cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The structural and content aspects of abstracts versus bodies of full text journal articles are different

An increase in work on the full text of journal articles and the growth of PubMedCentral have the opportunity to create a major paradigm shift in how biomedical text mining is done. However, until now there has been no comprehensive characterization of how the bodies of full text journal articles differ from the abstracts that until now have been the subject of most biomedical text mining research. We examined the structural and linguistic aspects of abstracts and bodies of full text articles, the performance of text mining tools on both, and the distribution of a variety of semantic classes of named entities between them. We found marked structural differences, with longer sentences in the article bodies and much heavier use of parenthesized material in the bodies than in the abstracts. We found content differences with respect to linguistic features. Three out of four of the linguistic features that we examined were statistically significantly differently distributed between the two genres. We also found content differences with respect to the distribution of semantic features. There were significantly different densities per thousand words for three out of four semantic classes, and clear differences in the extent to which they appeared in the two genres. With respect to the performance of text mining tools, we found that a mutation finder performed equally well in both genres, but that a wide variety of gene mention systems performed much worse on article bodies than they did on abstracts. POS tagging was also more accurate in abstracts than in article bodies. Aspects of structure and content differ markedly between article abstracts and article bodies. A number of these differences may pose problems as the text mining field moves more into the area of processing full-text articles. However, these differences also present a number of opportunities for the extraction of data types, particularly that found in parenthesized text, that is present in article bodies but not in article abstracts.
Ipsilateral Testicular Hypotrophy is Associated With Decreased Sperm Counts in Infertile Men With Varicoceles

AbstractPurpose: The presence of ipsilateral testicular growth retardation (hypotrophy) is the most common indication for prophylactic varicocele repair in adolescents in an effort to prevent future infertility. We examined the relationship between semen parameters and ipsilateral versus contralateral testicular size in men with unilateral varicoceles to determine whether testicular size is an appropriate parameter for predicting future fertility.Materials and Methods: We studied the records of consecutive patients with palpable unilateral left varicoceles for whom a history, physical examination and semen analysis were available. Total motile sperm counts of men with and without ipsilateral testicular hypotrophy were compared.Results: We identified 611 patients with unilateral clinical left varicoceles, including 305 (50%) with ipsilateral testicular hypotrophy. Mean total motile sperm counts plus or minus standard error of mean were significantly less in the patients with than without testicular hypotro...
Studies of Laser-Driven Shock Waves in Aluminum

We have observed the structure and velocity of laser-driven shock waves in aluminum foils. We have measured shock velocities as high as 13 km/s and shock luminosity rise-times less than 50 ps, and we have inferred pressures of 200 GPa and shock-front thicknesses 0.7 \ensuremath{\mu}m. These results suggest that such techniques may be used for measuring equation-of-state parameters and studying the detailed structure of shock fronts.
Capillary Electrophoresis-Fluorescence Line-Narrowing (CE-FLN) System for DNA Adduct Characterization

Abstract Capillary electrophoresis (CE) interfaced with low-temperature (4.2 K) fluorescence line-narrowing (FLN) spectroscopy is used for separation and structural characterization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-derived DNA adducts. The CE-FLN system is applied to the separation and identification of mixtures of benzo[a]pyrene and dibenzo[a,l]pyrene DNA adducts. Interfacing CE with FLN spectroscopy allows on-line separation and high-resolution spectroscopic identification of CE-separated DNA adducts, providing a new powerful tool for DNA adduct structure characterization.
Low-power high-speed silicon microdisk modulators

A novel silicon microdisk modulator with “error-free” ∼3 femtojoule/bit modulation at 12.5Gbs has been demonstrated. Modulation with a 1 volt swing allows for compatibility with current and future digital logic CMOS electronics.
EPITAXIAL THIN FILM YBCO MEMBRANE STRUCTURE FOR THERMAL DETECTORS

ABSTRACT YBa2Cu3O7(YBCO) films have been used at room temperature as conducting oxide electrodes, as well as an excellent template layer for epitaxial growth PZT thin films. This research addresses the fabrication of epitaxial thin film membrane structures based on high temperature superconductor (HTSC) microbolometers for highly sensitive thermal detectors that can be miniaturized for affordable passive millimeter-wave (MMW) imaging. A completely dry etch process is described for fabricating transition-edge microbolometer airbridges based on YBCO film. Pulse Laser Deposition (PLD) grown YBCO film on silicon substrate have anomalies on the surface that must be removed prior to the release process.
Advancing Africa through management knowledge and practice: the way forward

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review and summarizes the articles that were accepted for the special issue focusing on “Advancing Africa through management knowledge and practice”. The paper also provides suggestions for future research focus for researchers on management issues in and about Africa.Design/methodology/approach – The paper presents a conceptual review the distinctiveness of the five articles in the special issue which focus a personal reflection about management research and education in Africa, effective leadership development in Africa and the African diaspora, performance management implementation in the public sector; internationalization process of African businesses with special reference to banks; and strategic factors that could be emphasized by African firms to improve their performance. These papers are synthesized to present a coherent management research framework for Africa.Findings – African management research requires a strategic choice approach, which asks intere...
Factor semantics for document retrieval

Principal component analysis is a useful technique for reducing the dimensionality of datasets, a paramount need in high dimensional term spaces. We study three neural networks with Hebbian-like learning that approximately produce the principal components of a document database. The explained variance of the solutions shows how much information the reduced space retains. In this database the first factor is strongly described by words that are usually included in a stop-word list, other factors show high loadings in content specific terms; this indicates that the networks are learning the semantic space. The retrieval performance on the reduced space is compared with other methods.
Molecular Self-Assembly at Bare Semiconductor Surfaces: Characterization of a Homologous Series of n-Alkanethiolate Monolayers on GaAs(001)

Structural trends for a homologous series of n-alkanethiolate self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), CnH2n+1S– with 12 ≤ n ≤ 19, on GaAs(001), studied by a combination of grazing incidence X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy, along with ancillary probes, show an overall decay in organization with decreasing n, with the largest changes occurring below n = 15−16. The long-chain monolayers form a mosaic structure with ≤10 nm domains of molecules organized in an incommensurate pseudo-hcp arrangement with nearest neighbor distances of 4.70 and 5.02 A, a 21.2 A2 area per chain, two chains per subcell in a herringbone packing with a chain tilt angle of 14°, and preferential domain alignment along the substrate [110]([110]) step edge direction. In contrast, for n 16 cases. A 4′-methyl-biphenyl-4-thiolate companion SAM shows evidence for ordered structures but with...
Block based completion for video stabilization

Video stabilization helps eliminate unwanted camera motion, yet it also introduces missing regions near the edge of the frame. We outline a new method for the completion of stabilized video using a block based approach. Building upon macroblock recovery techniques, candidate blocks are chosen using the nearby motion vectors of blocks at the edge of the original frame. Then, the candidate blocks with the best boundary match are selected to fill in the missing region. Results on videos of dynamic scenes show realistic completions, with the potential to leverage existing block motion estimation hardware and significantly decrease processing time when compared to other state-of-the-art completion methods.
Neuroimmunophilin ligands: evaluation of their therapeutic potential for the treatment of neurological disorders

Neuroimmunophilin ligands are a class of compounds that hold great promise for the treatment of nerve injuries and neurological disease. In contrast to neurotrophins (e.g., nerve growth factor), these compounds readily cross the blood-brain barrier, being orally effective in a variety of animal models of ischaemia, traumatic nerve injury and human neurodegenerative disorders. A further distinction is that neuroimmunophilin ligands act via unique receptors that are unrelated to the classical neurotrophic receptors (e.g., trk), making it unlikely that clinical trials will encounter the same difficulties found with the neurotrophins. Another advantage is that two neuroimmunophilin ligands (cyclosporin A and FK-506) have already been used in humans (as immunosuppressant drugs). Whereas both cyclosporin A and FK-506 demonstrate neuroprotective actions, only FK-506 and its derivatives have been clearly shown to exhibit significant neuroregenerative activity. Accordingly, the neuroprotective and neuroregenerative properties seem to arise via different mechanisms. Furthermore, the neuroregenerative property does not involve calcineurin inhibition (essential for immunosuppression). This is important since most of the limiting side effects produced by these drugs arise via calcineurin inhibition. A major breakthrough for the development of this class of compounds for the treatment of human neurological disorders was the ability to separate the neuroregenerative property of FK-506 from its immunosuppressant action via the development of non-immunosuppressant (non-calcineurin inhibiting) derivatives. Further studies revealed that different receptor subtypes, or FK-506-binding proteins (FKBPs), mediate immunosuppression and nerve regeneration (FKBP-12 and FKBP-52, respectively, the latter being a component of steroid receptor complexes). Thus, steroid receptor chaperone proteins represent novel targets for future drug development of novel classes of compounds for the treatment of a variety of human neurological disorders, including traumatic injury (e.g., peripheral nerve and spinal cord), chemical exposure (e.g., vinca alkaloids, Taxol) and neurodegenerative disease (e.g. , diabetic neuropathy and Parkinson's disease).
Testing Enhances the Transfer of Learning

Many studies have shown that retrieving information during a test facilitates later memory for that information. Most research on this testing effect has focused on retention of information measured via a final test that is similar to the initial test. Much less is known about the potential of testing to promote the application—i.e., transfer—of learning. In this article, I review recent studies that have begun to address this issue, specifically with regard to the benefits of testing on transfer across temporal contexts, test formats, and knowledge domains. The small but growing number of studies on this topic have so far reported robust benefits of testing on transfer of learning. Future research is encouraged that explores the potential of tests to promote not just direct retention of information, but also the application of knowledge to new situations.
The Genesis of the Common Form of Public Worship in Our Non-Liturgical Churches

Till within recent years, when a modern growth of church music, of responsive readings, and of other so-called “enrichments,” has affected their services, the non-liturgical churches of America have followed an essentially rigid form of public worship. That form still constitutes the underlying framework of their services, whatever modifications in its proportion and arrangement have been introduced. Strongly repudiating any liturgical forms throughout most of their American history, these churches have been tenacious as to the sequence and the general proportion of the elements of public worship. Their much-prized freedom has not been a freedom in practice in this regard. As constituted within the recollection of all here present, and as to be found widely in contemporary experience, the substantially unvarying service of the House of God began with a brief invocation, followed by the reading of the Bible, to which a hymn succeeded, to be followed by the “long prayer” of general supplication and thanksgiving. At its conclusion the sermon was preached. That ended, a brief prayer was offered, a second hymn was sung, and the congregation was dismissed with the benediction. Not infrequently the order of the prayer and hymn following the sermon was reversed; but the essential sequence and proportion of the service were seldom otherwise varied. Such rigidity and uniformity must have its historic reasons; and the purpose of this brief paper is to set forth the more important steps by which our typical form of public worship came to be what it is.
Behavior phenotype in the RSH/Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome.

The behavior phenotype of Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS) was studied by assessing behavior, social, and communication abilities, sensory hyperreactivity, and the deficits associated with autistic disorder. Fifty-six SLOS subjects, age 0.3 to 32.3 years, were evaluated by multiple age-dependent questionnaires and telephone interviews. Of the 56 subjects, 50 (89%) had a history of repeated self-injury: 30 (54%) bit themselves; 27 (48%) head-banged; and 30 (54%) threw themselves backward in a highly characteristic upper body movement ("opisthokinesis"). Forty-seven of these subjects were also evaluated by direct observation and by direct interview of the parent or caregiver. Of 11 subjects 10 years or older, three (27%) had a stereotypic stretching motion of the upper body accompanied by hand flicking. Additional measures showed sensory hyperreactivity, temperament dysregulation, sleep disturbance, and social and communication deficits. Nine of 17 subjects (53%) met the diagnostic criteria for autistic disorder by the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) algorithm questions [Lord et al., 1993, 1994]. Thus, SLOS is a metabolic disorder that can be associated with autism and other behavioral characteristics that define a distinctive and diagnostically important behavioral disorder.
Novice Strategies for Understanding Paintings

Visual analysis is taught in art history classes as a skill which aids a student in understanding a work of art in its appropriate conceptual or historical context. To provide a foundation for the design of computer-based lessons to train students in the skill, this study attempted to discover the strategies that novices employ when viewing a set of paintings. Verbal protocols obtained from novices in this study indicated that they described semantic features, or content, of paintings more than the formal elements, e. g. line, colour, shape, when viewing realist paintings. However, when presented with abstract, i. e. less semantically accessible paintings, novices shaply altered their approach and discussed formal elements over content. These findings suggest that an analysis of formal elements is not performed by a novice when a painting depicts a clear subject, but is attempted when the subject-matter becomes obscure. This implies that, at some level, novices realize that the meaning of a painting can be extracted from attention to the formal elements. Interestingly, novice protocols contained the same categories of strategies deemed important by experts. The lack of training in visual analysis was not notably manifest with respect to style. Of all formal dimensions, this one yielded the greatest discrepancy between novices and the expectations of instructors.
The Healthy Eating Index and Youth Healthy Eating Index Are Unique, Nonredundant Measures of Diet Quality among Low-Income, African American Adolescents

Chronic disease is related to poor diet quality. The Healthy Eating Index (HEI) was developed to assess diet quality. The Youth HEI (YHEI) is an adaptation of the HEI for use with children and adolescents. The objectives were to compare HEI and YHEI scores among adolescents at risk for chronic disease and to compare associations between the scores and health indicators. This cross-sectional study included 2 low-income, urban African American adolescent samples (Challenge, n = 196; Three Generation, n = 121). HEI and YHEI scores were calculated from a FFQ and compared with BMI, body composition, and micronutrient, energy, and dietary intakes. YHEI scores were lower than HEI scores across both adolescent samples (Challenge, 48.94 ± 9.31 vs. 62.83 ± 11.75; Three Generation, 47.08 ± 9.65 vs. 59.93 ± 11.27; P < 0.001). Females (64.47 ± 11.70) had higher HEI scores than males (61.15 ± 11.61) (P < 0.05), but there was no gender difference in YHEI scores. HEI and YHEI scores were associated with higher micronutrient and total energy intakes (r = 0.19–0.76; P < 0.05). Higher percent body/abdominal fat was associated with lower HEI scores (r = −0.17 to −0.19; P < 0.05) but not with YHEI scores. BMI was not associated with either HEI or YHEI scores. In conclusion, many adolescents were consuming diets that placed them at risk for developing chronic disease. Although both the HEI and YHEI are useful in assessing diet quality, the HEI is inversely associated with body composition, a predictor of chronic disease, and accounts for gender differences in the Dietary Guidelines, whereas the YHEI discounts nutrient-poor, energy-dense foods.
Effects of the Revolving Door Identification Model on Creative Productivity and Self-efficacy

The study examined the effects of the Revolving Door Identification Model on student creative productivity and self-efficacy as regards creative productivity. Seventh and eighth grade students who had participated in RDIM programs for at least four years were compared with comparable students in a near-by district who received no services. Participation in an RDIM program and number of projects in school were identified as significant predictors of creative productivity outside school. RDIM students who did Type III projects were more likely to report that the project affected their career goals, improved research skills, led to a more positive attitude toward school, and increased insight into personal strengths and weaknesses than students not in the RDIM program who completed major school projects.
Thermal Decomposition of Energetic Materials. 42. Fast thermal decomposition of five N-Methyl substituted ethanediammonium dinitrate salts

The fast thermolysis of N-methyl substituted ethanediam-monium dinitrate salts is described by temperature profiling/FTIR spectroscopy. The salts described are [CH3NH2CH2CH2NH3](NO3)2 (MEDD), [CH3NH2CH2CH2NH2CH3](NO3)2 (SDMEDD), [(CH3)2NHCH2CH2NH3](NO3)2 (UDMEDD), [(CH3)2NHCH2CH2NH2CH3](NO3)2 (TRMEDD) und [(CH3)2NHCH2CH2NH(CH3)2](NO3)2 (TMEDD). MEDD, UDMEDD, SDMEDD and TRMEDD more closely resemble the behavior of alkylammonium mononitrate salts than primary alkanediammonium dinitrates in terms of the temperature at which HNO3 is released. However, TMEDD resembles the dinitrates. Both C-C and C-N bond fission occur based on the nature of the alkylamine products that are liberated.
Molecular comparison of monocot and dicot U1 and U2 snRNAs

To elucidate differences between the pre-mRNA splicing components in monocots and dicots, we have cloned and characterized several U1 and U2 snRNA sequence variants expressed in wheat seedling nuclei. Primer extension sequencing on wheat and pea snRNA populations has demonstrated that two 5'-terminal nucleotides found in most other U1 snRNAs are missing/modified in many plant U1 snRNAs. Comparison of the wheat U1 and U2 snRNA variants with their counterparts expressed in pea nuclei has defined regions of structural divergence between monocot and dicot U1 and U2 snRNAs. The U1 and U2 snRNA sequences involved in RNA:RNA interaction with pre-mRNAs are absolutely conserved. Significant differences occur between wheat and pea U1 snRNAs in stem I and II structures implicated in the binding of U1-specific proteins suggesting that the monocot and dicot U1-specific snRNP proteins differ in their binding specificities. Stem III structures, which are required in mammalian systems for splicing complex formation but not for U1-specific protein binding, differ more extensively than stems I, II, or IV. In U2 snRNAs, the sequence differences between these two species are primarily localized in stem III and in stem IV which has been implicated in snRNP protein binding. These differences suggest that monocot and dicot U1 and U2 snRNPs represent distinct entities that may have monocot- and dicot-specific snRNP protein variants associated with each snRNA.
Mahler measure of some n-variable polynomial families

The Mahler measures of some n-variable polynomial families are given in terms of special values of the Riemann zeta function and a Dirichlet L-series, generalizing the results of Lalin (J. Number Theory 103 (2003) 85–108). The technique introduced in this work also motivates certain identities among Bernoulli numbers and symmetric functions.
An investigation of estimating pitch periods using a non-linear differential operator

Numerous techniques have been developed to estimate the pitch periods in speech signals. These techniques use a variety of methods in both the time and frequency domains to estimate the pitch periods. An investigation is made into a time domain algorithm which uses a non-linear differential operator developed by Teager (see B. Gold, J. Acoust. Soc. of America, vol.34, no.7, p.916-921, 1962, and vol.46, no.2, pt.2, p.442-448, 1969), called an energy operator, to estimate the pitch period of the speech data. When the energy operator is applied to a voiced speech signal, it produced a signal with enhanced glottal pulses. From this signal, the pitch period is estimated and the resulting pitch track is smoothed. All operations in this algorithm are done in the time domain. >
Harnessing massively parallel DNA sequencing for the personalization of cancer management

In order to properly diagnose and classify tumors and select the most appropriate therapies for patients, one must accurately and efficiently identify oncogenic mutations in key cancer-associated genes. Massively parallel DNA sequencing technology has the potential to dramatically enhance the field of molecular diagnostics. For increasingly lower costs, one can interrogate all clinically relevant genes for mutations, copy number alterations and structural rearrangements, with high detection sensitivity in heterogeneous tissue. Advances in exon capture, molecular barcoding and profiling of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens have further established the clinical potential of massively parallel sequencing. This article discusses promising strategies for DNA sequencing as a clinical tool and also the challenges in its implementation in the clinical arena.
Unique oxidation of imidazolidine nitroxides by potassium ferricyanide: strategy for designing paramagnetic probes with enhanced sensitivity to oxidative stress.

AbstractPotassium ferricyanide (PF), routinely employed for the oxidation of sterically-hindered hydroxylamines to nitroxides, is considered to be chemically inert towards the latter. In the present study, we report on an unexpected oxidative fragmentation of the imidazolidine nitroxides containing hydrogen atom in the 4-position of the heterocycle (HIMD) by PF resulting in the loss of the EPR signal. The mechanistic EPR, spectrophotometric, electrochemical and HPLC–MS studies support the assumption that the HIMD fragmentation is facilitated by the proton abstraction from the 4-position of the oxoammonium cation formed as a result of the initial one-electron HIMD oxidation. Increase in steric hindrance around the radical fragment by introducing ethyl substituents decreased the rate of ascorbate-induced HIMD reduction by more than 20 times, but did not affect the rate of ferricyanide-induced HIMD oxidation. This preferential sensitivity of HIMDs to oxidative processes has been used to detect peroxyl radica...
Attachment, autonomy, and multifinality in adolescent internalizing and risky behavioral symptoms

A diathesis-stress interaction model is used to describe multifinality in adolescent internalizing and risky behavioral outcomes. Problematic behavior associated with adolescent insecure preoccupation (a diathesis) was expected to interact with the level of maternal autonomous discourse (a stressor) to predict specific adolescent outcomes. Assessments of adolescent preoccupied attachment organization, observations of maternal displays of autonomy in mother–adolescent interactions, and adolescent reports of internalizing symptoms and risky behaviors were obtained at age 16. As predicted, maternal autonomy in the mother–adolescent relationship helped to explain multifinality in dysfunctional symptoms among preoccupied adolescents. Adolescent preoccupation was more strongly linked to internalizing behavior when mothers demonstrated low levels of autonomy in interactions with their adolescents and more strongly linked to risky behavior when mothers displayed extremely high levels of autonomy. Implications for autonomy processes in increasing our understanding of how adolescent insecure–preoccupation relates to profiles of specific problems during adolescence are discussed as is the importance of exploring the role of attachment in different contexts.
Feeding and Growth Rates for Triploid Grass Carp as Influenced by Size and Water Temperature

ABSTRACT Thirty feeding trials were conducted using triploid grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella Val.) fed hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata Royle) to establish feeding and growth rates as a function of fish size and water temperature. Size of fish ranged from 0.2 to 9.1 kg and water temperatures ranged from 17 to 27 C. Feeding trials consisted of fish and hydrilla housed in 4 m3 wire mesh cages suspended at weekly intervals in an experimental pond. Utilizing pre- and post-weights of fish and hydrilla, weight gain, relative and absolute feeding rates, and feeding efficiency were found to increase with increasing water temperatures. Relative and absolute feeding rates for 0.2—0.4 kg fish at 17 C were approximately 25% of that for similar sized fish at 27 C. Above 25 C, these small fish consumed their body weight per day of hydrilla. While relative feeding rates (gm hydrilla/gm fish/day) declined with increase in fish size (at constant temperature), this was not the pattern for absolute feeding rates (gm hydr...
A Computerized Decision Support Aid for Critical Care Novice Nursing

The traditional health care model of a novice nurse interacting with a senior staff nurse in a mentoring role is not possible in today's world of nursing shortages and high patient loads. In addition due to regulatory and legal issues more traceable digitally stored information regarding patient care is require. Collecting this information in real-time may leave less time to the nurse for actual patient care. In a perfect world, the hospital would have all patients' records and all information concerning a hospitalization stored and accessible digitally. In reality, due to traditional manual data entry, analysis and recovery inadequacies, the nurse does not have real-time access to such information to aid patient care. Presently most patient data collected is aimed at supporting legal and billing concerns not for assisting with primary patient care. This paper described N-CODES (novice nurses' computer decision support system) a research project developing a wireless point-of-care system to assist the acute care novice nurse in making sound clinical judgments.
Measuring average alcohol consumption: the impact of including binge drinks in quantity-frequency calculations.

AIMS: Average daily alcohol consumption is usually calculated based on self-reports of the quantity (number of drinks consumed per drinking-day) and frequency (number of drinking-days) of alcohol consumption within a given time period. However, this method may underestimate average daily alcohol consumption (and in turn, the prevalence of heavy drinking), because studies demonstrate that respondents do not typically include binge drinking occasions in estimates of their 'usual' or 'average' daily alcohol consumption. DESIGN: We used the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), an annual random-digit telephone survey of US adults aged 18 years or older, to estimate average daily alcohol consumption using standard quantity-frequency questions, and then recalculated this measure by including self-reports of binge drinking. The proportion of respondents who met a standard, sex-specific definition of heavy drinking based on average daily alcohol consumption was then assessed nationally and for each state. FINDINGS: Compared to standard quantity-frequency methods, including binge drinks in calculations of average daily alcohol consumption increased the relative prevalence of heavy drinking among all adults by 19% to 42% (depending on the method used to estimate the number of drinks per binge). Among binge drinkers, the overall prevalence of heavy drinking increased 53% relative to standard quantity-frequency methods. As a result, half of women binge drinkers and half of binge drinkers aged 55 or older met criteria for heavy drinking. CONCLUSIONS: Including binge drinks (especially the application of age- and sex-specific estimates of binge drinks) in the calculation of average daily alcohol consumption can improve the accuracy of prevalence estimates for heavy drinking among US adults, and should be considered to increase the usefulness of this measure for alcohol surveillance. Language: en
GRAOMYS, THE GENUS THAT ATE SOUTH AMERICA: A REPLY TO STEPPAN AND SULLIVAN

Abstract We respond to Steppan and Sullivan's (2000) critique of the systematic arguments and recommendations presented by Mares and Braun (1996). We argue that a “nonstatistical” approach still has a place in systematics as it is currently practiced. Although useful for hypothesis testing, Steppan and Sullivan's (2000) statistical approach should be used with caution when proposing changes in classification.
The human ventromedial frontal lobe is critical for learning from negative feedback

Are positive and negative feedback weighed in a common balance in the brain, or do they influence behaviour through distinct neural mechanisms? Recent neuroeconomic studies in both human and non-human primates indicate that the ventromedial frontal lobe carries information about both losses and gains, suggesting that this region may encode value across the continuum from absolute negative to absolute positive outcomes. However, such work does not specify whether or how this value information is applied during behaviour. Observations of patients with ventromedial frontal damage indicate that this region is critical for certain forms of reinforcement learning and value-based decision-making, but the underlying processes remain unclear. We disentangled the influence of cumulative positive and negative feedback on subsequent behaviour with a probabilistic reinforcement learning task in 11 patients with ventromedial frontal damage, 9 lesioned controls and 24 healthy controls, and found that ventromedial frontal damage selectively disrupted the ability to learn from negative feedback.
Responses of Chilli Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) to Capsicum Cultivars in Choice Tests in the Greenhouse and Laboratory and Relative Benefits of Protecting these Cultivars with Spinetoram

ABSTRACT Since the chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) poses a considerable threat to production of peppers in the Western Hemisphere, it is important to determine the relative vulnerability of different cultivars of Capsicum annuum L. and C. chinense Jacquin. In addition it is important to determine the relative benefits to the productivity of these cultivars of controlling the chilli thrips with insecticides. Therefore the effects of the chilli thrips on 11 pepper cultivars (Capsicum spp.; Solanales: Solanaceae) were tested in greenhouse and laboratory environments. When data for spinetoram-treated and untreated plants of each cultivar were pooled, the number of pedicels, number of flowers, and total (pedicels + flowers + fruit) differed between cultivars, and ‘Astry’ and ‘Cheyenne’ had the highest counts of these organs, while ‘Hot Habanero Orange’ and ‘Hot Fatalli’ had the least. When cultivars were pooled for spinetoram-treated separately from untreated plants, spineto...
Total Knee Arthroplasty Following Proximal Tibial Osteotomy

To The Editor: I read with interest “Total Knee Arthroplasty Following Proximal Tibial Osteotomy: Risk Factors for Failure” (2004;86:474-9) by Parvizi et al. The authors reviewed the results of 166 cemented condylar knee replacements done in 118 patients who had previously had a proximal tibial osteotomy. These knee replacements had relatively inferior results, and the authors identified risk factors for early failure. The problems cited by the authors were malalignment, patella baja, instability, periarticular scarring, proximal tibial bone deficiency, and retained hardware. The great detail about the knee arthroplasty, the long follow-up, and the meticulous study design are all severely compromised by the absence of any detail regarding the technique of osteotomy. Were these opening or closing wedge corrections? Was the fibula osteotomized or was the proximal tibiofibular joint sprung? Was there internal, external, or no fixation? Were casts applied or were … Corresponding author: Mark J. Spangehl, MD Mayo Clinic 13400 East Shea Boulevard Scottsdale, AZ 85259
Imaging the intratumoral–peritumoral extracellular pH gradient of gliomas

Solid tumors have an acidic extracellular pH (pHe ) but near neutral intracellular pH (pHi ). Because acidic pHe milieu is conducive to tumor growth and builds resistance to therapy, simultaneous mapping of pHe inside and outside the tumor (i.e., intratumoral-peritumoral pHe gradient) fulfills an important need in cancer imaging. We used Biosensor Imaging of Redundant Deviation in Shifts (BIRDS), which utilizes shifts of non-exchangeable protons from macrocyclic chelates (e.g., 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetrakis(methylene phosphonate) or DOTP(8-) ) complexed with paramagnetic thulium (Tm(3) (+) ) ion, to generate in vivo pHe maps in rat brains bearing 9L and RG2 tumors. Upon TmDOTP(5-) infusion, MRI identified the tumor boundary by enhanced water transverse relaxation and BIRDS allowed imaging of intratumoral-peritumoral pHe gradients. The pHe measured by BIRDS was compared with pHi measured with (31) P-MRS. In normal tissue, pHe was similar to pHi , but inside the tumor pHe was lower than pHi . While the intratumoral pHe was acidic for both tumor types, peritumoral pHe varied with tumor type. The intratumoral-peritumoral pHe gradient was much larger for 9L than RG2 tumors because in RG2 tumors acidic pHe was found in distal peritumoral regions. The increased presence of Ki-67 positive cells beyond the RG2 tumor border suggested that RG2 was more invasive than the 9L tumor. These results indicate that extensive acidic pHe beyond the tumor boundary correlates with tumor cell invasion. In summary, BIRDS has sensitivity to map the in vivo intratumoral-peritumoral pHe gradient, thereby creating preclinical applications in monitoring cancer therapeutic responses (e.g., with pHe -altering drugs). Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Principles of European Union Law (Book Review Essay)

This essay reviews Tim Birtwistle's Principles of Euopean Union Law. Comparisons to similar titles are included.
EPIGENETIC TARGETING OF HEDGEHOG PATHWAY TRANSCRIPTIONAL OUTPUT

BACKGROUND: (blind field) METHODS: We used ligand and genetic activation of the Hedgehog pathway to study the effects of BET bromodomain inhibition on Hedgehog pathway transcriptional output. Furthermore, we studied the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of BET bromodomain inhibitors using tumor cells generated from genetically engineered mouse (GEM) and patient derived xenograft models of Hedgehog driven tumors, including a panel of tumors resistant to the current FDA-approved Smoothened antagonists. RESULTS: We show that knockdown of BRD4 or treatment with the BET bromodomain inhibitor, JQ1, dramatically inhibits transcription of GLI1, GLI2 and other Hedgehog target genes upon ligand-mediated or genetic activation of the Hedgehog pathway. We confirm the inhibitory effect of JQ1 occurs downstream of SMO and SUFU and verify by chromatin immunoprecipitation that BRD4 directly occupies the GLI1 and GLI2 promoters with a substantial decrease in the engagement of these genomic sites upon treatment with JQ1. We observe a corresponding downregulation of genes associated with medulloblastoma-specific GLI1 binding sites upon exposure to JQ1, confirming the direct regulation of GLI1 by BET bromodomain proteins. Finally, in patient- and GEM-derived cells of Hedgehog-driven cancer (basal cell carcinoma, medulloblastoma and atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor), we show that JQ1 decreases Hh pathway output and proliferation, even in cells resistant to Smoothened inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS: These results expand the role of BET bromodomain inhibitors to targeting Hedgehog-driven cancers and highlight a strategy that overcomes the limitation of Hedgehog pathway inhibitors currently in clinical use. SECONDARY CATEGORY: Pediatrics.
Understanding process-induced microstructures in RBa2Cu3O7

During the processing of rare earth (R)-barium-copper-oxygen superconductors, a variety of microstructures can be induced. Many processes are designed to avoid forming some structures, but these same processes can result in other structures which degrade the superconducting properties. Because liquid phases can be detrimental, for example, low-temperature calcination is often employed. But the CO2 gas evolved during calcination leads to the formation of a nanoc-rystalline microstructure which may affect superconducting properties. Textures and defects can be induced by high-temperature and high-pressure deformation. For commercial dreams to become reality, these processing-induced microstructures, and their effects on properties, will have to be understood and controlled.
Catalytic Effect of Ni and Fe Addition to Gasifier Bed Material in the Steam Reforming of Producer Gas

The removal of tars from producer gas in a biomass gasification process is a challenging task, due mainly to the poor reforming activity of bed materials used in gasifiers. In this study, the steam reforming performance of Ni- and Fe-catalyzed gasifier bed materials is evaluated. Experiments are performed with the bimetallic catalysts, with overall metal loading as low as 1.00 wt %, in a lab-scale fixed-bed reactor between 700 and 900 °C. The addition of Fe to Ni results in smaller crystallites of NiO on the calcined catalysts. The reduced bimetallic catalysts show an improvement in the metal surface area and metal dispersion in comparison to the catalyst containing only Ni. The enhancement is possible with intimate contact of Ni and Fe, and it is found to be limited by their relative amounts. The catalyzed bed materials display higher conversion for C7H8 and C2H4 than the base material but lower CH4 conversion. The steam reforming of the producer gas tars show strong dependence on the reaction temperatur...
Activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ prolongs islet allograft survival.

Exposing donor mice to carbon monoxide (CO) protects transplanted islet allografts from immune rejection after transplantation (referred as the “donor” effect). In an attempt to understand the mech...
Ultra-Robust Null Convention Logic Circuit with Emerging Domain Wall Devices

Despite many attractive advantages, Null Convention Logic (NCL) remains to be a niche largely due to its high imple- mentation costs. Using emerging spintronic devices, this paper proposes a Domain-Wall-Motion-based NCL circuit design methodology that achieves approximately 30x and 8x improvements in energy efficiency and chip layout area, respectively, over its equivalent CMOS design, while main- taining similar delay performance for a 32-bit full adder. These advantages are made possible mostly by exploiting the domain wall motion physics to natively realize the hys- teresis critically needed in NCL. More Interestingly, this de- sign choice achieves ultra-high robustness by allowing spin- tronic device parameters to vary within a predetermined range while still achieving correct operations.
The advance in the quality control of total nutrient admixture

Total nutrient admixture (TNA) has been used in many fields of clinical treatment The TNA is mixture of many ingradients and full of nutrient. The quality of TNA is affected by many factors. The complications induced by TNA have increased, so more attention should be paid to the quality control of TNA. The main factors influencing its quality and the methods of quality control are discussed.
A joint design approach for spectrum sharing between radar and communication systems

A joint design approach is proposed for the coexistence of MIMO radars and a communication system, for a scenario in which the targets fall in different range bins. Radar transmit precoding and adaptive communication transmission are adopted, and are jointly designed to maximize signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) at the radar receiver subject to the communication system meeting certain rate and power constraints. We start with the design of a system in which knowledge of the target information is used. Such design can be used to benchmark the performance of schemes that do not use target information. Then, we propose a design which does not require target information. In both cases, the optimization problems are nonconvex with respect to the design variables and have high computational complexity. Alternating optimization and sequential convex programming techniques are used to find a local maximum. Based on the analysis of the obtained solution, we propose a reduced dimensionality design, which has reduced complexity without degrading the radar SINR. Simulation results validate the effectiveness of the proposed spectrum sharing framework.
Prostatectomy in Factor XI Deficiency

Factor XI deficiency, an uncommon inherited coagulopathy characterized by an absence of bleeding history but bleeding after an operation or trauma, has not been reported previously in urologic patients. The diagnosis is made by a specific factor assay after an abnormal partial thromboplastin time and the treatment is fresh frozen plasma. Four patients with factor XI deficiency underwent open prostatectomy and all experienced excessive postoperative bleeding and prolonged hospitalization. Treatment with fresh frozen plasma controlled bleeding in 3 patients, 1 of whom suffered congestive heart failure from the fluid load imposed. The fourth patient bled heavily despite fresh frozen plasma and required several additional procedures and 29 units of blood and packed cells.
Can we obtain viable alternatives to Manning’s equation using genetic programming?

Applied water research, like the one derived from open-channel hydraulics, traditionally links empirical formulas to observational data; for example Manning’s formula for open channel flow driven by gravity relates the discharge ( Q ), cross-sectional average velocity ( V) , the hydraulic radius ( R ), and the slope of the water surface ( S ) with a friction coefficient n , characteristic of the channel’s surface needed in the location of interest. Here we use Genetic Programming (GP), a machine learning technique inspired by nature’s evolutionary rules, to derive empirical relationships based on synthetic datasets of the aforementioned parameters. Specifically, we evaluated if Manning’s formula could be retrieved from datasets with: a) 300 pentads of A , n , R, S , and Q (from Manning’s equation), b) from datasets containing an uncorrelated variable and the parameters from (a), and c) from a dataset containing the parameters from (b) but using values of Q containing noise. The cross-validated results show success retrieving the functional form from the synthetic data in the first two experiments, and a more complex solution of Q for the third experiment. The results encourage the application of GP on problems where traditional empirical relationships show high biases or are non-parsimonious. The results also show alternative flow equations that might be used in the absence of one or more predictors; however, these equations should be used with caution outside of the training intervals.
Reduction of the Complexity of the Intrisically Nonlinear Problem of Aerodynamic Sound Generation in an Unbounded Domain

In this research, the long standing problem of the sound generated by a complex unbounded flow field is revisited. It is shown that although this problem is inherently nonlinear, a unique splitting of the field quantities into acoustic, vortical, and entropy modes exists. The splitting for the nonlinear case is formally produced with projection operators, and as such, the method described in this paper for determining the acoustic portion of a complex flow field is called the acoustic projection method. In its most general form, the acoustic projection method includes the effect of arbitrary Mach, Reynolds, and Prandtl numbers as well as viscous and thermal diffusivity and refraction effects. It can be shown to yield the common form of Lighthill’s analogy by applying the correct assumptions.
Designing Genetic- and Genomic-Based Clinical Trials

Randomized controlled trials offer a rigorous framework within which to evaluate the clinical utility of genomic interventions (i.e., the intervention’s potential to improve patient outcomes). In genomic medicine, randomized trials are positioned along a spectrum from “explanatory” (e.g., to test whether the use of genomic information, when used under optimal, ideal settings, will improve patient outcomes) to “pragmatic” (e.g., to test whether the use of genomic information improves outcomes under usual clinical practice settings). The design of genomic-based trials requires consideration of the target population, whether the intervention is equally effective across different populations, potential adjustments to the significance level based on multiple analyses, the use of adaptive trial designs, and, in the case of pragmatic trials, alternative options for the unit of randomization. These opportunities and challenges require a multidisciplinary team that includes clinical specialists, geneticists, clinical trial specialists, and biostatisticians.