cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
FastTree: Computing Large Minimum Evolution Trees with Profiles instead of a Distance Matrix

Gene families are growing rapidly, but standard methods for inferring phylogenies do not scale to alignments with over 10,000 sequences. We present FastTree, a method for constructing large phylogenies and for estimating their reliability. Instead of storing a distance matrix, FastTree stores sequence profiles of internal nodes in the tree. FastTree uses these profiles to implement Neighbor-Joining and uses heuristics to quickly identify candidate joins. FastTree then uses nearest neighbor interchanges to reduce the length of the tree. For an alignment with N sequences, L sites, and a different characters, a distance matrix requires O(N2) space and O(N2L) time, but FastTree requires just O(NLa + N) memory and O(Nlog (N)La) time. To estimate the tree's reliability, FastTree uses local bootstrapping, which gives another 100-fold speedup over a distance matrix. For example, FastTree computed a tree and support values for 158,022 distinct 16S ribosomal RNAs in 17 h and 2.4 GB of memory. Just computing pairwise Jukes–Cantor distances and storing them, without inferring a tree or bootstrapping, would require 17 h and 50 GB of memory. In simulations, FastTree was slightly more accurate than Neighbor-Joining, BIONJ, or FastME; on genuine alignments, FastTree's topologies had higher likelihoods. FastTree is available at http://microbesonline.org/fasttree.
18% Large Area Screen-Printed Solar Cells on Textured MCZ Silicon with High Sheet Resistance Emitter

In this paper we report on high efficiency screen-printed 49 cm 2 solar cells fabricated on randomly textured float zone (1.2 Omega-cm) and magnetic Czochralski (MCZ) silicon with resistivities of 1.2 and 4.8 Omega-cm, respectively. A simple process involving POCl 3 diffused emitters, low frequency PECVD silicon nitride deposition, Al back contact print, Ag front grid print followed by co-firing of the contacts and forming gas anneal produced efficiencies of 17.6% on 1.2 Omega-cm textured float Zone Si, 17.9% on 1.2 Omega-cm MCZ Si and 18.0% on 4.8 Omega-cm MCZ Si. A combination of high sheet resistance emitter (~95 Omega-/square) and the surface texturing resulted in a short circuit current density of 37.8 mA/cm2 in the 4.8 Omega-cm MCZ cell, 37.0 mA/cm2 in the 1.2 Omega-cm2 MCZ cell and 36.5 mA/cm2 in the 1.2 Omega-cm2 float zone cell. The open circuit voltages were consistent with the base resistivities of the two materials. The fill factors were in the range of 0.760-0.770 indicating there is considerable room for improvement. Detailed modeling and analysis is performed to explain the cell performance and provide guidelines for achieving 20% efficient screen-printed cells on MCZ Si
Stabilization of extended stacking faults by {1 1 1}/{1 1 2} twin junction interactions

Abstract Extended stacking faults, with lengths of up to 10 nm, that join {1 1 1}/{1 1 2} twin-boundary junctions were observed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) in gold thin films. Circuit analysis shows that these defects possess a Burgers vector of 1/3〈1 1 1〉. In order to explain the generation of these extended defects, we consider the behavior of 1/3〈1 1 1〉 dislocations at {1 1 1}- and {1 1 2}-type twin boundaries and near {1 1 1}/{1 1 2} twin-boundary junctions using HRTEM observations and theoretical modeling. By establishing the interaction forces that lead to this defect configuration, our analysis shows that the relief of intrinsic strain at the junction corners, which results from the incompatibility of the translation states at the intersecting boundaries, is sufficient to stabilize the stacking fault extension. Because grain–boundary junctions possess intrinsic strain fields whenever they join boundaries with incompatible translation states, similar mechanisms for stacking fault emission may arise between other closely spaced grain–boundary junctions.
NONLINEAR CONTROL OF ROTATING STALL USING AXISYMMETRIC BLEED WITH CONTINUOUS AIR INJECTION ON A LOW-SPEED, SINGLE STAGE, AXIAL COMPRESSOR *

Active control of rotating stall and surge using bleed valves has been demonstrated on low and high speed compressors using high bandwidth actuators. In this paper we provide a method to reduce the bandwidth and rate requirements for control of rotating stall by combining an axisymmetric bleed valve with continuous air injection. The addition of the continuous air injection is modeled as a shift of both the stable and unstable parts of the compressor characteristic and serves to reduce the requirement of a bleed valve used for rotating stall stabilization purpose. The results are demonstrated using a lowspeed, single stage, axial flow compressor.
Involuntary Job Loss: Institutional Interventions and a Research Agenda

This paper focuses on efforts by government, labor, management, and researchers to understand and address the problem of involuntary job loss. A review of the literature focusing on disruptions to psychological, physiological, and social functioning due to job loss is presented. Programs initiated to counteract either the levels or the adverse consequences of unemployment are reviewed. Several specific suggestions for research on involuntary job loss are discussed, as are the managerial implications of this research.
Evidence that mutations in a loop region of the alpha-subunit inhibit the transition from an open to a closed conformation in the tryptophan synthase bienzyme complex.

Abstract Rapid-scanning stopped-flow (RSSF) UV-visible spectroscopy has been used to investigate the effects of single amino acid mutations in the alpha-subunit of the Salmonella typhimurium tryptophan synthase bienzyme complex on the reactivity at the beta-subunit active site located 25 to 30 A distant. The pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) cofactor provides a convenient spectroscopic probe to directly monitor catalytic events at the beta-active site. Single substitutions of Phe for Glu at position 49, Leu for Gly at position 51, or Tyr for Asp at position 60 in the alpha-subunit strongly alter the observed steady state and pre-steady state inhibitory effects of the alpha-subunit-specific ligand alpha-glycerophosphate (GP) on the PLP-dependent beta-reaction. However, similar GP-induced allosteric effects on the distribution of covalent intermediates bound at the beta-site that are observed with the wild-type enzyme (Houben, K.F., and Dunn, M.F. (1990) Biochemistry 29, 2421-2429) also are observed for each of the mutant bienzyme complexes. These results support the hypothesis that the preferred pathway of indole from solution into the beta-site is via the alpha-site and the interconnecting tunnel (Dunn, M.F., Aguilar, V., Brzovic, P., Drewe, W.F., Houben, K.F., Leja, C.A., and Roy, M. (1990) Biochemistry 29, 8598-8607). Residues alpha E49, alpha G51, and alpha D60 are part of a highly conserved inserted sequence in the alpha/beta-barrel topology of the alpha-subunit. We propose that the GP-induced inhibition of the beta-reaction results, in part, from a ligand-dependent conformational change from an "open" to a "closed" structure of the alpha-subunit which involves this region of the alpha-subunit and serves to obstruct the direct access of indole into the tunnel. Our findings suggest that the altered kinetic behavior observed for the alpha-mutants in the presence of GP reflects an impaired ability of the modified bienzyme complex to undergo the conformational transition from the open to the closed form.
The Reovirus 1s Protein Is a Determinant of Hematogenous but Not Neural Virus Dissemination in Mice

Nonstructural protein σ1s is a critical determinant of hematogenous dissemination by type 1 reoviruses, which reach the central nervous system (CNS) by a strictly blood-borne route. However, it is not known whether σ1s contributes to neuropathogenesis of type 3 reoviruses, which disseminate by both vascular and neural pathways. Using isogenic type 3 viruses that vary only in σ1s expression, we observed that mice survived at a higher frequency following hind-limb inoculation with σ1s-null virus than when inoculated with wild-type virus. This finding suggests that σ1s is essential for reovirus virulence when inoculated at a site that requires systemic spread to cause disease. Wild-type and σ1s-null viruses produced comparable titers in the spinal cord, suggesting that σ1s is dispensable for invasion of the CNS. Although the two viruses ultimately achieved similar peak titers in the brain, loads of wild-type virus were substantially greater than those of the σ1s-null mutant at early times after inoculation. In contrast, wild-type virus produced substantially higher titers than the σ1s-null virus in peripheral organs to which reovirus spreads via the blood, including the heart, intestine, liver, and spleen. Concordantly, viral titers in the blood were higher following infection with wild-type virus than following infection with the σ1s-null mutant. These results suggest that differences in viral brain titers at early time points postinfection are due to limited virus delivery to the brain by hematogenous pathways. Transection of the sciatic nerve prior to hind-limb inoculation diminished viral spread to the spinal cord. However, wild-type virus retained the capacity to disseminate to the brain following sciatic nerve transection, indicating that wild-type reovirus can spread to the brain by the blood. Together, these results indicate that σ1s is not required for reovirus spread by neural mechanisms. Instead, σ1s mediates hematogenous dissemination within the infected host, which is required for full reovirus neurovirulence.
Differential Participation and the Nature of a Movement: A Study of the 1999 Anti-U.S. Beijing Student Demonstrations

In this article, we develop a quadripartite classification of social movement participants based on the participants' levels of interest in a movement goal and the amount of resources that the participants contribute to the movement. We use the latent class model to determine the percentage of participants in each of the four categories in our classification system for the case of the 1999 anti-U.S. student demonstrations in Beijing in the aftermath of the Belgrade Embassy bombing. Finally, we apply the multinomial logit regression to investigate the mechanisms behind the mobilization of different types of participants during the anti- U.S. demonstrations. Our analysis and empirical findings not only show the importance of studying movement mobilization based on a classification of movement participants, but also reveal much about the nature of the 1999 anti-U.S. demonstrations.
AN INTEGRATED FRAMEWORK FOR PROBABILISTIC OPTIMIZATION USING INVERSE RELIABILITY STRATEGY

In this work, we propose an integrated framework for probabilistic optimization that can bring both the design objective robustness and the probabilistic constraints into account. The fundamental development of this work is the employment of an inverse reliability strategy that uses percentile performance for assessing both the objective robustness and probabilistic constraints. The percentile formulation for objective robustness provides an accurate probabilistic measure for robustness and more reasonable compound noise combinations. For the probabilistic constraints, compared to a traditional probabilistic model, the proposed formulation is more efficient since it only evaluates the constraint functions at the required reliability levels. The other major development of this work is a new search algorithm for the Most Probable Point of Inverse Reliability (MPPIR) that can be used to efficiently evaluate the performance robustness and percentile performance in the proposed formulation. Multiple techniques are employed in the MPPIR search, including the steepest decent direction and an arc search. The algorithm is applicable to general non-concave and non-convex functions of system performance with random variables following any continuous distributions. The effectiveness of the MPPIR search algorithm is verified using example problems. Overall, an engineering example on integrated robust and reliability design of a vehicle combustion engine piston is used to illustrate the benefits of the proposed method.
Altered CXCR3 isoform expression regulates prostate cancer cell migration and invasion

Carcinoma cells must circumvent the normally suppressive signals to disseminate. While often considered 'stop' signals for adherent cells, CXCR3-binding chemokines have recently been correlated positively with cancer progression though the molecular basis remains unclear. Here, we examined the expression and function of two CXCR3 variants in human prostate cancer biopsies and cell lines. Globally, both CXCR3 mRNA and protein were elevated in localized and metastatic human cancer biopsies compared to normal. Additionally, CXCR3A mRNA level was upregulated while CXCR3B mRNA was downregulated in these prostate cancer specimens. In contrast to normal prostate epithelial cells (RWPE-1), CXCR3A was up to half the receptor in the invasive and metastatic DU-145 and PC-3 prostate cancer cells, but not in the localized LNCaP cells. Instead of inhibiting cell migration as in RWPE-1 cells, the CXCR3 ligands CXCL4/PF4 and CXCL10/IP10 promoted cell motility and invasiveness in both DU-145 and PC-3 cells via PLCβ3 and μ-calpain activation. CXCR3-mediated diminution of cell motility in RWPE-1 cells is likely a result of cAMP upregulation and m-calpain inhibition via CXCR3B signal transduction. Interestingly, overexpression of CXCR3B in DU-145 cells decreased cell movement and invasion. These data suggest that the aberrant expression of CXCR3A and down-regulation of CXCR3B may switch a progression "stop" to a "go" signal to promote prostate tumor metastasis via stimulating cell migration and invasion.
An adaptation procedure on envelope statistics for predistorter designs based on statistical modeling methods

There have long been some experiment findings that the behavior of a power amplifier (PA) to digitally modulated stimuli depends on its input statistics. Correspondingly, there have been efforts in characterizing PA behaviors and, more recently, in designing amplifier linearization devices by including the information of envelope statistics or using statistical methods. Superior performance have been reported for resultant linearizer designs compared with similar designs based on conventional approaches. In this brief, an adaptation procedure on envelope statistics will be introduced that can further improve the performance of any predistorter design derived from a statistical amplifier model, or more generally, derived from the sample data sets of the input and the output of the PA.
Antimicrobial Therapy of Anaerobic Infections, 1991

Most anaerobic infections are polymicrobial and must be treated with agents active against a variety of both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Antimicrobial therapy is used both to contain infections and to treat those that have not been contained (bacteremia). Bacterial resistance, especially to penicillins and tetracyclines, but also to newer agents of other classes, continues to increase and often requires treatment with more than one drug. Combination therapy is also frequently necessary in serious infections, and is indicated for empiric management before receiving results of in vitro microbiology laboratory tests. However, recent results suggest that monotherapy for anaerobic infections may dominate in the future, although combination therapy has been the mainstay of antimicrobial therapy. Selection of an agent must take into account the site of infection and thus the bacteria most likely to be found. It should be kept in mind that in vitro susceptibility is not the only determinant of antimicrobial effectiveness. The pharmacology of the drug--absorption, distribution, concentration in body fluids and tissues, and metabolism--also plays an important role. Finally, the nature and severity of the underlying illness, the toxicity of the agent, and costs must be considered.
Between Passion and Policy Litigating the Guckenberger Case

This article describes the Guckenberger lawsuit from the perspective of the attorneys who litigated the case on behalf of Boston University. It first discusses the events leading to the lawsuit, including then-Provost Jon Westling's speeches, his articulation of new policies regarding documentation for accommodations requests, and the university's refusal to allow course substitutions for required foreign language courses. The article then describes the main events in the lawsuit that resulted from those policy changes, focusing first on pretrial matters, such as the university's search for experts, the various motions filed prior to trial, and tactical issues. Moving to the trial itself, the article discusses the nature of the witness and expert testimony presented to the court and touches on the differences of opinion expressed at trial by experts in the field of learning disabilities. Finally, the article sets forth the court's ruling on the major issues in the case and reflects on the case's impact on institutions of higher education.
And Yet It Moves: Conformational States of the Ca2+ Channel Pore

Until recently, the two essential aspects of channel function seemed to be clearly distinct: a selectivity filter that discriminates among incoming ions and an intracellular gate that regulates the ion flux. As usual, reality is more complex, and this traditional view of ion channels is changing
Apathy and cognitive performance in older adults with depression

Objectives Recent studies have linked apathy to frontal lobe dysfunction in persons with dementia, but few studies have explored this relationship in older, depressed persons without dementia. We examined the association between apathy and cognitive function in a group of older persons with major depression using standardized neuropsychological tests. We hypothesized that presence of apathy in depression is associated with poorer frontal executive performance. Methods We analyzed data from 89 older adults with major depression. We defined apathy using four items from the Hamilton Psychiatric Rating Scale for Depression which reflect the clinical state of apathy, including ‘diminished work/interest,’ ‘psychomotor retardation,’ ‘anergy’ and ‘lack of insight.’ Results Apathy most strongly correlated with two verbal executive measures (Stroop C and FAS), a nonverbal executive measure (Wisconsin Card Sorting Test—Other Responses), and a measure of information processing speed (Stroop B). Apathy was not associated with age, sex, education, medical illness burden, Mini-Mental State Examination score and Full Scale IQ score. Stepwise regression analyses of significant cognitive tests showed that apathy alone or apathy plus depression severity, age, or education accounted for a significant amount of the variance. Conclusions The results of this study provide support for an apathy syndrome associated with poorer executive function in older adults with major depression. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Tetra-kis(1,3,4,6,7,8-hexa-hydro-2H-pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-9-ido-κN,N)niobium(V) hexa-fluorido-phosphate.

The title complex, [Nb(C7H12N3)4]PF6, features chelating hpp anions (hpp is 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-2H-pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrim­idine) that define a distorted dodeca­hedral coordination geometry based on an N8 donor set. The Nb atom is situated on a site of symmetry \overline{4}, and the PF6− anion has crystallographic fourfold symmetry.
A multi-pass sieve for name normalization

We propose a simple multi-pass sieve framework that applies tiers of deterministic normalization modules one at a time from highest to lowest precision for the task of normalizing names. While a sieve based architecture has been shown effective in coreference resolution, it has not yet been applied to the normalization task. We find that even in this task, the approach retains its characteristic features of being simple, and highly modular. In addition, it also proves robust when evaluated on two different kinds of data: clinical notes and biomedical text, by demonstrating high accuracy in normalizing disorder names found in both datasets.
Vascular Systemic Induced Resistance For Artemisia cana and Volatile Communication for Artemisia douglasiana

Recent work has demonstrated that communication between plants in natural settings can increase resistance against herbivores. However, this phenomenon has been found convincingly for only two species, alder (Alnus glutinosa) and sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), and recent reviews have questioned the commonness of this phenomenon. Results from experiments involving sagebrush suggest that vascular signaling among branches within an individual is limited and that sagebrush may use external volatile cues instead. Communication among individuals may be a byproduct of volatile communication among branches of a single individual. We tested this hypothesis by examining systemic induced resistance and communication between individuals for two naturally occurring species of Artemisia. Artemisia cana exhibited systemic induced resistance without volatile cues. Assay branches on plants with experimentally clipped treatment branches experienced less herbivory than assay branches on unclipped controls even when air contact was blocked. We found no evidence of airborne communication between A. cana individuals that affected herbivory. Branches of A. douglasiana appeared to exhibit systemic induced resistance to experimental clipping. In addition, assay branches on plants with experimentally clipped neighbors received 45% less chewing damage than assay branches with unclipped neighbors. Although stems may have been connected by rhizomes, communication between stems required air contact. In summary, for one of two Artemisia species considered, we found evidence for volatile communication between stems that affected their tissue losses to herbivores. These results suggest that volatile communication among stems or individuals may not be an unusual phenomenon, at least within the genus Artemisia.
Hydrogel Inverse Replicas of Breath Figures Exhibit Superoleophobicity Due to Patterned Surface Roughness

The wetting behavior of a surface depends on both its surface chemistry and the characteristics of surface morphology and topography. Adding structure to a flat hydrophobic or oleophobic surface increases the effective contact angle and thus the hydrophobicity or oleophobicity of the surface, as exemplified by the lotus leaf analogy. We describe a simple strategy to introduce micropatterned roughness on surfaces of soft materials, utilizing the template of hexagonally packed pores of breath figures as molds. The generated inverse replicas represent micron scale patterned beadlike protrusions on hydrogel surfaces. This added roughness imparts superoleophobic properties (contact angle of the order of 150° and greater) to an inherently oleophobic flat hydrogel surface, when submerged. The introduced pattern on the hydrogel surface changes morphology as it swells in water to resemble morphologies remarkably analogous to the compound eye. Analysis of the wetting behavior using the Cassie–Baxter approximation l...
The Expanded Risk Horizon of Accounting Networks Utilizing Wireless Technology

Abstract One of the major professional responsibilities of accountants and auditors is to identify and evaluate the risks in accounting information systems. More and more accounting systems are utilizing wireless data links, including 802.11 “wi-fi” segments. Because of marketing claims and personal experiences, it is widely believed by both professionals and the public that today's 802.11 wireless equipment has an operational range of well under 500 feet. This paper reports on an experiment which established reliable, high-speed connections across a distance of 56 miles using commercial off-the-shelf equipment. The results provide empirical evidence that the risk of undetected eavesdropping on modern Wi-Fi network transmissions extends to at least a thousand times as far as the commonly-recognized range of these networks. This experiment vividly demonstrates the possibility that accounting data is at risk well outside the normal sphere of expected vulnerability recognized by auditors and systems evaluato...
Reconnaissance in Sonora: Charles D. Poston’s 1854 Exploration of Mexico and the Gadsden Purchase . By C. Gilbert Storms.

Reconnaissance in Sonora: Charles D. Poston’s 1854 Exploration of Mexico and the Gadsden Purchase . By C. Gilbert Storms. (Tucson: University of Arizona Press, 2015. xi + 193 pp. Illustrations, maps, appendix, notes, bibliography, index. $40.00.) The movement of American adventurers and explorers, intent on knowledge and gain, characterized a good part of the early history of North America. During the first half of the nineteenth century, this activity focused on the trans-Mississippi West, including the Southwest, where filibusters journeyed into Spanish, then Mexican, Texas and, after the American victory over Mexico in 1848, northern Mexico. Charles Poston was an American filibuster who sought to take advantage of the anticipated U.S. purchase or annexation of disputed territory in what is today southern Arizona and northern Sonora. … lawsonr{at}bacone.edu
Voltage-driven magnetic bifurcations in nanomagnet-topological insulator heterostructures

Current induced magnetization dynamics at the interface of a topological insulator and an insulating ferromagnet show auto-oscillations and magnetization reversal.
Effect of extracts of developing muscle on tissue culture.

Summary1. Determinations were carried out of the effect of extracts from developing chick leg muscle on the increase in area of coverslip cultures derived from chick leg muscle cells. 2. Maximal stimulation with the lowest extract concentration was obtained with extracts from muscle of the 19 day embryo and the 10 day chick. Extracts from the 12 day embryo and the one-year chick were less effective. 3. The activity of the muscle extracts was found to be unrelated to the rate of cell proliferation in chick muscle tissue.
Woodrow Wilson and the Mexican Interventionist Movement of 1919

IN December 1919 Chairman Henry Cabot Lodge of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations wrote two significant letters defending the members of a controversial subcommittee which had issued a report accusing the Mexican government of circulating Bolshevistic propaganda in the United States. In both letters Lodge especially praised Senator Albert B. Fall of New Mexico, the chairman of the three man subcommittee and the author of a concurrent resolution which had called for the United States to break off diplomatic relations with Mexico Introduced on December 3, during the crisis over the arrest of Consular Agent William 0. Jenkins in Mexico, the Fall resolution died five days later in the Committee on Foreign Relations when President Woodrow Wilson indicated that he would be "gravely concerned" to see any such resolution pass Congress. Lodge wrote the first letter just three days after the President's statement. Under no conditions would he replace the members of the subcommittee, Lodge told Lewis Warfield, because they had been selected with the greatest possible care and were well fitted for their duties. Emphasizing that the subcommittee consulted constantly with Senator Philander Knox of Pennsylvania and himself, Lodge stressed that Fall "was the one best man fitted to be chairman," and that Fall's one desire was to put Mexico into a "proper relationship" with the United States. Lodge concluded the letter by describing the situation as "very grave" and by condemning President Wilson for refusing to accept the cooperation of the Senate in doing something to improve conditions in Mexico.' In the second letter Lodge agreed with Major General James H. Wilson that the United States should make the "Cuban arrangement with Mexico," and in doing such, there would be no escaping from intervention and from
Effect of Al3+ co-doping on the dopant local structure, optical properties, and exciton dynamics in Cu+-doped ZnSe nanocrystals.

The dopant local structure and optical properties of Cu-doped ZnSe (ZnSe:Cu) and Cu and Al co-doped ZnSe (ZnSe:Cu,Al) nanocrystals (NCs) were studied with an emphasis on understanding the impact of introducing Al as a co-dopant. Quantum-confined NCs with zinc blende crystal structure and particle size of 6 ± 0.6 A were synthesized using a wet chemical route. The local structure of the Cu dopant, studied by extended X-ray absorption fine structure, indicated that Cu in ZnSe:Cu NCs occupies a site that is neither substitutional nor interstitial and is adjacent to a Se vacancy. Additionally, we estimated that approximately 25 ± 8% of Cu was located on the surface of the NC. Al3+ co-doping aids in Cu doping by accounting for the charge imbalance originated by Cu+ doping and consequently reduces surface Cu doping. The Cu ions remain distorted from the center of the tetrahedron to one of the triangular faces. The lifetime of the dopant-related photoluminescence was found to increase from 550 ± 60 to 700 ± 60 ns...
Variations in Flue-cured Tobacco Losses from Different Tobacco Budworm Infestation Levels

Artificial infestations (1 larva/plant) of wild Heliothis virescens (F.) caused economic yield losses to 2 varieties (Coker 411 and NC 2326) of flue-cured tobacco. Different infestation levels influenced quantitative tobacco losses, but no qualitative differences were apparent. Maximum yield reductions occurred at 20 and 50% infestation levels instead of the expected 100% level with both varieties. The maximum yield loss per larva occurred at the 10 and 20% infestation levels. Larval distribution, possible larval interference, and natural enemies (especially parasitism) were believed to have affected the degree of foliage loss at the various infestation levels.
Predictors of initial levels and trajectories of anxiety in women before and for 6 months after breast cancer surgery.

Background The diagnosis of breast cancer, in combination with the anticipation of surgery, evokes fear, uncertainty, and anxiety in most women. Objective Study purposes were to examine in patients who underwent breast cancer surgery how ratings of state anxiety changed from the time of the preoperative assessment to 6 months after surgery and to investigate whether specific demographic, clinical, symptom, and psychosocial adjustment characteristics predicted the preoperative levels of state anxiety and/or characteristics of the trajectories of state anxiety. Interventions/methods Patients (n = 396) were enrolled preoperatively and completed the Spielberger State Anxiety inventory monthly for 6 months. Using hierarchical linear modeling, demographic, clinical, symptom, and psychosocial adjustment characteristics were evaluated as predictors of initial levels and trajectories of state anxiety. Results Patients experienced moderate levels of anxiety before surgery. Higher levels of depressive symptoms and uncertainty about the future, as well as lower levels of life satisfaction, less sense of control, and greater difficulty coping, predicted higher preoperative levels of state anxiety. Higher preoperative state anxiety, poorer physical health, decreased sense of control, and more feelings of isolation predicted higher state anxiety scores over time. Conclusions Moderate levels of anxiety persist in women for 6 months after breast cancer surgery. Implications for practice Clinicians need to implement systematic assessments of anxiety to identify high-risk women who warrant more targeted interventions. In addition, ongoing follow-up is needed to prevent adverse postoperative outcomes and to support women to return to their preoperative levels of function.
Collier's Criticism of the Press during the Norman Hapgood Years, 1902 to 1913

Abstract This research examines the criticism of newspapers by one of America's major popular magazines— Collier's Weekly—from 1902 to 1913 under the editorship of Norman Hapgood. This period constitutes the majority of the magazine's daily press criticism of sensationalism and the influence of financial interests. Unlike earlier studies of Collier's, this article looks primarily at the magazine's criticism before and after Will Irwin's now classic 15-part dissection of the newspapers in America, that ran in Collier's over 15 weeks in 1911.
ON THE CREAM OF CONFUCIAN PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE

Confucian philosophy of life has produced a wide spread,profound and long standing influence on the Chinese people.Its cream is the pursuit of ideal personality and state,and the emphasis on moral accomplishment and practice and the self realization and self surpass,which is still significant if we can carry on it critically and transform it creatively.
The presence and site of Left Ventricular Assist Device Infection by FDG PET/CT bears important prognostic implications.

310 Objectives Clinical use of Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) is increasing both as a bridge to heart transplantation and destination therapy. Infection is a serious complication of LVAD and has significant impact on clinical management and outcome, yet, effectiveness of imaging modality in diagnosing LVAD infection has not been established. The purpose of the study is to assess the role of FDG PET/CT in early diagnosis of LVAD infection and in localizing infection site, as well as its potential to guide clinical management and to predict outcome. Methods FDG PET/CT was performed in 35 heart failure patients with clinically suspected LVAD infection (M/F=28/7; 54±11 yrs; ischemic/non-ischemic cardiomyopathy=11/25) with LVAD (HeartMate II in 15, HeartWare in 12, Jarvik in 8). The performance of PET/CT for the diagnosis of LVAD infection and its localization was evaluated visually, and compared to microbiologic data and/or clinical follow up. Survival rate in patients with and without PET/CT evidence of infection was analyzed. Results Mean duration of LVAD implantation to PET/CT was 465 days. Of 35 patients, 27 showed LVAD infection and 8 did not, which were confirmed by microbiology and clinical follow up. Out of the 27 infected cases, PET/CT localized the infection as peripheral area involving percutaneous exit and/or driveline in 5 cases, and central involving cannula exterior and/or pump pocket in 22 patients, thereafter 11 patients died (2 with peripheral infection vs 9 with central) during a mean follow up of 111 days after PET/CT. None of the 8 non-infected patients died. A significantly higher mortality was demonstrated in patients with infection compared to those without infection (p = 0.02). Conclusions Patients who exhibit infection had worse outcome than those without infection. These findings suggest that FDG PET/CT is a useful technique for localizing the site of LVAD infection and identifying high risk patients with infection.
Surgical management of branch renal artery disease: in situ versus extracorporeal methods of repair.

AbstractHerein are presented the techniques and their respective indications that have been found most effective in replacing the renal artery and its branches. Aortorenal bypass and, occasionally, splenorenal bypass can be tailored to achieve in situ repair of most branch renal artery lesions. Extracorporeal renal revascularization and autotransplantation have been done on only 7 patients and are indicated only when angiography demonstrates intrarenal extension of vascular disease. Revascularization with preservation of renal parenchyma can now be achieved in almost all patients with branch renal artery disease.
A Marketing Approach to Banking

The decade of the 60’s is marked as the growth period for retail banking in the U.S. Europe embraced the idea in the 70’s. Marketing in the past generally meant an advertising and public relations exercise. Three recent developments in world affairs have changed bankers’ marketing perceptions: (a) the overall changes in the world financial/ social environments; (b) the changes in bank regulations; and (c) technological innovations.
Influence of IV Contrast Administration on CT Measures of Muscle and Bone Attenuation: Implications for Sarcopenia and Osteoporosis Evaluation

OBJECTIVE. The objective of our study was to characterize enhancement of muscle and bone that occurs on standardized four-phase contrast-enhanced CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Two musculoskeletal radiologists reviewed standardized four-phase abdominal CT scans obtained with IV contrast material. The psoas area was measured, and the mean attenuation (in Hounsfield units) was recorded for the aorta, psoas muscles, posterior paraspinal muscles, and L4 vertebral body. CT attenuation measures were compared between anatomic regions and imaging phases with the paired t test; associations between measures were examined with the Pearson correlation coefficient (R). RESULTS. The study included 201 patients (97 men, 104 women; mean age, 57.7 ± 12.5 [SD] years). Subject age was inversely correlated with unenhanced attenuation in the psoas muscles, posterior paraspinal muscles, and L4 (p < 0.001). The psoas muscles, posterior paraspinal muscles, and L4 enhanced significantly (p < 0.001) at all three contrast-enhanced pha...
Sleeping Around, With, and Through Time: An Autoethnographic Rendering of a Good Night’s Slumber

This article includes autoethnographic vignettes that explore the emotional, embodied, relational, communal, and ritualized aspects of sleeping. As a Western, White, upper-middle-class professional...
Are shades of gray prognostically useful in reporting myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography?

Background— We have advocated the use of a 5-category “normal,” “probably normal,” “equivocal,” “probably abnormal,” and “definitely abnormal” approach to final interpretation of myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). The prognostic value of expressing levels of certainty compared with a dichotomous normal/abnormal classification or categories for summed stress scores is unclear. Methods and Results— Myocardial perfusion SPECT (MPS) was visually assessed using a standard semiquantitative approach, yielding summed scores that were used for preliminary interpretation using 5 levels of certainty. The interpreter was permitted to then shift the level of certainty in the final interpretation by 1 degree, based on nonperfusion MPS variables and available clinical information. To examine the prognostic value of expressing levels of clinical certainty, we evaluated 20 740 unique consecutive patients who underwent rest Tl-201/stress Tc-99m sestamibi MPS (34.3% vasodilator stress), of whom 845 (4.4%) were lost to follow-up and 1695 were excluded from prognostic analysis due to an early revascularization (<60 days after MPS). The remaining 18 200 patients (59.1% men; age, 65±13 years) were followed up for cardiac death for a mean of 2.7±1.7 years. During the follow-up, a total of 591 cardiac death events occurred. By univariable analysis, there were substantial differences in the distribution of follow-up cardiac death by the category of clinical MPS certainty. The clinical certainty was found to be an independent multivariable predictor of cardiac death in the study population and better identified patients at increased risk of cardiac death than the approaches based solely on the standard categories of summed perfusion scores or based solely on categories of segmental perfusion scores. Conclusions— The use of multicategory reporting of MPS results incorporating nonperfusion MPS results and clinical information enhances risk stratification compared with both a dichotomous normal/abnormal approach or approaches based solely on segmental categories of perfusion scores. Whether this enhanced risk stratification based on the clinical certainty of the MPS interpretation leads to a more effective therapeutic regimen, tailored to the individual patient’s need, requires further prospective evaluation. Received August 19, 2008; accepted April 27, 2009. # CLINICAL PERSPECTIVE {#article-title-2}
We need to innovate fast

I was pleased to read Prof. Vogt’s discussion paper in the Journal of Responsible Innovation that introduces the stimulating question “How fast should we innovate?” The author considers the fast pa...
Beautification of Great Plains Rivers: A Perspective on the Use and Appreciation of Aquatic Resources

Has anyone else ever wondered what aquatic resources looked like prior to human interventions? Sitting on the banks of the Arkansas River upstream of Wichita, Kansas, one can ponder what the river ...
Airway microbial dysbiosis in asthmatic patients: A target for prevention and treatment?

There has been long-standing interest in the role of bacterial communities in the complex and heterogeneous disease of asthma. With the advent of 16s rRNA sequencing replacing traditional culture methods, a strong association between the presence of bacterial communities with asthma has emerged. These microbiota can be modulated by various environmental factors, including diet, antibiotics, and early-life microbial exposures. Microbiota in the gut and lungs can influence both the inception and progress of asthma. In babies and infants the presence of pathogenic bacteria in the lungs and gut has been associated with subsequent development of allergic sensitization and asthma. Lung microbiota are present in the airways of healthy subjects but are dysregulated in adults with asthma, with a reduced diversity and community composition that has been linked to severity and inflammatory phenotypes. Causality between certain gut microbiota and the development of allergic asthma has been shown in experiments conducted in neonatal mice. Manipulation of the airway microbiome, particularly in early life, might be a strategy to prevent or treat asthma, although the results of studies of probiotics used together with prebiotics have been overall negative. A better understanding of the regulation of both the lung and gut microbiota to derive appropriate targets for prevention or treatment of asthma is needed.
Molecular mechanisms underlying protective effects of quercetin against mitochondrial dysfunction and progressive dopaminergic neurodegeneration in cell culture and MitoPark transgenic mouse models of Parkinson's Disease

Quercetin, one of the major flavonoids in plants, has been recently reported to have neuroprotective effects against neurodegenerative processes. However, since the molecular signaling mechanisms governing these effects are not well clarified, we evaluated quercetin's effect on the neuroprotective signaling events in dopaminergic neuronal models and further tested its efficacy in the MitoPark transgenic mouse model of Parkinson's disease (PD). Western blot analysis revealed that quercetin significantly induced the activation of two major cell survival kinases, protein kinase D1 (PKD1) and Akt in MN9D dopaminergic neuronal cells. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition or siRNA knockdown of PKD1 blocked the activation of Akt, suggesting that PKD1 acts as an upstream regulator of Akt in quercetin-mediated neuroprotective signaling. Quercetin also enhanced cAMP response-element binding protein phosphorylation and expression of the cAMP response-element binding protein target gene brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Results from qRT-PCR, Western blot analysis, mtDNA content analysis, and MitoTracker assay experiments revealed that quercetin augmented mitochondrial biogenesis. Quercetin also increased mitochondrial bioenergetics capacity and protected MN9D cells against 6-hydroxydopamine-induced neurotoxicity. To further evaluate the neuroprotective efficacy of quercetin against the mitochondrial dysfunction underlying PD, we used the progressive dopaminergic neurodegenerative MitoPark transgenic mouse model of PD. Oral administration of quercetin significantly reversed behavioral deficits, striatal dopamine depletion, and TH neuronal cell loss in MitoPark mice. Together, our findings demonstrate that quercetin activates the PKD1-Akt cell survival signaling axis and suggest that further exploration of quercetin as a promising neuroprotective agent for treating PD may offer clinical benefits.
Predicting readmission risk of patients with diabetes hospitalized for cardiovascular disease: a retrospective cohort study.

Abstract Objective To develop and validate a tool that predicts 30d readmission risk of patients with diabetes hospitalized for cardiovascular disease (CVD), the Diabetes Early Readmission Risk Indicator-CVD (DERRI-CVD™). Methods A cohort of 8189 discharges was retrospectively selected from electronic records of adult patients with diabetes hospitalized for CVD. Discharges of 60% of the patients (n = 4950) were randomly selected as a training sample and the remaining 40% (n = 3219) were the validation sample. Results Statistically significant predictors of all-cause 30d readmission risk were identified by multivariable logistic regression modeling: education level, employment status, living within 5 miles of the hospital, pre-admission diabetes therapy, macrovascular complications, admission serum creatinine and albumin levels, having a hospital discharge within 90 days pre-admission, and a psychiatric diagnosis. Model discrimination and calibration were good (C-statistic 0.71). Performance in the validation sample was comparable. Predicted 30d readmission risk was similar in the training and validation samples (38.6% and 35.1% in the highest quintiles). Conclusions The DERRI-CVD™ may be a valid tool to predict all-cause 30d readmission risk of patients with diabetes hospitalized for CVD. Identifying high-risk patients may encourage the use of interventions targeting those at greatest risk, potentially leading to better outcomes and lower healthcare costs.
Regional water consumption for hydro and thermal electricity generation in the United States

Abstract Water is an essential resource for most electric power generation technologies. Thermal power plants typically require a large amount of cooling water whose evaporation is regarded to be consumed. Hydropower plants result in evaporative water loss from the large surface areas of the storing reservoirs. This study estimated the regional water consumption factors (WCFs) for thermal and hydro electricity generation in the United States, because the WCFs of these power plants vary by region and water supply and demand balance are of concern in many regions. For hydropower, total WCFs were calculated using a reservoir’s surface area, state-level water evaporation, and background evapotranspiration. Then, for a multipurpose reservoir, a fraction of its WCF was allocated to hydropower generation based on the share of the economic valuation of hydroelectricity among benefits from all purposes of the reservoir. For thermal power plants, the variations in WCFs by type of cooling technology, prime mover technology, and by region were addressed. The results show that WCFs for electricity generation vary significantly by region. The generation-weighted average WCFs of thermoelectricity and hydropower are 1.25 (range of 0.18–2.0) and 16.8 (range of 0.67–1194) L/kWh, respectively, and the generation-weighted average WCF by the U.S. generation mix in 2015 is estimated at 2.18 L/kWh.
Guiding Principles for Evaluating Evidence in Education Research

Based on their experiences from their work with two national initiatives designed to reform educational practice in U.S., the authors present seven guiding principles of evidence-based/informed educational policy and research to lay the foundation for making rigorous and comprehensive judgments about what evidence and scientific research designs should be taken into account when scaling-up educational reforms to serve the public good. The authors further provide case examples from US with a clear potential to both utilize and generate evidence in the public interest including educational research studies that seeks to support underrepresented groups in preparing for and achieving successful transitions to postsecondary education and careers, in STEM and other fields. The authors conclude that educational researchers have a critical role to play in providing decision-makers with the tools to judge the evidence to serve public good.