cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adhesion Activity in Fibronectin's Alternatively Spliced Domain EDa (EIIIA) and Its Neighboring Type III Repeats: Oncogene-Dependent Regulation

EDa (EIIIA) is one of two alternatively spliced type III repeats in cellular fibronectin (cFN) lacking in plasma fibronectin (pFN). Previous studies using proteolytic fragments of cFN suggested that EDa may harbor adhesion activity for various Balb/c 3T3 cell derivatives. This putative adhesion activity has now been analyzed more directly. EDa and neighboring type III repeats III11 and III12 from human cFN cDNA were subcloned in various permutations and recombinant minigenes expressed in Escherichia coli. Purified recombinant polypeptide corresponding to EDa type III repeat alone is capable of promoting 3T3 cell attachment and limited cytoplasmic spreading, as are neighboring repeats III11 and III12 when tested as single repeats. While EDa alone exhibited 40-60% of the attachment activity of human pFN depending upon cell type, EDa with both neighboring repeats displayed 70-90% of pFN activity; furthermore, cell spreading was more extensive with the three-repeat molecule. Two experimental approaches indicated that cell surface proteoglycans do not participate in these adhesion processes. Finally, the effects of various oncogenes upon transformation of Balb/c 3T3 cells were investigated. Adhesion activity to all three repeats is completely abrogated by two different ras oncogenes, unaffected by the sis oncogene, and elevated by the src oncogene. Furthermore, ras- revertants of ras-transformed cells had reacquired adhesion activity for EDa and its neighboring repeats. Comparison of individual repeats confirmed oncogene-dependent regulation of receptor activity to these sequences--for 3T3 cells, EDa > III11 = III12, but for src-transformed cells III12 >> EDa > III11. These studies reveal a new adhesion-promoting activity in alternatively spliced EDa and in neighboring repeats III11 and III12; this receptor activity is regulated either positively or negatively subsequent to transformation by specific oncogenes.
Survey of the Silicon Status of Flooded Rice in Louisiana

Low Si content in rice (Oryza sativa L.), sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.), and other Si-accumulating crops can adversely affect crop performance by increasing susceptibility to abiotic and biotic stresses. Although it is generally assumed in the United States that soils containing appreciable amounts of silicate clays supply adequate Si to meet crop demands, there is little evidence to support this assumption. A survey was conducted to assess the Si status of rice plants at mid-tiller (Y-leaf) and at harvest (straw) in 97 rice fields located throughout the rice-growing regions of Louisiana. On average, Y-leaves contained 30.5 ± 7.8 g Si kg -1 , whereas mature rice straw contained 54.7 ± 12.7 g Si kg -1 . Low early season Si assimilation occurred in nearly all rice fields, whereas only 36% contained mature straw with <50 g Si kg -1 a level commonly used to indicate sufficiency. Late-season deficiencies were limited to fields in extreme southwest Louisiana where soils tend to be strongly acidic and have a long history of rice production.
Genome-Wide High-Resolution Mapping of UV-Induced Mitotic Recombination Events in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and most other eukaryotes, mitotic recombination is important for the repair of double-stranded DNA breaks (DSBs). Mitotic recombination between homologous chromosomes can result in loss of heterozygosity (LOH). In this study, LOH events induced by ultraviolet (UV) light are mapped throughout the genome to a resolution of about 1 kb using single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) microarrays. UV doses that have little effect on the viability of diploid cells stimulate crossovers more than 1000-fold in wild-type cells. In addition, UV stimulates recombination in G1-synchronized cells about 10-fold more efficiently than in G2-synchronized cells. Importantly, at high doses of UV, most conversion events reflect the repair of two sister chromatids that are broken at approximately the same position whereas at low doses, most conversion events reflect the repair of a single broken chromatid. Genome-wide mapping of about 380 unselected crossovers, break-induced replication (BIR) events, and gene conversions shows that UV-induced recombination events occur throughout the genome without pronounced hotspots, although the ribosomal RNA gene cluster has a significantly lower frequency of crossovers.
Current Utilization of Balloon Dilation versus Endoscopic Techniques in Pediatric Sinus Surgery

Objectives To study the utilization of balloon catheter dilation (BCD) compared to traditional endoscopic surgery (ESS) in pediatric patients. Study design Cross-sectional analysis. Setting Hospital and freestanding ambulatory surgery centers in California, Florida, Maryland, and New York Subjects Patients less than 18 years who underwent BCD(316) or ESS(2346), as identified by CPT codes from the State Ambulatory Surgery Databases 2011. Methods Patient and facility demographics, mean charges, and operating room time were examined using bivariate and multivariate analyses. Results A total of 2662 children underwent surgery, with BCD used in 10.6% of maxillary, 8.4% of sphenoid, and 11.8% of frontal procedures. Adjusted analysis found that children with asthma, allergic rhinitis (AR), GERD, or concomitant adenoidectomy were more likely to have BCD compared to patients without these comorbidities, asthma odds ratio (OR) = 1.94 (95% CI, 1.84-3.41), AR OR = 1.77 (95% CI, 1.03-3.07), GERD OR = 2.79 (95% CI, .59-4.90), or without adenoidectomy OR = 2.50 (95% CI, 1.84-3.41). Patients with cystic fibrosis were less likely to have BCD, OR = 0.33 (95% CI, 0.11-0.95). Median charges for patients undergoing maxillary antrostomy alone by BCD (P = .042) or with adenoidectomy (P Conclusions BCD was used in 11.9% of pediatric sinus surgery and had higher average charges with no decrease in OR time compared to procedures that only utilized ESS. Future research is necessary to evaluate whether BCD may lead to improved outcomes and eventually decreased operating room time for pediatric patients with chronic rhinosinusitis.
Lesions of the tissue surrounding the preoptic recess (AV3V region) affect neurosecretory cells in the paraventricular nuclei in the rat

Lesions of the tissue surrounding the preoptic recess (AV3V region) have severe effects on body fluid homeostasis; these include acute adipsia and failure of the antidiuretic response. Because neurosecretory cells in supraoptic nuclei comprise the major source of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) in this species, we have previously observed the fine structure of supraoptic nuclei in rats with AV3V lesions. Paraventricular nuclei are the other major source of ADH in rats. Therefore, in this investigation we compared the fine structure of paraventricular nuclei in rats which had received AV3V lesions 3 days earlier with that of control rats which had received sham lesions and either had drinking water available or had water withheld for 3 days. Degenerating axons and axon terminals were present in paraventricular nuclei of lesioned rats. The degenerating terminals were in axodendritic and less often in axosomatic synapses. Morphometric evaluation revealed that neurosecretory cells did respond to the dehydrated state of the adipsic-lesioned animals, but the response was significantly attenuated compared to that which occurred in sham-lesioned rats deprived of water for 3 days. It appears that AV3V lesions damage afferent connections and impair the response of neurosecretory cells to dehydration in paraventricular as well as supraoptic nuclei. However, in paraventricular nuclei the response is not completely prevented by AV3V lesions during the adipsic period as was observed in supraoptic nuclei. The presence of a response in paraventricular nuclei may be at least partially stimulated by reduced body fluid volume. Information from volume receptors would be carried from the medulla to paraventricular nuclei by ascending pathways which are not affected by AV3V lesions.
Why “Suboptimal” Is Optimal: Jensen’s Inequality and Ectotherm Thermal Preferences

Body temperature (T(b)) profoundly affects the fitness of ectotherms. Many ectotherms use behavior to control T(b) within narrow levels. These temperatures are assumed to be optimal and therefore to match body temperatures (Trmax) that maximize fitness (r). We develop an optimality model and find that optimal body temperature (T(o)) should not be centered at Trmax but shifted to a lower temperature. This finding seems paradoxical but results from two considerations relating to Jensen's inequality, which deals with how variance and skew influence integrals of nonlinear functions. First, ectotherms are not perfect thermoregulators and so experience a range of T(b). Second, temperature-fitness curves are asymmetric, such that a T(b) higher than Trmax depresses fitness more than will a T(b) displaced an equivalent amount below Trmax. Our model makes several predictions. The magnitude of the optimal shift (Trmax - To) should increase with the degree of asymmetry of temperature-fitness curves and with T(b) variance. Deviations should be relatively large for thermal specialists but insensitive to whether fitness increases with Trmax ("hotter is better"). Asymmetric (left-skewed) T(b) distributions reduce the magnitude of the optimal shift but do not eliminate it. Comparative data (insects, lizards) support key predictions. Thus, "suboptimal" is optimal.
The treatment of shigellosis. I. Synergistic effect of antibiotics on Shigella.

1. Neomycin plus polymyxin in 1 to 10 ratio potentiates the inhibitory effect of neomycin and polymyxin onShigella paradysenteriac (Flexner, Boyd and Sonne) 5 to 30-fold and 25 to 70-fold respectively. 2. Neomycin plus streptomycin in 1 to 10 ratio potentiates the inhibitory effect of neomycin and streptomycin on Shigella 1.5 to 2.5-fold and 2.5 to 3-fold respectively. 3. Neomycin plus tetracycline or oxytetracycline in 1 to 10 ratio potentiates the inhibitory effect of neomycin onShigella 1.5 to 2.5-fold and 2.5 to 3-fold 3-fold. 4. Neomycin plus Magnamycin in 1 to 1250 ratio enhances the inhibitory effect of neomycin 1.5 to 2.5-fold, and of Magnamycin 0.5 to 8-fold, and in the same ratio, neomycin phis bacitracin enhances the effect of neomycin 2.5 to 3-fold and of bacitracin effect 1 to 2-fold. 5. Neomycin plus viomycin in 1 to 10 ratio results in mutual depression.
Isolation of rat liver microsomal short-chain β-ketoacyl-coenzyme A reductase and trans-2-enoyl-coenzyme A hydratase: Evidence for more than one hydratase☆

Abstract An enzyme preparation (IIIB) isolated from liver microsomes of untreated male rats was found to contain two activities—short-chain trans-2-enoyl-CoA hydratase and β-ketoacyl-CoA reductase. The hydratase was purified more than 1000-fold, while the reductase activity was purified over 600-fold. Employing sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, a single band with a molecular weight of 76,000 was observed. Although attempts to separate these two activities have failed, it remains to be established whether the final preparation contains a single enzyme with two activities or two separate enzymes. The hydratase was most active toward crotonyl-CoA, followed by trans-2-hexenoyl-CoA (6:1) and -octenoyl-CoA (8:1); the enzyme was essentially inactive toward substrates containing more than eight carbon atoms. The Vmax for crotonyl-CoA was 2117 μmol/min/mg protein, while the Km was 59 μ m . Using acetoacetyl-CoA as substrate, the Vmax for the β-ketoacyl-CoA reductase was over 60 μmol/min/mg protein and the Km was 37μ m ; the Vmax for β-ketopalmitoyl-CoA was only 15% of that observed with acetoacetyl-CoA, although the Km was 6 μ m . During the course of purification, a second short-chain hydratase was discovered (fraction IVA); unlike IIIB, this fraction catalyzed the hydration of 4:1, 6:1, and 8:1 at similar rates. The partially purified preparation yielded maximal activity with 8:1 CoA (apparent Vmax 35 μmol/min/mg), followed by 6:1 CoA, 4:1 CoA, and 10:1 CoA; longer chain CoA's were relatively poor substrates, with trans-2-hexadecenoyl CoA about 0.1 as active as 8:1 CoA. On SDS-gels, fraction IVA contained four bands, all of which were below 60,000 Mr. Proteases, such as trypsin, chymotrypsin, and subtilisin, were found to completely inactivate both enzyme fractions.
Batching methods for simulation output analysis: a stopping procedure based on phi-mixing conditions

The use of batch means is a well-known technique for estimating the variance of mean point estimators computed from a simulation experiment. This paper discusses implementation of a sequential procedure to determine the batch size for constructing confidence intervals for a simulation estimator of the steady-state mean of a stochastic process. Our quasi-independent (QI) procedure increases the batch size progressively until a certain number of essentially i.i.d. samples are obtained. We show that our sequential procedure gives valid confidence intervals. The only (mild) assumption is that the correlations of the stochastic process output sequence die off. An experimental performance evaluation demonstrates the validity of the QI procedure.
Comparisons of Indoor Air Quality and Thermal Comfort Quality between Certification Levels of LEED-Certified Buildings in USA

This study investigated whether indoor air quality (IAQ) and thermal comfort quality that were measured by occupants’ environmental satisfaction and their perceived job performance in personal work...
Avoiding loss of fairness owing to process crashes in fair data exchange protocols

Fair exchange between two or more potentially mutually distrusted parties has been identified as an important issue in electronic commerce. However, the correctness (fairness) of the existing fair exchange protocols that use a trusted third party (TTP) is based on the assumption that, during an exchange, there are no failures at any of the local systems involved in the exchange, which is too strong in many situations. This paper points out that (1) system failures could cause loss of fairness, and (2) existing fair exchange protocols that use TTPs cannot ensure fairness in presence of system failures. We present a systematic way to develop such data exchange systems that can recover from system failures without losing fairness. We identify a set of fairness loss risks caused by local system failures. We identify a fault-tolerance correctness criterion for fair data exchange, denoted "fairness-lossless recoverability". A fairness-lossless recoverable fair exchange system is immune from the set of fairness loss risks. Standard message logging approaches are then studied and extended to achieve fairness-lossless recoverability with good performance.
Population ecology and shell chemistry of a phytal ostracode species (Loxoconcha matagordensis) in the Chesapeake Bay watershed

Population ecology and shell chemistry were studied in the phytal ostracode Loxoconcha matagordensis (Swain 1955) collected from Zostera marina seagrass beds in the Chesapeake Bay to provide seasonal constraints on shell secretion time for paleothermometry. Population density and age structure were defined by two main breeding cycles that occurred between 01 to 15 June and 02 to 16 August 2001. The time interval between breeding cycles was ~2 months and total juvenile standing crop increased almost three-fold between the first and second breeding cycles. Dark brown over-wintered adults comprised the majority of the population between March and April 2001, while newly secreted translucent adults were predominant between June and September. Seasonal shell Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca ratios were positively correlated with water temperature at both sites, with the strongest correlations occurring between June and September from newly secreted shells at Dameron Marsh. Old, dark brown shells contained 10% to 23% and 1% to 6% less Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca, respectively, than new shells. Because a fossil assemblage of L. matagordensis will contain ~30% old shells (dark-brown), these results suggest that fossil Mg/Ca ratios yield an integrated late spring to summer temperature signal. Shell Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca ratios of specimens of L. matagordensis collected from living Zostera were positively correlated, suggesting that temperature may influence both elemental ratios. Mg/ Ca and Sr/Ca ratios of fossil shells of the related species Loxoconcha sp. A obtained from four sediment cores were also studied and exhibited a weaker correlation between the two elemental ratios. D 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Comment on: Besser et al. Lessons from the mixed-meal tolerance test: use of 90-minute and fasting C-peptide in pediatric diabetes. Diabetes Care 2013;36:195-201.

It was extremely gratifying to read an interesting article in Diabetes Care by Besser et al. (1) that suggested that 90-min C-peptide is a highly sensitive and specific measure of area under curve and peak C-peptide in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes and offers a practical alternative to a full mixed-meal tolerance test. The authors also suggested that C-peptide measured at diagnosis and age at diagnosis can be used to predict the time taken for patients to become insulin-deficient. The authors suggested that those with the lowest tertile of fasting C-peptide (<0.17 nmol/L) reached insulin deficiency quicker than those in the …
Osteogenic differentiation of hESCs after culturing on fibrillar type I collagen coatings

This paper reports a new method to induce osteogenic differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). Singly dissociated hESCs treated with ROCK inhibitor Y27632 were plated on type I fibrillar collagen (FC) coatings and achieved a high rate of survival. After culturing in osteogenic medium for 10 d, several cell colonies developed on the coatings. Cells forming the colonies showed homogenous, fibroblastic-like morphology. Subcultures of these cells on FC coatings in osteogenic medium developed an osteoblastic phenotype evidenced by strong staining for deposited minerals and expression of the ostoblastic related genes Runx2 and Col1a1. However, gene expression of osteocalcin (OC) was not detected, implying that while mineral deposition was mediated by the cells they did not mature during the culture period. FACS analysis showed the surface markers were 82.9% CD73+, 81.0% CD105+ and 99.8% CD45−, consistent with the pattern of MSCs'. Additionally, in subsequent second subcultures these cells displayed a 5fold increase in OC gene expression. We conclude that FC either exerted a unique cell-matrix interaction which promoted osteogenic differentiation or it selectively supported the survival and growth of cells committed to the osteoblastic lineage. Further characterization of the cells and the cell-collagen coating interactions are in progress.
Kinetic Evidence Is Consistent with the Rocker-Switch Mechanism of Membrane Transport by GlpT

Secondary active transport of substrate across the cell membrane is crucial to many cellular and physiological processes. The crystal structure of one member of the secondary active transporter family, the sn-glycerol-3-phosphate (G3P) transporter (GlpT) of the inner membrane of Escherichia coli, suggests a mechanism for substrate translocation across the membrane that involves a rocker-switch-type movement of the protein. This rocker-switch mechanism makes two specific predictions with respect to kinetic behavior: the transport rate increases with the temperature, whereas the binding affinity of the transporter to a substrate is temperature-independent. In this work, we directly tested these two predictions by transport kinetics and substrate-binding experiments, integrating the data on this single system into a coherent set of observations. The transport kinetics of the physiologically relevant G3P−phosphate antiport reaction were characterized at different temperatures using both E. coli whole cells a...
Arthropod assemblages in vegetative vs. humic portions of epiphyte mats in a neotropical cloud forest

Abstract Epiphyte mats (contiguous pieces of live and dead epiphytes perched upon branches of trees) are a conspicuous component of tropical cloud forests and harbor diverse meso- and microarthropod communities. We investigated differences in arthropod assemblage structure between the vegetative (green) and humic (brown) portions of epiphyte mats in a lower montane forest in Monteverde, Costa Rica. Because of qualitative differences between the two substrates, we hypothesized that they would support different arthropod communities and that variation in community parameters would be linked to the quantity of brown material present in a mat sample. The green fraction contained twice as many individuals and species per gram dry mass than the brown fraction. Morphospecies composition was very similar between green and brown portions, but the relative abundance of several taxa differed significantly between the substrates. Contrary to our prediction, total arthropod abundance and richness in a sample were not correlated with the proportion of brown material present. In laboratory trials, the most common morphospecies of oribatid mite in this system showed a preference for brown substrates.
Analytic semigroup generated by the linearization of a Riemann-Dafermos solution

Dafermos regularization is a viscous regularization of hyperbolic conservation laws that preserves solutions of the form u = ˆ(X/T). A Riemann- Dafermos solution is a solution of the Dafermos regularization that is close to a Riemann solution of the conservation law. Using self-similar coordinate x = X/T, Riemann-Dafermos solutions become stationary. In a suitable Ba- nach space, we show that the linear variational system around such solution is sectorial, thus generating an analytic semigroup.
Stress tolerance of a subtropical Crassostrea virginica population to the combined effects of temperature and salinity

The combination of salinity and temperature has synergistic effects on virtually all aspects of the biology of estuarine organisms. Of interest were site-specific characteristics in the response of the eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, from the St. Lucie River Estuary to the interactive effects of temperature and salinity. This estuary, one of the largest on the central east coast of Florida, is strongly influenced by anthropogenic modifications due to management needs to control the patterns of freshwater flow in the St. Lucie River watershed. Crassostrea virginica is designated a valued ecosystem component for monitoring the health of this estuary. Our approach used a multidimensional response surface design to study the effects of temperature and salinity on sublethal measures of oyster performance: (1) body condition index as an overall indicator of bioenergetic status and (2) the RNA/DNA ratio as a biochemical indicator of cellular stress. The results showed that there was a greater ability to withstand extreme salinity conditions at lower temperatures. However, there were no site-specific attributes that differentiated the response of the St. Lucie Estuary population from populations along the distribution range. Condition index was a less variable response than the RNA/DNA ratio, and the final models for mean condition index and the RNA/DNA ratios explained 77.3 and 35.8% of the respective variances.
Method for spectroradiometric temperature measurements in two phase flows. 2: Experimental verification.

A new method for emission–absorption pyrometric measurements has been developed to account for the effects of scattering particles suspended in an absorbing gas. In this paper, the principles of this new technique are outlined and the results of a series of verification experiments are presented.
Effects of riparian leaf dynamics on periphyton photosynthesis and light utilisation efficiency

1. Streambed light regimes change dramatically when riparian trees gain leaves in spring and lose them in autumn. This study examined the effect of these changes on periphyton photosynthetic characteristics, primary production, and light utilisation efficiency in two eastern Tennessee streams. 2. Photosynthesis–irradiance responses were measured at intervals covering leaf emergence and abscission in spring and autumn. Photosynthetic efficiency (αchl) increased with declining streambed irradiances during spring leaf emergence, but returned to pre-emergence values after autumn leaf fall. The onset of photosaturation (Ik) displayed the opposite pattern, decreasing during leaf emergence and increasing after leaf fall. Both αchl and Ik were closely associated (P < 0.01) with daily integrated streambed irradiance, as were periphyton carotenoids. Internal shading by photoprotective carotenoids is hypothesised to account for lower αchl when streambed irradiances are high. 3. An in situ shading experiment confirmed that the temporal changes observed in periphyton photosynthetic characteristics and carotenoids were primarily the result of changing light levels and not other environmental factors (e.g. nutrients, temperature). 4. Daily chlorophyll-specific primary production (PPchl) was calculated with P–I models and recorded streambed irradiances. In both streams, PPchl was the highest in early spring when trees were leafless, and then declined markedly as leaves emerged, reaching a minimum in summer. PPchl increased after leaf abscission, but was still lower than it was in early spring, when the sun was higher and daylength was longer. A hyperbolic tangent equation fit to PPchl and daily integrated irradiance (r2=0. 85) suggested that primary production was light saturated at 4–8 mol m–2 d–1. 5. Light utilisation efficiency (Ψ) increased 10-fold during leaf emergence. Photosaturation at high irradiances and photoacclimation at lower irradiances were responsible for a negative hyperbolic relationship between Ψ and daily integrated irradiance.
Reliability and Construct Validity of the Needle Sharing Inventory

The Needle Sharing Inventory (NSI) is a 59-item test developed to specify and assess behavior patterns associated with drug use and needle sharing. In order to determine its reliability and construct validity, the NSI was administered to 80 intravenous drug users (IVDUs) recruited from a methadone maintenance program in New York City. Patients were included in the study if they reported using intravenous drugs during the previous month. Factor analysis was performed indicating that 31 of the items loaded onto 6 factors similar to those hypothesized: four dealing with the social context of needle sharing — indiscriminate sharing, social sharing, intimate sharing, and use of shooting galleries; and two dealing with the emotional context of intravenous drug use — negative affect states and positive affect states. These variables accounted for 71% of the total variance, suggesting internal consistency of these items. Factor scores significantly correlated to subjects' self- reported estimates of time using no...
Axioms for Probability and Nondeterminism

This paper studies a simple calculus for finite-state processes featuring both nondeterministic and probabilistic choice. We present a domain model and an operational semantics for our calculus. The denotational model uses the probabilistic powerdomain of Jones and Plotkin, combined with a geometrically convex variant of the Plotkin powerdomain. The operational model defines transition rules under which a process makes transitions to probability distributions over states. We prove a full abstraction result that shows two processes have the same denotation if and only if they are probabilistically bisimilar. We also show that the expected laws for probability and nondeterminism are sound and complete with respect to the denotational model.
Miscibility in poly(vinylethylene)/poly(isoprene) blends☆

Poly(vinylethylene) (PVE) and polyisoprene (PIP) do not chemically interact; nevertheless, miscibility extends to infinite molecular weight of the components, indicating that the interaction parameter for the blend is negative. This inference has been directly demonstrated by small angle neutron scattering, which showed, moreover, that the negative sign has an enthalpic origin. The present solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) cross-polarization/dipolar dephasing results are consistent with a greater degree of spatial intimacy between PVE and PIP chains in the blend relative to the neat polymers. The greater intimacy suggested by the NMR results is consistent with stronger van der Waals bonding in the blends, and hence the negative mixing enthalpy.
Curbing language intensity

Language plays an enormous part in an audience's perception of a writer, particularly when such language is highly intense. High-intensity language tends to be more colorful, subjective, emotionally charged and personal (e.g. "plot", "scheme"), while low-intensity language tends to be more bland, objective, dispassionate and impersonal (e.g. "plan"). High-intensity language can be good for the professional writer since color and emotion attract interest, but this can be a damaging sort of interest if readers are offended by the level of intensity. Low-intensity language, on the other hand, is safer because it is less personal and hence less likely to offend, yet too much of it may put the reader to sleep. Thus, the challenge for professional writers is to find a median intensity, a healthy balance between subjectivity and objectivity.
Do Micro-Nutrient Seed Treatments Assist in Range Restoration Efforts?

Resource managers are frustrated at the lack of seedling success using conventional methodologies and thus have turned to other approaches such as using seed treatments. DOI:10.2458/azu_rangelands_v28i2_clements
Proof that Solovay randomness is equivalent to strong Chaitin randomness

In this chapter I’ll show you that Solovay randomness is equivalent to strong Chaitin randomness. Recall that an infinite binary sequence x is strong Chaitin random iff (H(x n ), the complexity of its n-bit prefix x n ) − n goes to infinity as n increases. I’ll break the proof into two parts.
Transformative Works: Young Women’s Voices on Fandom and Fair Use

This chapter considers the transformative impact of copyright fair use and fair dealing laws on the lives of individuals based on first-person accounts of young women and girls involved in media fandom. It builds on the work of scholars who have addressed the relationship between media fandom and copyright law, and relies specifically on the voices of media fans themselves about the role that fandom, particularly the creation of noncommercial fanworks, has played in their personal and developmental lives. In so doing, it examines how exceptions to copyright exclusivity that promote remix and other transformative expression create spaces that promote girls’ self-actualization. The chapter draws principally on fans’ responses to a call by the U.S.-based nonprofit Organization for Transformative Works for personal accounts of how creating fanworks has influenced their lives. The responses reflected young women’s views that fandom provides unique opportunities for young women and girls to connect with others, build professional and educational skills, and develop personal and emotional maturity. For example, respondents reported that through the creation of noncommercial transformative works, they found their voices; discovered unknown abilities; shared their own points of view; learned professional skills; made friends; found the strength to overcome personal hardship; and gained greater understanding of themselves and others. At the same time, fanwork creation has afforded young women and girls an audience and a unique opportunity to use existing cultural expression as a springboard to talk back to a culture that might not otherwise hear their voices. These fans’ personal accounts indicate that laws permitting the creation of noncommercial derivative works not only promote individual expression by often-marginalized speakers, but also offer particular benefits to those speakers that are not readily available through other means. The paper concludes that broad understandings of fair use, fair dealing, and other laws that promote the creation of noncommercial transformative works are beneficial not only for free expression, but also for the girls and young women who create and consume that expression.
Boattail Improvements for Missile DATCOM

This paper documents research performed to investigate and improve the methods Missile DATCOM uses to predict the aerodynamic effects due to the presence of a boattail. The focus of the effort is on the calculation of change in normal force due to the presence of a boattail. Recent wind tunnel tests have highlighted poor predictions of this value for bodies with boattails, particularly those with short centerbodies, in the transonic regime. Alternate prediction methods were used to examine the effects of a boattail for bodies with varying centerbody lengths and varying boattail lengths. Comparisons are made with the current Missile DATCOM methods and suggestions for improvements are presented.
Abstract P3-02-01: Is Ethnicity a Predictor of Micrometastatic Disease in Early Stage Breast Cancer Patients?

Background: Ethnicity plays a role in breast cancer (BC) outcome, highlighted by the fact that African-American women have a higher BC mortality rate than do Caucasian women. Microscopic disease, including disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) in bone marrow and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in peripheral blood, has been shown to predict worse outcomes as well. We sought to determine whether ethnicity was a significant predictor for the presence of DTCs and/or CTCs in stage I-III BC patients. Methods: Patients provided informed consent to participate in an IRB-approved study involving collection of blood and bone marrow at the time of surgery for their primary BC. CTCs (per 7.5 ml blood) were detected using the Cell Search TM system (Veridex) and were defined as nucleated cells lacking CD45 but expressing cytokeratins (CK) 8, 18, or 19; for this study we considered one or more positive cells meeting these criteria a positive result. DTCs were assessed using an anti-CK antibody cocktail (AE1/AE3, CAM5.2, MNF116, CK8 and 18) following cytospin. A positive result for DTCs was defined by presence of one or more CK positive cells meeting morphologic criteria for malignancy. Information on clinicopathological factors including ethnicity was obtained from a prospective database. Statistical analyses used Chi-square test on STATA IC11. Results: We prospectively evaluated 224 patients undergoing surgery for stage I-III BC. Median follow-up was 22 months and mean age was 53 years. One hundred sixty seven patients (75%) were Caucasians, 22 (10%) were African-American (AA), 30 (14%) were Hispanic and 3 (1%) belonged to other ethnicities. CTCs were found in 25% (57/224) and DTCs in 30% (67/224) of patients. Patients of AA ethnicity were significantly more likely to have CTCs (50%, (11/22)) compared to the other ethnic groups (22%, (43/194)); {O.R. = 2.5, 95% C.I. = 1.35- 7.80, P = 0.002}, and had significantly higher numbers of CTCs (≥2 CTCs or ≥3 CTCs/7.5mL blood) than other ethnic groups (P = 0.001 and P Conclusions: Nearly one-third of primary BC patients have CTCs and/or DTCs. African-American women were much more likely to have CTCs and Hispanic patients had significantly more DTCs than did patients of other ethnicities. Ethnicity was an independent predictor of microscopic disease. These findings may shed some light on the higher BC mortality rates found in certain ethnic groups. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2010;70(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-02-01.
What Are Infinitesimals and Why They Cannot Be Seen

Visualizing mathematical structures is a broad and important subject in mathemat- ics education. Consider, for example, the difficulty of seeing a number system that includes infinitesimals. This might seem an obvious observation since infinitesimals are infinitely small, but that is not the point I wish to make here. In mathematics we have tools that allow us to think visually about objects far beyond direct physical perception. We can see the infinite. We use our natural intuition of the geometiy of three dimensional space as a starting point for constructions of abstract mathematical structures, such as higher dimensional vector spaces, non- euclidean geometries, and topological spaces of various kinds. Those structures often do not seem to have direct interpretations in the physical universe we know, but nevertheless we can picture them in the mind's eye. With simple images we can illustrate, quite accurately, more abstract concepts. Precision and formal rigor are essential in mathematics, but these qualities apply only to the final products of mathematical activity. When we "do"mathemat- ics, we rarely think formally. We do not limit ourselves to computations and rigorous proofs. Rather, mathematicians work with pictures visual representa- tions of mathematical structures. The same pictures also seem indispensable in learning mathematics. Some mathematical structures, however, cannot be visual- ized easily. A level of abstraction and set theoretic methods are necessary to prove that certain structures even exist. A theorem of Stanley Tennenbaum's (5), pub- lished in 1959, states that certain mathematical structures are very complex. The notion of complexitz7, as used in Tennenbaum's theorem, has precise meaning, and I will say more about it later. At this point let me just mention that the theorem excludes the possibility of a simple presentation of some structures, and the number system of nonstandard analysis is one of them. Nonstandard analysis was created (or perhaps recreated) by Abraham Robinson (4), who reintroduced infinitesimals to mathematics using the formal apparatus of mathematical logic. Since then, much has been written on the theory of infinitesi- mals and their applications. Part of the effort was directed towards utilizing some of the new methods and techniques in teaching. Nonstandard analysis offers great simplicity in defining basic concepts. Think, for example, of the following defini- tion of the derivative: y = f(x) is differentiable at a point a, and b is the derivative of f(x) at a, if for every number dx infinitesimally close to 0, dy ff a + dsc) - f( a)
Quality Measures for the Care of Patients with Narcolepsy

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) commissioned a Workgroup to develop quality measures for the care of patients with narcolepsy. Following a comprehensive literature search, 306 publica...
Research on VHF Wireless Link Design of Hydrologic Information Automatic Telemetering System

To obtain a stable, reliable data transmission channel and keep the communication smoothly even at the harsh environment for hydrologic information automatic telemetering system, with a brief analysis of some key factors to be considered, and a simplifi ed design scheme for calculating the fading margin, reservation value and diffraction loss, a complicated engineering solution for designing VHF wireless network has been provided in this paper. The result of this study has been applied in many power plants for wireless link prediction, binging a higher signal stability and low bit error rate.
Outcomes of Concomitant Fractures of the Radial Head and Capitellum: The "Kissing Lesion".

Background Radial head compression against the capitellum may cause concomitant fracture of the capitellum. The purpose of this study was to investigate if radial head fracture type is associated with a concomitant fracture of the capitellum. Patients and Methods Data were identified from five area hospitals. We retrieved records of patients older than 18 years of age who underwent treatment for concomitant capitellum fracture and radial head fracture between January 2002 and January 2013. Patients with olecranon fractures or trochlea fractures were excluded. Results A total of 10 patients with a radial head fracture and a concomitant capitellum fracture were included. Based on the operative reports, nine radial head fractures were classified as Hotchkiss modification of the Mason classification type II, and one was classified as type I. Based on the available radiographs and computed tomography, three capitellum fractures were type I, and seven were type II according to the Grantham classification. Conclusion Surgeons have to be alert to capitellar damage in case of a Hotchkiss type II radial head fracture. Level of Evidence This is a level IV, therapeutic, retrospective study.
Impact of Massachusetts Health Reform on Inpatient Care Use: Was the Safety-Net Experience Different Than in the Non-Safety-Net?

Objective Most inpatient care for the uninsured and other vulnerable subpopulations occurs in safety-net hospitals. As insurance expansion increases the choice of hospitals for the previously uninsured, we examined if Massachusetts health reform was associated with shifts in the volume of inpatient care from safety-net to non-safety-net hospitals overall, or among other vulnerable sociodemographic (racial/ethnic minority, low socioeconomic status, high uninsured rate area) and clinical subpopulations (emergent status, diagnosis). Data Sources/Study Setting Discharge records for adults discharged from all nonfederal acute care hospitals in Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania 2004–2010. Study Design Using a difference-in-differences design, we compared pre-/post-reform changes in safety-net and non-safety-net hospital discharge outcomes in Massachusetts among adults 18–64 with corresponding changes in comparisons states with no reform, overall, and by subpopulations. Principal Findings Reform was not associated with changes in inpatient care use at safety-net and non-safety-net hospitals across all discharges or in most subpopulations examined. Conclusions Demand for inpatient care at safety-net hospitals may not decrease following insurance expansion. Whether this is due to other access barriers or patient preference needs to be explored.
What Should Urologists Ask the Radiologist

As urologists incorporate new advances in imaging technology, our field has become increasingly dependent on our diagnostic and interventional radiology colleagues. One of the most important aspects of these collaborations is managing communication and expectations. As new technologies enter the armamentarium, it is important to develop a mutual understanding of workflow management and the key concepts utilized to foster a beneficial working environment. Herein we will discuss topic of optimizing communication between the radiologist and the urologist.
The intersection of antiretroviral therapy, peer support programmes, and economic empowerment with HIV stigma among HIV-positive women in West Nile Uganda

HIV stigma remains a major problem of the AIDS epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa. Women fear impending social stigma including blame, isolation and abuse. HIV infection and HIV stigma interact cyclically, creating and reinforcing economic and social exclusion for individuals living with HIV. Evidence suggests that interventions for people living with HIV infection that include, in combination, antiretroviral therapy (ART), peer support and economic empowerment are likely to be more effective than if used alone. We report a qualitative study in West Nile Uganda that explored perceptions of HIV stigma among fifty-four HIV-positive women who had similar access to ART and HIV peer support programmes, but varying levels of participation (full-time, intermittent, none) in economic empowerment programmes. Our study found that access to ART, peer support groups, and economic empowerment programmes helped to curb perceptions of deep-seated HIV stigma for participants. More expressions of usefulness, hope and psychological well-being prevailed with participants who had increased participation in economic empowerment programmes. Our findings underscore the value of HIV outreach programmes which combine ART, peer support and economic empowerment to alleviate HIV stigma. Further research to quantify the interaction of these factors is warranted.
Dual E × B flow responses in the dayside ionosphere to a sudden IMF By rotation

We report for the first time a dual transition state in the dayside ionosphere following a sudden rotation of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) in the upstream magnetosheath from IMF By 0 during Bz<0. ExB drifts respond with different time delays in the dayside auroral zone and high-latitude polar cap with an initial 11 min transition state of oppositely directed ExB drifts coexisting at these locations. This is followed by a 6-8 min rotation of lower-latitude ExB flow from dusk to dawn. We propose that this sequence of events is consistent with two separate X-lines coexisting on the subsolar and lobe magnetopause. Time delays are proposed for merged flux of the draped preceding IMF to exit the subsolar region before the new IMF may be processed along a newly reconfigured component reconnection X-line. Finally, a strong direct correlation is observed between magnetosheath plasma density and auroral zone ExB speeds.
Combining human and automated scores for the improved assessment of non-native speech

Abstract In this study, we propose an efficient way to combine human and automated scoring to increase the reliability and validity of a system used to assess spoken responses in the context of an international English language assessment. A set of filtering systems are used to automatically identify various classes of spoken responses that are difficult to score with an automated scoring system, for example, due to a high level of noise or imperfections in components of the overall system. Finally, these flagged responses are then routed to and scored by human raters. The vast majority of responses are not flagged by the filtering system and receive scores by the automated scoring system, resulting in a hybrid scoring approach. The overall hybrid speech scoring system presented here is comprised of multiple subprocesses, including the recording of spoken responses, transcription generation based on an automated speech recognizer, linguistic feature generation, filtering of problematic responses, automated score generation, human rater scoring, and final score combination. We evaluate this scoring approach with pilot data from a novel international English proficiency assessment. It achieves a substantial improvement in scoring performance and score validity with a limited amount of human scoring and most responses scored automatically; the correlation between the baseline system (baseline filtering with imputation) with human raters’ scores is 0.72, and using an extended filtering model, the performance improves to 0.82. The improvement can be attributed in part to the extended filtering model itself that identified more classes of non-scorable responses, and in part to the combination of machine and human scores in our hybrid system.
The Global Threat of Animal Influenza Viruses of Zoonotic Concern: Then and Now

Animal influenza viruses can reassort or mutate to infect and spread sustainably among people and cause a devastating worldwide pandemic. Since the first evidence of human infection with an animal influenza virus, in 1958, 16 different novel, zoonotic influenza A virus subtype groups in 29 countries, Taiwan, and Hong Kong have caused human infections, with differing severity and frequency. The frequency of novel influenza virus detection is increasing, and human infections with influenza A(H5N1) and A(H7N9) viruses are now annual seasonal occurrences in Asia. The study of the epidemiology and virology of animal influenza viruses is key to understanding pandemic risk and informing preparedness. This supplement brings together select recent articles that look at the risk of emergence and transmission of and approaches to prevent novel influenza virus infections.