in Search and Rescue Dogs

Under natural conditions, an animal orienting to an air-borne odor plume must contend with the shifting influence of meteorological variables, such as air temperature, humidity and wind speed, on the location and the detectability of the plume. Despite their importance, the natural statistics of such variables are difficult to reproduce in the laboratory and hence few studies have investigated strategies of olfactory orientation by mobile animals under different meteorological conditions. Using trained search and rescue dogs, we quantified the olfactory orientation behaviors of dogs searching for a trail (aged 1-3 hours) of a hidden human subject in a natural landscape, under a range of meteorological conditions. Dogs were highly successful in locating the human target hidden 800 m from the start location (93% success). Humidity and air temperature had a significant effect on search strategy: as air conditions became cooler and more humid, dogs searched significantly closer to the original trail. Dogs also modified their speed and head position according to their search location distance from the original trail. When close to the trail, dogs searched with their head up and ran quickly but when their search took them farther from the trail, they were more likely to search with their nose to the ground, moving more slowly. To our knowledge, this is the first study of a mammalian species responding to localized shifts in ambient conditions and it lays the foundation for future studies of olfactory orientation, and the development of a highly tractable mammalian species for such research.
Incidence of pacing-induced cardiomyopathy in pacemaker-dependent patients is lower with leadless pacemakers compared to transvenous pacemakers.

Introduction Frequent right AQ4ventricular pacing (≥40%) with a transvenous pacemaker (TVP) is associated with the risk of pacing-induced cardiomyopathy (PICM). Leadless pacemakers (LPs) have distinct physical and mechanical differences from TVP. The risk of PICM with LP is not known. To identify incidence, predictors, and long-term outcomes of PICM in LP and TVP patients. Methods The study comprised all pacemaker-dependent patients with LP or TVP who had left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of ≥50 from 2014 to 2019. The incidence of PICM (≥10% LVEF drop) was assessed with an echocardiogram. Predictors for PICM were identified using multivariate analysis. Long-term outcomes after cardiac resynchronization (CRT) were assessed in both groups. Results A total of 131 patients with TVP and 67 with LP comprised the study. All patients in the TVP group and the majority in the LP group underwent atrioventricular node ablation. The mean follow-up duration in TVP and LP groups was 592 ± 549 and 817 ± 600 days, respectively. A total of 18 (13.7%) patients in TVP and 2 (3%) in LP developed PICM after a median duration of 254 (interquartile range: 470) days. The incidence of PICM was significantly higher with TVP compared with LP (p = .02). TVP as pacing modality was a positive (odds ratio [OR]: 1.07) while age was negative (OR: 0.94) predictor for PICM on multivariable analysis. Both patients in LP and all except two in the TVP group responded to CRT. Conclusion Incidence of PICM is significantly lower with LP compared with TVP in pacemaker-dependent patients. Age and TVP as pacing modality were predictors for PICM.
Language Ideologies, Language Policies and their Translation into Fiscal Policies in the U.S. Perspectives of Language Education Community Stakeholders

This study explored the potential effects of the Trump administration’s proposed budget cuts through the lens of language ideologies in the language education community. This community includes English as a second language (ESL), dual language bilingual programs, and world/foreign language education. The Trump administration proposed cuts totaling $4 billion by eliminating or reducing major language education programs. Through semi-structured interviews, the researchers explored the perspectives of stakeholders who would be impacted. Six participants who are actively involved in the language education community at different levels including ESL, dual language bilingual, and world language educators, administrators and coordinators of language education programs in the U.S. participated in this study. Thematic analysis of the interview data indicated that all participants from different stakeholder groups were ideologically aligned with the pluralist views. The budget cuts were perceived as representative of broader assimilationist ideology. The negative impacts of eliminations on teacher professional development programs, K-12 public education, post-secondary language education, and world language education in America were expressed by the participants. The participants’ counter arguments to the proposed budget eliminations are presented. This study has implications for the language education community, language policy makers, and educational policy planners in the U.S.
Formation of surface oxides and Ag 2 O thin films with atomic oxygen on Ag(111)

Abstract The nature of the oxygen species adsorbed to silver surfaces is a key component of the heterogeneously catalyzed epoxidation of ethylene and partial oxidation of methanol over silver catalysts. We report the formation of two different silver–oxygen species depending on the flux and energy of incident gas-phase oxygen atoms on an Ag(111) surface. A combination of surface science techniques was used to characterize the oxidized surfaces. Atomic oxygen was generated with an Ir filament; lower temperatures created surface oxides previously reported. When O was deposited with a higher filament temperature, the surface became highly corrugated, little subsurface oxygen was observed, and thin layers of Ag 2 O were likely formed. These results show that the energy and flux of oxygen are important parameters in the chemical identity and abundance of oxygen on silver surfaces and suggest that formation of the Ag 2 O thin film hinders formation of subsurface oxygen.
Cancer rates among American Indians and Alaska Natives: is there a national perspective.

BACKGROUND Two important goals of cancer surveillance are to provide milestones in the effort to reduce the cancer burden and to generate observations that form the basis for cancer research and intervention for cancer prevention and control. Determination of the cancer burden among American Indians and Alaska Natives (AIAN) has been difficult largely due to lack of data collection efforts in many areas of the country and misclassification of racial data that results in undercounting of Native Americans. There is a revitalized commitment to improve data collection among the national agencies and organizations. METHODS Data on cancer trends from 12 areas covered by the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program were reviewed for incidence and death rates for 1992–2000. AIAN trends were examined and compared with trends among other racial/ethnic population groups. Reference was made to studies of disease-specific survival for nine of the SEER areas for 1988–1997. RESULTS In SEER areas, cancer incidence rates for AIAN populations appeared to be decreasing significantly for lung and breast cancers among women and for prostate cancer among men. However, death rates rose, although not significantly, over the same period, except for a significant decrease in prostate cancer. Among the cancers with rising death rates were lung cancer (AIAN women) and colorectal cancer (AIAN men). In addition, survival often was lower for AIAN populations. CONCLUSIONS Although the incidence was stable or decreased among AIAN populations, increased death rates and lower survival rates indicate the need for intensified application of cancer prevention and control measures, including screening and treatment. Difficulties in interpretation of data include small population size and substantial interregional differences in rates. Cancer 2003;98:1262–72. Published 2003 by the American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.11633
Neuromorphic speech processing for noisy environments

Current speech recognition systems perform very poorly in the presence of background noise, particularly for signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) below 10 dB and for certain noise conditions such as cafeteria noise. In this study we investigate the use of acoustic processing based on cochlear models and neural-like processing as a means of arriving at noise robust acoustic representation of speech. However, unlike previous work based on cochlear models that used cochlear filter parameters based on neurophysiological data, we optimize cochlear filter shape and thresholds to reduce the noise contribution in the resulting acoustic representations. Results suggest that average SNR improvements of the order of 5-10 dB can be obtained for noise corrupted signals with SNRs near 0-6 dB for realistic noise such as cafeteria noise. Furthermore, using a neural network to include context and arrive at a lower dimensional representation can lead to further improvements in SNR. >
Visualizing System Factorizations with Behavior Tables

Behavior tables are a design formalization intended to support interactive design derivation for hardware and embedded systems. It is a reformulation of the DDD transformation system, bridging behavioral and architectural forms of expression. The tabular representations aid in visualizing design aspects that are subject to interactive refinement and optimization. These ideas are illustrated for system factorization, an import class of decompositions used in design derivation. A series of examples shows how features seen in the behavior tables determine the course of a factorization and how the rules of a core behavior table algebra compose into the more large scale transformations done at the interactive level.
Argonne's program in heavy-ion fusion

Argonne is constructing the initial part of a xenon accelerator which could serve as the driver for an Inertial Confinement Fusion power plant. The project consists of a Xe source, a 1.5 Mv Dynamitron preaccelerator, independently phased rf cavities as a low β linac, and Wideroe linac at 12.5 and 25 MHz. The beam will be injected at 220 MeV into a circular ring to its space charge limit, transferred to a second ring for multiturn injection after an x-y rotation, extracted, compressed in time duration, transported and focussed onto foil targets. The project thus will demonstrate nearly all of the beam manipulations involved in a full scale ICF driver. The feasibility of accelerating in the accumulator ring to 10 GeV to achieve adequate beam energy to permit energy deposition experiments in hot plasma is being studied. The status and future plans of this project are discussed.
Management of noninfected prosthetic aortic bypass failures using femoral vein

Objective The use of femoral-popliteal vein as a conduit to treat infected aortoiliac pathologies has been described extensively and is referred to as the neoaortoiliac system procedure. We examined our center's outcomes after using deep vein as a conduit for the salvage of failed aortofemoral prosthetic bypasses in patients without infection. Methods Procedures using femoral vein as conduit at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences between January 2005 and July 2013 were retrospectively reviewed (n = 110). Patients were excluded if the reconstruction was for infectious etiologies (n = 71) or for nonaortofemoral reconstructions (n = 31). Operative variables, complications, and patency rates were collected. Results Femoral vein was used to revascularize failed aortobifemoral bypasses in eight patients. Indications included rest pain (n = 7) and short-distance claudication (n = 1). Reconstructions identified two patients each with aortobifemoral bypass or aortofemoral bypass, and one patient each with aortofemoral bypass with femorofemoral bypass, aorotoiliac bypass, iliofemoral bypass with femorofemoral bypass, or ilioprofunda bypass. Mean follow up was 27.5 months. There were no major postoperative complications. Symptoms secondary to deep vein harvest (swelling/dermatitis) developed in three of eight patients. The average ankle-brachial index improved from 0.33 to 0.73 ( P = .003), with a limb salvage rate of 100%. Kaplan-Meier analysis found primary patency was 70% at 1 year and 53% at 5 years, which improved to 100% and 75%, respectively, with secondary measures. Conclusions Despite a need for secondary interventions and venous hypertension syndromes, deep vein offers good patency and excellent limb salvage after failed prosthetic aortoiliac bypasses.
Human Therapeutic Cloning

Somatic cell nuclear 'reprogramming' in livestock species is now routine in many laboratories. Here, Robert Lanza, Jose Cibelli and Michael West discuss how these techniques may soon be used to clone genetically matched cells and tissues for transplantation into patients suffering from a wide range of disorders that result from tissue loss or dysfunction.
On the origin of graben and ridges within and near volcanically buried craters and basins in Mercury's northern plains

[1] Images of Mercury’s northern volcanic plains taken by the MESSENGER spacecraft reveal a large number of buried impact craters and basins discernible by wrinkle-ridge rings that overlie their rims. Many of these “ghost” craters and basins contain interior graben of diverse widths and orientations. Here we use finite element models to test a variety of mechanisms for the formation of these graben and ridges. Results show that graben are best explained by cooling of large thicknesses of flood lavas within the craters and basins; conservation of surface area during cooling induces the required extensional stress state. In contrast, the development of wrinkle-ridge rings is best explained as the result of cooling and contraction of Mercury’s interior, during which a reduction in Mercury’s surface area led to a compressional state of stress. The critical factor in determining where large graben form is the thickness of the youngest cooling unit, the topmost sequence of lavas that cooled coevally. A thicker cooling unit leads to a deeper initiation of normal faulting (wider graben floors). Consistent with observations, the widest graben are predicted to occur where pooled lavas were thickest, and no graben are predicted within generally thinner plains outside of major craters. Observed concentrically oriented graben can be explained by variations in the thickness of the youngest cooling unit. In contrast, none of the basin uplift mechanisms considered, including isostatic response to crater topography, inward flow of the lower crust, or exterior loading by volcanic plains, can account for concentrically oriented graben.
Program mobile robots in Scheme

The authors have implemented a software environment that permits a small mobile robot to be programmed using the Scheme programming language. The environment supports incremental modifications to running programs and interactive debugging using a distributed read-evaluate-print loop. The programming environment separates the essential onboard run-time system from the development environment, which runs on a separate workstation. The development environment takes advantage of the workstation's large address space and user environment. It is fully detachable, so that the robot can operate autonomously if desired, and can be reattached for retrospective analysis of the robots behavior. To make concurrent applications easier to write, the run-time library provides multitasking and synchronization primitives. Tasks are lightweight, and all tasks run in the same address space. >
A new sphere packing in 20-dimensional Euclidean space

It is well-known since the celebrated work of Shannon (1948) that the design of efficient transmission codes for bandlimited channels with additive white Gaussian noise is equivalent to the problem of constructing dense arrangements of nonoverlapping spheres in R/sup n/. We describe a new nonlattice sphere packing /spl Tscr/20/spl sub/R/sup 20/ which is denser than any previously known sphere packing in R/sup 20/. The properties of /spl Tscr/20 are investigated, and several alternative representations of the new packing are presented. One of these was recognized by Conway and Sloane (see 2nd Ed., Springer-Verlag, New York, 1993) as the first example of the so-called antipode packings, leading them to the discovery of new densest-known sphere packings also in dimensions 22 and 44-47.
Effect of root perturbation and excision on nitrate influx and efflux in barley (Hordeum vulgare) seedlings

The effects of perturbation and excision on net NO 3 uptake, influx and efflux in roots of 8-day-old barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) seedlings induced with NO 3 or NO 2 were determined. Perturbation was simulated by mechanically striking the intact roots with a glass rod. Perturbation or excision of roots and subsequent division into small segments had little effect on NO 3 influx, but briefly inhibited net uptake which recovered within a few min. While in perturbed roots net uptake rates recovered to the same level as in control roots, full recovery did not occur in excised roots. Inhibition of net uptake was due to stimulation of NO 3 efflux. The recovery time and level of inhibition of net NO 3 uptake and/or stimulation of efflux were a function of extent of perturbation, or the number of segments following excision, and root NO 3 concentration. NO 3 efflux was further stimulated when roots were perturbed after cytoplasmic NO 3 had been depleted, indicating that both the plasmalemma and tonoplast may be affected. In excised roots both NO 3 influx and efflux decreased with age due to depletion of energy sources. The results indicate that root perturbation and excision had no effect on NO 3 influx but inhibited net uptake by stimulating efflux.
Global money laundering and its domestic political consequences in Kyrgyzstan

This paper examines how Kyrgyzstan's two post-communist political regimes used offshore accounts to launder money and broker lucrative deals with international business partners. It argues that easy access to global financial institutions and availability of offshore markets strengthens a corrupt regime's grip on both political and economic matters and gives regime members a feeling of invincibility both domestically and globally. Offshore connections contributed to the emergence of a vast shadow economy inside Kyrgyzstan that includes clandestine hydropower exports, manipulations in the financial sector, and organized crime. The paper particularly focuses on the non-state actors who served as brokers to mediate connections between regime incumbents and international markets.
Estimating the Impacts of Reservoir Elevation Changes on Kokanee Emergence in Flaming Gorge Reservoir, Wyoming–Utah

Abstract Flaming Gorge Reservoir, like many western North American reservoirs, is managed to release water during the winter months to allow for water storage associated with melting snow and rain during spring. Decreases in reservoir elevation during winter can cause mortalities of kokanee Oncorhynchus nerka spawned along the shoreline the previous fall. This study compared data on depth distribution of embryos and depth-adjusted survival to estimate the relative survival of emergent kokanee at different depths and the effect of winter drawdown on the proportion of deposited eggs that survive to emergence. Estimates of decreases in kokanee survival to emergence were 8.3% and 38.1% for reservoir elevation reductions of 1.0 m and 5.0 m, respectively.
Is an Ectoproct Possible

The deficit between predicted and observed rates of oxygen consumption in a small sedentary aquatic invertebrate suggests that there may be circulation of fluid in the body cavity
Target Language Variation and Second-Language Acquisition: Learning English in New York City.

Abstract: The role of dialect variation in the acquisition of American English by adult second language learners was investigated. Subjects, adult learners of English as a second language in New York City, represented a range of native backgrounds, proficiency levels and socioeconomics status. Learners' reactions to standard English, New Yorkese (New York nonstandard English) and Black English were considered. First, the learners' developing ability to detect dialect differences and evaluate samples in terms of their own preferences and impressions was assessed. Results showed that learners can discriminate between dialect samples at early stages of acquisition but native norms and stereotypes are acquired as proficiency increases. Advanced-level participants in the study paralleled native judgements of standard and nonstandard English speakers. Post hoc interviews, however, showed that learners' impressions of Black English were more clearly defined than those relating to New Yorkese and that personal experience played the crucial role in the development of dialect-related stereotypes. A second series of experiments focused on the role of dialect intelligibility in learning English as a second-language for middle-and working-class learners. Findings indicated that Black English was harder for both groups to understand while New Yorkese was more difficult for middle-class learners than for their working-class counterparts. The standard was the most comprehensible for all subjects. These studies show that dialect differences in a second-language present problems for learners including variable intelligibility and negative learner attitude towards some varieties and speakers which may crucially affect second-language input.
Optimal Linear Assignment of a Binary Group Code to Integer Vectors for Source-Channel Coding

This paper considers the source-channel coding problem of optimally assigning the codewords of an [n, k] binary linear code to the ^-dimensional vectors produced by an IID, uniformly distributed, integer-valued source with alphabet {0,1,..., 2k/n-1} when overall distortion is measured by mean squared error (MSE). It finds explicit formulas for the optimal encoding rule, minimum MSE decoding rule, and resulting distortion. This extends to the vector case the 1974 analysis by Wolf and Redinbo [2] of the optimal assignment of binary linear codes to integers. As in [1], [2], the main tool is abstract Fourier analysis for functions defined on groups. The optimal linear assignment found for vectors can be interpreted as applying the optimal assignment found in [2] to the integer in {0,1,..., 2k-1} formed by multiplexing the binary representations of the nmiddot integers in the vector being encoded in such a way that more significants bits of each integer come before less significant bits of all integers.
Physical activity enhances spatial learning performance with an associated alteration in hippocampal protein kinase C activity in C57BL/6 and DBA/2 mice.

Abstract The effects of physical activity on spatial learning performance and associated hippocampal functioning were examined in C57BL/6Ibg (C57) and DBA/2Ibg (DBA) mice. C57 and DBA mice, 3 months of age, were subjected to 8 weeks of a physical activity regime (consisting of moderate-pace treadmill running 5 days/week, 60 min/day, 0% grade, 12 m/min) or remained sedentary in their cages. Mice were then tested on the Morris water maze task for 6 days followed by 12 days of testing on the place learning-set task (8 trials/day with each task). Both C57 and DBA run mice showed no difference in swim speed compared to controls. Hippocampal protein kinase C (PKC) activity was measured in cytosolic, loosely bound, and membrane-bound homogenate fractions. Mice subjected to the physical activity protocol were compared to sedentary controls from the same set of litters. Physical activity produced a 2- to 12-fold enhancement in spatial learning performance on both the Morris (P
Carbon-sulfur surface compounds—novel regenerable adsorbents for the removal of aromatics from aqueous solutions

Abstract Carbon-sulfur surface compounds, CxS, have been studied as novel adsorbents for the removal of aromatics from aqueous solutions using naphthalene, phenol, and resorcinol as model adsorbates. Equilibrium isotherms obtained at room temperatures show that CxS materials have adsorption capacities for the aromatics which are similar to those of Filtrasorb 300, a conventional activated carbon. The rate of adsorption for CxS is also similar to that for the activated carbon. However, spent CxS adsorbents can be regenerated thermally at milder temperatures. They can also be regenerated more completely than spent Filtrasorb 300 with organic solvents at room temperatures. These results suggest that energies of adsorption for the novel CxS material are lower than those for the conventional activated carbon. The difference in binding energy for aromatic compounds on these two adsorbents can be attributed to differences in surface groups through which the adsorbate is complexed. Spectroscopic characterizations on spent adsorbents support the donor-acceptor complex mechanism postulated by earlier investigators for the activated carbon.
Triazolines. XXIX. 1,5‐diaryl‐Δ2‐1,2,3‐triazolines as aphicides: Mechanism of action via aziridine formation

The aphicidal activity of 21 different 1,5-diphenyl-Δ2-1,2,3-triazolines, conveniently prepared utilizing the catalytic effect of water on the 1,3-cyclo-addition of diazomethane to Schiff bases in aqueous dioxane, was evaluated. Triazolines bearing an o-Cl substituent on the C-phenyl, either alone (4) or in combination with a m- and/or a p-substituent on the N-phenyl (14, 15, 17 and 18), showed significant activity, with a combined m-, p- substitution on the N-phenyl the most effective (17 and 18). While an o-Cl substituent led to greater activity than an o-NO2 group, the introduction of an additional p-Cl substituent on the C-phenyl eliminated activity (21). The aphicidal activity of triazoline 18 was found to be dependent on the presence of UV light. Since fluorescent lighting used in the testing procedure contains UV light and since triazolines undergo photolysis when exposed to UV light to yield aziridines, it was logical to conclude that the aphicidal activity of the triazolines was, in fact, derived from the aziridines formed during the testing procedure. This mechanism of action was confirmed by preparing the aziridines 22, 23 and 24 corresponding to the active triazolines 14, 15 and 18, and showing that they possessed aphicidal activity equal to or better than that of the triazolines, and by the activity observed in several other structurally related aziridine analogues (25–28). Unlike aziridinyl phosphorous compounds, the aziridines described here are not mutagenic in the Ames assay and thus afford a safer class of pesticides.
Molecular self-assembly at bare semiconductor surfaces: preparation and characterization of highly organized octadecanethiolate monolayers on GaAs(001).

Through rigorous control of preparation conditions, organized monolayers with a highly reproducible structure can be formed by solution self-assembly of octadecanethiol on GaAs (001) at ambient temperature. A combination of characterization probes reveal a structure with conformationally ordered alkyl chains tilted on average at 14 ± 1° from the surface normal with a 43 ± 5° twist, a highly oleophobic and hydrophobic ambient surface, and direct S−GaAs attachment. Analysis of the tilt angle and film thickness data shows a significant mismatch of the average adsorbate molecule spacings with the spacings of an intrinsic GaAs(001) surface lattice. The monolayers are stable up to ∼100 °C and exhibit an overall thermal stability which is lower than that of the same monolayers on Au{111} surfaces. A two-step solution assembly process is observed: rapid adsorption of molecules over the first several hours to form disordered structures with molecules lying close to the substrate surface, followed by a slow densif...
Unifying instance-based and rule-based induction

Several well-developed approaches to inductive learning now exist, but each has specific limitations that are hard to overcome. Multi-strategy learning attempts to tackle this problem by combining multiple methods in one algorithm. This article describes a unification of two widely-used empirical approaches: rule induction and instance-based learning. In the new algorithm, instances are treated as maximally specific rules, and classification is performed using a best-match strategy. Rules are learned by gradually generalizing instances until no improvement in apparent accuracy is obtained. Theoretical analysis shows this approach to be efficient. It is implemented in the RISE 3.1 system. In an extensive empirical study, RISE consistently achieves higher accuracies than state-of-the-art representatives of both its parent approaches (PEBLS and CN2), as well as a decision tree learner (C4.5). Lesion studies show that each of RISE‘s components is essential to this performance. Most significantly, in 14 of the 30 domains studied, RISE is more accurate than the best of PEBLS and CN2, showing that a significant synergy can be obtained by combining multiple empirical methods.
Consistency of finite systems of convex inequalities

We give necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a convex functionu which satisfies a finite list of inequalities of the typeu(a)<u(b) oru(a)≤u(b), wherea, b are finite dimensional vectors.
Assuring Novice Teacher Competency in Ohio and Japan

Abstract This article examines how novice teachers in Japan and in the United States, specifically in the state of Ohio, are assessed, evaluated, and supported as they enter the teaching profession. Comparison of practices and tools that characterize two approaches toward assessment and mentoring reveals important differences in the competencies assessed for entry into the teaching profession and in beliefs that govern the professional development of new teachers. An emphasis on performance assessment in Ohio is based on the expectation that teachers will demonstrate disciplinary competence and pedagogical skills prior to being granted professional licensure. In contrast, the emphasis on mentoring and professional development during the induction year in Japan reflects a belief that learning to teach takes place gradually within a professional community.
Remodeling and thrombosis following closure of coronary artery fistula with review of management: large distal coronary artery fistula--to close or not to close?

Background To evaluate postdiscovery outcome of coronary artery fistulae (CAF). CAF treatment sequelae and risk factors for coronary thrombosis have not been adequately evaluated. Methods Outcome on follow-up of 16 patients with CAF was reviewed. Risk factors for adverse coronary events were assessed based on type, size, and treatment of CAF. Results Median age was 10 years (0.01–56). Seven patients had large, four medium, and five small sizes CAF. Eight had proximal and 8 distal type CAF. There were 7 in the intervention group (IG) and 9 in nonintervention (NIG). In the IG, 1 had myocardial infarction (MI) <24 hr with distal thrombosis following large distal type CAF closure. Follow-up angiograms in 6 pts showed; decrease in conduit coronary artery size towards normal in 4, 1 had discrete intimal stenosis, persistent coronary dilatation in 1, thrombosis of residual proximal fistula segment without MI in 2, evidence of revascularization in 2 and neovascularization in 1 patient. In the NIG, 6 of the 9 pts available for follow-up were asymptomatic. Angiogram available in 1 patient showed persistent coronary dilatation with partial closure. Conclusion Post-CAF treatment sequelae include thrombosis and MI, revascularization, persistent coronary dilatation, remodeling, and decrease in conduit coronary artery size towards normal. The large size distal type of CAF may be at highest risk for coronary thrombosis post closure. The optimal treatment approach to various morphologies of CAF at various ages remains to be determined. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
In Vivo NMR Analysis of the Influence of Pyruvate Decarboxylase and Alcohol Dehydrogenase of Zymomonas mobilis on the Anaerobic Metabolism of Escherichia coli

Phosphorus‐31 NMR studies of Escherichia coli expressing cloned pyruvate decarboxylase (pdc) and alcohol dehydrogenase (adh) genes from Zymomonas mobilis revealed significant changes in the concentration of intracellular metabolites. The intracellular concentrations of phosphate, sugar phosphates, NAD(H), NTP, NDP, and UDPG of the strain HB101 expressing pdc, adh, or both genes were analyzed at quasi steady state during the anaerobic catabolism of glucose. The evolution of the intracellular pH and extracellular pH during glucose consumption showed a constant value of ΔpH equal to 0.2 pH unit that did not depend on the expression of the Zymomonas genes. The strains expressing PDC only exhibited greatest changes in intracellular composition with significantly decreased inorganic phosphate, NAD(H), NTP, and UDPG and significantly increased sugar phosphates. Analysis of the fermentation products during the NMR experiments provided further information about the physilogical changes observed in the cells. Two plasmid effects on the host metabolism are reported, one induced by the plasmid utilized as control (pUCl9), and the other induced by the expression of the pet operon. In both cases an enhancement of the glucose uptake rate was observed. Although the plasmid carrying adh induces a rapid metabolic inhibition, the expression of pdc does not. The expression of pdc and adh together showed a physiological enhancement that is attributable not to effects on external pH but rather to the effect of the switch in pathways from mixed acid to ethanol fermentation.
Distinct Protein Domains of the Yeast Golgi GDP-mannose Transporter Mediate Oligomer Assembly and Export from the Endoplasmic Reticulum

The substrates for glycan synthesis in the lumen of the Golgi are nucleotide sugars that must be transported from the cytosol by specific membrane-bound transporters. The principal nucleotide sugar used for glycosylation in the Golgi of the yeastSaccharomyces cerevisiae is GDP-mannose, whose lumenal transport is mediated by the VRG4 gene product. As the sole provider of lumenal mannose, the Vrg4 protein functions as a key regulator of glycosylation in the yeast Golgi. We have undertaken a functional analysis of Vrg4p as a model for understanding nucleotide sugar transport in the Golgi. Here, we analyzed epitope-tagged alleles of VRG4. Gel filtration chromatography and co-immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrate that the Vrg4 protein forms homodimers with specificity and high affinity. Deletion analyses identified two regions essential for Vrg4p function. Mutant Vrg4 proteins lacking the predicted C-terminal membrane-spanning domain fail to assemble into oligomers (Abe, M., Hashimoto, H., and Yoda, K. (1999)FEBS Lett. 458, 309–312) and are unstable, while proteins lacking the N-terminal cytosolic tail are stable and multimerize efficiently, but are mislocalized to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Fusion of the N terminus of Vrg4p to related ER membrane proteins promote their transport to the Golgi, suggesting that sequences in the N terminus supply information for ER export. The dominant negative phenotype resulting from overexpression of truncated Vrg4-ΔN proteins provides strong genetic evidence for homodimer formation in vivo. These studies are consistent with a model in which Vrg4p oligomerizes in the ER and is subsequently transported to the Golgi via a mechanism that involves positive sorting rather than passive default.
A stochastic sequencing problem for style goods with forecast revisions and hierarchical structure

This paper addresses the problem of simultaneously determining a production sequence and production volumes of style goods. Style goods have one selling season per year. During the rest of the year, manufacturers of style goods build up the inventory while continuously reestimating the demand in the final selling season. In this problem, products have a two-stage hierarchy: items and families. The production of a family is assumed to be nonpreemptive. Exploiting the hierarchical structure, we formulate the problem as a two-stage stochastic sequencing problem: the stochastic aggregate sequencing problem and the stochastic disaggregation problem. To solve the stochastic aggregate sequencing problem, a simple heuristic solution procedure is developed that accounts for the forecast revisions and provides a lower bound on the optimal value. The heuristic is tested using the disguised data obtained from a consumer electronics company. The computational results demonstrate the applicability of the proposed procedure.