cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Associations between visual function and magnitude of refractive error for emmetropic to moderately hyperopic 4- and 5-year-old children in the Vision in Preschoolers - Hyperopia in Preschoolers Study.

PURPOSE To evaluate associations between visual function and the level of uncorrected hyperopia in 4- and 5-year-old children without strabismus or amblyopia. METHODS Children with spherical equivalent (SE) cycloplegic refractive error of -0.75 to +6.00 on eligibility testing for the Vision in Preschoolers-Hyperopia in Preschoolers (VIP-HIP) study were included. Children were grouped as emmetropic (<1D SE myopia or hyperopia), low hyperopic (+1 to <+3D SE) or moderate hyperopic (+3 to +6D SE). Children with anisometropia or astigmatism (≥1D), amblyopia or strabismus were excluded. Visual functions assessed were monocular distance visual acuity (VA) and binocular near VA with crowded HOTV charts, accommodative lag using the Monocular Estimation Method and near stereoacuity by 'Preschool Assessment of Stereopsis with a Smile'. Visual functions were compared as continuous measures among refractive error groups. RESULTS 554 children (mean age 58 months) were included in the analysis. Mean SE (SD) {N} for emmetropia, low and moderate hyperopia were +0.52D (0.49) {N = 270}, +2.18D (0.57) {N = 171} and +3.95D (0.78) {N = 113}, respectively. There was a consistent trend of poorer visual function with increasing hyperopia (p < 0.001). Although all children had age-normal distance VA, logMAR (Snellen) VA of 0.00 (6/6) or better was achieved (distance, near) among more emmetropic (52%, 26%) and low hyperopic (47%, 15%) children than moderate hyperopes (25%, 9%). Mean (SD) distance logMAR VA declined from emmetropic 0.05 (0.10), to low hyperopic 0.06 (0.10) to moderately hyperopic children 0.12 (0.11) (p < 0.001); A mild progressive decrease in near VA also was observed from the emmetropic 0.13 (0.11) to low hyperopic 0.15 (0.10) to moderate hyperopic 0.19 (0.11) groups, (p < 0.001). Accommodative responses showed an increased lag with increasing hyperopia (ρ = 0.50, p < 0.001). Median near stereoacuity for emmetropes, low and moderate hyperopes was 40, 60 and 120 sec arc, respectively. The percentage of these groups with no reduced near visual functions was 83%, 61%, and 34%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Decreasing visual function was associated with increasing hyperopia in 4- and 5-year-olds without strabismus or amblyopia. As hyperopia with reduced visual function has been associated with early literacy deficits, near visual function should be evaluated in these children.
Plasmonic FETs for THz detection applications

In the last few years, there has been significant advance in the design and modeling of plasmonic terahertz semiconductor devices for applications in detection, generation and modulation of high frequency signals. Plasmonic Terahertz field effect transistors (TeraFET) have been implemented in silicon, InGaAs, GaN], and graphene. Recently, the p-diamond plasmonic TeraFET has been proposed and demonstrated to be a promising candidate for THz and sub-THz applications. To explore more features of TeraFETs, we simulated the response using the hydrodynamic model under various incoming signal conditions, for Si, GaN, InGaAs, and p-diamond FETs. Under the small-signal detection mode, the p-diamond TeraFET has a higher detection sensitivity compared to other TeraFETs. When a strong signal is received, a shock wave develops along the channel. The measurements of the pulse response time could enable the parameter extraction of TeraFET materials.
Conditional Survival in Resected Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Patients Treated with Total Neoadjuvant Therapy

Dynamic survival data based on time already survived are lacking for resected borderline resectable/locally advanced (BR/LA) pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients who received total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) with FOLFIRINOX followed by chemoradiation. Conditional survival, i.e., the probability of surviving an additional length of time after having already survived an amount of time, offers such information. We aimed to determine actuarial and conditional overall (OS, COS) and disease-free survival (DFS, CDFS) among this cohort. Clinicopathologic data were retrospectively collected for resected BR/LA PDAC patients who received TNT (2011–2019). COS and CDFS rates were calculated for patients being event (death/recurrence)-free at multiple intervals and by recurrence status. After a median follow-up of 32.1 months, the 183 patients had a median OS and DFS of 39.1 months and 16.8 months, respectively. COS and CDFS increased as a function of time already survived. The probability of surviving an additional 24 months if a patient survived 2 years post-operatively was 70%, whereas the 4-year actuarial OS was 47%. Similarly, the probability of surviving disease-free an additional 24 months after 2 years was 66%, while actuarial 48-month DFS was 27%. COS for disease-free patients increased further over time. For patients remaining disease-free 12 months post-operatively, BR vs. LA status at diagnosis, tumor ≤ 4 cm at diagnosis, and R0 resection were independent predictors of favorable additional OS and DFS. For resected TNT-treated BR/LA PDAC patients, the probability of surviving an additional length of time increases as a function of survival already accrued. Dynamic survival estimates may allow personalized follow-up and counseling.
Transition to a Safe Home Sleep Environment for the NICU Patient

Of the nearly 3.8 million infants born in the United States in 2018, 8.3% had low birth weight (<2500 g [5.5 lb]) and 10% were born preterm (gestational age of <37 completed weeks). Many of these infants and others with congenital anomalies, perinatally acquired infections, and other disease require admission to a NICU. In the past decade, admission rates to NICUs have been increasing; it is estimated that between 10% and 15% of infants will spend time in a NICU, representing approximately 500 000 neonates annually. Approximately 3600 infants die annually in the United States from sleep-related deaths, including sudden infant death syndrome International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (R95), ill-defined deaths (R99), and accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed (W75). Preterm and low birth weight infants are particularly vulnerable, with an incidence of death 2 to 3 times greater than healthy term infants. Thus, it is important for health care professionals to prepare families to maintain their infant in a safe sleep environment, as per the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics. However, infants in the NICU setting commonly require care that is inconsistent with infant sleep safety recommendations. The conflicting needs of the NICU infant with the necessity to provide a safe sleep environment before hospital discharge can create confusion for providers and distress for families. This technical report is intended to assist in the establishment of appropriate NICU protocols to achieve a consistent approach to transitioning NICU infants to a safe sleep environment as soon as medically possible, well before hospital discharge.
Constraints and Opportunities for the Evolution of Metamorphic Organisms in a Changing Climate

We argue that developmental hormones facilitate the evolution of novel phenotypic innovations and timing of life history events by genetic accommodation. Within an individual’s life cycle, metamorphic hormones respond readily to environmental conditions and alter adult phenotypes. Across generations, the many effects of hormones can bias and at times constrain the evolution of traits during metamorphosis; yet, hormonal systems can overcome constraints through shifts in timing of, and acquisition of tissue specific responses to, endocrine regulation. Because of these actions of hormones, metamorphic hormones can shape the evolution of metamorphic organisms. We present a model called a developmental goblet, which provides a visual representation of how metamorphic organisms might evolve. In addition, because developmental hormones often respond to environmental changes, we discuss how endocrine regulation of postembryonic development may impact how organisms evolve in response to climate change. Thus, we propose that developmental hormones may provide a mechanistic link between climate change and organismal adaptation.
Single-nucleus transcriptomes reveal evolutionary and functional properties of cell types in the Drosophila accessory gland.

Many traits responsible for male reproduction evolve quickly, including gene expression phenotypes in germline and somatic male reproductive tissues. Rapid male evolution in polyandrous species is thought to be driven by competition among males for fertilizations and conflicts between male and female fitness interests that manifest in post-copulatory phenotypes. In Drosophila, seminal fluid proteins secreted by three major cell types of the male accessory gland and ejaculatory duct are required for female sperm storage and use, and influence female post-copulatory traits. Recent work has shown that these cell types have overlapping but distinct effects on female post-copulatory biology, yet relatively little is known about their evolutionary properties. Here we use single-nucleus RNA-Seq of the accessory gland and ejaculatory duct from Drosophila melanogaster and two closely related species to comprehensively describe the cell diversity of these tissues and their transcriptome evolution for the first time. We find that seminal fluid transcripts are strongly partitioned across the major cell types, and expression of many other genes additionally define each cell type. We also report previously undocumented diversity in main cells. Transcriptome divergence was found to be heterogeneous across cell types and lineages, revealing a complex evolutionary process. Furthermore, protein adaptation varied across cell types, with potential consequences for our understanding of selection on male post-copulatory traits.
The Effect of Export Promotion Programs on Establishing Export Markets

There is a pattern of growth throughout agribusiness in North Dakota in which agricultural products ranging from commodities to machinery have all seen growth since 2000. Exports have contributed to most of this production increase. Agribusinesses across North Dakota are exporting to many areas of the world. With the help of the North Dakota Trade Organization (NDTO) many companies have developed trading relationships with clients in other nations. The purpose of this research is to measure the value of NDTO export promotion on North Dakota agribusiness [through the use of marketing, export programs, and counseling]. If the data supports the use of the NDTO, firms may be encouraged to use the services provided by the NDTO when export issues arise. This thesis uses a Tobit left censored model to bring the data together to produce empirical results which can be associated with the NDTO and its impact on a firm's total exports. Firm-level export promotion was found to be insignificant. However, small and medium firms were shown to benefit from the use of the NDTO through an average increase in 2008 export revenue of about $16,095 and $269,317, respectively. Furthermore, this is a $6.44 and a $107.73 return on dollar investment for small and medium firms investing in the services of the NDTO, respectively.
The Evolution of LCRIs

This paper describes the evolution of Library of Congress Rule Interpretations (LCRIs) from what initially was internal documentation prepared for the use of descriptive catalogers at the Library of Congress to their status as a de facto national cataloging standard todady and explores the role they may play in the cataloging of the future.
Soft X-ray tomography on NSTX

Summary form only given. A set of poloidal ultrasoft X-ray photodiode arrays is operated by the Johns Hopkins group on the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX), a toroidal magnetically confined plasma experiment. To enable internal plasma magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) mode identification and analysis, the McCormick-Granetz tomography code developed at MIT was adapted to the NSTX plasma equilibrium geometry. Tests of the code using synthetic data show that the present X-ray system is adequate for poloidal mode number m=1 tomography. In addition, we have found that spline basis functions may be better suited than Bessel functions for the reconstruction of radially localized phenomena in NSTX. The tomography code was also used to determine the necessary array expansion and optimal array placement for the characterization of higher m modes (m=2,3) in the future. Reconstruction of experimental soft X-ray data has been performed for m=1 internal modes, which are often encountered in high plasma pressure NSTX discharges. Higher order MHD modes may be identified using a maximum entropy analysis method to allow more freedom of the reconstruction parameters while reducing numerical image artifacts.
Dissemination of Sensor Data over the Internet

In this paper, we present an Internet-scale framework for publishing, browsing, and analyzing sensor data. Existing work assumes a known set of sensors, deployed for a specific application, intended for a group of users who are aware of the application. In contrast, WISE provides a new environment to allow providers to advertise their sensors using a Sensor Data Description Advertisement, and casual users to discover relevant sensors over the Internet using a scalable peer-to-peer search mechanism. Once the desired sensors are located, the user can employ two new communication protocols, namely SSCP and SSTP, to remotely control the incoming sensor streams. As the data arrive at the user browser software, a corresponding plug-in such as a data animation module is activated to allow the user to “see” the data stream presented in an intelligible way.
Teaching Economics with Games: Results from a Classroom Experiment

In this paper, results from a classroom experiment are analyzed using both MLE and Bayesian Methods. A pop-up review quiz was given to students to test their understanding of microeconomic concepts. After the test, a related economics taboo game where performed in class. Soon after the games students were given an option to retake the quiz. The visual comparison of pregame and postgame results shows a slight improvement in student performance. However both binary logistics MLE regressions and Bayesian Posterior Statistics show that this slight improvement is statistically insignificant. In addition, students with previous calculus experience and higher class performance do better than others in both pregame and postgame quizzes whereas age, gender and department have no significant effect on student scores.
Fault-tolerant message routing for multiprocessors

In this paper the problem of fault-tolerant message routing in two-dimensional meshes, with each inner node having 4 neighbors, is investigated. It is assumed that some nodes/links can be faulty, so it is necessary to route messages, using local information at each step. A new and efficient algorithm is proposed to solve this problem. This algorithm is local and consists of pre-routing and routing stages. The pre-routing algorithm is implemented off-line. The complexity of the pre-routing stage is O(W), where N is the number of nodes in the system, and t is the number of faulty nodes. The complexity of the online routing stage (the size of the routing table stored in the local memory) is O(t). The pre-routing algorithm is performed only once, after a new fault is detected. The algorithm allows 100% of deliverable messages to be delivered in the presence of faulty nodes with no deadlocks or lifelocks. No nodes are declared unsafe. The main idea is to construct fault free rectangular clusters during the pre-routing stage and store the information about their boundaries in local memories. At the routing stage the direction for sending a message at any node is determined by a cluster to which the destination node belongs. The algorithm is generalized on the case of multidimensional meshes.
The role of neuropsychological assessment in the presurgical evaluation of epilepsy surgery candidates

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the role of presurgical neuropsychological assessment in identifying functional deficits in epilepsy surgical candidates and forecasting cognitive outcome following surgery. Neuropsychological assessment is a well-supported method of obtaining information regarding an individual patient's cognitive strengths and weaknesses. Data from these assessments are important in the preoperative evaluation of epilepsy surgical candidates because they: (1) provide an indication of the extent of the functional-deficit zone, and (2) help predict cognitive outcome following surgery. The sensitivity of neuropsychological assessment to subtle deficits that can be found in epilepsy patients might be enhanced by adopting more theoretically derived novel measures, and employing likelihood or odd ratio analyses to determine the cutoff scores for optimal identification of patient groups. The preoperative neuropsychological assessment provides data that are discordant from the remaining investigations and suggest that the functional-deficit zone extends beyond the epileptogenic zone. These data can be important in determining the need for further investigations and may have prognostic significance. The preoperative evaluation provides an essential baseline assessment, against which changes in function can be compared following surgical resection. The information from these evaluations is crucial in identifying the patients at risk for sustaining cognitive declines following the surgery.
Learning omnidirectional path following using dimensionality reduction

We consider the task of omnidirectional path following for a quadruped robot: moving a four-legged robot along any arbitrary path while turning in any arbitrary manner. Learning a controller capable of such motion requires learning the parameters of a very high-dimensional policy, a difficult task on a real robot. Although learning such a policy can be much easier in a model (or “simulator”) of the system, it can be extremely difficult to build a sufficiently accurate simulator. In this paper we propose a method that uses a (possibly inaccurate) simulator to identify a low-dimensional subspace of policies that spans the variations in model dynamics. This subspace will be robust to variations in the model, and can be learned on the real system using much less data than would be required to learn a policy in the original class. In our approach, we sample several models from a distribution over the kinematic and dynamics parameters of the simulator, then formulate an optimization problem that can be solved using the Reduced Rank Regression (RRR) algorithm to construct a low-dimensional class of policies that spans the major axes of variation in the space of controllers. We present a successful application of this technique to the task of omnidirectional path following, and demonstrate improvement over a number of alternative methods, including a hand-tuned controller. We present, to the best of our knowledge, the first controller capable of omnidirectional path following with parameters optimized simultaneously for all directions of motion and turning rates.
FOODWAYS THROUGH CERAMICS IN SOUTHEAST ASIAN ARCHAEOLOGY: A VIEW FROM SOUTHERN VIETNAM

Food related research in Southeast Asian archaeology is heavily biased towards the assessment of subsistence strategies as well as typological and petrographic analyses of ceramics. Little is known about the range of diverse food items, how they were prepared and consumed, and the importance these foods played in the social lives of people in the past. My research seeks to extend the treatment of food in Southeast Asia archaeology from subsistence “strategies” to foodways by incorporating technofunctional and organic residue analyses of earthenware pottery vessels to address outstanding questions about their function with regard to the preparation and consumption of food. This paper presents preliminary findings on a range of prehistoric earthenware pottery excavated from Rạch Nui, An Sơn (Neolithic), and Go O Chua (Metal Age) sites in Long An Province, Southern Vietnam. Results are compared with similar data from experimental and ethnographic pottery as well as integrated with complementary data associated with the archaeological pottery samples. It is predicted that integrative analysis of technofunctional aspects of earthenware pottery with organic residue analysis will provide new perspectives on the foodways in Southern Vietnam during the Neolithic and Metal Age.
Irving’s Columbus: The Problem of Romantic Biography

WASHINGTON IRVING put together The Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus too hurriedly for it to be as accurate and original as historians would like it to be. He was even inclined on occasion, perhaps to compensate for the impossibility of doing exhaustive research, to “let his imagination go completely,” reconstructing colorful scenes not only from what existing records clearly indicated had happened, but from what a knowledge of the era of discovery led him to believe might have happened. And he heightened diction, tone, and characterization to the point of inviting criticism. Nevertheless nineteenth-century historians did not laugh Columbus off. And Stanley Williams’s verdict that instances where Irving consciously invents facts or distorts what in his time was considered to be the evidence are “relatively rare” seems sound. In spite of its faults, the book proved, apparently, to be usable until more detailed studies of the subject appeared.
Photophysical Studies of Heterogeneous Polymers: The Effect of Crystallinity on the Distribution and Mobility of Probe Molecules in Partially Crystalline Polyethylene

Photophysical methods are used to study the effect of crystallinity on the distribution and mobility of probe molecules in well-characterized polymer films. A combination of steady-state and time-resolved methods indicate that probe molecules are excluded from lamella-like crystalline zones in the polymer systems. This effect tends to concentrate the probes into the amorphous zones that exist between crystallites. Using the pyrene−perylene donor acceptor pair as a “molecular ruler”, it is shown by Forster analysis that the amorphous zones form a network structure throughout the polymer film. Mobility within this region is greatly reduced from that in solution and is very size selective, as indicated by the quenching rate constants of the pyrene triplet state by oxygen, azulene, and ferrocene. A determination of the oxygen concentration, by comparing the permeability to diffusibility within the film, indicates that crystalline regions are impermeable to gas molecules. The mobility of the guest molecule in ...
DNA sequence organization in soybean investigated by electron microscopy

An electron microscopic analysis of the DNA sequence organization in the soybean genome is reported. This analysis employed the gene 32 proteinethidium bromide spreading technique, a procedure which produces striking contrast between double and single-stranded DNA regions. To investigate the arrangement of repetitive sequences differing in genomic frequency, three kinetic fractions of 5 kb DNA fragments were isolated by reassociation and hydroxyapatite chromatography. Renatured structures in each fraction were then visualized in the electron microscope. The majority of repeated sequences, irrespective of frequency, were shown to be relatively non-divergent, to exceed 1.5 kbp in length (number-average), and to be organized primarily into long regularly repeating tandem or clustered arrays. Duplex regions >5 kbp were commonly visualized. A small fraction of low frequency repeats (<100 copies per genome), however, was observed to have a distinctly different form of arrangement. These repeats averaged 0.2 kbp in length, contained divergent sequences, and were contiguous to single copy DNA sequences having an average length of 1.15 kbp. Repeats which flanked a given single copy sequence did not appear to be homologous. Neither short clustered permuted repeats nor interspersion of repeats which differed significantly in reiteration frequency were found to be major features of soybean genome organization.
The pH dependence of tryptophan fluorescence of goat α-lactalbumin with particular reference to the effect of binding of an impurity from milk☆

Abstract Two processes giving rise to changes in tryptophan fluorescence of goat α-lactalbumin below pH 7 have been studied. Both of these spectral transitions are strongly influenced by the presence of an impurity which binds to the protein if its contact at acid pH with the milk mother liquor is prolonged during its preparation. Transition II, the U → N conversion, follows the same course at both 2 and 25°C, i.e. a minimum of three abnormally titrating groups are normalized during the conformational change at both temperatures. The difference in this conclusion from that made earlier (Kronman, M.J., Jeroszko, J. and Sage, G.W. (1972) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 285, 145–166) that groups are normalized at 25 and at 2°C was found to be due to binding of the impurity to the protein used in the earlier study. Transition I , which we detect between pH 7 and 4.4 and which appears to be due to perturbation of tryptophans by vicinal ionizing groups, overlaps Transition II, the U → N conversion. However, the fluorescence above approx. 340 nm in the emission spectrum appears to be free of contributions from the former process and can be used in a valid analysis of the thermodynamics of the latter process.
Genetic Analysis of Quantitative Traits in Wild Emmer (Triticum turgidum L. var. dicoccoides)

Utilization of related wild species for genetic improvement of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum) has been limited by the lack of suitable cytogenetic stocks. This study was conducted to identify the chormosomal location of genes influencing quantitative traits in wild emmer (T. turgidum L. var. dicoccoides). Thirteen of the possible 14 disomic substitution lines of Langdon durum wheat (LDN), each containing a different individual chromosomepair of T. turgidum var. dicoccoides (accession FA-15-3 = DIC), were compared with each other and with the recipient parent LDN in a replicated experiment at Langdon and Prosper, ND, in 1988 and 1989 (...)
Some aspects of feeding in thecosomatous pteropod molluscs

Abstract Various aspects of the feeding behavior of thecosomatous pteropods of the families Cavoliniidae and Cymbuliidae have been examined both in the field with SCUBA, and in the laboratory. It was found that the family Cavoliniidae employs a ciliary-mucus feeding mechanism in which the mantle cavity water current and pallial gland are of primary importance in food collection. The feeding mechanism is discussed, as well as related aspects including buoyancy control, particle size range of natural diets, oxygen consumption, and water filtration rates. It is concluded that Cavolinia must have a high efficiency of retention and assimilation of available carbon.
Cisplatin and dimethyl sulfoxide react to form an adducted compound with reduced cytotoxicity and neurotoxicity

Abstract Purpose We present work that demonstrates that cisplatin reacts rapidly with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in solution and identify the structure and reactivity of the resulting compound. Methods Electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and NMR were used to identify the chemical structure of compounds formed when DMSO reacts with cisplatin. We studied the reactivity of the identified compound with DNA. In vitro toxicity studies in neurons and cancer cells and in vivo toxicity studies in rats were used to determine both the cancer chemotherapeutic and toxic effects of the identified compound. Results Cisplatin binds rapidly with DMSO to form a DMSO adduct. The resulting compound has reduced ability to bind to double-stranded DNA both in vitro and in cells. This compound has reduced toxicity for cancer cells and neurons in vitro . In vivo nephrotoxicity studies show that the adducted compound has different nephrotoxicity and elimination characteristics than cisplatin. Conclusions From this work, we conclude that dissolving cisplatin in DMSO results in formation of an adducted compound with different therapeutic and biological characteristics. Furthermore, future studies which propose using DMSO in combination with cisplatin for chemotherapeutic treatment in patients must be reconsidered. Due to the rapidity and nature of the reaction, DMSO and cisplatin should not be combined for patient treatment.
Predictors of the selection of coxibs over nonselective NSAIDs in an older Medicaid cohort.

Abstract Background: Cyclooxygenase-2-selective inhibitors (coxibs) have been widely adopted, despite study findings suggesting that they are cost-effective only in certain populations. Objective: This study was conducted to identify factors that were associated with the selection of coxibs rather than nonselective NSAIDs in the period before the emergence of safety concerns in 2004. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort analysis of a 15% random sample of Kansas Medicaid beneficiaries aged >60 years that used inpatient, outpatient, and prescription claims data. Subjects were included if they received a prescription for a coxib or nonselective NSAID after a 6-month period without an anti-inflammatory prescription claim and if they underwent at least 90 days of follow-up after the initial prescription. Using 2 previously published models (Dominick et al and Shaya and Blume), we analyzed the impact of factors potentially associated with the preferential selection of a coxib, including age, sex, race, history of upper gastrointestinal disease, chronic or acute use, and recent anticoagulant or corticosteroid therapy. Results: Study subjects (N = 853) were predominantly female (78.8%) and white (80.4%), and had a mean age of 78 years; 65.1% were prescribed a coxib and 34.9% were prescribed a nonselective NSAID. In bivariate analyses, coxib users were more likely than nonselective NSAID users to be white (83.2% vs 75.3%, respectively; P Conclusions: In this study in an older population, coxibs constituted almost two thirds of all initial anti-inflammatory prescriptions. The prescription of a coxib was influenced by concomitant anticoagulant use and chronic use. Blacks were significantly more likely than whites to receive a nonselective NSAID. Although coxib use has been affected by the association with cardiovascular risk that emerged after the period of this study, rational drug selection and reduction of racial/ethnic disparities remain important targets for improved quality of care.
Metabolic effects of pancreatectomy and hypophysectomy in the yellow American eel, Anguilla rostrata LeSueur

Abstract Metabolic effects of pancreatectomy and hypophysectomy were compared in the yellow American eel, Anguilla rostrata . It is reconfirmed that in the yellow eel pancreatectomy does not cause the classical symptoms of diabetes mellitus. In the present experiment, the operation was followed by a strong, stress-related hyperglycemic tendency. Liver glycogen was restored after an initial drop. Neither breakdown of adipose tissue nor an increase in serum free fatty acids or cholesterol was observed. Serum amino acid nitrogen was temporarily increased. Hypophysectomized eels showed a tendency to lower levels of serum glucose. Liver and muscle glycogen were statistically significantly lowered. Contrary to observations in the teleost Fundulus heteroclitus and the rat, the hypophysectomized eels showed a hypocholesteremia. No hyperuremia was seen, which again is in contrast to observations in F. heteroclitus . Both pancreatectomy and hypophysectomy were followed by a drop of the hematocrit and an increase in tissue hydration which persisted in the hypophysectomized eels 20 days after surgery. When both operations were combined, the eels survived only in 1:3 seawater, but not in fresh water or 2:3 seawater. The question of an osmoregulatory role of the islet organ is briefly discussed. Surgical stress affected probably all parameters with the possible exception of the abdominal fat stores. When the data of this study are integrated in an overall phylogenetic scale, it appears that in the intermediary metabolism the role of the pituitary is more conservative, while the importance of islet hormones increases in the tetrapodes.
Genomics: six is seventh.

The finished sequence of human chromosome 6 reveals an abundance of biological information previously buried within the draft of the human genome, and illustrates the increasing power of comparative genomics.
Quantifying publication impact.

The Random Samples item “Impact factor” (19 Aug., p. [1181][1]) noted the proposal by Jorge Hirsch of the University of California, San Diego ([1][2]) that the total scientific output of a researcher can be judged by h , the largest number such that the researcher has at least h papers with h citations. Although this is indeed an indication of cumulative scientific impact, another measure, call it c , would also be interesting: the total number of papers from that researcher cited more than once by other research groups in the most recent calendar year. This alternative parameter c would be a much better measure of current research impact. 1. [↵][3] 1. J. E. Hirsch , preprint available at [www.arxiv.org/abs/physics/0508025][4]. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.309.5738.1181c [2]: #ref-1 [3]: #xref-ref-1-1 "View reference 1 in text" [4]: http://www.arxiv.org/abs/physics/0508025
Ghetto Voices in Contemporary German Culture: Textscapes, Filmscapes, Soundscapes

Drawing on Arjun Appadurai's notion of mediascapes from his seminal Modernity at Large (1990), Maria Stehle discusses the depiction of urban ghettoes in German literature (textscapes), movies (film...
Phase-based visualization and analysis of Java programs

Extant Java Virtual Machines (JVMs) apply dynamic compiler optimizations adaptively, based on the partial execution of the program, with the goal of improving performance. Understanding and characterizing program behavior is of vital importance to such systems. Recent research, primarily in the area of computer architecture, has identified potential optimization opportunities in the repeating patterns in the time-varying behavior of programs. In view of this, we believe that by considering time-varying, i.e., phase, behavior in Java programs, adaptive JVMs can enable performance that exceeds current levels.To enable analysis and visualization of phase behavior in Java programs and to facilitate optimization development, we have implemented a freely available, offline, phase analysis framework within the IBM Jikes Research Virtual Machine (JikesRVM) for Java. The framework couples existing techniques into a unifying set of tools for data collection, processing, and analysis of dynamic phase behavior in Java programs. The framework enables optimization developers to significantly reduce analysis time and to target adaptive optimization to parts of the code that will recur with sufficient regularity. We use the framework to evaluate phase behavior in the SpecJVM benchmark suite and discuss optimizations that are enabled by the framework.
Neural Measures Reveal Human Short-Term Working Memory–Varying Both Load and Cue Size

The objective of the study was to investigate neural processing during short-term visual working memory task under different memory load and cue size. Two or four items of the same sign but in different colors were presented on both sides of the screen, in which cues were applied as an indicator. Participants were cued to remember the colors of one side and then make a quickly response to the test sample. On the performance level, responses accuracy decreased with the increasing numbers of working memory loads. The response time increased with the increasing numbers of working memory load. The response time latency to the big cue was larger than that of the small cue. On the neural processing level, the high-load stimuli could arouse a more negative wave than the low-load stimuli.
Nonlinear signal contamination effects for gaseous plume detection in hyperspectral imagery

When a matched filter is used for detecting a weak target in a cluttered background (such as a gaseous plume in a hyperspectral image), it is important that the background clutter be well-characterized. A statistical characterization can be obtained from the off-plume pixels of a hyperspectral image, but if on-plume pixels are inadvertently included, then that background characterization will be contaminated. In broad area search scenarios, where detection is the central aim, it is by definition unknown which pixels in the scene are off-plume, so some contamination is inevitable. In general, the contaminated background degrades the ability of the matched-filter to detect that signal. This could be a practical problem in plume detection. A linear analysis suggests that the effect is limited, and actually vanishes in some cases. In this study, we take into account the Beer's Law nonlinearity of plume absorption, and we investigate the effect of that nonlinearity on the signal contamination.
Judicial supervision of drug-abusing offenders.

Abstract In recent years, judges have been exercising steadily increasing influence over the disposition and management of drug abusers involved with the criminal justice system. This appears to have been motivated by a perception on the part of some judges that the courts are uniquely situated to bring about optimal outcomes for these individuals. In fact, the results of experimental and survey studies provide substantial support for this perspective, but only with regard to high-risk drug offenders who have more severe antisocial predispositions or a history of not having responded to standard community-based drug abuse treatment services. This article reviews that research evidence and considers its implications for designing effective and cost-efficient policies and programs for drug-abusing criminal offenders.
Uncovering the biology of multiple myeloma among African Americans: a comprehensive genomics approach

Epidemiological data have suggested that African American (AA) persons are twice as likely to be diagnosed with multiple myeloma (MM) compared with European American (EA) persons. Here, we have analyzed a set of cytogenetic and genomic data derived from AA and EA MM patients. We have compared the frequency of IgH translocations in a series of data from 115 AA patients from 3 studies and 353 EA patients from the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) studies E4A03 and E9487. We have also interrogated tumors from 45 AA and 196 EA MM patients for somatic copy number abnormalities associated with poor outcome. In addition, 35 AA and 178 EA patients were investigated for a transcriptional profile associated with high-risk disease. Overall, based on this cohort, genetic profiles were similar except for a significantly lower frequency of IgH translocations (40% vs 52%; P = .032) in AA patients. Frequency differences of somatic copy number aberrations were not significant after correction for multiple testing. There was also no significant difference in the frequency of high-risk disease based on gene expression profiling. Our study represents the first comprehensive comparisons of the frequency and distribution of molecular alterations in MM tumors between AA and EA patients. ECOG E4A03 is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00098475. ECOG E9487 is a companion validation set to the ECOG study E9486 and is registered with the National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Clinical Trials (PDQ), number EST-9486.
A simple tape wrap around a guide: Some complexities

Magnetic tape, pulled around a cylinder, will exert pressure against the cylindrical surface, and will experience flexural stresses due to its curvature. The nature of these effects may be important where concern exists regarding the life or performance of the tape. The magnitude of these pressures and tensions are usually calculated by simple equations, based on the assumption that the tape follows a path which is concentric with the cylindrical surface. These simple calculations are usually acceptable, but, for certain more demanding applications, a more rigorous analysis should be employed. There are also two ambiguities associated with the simple theory. A more realistic mathematical model is used here which recognizes a compressibility of the tape surface. The consequent analysis eliminates the two ambiguities. Some simple tests were conducted to measure the compressibility of two tape surfaces, yielding useful numerical values. A formal mathematical analysis, leading to flexure stresses and pressure was made. Numerical values for sample configurations are presented. These show the peak tape contact pressure to be significantly higher than that predicted by simple theory. They also confirm the "anomaly" of flexure stresses decreasing with small wrap angles.
Anodic oxidation of triphenylphosphinephenylimine

Abstract Anodic oxidation of triphenylphosphinephenylimine in acetonitrile has been examined by voltammetry, controlled potential coulometry, and electron spin resonance spectroscopy. Product analyses showed that triphenylphosphine oxide and mixtures of polymeric oxidized salts of aniline are major products along with unreacted starting material. A reaction sequence is proposed in which the primary electrode reaction is a one-electron oxidation followed by rapid cleavage of the radical cation at the PN bond and reaction of the fragments with solvent. Aniline is oxidized anodically to form various polymeric species and liberate protons. Protonation of the starting material renders it electrochemically inert with the result that a large proportion of it is recovered.
The anti-goldilocks debugger: helping the average bear debug transparently transformed programs

The practice of enhancing the bytecode of Plain Old Java Objects (POJOs) with additional capabilities, including persistence, distribution, and security, has become an indispensable part of enterprise software development. The resulting transparently-applied, large-scale structural changes to the bytecode significantly complicate symbolic debugging. This demonstration will showcase the Anti-Goldilocks Java (AGJ) debugger, which enables the programmer to trace and debug transparently transformed programs, without the distraction of the bytecode-level enhancements obfuscating the program's source code. AGJ executes a structurally enhanced program, while dynamically reinterpreting the debugging output (e.g., 'step', 'print variable', etc.) to display program information as pertaining to the original version of the code. AGJ is based on a new debugging architecture that leverages our domain-specific language for describing enhancements.A paper in the main technical program of OOPSLA 2009 [5] describes the design rationale and implementation details of AGJ. This demonstration will showcase the functionality of our reference implementation by using it to locate bugs in a framework-based enterprise application from the financial industry. Using the domain of transparent persistence, this demonstration will compare AGJ to the standard JDK debugger, thereby highlighting the capabilities of AGJ to cut through the morass of transparent bytecode enhancements in order to find obscure bugs.
Synthesis of the diazonium (perfluoroalkyl) benzenesulfonimide monomer from Nafion monomer for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Abstract One diazonium (perfluoroalkyl) benzenesulfonimide monomer, perfluoro-3, 6-dioxa-4-methyl-7-octene benzenesulfonyl imide, has been synthesized from Nafion monomer for the first time. With trifluorovinyl ether and diazonium precursors, the partially-fluorinated diazonium PFSI monomer can be polymerized and will provide chemically bonding with carbon electrode in proton exchange membrane fuel cells. A systematic study of the synthesis and characterization of this diazonium PFSI monomer has been conducted by varying reaction conditions. The optimized synthesis method has been established in the lab.
Tomographic Reconstruction of 3D Index Structures in Photopolymer

We demonstrate deeply buried localized index structures in photopolymer written by three dimensional direct write lithography. High-fidelity cross-sections of these weak index structures are measured by a new form of diffraction tomography without phase reconstruction.
Chronic non-vascular cytomegalovirus infection: effects on the neointimal response to experimental vascular injury.

Objective: Epidemiologic and mechanistic evidence implicates a role for cytomegalovirus (CMV) in atherogenesis. Recently, we demonstrated that CMV has the capacity to causally contribute to atherogenesis; acute infection of rats with rat CMV (RCMV) 1 day after carotid artery injury increased neointimal accumulation. Importantly, in the injured vessel infectious virus could not be detected and viral genome was present only transiently, suggesting that additional mechanisms play a role in the virus-induced exacerbation of the vascular injury response other than the changes caused by direct infection of vessel wall cells. The present investigation was designed to determine whether chronic persistent RCMV infection, more relevant to the clinical situation, also exacerbates the response to injury and, if so, whether similar mechanisms are operative. Methods: Sixty 3-week-old male Spraque–Dawley rats received an i.p. injection of either 106 TCID50 RCMV (Priscott strain) or normal saline. The left carotid artery was balloon-injured 3 months after infection. Rats were killed 6 weeks later. This model produces persistent infection, as demonstrated by presence of infectious virus in the salivary glands at time of sacrifice. Results: The neointima to media (N/M) ratio of the injured vessel was 41% greater in the RCMV-infected than in control rats (1.40±0.48 vs. 0.99±0.45; P =0.003). The aorta never contained infectious RCMV, and exhibited RCMV DNA, detected by PCR, only transiently. The persistent infection of non-vascular tissues was associated with increased serum levels of IL-2, IL-4 and IFN-γ. Conclusions: CMV infection of young rats causes persistent infection of non-vascular tissues and increased cytokine levels. The neointimal response to subsequent vascular injury is increased, despite absence of virus from the vessel wall. These findings, as in acute infection following vascular injury, suggest that inflammatory and immune responses to chronic persistent CMV infection contribute to an exaggerated response to vascular injury.
Size and shape engineering of vertically stacked self-assembled quantum dots

A new procedure for the growth of stacked self-assembled quantum dot layers is described. The main effect of the procedure is to convert the quantum dot population into a population of quantum disks of approximately equal height. Proposed model of the overgrowth process for highly strained 3D islands invokes mechanisms which may lead to a variety of dot shape modification and opens up new ways of influencing the dot population by deliberate control of the overgrowth process. Demonstrated very good performance of test devices indicate that the proposed procedure may have positive impact on the further development of quantum dot lasers.