cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of texture, shape, and intensity features for robust posterior-fossa tumor segmentation in MRI

Our previous works suggest that fractal-based texture features are very useful for detection, segmentation and classification of posterior-fossa (PF) pediatric brain tumor in multimodality MRI. In this work, we investigate and compare efficacy of our texture features such as fractal and multifractional Brownian motion (mBm), and intensity along with another useful level-set based shape feature in PF tumor segmentation. We study feature selection and ranking using Kullback -Leibler Divergence (KLD) and subsequent tumor segmentation; all in an integrated Expectation Maximization (EM) framework. We study the efficacy of all four features in both multimodality as well as disparate MRI modalities such as T1, T2 and FLAIR. Both KLD feature plots and information theoretic entropy measure suggest that mBm feature offers the maximum separation between tumor and non-tumor tissues in T1 and FLAIR MRI modalities. The same metrics show that intensity feature offers the maximum separation between tumor and non-tumor tissue in T2 MRI modality. The efficacies of these features are further validated in segmenting PF tumor using both single modality and multimodality MRI for six pediatric patients with over 520 real MR images.
Temple, Economy, and Religion in First Millennium Babylonia

The study of economy and religion in Babylonia during the first millennium bc is primarily that of two well-documented temples, the Eanna temple of the city of Uruk and the Ebabbar of Sippar. The administrative archives of those temples – consisting of tens of thousands of cuneiform texts – allow us to understand parts of the temple economy in great detail, while at the same time this abundance of material frustrates traditional approaches to Babylonian religion. This essay aims in general to emphasize that Babylonian temples were large-scale, multifaceted religious institutions. Capitalizing on recent advancements in our technical understanding of the temple economy, it integrates these advancements into issues of broader religious, historical, intellectual, and economic significance. In particular, it stresses three points: first, the temples’ amalgamated ruling structure fostered institutional permanence and should therefore be understood as a challenge to the ‘temple-as-household’ metaphor; second, large-scale centralization of wealth in the temples was necessary for advancements in Babylonian learned culture (especially in astronomy and mathematics); and, finally, the centralization of manpower in the temples gave them particular advantages in the politics of the first millennium bc. In the end, I argue that all of these are in fact manifestations of Babylonian religion in themselves.
Pygmalion Revisited: A Loud Call for Caution.

The concept of the teacher experctancy effect continues to have a major impact on educational and psychological thinking. This article reviews the literature and concludes that the teacher expectancy effect, like the experimenter expectancy effect, is more difficult to demonstrate and less pervasive than has been claimed. It suggests that the most relevant issue is determining the relevant child characteristics that significantly cause a particular teacher to form an expectation about a particular child.
Diurnal patterning of eight activities in 14 species of muroid rodents

The diurnal patterning of locomotion, stereotypy, grooming, eating, drinking, sleeping, postural readjustment, and inactivity was studied in 14 species of muroid rodents in the laboratory using a visual observation technique.Microtus canicaudus, M. montanus, M. ochrogaster, andM. pennsylvanicus exhibited acyclic activity patterns, whilePeromyscus eremicus,P. gossypinus, P. leucopus, P. maniculatus bairdi, P. polionotus, Calomys callosus, Mus musculus, andOnychomys leucogaster displayed nocturnality in their behavioral patterning.Rhabdomys pumilio exhibited crepuscular activities andNeofiber alleni displayed a complex pattern of nocturnality. Species differed in total amount of time spent per day for all activities but eating. The acyclicity ofMicrotus species appears to be related to high metabolic rates and a semifossorial life-style.
Telescope and detector systems for sub-millimeter line spectroscopy

Abstract Comparisons are made between different receiver-telescope combinations used for Submillimeter line spectroscopy. Equations are given for the noise equivalent flux (NEF) from a point source and the noise equivalent temperature (NET) from an extended source, for a receiver based on a filter and an incoherent detector. Equations are also given for the receiver noise temperature required for a heterodyne receiver to have comparable performance. Numerical results are given for realizable telescope parameters which point out the usefulness to Submillimeter wave spectroscopy of locating a large millimeter wave telescope at a high dry site.
The flavonols of Impatiens balsamina L.

Abstract The flavonols, kampherol, quercetin, and probably myricetin, are found in the flowers of Impatiens balsamina L. Kampherol is present in the petals and sepals of all genotypes; quercetin is found in the sepals only, but in all genotypes; and myricetin, found in both petals and sepals, is correlated with the presence of the gene L. A naphthoquinone, probably lawsone, is also present in these flowers. Quercetin, cyanidin, leucocyanidin, and a small amount of kampherol are found in the two native species, I. capensis and I. pallida.
Influence of Spatial Environment On Development of Mother-Infant Interaction in Pigtail Monkeys

Three groups of infant pigtail monkeys (Macaca nemestrina) were observed for the first 24 weeks of life: Group G consisted of 3 mother-infant pairs living in a heterogeneous social group of 20 monkeys ; Group L included 3 pairs maintained in individual large cages, and Group S consisted of 4 pairs maintained in individual small cages. Groups S and L infants did not differ in duration of time spent away from mother. Group G infants left later and for less time by the first eighth week, but from the 16th week on they spent more time separated from their mothers. Group S mothers punished their infants more than Group L mothers, and punishment was almost absent in Group G. At 28 weeks, Groups L and S infants were placed in a playpen situation where initial differences between the groups disappeared after about 4 weeks. At 36 weeks infants were separated from their mothers; two weeks later they formed a stable rank order as determined by a water dominance test.
The relative performance characteristics of the logistic European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation score and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons score in the Placement of Aortic Transcatheter Valves trial

Objectives The logistic European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (LES) score and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) score are validated to predict 30-day outcomes following surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) with or without coronary artery bypass grafting. Their performance when applied to patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is controversial. Methods We compared predicted and observed 30-day/in-hospital and 1-year mortality of patients undergoing TAVR in the first Placement of Aortic Transcatheter Valves trial and continued access registry (N = 2466). The performance of the LES and STS scores (prospectively calculated) was evaluated using standard assessments of discrimination and calibration. Performance of STS and LES scores among 307 patients undergoing SAVR from the high-risk cohort of the randomized trial were also examined. Results In patients undergoing TAVR, the observed 30-day/in-hospital mortality was 6.5%, whereas the predicted 30-day mortality was higher by both STS score (11.4% ± 3.9%) and LES score (26.6% ± 16.2%). The discrimination for both scores was poor for 30-day/in-hospital and 1-year mortality. Calibration was better for STS score than for LES at 1 year but poor for both at 30 days among TAVR cohort. These results were consistent among the subgroups of patients undergoing transfemoral and transapical access; however, the STS score had better performance among the high-risk patients who underwent SAVR at 30 days but not 1 year. Conclusions The STS and LES surgical risk scores overestimated 30-day/in-hospital mortality and were poor discriminators of post-TAVR mortality, but the calibration of the STS score was better in these high-risk patients. These data highlight the need for TAVR-specific risk models to optimize patient selection.
Designing a privacy label: assisting consumer understanding of online privacy practices

This project describes the continuing development of a Privacy Label to present to consumers the ways organizations collect, use, and share personal information. Several studies have indicated the importance of privacy for consumers, yet current mechanisms to present privacy policies of websites have not been successful. This research addresses the present gap in the communication and understanding of privacy policies, by creating an information design that improves the visual presentation and comprehensibility of privacy policies. Drawing from the nutrition, warning, and energy labeling, as well as from the effort towards creating a standardized banking privacy notification, I present the process and ongoing results of the development of a usable information design for privacy policies.
A New Compton Densitometer for Measuring Pulmonary Edema

Pulmonary edema (P.E.) is the pathological increase of extravascular lung water found most often in patients with congestive heart failure and other critically ill patients who suffer from intravenous fluid overload. The chest x-ray, the standard method for validating the presence of P.E., is neither quantitative nor sensitive. A non-invasive lung density monitor that is accurate, easily portable, safe and inexpensive is needed for clinical use. To deal with the problem of attenuation along the beam paths, previous gamma-ray techniques require simultaneous measurement of transmitted and scattered beams. Since multiple scattering is a strong function of the density of the scattering medium and the mass distribution within the detection geometry, there will be inherent uncertainties in the system calibration unless it is performed on a body structure closely matched to that of each individual patient. Other researchers who have employed Compton scattering techniques generally used systems of extended size and detectors with poor energy resolution. This has resulted in significant systematic biases from multiply-scattered photons and larger errors in counting statistics at a given radiation dose to the patient. We are proposing a patented approach in which only backscattered photons are measured with a high-resolution HPGe detector in a compact system geometry. By proper design and a unique data extraction scheme, effects of the variable chest wall on lung density measurements are minimized.
Young Adults’ Perceptions of Non-Forcible Sexual Activity: The Effects of Participant Gender, Respondent Gender, and Sexual Act

There is a gendered double standard for both sexual activity and criminal victimization, in that female sexual actors and victims are generally viewed more negatively than their male counterparts. In this study, 485 U.S. undergraduates at a large Northeastern university completed a questionnaire in which the gender of the victim and the nature of the non-forcible sexual act (sexual intercourse or oral sex) were experimentally manipulated. The provided scenarios depicted statutory rape situations, characterized by age discrepancies between the two parties. Respondents were asked to rate each of the parties on a series of questions to determine their level of condemnation for each of the parties involved. We hypothesized the existence of a sexual double standard, such that female actors would be more condemned than males. Repeated measures ANOVA indicated that respondents were more condemning of female than male victims, regardless of which act was depicted. Furthermore, male respondents were more condemning of a female perpetrator of statutory rape than of her male victim, and also more condemning of a female victim than of her male perpetrator, whereas female respondents did not differentiate between the victim and perpetrator, regardless of the depicted victim gender or sexual act. That is, whether she was depicted as the victim or perpetrator of the act, the female was more condemned than her male counterpart. Overall, female respondents were more condemning than male respondents, regardless of which act was depicted. These findings suggest the presence of a sexual double standard in perceptions of statutory rape.
Similarity vs social desirability as determinants of attraction

Prior research has demonstrated that people tend to be more attracted to those who are similar than to those who are dissimilar. The present study involved an extension of this issue: will people be more attracted to those who possess desirable characteristics to the same extent that they possess them or to those who possess these characteristics to a greater extent than they possess them? Although the results were generally consistent with the similarity-attraction hypothesis, two rather notable exceptions were found. People with the lowest opinion of themselves are not most attracted to those like themselves, and people show a slight tendency to prefer others who are more sincere, honest, and trustworthy than they are.
Activation of WIP1 phosphatase by HTLV-1 Tax mitigates the cellular response to DNA damage.

Genomic instability stemming from dysregulation of cell cycle checkpoints and DNA damage response (DDR) is a common feature of many cancers. The cancer adult T cell leukemia (ATL) can occur in individuals infected with human T cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), and ATL cells contain extensive chromosomal abnormalities, suggesting that they have defects in the recognition or repair of DNA damage. Since Tax is the transforming protein encoded by HTLV-1, we asked whether Tax can affect cell cycle checkpoints and the DDR. Using a combination of flow cytometry and DNA repair assays we showed that Tax-expressing cells exit G1 phase and initiate DNA replication prematurely following damage. Reduced phosphorylation of H2AX (γH2AX) and RPA2, phosphoproteins that are essential to properly initiate the DDR, was also observed in Tax-expressing cells. To determine the cause of decreased DDR protein phosphorylation in Tax-expressing cells, we examined the cellular phosphatase, WIP1, which is known to dephosphorylate γH2AX. We found that Tax can interact with Wip1 in vivo and in vitro, and that Tax-expressing cells display elevated levels of Wip1 mRNA. In vitro phosphatase assays showed that Tax can enhance Wip1 activity on a γH2AX peptide target by 2-fold. Thus, loss of γH2AX in vivo could be due, in part, to increased expression and activity of WIP1 in the presence of Tax. siRNA knockdown of WIP1 in Tax-expressing cells rescued γH2AX in response to damage, confirming the role of WIP1 in the DDR. These studies demonstrate that Tax can disengage the G1/S checkpoint by enhancing WIP1 activity, resulting in reduced DDR. Premature G1 exit of Tax-expressing cells in the presence of DNA lesions creates an environment that tolerates incorporation of random mutations into the host genome.
Enhanced Sequence Specific Recognition in the Minor Groove of DNA by Covalent Peptide Dimers: Bis(pyridine-2-carboxamidonetropsin)(CH2)3–6

The designed peptide pyridine-2-carboxamidonetropsin (2-PyN) binds to the minor groove of double-helical DNA at two very different sequences, 5'-TTTTT-3' and 5'-TGTCA-3', with comparable energetics but quite different structures. 2-PyN likely binds the 5'-TTTTT-3' site as a 1:1 complex, whereas 2-PyN binds 5'-TGTCA-3' sites as a 2:1 complex. In order to enhance the binding affinity of 2-PyN for the 5'-TGTCA-3' site, covalently linked dimers of 2-PyN have been synthesized wherein the nitrogens of the central pyrroles are connected with propyl, butyl, pentyl, and hexyl linkers. DNase I footprint titration experiments reveal that these bis(pyridine-2-carboxamidenetropsin)(CH_2)_(3-6) peptides bind to a 5'-TGTCA-3' site with binding affinities 10-fold greater than that of 2-PyN. By taking advantage of the different structures of peptides bound in the minor groove, the ratio of binding affinities of 2-PyN for 5'-TGTCA-3' and 5'-TTTTT-3' sites have been altered from 1:1 to 25:1.
Reaction probe study of the dual surface structure of graphite-supported Fe-Rh catalysts

Abstract As part of a continuing effort to characterize the structure of base-metal noble-metal bimetallic catalyst particles the catalytic chemistry of graphite-supported iron-rhodium particles was tested after two different pretreatments. Specifically, the activity of the catalyst for 1-butene isomerization/ hydrogenation was tested after oxidation and (i) low-temperature (375 K) hydrogen reduction and (ii) high-temperature (675 K) reduction. It was found that the catalytic chemistry of these two reduced surface states was entirely different. After the low-temperature reduction the chemistry was very much like that of rhodium. After high-temperature reduction the surface had activity similar to that of rhodium, but, like iron, selectively isomerized rather than hydrogenated the 1-butene. These results could be readily explained on the basis of an earlier model which suggests that following low-temperature reduction the surface consists of “zones” of zero-valent iron and zones of zero-valent rhodium, and after high-temperature reduction the surface is a true iron-rhodium alloy.
Avian evolution: from Darwin's finches to a new way of thinking about avian forebrain organization and behavioural capabilities

The study of birds, especially the Galapagos finches, was important to Darwin in the development of the theory of evolution by natural selection. Birds have also been at the centre of a recent reformulation in understanding cerebral evolution and the substrates for higher cognition. While it was once thought that birds possess a simple cerebrum and were thus limited to instinctive behaviours, it is now clear that birds possess a well-developed cerebrum that looks very different from the mammalian cerebrum but can support a cognitive ability that for some avian species rivals that in primates.
Synthesis and chemistry of the phenoxasilins and dihydro-dibenzo-oxasilepins

Abstract Formation of both sila-functional and carbo-functional phenoxasilins from diphenyl ether and o,o′-dibromodiphenyl ether precursors is described. Tricyclic oxasilepins are formed from o,o′-dibromobenzylphenyl ether by metallation with n-BuLi followed by reaction with dichlorosilanes as well as by ring expansion of an appropriate phenoxasilin. Reactions at the silicon center and at the ring methylene carbon of the oxasilepins are reported, as well as attempts to generate oxasilocins.
Finite-size corrections to Poisson approximations in general renewal-success processes

Abstract Consider a renewal process, and let K ⩾ 0 denote the random duration of a typical renewal cycle. Assume that on any renewal cycle, a rare event called “success” can occur. Such successes lend themselves naturally to approximation by Poisson point processes. If each success occurs after a random delay, however, Poisson convergence can be relatively slow, because each success corresponds to a time interval, not a point. If K is an arithmetic variable, a “finite-size correction” (FSC) is known to speed Poisson convergence by providing a second, subdominant term in the appropriate asymptotic expansion. This paper generalizes the FSC from arithmetic K to general K . Genomics applications require this generalization, because they have already heuristically applied the FSC to p -values involving absolutely continuous distributions. The FSC also sharpens certain results in queuing theory, insurance risk, traffic flow, and reliability theory.
Neuroimaging in bipolar disorder

Objective: The authors reviewed neuroimaging studies of bipolar disorder in order to evaluate how this literature contributes to the current understanding of the neurophysiology of the illness. Method: Papers were reviewed as identified, using the NIMH PubMed literature search systems that reported results of neuroimaging studies involving a minimum of five bipolar disorder patients compared with healthy comparison subjects. Results: Structural neuroimaging studies report mixed results for lateral and third ventriculomegaly. Recent studies suggest subcortical structural abnormalities in the striatum and amygdala, as well as the prefrontal cortex. Proton spectroscopic studies suggest that abnormalities in choline metabolism exist in bipolar disorder, particularly in the basal ganglia. Additionally, phosphorous MRS suggests that there may be abnormalities in frontal phospholipid metabolism in bipolar disorder. Functional studies have identified affective state-related changes in cerebral glucose metabolism and blood flow, particularly in the prefrontal cortex during depression, but no clear abnormalities specific to bipolar disorder have been consistently observed. Conclusions: The current literature examining the neurophysiology of bipolar disorder using neuroimaging is limited. Nonetheless, abnormalities in specific frontal-subcortical brain circuits seem likely. Additional targeted studies are needed to capitalize on this burgeoning technology to advance our understanding of the neurophysiology of bipolar disorder.
The Effect of Distractions While Tasting a Food Sample: The Interplay of Informational and Affective Components in Subsequent Choice

This research examines the effect of distractions while sampling a food item on the subsequent choice of that item. Drawing upon research on pain, we present a two-component model, which predicts that distraction may decrease subsequent choices for the sampled item. The model asserts that the ultimate pleasure arising from the taste of a food sample depends on two components, one informational and the other affective. Further, the model proposes that distraction increases (decreases) the impact on subsequent choice of the affective (informational) component. We provide support for the two-component model from three experiments and rule out several alternative accounts.
Using Toulmin analysis to analyse an instructor's proof presentation in abstract algebra

This paper provides a method for analysing undergraduate teaching of proof-based courses using Toulmin's model (1969) of argumentation. It presents a case study of one instructor's presentation of proofs. The analysis shows that the instructor presents different levels of detail in different proofs; thus, the students have an inconsistent set of written models for their work. Similarly, the analysis shows that the details the instructor says aloud differ from what she writes down. Although her verbal commentary provides additional detail and appears to have pedagogical value, for instance, by modelling thinking that supports proof writing, this value might be better realized if she were to change her teaching practices.
Nuclear Morphometry Identifies a Distinct Aggressive Cellular Phenotype in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

By identifying aggressive cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) in patients who are at high risk for recurrences or second primaries after resection, intensive surveillance and therapy may decrease morbidity and mortality. We investigated the role of nuclear morphometry (karyometry) in differentiating between aggressive and nonaggressive cSCC. We retrospectively analyzed cSCC lesions from 40 male patients. Twenty-two patients had evidence of aggressive cSCC (local/regional recurrence or a second primary cSCC), and 18 patients were identified with similar ages and sites of disease as control patients with nonaggressive cSCC (no evidence of recurrence, metastasis, or second primary). We carried out karyometric analysis to identify nuclear features that discriminate between aggressive and nonaggressive cSCC nuclei. We used statistically significant differences (Kruskal-Wallis test, P < 0.0001) to compose a quantitative aggressive classification score (proportion of aggressive nuclei from 0% to 100%). For comparisons, we used Fisher's exact test or Student's t test. The mean age was 79 ± 7 years for aggressive cSCC and 80 ± 9 years for nonaggressive cSCC (P = 0.66). We analyzed a mean of 96 nuclei in each group. The mean classification score for aggressive cSCC was significantly higher (69% ± 6%) than for nonaggressive cSCC (28% ± 5%, P = 0.00002). Overall, the classification score accurately categorized 80% of our patients (P = 0.0004). In most patients, karyometry differentiated between aggressive and nonaggressive cSCC. We found that classification scores, which provide information on individual lesions, could be used for risk stratification.
DIETARY, EVOLUTIONARY, AND MODERNIZING INFLUENCES ON THE PREVALENCE OF TYPE 2 DIABETES

▪ Abstract An evolutionary perspective is used to elucidate the etiology of the current epidemic of type 2 diabetes estimated at 151 million people. Our primate legacy, fossil hominid, and hunting-gathering lifestyles selected for adaptive metabolically thrifty genotypes and phenotypes are rendered deleterious through modern lifestyles that increase energy input and reduce output. The processes of modernization or globalization include the availability and abundance of calorically dense/low-fiber/high-glycemic foods and the adoption of sedentary Western lifestyles, leading to obesity among both children and adults in developed and developing countries. These trends are projected to continue for a number of decades.
Genetic Control of Color Polymorphism in the Stag Beetle Cyclommatus metallifer Boisduval (Coleoptera: Lucanidae)

Abstract We describe the genetic control of body color polymorphism in the metallic stag beetle, Cyclommatus metallifer Boisduval. As with many species of sexually dimorphic stag beetles, male C. metallifer exhibit condition-dependent exaggerated growth of mandibles. Another characteristic of this species is that two body colors have been described from both wild and captive bred populations. The two body colors are a commonly observed gold and a more rare black. We performed a simple Mendelian cross of individuals from families that produced only gold offspring to individuals from families that produced only blue-black offspring. All of the F1 hybrid progeny between these two pure gold families and pure black families exhibited the gold body color. The F2 progeny resulting from the crossing of F1 hybrids exhibited a 3:1 gold to black ratio. The backcross of the F1 hybrid to the gold morph resulted in 1:0 gold to black ratio. The backcross of the F1 hybrid to the black morph resulted in progeny with a 1:1...
Primary‐particle‐beam‐induced reduction of silver acetate in glycerol solutions to form a silver mirror

The liquid SIMS mass spectra of silver acetate dissolved in a glycerol matrix is discussed, with emphasis on the formation of a ‘silver mirror’ on the surface of the glycerol droplet owing to reduction of the silver acetate. Silver clusters containing up to three silver atoms have been observed from this mirrored surface; Ag3+ cluster ions are not observed in the spectrum when conditions are such that the mirror is not formed. For example, use of a slightly oxidizing matrix (o-nitrophenyl octyl ether or m-nitrobenzylalcohol) prevents formation of the ‘mirror’; only Ag+ is sputtered from this surface.
Dynamic Religion, Formative Culture, and the Demonic in History

Modern German thought owed much to classical Greece. Yet in philosophy and theology, beginning with Hegel and his contemporaries, the debt to Platonic idealism was radically modified by insistence on the reality of history. Construed dialectically, history became a key to overcoming difficulties with both Platonic and Cartesian dualism left unresolved by Kant. In theology, after World War I dialectical theologians, including Barth and Tillich, embraced in varying degrees the existentialists' critique of Hegelian essentialism and belief in progress. This affected how they understood incarnation in christology, sacramental presence in ecclesiology, and Christian responses to what they saw as the demonic threat of German National Socialism. Anglo-American critics, especially of Tillich, often miss the dialectical nuances of his admittedly abstract theology and his religious socialist response to Marxism.
Review of Feedforward Approaches for Nano Precision Positioning in High Speed SPM Operation

This article reviews developments in feedforward control for Scanning Probe Microscopes (SPMs), which are key enabling tools in nanotechnologies. Feedforward control aids in precision positioning (at the nano scale) needed to achieve the current research goal of increasing SPM's operating speed.
Frequency dependence of cross-phase modulation in amplified optical fibre links

The authors investigate theoretically and experimentally the frequency dependence of cross-phase modulation (XPM) in optical fibre links with multiple optical amplifiers. The XPM phase shift in such links shows stronger frequency dependence than that in unamplified links and becomes very small at some frequencies. >
Rate-Maximization Scheduling for Downlink OFDMA with Long Term Rate Proportional Fairness

In this paper, we study the sum rate maximization algorithms with long-term rate proportional fairness (RPF) for downlink orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA). In contrast to the rate-maximization schemes which used short-term RPF in the literature, we propose a weighted channel signal-to-noise ratio (w-SNR) ranking based selective multiuser diversity (SMuD) scheme to achieve long-term RPF for rate maximization. In this approach, we solve the optimal SNR weight factors based on the target RPF, and then use them to implement carrier and power allocation to achieve a long-term target RPF. Analytical throughput and fairness metrics for the proposed w-SNR schemes with equal power allocation (EPA) or waterfilling (WF) over Rayleigh channels are derived. Simulation results show that the proposed long-term fairness scheme achieves a significantly higher rate than the short-term RPF schemes proposed in the literature. Besides better performance, the proposed scheme has a low complexity which is linear to numbers of users and carriers. These results put new insight into the achievable downlink OFDMA performance with proportional fairness and the effects of various system and channel parameters.
P1/HC-Pro, a Viral Suppressor of RNA Silencing, Interferes with Arabidopsis Development and miRNA Function

The molecular basis for virus-induced disease in plants has been a long-standing mystery. Infection of Arabidopsis by Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) induces a number of developmental defects in vegetative and reproductive organs. We found that these defects, many of which resemble those in miRNA-deficient dicer-like1 (dcl1) mutants, were due to the TuMV-encoded RNA-silencing suppressor, P1/HC-Pro. Suppression of RNA silencing is a counterdefensive mechanism that enables systemic infection by TuMV. The suppressor interfered with the activity of miR171 (also known as miRNA39), which directs cleavage of several mRNAs coding for Scarecrow-like transcription factors, by inhibiting miR171-guided nucleolytic function. Out of ten other mRNAs that were validated as miRNA-guided cleavage targets, eight accumulated to elevated levels in the presence of P1/HC-Pro. The basis for TuMV- and other virus-induced disease in plants may be explained, at least partly, by interference with miRNA-controlled developmental pathways that share components with the antiviral RNA-silencing pathway.
Syndiospecific living catalysts for propylene polymerization: Effect of fluorination on activity, stereoselectivity, and termination

The polymerization of propylene using a variety of fluorinated bis(phenoxyimine)titanium complexes is reported. The synthesis of ten complexes containing varying fluorinated N-aryl substituents is described. X-ray structural and solution NMR data indicate that these complexes are C2-symmetric in the solid state, although in some cases C1-symmetric isomers are observed in solution. When activated with methylalumoxane, all complexes formed syndiotactic polypropylene. Catalysts with ortho-fluorine substituents formed polymers with very narrow molecular weight distributions, indicative of a living polymerization. Catalysts with fluorine in at least the ortho and para positions exhibited the highest syndio-specificities. Catalysts with meta- or para-fluorine-containing substituents were more active for propylene polymerization than the corresponding non-fluorinated catalyst.
Ask-advise-refer increases referrals to a smoking cessation group clinic

Background: The Department of Pharmaceutical Care at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics sponsors a pharmacist-managed smoking cessation group clinic. Ask-Advise-Refer is a method to refer patients to smoking cessation programs, but few data are available to support its use by pharmacists in an academic medical center outpatient pharmacy. Objective: To quantify the number of individuals asked about tobacco use, advised to quit smoking, referred, and enrolled in the pharmacist-managed smoking cessation group clinic through the hospital's 2 ambulatory care pharmacies. Methods: The Ask-Advise-Refer program was implemented and evaluated prospectively in both ambulatory care pharmacies. Patients over 18 years old who received their own prescriptions were asked about tobacco use. Pharmacists advised tobacco users to quit and surveyed their interest in quitting within the next 30 days. A pharmacist contacted interested patients by phone to provide them with more information to enroll them in the smoking cessation group clinic. A documentation form followed the prescription through the filling process. Forms used for data collection were gathered daily and information on tobacco use was entered into the dispensing system weekly. Forms also provided numerical counts for evaluating the program. Results: Of the 3,267 patients asked about smoking status, 889 of them used tobacco. Of those, 53.8% were interested in quitting in the next 30 days; 30% of these patients wanted the pharmacist to contact them. Of the patients who were contacted, 22 agreed to enroll in the clinic, and 10 attended the clinic. Conclusions: By implementing an Ask-Advise-Refer brief smoking cessation intervention at an academic medical center outpatient pharmacy, referrals and participation were increased in the pharmacist-managed smoking cessation group clinic.
Mammalian Housekeeping Genes Evolve More Slowly than Tissue-Specific Genes

Do housekeeping genes, which are turned on most of the time in almost every tissue, evolve more slowly than genes that are turned on only at specific developmental times or tissues? Recent large-scale gene expression studies enable us to have a better definition of housekeeping genes and to address the above question in detail. In this study, we examined 1581 human-mouse orthologous gene pairs for their patterns of sequence evolution, contrasting housekeeping genes with tissue-specific genes. Our results show that, in comparison to tissue-specific genes, housekeeping genes on average evolve more slowly and are under stronger selective constraints as reflected by significantly smaller values of Ka/Ks. Besides stronger purifying selection, we explored several other factors that can possibly slow down nonsynonymous rates in housekeeping genes. Although mutational bias might slightly slow the nonsynonymous rates in housekeeping genes, it is unlikely to be the major cause of the rate difference between the two types of genes. The codon usage pattern of housekeeping genes does not seem to differ from that of tissue-specific genes. Moreover, contrary to the old textbook concept, we found that approximately 74% of the housekeeping genes in our study belong to multigene families, not significantly different from that of the tissue-specific genes ( approximately 70%). Therefore, the stronger selective constraints on housekeeping genes are not due to a lower degree of genetic redundancy.
Lesser peachtree borer (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) oviposition on Prunus germplasm.

The lesser peachtree borer, Synanthedon pictipes (Grote and Robinson) (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae), is a serious pest of peach, Prunus persica (L.) Batsch, across the southeastern United States. We examined oviposition by S. pictipes on field-grown Prunus scion and rootstock cultivars and two endemic Prunus spp. when sawn limbs, not roots, were assayed in the laboratory. A choice test compared oviposition on the peach scion ‘Harvester’, peach rootstock ‘Guardian’, plum × peach hybrid rootstock ‘MP-29’, and the plum hybrid rootstock ‘Sharpe’. A significantly lower percentage of eggs occurred on limbs of Sharpe rootstock than other choices. A choice test using two endemic hosts, black cherry (P. serotina Ehrh.) and Chickasaw plum (P. angustifolia Marsh.), along with Sharpe rootstock, found a lower percentage of eggs on limbs of Sharpe than either endemic host. However, when only limbs of Sharpe and a decoy were used, almost all eggs were laid on Sharpe. Interestingly, when Harvester and Sharpe limbs were paired side by side, a higher percentage of eggs were recovered from the Harvester limb than from the Sharpe limb. An analysis of volatiles from Sharpe may identify why fewer eggs were laid on it. Because S. pictipes attacks host trees above ground and Sharpe rootstock on grafted trees grows below ground, this rootstock might be a management option against the congeneric, root-attacking peachtree borer, S. exitiosa (Say). Our results suggest that high budding a peach scion onto Sharpe rootstock, thus allowing the rootstock to serve as the trunk, warrants further investigation against S. exitiosa under orchard conditions.
The Arabidopsis TCH Genes: Regulated in Expression by Mechanotransduction?

The TCH genes of Arabidopsis were discovered as a consequence of their unusual upregulation of expression in response to mechanical stimuli, such as touch and wind. However, expression of these genes is also regulated by seemingly unrelated types of environmental stimuli, including darkness and temperature shifts, and by auxin and brassinolide. Here, we review characteristics of TCH gene expression and propose the hypothesis that regulation by all the diverse stimuli occurs in response to changes in mechanical strain perceived at the plasma membrane and/or cell wall. Upregulation of gene expression may serve to recruit the TCH gene products for functions in cellular mechano-homeostasis.
The Role of the Pharmacist Revisited: Should the Changing Role of Health Care Impart the Obligation of a Pharmacist to Warn?

Gone are the days when the sole duty of a pharmacist consisted of accurately filling and dispensing prescription drugs. Today, the role of the pharmacist in the health care system has taken on a greater significance. Traditionally, the physician had the sole responsibility to monitor and counsel the drug consumption of a patient. However, recent changes in the education of the pharmacist, technology, direct-to-consumer advertising, and the competitive nature of the pharmaceutical market has altered the scope of liability on the part of the pharmacist.Most courts found pharmacists owed no duty to warn. The consensus among the majority of courts centered on the physician as the conduit to convey information to the patient and to assess the risks involved with the adverse effects of a prescription drug. The physician, as the learned intermediary between the manufacturer and the patient, was the proper medical professional to warn a patient of possible risks associated with drug consumption. Thus, the sole obligation of the pharmacist centered on the accurate dispensing of pharmaceuticals.Over the years, the view of pharmacy has evolved into greater recognition of pharmacists as proactive professionals in the health care field. Advances in technology also expanded the capabilities and role of pharmacists. Computer systems that maintain patient profiles and warn of drug interactions are now commonly utilized within the pharmaceutical market. Changes in the nature of the pharmaceutical industry have resulted in direct-to-consumer advertising and increased competition between pharmacies.This Policy Forum focuses on past and present cases and how recent changes in the pharmaceutical and health care industry altered the traditional view that a pharmacist owned no duty to warn his patient. A review of past and present case law will examine the progression from early rulings when a pharmacist had no duty to warn to the current duties of a pharmacist to a consumer and possibly to a third party non-patient. The article concludes by recognizing that the minority position that encompasses both a duty to warn and a duty to refuse to fill a validly issued prescription might in the future become the majority prevailing view.
Taser and Taser Associated Injuries : A Case Series

Taser devices were introduced in 1974 and are increasingly used by law enforcement agencies. Taser use theoretically reduces the risk of injury and death by decreasing the use of lethal force. We report a spectrum of injuries sustained by four patients subdued with Taser devices. Injuries identified in our review included: 1) a basilar skull fracture, right subarachnoid hemorrhage, and left-sided epidural hemorrhage necessitating craniotomy; 2) a concussion, facial laceration, comminuted nasal fracture, and orbital floor fracture; 3) penetration of the outer table and cortex of the cranium by a Taser probe with seizure-like activity reported by the officer when the Taser was activated; and 4) a forehead hematoma and laceration. The Taser operator's manual states that these devices are designed to incapacitate a target from a safe distance without causing death or permanent injury. However, individuals may be exposed to the potential for significant injury. These devices represent a new mechanism for potential injury. Trauma surgeons and law enforcement agencies should be aware of the potential danger of significant head injuries as a result of loss of neuromuscular control.
The Response of Plasma Immunoreactive Adrenocorticotropin, β-Endorphin/β-Lipotropin, γ-Lipotropin and Cortisol to Experimentally Induced Pain in Normal Subjects

1. We examined the effect of ischaemic pain and sustained isometric muscle contraction on plasma immunoreactive gamma-lipotropin (gamma LPH), beta-endorphin/beta-lipotropin (beta END/beta LPH) and corticotropin (ACTH), which are all synthesized from a common precursor (pro-opiocortin), and plasma cortisol in 10 normal subjects. 2. Experimental pain was produced by inflation to 250 mmHg of a sphygmomanometer cuff, placed above the elbow of the 'dominant' arm, after which the subject squeezed a hand dynamometer, loaded to 12 kg, 20 times at 2 s intervals. Blood was drawn before, after 5 and 10 min of pain, and 30 min after release of the cuff. In a control session, the subjects were asked to squeeze the handgrip alone for 5 min at 30% of their maximum strength, a procedure which elevates the blood pressure without causing pain. 3. One subject had unexplained high (30--71 pmol/l) baseline peptide concentrations. Baseline values for the nine other subjects were: ACTH, 7.3 +/- 1.9 pmol/l (mean +/- SEM); gamma LPH, 18.6 +/- 1.0 pmol/l; beta END/beta LPH, 10.0 +/- 1.1 pmol/l; cortisol, 599 +/- 55 nmol/l. Neither procedure significantly increased the plasma concentration of ACTH or any other peptide, whereas plasma cortisol was significantly increased at both 5 min and 10 min. Plasma ACTH was positively correlated with plasma gamma LPH (r = 0.701; P less than 0.001), beta END/beta LPH (r = 0.970; P less than 0.001) and plasma cortisol (r = 0.758; P less than 0.05). 4. The present study demonstrates that, in normal man, plasma endorphins do not change with experimental ischaemic pain. The rise in plasma cortisol without concomitant rise in ACTH is not explained, but suggests the action of some other agent at the level of the adrenal cortex.
Residents Of The United States: A Study On Status Based On The Internal Revenue Code: Citizenship as a Defense to the Subject to Clause of the Internal Revenue Code

This paper will focus on the meaning of the terms resident, United States and residence as they are used in the Internal Revenue Code, Title 26 United States Code (U.S.C.). The general meanings of these terms vary depending upon the purpose of the legislation. As will be shown, Congress has expressly defined their meaning in the Internal Revenue Code (hereafter, IRC) to the exclusion of all others. While several articles [1] have been written discussing the meaning Congress intended these terms for purposes of federal income taxation, no article, annotation or book has viewed the meaning of these terms from the perspective of the U.S. Constitution and how they have been interpreted using fundamental principles of statutory construction in court cases.
Creating Community: Art for Community Development

This study examines the relationship between community art and community development. Using data gathered from community-art projects in two Denver neighborhoods, the study describes the community-...
Children's Expectations and Understanding of Kinship as a Social Category.

In order to navigate the social world, children need to understand and make predictions about how people will interact with one another. Throughout most of human history, social groups have been prominently marked by kinship relations, but few experiments have examined children's knowledge of and reasoning about kinship relations. In the current studies, we investigated how 3- to 5-year-old children understand kinship relations, compared to non-kin relations between friends, with questions such as, “Who has the same grandmother?” We also tested how children expect people to interact based on their relations to one another, with questions such as “Who do you think Cara would like to share her treat with?” Both in a storybook context and in a richer context presenting more compelling cues to kinship using face morphology, 3- and 4-year-old children failed to show either robust explicit conceptual distinctions between kin and friends, or expectations of behavior favoring kin over friends, even when asked about their own social partners. By 5 years, children’s understanding of these relations improved, and they showed some expectation that others will preferentially aid siblings over friends. Together, these findings suggest that explicit understanding of kinship develops slowly over the preschool years.
Novel strategies for development of hemorrhagic fever arenavirus live-attenuated vaccines

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Several arenaviruses, chiefly Lassa virus (LASV), cause hemorrhagic fever (HF) disease in humans and pose significant public health problems in their endemic regions. Moreover, HF arenaviruses represent credible biodefense threats. There are not FDA-approved arenavirus vaccines and current anti-arenaviral therapy is limited to an off-label use of ribavirin that is only partially effective.Areas covered: Live-attenuated vaccines (LAV) represent the most feasible approach to control HF arenaviruses within their endemic regions. Different platforms, including recombinant viral vectors expressing LASV antigens, and the use of attenuated reassortant arenaviruses, have been used to develop LAV candidates against LASV with promising results in animal models of LASV infection, but none of them has entered a clinical trial. These vaccine efforts have been the subject of recent reviews and will not be examined in this review, which is focused on new avenues for the development of safe and effe...