cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PeSTZ1, a C2H2-type zinc finger transcription factor from Populus euphratica, enhances freezing tolerance through modulation of ROS scavenging by directly regulating PeAPX2.

In the present study, PeSTZ1, a cysteine-2/histidine-2-type zinc finger transcription factor, was isolated from the desert poplar, Populus euphratica, which serves as a model stress adaptation system for trees. PeSTZ1 was preferentially expressed in the young stems and was significantly up-regulated during chilling and freezing treatments. PeSTZ1 was localized to the nucleus and bound specifically to the PeAPX2 promoter. To examine the potential functions of PeSTZ1, we overexpressed it in poplar 84K hybrids (Populus alba × Populus glandulosa), which are known to be stress-sensitive. Upon exposure to freezing stress, transgenic poplars maintained higher photosynthetic activity and dissipated more excess light energy (in the form of heat) than wild-type poplars. Thus, PeSTZ1 functions as a transcription activator to enhance freezing tolerance without sacrificing growth. Under freezing stress, PeSTZ1 acts upstream of ASCORBATE PEROXIDASE2 (PeAPX2) and directly regulates its expression by binding to its promoter. Activated PeAPX2 promotes cytosolic APX that scavenges reactive oxygen species (ROS) under cold stress. PeSTZ1 may operate in parallel with C-REPEAT-BINDING FACTORS to regulate COLD-REGULATED gene expression. Moreover, PeSTZ1 up-regulation reduces malondialdehyde and ROS accumulation by activating the antioxidant system. Taken together, these results suggested that overexpressing PeSTZ1 in 84K poplar enhances freezing tolerance through the modulation of ROS scavenging via the direct regulation of PeAPX2 expression.
An experimental study of bean and maize burning to interpret evidence from Stillhouse Hollow Cave in western North Carolina

ABSTRACTTest excavations in a small rockshelter in the mountains of North Carolina uncovered remains of a hearth containing carbonized twigs, maize kernels, bean cotyledons, animal bone, and the fr...
Re-Evaluating Women’s Page Journalism in the Post-World War II Era: Celebrating Soft News, by Kimberly Wilmot Voss

Traditional media histories have relegated the woman’s page, the reader-drawing anchor of so many papers throughout much of the twentieth century, to a so-called pink ghetto, ruled by “fluff” and “...
NOTES ON THE ETYMOLOGIES IN PLATO'S CRATYLUS

Recent scholarship on Plato's Cratylus (= Cra.) has yielded interpretations that assign various functions of philosophical importance to the dialogue's lengthy etymological section. Barney (2001) considers the section an ‘agonistic display’ (69–73) in which Socrates beats contemporary practitioners of etymology at their own game while, at the same time, offering a cosmological theory intended for serious intellectual competition. In this context, Barney emphasizes the importance of Parmenides, a charioteer who journeys towards Truth, as a literary point of reference for Socrates’ own etymological quest after the true meaning of names which, from Cratylus’ naturalist perspective on language, are considered indicative of their referents’ essential nature. The contents of the etymologies may be a ‘rational reconstruction’ (52–7) of Cratylus’ linguistic naturalism. Sedley (2003) stresses the encyclopedic character of Socrates’ lexical interpretations and argues that these are ‘exegetically correct’ (28) in representing the opinions of the name-givers of old who subscribed to a Heraclitean view of a world in flux, as is reflected in the original form of the names they devised. Ademollo (2011) stresses that Socrates’ etymologies display the evolution of Greek intellectual thought, shown to be heavily reliant on the assumption of a universe in flux, and serve to exhibit the weaknesses in Cratylus’ naturalist view of language.
Simple model for the Hall effect in YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-δ

The strong temperature dependence of the Hall effect in YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-//sub delta/ can be understood in terms of a two-band model, with holes on the planes virtually identical to those of La/sub 1.85/Sr/sub 0.15/CuO/sub 4/, and (highly anisotropic) electrons on the chains.
Global profile changes in transcripts induced with a phosphate analogue: implications for gene regulation.

Previous work has shown that thiophosphate, a phosphate analogue, leads to a global shift in the distribution of cellular proteins in a variety of organisms. Thiophosphate, when added to culture media, gets incorporated into the nucleic acids of cells resulting in nuclease-resistant phosphorothioate linkages. Using Escherichia coli, as a model organism, it was found that the global changes in protein expression induced with thiophosphate could be accounted for by significant changes in the absolute transcription levels of more than 1500 genes detected via RNA seq analysis. In fact, 58% of transcripts detected in RNA seq studies using total RNA were increased an average of 44 × fold while the remaining 42% were decreased an average of 20 × fold in thiophosphate-treated cells. Furthermore, microarray results showed no correlation between the transcriptional changes observed and the known stability of the corresponding mRNAs measured. Overall, the total amount of non-ribosomal RNA accumulated in TP-treated cells was increased relative to rRNA ~ 4 × fold (1.5–6 ×). The results further indicated that metabolic changes may play a role in inducing the transcriptional profiles observed with thiophosphate. Indeed, pathway analysis of transcripts showed an increase in routes for phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate (PRPP) synthesis and related derivatives, presumably due to a reduction in RNA turnover. These results raise the possibility that the energy savings with reduced RNA turnover could lead to an increased energy charge in the cell that induces transcriptional changes leading to an increase in biosynthetic processes.
CHAPTER 3 – Hypoglycemia

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses definition, incidence, clinical manifestations, and pathogenesis of hypoglycemia, followed by a clinical classification of hypoglycemic syndromes, emphasizing their unique characteristics related to the age of onset. At any age, hypoglycemia may or may not be associated with symptoms or clinical manifestations. In an earlier study, adults, organic hyperinsulinism, reactive or functional hyperinsulinism, and hepatic causes of low blood glucose accounted for over 80% of the patients with spontaneous symptomatic hypoglycemia. The neonate with hypoglycemia may have episodes of tremors, apnea, cyanosis, irregular respirations, limpness, twitching, a high pitched or weak cry, refusal to feed, eye rolling, coma, and convulsions. Persistent or chronic hypoglycemia may produce such bizzare manifestations as to be completely misleading. Hypoglycemia is not a disease but represents a defect in the complex physiological mechanisms that maintain normoglycemia.
Flavor broken QCD 3 at large N

We examine the vacuum structure of QCD3 with flavor group U (f)×U (Nf −f) in the limit N → ∞ with g2N =fixed. We find that, generically, the resolution of critical points into a series of first order pahse transitions persists at special locations in the phase diagram. In particular, the number of Grassmannians that one traverses and their locations in the phase diagram is a function of f.
Influences of starting transients, aerodynamic definitions and boundary conditions on elastic and viscoelastic wing and panel flutter

An analytical study is undertaken to ascertain the effects on elastic and viscoelastic flutter of (1) starting transients due to changes in flight velocity, (2) boundary conditions and (3) unsteady aerodynamic force definitions (spatial deflection derivatives). Lifting surface and panel flutter are considered in the steady-state velocity range after transient effects and varied boundary condition influences are also studied. In addition to the various unsteady aerodynamic theories, the effects due to the presence or absence of spatial deflection derivatives on pressure distributions are also examined. Necessary and sufficient conditions for the onset of flutter in the form of simple harmonic motion are also formulated and evaluated.
Hierarchical mean-field T operator bounds on electromagnetic scattering: Upper bounds on near-field radiative Purcell enhancement

This paper uses localized spatial clusters constraints to show how the definition of the $\mathbb{T}$ operator can be used to generate hierarchies of increasingly accurate fundamental limits on wave scattering phenomena.
A Mismatched Bound for Stochastic DOA Estimation

Model misspecification occurs when the assumed model on which an estimator is derived differs from the true underlying model for a given set of data. This often occurs when, for reasons of practicality, it is not reasonable to account for all of the real-world factors affecting a given signal. In the context of radio direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation this can occur due to interference, multipath or other unanticipated phenomena, or due to modelling assumptions that are made in order to utilize computationally efficient array processing algorithms. In this contribution we address the problem of model misspecification in the context of multi-antenna stochastic direction-of-arrival estimation. We present this problem as an application for the Misspecified Cramer-Rao lower bound (MCRB) and derive a set of general models and expressions for computing the MCRB for the misspecified stochastic DOA problem. These models are compared against the convergent results of the stochastic maximum-likelihood (ML) estimation to show that the performance of an asymptotically optimal unbiased estimator does converge to the value predicted by the MCRB.
SIR (Susceptible-Infectious-Removed) Model of Epidemiology as an Extended Example for Chemical Kinetics Students

The basic SIR (susceptible–infectious–removed) model of epidemiology is presented in chemical kinetic terms with a simple two-reaction mechanism. The conditions for the development of epidemics, the course of a simple closed epidemic, and the bases of several mitigation strategies are described in terms of the underlying first- and second-order rate coefficients. Connections are made with the terminology used in epidemiology and in recent news reports on the COVID-19 pandemic.
Firm Inattention and the Transmission of Monetary Policy: A Text-Based Approach

This paper provides direct evidence of the importance of firm attention to macroeconomic dynamics. We construct a text-based measure of firm attention to macroeconomic news and document firm attention that is polarized and countercyclical. Differences in attention lead to asymmetric responses to monetary policy: expansionary monetary shocks raise stock returns of attentive firms more than those of inattentive firms, and contractionary shocks lower returns of attentive firms by less. We interpret the findings using a quantitative model of rationally inattentive firms and calibrate parameters for information frictions using our text-based measure. In the model, firms invest in attention endogenously and face heterogeneous information costs. Less attentive firms adjust prices slowly in response to monetary innovations, which yields non-neutrality. As average attention varies over the business cycle, so does the efficacy of monetary policy.
TU-EF-304-10: Efficient Multiscale Simulation of the Proton Relative Biological Effectiveness (RBE) for DNA Double Strand Break (DSB) Induction and Bio-Effective Dose in the FLUKA Monte Carlo Radiation Transport Code

Purpose: One of the more critical initiating events for reproductive cell death is the creation of a DNA double strand break (DSB). In this study, we present a computationally efficient way to determine spatial variations in the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of proton therapy beams within the FLUKA Monte Carlo (MC) code. Methods: We used the independently tested Monte Carlo Damage Simulation (MCDS) developed by Stewart and colleagues (Radiat. Res. 176, 587–602 2011) to estimate the RBE for DSB induction of monoenergetic protons, tritium, deuterium, hellium-3, hellium-4 ions and delta-electrons. The dose-weighted (RBE) coefficients were incorporated into FLUKA to determine the equivalent ⁶°60Co γ-ray dose for representative proton beams incident on cells in an aerobic and anoxic environment. Results: We found that the proton beam RBE for DSB induction at the tip of the Bragg peak, including primary and secondary particles, is close to 1.2. Furthermore, the RBE increases laterally to the beam axis at the area of Bragg peak. At the distal edge, the RBE is in the range from 1.3–1.4 for cells irradiated under aerobic conditions and may be as large as 1.5–1.8 for cells irradiated under anoxic conditions. Across the plateau region, the recorded RBE for DSB induction is 1.02 for aerobic cells and 1.05 for cells irradiated under anoxic conditions. The contribution to total effective dose from secondary heavy ions decreases with depth and is higher at shallow depths (e.g., at the surface of the skin). Conclusion: Multiscale simulation of the RBE for DSB induction provides useful insights into spatial variations in proton RBE within pristine Bragg peaks. This methodology is potentially useful for the biological optimization of proton therapy for the treatment of cancer. The study highlights the need to incorporate spatial variations in proton RBE into proton therapy treatment plans.
Intimate relationships across the life span.

In this chapter, we provide a comprehensive overview of current state-of-the-art research on intimate relationships, attempting to synthesize research findings within a broader life-span/developmental framework. We review key findings on the basic dynamics of romantic attachment, the development of romantic ties at different stages of life, and the multiple intrapsychic and interpersonal factors related to the quality and stability of romantic ties, including commitment, conflict, communication, jealousy, infidelity, violence, and social cognition. We also address links between relationship functioning and health-related processes over the life span, as well as special issues unique to same-sex couples. Throughout our review, we emphasize three life-span-developmental premises: First, the individual's developmental status shapes the quality and functioning of his or her intimate relationships. Through adolescence, emerging adulthood, middle adulthood, and late life, the individual's changing socioemotional capacities, goals, and motives influence the types of intimate relationships he or she desires. Second, intimate relationships shape social and psychological development. In other words, romantic relationships from adolescence to late life promote continued maturation by eliciting a changing repertoire of developmentally specific tasks and abilities. As individuals strive, from relationship to relationship, to meet their own needs and those of their partners, they become increasingly adept at balancing a complex interplay of motives, goals, and skills. Finally, because intimate relationships represent both the “outputrdquo; of prior psychosocial development and the “input” for the next stage of development, they necessarily exert cumulative and dynamic influences on mental and physical functioning over the life span. Keywords: romantic relationships; adult attachment; life span development; marriage; relationship satisfaction
Sub-pulsewidth coherent spectroscopy in the visible: MI-FROG diagnostics for ultrafast plasma physics

Summary form only given. The study of ultrafast laser-plasma interactions, made possible by sub-picosecond chirped pulse amplified solid-state laser systems enjoys the notable advantage of being decoupled from ion motion, which occur on multi-ps to ns time scales. Ultrafast optical-pulse probing of such plasmas, though, is still complicated by electron dynamics that exist on pulsewidth or shorter time scales. Particularly interesting areas of study, such as ultrafast ionization in gases, a potentially important source of high brightness high-harmonic radiation, and large amplitude longitudinal plasma oscillations, a candidate for future high-energy particle accelerators, inherently involve dynamics on the few femtosecond time scale. We have developed a combination of FROG with multi-pulse interferometry, termed multi-pulse interferometric FROG, or MI-FROG, which is uniquely suited for pump-probe coherent spectroscopy using amplified short-pulse systems and/or emissive targets. By using double-pulse probes in a FROG apparatus, all-order spectral phase sensitivity is achieved. As an example application of MI-FROG to the study of ultrafast laser-plasma interaction, we discuss recent measurements of ultrafast ionization in gases.
Development of Brain Ventricles and Choroid Plexus

Abstract The vertebrate nervous system arises from the neural plate, an early derivative of the embryonic ectoderm. Through the process of neurulation, the neural plate forms the neural tube. Subsequent bending and folding of this tube, along with cell proliferation and migration, produce the central nervous system. The center of the neural tube develops into the ventricular system, a set of four interconnected chambers that constitute a circulatory space inside the central nervous system. Cerebrospinal fluid is secreted into the ventricular system by the choroid plexus, which arises in two distinct locations in the embryonic nervous system. The choroid plexus, a highly vascularized structure, has epithelial and stromal components and serves to regulate the transfer of materials from the vasculature into the cerebrospinal fluid. Signaling by BMP4 and sonic hedgehog are required for the proper development of the choroid plexus.
Carcinoma of a diverticulum of the female urethra

Abstract Four cases of carcinoma of a urethral diverticulum previously reported have been reviewed, and 2 additional cases have been presented. Four of the patients are alive more than 3 years after the initial therapy. One patient is alive and well 2 1/2,years after primary radium therapy. One patient died 19 months after diagnosis and treatment.
Understanding Ethnic/Racial Health Disparities in Youth and Families in the US

To summarize, ethnic and social class disparities are evident across a spectrum of markers of psychological, behavioral, and physical health. Furthermore, the pattern is often complex such that disparities are sometimes found within ethnic/racial groups as well as across those groups. Indeed, it is likely that the causes of health disparities may be different across specific subgroups. Moreover, theoretical models are needed that examine biological, contextual, and person-level variables (including culture-specific variables) to account for health disparities. The scholars in the present volume provide exemplary research that moves us towards more comprehensive and integrative models of health disparities. A brief glance at the work summarized by these scholars yields some common elements of focus for future researchers regarding risk (e.g., poverty, lack of contextual diversity) and protective (e.g., family support, cultural identity) factors yet they also identify aspects (e.g., genetic vulnerabilities) that may be unique to specific ethnic/racial groups. In addition to employing more integrative and culturally sensitive models of health disparities, future research studies could expand the scope of investigation to include transnational studies of health disparities and the processes contributing to them. They might also consider culture-specific health problems and syndromes such as "nervios" in Latino cultures. Within nations, further attention might be directed to the community contexts in which ethnic minority and low SES families reside, not only urban areas but the much less studied rural areas. Finally, efforts to assess health disparities and the factors contributing to them across cultural and ethnic groups need to attend closely to the issue of measurement equivalence in order to ensure valid cross-group comparisons. We would add that future research on health disparities will need to examine markers of positive health outcomes and well being (e.g., social competence) rather than focusing solely on risk and protective factors associated with health-related problems. We cannot assume that the relative absence of negative pathology and risk equals the presence of health and well being-thus research is needed that includes both positive and negative health outcomes. More attention to positive health indicators will further our understanding of normative, positive health outcomes and lead us away from traditional deficit and pathology-focused models of ethnic minorities. Finally, the scholars in this volume all present findings that have important implications for policy and intervention efforts-the lessons learned from their efforts should be heeded if we are to comprehensively and effectively address the existing health disparities in the US.
Developing a Vaccine against Congenital Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Infection: What Have We Learned from Animal Models? Where Should We Go Next?

Congenital human CMV infection can lead to long-term neurodevelopmental sequelae, including mental retardation and sensorineural hearing loss. Unfortunately, CMVs are highly adapted to their specific species, precluding the evaluation of human CMV vaccines in animal models prior to clinical trials. Several species-specific CMVs have been characterized and developed in models of pathogenesis and vaccine-mediated protection against disease. These include the murine CMV, the porcine CMV, the Rhesus macaque CMV, the rat CMV and the Guinea pig CMV. Because of the propensity of the Guinea pig CMV to cross the placenta, infecting the fetus in utero, it has emerged as a model of particular interest in studying vaccine-mediated protection of the fetus. In this paper, a review of these various models, with particular emphasis on the value of the model in the testing and evaluation of vaccines against congenital CMV, is provided. Recent exciting developments and advances in these various models are summarized, and r...
Noninvasive identification of severe coronary artery disease using exercise radionuclide angiography.

Abstract The ability of exercise radionuclide angiography to predict the risk of having significant left main or three vessel coronary artery disease was examined in 681 patients who underwent both radionuclide and coronary angiography. There were significant differences in multiple variables between patients with or without such disease. Logistic regression analysis identified seven variables as independently predictive of the presence of left main or three vessel disease. Using these variables, low, intermediate and high probability groups could be identified. The four most important variables—the magnitude of exercise ST segment depression, peak exercise ejection fraction, peak exercise rate-pressure product and sex of the patient—can provide practical estimates of the risk of having ten main or three vessel disease. Exercise radionuclide angiography can provide a clinically useful uoninvasive estimate of the risk of having significant left main or three vessel disease.
Extending the threshold of regulation concept: de minimis limits for carcinogens and mutagens.

Risk assessment processes for carcinogens are highly developed but risk assessment processes for mutagens are not well established. In the pharmaceutical industry, risk associated with exposure to carcinogens is tightly controlled. It is desirable to control risk associated with exposure to mutagens also, in spite of the greater uncertainty associated with the risk. In this paper, a published cancer potency database is used to frame the risk and to support risk management decisions. A de minimis exposure for mutagens is proposed and a decision matrix is presented to align available data with risk assessment approaches for carcinogens and mutagens.
The Mode of Action of Maleic Hydrazide: Inhibition of Growth

Maleic hydrazide fMH) iiihihits corn root elonjjation Ihrouf^h an effect on cell division apparently without inhibiting cell cnlaryoment. The decrease in the rate of elongation was a|)[):irent ()nly after a considerable lag, over 14 hours, even with a concentration as high as 5 m,W. Mil (1 mM) did noi inliihit Hie growlh of roots from corn seeds given very large doses of Y-irradiatioi i oi- excised corn root segments iiichuling (iie elongation Z()ne or the cell enlargement induced by IAA in corn coleoptile .sections. Many comiiounds including purines, pyrimidines, nucleosidos. cysteine, pyridoxal, pyruvate. kinetin and CoCl^, many of which had previously l>een re[)orted to alleviate MH inhihition in other tissues, were tested for their ability lo prevent the iiihii)iti()n of corn root elongation hy MH. but noue weie effective. These data do not support ttie theory that Mtl act,s by inhibiting the synthesis of or competing with some simple nietaholite or hormone. Whatever ils mechanism of action the failure of MH to inhibit cell enlargement in most systems indicates that it is fairly .selective.
Three dimensional aerodynamics of an annular cascade in a non-uniform inlet flow

Three-dimensional viscous and inviscid numerical analyses are currently being developed to predict the complex flow through turbomachine blade passages. To be of value to the designer, these numerical solutions must be evaluated and subsequent refinements directed by correlating predicted flow fields with data obtained from experiments which model the fundamental three-dimensional flow phenomena inherent in blade rows. This paper describes a series of experiments to provide such data. In particular, the effect of a potential and a rotational inlet flow field on the detailed three-dimensional aerodynamic performance of an extensively instrumented cambered airfoil cascade has been determined at two levels of aerodynamic loading. Data presented quantify the pressure and suction surface static pressure chordwise distributions on the hub, mean, and tip streamlines; the velocity distribution in the cascade aft-passage region; and the cascade exit region flow field. Appropriate data are correlated with predictions.
The Application of Dielectric Resonators to Microwave Integrated Circuits

The dialectric resonator is the electromagnetic dual of the metal cavity resonator and has the advantage that miniaturization is achieved by dielectric loading without the corresponding reduction of Q, characteristic of metal cavities and transmission line resonators. This makes them an ideal candidate, when less temperature sensitive materials become available, to fill the need for a low cost, integratable, high Q, metal cavity replacement for microwave integrated circuit (MIC) applications. Considerable investigation of dielectric resonators has been done in waveguide structures. This paper presents design and fabrication techniques for incorporating them into MICs. External and mutual coupling coefficients are determined for C-Band rutile resonators mounted on MIC circuits and coupled to MIC microstrip lines. The effect of packaging on spurious transmission is shown. The performance of a C-Band multipole rutile resonator MIC bandpass filter is described. A simple tuning technique is also demonstrated.
Analysis of target genes regulated by chronic electroconvulsive therapy reveals role for Fzd6 in depression.

Background Chronic electroconvulsive seizure (chr-ECS), one of the most efficacious treatments for depressed patients, increases the levels of transcription factor cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element binding protein (CREB) in rodent models and mediates the effects of chronic antidepressant treatment. The objective of this study was to determine the changes in CREB occupancy at gene promoters and subsequent gene expression changes induced by chr-ECS. Methods We use chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by microarray analysis to identify CREB binding promoters that are influenced by chr-ECS ( n = 6/group). Selected genes are confirmed by secondary validation techniques, and the functional significance of one target was tested in behavioral models ( n = 8/group) by viral mediated inhibition of gene expression. Results The results demonstrate that chr-ECS enhances CREB binding and activity at a select population of genes in the hippocampus, effects that could contribute to the efficacy of chr-ECS. Viral vector-mediated inhibition of one of the CREB-target genes regulated by chr-ECS, Fzd6 , produced anxiety and depressive-like effects in behavioral models of depression. Conclusions The results identify multiple gene targets differentially regulated by CREB binding in the hippocampus after chr-ECS and demonstrate the role of Fzd6 , a Wnt receptor in behavioral models of depression.
A remote sensing research agenda for mapping and monitoring biodiversity

A remote sensing research agenda designed to expand the knowledge of the spatial distribution of species richness and its ecological determinants and to predict its response to global change is proposed. Emphasis is placed on current methods of mapping species richness of both plants and animals, hypotheses concerning the biophysical factors believed to determine patterns of species richness, and anthropogenic processes causing the accelerating rate of extinctions. It is concluded that biodiversity should be incorporated more prominently into the global change and earth system science paradigms.
Short-Term Memory Scan in Normal Individuals and Individuals with Aphasia

Ten matched pairs of normal adults and adults with aphasia participated in a short-term memory, visual recognition paradigm wherein each determined whether or not a probe digit appeared in a subset...
Causes and implications of noise in oceanic dissipation measurements

Abstract Measurements of the rate of dissipation of turbulent kinetic energy using airfoil probes mounted on Camel profilers show a constant lower limit of about −7 W m −3 . A series of experiments conducted in Jervis Inlet, British Columbia, indicated that this value represents the noise in the measurement and is attributed to vehicular accelerations from hydrodynamically induced forces on the instrument body. Because a large fraction of observations are at the noise level, ambient dissipation rates in the ocean must be −7 W m −3 .
A global logrank test for adaptive treatment strategies based on observational studies.

In studying adaptive treatment strategies, a natural question that is of paramount interest is whether there is any significant difference among all possible treatment strategies. When the outcome variable of interest is time-to-event, we propose an inverse probability weighted logrank test for testing the equivalence of a fixed set of pre-specified adaptive treatment strategies based on data from an observational study. The weights take into account both the possible selection bias in an observational study and the fact that the same subject may be consistent with more than one treatment strategy. The asymptotic distribution of the weighted logrank statistic under the null hypothesis is obtained. We show that, in an observational study where the treatment selection probabilities need to be estimated, the estimation of these probabilities does not have an effect on the asymptotic distribution of the weighted logrank statistic, as long as the estimation of the parameters in the models for these probabilities is n-consistent. Finite sample performance of the test is assessed via a simulation study. We also show in the simulation that the test can be pretty robust to misspecification of the models for the probabilities of treatment selection. The method is applied to analyze data on antidepressant adherence time from an observational database maintained at the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Serious Mental Illness Treatment Research and Evaluation Center. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Local, Instantaneous Heat Transfer Coefficients for Jet Impingement on a Phase Change Surface

The local variation in the heat transfer coefficient for an axisymmetric, turbulent, submerged liquid jet impinging on a nonuniform boundary of a phase-change material is measured with an ultrasonic measurement technique. The time required for an acoustic wave to traverse the phase-change material is measured with an ultrasonic transducer and the time data are converted into local thickness profiles of the phase-change material via knowledge of the longitudinal acoustic velocity in the material. An energy balance at the melt interface between the impinging jet and the phase-change material is used in conjunction with the local thickness profile data to determine the local variation in the heat transfer coefficient. The phase-change material is originally flat, but its shape changes with time as the heated jet melts a complex shape into its surface. The heat transfer rate over the surface of the melting interface is shown to vary with time as a result of the changing shape of the phase change material. A deep cavity is melted into the solid at the stagnation point and secondary cavities are melted into the interface for certain jet flow rates and surface spacings between the jet nozzle and the melt interface.
Cooperative modulation of neuritogenesis by PC12 cells by topography and nerve growth factor

Understanding axonal formation and contact guidance are of critical importance for the design of materials that interface with neuronal tissue. Contact guidance of neurites by topographic features is well known, but the role that topography plays in the modulation of neuritogenesis has not been addressed. To test this, we cultured PC12 cells with a range of nerve growth factor (NGF) concentrations on surfaces with ridge widths ranging from 70 to 1900 nm. We find that neuritogenesis by PC12 cells cultured with sub-optimal concentrations of NGF (25 and 5 ng/ml) is modulated by topographic feature size. The threshold for induction of neuritogenesis was markedly reduced when cells were cultured on ridges of 70 and 250 nm. In contrast, contact guidance of neurites was independent of feature size. These results suggest that the scale of topographic features can act cooperatively with NGF signaling to regulate the formation of neurites. These findings may have general relevance to differentiation processes in neurons as well as in other cell types.
Convex Structured Controller Design in Finite Horizon

We consider the problem of synthesizing optimal linear feedback policies subject to arbitrary convex constraints on the feedback matrix. This is known to be a hard problem in the usual formulations ( $H_{2},H_{\infty} $ , LQR) and previous works have focused on characterizing classes of structural constraints that allow an efficient solution through convex optimization or dynamic programming techniques. In this paper, we propose a new control objective for finite horizon discrete-time problems and show that this formulation makes the problem of computing optimal linear feedback matrices convex under arbitrary convex constraints on the feedback matrix. This allows us to solve problems in decentralized control (sparsity in the feedback matrices) , control with delays, and variable impedance control. Although the control objective is nonstandard, we present theoretical and empirical evidence showing that it agrees well with standard notions of control. We show that the theoretical approach carries over to nonlinear systems, although the computational tractability of the extension is not investigated in this paper. We present numerical experiments validating our approach.
Volumetric Arc Intensity–Modulated Therapy for Spine Body Radiotherapy: Comparison With Static Intensity-Modulated Treatment

Purpose This clinical study evaluates the feasibility of using volumetric arc–modulated treatment (VMAT) for spine stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) to achieve highly conformal dose distributions that spare adjacent organs at risk (OAR) with reduced treatment time. Methods and Materials Ten spine SBRT patients were studied retrospectively. The intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and VMAT plans were generated using either one or two arcs. Planning target volume (PTV) dose coverage, OAR dose sparing, and normal tissue integral dose were measured and compared. Differences in treatment delivery were also analyzed. Results The PTV DVHs were comparable between VMAT and IMRT plans in the shoulder (D 99% –D 90% ), slope (D 90% –D 10% ), and tail (D 10% –D 1% ) regions. Only VMAT 2arc had a better conformity index than IMRT (1.09 vs. 1.15, p = 0.007). For cord sparing, IMRT was the best, and VMAT 1arc was the worst. Use of IMRT achieved greater than 10% more D 1% sparing for six of 10 cases and 7% to 15% more D 10% sparing over the VAMT 1arc . The differences between IMRT and VAMT 2arc were smaller and statistically nonsignificant at all dose levels. The differences were also small and statistically nonsignificant for other OAR sparing. The mean monitor units (MUs) were 8711, 7730, and 6317 for IMRT, VMAT 1arc , and VMAT 2arc plans, respectively, with a 26% reduction from IMRT to VMAT 2arc . The mean treatment time was 15.86, 8.56, and 7.88 min for IMRT, VMAT 1arc, and VMAT 2arc . The difference in integral dose was statistically nonsignificant. Conclusions Although VMAT provided comparable PTV coverage for spine SBRT, 1arc showed significantly worse spinal cord sparing compared with IMRT, whereas 2arc was comparable to IMRT. Treatment efficiency is substantially improved with the VMAT.
Excessively Long Hospital Stays After Trauma Are Not Related to the Severity of Illness: Let’s Aim to the Right Target!

Importance Reduction in length of hospital stay is a veritable target in reducing the overall costs of health care. However, many existing approaches are flawed because the assumptions of what cause excessive length of stay are incorrect; we methodically identified the right targets in this study. Objective To identify the causes of excessively prolonged hospitalization (ExProH) in trauma patients. Design The trauma registry, billing databases, and medical records of trauma admissions were reviewed. Excessively prolonged hospitalization was defined by the standard method used by insurers, which is a hospital stay that exceeds the Diagnosis Related Group–based trim point. The causes of ExProH were explored in a unique potentially avoidable days database, used by our hospital’s case managers to track discharge delays. Setting Level I academic trauma center. Participants Adult trauma patients admitted between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2010. Main Outcomes and Measures Excessively prolonged hospitalization and hospital cost. Results Of 3237 patients, 155 (5%) had ExProH. The patients with ExProH compared with non-ExProH patients were older (mean [SD] age, 53 [21] vs 47 [22] years, respectively; P = .001), were more likely to have blunt trauma (92% vs 84%, respectively; P = .03), were more likely to be self-payers (16% vs 11%, respectively; P = .02) or covered by Medicare/Medicaid (41% vs 30%, respectively; P = .002), were more likely to be discharged to post–acute care facilities than home (65% vs 35%, respectively; P P P P P = .03) or self-pay (odds ratio = 2.43; 95% CI, 1.35-4.37; P = .003). The reasons for discharge delays were clinical in only 20% of the cases. The remaining discharges were excessively delayed because of difficulties in rehabilitation facility placement (47%), in-hospital operational delays (26%), or payer-related issues (7%). Conclusions and Relevance System-related issues, not severity of illness, prolong hospital stay excessively. Cost-reduction efforts should target operational bottlenecks between acute and postacute care.
Short-range interactions and a Bose metal phase in two dimensions

We show here based on a one-loop scaling analysis that short-range interactions are strongly irrelevant perturbations near the insulator-superconductor (IST) quantum critical point. The lack of any proof that short-range interactions mediate physics which is present only in strong coupling leads us to conclude that short-range interactions are strictly irrelevant near the IST quantum critical point. Hence, we argue that no physics, such as the formation of a uniform Bose metal phase can arise from an interplay between on-site and nearest-neighbor interactions.
Combinatorial Growth and Analysis of the Transparent Conducting Oxide ZnO/In (IZO)

Compositionally graded, combinatorial libraries of indium-doped zinc oxide (IZO) were grown by DC-magnetron sputtering on glass at 100°C. The In content ranged from 5 to 50 cation-%. The highest conductivity, σ=2 000 Ω -1 .cm -1 with μ = 25 cm 2 . V -1 . s -1 , was found at 50% in content with a visible transmittance greater than 80%. The (001) layer spacing increased from 2.6 to 2.85 A as the In content increased from 5 to 50%.
CONSTRUCTION OF APPROXIMATE SOLUTIONS OF SYSTEMS OF DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS WITH PARAMETERS AND RESTRICTIONS

We propose a new approach to the investigation of boundary-value problems for systems of differential equations with parameters and restrictions. This approach uses ideas of both iterative and projection methods. We develop and substantiate a new modification of the projection-iterative method for the construction of approximate solutions of boundary-value problems that has significant advantages over the existing versions of the method.
Retrospective analysis of application of compressive sensing to 1H MR metabolic imaging of the human brain

Magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) has been shown to provide valuable information about the biochemistry of the anatomy of interest and thus has been increasingly used in clinical research. However, the long acquisition time associated with multidimensional MRSI is a barrier for translation of this technology to the clinic. A novel approach using the application of compressive sensing, to reduce the acquisition time of MRSI is proposed. Reconstruction of data, simulated to be acquired through compressed sensing is implemented on a computer generated phantom simulating two metabolites of the human brain. The effect of Gaussian noise on this phantom is evaluated. A retrospective analysis of the application of such a reconstruction method for 1 H MRSI of previously acquired in vitro brain phantom MRSI data is performed for the first time. On comparison of the reconstruction of the in vitro and computer generated phantoms from undersampled data to that performed from complete k-space; the errors in reconstruction was less than 1%. This indicates that our approach has a significant potential to reduce acquisition times for MRSI studies by 50% which could aid in MRSI being routinely used in the clinic.
On Exact and Asymptotic Properties of Two-Stage and Sequential Estimation of the Normal Mean Under LINEX Loss

In this article, we consider the bounded risk point estimation problem for the mean μ in a N(μ, σ2) distribution under a LINEX loss function. We have proposed both two-stage and sequential procedures with a goal that the associated risk functions approximately fall under a preassigned risk-bound ω (>0). Our two-stage and sequential procedures and the associated terminal estimators for μ are different from those of Takada (2006) and Chattopadhyay et al. (2005), respectively. We begin by presenting interesting asymptotic properties of the two-stage point estimator for μ followed by the exact distribution of the two-stage stopping time along with some exact properties of the terminal estimator for μ. We also develop the exact distribution of the sequential stopping time along with some exact properties of the terminal estimator for μ. In either case, the exact expressions are illustrated with numerical computations.
ResNet management: Wayne State University's experience supporting cisco clean access agent

Wayne State University (WSU) has implemented network registration and management tools. These tools have matured and become very useful to reduce support costs and maintain continuity of network services for our residential network (ResNet) customers. The Housing Department purchased the Perfigo network security suite now known as Cisco Clean Access Agent (CCAA) in conjunction with PacketShaper to limit network bandwidth. The Computing and Information Technology Division Help Desk has been charged with providing support for the ResNet CCAA customers. We have been successful maintaining Windows updates, Symantec Anti-Virus CE definition updates, and CCAA software updates. Another advantage is that we can maintain a list of connected devices and disconnected devices by MAC address and WSU AccessID (LDAP credentials). We are able to search by MAC and WSU AccessID to diagnose ResNet connection issues. A positive side effect is that CCAA makes it much easier to identify RIAA/MPAA violators' computers. We have been able to disable file sharing across the ResNet by only allowing certain TCP/UDP port traffic. This has been a trying experience but we have learned much about the pitfalls of the software and the effect on our customers. Some problems have been network availability issues due to CCAA servers being unreachable and CCAA installation issues. One of our most difficult challenges has been communication with ResNet customers. Our objective is to share our experiences and discuss best practices from other institutions.
Mass Distribution Effects on Dynamic Performance of a Cable-Driven Hexapod

This paper illustrates the use of dynamic performance analysis in the design of legged robots, specifically hexapods. This is accomplished by comparing the dynamic performance of a cable-driven hexapod to that of a more conventional design in which the actuators are mounted at the joints. By integrating the actuators into the torso and through the use of cable transmission, the mass and inertias of the legs are reduced in order to attain high accelerations and backdrivability. The dynamic performance described herein is bounded by the actuator torque limits and the no-slip condition at the ground contact points. The result is a description of how well each hexapod can accelerate its torso without causing slippage at the ground contact points.
Operating and performance characteristics of scraped swine manure as a thermophilic anaerobic digestion substrate

Abstract Anaerobic fermentation of animal waste continues to receive considerable research attention as one of the most promising techniques of animal waste utilization and energy recovery. Thermophilic digestion, where the processing temperature is in the 50 to 60°C range, provides many advantages over mesophilic digestion (35 to 40°C) in that process loading can be approximately doubled and process detention time can be reduced by approximately half. This produces a fermenter for thermophilic digestion of the order of four times smaller than the mesophilic fermenter for a given waste volume, and so reduces capital cost considerably. This study was performed at 55°C using a 378-liter digester operated at three organic loading rates and three retention times. For each of the three hydraulic retention times (HRTs) the operating and performance characteristics of the digester are reported. Waste used in the study was collected from a sloping concrete floor allowing most urine to run off.