cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Three stages of root infinitive production in early child Russian

Recent studies of child Russian have offered some interesting insights into the phenomenon of Root Infinitives (RIs) in early child language. This paper offers a new perspective on the RI phenomenon in child Russian by arguing that the RI production consists of three developmental stages, which cannot be accounted for by the theories that propose optional projection of Tense/Agreement (Wexler, 1998) or underspecification of NumberP (Hoekstra, Hyams & Becker, 1997) or AspectP (Gavruseva, 2003). It is proposed that stage 1 results from underspecification/open value of AspP, TP and ModalP, while stage 2 results from underspecification/open value of ModalP only. Full specification of ModalP during stage 3 accounts for decrease in RI production.
Mechanisms of dopamine transporter regulation in normal and disease states

The dopamine (DA) transporter (DAT) controls the spatial and temporal dynamics of DA neurotransmission by driving reuptake of extracellular transmitter into presynaptic neurons. Many diseases such as depression, bipolar disorder, Parkinson's disease (PD), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are associated with abnormal DA levels, implicating DAT as a factor in their etiology. Medications used to treat these disorders and many addictive drugs target DAT and enhance dopaminergic signaling by suppressing transmitter reuptake. We now understand that the transport and binding properties of DAT are regulated by complex and overlapping mechanisms that provide neurons with the ability to modulate DA clearance in response to physiological demands. These processes are controlled by endogenous signaling pathways and affected by exogenous transporter ligands, demonstrating their importance for normal neurotransmission, drug abuse, and disease treatments. Increasing evidence supports the disruption of these mechanisms in DA disorders, implicating dysregulation of transport in disease etiologies and suggesting these processes as potential points for therapeutic manipulation of DA availability.
Editing by a tRNA synthetase: DNA aptamer-induced translocation and hydrolysis of a misactivated amino acid

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases establish the rules of the genetic code by aminoacylation reactions. Occasional activation of the wrong amino acid can lead to errors of protein synthesis. For isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase, these errors are reduced by tRNA-dependent hydrolytic editing reactions that occur at a site 25 A from the active site. These reactions require that the misactivated amino acid be translocated from the active site to the center for editing. One mechanism describes translocation as requiring the mischarging of tRNA followed by a conformational change in the tRNA that moves the amino acid from one site to the other. Here a specific DNA aptamer is investigated. The aptamer can stimulate amino acid-specific editing but cannot be aminoacylated. Although the aptamer could in principle stimulate hydrolysis of a misactivated amino acid by an idiosyncratic mechanism, the aptamer is shown here to induce translocation and hydrolysis of misactivated aminoacyl adenylate at the same site as that seen with the tRNA cofactor. Thus, translocation to the site for editing does not require joining of the amino acid to the nucleic acid. Further experiments demonstrated that aptamer-induced editing is sensitive to aptamer sequence and that the aptamer is directed to a site other than the active site or tRNA binding site of the enzyme.
Transition of strategy, marketing, R&D and new product development policies after mergers and acquisitions: a case study of SuperPower Inc. under US, Dutch and Japanese ownership

This paper presents an in-depth case study of the transition of strategy, R&D and new product development procedures after the acquisitions of a small entrepreneurial US high-tech company, SuperPower Inc., first by Philips of the Netherlands, and then by Furukawa Electric of Japan. We summarise the findings of interviews conducted in 2013 with SuperPower and Furukawa managers, and the former first general manager of SuperPower. We discuss the acquisition strategies and integration processes of the two companies. Philips exercised benign neglect toward SuperPower because of lack of strategic fit, while Furukawa planned a proactive redirection of SuperPower’s manufacturing process towards higher efficiency, total quality and lower cost. All key personnel of SuperPower remained with Furukawa during the first year. We conclude with the internal and external challenges ahead for the merged operations.
Technique for laparobotic distal pancreatectomy with preservation of spleen.

Minimally invasive surgery for pancreas has advanced at a steady pace in recent years. Although proximal pancreatic resection is still a formidable task, distal resection has become routine with a laparoscopic approach. The recent introduction of the Da Vinci Robotic Surgical System has helped to make this complex procedure much more feasible, efficient, and safe. In this paper, we describe our technique for robot-assisted distal pancreatectomy with splenic preservation, which can be broken down into five steps in a medial-to-lateral progression. Preservation of splenic vessels is routine, although in certain instances a Warshaw’s technique is employed. The advantages of the robotic approach are described.
Electron spin relaxation of some alkane cation radicals as an indicator of dynamics between the distorted structures

ESR saturation phenomenon was observed for various alkane cation radicals derived from cyclohexane, propane and norbornane in frozen halocarbon matrices at 4 K. In addition to spectral diffusion by spin-spin interaction between the radicals, which is a common mechanism of ESR relaxation in the solid state, isotropic hyperfine modulation by the dynamics between the equivalent distorted structures was found to be very important for those centers which show Jahn-Teller (JT) or pseudo-JT effects. The effect of annealing of the sample at 77 K is also discussed.
Reactive information foraging for evolving goals

Information foraging models have predicted the navigation paths of people browsing the web and (more recently) of programmers while debugging, but these models do not explicitly model users' goals evolving over time. We present a new information foraging model called PFIS2 that does model information seeking with potentially evolving goals. We then evaluated variants of this model in a field study that analyzed programmers' daily navigations over a seven-month period. Our results were that PFIS2 predicted users' navigation remarkably well, even though the goals of navigation, and even the information landscape itself, were changing markedly during the pursuit of information.
Editorial Comment: Traumatic Elbow Instability and its Sequelae

The author certifies that he, or any members of his immediate family, has no commercial associations (eg, consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article. All ICMJE Conflict of Interest Forms for authors and Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research ® editors and board members are on file with the publication and can be viewed on request. The opinions expressed are those of the writers, and do not reflect the opinion or policy of CORR ® or the Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons®.
Eigenvector eigenvalue theory: The diagonalization of symmetric matrices using a least-squares optimized threshold method

Abstract A least-squares threshold diagonalization algorithm is presented. The salient features of the algorithm include an internally computed series of threshold values which optimize convergence and an input parameter to simplify programmatic control of the precision of the calculated eigenvectors. The optimized threshold method is from 30 to 40 % faster than the most efficient Jacobi diagonalization routines and is roughly 20 % faster than previous threshold methods. Furthermore, the algorithm requires no allocation of additional work arrays.
Antagonistic nature of T helper 1/2 developmental programs in opposing peripheral induction of Foxp3+ regulatory T cells

Recent studies have highlighted the importance of peripheral induction of Foxp3-expressing regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the dominant control of immunological tolerance. However, Foxp3+ Treg differentiation from naive CD4+ T cells occurs only under selective conditions, whereas the classical T helper (Th) 1 and 2 effector development often dominate T cell immune responses to antigen stimulation in the periphery. The reason for such disparity remains poorly understood. Here we report that Th1/Th2-polarizing cytokines can potently inhibit Foxp3+ Treg differentiation from naive CD4+ precursors induced by TGF-β. Furthermore, antigen receptor-primed CD4+ T cells are resistant to Treg induction because of autocrine production of IFNγ and/or IL-4, whereas neutralizing IFNγ and IL-4 not only can potentiate TGF-β-mediated Foxp3 induction in vitro but can also enhance antigen-specific Foxp3+ Treg differentiation in vivo. Mechanistically, inhibition of Foxp3+ Treg development by Th1/Th2-polarizing cytokines involves the activation of Th1/Th2 lineage transcription factors T-bet and GATA-3 through the canonical Stat1-, Stat4-, and Stat6-dependent pathways. Using IFNγ and IL-4 knockouts and retrovirus-mediated transduction of T-bet and GATA-3, we further demonstrate that enforced expression of the Th1/Th2 lineage-specific transcription factors is sufficient to block Foxp3 induction and Treg differentiation independent of the polarizing/effector cytokines. Thus, our study has unraveled a previously unrecognized mechanism of negative cross-regulation of Foxp3+ Treg fate choice by Th1/Th2 lineage activities. In addition, these findings also provide an attainable explanation for the general paucity of antigen-triggered de novo generation of Foxp3+ Tregs in the periphery.
Crambe processing: Glucosinolate removal by water washing on a continuous filter

Crambe seed was dehulled and screw pressed to remove approximately two-thirds of the oil, and then it was hexane-extracted to remove the rest. The defatted meal was toasted in the presence of moisture to form a crisped meal possessing fast drainage characteristics required for continuous filtration. The crisped meal was slurried with four parts of water, filtered, and washed on a continuous pilot-plant filter. Water washing removed about one-fourth of the meal solids, which contained 92-96% of the glucosinolates. Estimated processing costs for water-washing crambe meal are 22-23 dollars per ton of unwashed defatted meal, in addition to the cost of crushing the seed to oil and meal.
Intracranial Pressure Monitoring

Intracranial pressure monitoring (ICP) is a technology that assists critical care nurses in the assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation of care. The physiologic basis of intracranial hypertension (ICH) and ICP monitoring are reviewed. Types of monitors are described. Advantages, disadvantages, and complications of fluid-filled versus fiberoptic systems are explored. Priorities in nursing care of the patient with an ICP monitor are examined.
Probabilistic Characterization of Uncertain Inputs in the Life-Cycle Cost Analysis of Pavements

Life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA) is an important tool for evaluating the merits of alternative investments. Inevitably, inputs for an LCCA are subject to a high level of uncertainty in both the short and long term. However, the way LCCA is currently implemented in the field treats LCCA inputs as static, deterministic values. Conducting an analysis in this way, though computationally simpler, hides the underlying uncertainty of the inputs by only considering a few possible permutations. The results of such an analysis could potentially lead a decision maker to the incorrect pavement selection. One methodology that has gained traction in the past decade is describing uncertain parameters probabilistically and allowing the analysis to consider a range of possible outcomes. Although this methodology is recommended by FHWA, practitioners still generally conduct deterministic LCCAs. One of the major reasons is that further work must be conducted to characterize uncertainty statistically for input parameters. Thi...
Unique sex chromosome mediated behavioral response specificity of hybrid male european corn borer moths

Unlike the narrow response windows exhibited by the parent races, hybrid male European corn borers resulting from crosses of the E and Z races respond to a wide range of sex pheromone blends. The F1 response profile consists of some individuals that respond to both the Z pheromone and the 65∶35 E/Z blend produced by F1 females. Some F1 males fail to respond to any blend and some do not respond as broadly as others. The hybrid male populations, however, are not tuned optimally to the pheromone blend produced by F1 females and there is no coupling of F1 blend production and response.
Barriers and Opportunities for Integrating Social Science into Natural Resource Management: Lessons from National Estuarine Research Reserves

The need for cross-disciplinary scientific inquiries that facilitate improved natural resource management outcomes through increased understanding of both the biophysical and human dimensions of management issues has been widely recognized. Despite this broad recognition, a number of obstacles and barriers still sometimes challenge the successful implementation of cross-disciplinary approaches. Improving understanding of these challenges and barriers will help address them and thereby foster appropriate and effective utilization of cross-disciplinary approaches to solve natural resource management challenges. This research uses a case study analysis of the United States National Estuarine Research Reserve System to improve understanding of the critical factors that influence practitioners’ decisions related to incorporating social science into their natural resource management work. The case study research is analyzed and evaluated within a Theory of Planned Behavior framework to (1) determine and describe the factors that predict practitioners’ intent to incorporate social science into their natural resource related activities and (2) recommend potential strategies for encouraging and enabling cross-disciplinary approaches to natural resource management. The results indicate that National Estuarine Research Reserve practitioners’ decisions related to incorporating social science are primarily influenced by (1) confidence in their own capability to incorporate social science into their work and (2) beliefs about whether the outcomes of incorporating social science into their work would be valuable or beneficial.
The Pathogenesis of Hepatitis C Virus Is Influenced by Cytomegalovirus

Abstract We investigated the effect of beta-herpesviruses on allograft failure and mortality, hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication, and liver histologic characteristics among 92 HCV-infected liver transplant recipients. Reactivation of cytomegalovirus (CMV) but not of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) was independently associated with allograft failure and mortality (risk ratio, 3.71; 95% confidence interval, 1.64-8.39); allograft failure and mortality was observed in 48% of patients with CMV disease, 35% of patients with subclinical CMV infection, and 17% of patients without CMV infection (P=.0275). CMV reactivation was highly predictive of mortality (P<.001), regardless of whether it remained subclinical or evolved into CMV disease. Patients with CMV disease had a higher fibrosis stage (P=.05) and had a trend toward a higher hepatitis activity index (P=.10) and HCV load (P=.10) at 16 weeks after liver transplantation. The pathogenesis of HCV is influenced by its interaction with CMV but not with HHV-6.
M-CSF signals through the MAPK/ERK pathway via Sp1 to induce VEGF production and induces angiogenesis in vivo.

Background: M-CSF recruits mononuclear phagocytes which regulate processes such as angiogenesis and metastases in tumors. VEGF is a potent activator of angiogenesis as it promotes endothelial cell proliferation and new blood vessel formation. Previously, we reported that in vitro M-CSF induces the expression of biologically-active VEGF from human monocytes. Methodology and Results: In this study, we demonstrate the molecular mechanism of M-CSF-induced VEGF production. Using a construct containing the VEGF promoter linked to a luciferase reporter, we found that a mutation reducing HIF binding to the VEGF promoter had no significant effect on luciferase production induced by M-CSF stimulation. Further analysis revealed that M-CSF induced VEGF through the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway via the transcription factor, Sp1. Thus, inhibition of either ERK or Sp1 suppressed M-CSF-induced VEGF at the mRNA and protein level. M-CSF also induced the nuclear localization of Sp1, which was blocked by ERK inhibition. Finally, mutating the Sp1 binding sites within the VEGF promoter or inhibiting ERK decreased VEGF promoter activity in M-CSF-treated human monocytes. To evaluate the biological significance of M-CSF induced VEGF production, we used an in vivo angiogenesis model to illustrate the ability of M-CSF to recruit mononuclear phagocytes, increase VEGF levels, and enhance angiogenesis. Importantly, the addition of a neutralizing VEGF antibody abolished M-CSF-induced blood vessel formation. Conclusion: These data delineate an ERK- and Sp1-dependent mechanism of M-CSF induced VEGF production and demonstrate for the first time the ability of M-CSF to induce angiogenesis via VEGF in vivo.
Health Centers in States With Public Health Agency Support Do Not Have Better Chronic Disease Outcomes

Objectives: To examine the quality of chronic disease care at federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) as a function of state health agency support. Methods: We merged data from the 2010 Association of State and Territorial Health Officials Public Health Survey, the 2011 Area Resource File, and the 2010 Uniform Data System. Using ordinary least squares regression, we modeled hypertension and diabetes control among FQHC patients as a function of state public health agency support of FQHCs, including financial support, direct collaboration, and electronic health data exchanges. Results: The rate of hypertension control is 63.4%, while the rate of diabetes control (HbA1c <7%) is 41.3%. Some two thirds of FQHCs (67.1%) are in states whose public health agencies are fully engaged in FQHC-supporting activities, and approximately one third (34.6%) are in states whose public health agencies send and receive electronic health record data with FQHCs. However, none of our measures of public health agency support o...
Swiss Cheese Flavor: I. Chemical Analysis,

Abstract Seven Swiss cheeses were fractionated into oil-soluble, water-soluble-volatile, and water-soluble-nonvolatile components, and each of these components was analyzed for important flavor constituents. Amino acids, calcium and magnesium ions, lactic acid, and salt were determined in the water-soluble-nonvolatile fractions. Peptides were separated according to size. Free fatty acids were determined in the whole cheeses and oil-soluble fractions, and the distribution of the acids between the oil and aqueous phases was calculated. Pyrazines, carbonyls, lactones, and phenols were identified tentatively in the neutral oil-soluble fraction. The water-soluble-nonvolatile fraction contained acetic, propionic, and butyric acids, and ammonia.
Introduction to artificial life

This book and CD-ROM package has been developed in a lab-oriented course taught at Cal Tech in 1995 and 1996, and simultaneously augmented by artificial life research conducted there. These courses were attended by an interdisciplinary group of students from physics, computer science, and the computational neural sciences. The authors assume a pre-requisite understanding of statistical physics and thermodynamics, basic biology, as well as familiarity with computer architectures and scientific computing techniques. This project brings together the necessary theoretical groundwork for understanding the dynamics of systems of self-replicating information, as well as the results of initial experiments carried out with artificial living systems based on this paradigm.
Ethical Issues in Phase I Cancer Clinical Trials

Phase I clinical trials in oncology are designed to study the toxicity of novel drugs and regimens in a small cohort of subjects and to establish a dose that can be used in future studies. Due to the toxicity of many antineoplastic therapies, these trials are typically conducted in subjects with advanced cancer and limited therapeutic options. Patients primarily enrol in phase I cancer trials with high expectations of personal medical benefit; however, the risks and benefits of these regimens are unknown and the benefit from enrolment in phase I cancer trials to date has been modest. The use of a vulnerable population with high expectations of benefit in a scientific experiment creates challenges for the protection of human research subjects. To ethically use one human being for the benefit of others in a phase I oncology trial requires that the research subject never be viewed merely as a means to an end, but that their interests as a person are always respected and safeguarded. This process begins with trial conception and continues even after completion of the trial. In trial design, particular attention should be given to the nature of the experimental agent or regimen and the most appropriate dose selection and escalation strategy and study endpoint. Older paradigms of inter-patient dose escalation and the establishment of maximally tolerated dose may not be appropriate for all studies. Once a well designed study has been established, the primary challenge is to ensure the voluntary informed consent of research participants. This process involves an explanation of the rationale for the study and details of what study participation actually involves in terms of schedules, drug administration, tests and procedures, and predicted toxicities. It also involves an explanation of the nature of phase I clinical trials with a focus on the nature of uncertainty in terms of risks and benefits, differences between trial care and prior care outside a trial, and the disclosure of any potential conflicts of interest and how these will be mediated. Phase I oncology trials are critically important in the advance of the care of future cancer patients, but such advances must be achieved on a foundation of respect for today’s patients. Trial design and enrolment must be conducted in a way that lets those who choose to participate do so in a way that also maximises their chance of medical benefit, minimises their risk of harm, and maintains the principle of respect for persons at all times.
Examining Potential for Cruise Business in the American-affiliated Pacific Islands

Tourism plays a significant role in the economies and residents' lives in the American-affiliated Pacific Islands (AAPI) region. Considering the region's location, tourism resources, limited access by air and the cruise industry's need for new product development for rising demand, cruise business may be a viable option for the region. This study aims to evaluate the potential of the cruise business in the AAPI by consolidating information about the AAPI and profiles of cruise companies and their products, which is essential knowledge for new product development by cruise companies, for tourism planning by island governments and for entrepreneurs' investment decisions. Findings suggest that cruise tourism could bring about positive impacts on the AAPI if this region were to enhance tourism management systems, infrastructure and collaboration among islands, and to manage tourism resources so that the cruise business benefits were permeated throughout the host communities.
Experimental evidence for chair-like transition states in aldol reactions of methyl ketone lithium enolates: stereoselective synthesis and utilization of a deuterium-labeled enolate as a probe of reaction stereochemistry.

Aldol reactions of methyl ketone lithium enolates proceed via chairlike Zimmerman−Traxler transition states with 7:1 to 50:1 preference over alternative, boatlike transition structures, as determined by studies involving the configurationally stable deuterium-labeled enol silane 18 as the lithium enolate precursor.
YOUNG WOMEN WRITERS FROM THE PESANTREN TRADITION: Self-Initiative, Learning Environment, and the Education System

The first section of this paper provides a brief description of the writing tradition in the pesantren. It examines how the writing tradition has been developed in the pesantren. The next section describes women’s involvement in writing in pesantren and explores some differences between older generations and the new generation, and then moves on to focus on several young women writers from the pesantren tradition and the two pesantren in Yogyakarta. In analyzing these writers’ experiences, I try to determine family assistance, environments, and schooling factors that have had significant influences on their careers, as well as looking for evidence of an educational atmosphere in which talented girls are encouraged. The paper concludes with the proposal of various steps that could be considered by pesantren in order to support an ongoing regeneration of women’s writing.
Efficacy Studies on Meticlorpindol as a Coccidiostat

Abstract NINETEEN or more coccidiostats have been manufactured and marketed in the United States to mix in poultry feeds for prevention of coccidiosis (Reid, 1961). Such materials are so commonly accepted that chick starter feed minus a coccidiostat is mixed only on special order by most commercial feed companies. This new class of additives has introduced many new problems for feed manufacturers who have become increasingly more demanding in specifications for new coccidiostats (Edgar, 1958). Some of the different properties listed for an ideal coccidiostat include good mixing properties, easy methods of chemical detection, nontoxic properties, low cost and an increasing demand for efficacy against the less known intestinal species of coccidia. Increasing evidence of development in coccidia of resistance to coccidiostats has come both from laboratory studies (Waletzky et al., 1954; Pellerdy, 1962; Vegh, 1962) and from feeding experiments (Cuckler and Malenga, 1955; Joyner, 1957; McLoughlin and Gardiner, 1961, 1962; …
Therapeutic effects of erythropoietin on histological and functional outcomes following traumatic brain injury in rats are independent of hematocrit

Erythropoietin (EPO) provides neuroprotection and neurorestoration after traumatic brain injury (TBI). The EPO doses used for treatment of TBI significantly increase hematocrit, which may affect the efficacy of EPO therapy for TBI. The aim of this study was to investigate whether normalization of hematocrit would affect EPO efficacy for treatment of TBI. Young adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: (1) Sham group (n=6); (2) TBI+ saline group (n=6); (3) TBI+ EPO group (n=6); and (4) TBI+ EPO+ hemodilution group (n=7). TBI was induced by controlled cortical impact over the left parietal cortex. EPO (5,000 U/kg) or saline was administered intraperitoneally at days 1, 2, and 3 postinjury. Neurological function was assessed using a modified neurological severity score (mNSS), footfault and the Morris water maze (MWM) tests. Animals were sacrificed 35 days after injury, and brain sections were stained for immunohistochemistry. Compared to the saline treatment, EPO treatment significantly reduced hippocampal cell loss, enhanced angiogenesis and neurogenesis in the injured cortex and hippocampus, and significantly improved sensorimotor functional outcome (lowered mNSS and foot faults) and spatial learning (MWM test). Normovolemic hemodilution effectively normalized the hematocrit and did not significantly affect the histological and functional outcome of EPO therapy for TBI. These data for the first time demonstrate that increased hematocrit does not affect therapeutic effects of EPO on histological and long-term functional outcomes in rats after TBI and also suggest that neuroprotection and neurorestoration of EPO treatment are independent of hematocrit.
Increased Chloride Conductance As the Proximate Cause of Hydrogen Ion Concentration Effects in Aplysia Neurons

A fall in extracellular pH increased membrane conductance of the giant cell in the abdominal ganglion of Aplysia californica. Chloride conductance was trebled whereas potassium conductance was increased by 50%. Half the giant cells were hyperpolarized (2–8 mv) and half were depolarized (3–10 mv) by lowering the pH. The hyperpolarizing response always became a depolarizing response in half-chloride solutions. When internal chloride was increased electrophoretically, the hyperpolarization was either decreased or changed to depolarization. The depolarizing response was reduced or became a hyperpolarizing response after soaking the cell in 10.0 mM chloride, artificial seawater solution for 1 hr. Depolarization was unaffected when either external sodium, calcium, or magnesium was omitted. A glass micropipette having an organic liquid chloride ion exchanger in its tip was used to measure intracellular chloride activity in 14 giant cells; 7 had values of 27.7 ± 1.8 mM (SEM) and 7 others 40.7 ± 1.5 mM. Three of the first group were hyperpolarized when pH was lowered and three of the second group were depolarized. In all six cells, these changes of membrane potential were in the direction of the chloride equilibrium potential. Intracellular potassium activity was measured by means of a potassium ion exchanger microelectrode.
Coronary endothelial dysfunction is associated with erectile dysfunction and elevated asymmetric dimethylarginine in patients with early atherosclerosis

Aims Coronary endothelial dysfunction (CED) precedes atherosclerosis and is associated with cardiovascular events. Both CED and erectile dysfunction (ED) are partly mediated by impairment in the nitric oxide pathway. ED is associated with established coronary atherosclerosis, but its relationship with early coronary atherosclerosis and CED is unknown. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that CED is associated with ED in men with early coronary atherosclerosis. Moreover, the role of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) was investigated; ADMA is a novel endogenous competitive inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase and has been shown to be an independent marker for cardiovascular disease. Methods and results Fifty-six men without obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) who underwent coronary endothelial function testing were studied. ADMA levels were determined and all men were asked to complete the International Index of Erectile Function-5 questionnaire to assess erectile function. Patients were divided according to the presence (n = 32) or absence (n = 24) of CED. Men with CED had significant impairment of erectile function (P = 0.008) and significantly higher ADMA levels (0.50 +/- 0.06 vs. 0.45 +/- 0.07 ng/mL, P = 0.017) compared with men with normal endothelial function. Erectile function positively correlated with coronary endothelial function. This correlation was independent of age, body mass index, high-density lipoprotein, C-reactive protein, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index, and smoking status. Conclusion CED is independently associated with ED and plasma ADMA concentration in men with early coronary atherosclerosis. This study further supports the role of the endothelium in systemic vascular diseases and the role of ADMA in the systemic manifestations of endothelial dysfunction.
A grammar-based entity representation framework for data cleaning

Fundamental to data cleaning is the need to account for multiple data representations. We propose a formal framework that can be used to reason about and manipulate data representations. The framework is declarative and combines elements of a generative grammar with database querying. It also incorporates actions in the spirit of programming language compilers. This framework has multiple applications such as parsing and data normalization. Data normalization is interesting in its own right in preparing data for analysis as well as in pre-processing data for further cleansing. We empirically study the utility of the framework over several real-world data cleaning scenarios and find that with the right normalization, often the need for further cleansing is minimized.
Comparative Sequencing in the Genus Lycopersicon: Implications for the Evolution of Fruit Size in the Domestication of Cultivated Tomatoes

Sequence variation was sampled in cultivated and related wild forms of tomato at fw2.2 —a fruit weight QTL key to the evolution of domesticated tomatoes. Variation at fw2.2 was contrasted with variation at four other loci not involved in fruit weight determination. Several conclusions could be reached: (1) Fruit weight variation attributable to fw2.2 is not caused by variation in the FW2.2 protein sequence; more likely, it is due to transcriptional variation associated with one or more of eight nucleotide changes unique to the promoter of large-fruit alleles; (2) fw2.2 and loci not involved in fruit weight have not evolved at distinguishably different rates in cultivated and wild tomatoes, despite the fact that fw2.2 was likely a target of selection during domestication; (3) molecular-clock-based estimates suggest that the large-fruit allele of fw2.2 , now fixed in most cultivated tomatoes, arose in tomato germplasm long before domestication; (4) extant accessions of L. esculentum var. cerasiforme , the subspecies thought to be the most likely wild ancestor of domesticated tomatoes, appear to be an admixture of wild and cultivated tomatoes rather than a transitional step from wild to domesticated tomatoes; and (5) despite the fact that cerasiforme accessions are polymorphic for large- and small-fruit alleles at fw2.2 , no significant association was detected between fruit size and fw2.2 genotypes in the subspecies—as tested by association genetic studies in the relatively small sample studied—suggesting the role of other fruit weight QTL in fruit weight variation in cerasiforme .
Cancer-Related Direct-to-Consumer Advertising: Awareness, Perceptions, and Reported Impact Among Patients Undergoing Active Cancer Treatment

Purpose Although cancer-related direct-to-consumer advertising (CR-DTCA) is prevalent, little is known about cancer patients' experiences with this controversial medium of medical communication. Methods We administered a 41-item, mailed questionnaire to consecutive patients with breast and hematologic malignancies who were undergoing active treatment at our institution. We assessed awareness of CR-DTCA within the prior year, perceptions of CR-DTCA, and CR-DTCA–prompted patient and provider behaviors. Results We received 348 completed questionnaires (response rate, 75.0%). Overall, 86.2% reported being aware of CR-DTCA, most frequently from television (77.7%). Awareness did not vary with clinical or sociodemographic factors except that patients were more likely to be aware of CR-DTCA for products specific to their cancer types (P < .0001). A majority of those aware reported that CR-DTCA made them “aware of treatments they did not know about” (62.2%), provided information in “a balanced manner” (65.2%), and...
Kuy alterities: The struggle to conceptualise and claim Indigenous land rights in neoliberal Cambodia

Based primarily on fieldwork with Kuy peoples in Rovieng District, Preah Vihear Province, this article examines contemporary Indigeneity in Cambodia as an emergent heterogeneous and polythetic identity vis-a-vis the changing nature of the state, and suggests that a more substantive political engagement with Indigenous identity and history offers a pluricultural reframing of the world heritage of Cambodia and a possible source of alternative land regimes that are more sustainable and equitable than the current dominant neoliberal model of land concessions. Although the 2001 Cambodian National Land Law holds critical significance for Indigenous Peoples in pursuit of communal land rights, it has largely failed to protect rights because of (i) persistent discrimination against groups now claiming Indigenous identities, embedded in state procedures of Indigenous identity and land registration; and (ii) the state's demonstrated embrace of land concession regimes as the preferred strategy of economic development. The Delcom mining concession of Kuy lands provides one example of the destructive impacts of this strategy. An examination of the evidence of Kuy peoples' history suggests that their classification as ethnic minorities is of recent origins, and that in the past they played more active roles in Cambodian state-building projects.
From Dark Web to GeoPolitical Web: Exploring the Value of Social Media Informatics

This talk will summarize the University of Arizona Artificial Intelligence Lab's Dark Web research and discuss current and future development of a new GeoPolitical Web research program, which aims to study the emerging geopolitical events using advanced social media analytics techniques. The GeoPolital Web project is collecting longitudinal multilingual social media contents (forums, twitters, videos) from many different volatile regions in the world. Selected sentiment analysis, text mining, social network analysis, and econometrics models studies will be presented.
NATURE OF THE ACTION CURRENT IN NITELLA IV. PRODUCTION OF QUICK ACTION CURRENTS BY EXPOSURE TO NACl

Treatment of Nitella with NaCl greatly reduces the time required for the action current and produces an action curve with one peak instead of the customary two. The time may be reduced to 0.6 second in place of the usual 15 to 30 seconds. This might be expected if the treatment increased the conductivity of the aqueous part of the protoplasm. The experiments favor this idea although they do not prove its correctness. This effect is prevented by calcium, possibly because calcium inhibits penetration of salts. That penetration is an important factor is indicated by the fact that salts which might be expected to penetrate rapidly have the most effect. Thus NaSCN is more effective than NaCl but Na2SO4 has little or no effect. The action of NH4Cl and LiCl is similar to that of NaCl.
Field applications of genetically engineered microorganisms for bioremediation processes

Genetically engineered microorganisms (GEMs) have shown potential for bioremediation applications in soil, groundwater, and activated sludge environments, exhibiting enhanced degradative capabilities encompassing a wide range of chemical contaminants. However, the vast majority of studies pertaining to genetically engineered microbial bioremediation are supported by laboratory-based experimental data. In general, relatively few examples of GEM applications in environmental ecosystems exist. Unfortunately, the only manner in which to fully address the competence of GEMs in bioremediation efforts is through long-term field release studies. It is therefore essential that field studies be performed to acquire the requisite information for determining the overall effectiveness and risks associated with GEM introduction into natural ecosystems.
Prophylactic treatment of age-related macular degeneration report number 1: 810-nanometer laser to eyes with drusen. Unilaterally eligible patients.

Objective To determine the effects of subthreshold 810-nm-diode laser treatment on the rate of development of choroidal neovascularization (primary end point) and the effect on visual acuity (VA) in participants with multiple large drusen in one eye and a preexisting neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) lesion in the other. Design Multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled trial. Participants Two hundred forty-four patients ≥50 years of age and with a neovascular or advanced AMD lesion in one eye and, in the fellow "study" eye, (1) at least 5 drusen ≥ 63 μm in diameter, (2) Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study best-corrected VA (BCVA) of 20/63 or better, and (3) no evidence of neovascularization at baseline. Methods Patients were randomized to treatment or observation of their study eye at each of 22 centers. At each visit, the protocol specified that BCVA, a complete retinal examination, and fluorescein angiography be documented. Treated eyes had a grid of 48 extrafoveal, subthreshold diode (810 nm) laser spots, 125 μm in diameter, placed in an annulus outside of the foveola. Patients were seen at baseline and at 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 months after randomization. No retreatments were allowed. Main Outcome Measures Development of choroidal neovascularization (as confirmed by fluorescein angiography) and change in BCVA. Results Throughout follow-up, the rate of choroidal neovascularization events in treated eyes consistently exceeded that in observed eyes. At 1 year, the difference was 15.8% versus 1.4% ( P = 0.05). Most of the intergroup differences in choroidal neovascularization events occurred during the first 2 years of follow-up. Treated eyes showed a higher rate of VA loss (≥3 lines) at 3- and 6-month follow-ups relative to observed eyes (8.3% vs. 1% and 11.4% vs. 4%, respectively; P s = 0.02, 0.07). After 6 months, no significant differences were observed in VA loss between groups. Conclusion Prophylactic subthreshold 810-nm-diode laser treatment to an eye with multiple large drusen in a patient whose fellow eye has already suffered a neovascular event places the treated eye at higher risk of developing choroidal neovascularization. We advise against using prophylactic subthreshold diode laser treatment in these eyes.
An Indoor Hybrid WiFi-VLC Internet Access System

Visible light communications (VLC) is emerging as a new alternative to the use of the existing and increasingly crowded radio frequency (RF) spectrum. VLC is unlicensed, has wide bandwidth, supports new levels of security due to the opacity of walls, and can be combined to provide both lighting and data communications for little net increase in energy cost. As part of a lighting system, VLC is ideal as a downlink technology in which data are delivered from overhead luminaries to receivers in the lighting field. However, realizing a symmetric optical channel is problematic because most receivers, such as mobile devices, are ill-suited for an optical uplink due to glare, device orientation, energy constraints. In this paper we propose and implement a hybrid solution in which the uplink challenge is resolved by the use of an asymmetric RF-VLC combination. VLC is used as a downlink, RF is used as an uplink, and the hybrid solution realizes full duplex communication without performance glare or throughput degradation expected in an all-VLC-based approach. Our proposed approach utilizes a software defined VLC platform (SDVLC) to implement the unidirectional optical wireless channel and a WiFi link as the back-channel. Experiments with the implemented prototype reveal that the integrated system outperforms conventional WiFi for crowded (congested) multiuser environments in term of throughput, and demonstrate functional access to full-duplex interactive applications such as web browsing with HTTP.
Replication-transcription conflicts in bacteria

DNA replication and transcription use the same template and occur concurrently in bacteria. The lack of temporal and spatial separation of these two processes leads to their conflict, and failure to deal with this conflict can result in genome alterations and reduced fitness. In recent years major advances have been made in understanding how cells avoid conflicts between replication and transcription and how such conflicts are resolved when they do occur. In this Review, we summarize these findings, which shed light on the significance of the problem and on how bacterial cells deal with unwanted encounters between the replication and transcription machineries.
Extraordinary Molecular Evolution in the PRDM9 Fertility Gene

Recent work indicates that allelic incompatibility in the mouse PRDM9 (Meisetz) gene can cause hybrid male sterility, contributing to genetic isolation and potentially speciation. The only phenotype of mouse PRDM9 knockouts is a meiosis I block that causes sterility in both sexes. The PRDM9 gene encodes a protein with histone H3(K4) trimethyltransferase activity, a KRAB domain, and a DNA-binding domain consisting of multiple tandem C2H2 zinc finger (ZF) domains. We have analyzed human coding polymorphism and interspecies evolutionary changes in the PRDM9 gene. The ZF domains of PRDM9 are evolving very rapidly, with compelling evidence of positive selection in primates. Positively selected amino acids are predominantly those known to make nucleotide specific contacts in C2H2 zinc fingers. These results suggest that PRDM9 is subject to recurrent selection to change DNA-binding specificity. The human PRDM9 protein is highly polymorphic in its ZF domains and nearly all polymorphisms affect the same nucleotide contact residues that are subject to positive selection. ZF domain nucleotide sequences are strongly homogenized within species, indicating that interfinger recombination contributes to their evolution. PRDM9 has previously been assumed to be a transcription factor required to induce meiosis specific genes, a role that is inconsistent with its molecular evolution. We suggest instead that PRDM9 is involved in some aspect of centromere segregation conflict and that rapidly evolving centromeric DNA drives changes in PRDM9 DNA-binding domains.
Demonstration of the remote exploration and experimentation (REE) fault-tolerant parallel-processing supercomputer for spacecraft onboard scientific data processing

Concerns a demonstration of the REE Project's work to date. The demonstration is intended to simulate an REE system that might exist on a Mars rover, consisting of multiple COTS processors, a COTS network, a COTS node-level operating system, REE middleware, and an REE application. The specific application performs texture processing of images. It was chosen as a building block of automated geological processing that will eventually be used for both navigation and data processing. Because the COTS hardware is not radiation hardened, single-event-upset-induced soft errors will occur. These errors are simulated in the demonstration by use of a software-implemented fault-injector, and are injected at a rate much higher than is realistic for the sake of viewer interest. Both the application and the middleware contain mechanisms for both detection of and recovery from these faults, and these mechanisms are tested by this very high fault-rate. The consequence of the REE system being able to tolerate this fault rate while continuing to process data is that the system will easily be able to handle the true fault rate.
Management of a difficult intubation during acute myocardial ischemia following a failed angioplasty.

NKYLOSING A SPONDYLITIS is a disease of importance to anesthesiologists, since a subgroup of these patients has cervical spine involvement (ankylosis) impacting on airway management. Due to the high risk of cervical fracture’ and its associated high mortality in this subgroup,2-4 airway management for elective surgery generally involves awake sedated intubation.5 While elective surgery allows ample time and optimal conditions for controlled awake sedated intubation even in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), complicated airway management for emergency cardiac surgery has not been previously described. Therefore, a case is reported in which a patient with severe cervical spine ankylosis was rushed to the operating room following coronary artery dissection during angioplasty.