cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CO2 and plants: revisited

The decade-long USA research program on the direct effects of CO2 enrichment on vegetation has achieved important milestones and has produced a number of interesting and exciting findings. Research beginning in 1980 focused on field experiments to determine whether phenomena observed in the laboratory indeed occurred in natural environments. The answer is yes. Data obtained from numerous field studies show mixed response of crop and native species to CO2 enrichment however. Nearly all experiments demonstrate that plants exhibit positive gain when grown at elevated CO2; although the magnitude varies greatly. Most crop responses range from 30 to 50 % increase in yield. Results from long-term experiments with woody species and ecosystems are even more variable. Huge growth responses (100 to nearly 300 % increase relative to controls) are reported from several tree experiments and the salt-marsh ecosystem experiment. Other results from experiments with woody species and the tundra ecosystem suggest little no effect of CO2 on physiology, growth or productivity. Numerous studies of the physiology of the CO2 effect are continuing in attempts to understand controlling mechanisms and to explain the variable growth responses. Particular emphasis needs to be given to physiological measures of interactions involving the CO2 effect and other environmental influences, and to the wide-ranging observations of photosynthesis acclimation to CO2. Prospects for future research are identified.
Non-invasive assessment of failure torque in rat bones with simulated lytic lesions using computed tomography based structural rigidity analysis.

This study applies CT-based structural rigidity analysis (CTRA) to assess failure torque of rat femurs with simulated lytic defects at different locations (proximal and distal femur) and diameters (25% and 50% of the cross-section at the site), and compared the results to those obtained from mechanical testing. Moreover, it aims to compare the correlation coefficients between CTRA-based failure torque and DXA-based aBMD versus actual failure torque. Twenty rats were randomly assigned to four equal groups of different simulated lesions based on size and location. Femurs from each animal underwent micro-computed tomography to assess three-dimensional micro-structural data, torsional rigidity using structural rigidity analysis and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry to assess bone mineral density. Following imaging, all specimens were subjected to torsion. Failure torque predicted from CT-derived structural rigidity measurements was better correlated with mechanically derived failure torque [R2=0.85] than was aBMD from DXA [R2=0.32]. In summary, the results of this study suggest that computed tomography based structural rigidity analysis can be used to accurately and quantitatively measure the mechanical failure torque of bones with osteolytic lesions in an experimental rat model. Structural rigidity analysis can provide more accurate predictions on maximal torque to mechanical failure than dual energy X-ray absorptiometry based on bone mineral density.
Effect of Age and Caloric Restriction on Cutaneous Wound Closure in Rats and Monkeys

Cutaneous wounds close more slowly in rats and monkeys as age increases. Caloric restriction of 40% in rats and 30% in monkeys did not significantly affect healing rates, although it did exert a trend toward faster closure. Similarly, voluntary exercise did not significantly alter healing rates in rats. Thus, impaired wound healing appears to be a generalized physiological manifestation of aging, but its possible amelioration by "anti-aging" interventions remains to be established.
Self-healing workflow systems under attacks

Workflow systems are popular in daily business processing. Since vulnerability cannot be totally removed from a workflow management system, successful attacks always happen and may inject malicious tasks or incorrect data into the workflow system. Referring to the incorrect data further corrupt more data objects in the system, which comprises the integrity level of the system. This problem cannot be efficiently solved by existing defense mechanisms, such as access control, intrusion detection, and checkpoints. In this paper, we propose a practical solution for online attack recovery of workflows. The recovery system discovers all damages caused by the malicious tasks that the intrusion detection system reports and automatically repairs the damages based on data and control dependencies among workflow tasks. We analyze the behaviors of our attack recovery system based on the continuous time Markov chain model. The analytical results demonstrate that our system is practical when the parameters of the system are reasonably designed.
Paucity and Disparity in Kindergarten Oral Vocabulary Instruction

The purpose of this study was to examine how oral vocabulary instruction was enacted in kindergarten. Four days (12 hours) of instruction were observed in 55 classrooms in a range of socio-economic...
HIV and AIDS

The first cases of AIDS were reported in 1981 with the occurrence of Pneumocystis carinii in a cohort of young homosexual men in the U.S. This “new” disease affected the immune system, destroying CD4 T-cells. The disease spread rapidly, initially among “gay” men, but later into the heterosexual community. At the same time, a “novel” cancer, Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS), appeared in infected individuals; it was later found to be associated with a herpes virus. By 1982 it was obvious that AIDS was associated with an infectious agent, which was sexually transmitted or spread by intravenous drug use. The blood supply was contaminated since hemophiliacs became infected with the virus. Within 3 years of the initial outbreak, a virus was isolated. Initially called HTLV-3 by Robert Gallo (NIH), it was shown to be the same virus as LAV that was isolated by Montagnier at the Pasteur Institute a few months earlier. Because of a controversy as to who had isolated the virus first, an international committee decided to name the virus human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Within a short time, HIV had spread all over the world, and by 1995 the number of infected people reached 30–40 million, at the peak of the epidemic. The virus actually crossed into the human population in the 1950s or earlier, and had crossed species from a chimpanzee. The disease began in Central Africa and the Congo and spread via Haiti to the U.S. and other countries. Today there is a regimen of drugs that controls the progression of the disease, but does not cure the patient, and attempts to develop a vaccine have been unsuccessful. There have been many scandals related to tainted blood, discrimination against HIV-positive individuals, and dubious government policies.
Commentary: Total disc arthroplasty: careful follow-up is necessary.

Commentary on Golish SR, Anderson PA. Bearing surfaces for total disc arthroplasty: metal-on-metal versus metal-on-polyethylene and other biomaterials. Spine J 2012;12:693–701 ( in this issue ).
Teen Worker Safety Training Methods Used, Lessons Taught, and Time Spent

Safety training is strongly endorsed as one way to prevent teens from performing dangerous tasks at work. The objective of this mixed methods study was to characterize the safety training that teenagers receive on the job. From 2010 through 2012, focus groups and a cross-sectional survey were conducted with working teens. The top methods of safety training reported were safety videos (42 percent) and safety lectures (25 percent). The top lessons reported by teens were "how to do my job" and "ways to spot hazards." Males, who were more likely to do dangerous tasks, received less safety training than females. Although most teens are getting safety training, it is inadequate. Lessons addressing safety behaviors are missing, training methods used are minimal, and the time spent is insignificant. More research is needed to understand what training methods and lessons should be used, and the appropriate safety training length for effectively preventing injury in working teens. In addition, more research evaluating the impact of high-quality safety training compared to poor safety training is needed to determine the best training programs for teens.
Deep brain stimulation and cognition: moving from animal to patient.

Purpose of reviewBrain electrical stimulation has been proposed as a strategy to improve chronically impaired cognitive function. This brief review places a small number of recent studies into a broader historical context and identifies important challenges for further development of this area of re
New species of katydids (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) of the neotropical genera Arachnoscelis (Listroscelidinae) and Phlugiola (Meconematinae), with taxonomic notes

Abstract The predaceous katydid species Arachnoscelis meriti, n. sp. (Listroscelidinae) and Phlugiola arborea, n. sp. (Meconematinae) are described herein. Keys to species of both genera based on morphological differences are also provided. Both species were collected from rainforest canopies in northern Peru. Based on the numbers of additional new forms collected, sorted and identified during the course of this study, many species in addition to these are new to science, providing evidence of a very rich and diverse arboreal fauna in northern Peru. After reviewing literature on the tribe Phlugidini, Tenuiphlugis Kevan (with 4 species) is herein synonymized with the genus Lucienola Gurney.
Pulmonary artery aneurysms: echocardiographic features in 5 patients

Two-dimensional (2-D) echocardiographic studies were performed in 5 patients (2 adults, 3 pediatric cases) with proved aneurysm of the main pulmonary artery (PA). Two-dimensional echocardiography correctly localized the site of the aneurysm in all 5 patients and accurately categorized the type of aneurysm as saccular in 2 patients and fusiform in 3 patients. Fusiform aneurysms were characterized by their huge size, which made it impossible to image them completely in any single 2-D sector plane in 2 patients and by their tendency to cause displacement of the left atrium in 1 patient. Two-dimensional echocardiographic diagnosis of PA aneurysm was suggested prospectively without knowledge of angiographic findings in 3 of 5 patients. Two-dimensional echocardiography appears to be a useful noninvasive technique in the recognition of PA aneurysms.
TESS Ad-Mixer: A novel program for visualizing TESS Q matrices

TESS Ad-Mixer (available at http://www.albany.edu/faculty/gonder/Lab/index.html), is a Windows program we developed to display spatial interpolations of Q matrices generated by the program TESS. TESS Ad-Mixer provides an easy way to create two-dimensional representation of the Q matrices for two or more genetic clusters. The program uses a pixel based, vector algorithm that allows the user to specify a color scheme. The program generates spatially accurate, high-resolution files that are ideal for data display.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis controls host innate immune activation through cyclopropane modification of a glycolipid effector molecule

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection remains a global health crisis. Recent genetic evidence implicates specific cell envelope lipids in Mtb pathogenesis, but it is unclear whether these cell envelope compounds affect pathogenesis through a structural role in the cell wall or as pathogenesis effectors that interact directly with host cells. Here we show that cyclopropane modification of the Mtb cell envelope glycolipid trehalose dimycolate (TDM) is critical for Mtb growth during the first week of infection in mice. In addition, TDM modification by the cyclopropane synthase pcaA was both necessary and sufficient for proinflammatory activation of macrophages during early infection. Purified TDM isolated from a cyclopropane-deficient pcaA mutant was hypoinflammatory for macrophages and induced less severe granulomatous inflammation in mice, demonstrating that the fine structure of this glycolipid was critical to its proinflammatory activity. These results established the fine structure of lipids contained in the Mtb cell envelope as direct effectors of pathogenesis and identified temporal control of host immune activation through cyclopropane modification of TDM as a critical pathogenic strategy of Mtb.
Phytoremediation in subtropical Hawaii—A review of over 100 plant species

Phytoremediation is an emerging remediation technology that utilizes plants and microbes to clean up contaminated air, soil, and water. Tropical and subtropical environments have an advantage in that long plant-growing seasons and increased soil temperature can accelerate phytoremediation processes. Various contaminated sites in Hawaii have been addressed using this technology. In this article, work progress and advances of phytoremediation are briefly reviewed and exemplified with seven chemically contaminated sites in Hawaii. The investigations were performed for one or more of the following remediation needs: explosive residues, hydrocarbons, pesticide residues, soil stabilization, and slaughterhouse wastewater. In this unique article, studies of testing of over 100 plant species for remediation are reviewed and documented. The general trend leads one to consider that salt- and/or drought-tolerant plants can bear other potential stress-inducing conditions. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Contractual nullification of economically-detrimental state-made laws

An economy may remain robust in the face of efficiency-inhibiting state-made rules if individuals are able to establish effective sources of credibility that do not rely on the state. After explaining how non-state sources of trust and private recourse evolve to enhance credibility, examples of contracting around undesirable rules in United States are discussed. The potential for contractual nullification varies considerably, however, in part because of state action that limits civil-society and/or market activities. In many less robust economies, there are even more significant barriers to building private sources of trust and recourse, undermining the potential for contractual nullification.
Activation of Brachioradialis Muscles Transferred to Restore Lateral Pinch in Tetraplegia

Purpose Surgical transfers of muscles are used to restore lateral pinch in tetraplegia; however, outcomes are variable. The purpose of this study was to compare activation of the brachioradialis (Br) after transfer to the flexor pollicis longus during maximum effort in its primary function (elbow flexion) with maximum effort in its postoperative function (lateral pinch) and to record Br activation during functional tasks. Methods Fine-wire electrodes recorded activation of the Br in 11 arms with tetraplegia. Subjects produced maximum lateral pinch force with and without elbow stabilization and were classified according to elbow strength. The elbow was stabilized by supporting the arm and limiting elbow motion. A force sensor mounted on a custom grip recorded the pinch force. Electromyographic (EMG) signals recorded during lateral pinch were expressed as a percentage of the maximum voluntary contraction recorded during maximum-effort elbow flexion. Results The EMG activation was significantly lower during lateral pinch compared with resisted elbow flexion. The mean EMG during lateral pinch in the self-supported elbow condition was 34% of the maximum voluntary contraction; with the elbow stabilized the EMG increased to 55% of the maximum voluntary contraction. Postoperative pinch-force magnitude was 14 N with self-support and 20 N with the elbow stabilized. Subjects with weak elbow extension strength produced significantly lower pinch forces compared with subjects with strong elbow extension but had similar ability to activate the Br. The Br activation was higher when the pinch tasks were performed successfully. Conclusions These findings suggest a reduced ability to activate the transferred muscle fully in lateral pinch function after surgery, even with the addition of elbow support. The Br activation is linked to successful performance of lateral pinch tasks. The subjects' inability to activate the transferred muscle fully may be affected by postoperative muscle re-education and contribute to postoperative weakness.
Manifold Learning Techniques in Image Analysis of High-dimensional Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Images

Diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DT-MRI) provides a comprehensive characterization of white matter (WM) in the brain and therefore, plays a crucial role in the investigation of diseases in which WM is suspected to be compromised such as multiple sclerosis and neuropsychiatric disorders like schizophrenia. However changes induced by pathology may be subtle and affected regions of the brain can only be revealed by a group-based analysis of patients in comparison with healthy controls. This in turn requires voxel-based statistical analysis of spatially normalized brain DT images, as in the case of conventional MR images. However this process is rendered extremely challenging in DT-MRI due to the high dimensionality of the data and its inherent non-linearity that causes linear component analysis methods to be inapplicable. We therefore propose a novel framework for the statistical analysis of DT-MRI data using manifold-based techniques such as isomap and kernel PCA that determine the underlying manifold structure of the data, embed it to a manifold and help perform high dimensional statistics on the manifold to determine regions of difference between the groups of patients and controls. The framework has been successfully applied to DT-MRI data from patients with schizophrenia, as well as to study developmental changes in small animals, both of which identify regional changes, indicating the need for manifold-based methods for the statistical analysis of DTI.
A SIMPLE RELATION TO PREDICT OR TO CORRELATE THE EXCESS FUNCTIONS OF MULTICOMPONENT MIXTURES

Hwang, C.-A., Holste, J.C., Hall, K.R. and Mansoori, G.A., 1991. A simple relation to predict or to correlate the excess functions of multicomponent mixtures. Fluid Phme Equilibria, 62: 173-189. Semi-theoretical relations for the excess functions (e.g. excess Gibbs energies GE, excess chemical potentials) developed previously for binary mixtures have been extended to multicomponent mixtures. We postulate that contributions from two-body and three-body interactions are significant, and we propose an expression relating unlike three-body interactions to binary interactions. We have tested the relation with ternary vapor-liquid equilibria (VLE) having various chemical interactions and have found good agreement between the experimental excess functions and the predictions from the relation based solely upon binary data. Predicting fluid phase equilibria of multicomponent mixtures using existing binary data is relatively simple and, for the systems tested, appears to be considerably better than the NRTL model for VLE systems having partially or wholly negative GE. For the systems tested having wholly positive GE, the new model (H’M) is superior to the NRTL model except for ethanol-water. While the model is less satisfactory for liquid-liquid equilibria (LLE) than for VLE, it is significantly better than the NRTL or UNIQUAC model for the (randomly selected) system tested. The current model is also extremely flexible for either correlating or predicting multicomponent data, and it always converges to a solution.
Computational modeling of improvisation in Turkish folk music using Variable-Length Markov Models

The paper describes a new database, which currently consists of 64 songs encompassing approximately 6600 notes, and a system, which uses Variable-Length Markov Models (VLMM) to predict the melodies in the uzun hava (long tune) form, a melodic structure in Turkish folk music. The work shows VLMMs are highly predictive. This suggests that variable-length Markov models (VLMMs) may be applied to makam-based and non-metered musical forms, in addition to Western musical traditions [20]. To the best of our knowledge, the work presents the first symbolic, machine readable database and the first application of expressive modeling in Turkish folk music.
Citizen Archivists at Play: Game Design for Gathering Metadata for Cultural Heritage Institutions

In this paper, we detail our design process for the Metadata Games project and discuss a number of design challenges involved in making a “ metadata game,” such as incentivizing players to offer accurat e information, devising and deploying methods for verifying the accuracy of data, and introducing effective motivations for ensuring high replay potential . We present our “Outlier Design” model for creating effective crowdsourcing applications, and offer t he Metadata Games prototype One-Up as an example. This game’s design addresses the challenges of gathering increasingly higher quality metadata while creating a compelling play experience.
Inability of Physicians and Nurses to Predict Patient Satisfaction in the Emergency Department.

Author(s): DeLaney, Matthew C.; Page, David B.; Kunstadt, Ethan B.; Ragan, Matth; Rodgers, Joel; Wang, Henry E. | Abstract: Introduction: Patient satisfaction is a commonly assessed dimension of emergency department (ED) care quality. The ability of ED clinicians to estimate patient satisfaction is unknown. We sought to evaluate the ability of emergency medicine resident physicians and nurses to predict patient-reported satisfaction with physician and nursing care, pain levels, and understanding of discharge instructions. Methods: We studied a convenience sample of 100 patients treated at an urban academic ED. Patients rated satisfaction with nursing care, physician care, pain level at time of disposition and understanding of discharge instructions. Resident physicians and nurses estimated responses for each patient. We compared patient, physician and nursing responses using Cohen’s kappa, weighting the estimates to account for the ordinal responses. Results: Overall, patients had a high degree of satisfaction with care provided by the nurses and physicians, although this was underestimated by providers. There was poor agreement between physician estimation of patient satisfaction (weighted κ=0.23, standard error: 0.078) and nursing estimates of patient satisfaction (weighted κ=0.11, standard error: 0.043); physician estimation of patient pain (weighted κ=0.43, standard error: 0.082) and nursing estimates (weighted κ=0.39, standard error: 0.081); physician estimates of patient comprehension of discharge instruction (weighted κ=0.19, standard error: 0.082) and nursing estimates (weighted κ=0.13, standard error: 0.078). Providers underestimated pain and patient comprehension of discharge instructions. Conclusion: ED providers were not able to predict patient satisfaction with nurse or physician care, pain level, or understanding of discharge instructions.
Biegeverhalten der Laminatschichten

Das vorrangige Ziel des in Fig. 7.1 gezeigten Dreipunkt-Biegeversuchs ist die Bestimmung des Spannungs-Dehnungs-Verhaltens der Laminatschichten bei Biegung. Beim Dreipunkt-Biegeversuch wird die in der Mitte eingeleitete Kraft uber der Dehnung aufgezeichnet. Die Dehnung wird durch einen auf der Zugseite der Probe (untere Seite) longitudinal aufgeklebten Messtreifen gemessen. Gewohnlich wird ein unidirektionales Laminat mit der Faserrichtung parallel zur Probenachse biegebelastet, um den Biegemodul in Faserrichtung, E 1 f , die maximale Biegespannung und -dehnung, X 1 f , e 1 f zu bestimmen.
They Gotta Quit Kicking My Dog Around, II

The decision-usefulness theory of accounting – the theory currently generally accepted by those interested in accounting theory – is under-appreciated. According to Hatfield’s three criteria – lineage, company, and service to society – decision-usefulness theory is highly respectable. Its base was laid by the creators of double-entry bookkeeping. It was developed a half century ago and has attracted a world-wide following among those concerned with the betterment of accounting. It serves with honor in accounting research and standards setting and has great potential in accounting education. Whether the enmity of those in the financial statement preparation community should be counted as a badge of honor or a demerit is a personal choice. Despite such impressive lineage, high-class company, and valuable service, the decision-usefulness theory of accounting “don’t get no respect.” They gotta quit kicking my dog around.
Forest transformation resulting from an exotic pathogen: regeneration and tanoak mortality in coast redwood stands affected by sudden oak death

Sudden oak death is dramatically altering forests throughout coastal California, but little is known about the communities that are assembling in affected areas. This emerging disease, caused by th...
A Lethal for Ascus Abortion in Neurospora

Many species of fungi usually present fairly reliable diagnostic features when grown under standardized cultural conditions. Now and then, the mycelium may begin to grow out abnormally at some spot in the plate and form a sector which differs considerably from the rest of the culture in color, habit of growth, or in the amount of sporulation. An extensive literature covering the phenomenon known as " sectoring " has appeared in recent years. It is usually claimed that a mutant has been obtained be? cause transfers from the sectored area continue to show the same
Early Life Manipulations of the Nonapeptide System Alter Pair Maintenance Behaviors and Neural Activity in Adult Male Zebra Finches

Adult zebra finches (T. guttata) form socially monogamous pair bonds characterized by proximity, vocal communication, and contact behaviors. In this experiment, we tested whether manipulations of the nonapeptide hormone arginine vasotocin (AVT, avian homolog of vasopressin) and the V1a receptor (V1aR) early in life altered species-typical pairing behavior in adult zebra finches of both sexes. Although there was no effect of treatment on the tendency to pair in either sex, males in different treatments exhibited profoundly different profiles of pair maintenance behavior. Following a brief separation, AVT-treated males were highly affiliative with their female partner but sang very little compared to Controls. In contrast, males treated with a V1aR antagonist sang significantly less than Controls, but did not differ in affiliation. These effects on behavior in males were also reflected in changes in the expression of V1aR and immediate early gene activity in three brain regions known to be involved in pairing behavior in birds: the medial amygdala, medial bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, and the lateral septum. AVT males had higher V1aR expression in the medial amygdala than both Control and antagonist-treated males and immediate early gene activity of V1aR neurons in the medial amygdala was positively correlated with affiliation. Antagonist treated males showed decreased activity in the medial amygdala. In addition, there was a negative correlation between the activity of V1aR cells in the medial bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and singing. Treatment also affected the expression of V1aR and activity in the lateral septum, but this was not correlated with any behaviors measured. These results provide evidence that AVT and V1aR play developmental roles in specific pair maintenance behaviors and the neural substrate underlying these behaviors in a bird.
Towards Automatic Identification of JavaScript-oriented Machine-Based Tracking

Machine-based tracking is a type of behavior that extracts information on a user's machine, which can then be used for fingerprinting, tracking, or profiling purposes. In this paper, we focus on JavaScript-oriented machine-based tracking as JavaScript is widely accessible in all browsers. We find that coarse features related to JavaScript access, cookie access, and URL length subdomain information can perform well in creating a classifier that can identify these machine-based trackers with 97.7% accuracy. We then use the classifier on real-world datasets based on 30-minute website crawls of different types of websites -- including websites that target children and websites that target a popular audience -- and find 85%+ of all websites utilize machine-based tracking, even when they target a regulated group (children) as their primary audience.
Operative vs. Nonoperative Treatment of Intra-Articular Fractures of the Calcaneus: A Prospective Randomized Trial

Thirty patients with displaced, intra-articular calcaneus fractures were randomized to operative or nonoperative treatment. All patients had two or three major articular fragments of the posterior ...
On Invariant-Preserving Finite Difference Schemes for the Camassa-Holm Equation and the Two-Component Camassa-Holm System

The purpose of this paper is to develop and test novel invariant-preserving finite difference schemes for both the Camassa-Holm (CH) equation and one of its 2-component generalizations (2CH). The considered PDEs are strongly nonlinear, admitting soliton-like peakon solutions which are characterized by a slope discontinuity at the peak in the wave shape, and therefore suitable for modeling both short wave breaking and long wave propagation phenomena. The proposed numerical schemes are shown to preserve two invariants, momentum and energy, hence numerically producing wave solutions with smaller phase error over a long time period than those generated by other conventional methods. We first apply the scheme to the CH equation and showcase the merits of considering such a scheme under a wide class of initial data. We then generalize this scheme to the 2CH equation and test this scheme under several types of initial data.
Optimization research of stope structural parameters in sublevel caving with non-pillar

The common methods for optimizing structure parameters were analyzed and existing problems were also discussed.Then,optimizing mathematical model for approach spacing was set up by using the stochastic medium theory of drawing.Moreover,the calculation formula for drawing step was derived.To evaluate the total technique and economic effects for different stope structural parameters,the calculation formula of recovery rate and dilution rate to stope structural parameters was put forward.Lastly,the new method was compared with the traditional methods of determining stope structure parameters in a underground mine.The contrast results indicate that the new method match up to the reality.
Treatment satisfaction in relation to shared decision making, quality of life, and barriers to care among breast cancer patients

A1 A priority for comprehensive cancer control planning efforts is the identification of areas for improving the quality of cancer care. Satisfaction with care, as reported by patients themselves, is an important measure of quality care. To address these cancer control efforts, 602 (73% of eligible) female breast cancer patients aged 30-80 years diagnosed in 2004 and reported to Wisconsin’s statewide cancer registry completed a self-administered survey assessing satisfaction with cancer care, treatment decision making, quality of life, and barriers to care. Satisfaction was measured by the FACIT-TS-PS instrument through 32 questions regarding explanations by doctors, personal interactions with doctors, comprehensive care by the treatment staff, technical quality of the cancer care, decision-making, satisfaction with nursing care, and trust of the treatment staff. Questionnaire items were combined into an overall measure of satisfaction. Satisfaction with cancer care was described by the breast cancer patients as poor or fair (31.6%), good (42.0%), or excellent (26.4%). Patients with poor or fair treatment satisfaction indicated that the treatment staff alone, rather than the patient herself or the staff together with the patient, made most of the treatment decisions (26%) more often than patients with excellent treatment satisfaction (10%, P
Variation in the human Achilles tendon moment arm during walking

The Achilles tendon (AT) moment arm is an important determinant of ankle moment and power generation during locomotion. Load and depth-dependent variations in the AT moment arm are generally not considered, but may be relevant given the complex triceps surae architecture. We coupled motion analysis and ultrasound imaging to characterize AT moment arms during walking in 10 subjects. Muscle loading during push-off amplified the AT moment arm by 10% relative to heel strike. AT moment arms also varied by 14% over the tendon thickness. In walking, AT moment arms are not strictly dependent on kinematics, but exhibit important load and spatial dependencies.
Calculation of Oil Shale Fractures Generated by a Column of Explosive in a Borehole

The preparation of an oil shale formation for subsequent retorting is an important part of an in situ oil extraction process. Oil shale is generally found in competent, sub-surface deposits which must be fragmented in order to accommodate the processing fluids. One fragmentation method under consideration involves boring a vertical shaft into a layer of oil shale, filling the borehole with explosive at the appropriate depth, stemming the hole, and then detonating the column of explosive. Field experiments have been performed in this configuration and measurements obtained of the stress/time histories at several points in the oil shale [1]. As part of the evaluation process of these experiments, wave propagation codes are used to calculate the stress histories in the rock. It is intended that a comparison of the measured and calculated response will aid the development of constitutive models that account for the fracture of the rock, and its state of preparedness for retorting.
Enriching Students' Scientific Thinking through Relational Reasoning: Seeking Evidence in Texts, Tasks, and Talk.

As reflected in the Next Generation Science Standards, concerns about the adequacy of education and career preparation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields have led to fundamental shifts in the focus of K-12 science education. Such shifts are also highlighted in many of the articles within this special issue, and the issue focus on the role of relational reasoning in learning in STEM domains. Within this commentary, we reflect upon how the articles within this special issue align with, and shed new light on, the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), specifically with respect to relational reasoning. We then describe a novel pedagogical approach designed to augment students’ acquisition of NGSS practices and core ideas (i.e., Quality Talk Science (QTs)) and how evidence from our research on QTs has shown increases in relational reasoning. In this section, we also provide multiple discourse excerpts that serve as exemplars for each of the four types of relational reasoning (i.e., analogy, anomaly, antinomy, and antithesis). Finally, we present specific exemplars from QTs that reinforce the ideas and findings forwarded by the authors of each of the papers within this special issue and propose some thoughts regarding future directions for research.
Examination of the PROMIS upper extremity item bank

Abstract Study Design Clinical measurement. Introduction The psychometric properties of the PROMIS v1.2 UE item bank were tested on various samples prior to its release, but have not been fully evaluated among the orthopaedic population. Purpose of the Study This study assesses the performance of the UE item bank within the UE orthopaedic patient population. Methods The UE item bank was administered to 1197 adult patients presenting to a tertiary orthopaedic clinic specializing in hand and UE conditions and was examined using traditional statistics and Rasch analysis. Results The UE item bank fits a unidimensional model (outfit MNSQ range from 0.64 to 1.70) and has adequate reliabilities (person = 0.84; item = 0.82) and local independence (item residual correlations range from −0.37 to 0.34). Only one item exhibits gender differential item functioning. Most items target low levels of function. Discussion The UE item bank is a useful clinical assessment tool. Additional items covering higher functions are needed to enhance validity. Conclusions Supplemental testing is recommended for patients at higher levels of function until more high function UE items are developed. Level of Evidence 2c.
The Riemann Surface

The purpose of this chapter is to show how to give a structure of analytic manifold to the set of points on a curve in the complex numbers, but our treatment also applies to more general fields like p-adic numbers. We are principally interested in the complex case, in order to derive the Abel-Jacobi theorem in the next chapter.
An agonist anti-GITR antibody enhances effector and memory CD8 T cell responses and tumor immunity following xenogeneic DNA immunization against melanoma

2652 Immunization of mice with DNA encoding xenogeneic (i.e. human) orthologues of the melanoma differentiation antigens gp100 or DCT/TRP-2 generates antigen-specific T cell responses, protection from B16 melanoma challenge, and autoimmune hypopigmentation. While this strategy is effective in breaking tolerance to these otherwise poorly-immunogenic self antigens, the anti-tumor immunity induced is modest and short-lived. This may be due to quantitative and/or qualitative deficits in the generation of antigen-specific effector and memory CD8 T cells. We hypothesized that these deficits could be overcome by administering an agonist anti-GITR (glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor) monoclonal antibody, DTA-1, during immunization, with the goals of 1) inhibiting CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs), which constituitively express GITR and may limit the generation of CD8 T cell memory responses (Suvas et al. JEM 2003;198:889), and 2) costimulating effector CD8 T cells which upregulate GITR following activation (Muriglan et al, JEM 2004; 200:149). C57BL/6 mice were immunized with human gp100 or DCT/TRP-2 DNA weekly for 3 immunizations, with a single injection of anti-GITR or control antibody given just prior to the 2nd immunization. We found that: 1) gp100-specific CD8 T cell responses (as measured by tetramer and intracellular cytokine flow cytometry assays) were two- to fourfold greater, both locally (draining lymph nodes) and systemically (spleen), in mice that received anti-GITR antibody; 2) this increase persisted as long as 33 days following immunization, and was associated with an increase in the percentage of gp100-specific CD8 T cells expressing an effector/memory (CD44hiCD62Llo) phenotype; 3) anti-GITR treatment led to increased protection from B16 melanoma challenge;. 4) mice which received anti-GITR antibody during an initial immunization series had improved CD8 T cell recall responses following a booster immunization given 28 days later, compared with mice which received a control antibody; 5) enhanced CD8 T cell responses, tumor immunity, and autoimmune hypopigmentation were also seen using DNA encoding a different melanoma antigen, DCT/TRP-2. Thus, combining xenogeneic DNA immunization with an agonist anti-GITR antibody leads to enhanced effector and memory CD8 T cell responses and tumor immunity, and merits further consideration as a potential strategy for eliciting anti-tumor immunity in cancer patients.
Understanding the Role Fluidity of Stakeholders During Assistive Technology Research "In the Wild"

Deploying novel technologies requires the coordinated efforts of the research team, research participants, and a variety of community members and project stakeholders. To ensure that the project is completed successfully, these disparate groups of people engage in articulation work, which is the meta-work that supports the use of collaborative systems. In this paper, we examine the articulation work surrounding the deployment of systems that have found limited long-term adoption: assistive technology. Specifically, we examine three research deployments of a collaborative game for children with autism. Analysis of the articulation work performed during these studies demonstrates how research deployments of technologies create conditions in which stakeholders must take on additional roles to make the deployment work. By understanding the articulation work surrounding deployment studies engendered in this role fluidity, we can improve both research design and the analysis of data emergent from these studies.
The feasibility of endoscopy-CT image registration in the head and neck without prospective endoscope tracking.

Purpose Endoscopic examinations are frequently-used procedures for patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy, but radiation treatment plans are created on computed tomography (CT) scans. Image registration between endoscopic video and CT could be used to improve treatment planning and analysis of radiation-related normal tissue toxicity. The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility of endoscopy-CT image registration without prospective physical tracking of the endoscope during the examination. Methods A novel registration technique called Location Search was developed. This technique uses physical constraints on the endoscope's view direction to search for the virtual endoscope coordinates that maximize the similarity between the endoscopic video frame and the virtual endoscopic image. Its performance was tested on phantom and patient images and compared to an established registration technique, Frame-To-Frame Tracking. Results In phantoms, Location Search had average registration errors of 0.55 ± 0.60 cm for point measurements and 0.29 ± 0.15 cm for object surface measurements. Frame-To-Frame Tracking achieved similar results on some frames, but it failed on others due to the virtual endoscope becoming lost. This weakness was more pronounced in patients, where Frame-To-Frame tracking could not make it through the nasal cavity. On successful patient video frames, Location Search was able to find endoscope positions with an average distance of 0.98 ± 0.53 cm away from the ground truth positions. However, it failed on many frames due to false similarity matches caused by anatomical structural differences between the endoscopic video and the virtual endoscopic images. Conclusions Endoscopy-CT image registration without prospective physical tracking of the endoscope is possible, but more development is required to achieve an accuracy suitable for clinical translation.
Pulmonary Hypertension Associated With Scleroderma and Connective Tissue Disease: Potential Molecular and Cellular Targets

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterized by autoimmunity, small-vessel vasculopathy, and fibrosis causing damage in multiple organ systems. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a serious and often fatal complication of SSc, occurring in patients with the limited (lcSSc) and diffuse (dcSSc) forms of the disease and affecting 8% to 15% of patients.1,2 While pulmonary hypertension associated with connective tissue disease (CTD-PAH) has similar clinical features as idiopathic PAH, 1-year survival and freedom from hospitalization are lower in CTD-PAH.3 SSc-PAH has the worst 1-year survival rate at 82% compared with other connective tissue diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus, mixed connective tissue disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.3,4 Despite the recent progress in the development of disease-targeted therapies, patients with SSc-PAH have a poorer response to treatment and a worse prognosis than other subgroups of PAH.1 Autoimmunity and prolonged vasculopathy preceding the development of clin...
Deterministic electric power infrastructure planning: Mixed-integer programming model and nested decomposition algorithm

Abstract This paper addresses the long-term planning of electric power infrastructures considering high renewable penetration. To capture the intermittency of these sources, we propose a deterministic multi-scale Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) formulation that simultaneously considers annual generation investment decisions and hourly operational decisions. We adopt judicious approximations and aggregations to improve its tractability. Moreover, to overcome the computational challenges of treating hourly operational decisions within a monolithic multi-year planning horizon, we propose a decomposition algorithm based on Nested Benders Decomposition for multi-period MILP problems to allow the solution of larger instances. Our decomposition adapts previous nested Benders methods by handling integer and continuous state variables, although at the expense of losing its finite convergence property due to potential duality gap. We apply the proposed modeling framework to a case study in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) region, and demonstrate massive computational savings from our decomposition.
Reversal learning paradigm reveals deficits in cognitive flexibility in the Fmr1 knockout male mouse.

Background: Loss of FMR1 is associated with Fragile X syndrome, amongst the most prevalent inherited intellectual disability. Despite extensive research in this area, previous studies have failed to detect consistent evidence of cognitive impairments in the Morris water maze (MWM) task in the Fmr1 knockout (KO) mouse. However, few studies have examined cognitive flexibility in a reversal form of the MWM task, which may illuminate subtle learning deficits. Methods: Adult male Fmr1 wildtype (WT) and KO mice were bred and tested in the MWM reversal paradigm. The testing paradigm consisted of two blocks per day, with 4 trials per block to locate a hidden platform. After the last trials on the fourth day of testing, the animals were given a probe trial with the platform removed. The following week, the location of the platform was switched to the opposite quadrant and the animals received 2 more days of testing, with 4 blocks in total. Results: As expected, Fmr1 KO mice did not display a learning deficit during the acquisition phase, F genotype (1, 24) = 0.034, p = 0.854, and performed similarly on the probe trial, F genotype (1, 23) = 0.024, p = 0.877. However, during the reversal phase of learning, Fmr1 KO mice showed deficits in their ability to learn the new location of the platform, F genotype (1, 23) = 3.93, p = 0.059. Further independent samples t-testing revealed that KO animals displayed significantly higher latency to reach the hidden platform during the third trial, t(23) = -2.96, p < 0.01. Conclusions: While previous studies have not demonstrated deficits in spatial memory in the Fmr1 KO model, it is possible that the acquisition phase of the task is less sensitive to deficits in learning. Future studies using this model to evaluate therapeutic interventions should consider utilizing the MWM reversal paradigm.