cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
How conservative is a sensor detection system with the scan statistic designed using the union bound

In a sensor system to detect an emitter in a large region of interest, only a subset of sensors collects strong measurements, motivating fusion rules based on the scan statistic. Determining the false alarm probability for the scan statistic is however difficult; and using simple bounds such as the union bound would presumably result in too conservative designs. This paper argues that, at typical configurations, the design obtained with the union bound is not as conservative as expected. In fact, for a large class of distributions, the resulting design becomes less and less conservative as the system size grows.
12 – STABILITY ANALYSIS

This chapter reviews the stability analysis based on the conventional Gibbs approach and the nonequilibrium thermodynamics theory. It considers the stability of equilibrium, near equilibrium, and far from equilibrium states with some case studies. The entropy production approach for nonequilibrium systems appears to be more general for stability analysis. One major implication of the nonequilibrium thermodynamics theory is the introduction of distance from global equilibrium as a constraint for determining the stability of nonequilibrium systems. When a system is far from global equilibrium, the possibility of new organized structures of matter arise beyond an instability point. As the nonequilibrium thermodynamics theory considers the implications of distance from global equilibrium, it may play a critical role in the understanding of the stability of nonequilibrium systems. Hydrodynamic instabilities develop mainly by the two competing mechanisms of destabilizing and stabilizing effects, such as kinematic nonlinearity working against viscosity, and gravity competing with a temperature gradient. The classical Gibbs stability theory considers the stability of isolated systems in which energy is totally randomized, and entropy reaches its maximum value, acting as Lyapunov function.
Lateral Crural Tensioning for Refinement of the Nasal Tip and Increasing Alar Stability: A Case Series

The objective of this study was to discuss the technical details and our experiences with lateral crural tensioning (LCT) in both functional and aesthetic rhinoplasties. A retrospective medical review was completed for all patients who underwent rhinoplasty with LCT from the years 2011 to 2014. The indications for LCT included correction of lateral crural convexity, boxy tip geometry, and dynamic collapse of the external nasal valve. The details of the rhinoplasty procedure and complications were evaluated. A total of 114 LCT rhinoplasty cases were included in this series. The most common adjunctive maneuvers included placement of spreader grafts (92% of cases) and alar rim grafts (78% of cases). Conventional classic cephalic trim was not performed in any subjects and conservative paradomal cephalic trim was performed in 48% of cases. As experience with the technique progressed, the use of onlay tip grafts decreased and the use of articulated rim grafts increased. Indications for revision were dissatisfaction with cosmetic outcome (4.4% of cases) and nasal obstruction (0.9% of cases). LCT combines traditional lateral crural steal with the use of a caudal septal extension graft to refine the broad tip and increase stability of the alar lobule. This maneuver is essentially cartilage sparing and does not rely on extensive grafting maneuvers that can reduce airway area.
Medicating Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders and ADHD: A State Survey.

Three-hundred and ninety-six teachers of students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) in Wisconsin provided information about 1,300 students in their classes who were receiving medication...
Historical Fire-Climate Relationships in Contrasting Interior Pacific Northwest Forest Types

Describing the climate influences on historical wildland fire will aid managers in planning for future change. This study uses existing historical climate reconstructions and a new fire history from the southern Blue Mountains in eastern Oregon, USA, to: 1) characterize historical fire-climate relationships, and 2) determine if climatic influences on fire differed among dry sites dominated by ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws) and more productive sites with significant older fire intolerant grand fir (Abies grandis [Dougl.] Lindl.) structure. Similar to results from other fire history studies across the American West, this research documents an increased incidence of burning in the southern Blue Mountains prior to 1900 associated with more arid conditions as measured with Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI). Positive values of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) were associated with fire years when multiple sites burned within the 688 000 ha study area. Although ponderosa pine and grand fir study sites were significantly different with respect to site productivity as well as historical and contemporary species composition, there were only marginal differences in historical mean fire return intervals between these forest types. There was also no significant difference in reconstructed mean temperature, precipitation, drought index, or ENSO during fire years between forest types prior to 1900 CE. However, the years prior to fire in ponderosa pine sites were moister than average, suggesting that antecedent climate was more important in the production of herbaceous fuel in ponderosa pine sites.
Does Contraceptive Use in the United States Meet Global Goals

CONTEXT The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) seek to achieve health equity, and they apply to all countries. SDG contraceptive use estimates for the United States are needed to contextualize U.S. performance in relation to that of other countries. METHODS Data from the 2011–2013 and 2013–2015 waves of the National Survey of Family Growth were used to calculate three SDG indicators of contraceptive use for U.S. women aged 15–44: contraceptive prevalence, unmet need for family planning and demand for family planning satisfied by modern methods. These measures were calculated separately for married or cohabiting women and for unmarried, sexually active women; differences by sociodemographic characteristics were assessed using t tests from logistic regression analysis. Estimates for married women were compared with 2010–2015 estimates from 94 other countries, most of which were low- or middle-income. RESULTS For married or cohabiting women, U.S. estimates for contraceptive prevalence, unmet need and demand satisfied by modern methods were 74%, 9% and 80%, respectively; for unmarried, sexually active women, they were 85%, 11% and 82%, respectively. Estimates varied by sociodemographic characteristics, particularly among married or cohabiting women. Five countries performed better than the United States on contraceptive prevalence, 12 on unmet need and four on both measures; seven performed better on demand satisfied by modern methods. CONCLUSIONS There is a need to continue efforts to expand access to contraceptive care in the United States, and to monitor the SDG indicators so that improvement can be tracked over time.
The phenomenon of conglomerate crystallization Part XXXI. The crystallization behavior of [cis-Co(en)2(NO2)2Br and of : counter-ion effects on crystallization pathway of racemate solutions

Abstract In accordance with predictions made in previous studies of conglomerate crystallization of coordination compounds, racemic solutions of [cis-Co(en)2(NO2)2]Br crystallize as a conglomerate (homochiral crystals, space group P21), whereas racemic solutions of [cis-α-Co(triethylenetetramine)(NO 2 ) 2 ](NO 3 )· 1 3 H 2 O crystallize as a racemate (heterochiral crystals, space group P2 1 c ). Intra- and intermolecular hydrogen-bonded interactions are shown to control the crystallization pathway these substances select, and the counter anion used is shown to play a role in such selection.
The chaos theory of careers

Small changes can have a disproportionate effect on a person’s career path. Caroline Elton considers a surprising outcome for a trainee she advised
Quantum limited performance of optical receivers

While the fundamental performance limit for traditional radio frequency (RF) communications is often set by background noise on the channel, the fundamental limit for optical communications is set by the quantum nature of light. Both types of systems are based on electro-magnetic waves, differing only in carrier frequency. It is, in fact, the frequency that determines which of these limits dominates. We explore this in the first part of this paper. This leads to a difference in methods of analysis of the two different types of systems. While equations predicting the probability of bit error for RF systems are usually based on the signal to background noise ratio, similar equations for optical systems are often based on the physics of the quantum limit and are simply a function of the detected signal energy received per bit. These equations are derived in the second part of this paper for several frequently used modulation schemes: On-off keying (OOK), pulse position modulation (PPM), and binary differential phase shift keying (DPSK). While these equations ignore the effects of background noise and non-quantum internal noise sources in the detector and receiver electronics, they provide a useful bound for obtainable performance of optical communication systems. For example, these equations may be used in initial link budgets to assess the feasibility of system architectures, even before specific receiver designs are considered.
OVERVIEW OF URBAN DRAINAGE IMPACTS ON AQUATIC HABITAT

Urban drainage impacts on aquatic habitat are discussed under five major headings affecting the biological community performance: food (energy) sources, water quality, habitat structure, flow regime, and biotic interactions. Among these factors, perhaps the best understood one is stormwater quality. On the other hand, the changes in the (physical) aquatic habitat structure resulting from urbanization and stormwater discharges are the least understood and require further study. Promising approaches to mitigating the adverse drainage impacts on habitat include preservation of natural drainage features, sustainable development or redevelopment of urban areas, and balanced applications of stormwater management practices.
Children with Hearing Loss

The focus of this chapter is hearing loss in children. It briefly describes the development of normal hearing, the anatomy of the auditory system, the hearing impairments primary healthcare providers are likely to see, and the impact those hearing impairments have on communication. Common approaches to assessing hearing in children are explained, and preventive steps to hearing loss are provided. Intervention strategies that can be used to enhance auditory function, communication, and learning success are highlighted.
Abstract WMP105: Cerebral Micro-Bleeds After Extra-Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation: A Common Occurrence

Background/Objective: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is being increasingly used to provide cardiopulmonary support in critically ill patients. Up to 8% of patients on ECMO suffer from i...
Harnessing the Wisdom of the Classes: Classsourcing and Machine Learning for Assessment Instrument Generation

Generating questions to engage and measure students is often challenging and time-consuming. Furthermore, these questions do not always transfer well between student populations due to differences in background, course emphasis, or ambiguity in the questions or answers. We introduce a contributing student pedagogy activity facilitated by machine learning that can generate questions with associated answer-reasoning sets. We call this process Adaptive Tool-Driven Conception Generation. A tool implementing this process has been deployed, and it explicitly optimizes the process for questions that divide student opinion. In a study involving arrays in Java, this novel process: generates questions similar to expert-designed questions, produces novel questions that identify potential student misconceptions, and provides statistical estimates of the prevalence of misconceptions. This process allows the generation of quiz and discussion questions with less expert effort, facilitates a subprocess in the creation of concept inventories, and also raises the possibility of running reproduction studies relatively cheaply.
ATM activation is a marker of cellular aging and a precursor to replicative senescence.

2405 Replicative senescence is a natural barrier to cellular proliferation that is triggered by telomere erosion and dysfunction. Although it is recognized that the p53 and Rb pathways are critical for the induction and maintenance of replicative senescence, little is known about the sensors of telomere dysfunction that initiate the senescence response. ATM, the product of the gene that is mutated in the disorder ataxia telangiectasia, plays a critical role in the initiation of response pathways to ionizing radiation (IR). To assess whether ATM is activated during cellular aging and senescence, we used antibodies that specifically recognize the active, phosphorylated form of ATM. We found that whereas activated ATM was rarely observed in early-passage human fibroblasts, it was readily detected in late-passage fibroblasts. The ATM activation in late-passage cells was accompanied by accumulation of total p53 and p21 proteins and the formation of nuclear foci that contain phosphorylated ATM, NBS1, 53BP1, and H2AX-γ. Ectopic expression of telomerase in late-passage fibroblasts abrogated ATM activation, suggesting that the ATM activation resulted from telomere dysfunction. To ascertain whether telomere dysfunction-induced ATM activation requires chromosomal fusion-bridge-breakage cycles, we uncapped telomeres in quiescent, non-dividing cells using a lentivirus that expresses a dominant-inhibitory form of the telomere binding protein TRF2 (TRF2ΔBΔM). Transduction of TRF2ΔBΔM, but not a control TRF2 construct, into non-cycling cells activated ATM, indicating that telomere uncapping per se is sufficient for ATM activation. Although ATM activation was readily observed in pre-senescent cells, it disappeared with progression to senescence. However, ATM had the ability to be activated in senescent cells in response to IR, suggesting that the short telomeres of senescent cells are somehow shielded from initiating a signaling response. Together, these results are consistent with the idea that ATM activation contributes to the induction, but not the maintenance, of replicative senescence.
Cumulative pregnancy rates for in vitro fertilization

Data on 575 couples undergoing 1057 consecutive cycles of in vitro fertilization (IVF) were used to calculate cumulative pregnancy rates for repeated IVF cycles. Excluding preclinical abortions and couples in whom the male partner had poor semen parameters, calculated cumulative pregnancy rates for cycles 1 to 6 were 13.6%, 24.8%, 37.2%, 47.8%, 52.2%, and 59.6%, respectively. A parametric model used to fit these data yielded a strong correlation between observed and predicted pregnancy rates ( r = 0.99, P
Improved CoChR Variants Restore Visual Acuity and Contrast Sensitivity in a Mouse Model of Blindness under Ambient Light Conditions.

Severe photoreceptor cell death in retinal degenerative diseases leads to partial or complete blindness. Optogenetics is a promising strategy to treat blindness. The feasibility of this strategy has been demonstrated through the ectopic expression of microbial channelrhodopsins (ChRs) and other genetically encoded light sensors in surviving retinal neurons in animal models. A major drawback for ChR-based visual restoration is low light sensitivity. Here, we report the development of highly operational light-sensitive ChRs by optimizing the kinetics of a recently reported ChR variant, Chloromonas oogama (CoChR). In particular, we identified two CoChR mutants, CoChR-L112C and CoChR-H94E/L112C/K264T, with markedly enhanced light sensitivity. The improved light sensitivity of the CoChR mutants was confirmed by ex vivo electrophysiological recordings in the retina. Furthermore, the CoChR mutants restored the vision of a blind mouse model under ambient light conditions with remarkably good contrast sensitivity and visual acuity, as evidenced by the results of behavioral assays. The ability to restore functional vision under normal light conditions with the improved CoChR variants removed a major obstacle for ChR-based optogenetic vision restoration.
Olfactory cleft and sinus opacification differentially impact olfaction in chronic rhinosinusitis

OBJECTIVES Prior studies have indicated that olfactory cleft (OC) opacification correlates with olfaction in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). However, the results have been unclear in patients without polyps. The purpose of this study was to further explore the relationship between OC opacification, sinus opacification, and olfactory function in patients with CRS. METHODS One hundred and forty-eight patients with CRS were prospectively enrolled across five institutions. Olfactory function was evaluated using the Sniffin' Sticks tests (Burghardt, Wedel, Germany) and the 17-item Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders (QOD-NS). Computed tomography (CT) scans for each patient were acquired and Lund-Mackay scores recorded. Opacification of the OC was determined using OsiriX MD (Pixmeo, Bernex, Switzerland) and correlated with olfaction scores. RESULTS A total of 148 CRS patients, 73 CRS without nasal polyps (CRSsNP) and 75 CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), as well as 30 control subjects were enrolled. Overall OC opacification averaged 63.7% in CRS patients and 47.1% in control subjects (P < 0.001). In the overall cohort, OC opacification significantly correlated with threshold, discrimination, and identification (TDI) (r = -0.520; P < 0.001) and QOD-NS scores (r = 0.374; P < 0.001). CRSwNP patients demonstrated a significant correlation between OC opacification and TDI scores (r = -0.464; P < 0.001) but not the CRSsNP group (r = -0.143; P = 0.229). Lund-Mackay score correlated with TDI in both the CRSsNP (r = -0.300; P = 0.010) and CRSwNP (r = -0.271; P = 0.019) groups. CONCLUSION CT opacification is associated with olfactory dysfunction differentially based on nasal polyp status. Smell loss in CRSwNP correlated with both OC opacification and Lund-Mackay score, whereas CRSsNP correlated only with Lund-Mackay score, indicating different relationships between olfactory function and local inflammatory processes in these disorders. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 2 Laryngoscope, 130:2311-2318, 2020.
Circadian rhythm abnormalities

Abstract Circadian rhythms are the endogenous cycles that have a periodicity of about 24 hours. These cycles are biological/physiological, but with behavioral manifestations as well. The sleep–wake cycle is one of the circadian rhythms in living organisms and, as with other circadian rhythms, is synchronized with the light–dark cycle. Circadian rhythm sleep–wake disorders result from malalignment of the endogenous circadian rhythm with the external environment. In Parkinson's disease, in addition to the occurrence of circadian rhythm disorders, several abnormalities of circadian rhythm have been identified. These may result from neurodegeneration of key structures that mediate circadian rhythm, but are also modulated by exogenous dopamine and other factors.
1,2-Azide Migration Enables Synthesis of β-Difluoroalkyl Azides

Reactions involving an azido group where the azide remains intact are rare and largely underexplored. In this issue of Chem, Bi and co-workers disclose a mild, functional-group-tolerant strategy for the synthesis of β-difluoroalkyl azides from readily accessible α-vinyl azides via an unusual 1,2-azide migration pathway.
A Meta-Analysis of Middle School Students’ Science Engagement

The extent to which middle school students are engaged in required science courses is an elusive but increasingly documented phenomenon. Anecdotal and empirical evidence alike raise concern with a perceived decline in science engagement reported by students as they transition into the middle school setting. Even what it means to be engage is not thoroughly agreed on. Though an agreed-on operational definition of engagement is still nascent, an emerging consensus on a three-faceted model of student engagement exists in the research literature (Fredricks, Blumenfeld, & Paris, 2004). Thus, a synthesis of existing primary research of early adolescents’ science engagement under this emerging conceptualization is warranted. The results of this meta-analysis indicate that instructional methods, class characteristics and competence predictors comprise the strongest relationship with self-reported science engagement in early adolescence. These predictors also show the strongest relationship with affective and cognitive engagement sub-types. Though affective and cognitive engagement were well-represented in primary studies, behavioral engagement was under-represented in student self-reports.
False belief understanding and narrative comprehension in the preschool years

Abstract Prior work shows that theory of mind (ToM), typically assessed with false belief understanding (FBU) tasks, predicts reading comprehension in school-aged children. This paper extends this research by examining the link in preschool-aged children in an exploratory study. We examined associations among FBU and several aspects of narrative abilities (story comprehension, picture sequencing, inferences generated in a narrative task, and goal-directed narratives) in a six-month longitudinal study. We found that FBU was related to all narrative abilities within Time 1 and with inferencing within Time 2. There were also cross-lagged associations between FBU and inferencing between Time 1 and 2. However, only goal-directed narratives were significantly related to FBU after controlling for child age and language. Interestingly, a factor analysis demonstrated that FBU and all narrative abilities but picture sequencing loaded onto a single factor. This study suggests that FBU and narrative abilities may overlap during the preschool years rather than representing distinct constructs. It also suggests that during the preschool years, narrative production rather than narrative comprehension may be more strongly linked to FBU as both the inference and goal-directed narrative tasks were derived from children’s oral narratives.
Differences in the Impact response mechanisms of graphite/epoxy composite cylinders

Impact damage to composites has been identified as a major limiting factor in the wider use of composite materials as structural components. Graphite fiber is often selected as a structural fiber due to its low density and high strength, both desirable properties in rocket motorcase and launch tube design. An understanding of the damage mechanisms involved is critical in the determination of composite structural integrity and for the development of damage models and design codes. To this end, a test program was conducted to characterize the impact response of graphite/epoxy structures. Overall design of the test article utilized for this program was directed towards a generic thin-walled structure applicable for use as either a rocket motorcase or launch tube. Low-energy impacts between 1.25 and 7.75 J (0.9 and 5.6 ft-lb) were imparted to empty cylinders and to cylinders whose casewalls were strengthened to simulate launch tube and rocket motorcase configurations. Significant differences between the test configurations were identified with regard to visual damage, impact loads, absorbed energy, and casewall deflection. However, with all the readily apparent differences noted, the post-impact residual strength capability was quite similar. The data indicate that significant strength losses can be expected at impact energies as low as 1.3 J (0.94 ft-lb).
Isolation of micro- and macronuclei of Tetrahymena pyriformis.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the isolation of micro- and macronuclei of Tetrahymena Pyriformis. With the exception of a few amicronucleate or partially amicronucleate strains of Tetrahymenaa each cell contains two types of nuclei, a smaller micronucleus and a larger macronucleus. Although these two nuclei are formed from daughter nuclei of a single mitotic division (the second postzygotic division) during conjugation, they differ in most of their structural and functional properties in vegetative cells. Micronuclei divide mitotically prior to cell division, undergo DNA synthesis early in the cell cycle, do not contain nucleoli or heterogeneous ribonucleoprotein particles, and are genetically inactive. Macronuclei divide amitotically when the cell divides, synthesize DNA in the middle third of the cell cycle, have large numbers of RNA-containing inclusions, and are responsible for the genetic activity which controls the phenotype of the vegetative cell. Micro- and macronuclei thus have a common origin during conjugation and reside in the same cytoplasm during vegetative growth, yet differ strikingly in structure and function. Therefore, it is suggested that these two nuclei may be used as a model system to explore the mechanisms whereby the same (or closely related) genetic information is maintained in different structural and functional states in eukaryotic cells.
Post‐urbanism, Incorporation, and Migration

This paper explores an emerging pattern of migration currently being written by the new wave of Mexican migrants in New Haven, Connecticut, a city with little to no history of Mexican migration. Using New Haven as a case study, this paper argues that local conditions shape immigrant experiences and thus frame the process of social and economic incorporation. By contrasting first-wave Italian migration and contemporary Mexican migration, we demonstrate that urban conditions both foster and impede the social and political integration of immigrant groups. Our analyses demonstrate that the presence of established ethnic communities pose challenges and benefits to the political and social incorporation of Italians and Mexicans in their respective urban eras. Moreover, we find that contemporary immigrants are entering settings that are more racialized and economically distinct than that of their first-wave immigrant predecessors.
A comparison of ED and direct admission care of cancer patients with febrile neutropenia

Abstract Objective We compared the quality of care in admitted febrile neutropenic cancer patients presenting through the emergency department (ED) vs those directly admitted (DA) from the clinic or infusion center. We hypothesized that the quality of care would be comparable between these 2 pathways. Methods We conducted a retrospective, observational cohort study of all adult cancer patients hospitalized with subjective or objective fever (≥100.4°F) and documented neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count ≤1000/mm 3 ) from January 1, 2011 to June 30, 2013, at 2 hospitals. Two investigators retrieved data including patient age, sex, race, tumor type, blood culture growth, temperature (actual or reported), pathway to admission (ED or DA), time to antibiotic administration, length of stay, and the Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) risk score. The primary outcome measures were time to antibiotic administration, appropriateness of antibiotic(s) administered based on published guidelines, length of stay, and MASCC score–based risk assessment. We used the t test for the difference between 2 means with unequal population variances to compare these outcome measures between ED and DA patients. Results One hundred twenty-seven visits met inclusion criteria (42 [33%] ED visits, 85 [67%] DA visits). Mean time to antibiotic administration, mean length of stay, appropriateness of antibiotics, and MASCC score–based risk assessment were comparable between ED and DA visits ( P >.05 for all comparisons). Conclusion The quality of care for febrile neutropenia in patients presenting through the ED was comparable to those directly admitted to the hospital in this 2-center study.
Geomatic Methods for the Analysis of Data in the Earth Sciences: Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences, Vol. 95

Geomatics is a trendy term that has been used in recent years to describe academic departments that teach and research theories, methods, algorithms, and practices used in processing and analyzing data related to the Earth and other planets. Naming trends aside, geomatics could be considered as the mathematical and statistical “toolbox” that allows Earth scientists to extract information about physically relevant parameters from the available data and accompany such information with some measure of its reliability. This book is an attempt to present the mathematical-statistical methods used in data analysis within various disciplines—geodesy, geophysics, photogrammetry and remote sensing—from a unifying perspective that inverse problem formalism permits. At the same time, it allows us to stretch the relevance of statistical methods in achieving an optimal solution.
Androgen alters the dendritic arbors of SNB motoneurons by acting upon their target muscles

In adult male rats, motoneurons of the spinal nucleus of the bulbocavernosus (SNB) have been shown to retract and reextend their dendritic branches in response to systemic androgen deprivation and readministration. Furthermore, other studies have suggested that the dendritic complexity of neurons can be regulated by their targets. To assess whether androgens might act upon the target muscles to mediate changes in SNB dendrites, adult male rats were castrated and implanted with a small capsule filled with testosterone (T) next to the bulbocavernosus and levator ani muscle complex (BC/LA) on one side, while the muscles on the contralateral side were implanted with another capsule containing hydroxyflutamide (hFl), an anti-androgen. We have previously shown that after 30 d of this focused, lateralized androgen treatment the BC/LA complex is significantly larger on the T-treated side. We now report that the total dendritic lengths of SNB motoneurons innervating muscles given androgen blockade are reduced by 44% compared to SNB motoneurons innervating muscles given androgen stimulation. Dendrite lengths within three regions of the spinal cord were altered in a nonuniform manner: large changes occurred in the dorsal and contralateral dendritic fields while there was no difference in the ipsilateral dendritic field. These results suggest that BC/LA muscles, in response to androgen stimulation, produce a trophic substance which regulates the dendritic organization of SNB motoneurons in adulthood.
Evaluation of an Intervention to Enhance the Delivery of Smoking Cessation Services to Patients with Cancer

We describe a brief staff training program to improve the delivery of tobacco cessation services to patients with head and neck cancers. This study utilized a quasi-experimental design to compare the delivery of smoking cessation components and outcomes among patients exposed to either usual care (UC) or an enhanced cessation (EC) program implemented following a 1-h staff education program. Of the 179 subjects enrolled, 112 were recontacted by phone 1 month after their clinic visit. More patients in EC compared to UC reported that they were asked about their smoking status (94.2% vs. 76.6%, p = 0.01), advised to quit (92.3% vs. 72.3%, p = 0.01), prescribed cessation medications (30.8% vs. 3.3%, p < 0.001), and received a support call (53.8% vs. 11.7%, p < 0.001) at the 1-month follow-up. Quit attempts and quit rates between groups were similar. The EC intervention improved the delivery of cessation services in a busy clinical setting, but this failed to increase cessation rates after 1 month.
Performance of POF in target tracking scenes

Automatic Target Tracking continuous to be an issue of major interest in the defense industry. However, evaluation of scenes and quantification of algorithm performance on different scenes continuous to be a challenging task. In this research we have developed a platform, or test bed, to test and compare the performance of various algorithms. Using this platform, different algorithms can be compared. Fifty unclassified scenes of different complexity provided by the Army Research Office are analyzed using this platform and phase only filter (POF) combined with two different functions defining the Region Of Interest (ROI). The ROI functions significantly speed up the search process.
Reply to MacLeod et al.: Multiple myeloma plasma cells have chameleon characteristics

MacLeod et al. question whether our lot of H929 multiple myeloma (MM) plasma cells were contaminated with K562 chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells (1). Before addressing this issue, we want to state that the central purpose of our paper was to demonstrate that hypothesis-directed proteomics using immunoprecipitation (IP)–liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was capable of detecting a cancer cell’s defective and activated signaling pathways. Using three IPs with antibodies against the endogenous bait proteins p85 (PI3K), Grb2 and pTyr peptides, we could successfully capture the BCR–ABL complex in our MM cells. We suggest that this proteomics strategy may be an effective method for helping to choose the appropriate single or combination of tyrosine kinase inhibitor drugs for a personalized medicine approach from patient tumor cells.
CHANGING GAITS MECHANICALLY

![Figure][1] We usually think that we – meaning our nervous systems – are in control of what our bodies do. Our intuitions lead us astray: in many cases, it seems that body movements only result from interactions among the musculoskeletal system, the external world and the nervous system
Genome-wide analysis of functional sirtuin chromatin targets in yeast.

The sirtuins are a conserved family of NAD+-dependent histone/protein deacetylases that regulate numerous cellular processes, including heterochromatin formation and transcription. Multiple sirtuins are encoded by each eukaryotic genome, raising the possibility of cooperativity or functional overlap. The scope and variety of chromatin binding sites of the sirtuins in any specific organism remain unclear. Here we utilize the ChIP-seq technique to identify and functionally characterize the genome-wide targets of the sirtuins, Sir2, Hst1 to Hst4, and the DNA binding partner of Hst1, Sum 1, in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Unexpectedly, Sir2, Hst1 and Sum1, but not the other sirtuins, exhibit co-enrichment at several classes of chromatin targets. These include telomeric repeat clusters, tRNA genes, and surprisingly, the open reading frames (ORFs) of multiple highly expressed RNA polymerase II-transcribed genes that function in processes such as fermentation, glycolysis, and translation. Repression of these target genes during the diauxic shift is specifically dependent on Sir2/Hst1/Sum1 binding to the ORF and sufficiently high intracellular NAD+ concentrations. Sir2 recruitment to the ORFs is independent of the canonical SIR complex and surprisingly requires Sum1. The shared Sir2/Hst1/Sum1 targets also significantly overlap with condensin and cohesin binding sites, where Sir2, Hst1, and Sum1 were found to be important for condensin and cohesin deposition, suggesting a possible mechanistic link between metabolism and chromatin architecture during the diauxic shift. This study demonstrates the existence of overlap in sirtuin function, and advances our understanding of conserved sirtuin-regulated functions, including the regulation of glycolytic gene expression and condensin loading.
The response of gram-negative, thermophilic bacteria to oxygen

Nine gram-negative, thermophilic bacteria (LEH-1, CC-6, BI-1, NR-9, K-2,Thermus aquaticus, T. thermophilus, T. sp. X-1, andThermomicrobium roseum) tolerated increased oxygen tensions (0.6–1.0 atm). All of the strains demonstrated catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase activity. Except forT. roseum, the specific activity of one or more of these enzymes was higher under aerated culture, as compared to static conditions. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) indicated that each organism possessed only one superoxide dismutase, and each was tentatively identified as having a manganese prosthetic group. PAGE also demonstrated that the number of isozymes of catalase varied from one to three, depending on the organism. Finally, the characterization of these enzymes supported previous tentative groupings of these thermophiles.
Distinguishing type I and type II hemorrhage by gradient echo based MR sequence in carotid atherosclerotic plaques

Methods Five ex vivo carotid endarterectomy (CEA) specimens were imaged on a 3T MR scanner (Philips Achieva) after formalin fixation. Firstly, a GRE sequence was optimized with different echo time (from 4.1ms to 9.1ms) to obtain the greatest contrast between type I and type II hemorrhages which were verified by histology. Secondly, four contrast MR weightings including T1 weighted (T1W), T2 weighted (T2W), Proton density weighted (PDW) and GRE with optimized parameters (Table 1) were acquired. Histology specimens were stained using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Mallory’s trichrome at the location according to MRI slices. The histologist, blinded to the MR images, outlined IPH regions. Morphological features of lumen, vessel wall, and the relative position of external carotid and internal carotid on histology were used for registration. The regions on MR images corresponding to type I and type II hemorrhage on histological slides were mapped by a trained reviewer. The CNR was compared between these regions.
Genomic perspectives in microbial oceanography

The global ocean is an integrated living system where energy and matter transformations are governed by interdependent physical, chemical and biotic processes. Although the fundamentals of ocean physics and chemistry are well established, comprehensive approaches to describing and interpreting oceanic microbial diversity and processes are only now emerging. In particular, the application of genomics to problems in microbial oceanography is significantly expanding our understanding of marine microbial evolution, metabolism and ecology. Integration of these new genome-enabled insights into the broader framework of ocean science represents one of the great contemporary challenges for microbial oceanographers.
Contributions of the water resources committee to hydrological investigations

Some 400 years ago a philosopher named Thomas Tusser wrote “A description of the properties of the wind,” and said: “Except wind stands as it never stood it is an ill wind turns none to good.” Out of the metapnorical winds of economic adversity and the actual winds bringing the floods and droughts of the past five years there has been blown a great store of new facts and knowledge into the armory of the hydrologist, there to be sorted and classified and made available for his unceasing struggle to perfect his knowledge of water behavior; the science of hydrology.
Metabolic syndrome and 16-year cognitive decline in community-dwelling older adults

Purpose To determine whether metabolic syndrome is associated with accelerated cognitive decline in community-dwelling older adults. Methods A longitudinal study of 993 adults (mean 66.8 ± 8.7 years) from the Rancho Bernardo Study. Metabolic syndrome components, defined by 2001 NCEP-ATP III criteria, were measured in 1984-1987. Cognitive function was first assessed in 1988-1992. Cognitive assessments were repeated approximately every 4 years, for a maximum 16-year follow-up. Mixed-effects models examined longitudinal rate of cognitive decline by metabolic syndrome status, controlling for factors plausibly associated with cognitive function (diabetes, inflammation). Results Metabolic syndrome was more common in men than women (14% vs. 9%, p = .01). In women, metabolic syndrome was associated with greater executive function and long-term memory decline. These associations did not differ by inflammatory biomarker levels. Diabetes did not alter the association of metabolic syndrome with long-term recall but modified the association with executive function: metabolic syndrome was associated with accelerated executive function decline in diabetic women only. Metabolic syndrome was not related to rate of decline on any cognitive measure in men. Conclusions Metabolic syndrome was a risk factor for accelerated cognitive decline, but only in women. Prevention of metabolic syndrome may aid in maintenance of cognitive function with age.
Psychological foundations of nationalism

(1979). Psychological foundations of nationalism. The Philosophy Forum: Vol. 16, No. 1-2, pp. 43-58.
Vapor intrusion in urban settings: effect of foundation features and source location.

In many urban settings, groundwater contains volatile organic compounds, such as tricholoroethene, tetrachloroethene, benzene, etc., at concentrations that are at or slightly below non-potable groundwater standards. Some non-potable groundwater standards do not protect against human health risks that might result from vapor intrusion. Vapor intrusion is a process by which vapor phase contaminants present in the subsurface migrate through the soil and ultimately enter a building through foundation cracks. The end result is a decrease in air quality within the building. Predicting whether or not vapor intrusion will occur at rates sufficient to cause health risks is extremely difficult and depends on many factors. In many cities, a wide-range of property uses take place over a relatively small area. For instance, schools, commercial buildings and residential buildings may all reside within a few city blocks. Most conceptual site models assume the ground surface is open to the atmosphere (i.e. green space); however the effect that an impervious surface (e.g. paving) may have on vapor transport rates is not routinely considered. Using a 3-D computational fluid dynamics model, we are investigating how the presence of impervious surfaces affects vapor intrusion rates. To complement our modelling efforts, we are in the initial stages of conducting a field study in a neighborhood where vapor intrusion is occurring.
A Fluid-Structure Interaction Modeling Approach of Lubricated Bearing-Type Sliding Contacts

In many tribological applications, such as journal bearings and gears, a fluid film is used to accommodate velocity between moving surfaces. To model the behavior of this film and to predict its ability to carry load, the Reynolds equation is predominantly employed. As computational processing power continues to increase, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is increasingly being employed to predict the fluid behavior in lubrication environments. Using CFD is advantageous in that it can provide a more general approximation to the Navier-Stokes equations than the Reynolds equation. Moreover, using CFD allows for the simulation of multiphase flows as could occur during bearing contamination and bearing exit conditions. Because the bearing surfaces move relative to each other as they obtain equilibrium with the fluid pressure, there is a need to incorporate the moving boundary into the CFD calculation, which is a non-trivial task. In this work, a fluid-structure interaction (FSI) technique is explored as an approach to model the dynamic coupling between the moving bearing surfaces and the lubricant. The benefits of using an FSI approach are discussed and the results of its implementation in a lubricated sliding contact model are presented.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Insulin and trauma: Some thoughts

Trauma and/or sepsis produce a net negative nitrogen balance due mainly to muscle protein breakdown. Lymphokines (interleukins) appear to be the hormonal signal which negates insulin's anabolic effect on muscle resulting in net catabolism. In contrast, their effects on immune and reparative cells appear additive to insulin's anabolic effect augmenting tissue repair and increasing immunologic defense, but at the expense of muscle nitrogen. This logical evolutionary adaptation did not anticipate that parenteral alimentation could provide both the needed glucose for tissue repair, thus obviating muscle protein catabolism to provide precursor amino acids for hepatic gluconeogenesis and the amino acids for tissue reconstruction.
Prevalence of osteoporosis and predictors of low BMD in a cohort of HIV-1-infected patients in Rome: features of a population at high risk

Introduction : Ageing of HIV-infected patients led to an increasing rate of osteopenia and osteoporosis. The cause is multifactorial, including virus activity, drug toxicity and host factors. The aim of our analysis is to quantify this issue according to our department experience and to evaluate predictors of low BMD. Materials and Methods : HIV-1-infected patients, on stable HAART, were consecutively enrolled in this cross-sectional study and underwent DEXA. We analyzed the prevalence and evaluated predictors of low BMD in our population. Results : We collected data from 208 patients, 148 of whom were male, with 49 years median age (IQR 24.1–68.3). About 39% of patients were heterosexuals, 33.7 MSM and 12.5% were IDU, 40.4% were smokers. Caucasians were 93.3%, and 13.9% were co-infected with HCV virus. Around 6.7% of patients were on their first HAART regimen and all of them started TDF. Their median time of HAART exposure was 1.17 years (IQR 0.8–1.6). Conversely, median time of HAART exposure of multi-experienced patients was 8.5 years (IQR 3.1–12.0). We stratified DEXA results for patients on first-line regimen versus multi-experienced one. We found that 42.9% of patients on first-line HAART had low BMD of lumbar spine and 7.1% had osteoporosis. Regarding the multi-experienced group of patients, lumbar spine osteopenia was observed in 36.6% of patients and 15.5% of them had osteoporosis. Median age of patients with low BMD of lumbar spine was 45.6 (IQR 24.1–68.3) for patients on first-line regimen and 49.8 years for multi-experienced (IQR 44.2–54.0) regimen. We found similar data for BMD of hip, but no patients in the first group had hip osteoporosis. We also analyzed predictors of low BMD in our population. MSM patients showed a 3.4-fold higher risk to have osteoporosis of lumbar spine (OR 3.41, CI 1,105–9,269, p=0.03). As expected, we found that non-Caucasian patients had 13.5-fold higher risk to have osteoporosis of the hip (OR 13.52, CI 1.5–122.7, p=0.02). Exposure to HAART was also evaluated, but no predictors were found. Conclusions : Our data confirm how osteoporosis is highly prevalent and occurs earlier in HIV-infected patients. Antiretrovirals play a crucial role. In our experience loss of BMD can occur within a year of treatment, when almost half of our patients starting TDF had a low BMD. MSM patients have a higher risk to develop spine osteoporosis and non-Caucasian patients are more likely to have hip osteoporosis. We remark the importance of BMD assessment for HIV-infected patients especially during their first months of treatment. (Published: 2 November 2014) Citation : Abstracts of the HIV Drug Therapy Glasgow Congress 2014 D'Avino A et al. Journal of the International AIDS Society 2014, 17(Suppl 3) :19570 http://www.jiasociety.org/index.php/jias/article/view/19570 | http://dx.doi.org/10.7448/IAS.17.4.19570
From Atoxyl to Salvarsan: Searching for the Magic Bullet

March 15th of 2004 marked the 150th anniversary of the birth of Paul Ehrlich. He was the founder of modern chemotherapy and in fact coined the word and invented the science of chemical therapy. He and his chemist Al fred Bertheim were the first people to do three things: (1) identify a substance, either man-made or from natural products, which showed promise in killing certain invading organisms; (2) determine the correct structure of the active compound in this substance, and (3) modify the chemical structure of this compound to make it more potent to invading organisms and less harmful to the host.
Scavenger: An Experimental Rete Compiler

The Rete algorithm is a well-known method for increasing the speed of pattern matching in production systems. The Rete technique requires that an expert system rule base be compiled into a network structure. The Scavenger compiler provides a means for specifying the criteria by which a Rete network should be constructed. Work with the Scavenger compiler should provide insight into the characteristics of efficient Rete networks.