cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improved Spatial Mapping of Rainfall Events with Spaceborne SAR Imagery

The Seasat satellite acquired the first spaceborne synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) images of the earth's surface, in 1978, at a frequency of 1.275 GHz (L-band) in a like-polarization mode at incidence angles of 23 ± 30. Although this may not be the optimum system configuration for radar remote sensing of soil moisture, interpretation of two Seasat images of Iowa demonstrates the sensitivity of microwave backscatter to soil moisture content. In both scenes, increased image brightness, which represents more radar backscatter, can be related to previous rainfall activity in the two areas. Comparison of these images with ground-based rainfall observations illustrates the increased spatial coverage of the rainfall event that can be obtained from the satellite SAR data. These data can then be color-enhanced by a digital computer to produce aesthetically pleasing output products for the user community. When the methodology for extracting accurate information about soil moisture status from radar data is developed, it will prove useful in a wide variety of agronomic and hydrological investigations.
Chest radiography is a poor predictor of left ventricular lead position in patients undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy: comparison with multidetector computed tomography.

Optimal left ventricular (LV) lead position is thought to be a major predictor of response in patients undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). While the post-implant posterior–anterior (PA) and lateral chest X-ray (CXR) is commonly used to determine the position of the LV lead, the accuracy to which the CXR can correctly localize the LV lead is unknown. We collected data on 47 consecutive patients (mean age 64 years, 60% men and LV ejection fraction 23%, 49% ischemic cardiomyopathy) that underwent CRT between 2004 and 2007, who had both a post-implant CXR as well as a contrast-enhanced multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) of the chest for any reason. The positions of the LV lead on CXR and MDCT were interpreted in a blinded fashion, independent of each other. The accuracy of the CXR in localizing various LV lead positions, with MDCT as the gold standard, was recorded. On CXR, the LV lead tip position was as follows: basal (4%), mid-ventricular (66%), and apical (30%) and anterior (2%), lateral (34%), and posterior (64%). On MDCT, the LV tip position was: basal (28%), mid-ventricular (60%), and apical (13%) and anterior (13%), lateral (19%), and posterior (68%). Compared to the MDCT gold standard, the percentage of LV lead positions the CXR correctly classified correctly were: 100% basal, 39% mid-ventricular, and 29% apical and 0% anterior, 12% lateral, and 77% posterior. Taking both PA and lateral views into consideration, the LV lead position was misclassified by CXR in 62% cases. Using MDCT as a gold standard, the routine post-implant CXR performs very modestly in terms of accurate LV lead positioning.
FB-banyans and FB-delta networks: Fault-tolerant networks for broadband packet switching

Many fast packet switches for the broadband integrated services digital network (BISDN) in the literature are based on banyan networks. Although banyan networks possess nice properties such as a simple control and a low hardware cost, they are unique-path networks. Since there is a unique path from an input to an output in a banyan network, a single component failure may disrupt services of some nodes connected to such a network. Moreover, banyan networks are also blocking networks; packets can be lost within the networks. To reduce the packet loss, buffered banyan networks can be used. In an earlier work we have proposed the addition of backward links to otherwise unidirectional banyan networks to create B-banyans (and B-delta networks). Backward links not only function as implicit buffers for blocked packets, but also provide multiple paths for each input-output connection. However, the multiple paths in B-banyans may not be disjoint. In this paper, we enhance B-banyans and B-delta networks in such a way that the resulting networks can provide disjoint multiple paths for each input-output pair. The existence of disjoint multiple paths has a significant effect on the network fault-tolerance. The new networks, called FB-banyans and FB-delta networks, are k fault-tolerant, where k is the number of backward links per switch and is less than the switch size. They are also robust to more than k faults, depending on the locations of faults. The maximal fault-tolerance is achieved when k is the switch size minus 1. The performance of the new networks is analysed and compared to that of other networks of interest. FB-banyans and FB-delta networks can be used as a switch fabric for fast packet switches to provide performance comparable to that of buffered banyan networks and good fault tolerance.
A grpE mutant of Escherichia coli is more resistant to heat than the wild-type.

SUMMARY: The grpE gene of Escherichia coli is essential for bacteriophage λ DNA replication and is also necessary for host RNA and DNA synthesis at high temperature. A grpE mutant of E. coli was found to be substantially more resistant to 50 °C heat treatment than the wild-type. Upon receiving a 42 °C heat shock for 15 min, both the wild-type and the grpE mutant became more resistant to heat (i.e. they became thermotolerant). A grpE + revertant behaved similarly to the wild-type in that it was more sensitive to heat than grpE cells. In addition, grpE cells had the same H2O2 and UV sensitivity as the wild-type. This implies that the conditions for which a grpE mutation is beneficial are unique to heat exposure and are not caused by H2O2 or UV exposure. Furthermore, synthesis of heat-shock proteins occurred sooner in the grpE mutant than in the wild-type, indicating that the grpE gene of E. coli may influence the regulation of the heat-shock response.
Acoustic scattering from an infinitely long cylindrical shell with an internal mass attached by multiple axisymmetrically distributed stiffeners

Abstract A thin infinitely long elastic shell is stiffened by J in number identical lengthwise ribs distributed uniformly around the circumference and joined to a rod in the center. The 2D model of the substructure is a rigid central mass supported by J axisymmetrically placed linear springs. The response of the shell–spring–mass system is quite different from a fluid filled shell or that of a solid cylinder due to the discrete number of contact points which couple the displacement of the shell at different locations. Exterior acoustic scattering due to normal plane wave incidence is solved in closed form for arbitrary J. The scattering matrix associated with the normal mode solution displays a simple structure, composed of distinct sub-matrices which decouple the incident and scattered fields into J families. The presence of a spring–mass substructure causes resonances which are shown to be related to the subsonic shell flexural waves, and an approximate analytic expression is derived for the quasi-flexural resonance frequencies. Numerical simulations indicate that the new solution for J ≥ 3 springs results in a complicated scattering response for plane wave incidence. As the number of springs becomes large enough, the total scattering cross-section is asymptotically zero at low frequencies and slightly increased compared to the empty shell at moderate frequencies due to the added stiffness and mass. It is also observed that the sensitivity to the angle of incidence diminishes as the number of springs is increased. This system can be tuned by selecting the shell thickness, spring stiffness and added mass to yield desired quasi-static effective properties making it a candidate element for graded index sonic crystals.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis PE_PGRS16 and PE_PGRS26 genetic polymorphism among clinical isolates.

Summary The Mycobacterium tuberculosis PE_PGRS multigene family is thought to be involved in antigenic variation, which can be generated by differential regulation of expression and a high frequency of genetic polymorphism. PE_PGRS16 and PE_PGRS26 are inversely regulated during persistent M. tuberculosis infection, suggesting that differential regulation of the expression of these two PE_PGRS genes may have a role in latency. To understand how genetic diversity, in addition to differential regulation, contributes to antigenic variability, we investigated the sequence variations in the PE_PGRS16 and PE_PGRS26 genes among 200 clinical M. tuberculosis strains, in comparison to the sequenced laboratory strain H37Rv, using PCR and DNA sequencing. Among the 200 strains, 102 (51%) and 100 (50%) had sequence variations within the PE_PGRS16 gene and the PE_PGRS26 gene, respectively. In-frame insertions and deletions, frameshifts, and SNPs were observed in both the PE_PGRS16 gene and the PE_PGRS26 gene. However, the frequency of frameshifts and in-frame deletions differed between the two PE_PGRS genes. Examining the profile of the PE_PGRS16, PE_PGRS26, and the previously investigated PE_PGRS33 amino acid sequences for each of the 200 strains, 72 different profiles were observed with frequencies ranging from 0.5% to 13%. In conclusion, a remarkable level of genetic diversity exists in the PE_PGRS16 and PE_PGRS26 genes of M. tuberculosis clinical strains. The significant sequence variations in the two PE_PGRS genes observed in this study could impact the function of these two PE_PGRS proteins and be associated with differences in the ability of the tubercle bacilli to remain persistent within the host.
Medical students’ need of and support for substance‐abuse prevention

Programs to prevent alcohol and other drug abuse (AODA) have been recommended for medical students. This study assessed students’ need of and support for AODA prevention at a midwestern U.S. medical school. Questionnaires were returned by 72% (N = 99) of all 4th‐y ear students. Twenty‐five percent of the respondents had possible current or previous untreated AODA, as indicated by self‐report or responses to a screening questionnaire, and an additional 15% had concerning patterns of use or significantly positive family histories of AODA. More than half indicated possible AODA by family or important household members. The students overestimated their classmates’ permissiveness regarding substance use. More than half would report to a student‐faculty impairment committee all of the classmates described in 16 scenarios. Lower intent to report was associated with higher risk for AODA by the respondent, use of only alcohol by the classmate, strong academic performance by the classmate, and absence of friendship...
Genomic expression analysis of rat chromosome 4 for skeletal traits at femoral neck.

Hip fracture is the most devastating osteoporotic fracture type with significant morbidity and mortality. Several studies in humans and animal models identified chromosomal regions linked to hip si...
The US health care system: On a road to nowhere?

THIS ARTICLE REVIEWS THE CURRENT STATE AND FUTURE PROSPECTS of the health care system in the United States. The 1990s were a decade of reform and change in US medical care, with the debate over the Clinton plan for universal insurance and, after its defeat, the spread of managed care. In particular, managed care had a profound impact on the delivery of medical services, transforming traditional insurance arrangements. However, after all of the changes, the United States appears to be no closer to solving the problems that have characterized its health care system for the past 3 decades. Over 40 million Americans lack health insurance, universal coverage is nowhere in sight, and medical care costs are rising again after a period of moderation. It is doubtful that incremental health reforms will significantly ameliorate these problems.
Semantic facilitation without association in a lexical decision task.

Subjects were shown pairs of letter strings and had to decide as quickly as possible whether both strings were words. The word pairs included associates (e.g., cat-dog), words not normatively associated that had been rated by other subjects as semantically similar (e.g., nurse-wife), and unrelated control pairs (e.g., bread-stem). Both associates and semantically related pairs were responded to more quickly than were the corresponding control pairs. The magnitude of the facilitation for the associates appeared to be related more to the semantic similarity ratings than to measures of either direct or indirect associative strength. It was concluded that the encoding of a word can be facilitated by the prior processing of a semantically related word.
Uneven current distribution on the surface of a dropping mercury electrode and its possible relation to maxima of the first kind

Abstract The downward, movement of a growing mercury drop electrode is taken into account in a treatment in which all other assumptions inherent in the Ilkovic treatment are retained. It is shown that the downward movement results in a non-uniform distribution of mass transport towards the electrode. On this basis, also taking into account specific adsorption, a tentative explanation is given for the origin of polarographic maxima of the first kind. Finally some difficulties with the polarographic determination of rates of electrode reactions are briefly discussed.
Spin-off performance: A case of overstated expectations?

While the impact of divestitures on parent firms has been extensively studied, little attention has been given to the performance of the divested units. Previous research has found that spin-offs and sell-offs were associated with significant positive cumulative abnormal returns. However, these studies have not identified whether these benefits were expected to accrue to the divesting firm, the divested unit, or both. Specifically, this study examined the performance as autonomous firms of a sample of 51 voluntary spin-offs by nonfinancial firms across a 6-year period. Three accounting and financial market measures were tracked from 2 years prior to divestiture through the first three years of independence. No change in pre- and post-spin-off performances was observed except for the decline in profitability return on assets (ROA). The effect of relatedness between the parent company and the spinoff was also examined. Divested units which were unrelated to their parents prior to spinoff reported deterioration in performance. Implications for divestiture and restructuring programs are developed.
The survival outcomes following liver transplantation (SOFT) score: validation with contemporaneous data and stratification of high-risk cohorts

Models to project survival after liver transplantation are important to optimize outcomes. We introduced the survival outcomes following liver transplantation (SOFT) score in 2008 (1) and designed to predict survival in liver recipients at three months post-transplant with a C statistic of 0.70. Our objective was to validate the SOFT score, with more contemporaneous data from the OPTN database. We also applied the SOFT score to cohorts of the sickest transplant candidates and the poorest-quality allografts. Analysis included 21 949 patients transplanted from August 1, 2006, to October 1, 2010. Kaplan-Meier survival functions were used for time-to-event analysis. Model discrimination was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. We validated the SOFT score in this cohort of 21 949 liver recipients. The C statistic was 0.70 (CI 0.68-0.71), identical to the original analysis. When applied to cohorts of high-risk recipients and poor-quality donor allografts, the SOFT score projected survival with a C statistic between 0.65 and 0.74. In this study, a validated SOFT score was informative among cohorts of the sickest transplant candidates and the poorest-quality allografts.
Abstracts of digital computer code packages assembled by the Radiation Shielding Information Center

This publication, ORNL/RSIC-13, Volumes I to III Revised, has resulted from an internal audit of the first 168 packages of computing technology in the Computer Codes Collection (CCC) of the Radiation Shielding Information Center (RSIC). It replaces the earlier three documents published as single volumes between 1966 to 1972. A significant number of the early code packages were considered to be obsolete and were removed from the collection in the audit process and the CCC numbers were not reassigned. Others not currently being used by the nuclear R and D community were retained in the collection to preserve technology not replaced by newer methods, or were considered of potential value for reference purposes. Much of the early technology, however, has improved through developer/RSIC/user interaction and continues at the forefront of the advancing state-of-the-art.
Linking protein structure and dynamics to catalysis: the role of hydrogen tunnelling

Early studies of enzyme-catalysed hydride transfer reactions indicated kinetic anomalies that were initially interpreted in the context of a ‘tunnelling correction’. An alternate model for tunnelling emerged following studies of the hydrogen atom transfer catalysed by the enzyme soybean lipoxygenase. This invokes full tunnelling of all isotopes of hydrogen, with reaction barriers reflecting the heavy atom, environmental reorganization terms. Using the latter approach, we offer an integration of the aggregate data implicating hydrogen tunnelling in enzymes (i.e. deviations from Swain–Schaad relationships and the semi-classical temperature dependence of the hydrogen isotope effect). The impact of site-specific mutations of enzymes plays a critical role in our understanding of the factors that control tunnelling in enzyme reactions.
PET imaging of brain macrophages using the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor in a macaque model of neuroAIDS

HIV infection in humans and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection in macaques result in encephalitis in approximately one-quarter of infected individuals and is characterized by infiltration of the brain with infected and activated macrophages. 1-(2-chlorphenyl)-N-methyl-N-(1-methylpropyl)-3-isoquinoline-carboxamide (PK11195) is a ligand specific for the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor abundant on macrophages and is expressed in low levels in the noninfected brain. We hypothesized that positron-emission tomography (PET) with the carbon-11-labeled, R-enantiomer form of PK11195 ([(11)C](R)-PK11195) could image brain macrophages and hence the development of encephalitis in vivo. [(11)C](R)-PK11195 binding was assessed in the brain using PET in 11 SIV infected macaques, six of which showed increased binding in vivo. Postmortem examination of the brain in these six macaques demonstrated encephalitis, while macaques that did not show an increase in [(11)C](R)-PK11195 binding did not develop SIV encephalitis. Brain tissue from SIV encephalitic macaques also showed increased [(3)H](R)-PK11195 binding compared with binding in nonencephalitic macaques. Increased PK11195 binding in vivo and in postmortem brain tissue correlated with abundance of macrophages but not astrocytes. Our results suggest that PET [(11)C](R)-PK11195 imaging can detect the presence of macrophages in SIV encephalitis in vivo and may be useful to predict the development of HIV encephalitis and in studies of the pathogenesis and treatment of HIV dementia.
A Pulsed Extraction Magnet System at the Zero Gradient Synchrotron (ZGS)

Pulsed operation of six extraction magnets has saved $67, 000 in FY 75. Conversion of four six-phase supplies involved some unique analog circuitry. A minicomputer operated function generator provides control of up to 20 magnet power supplies with new dI/dt data available every 4 ms. The operator control console has several options which appreciably decrease set up time and decrease operator error.
The EXCITE Trial: Attributes of the Wolf Motor Function Test in Patients with Subacute Stroke

The Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) has been used in rehabilitation studies of chronic stroke patients, but until now its psychometric properties have not been evaluated in patients with subacute stroke. Two hundred twenty-nine participants with subacute stroke (3-9 months postinjury) at 7 research sites met inclusion criteria for the EXCITE Trial and were randomized into immediate or delayed (by 1 year) constraint-induced movement therapy treatment. All evaluations were undertaken by assessors standardized in the administration of the WMFT and masked to treatment designation. Participants were also assessed using the Fugl Meyer Motor Assessment (FMA). Delayed group members had measurements repeated 2 weeks following baseline assessment to determine learning or exposure effects. The results demonstrate that the WMFT differentiated higher from lower functioning participants across sites; scores were uninfluenced by hand dominance or affected side. Women exhibited slower performance times than men. The Functional Ability scale (FAS) portion of the WMFT also revealed lower scores among lower functioning participants and women. Minimal changes were observed after repeating the WMFT among delayed group participants 2 weeks later. The FMA revealed similar results when the total group was divided into higher and lower functional levels at its midpoint score of 33. The WMFT discriminates higher from lower functioning participants tested across research sites. Comparable findings using the FMA support the criterion validity of the WMFT.
Pericoital application of tenofovir gel reduced risk for herpes simplex virus type 2 in HIV-negative women

Source Citation Abdool Karim SS, Abdool Karim Q, Kharsany AB, et al; CAPRISA 004 Trial Group. Tenofovir gel for the prevention of herpes simplex virus type 2 infection. N Engl J Med. 2015;373:530-9...
Incentive inequalities and freedom of occupational choice

In Rescuing Justice and Equality, G.A. Cohen argues that the incentive inequalities permitted by John Rawls's difference principle are unjust since people cannot justify them to their fellow citizens. I argue that citizens of a Rawlsian society can justify their acceptance of a wide range of incentive inequalities to their fellow citizens. They can do so because they possess the right to freedom of occupational choice, and are permitted – as a matter of justice – to exercise this right by making occupational decisions on the basis of a wide range of values and preferences.
Rhythm: Achieving Scheduled WiFi Using Purely Distributed Contention in WLANs

The ubiquitous adoption of WiFi implicitly introduces large diversity in types of application requirements and topological characteristics. Consequently, considerable attention is being devoted to making WiFi networks controllable without compromising their scalability. Within this broad paradigm, we propose Rhythm, a MAC protocol that achieves scheduled WiFi efficiently and that is subject to the following constraints: (i) It does not need fine-grained time synchronization, (ii) it adds no "active listening" time, (iii) it does not need to gather the queue status from clients, and (iv) it requires no additional hardware. It also has the following properties: (i) low overhead, (ii) work conservation, (iii) robustness to partial connectivity, and (iv) backward compatibility.
Modeling and Simulation of HPC Systems Through Job Scheduling Analysis

The sophistication of the devices through which a man shapes his world are the tool-marks of his development upon history. One device currently shaping the lives of man is the High Performance Computer (HPC) system. HPC systems have been described as “a game changing technology (King and BusinessWeek, 2010).” The reason for HPC systems to be declared “a game changing technology (King and BusinessWeek, 2010)” comes from the fact that it is cheaper for a manufacturer to conduct thousands of tests in virtual space, than it is to try multiple experimental designs in the physical world. Through capabilities of HPC systems, the manufacturer can minimize material consumption, maximize efficiencies, material combinations, strengths and testing conditions in an effort to provide you with a better product at the cheapest costs available. HPC systems are “changing the game” by allowing manufacturers to supply superior goods and services to you at seriously reduced costs. However, HPC Systems are conglomerations of hardware components and software bundles, each having their own unique set of strengths, capabilities and speed of operation. If there is ever going to be an efficient use of available HPC system resources, a well-defined method for identifying the impacts of each unique set of hardware or software specifications to the performance of the overall HPC system. Such a method must be able to implement various hardware and software capability sets in every conceivable combination and configuration, in order to evaluate the impacts of each. This type of in-depth analysis can best be achieved through the development of an HPC simulator. In conformance to the goal of maximizing efficient utilization of all HPC system resource commodities, this paper describes the following evaluations through multiple “live” and “simulated” HPC system configurations: New method for generating jobs using High Performance Linpack New method of testing the performance of “live” HPC system; New method for evaluating the performance of a “live” HPC system; New comparison of the workload analysis from “live” HPC system in two different CPU configurations; New method for modeling an HPC system from workload analysis; New design for an HPC simulator; New components of an HPC simulator; New method of implementing workload analysis in the HPC simulator; New Results of comparison “live vs. simulated” HPC systems.
MicroRNAs: small molecule, big potential for coronary artery disease

This editorial refers to ‘Transcoronary gradients of vascular miRNAs and coronary atherosclerotic plaque characteristics’, by D.M. Leistner et al . on doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehw047 MicroRNAs (miRs), the diminutive epigenetic silencing phenomena only recently discovered, are moving tantalizing close to becoming a realizable diagnostic and therapeutic focus for coronary artery disease (CAD), and the results presented in this issue of the journal just may have provided supportive data allowing that work to begin in earnest intent on achieving that goal. These small non-coding nucleotide sequences that repress protein translation by binding to competing sequences have been shown to be contributory to pathologies from renal and neural diseases to obesity and alcoholism.1,2 In their manuscript, Leistner et al . present a noteworthy contribution to a potential link between tenuous coronary pathology and miRs.3 Notably, the authors describe associations between the overall plaque burden in addition to gradients from the arterial to venous aspects of the coronary circulation with respect to miR-126-3p, miR-145-5p, miR-155-5p, and miR-29b-3p. Furthermore, the authors also demonstrate the predictive power of these transcoronary gradients of miR-126-3p, miR-126-5p, miR-145-5p, miR-15-5p, and miR-29-b-3p in detecting potentially vulnerable plaques as indicated by thin-cap fibroatheromas (TCFAs) by integrating optical coherence tomograpy (OCT), a novel intracoronary imaging modality. Although the data are cross-sectional in nature, and the usual miR methodological concerns should be heeded, these authors have provided hypothesis-generating data for a potential link between the pathophysiology of vulnerable plaques and miRs. Importantly, the authors use a physiological approach by gathering transcoronary gradients of the miRs in patients appropriately undergoing coronary angiography coupled with the anatomic advantages offered by OCT to image atherosclerotic plaques. The resultant data are …
A Method for Identification of the Constitutive Law of Biological Filaments From Their Dynamic Equilibria

There are several biological filaments that play vital role in cellular processes via twisting and bending deformations. From the double-stranded DNA molecule containing genetic information to the cytoskeletal fibers that provide shape to the cell, biological filaments undergo conformational changes as they perform their biological tasks. Therefore the ability of a filament to deform, which depends on their atomistic structure, is a characteristic property that governs its biological functions. Since there is no direct analytic method to derive the deformability or constitutive law of such filaments from their atomistic structure, the constitutive law has to be identified from their actual deformations. An inverse approach based on a continuum rod model was developed recently that uses deformations in static equilibrium to estimate the constitutive law in bending and torsion. We extend the inverse method to use dynamic states of deformations, and consequently expand its scope to leverage a wide variety of choices in molecular dynamics simulations for identifying the constitutive law. This paper presents and validates the technique applying it to filaments with artificial atomistic structure.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Reliability of the Personal History Inventory for children.

Children and adolescents who have experienced losing a parent are more likely to demonstrate various socioemotional problenls than their peers from intact families ( 2 ) . In a number of studies (1, 4 ) , however, such problems associated with the loss of a parent were ameliorated where social networks and/or support systems funcrioned to offset the negative effects of parent loss. These findings suggest that whether children's and adolescents' needs are met by those around them is the basic issue, so the Personal History Inventory for Children was developed. Parish and Wigle ( 3 ) used this inventory to survey teachers' perceptions of the functioning of 156 children's support systems. Reliability over one month was high whether the rated children were from intact ( r = .93) or divorced ( r = 3 0 ) families. Also, tezchers' assessments were generally significantly correlated with the children's evsluations of their parents, particularly for those from intact families. Additional estimates of test-retest reliability and stability of scores should further indicate the utility of this inventory. In the present study 83 undergraduate students (1 1 men, 72 women), enrolled in a large Midwestern university, voluntarily watched the movie "Cipher in the Snow,"' which describes the life experiences of a boy named Cliff Evans, who encounters a number of problems, has a number of support systems fail him, and dies a lonely and sad adolescent. Immediately following the film, and one month later, the students completed the inventory, using Cliff as the student in question. The 1-mo. test-retest reliability for the 83 students in this study was .55 ( p < .0001). This Pearson correlation may have been diminished somewhat since these students had only seen this film once a month previously; the magnimde of the correlation suggests low to moderate reliability. Using the standard deviation as an index of interrater consistency, one notes at Time 1 SD = 1.67 ( M = 10.6) and ar Time 2 SD = 2.00 (M = 10.9). Since the possible range of scores was from 0 to 14 (and the actual range of scores was from 6 to 1 4 ) , the standard deviation is small, and changes little, suggesting stable agreement over a month. This inventory may be useful for those who wish to assess children's/ adolescents' nonfunaioning support systems.
Clinical aspects of ECL-cell abnormalities

ECL cell hyperplasia results from hypergastrinemia, and in man this occurs due to achlorhydria in atrophic gastritis (pernicious anemia [PA]) and gastrinoma (Zollinger-Ellison syndrome [ZES]). Progression to neoplasia, i.e., ECL cell carcinoids (usually small, multicentric and non-functional), occurs in some five to 10 percent of patients with PA where they remain gastrin-dependent and reversible by normalization of serum gastrin by antrectomy. Even if untreated, the carcinoids are almost invariably benign and do not cause death. In ZES, ECL cell hyperplasia is progressive due to hypergastrinemia. However, carcinoids develop only in the MEN-I subtype but pose no additional threat of malignancy. A conservative approach is recommended for small multicentric carcinoids, and the tumors do not need removal. By contrast, single, large, non-gastrin-dependent carcinoids represent a different biological and clinical problem and are frequently malignant.
The combination of vemurafenib and procaspase-3 activation is synergistic in mutant BRAF melanomas

The development of vemurafenib resistance limits the long-term efficacy of this drug for treatment of metastatic melanomas with the (V600E)BRAF mutation. Inhibition of downstream MAPK signaling with vemurafenib induces apoptotic cell death mediated by caspase-3, suggesting that addition of a procaspase-3 activator could enhance anticancer effects. Here, we show that the combination of PAC-1, a procaspase-activating compound, and vemurafenib is highly synergistic in enhancing caspase-3 activity and apoptotic cell death in melanoma cell lines harboring the (V600E)BRAF mutation. In vivo, the combination displays a favorable safety profile in mice and exerts significant antitumor effects. We further demonstrate that addition of PAC-1 to the clinically useful combination of vemurafenib and a MEK inhibitor, trametinib, starkly enhances the caspase-3 activity and proapoptotic effect of the combination. Moreover, addition of low concentration PAC-1 also delays the regrowth of cells following treatment with vemurafenib. Finally, PAC-1 remains potent against vemurafenib-resistant A375VR cells in cell culture and synergizes with vemurafenib to exert antitumor effects on A375VR cell growth in vivo Collectively, our data suggest that inhibition of MAPK signaling combined with concurrent procaspase-3 activation is an effective strategy to enhance the antitumor activity of vemurafenib and mitigate the development of resistance. Mol Cancer Ther; 15(8); 1859-69. ©2016 AACR.
Exact multivariable control design using SISO methods: Recent results

In this paper we describe some very recent methods developed by the authors to design multivariable controllers exploiting single input single output (SISO) design methods. These methods allow the designer to accommodate several useful design criteria such as low order, steady state tracking and disturbance rejection, overshoot and settling time control and gain and phase margin, The main tool is the Smith-McMillan form of the transfer function which can be used to reduce an n×n multivariable design problem into an equivalent set of n single input single output problems. An additional advantage of the method is that a state space realization is not needed and many criteria that are beyond the reach of quadratic optimization can be achieved.
Abstract 494: Platelet Aggregation in a Model of Simulated Arterial Flow: Red Blood Cells Are Integral Players in Hemostatic Control Resuscitation

Background: Approximately one in four trauma patients exhibits an early bleeding diathesis, termed the acute coagulopathy of trauma and defined by an initial INR >1.2, which is associated with a 3-fold increase in mortality. In recent years, the concept of damage control resuscitation has been developed to address this problem. This approach emphasizes hemorrhage control and early resuscitation with blood products in a 1:1:1 ratio of plasma:platelets:RBCs in an attempt to replace whole blood lost in hemorrhage. The optimal ratio of blood components has not been established and few pre-clinical studies have explored this problem under arterial shear conditions. Objective: Our objective is to establish stepped ranges of hematocrit values and platelet counts to identify the component and concentration of that component most responsible for the largest loss of platelet-collagen interaction. Methods: Donor citrated whole blood containing calcein tagged platelets was flowed at an arterial shear rate of 1000/second through a 70μm x 350μm x 5mm collagen-coated chamber at 37°C for 10 min, n=6. Images were captured every 15 seconds and analyzed for fluorescence intensity. Results: Linear regression analysis generated slopes (fluorescent intensity units/second) that were most different as hematocrit dropped below physiologic levels (HCT40control=100%, HCT25=39.5%, HCT20=21.4%, HCT18=17.4%, HCT16=11.6%). Non-linear fitting of slopes vs. HCT yielded the equation y=1.27e4 x 2 -3.51e4 x +4.43e5 describing an exponential decrease in platelet-collagen interaction with linear decreases in HCT. Conclusions: The largest drop in platelet adherence to collagen in a physiological model of arterial flow occurs as hematocrit falls from 40%. The commonly suggested 30HCT target for minimal RBC transfusion during resuscitation may not adequately support hemostasis and should be reconsidered.
Kant’s Neglected Objection to the Ontological Argument

This paper argues that Kant’s most famous objection to the ontological argument – that existence is not a real predicate – is not, in fact, his most effective objection, and that his ‘neglected objection’ to the argument deserves to be better known. It shows that Kant clearly anticipates William Rowe’s later objection that the argument begs the question, and discusses why Kant himself seems to have overlooked the force of this criticism in his attempt to demolish the traditional proofs for God’s existence.
Weeding with Wisdom: Tuning Deselection of Print Monographs in Book-Reliant Disciplines

ABSTRACTAs university libraries transition to digital collections and new services, their book deselection projects often lead to the adoption of cross-discipline quantitative weeding criteria (such as age and low circulation) in the interest of speed and presumed fairness. Cross-discipline quantitative rubrics, however, can have unintended negative consequences when applied to disciplines such as history and literature that rely on older books with low circulation statistics. The authors argue for a discipline-differentiated approach to weeding academic library collections that can employ quantitative criteria for disciplines, such as in the sciences, that are more reliant on current materials and qualitative criteria for disciplines, such as in the humanities, whose scholars benefit from ready access to older and low-use books.
Predictors of survival after total laryngectomy for recurrent/persistent laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background Total laryngectomy remains the treatment of choice for recurrent/persistent laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) after radiotherapy (RT) or chemoradiotherapy (CRT). However, despite attempts at aggressive surgical salvage, survival in this cohort remains suboptimal. Methods A prospectively maintained single-institution database was queried for patients undergoing total laryngectomy for recurrent/persistent laryngeal SCC after initial RT/CRT between 1998 and 2015(n = 244). Demographic, clinical, and survival data were abstracted. The Kaplan-Meier survival curves and hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated. Results Five-year overall survival (OS) was 49%. Five-year disease-free survival (DFS) was 58%. Independent predictors of OS included severe comorbidity (Adult Comorbidity Evaluation-27 [ACE-27] scale; HR 3.76; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.56-9.06), and positive recurrent clinical nodes (HR 2.91; 95% CI 1.74-4.88). Conclusion Severe comorbidity status is the strongest predictor of OS, suggesting that increased attention to mitigating competing risks to health is critical. These data may inform a risk prediction model to allow for focused shared decision making, preoperative health optimization, and patient selection for adjuvant therapies.
An Analysis of Depression and Diabetes amongst African American Women

This study determined the level of depression and the rate of diabetes among the adult African American female population. By identifying the population early, one can save millions of dollars, improve health outcomes, and treat depression that typically interferes with diabetes management. The study used secondary data from the 2011-2012 California Health Interview Survey. The 2011-2012 CHIS surveyed 42,935 adults and of those surveyed 1,403 respondents identified themselves as African Americans. Chi-square analysis was used to determine the strength of the association between diabetes in African American women with depression and exercise. The results of the statistical tests show that there was an association between the independent variables suggesting a statistically significant relationship in African American women. A major limitation of the study was the small number of African Americans interviewed in the survey. A larger sample size at the national level is recommended to more closely scrutinize the directional nature of the relationship between diabetes and depression in African American women.
Insulin resistance and body composition in cancer patients

Cancer cachexia, weight loss with altered body composition, is a multifactorial syndrome propagated by symptoms that impair caloric intake, tumor byproducts, chronic inflammation, altered metabolism, and hormonal abnormalities. Cachexia is associated with reduced performance status, decreased tolerance to chemotherapy, and increased mortality in cancer patients. Insulin resistance as a consequence of tumor byproducts, chronic inflammation, and endocrine dysfunction has been associated with weight loss in cancer patients. Insulin resistance in cancer patients is characterized by increased hepatic glucose production and gluconeogenesis, and unlike type 2 diabetes, normal fasting glucose with high, normal or low levels of insulin. Cancer cachexia results in altered body composition with the loss of lean muscle mass with or without the loss of adipose tissue. Alteration in visceral adiposity, accumulation of intramuscular adipose tissue, and secretion of adipocytokines from adipose cells may play a role in promoting the metabolic derangements associated with cachexia including a proinflammatory environment and insulin resistance. Increased production of ghrelin, testosterone deficiency, and low vitamin D levels may also contribute to altered metabolism of glucose. Cancer cachexia cannot be easily reversed by standard nutritional interventions and identifying and treating cachexia at the earliest stage of development is advocated. Experts advocate for multimodal therapy to address symptoms that impact caloric intake, reduce chronic inflammation, and treat metabolic and endocrine derangements, which propagate the loss of weight. Treatment of insulin resistance may be a critical component of multimodal therapy for cancer cachexia and more research is needed.
Risk factors for veterinary hospital environmental contamination with Salmonella enterica

Healthcare-associated infections in veterinary hospitals are commonly attributed to Salmonella enterica, particularly in large animal facilities, and are characteristically associated with widespread environmental contamination. The objective of this study was to investigate factors influencing the likelihood of identifying environmental contamination of a veterinary hospital with S. enterica, while exploring different analytic methods to model complex factors that may influence this ecology. Environmental surveillance samples were collected in a large veterinary hospital as part of a long-term infection control programme. Data were collected retrospectively from the electronic medical records database. Many easily measured variables were complex in nature (i.e., they represented variance that is unmeasured or unidentified as a specific factor) necessitating the use of alternative analytic methods (variable cluster and principal components analyses) to provide perspective regarding the complex data structure and latent factors that may be contributing to this ecology. Subsequently, multivariable logistic regression was performed using generalised estimating equations. Results suggest the probability of detecting Salmonella in the environment increased as demand on personnel increased (e.g., in a busy hospital). Veterinary personnel need to remain vigilant in implementing practices that we believe empirically will mitigate risk for widespread environmental contamination and sustained transmission among patients (i.e., rigorous hygiene for personnel and the environment).
Exploring Changes in Science Teachers’ Attitudes Toward Culturally Diverse Students During an Equity-Focused Course

In recent decades, schools in most Western countries, including the United States, have become increasingly culturally diverse. As global migration rises, cultural diversity in schools will continu...
Germination ecology of halophytes

Germination is an important stage in the life cycle of species growing in saline environments because it determines the soil conditions later stages in the life cycle will be exposed to. Laboratory investigations of seed germination indicate that seeds of most halophytic species reach their maximum germination in distilled water (Seneca, 1969; Onnis and Bellettato, 1972; Breen et al. 1977; Okusanya, 1977; Ungar, 1977a, 1978a; Zid and Boukhris, 1977; Dietert and Shontz, 1978). Seed germination in saline environments ordinarily occurs during the spring or in a season with high precipitation, when soil salinity levels are usually reduced (Ward, 1967; Chapman, 1974; McMahon and Ungar, 1978). Several studies have shown that seeds of many halophytes remain dormant when exposed to low water potentials (Ungar, 1962, 1974a, b, 1975, 1978a; Williams and Ungar, 1972).
Photocatalytic Synthesis of Pipecolic Acid from Lysine on TiO2: Effects of the Structure of Catalysts and Adsorbed Species on Chiral Selectivity

A one-step photocatalytic synthesis of l-pipecolic acid (l-PCA) from l-lysine (l-Lys) has been investigated by in situ infrared (IR), circular dichroism, and 1H NMR spectroscopy. Chiral selectivity toward l-Lys was found to be governed by the structure of adsorbed l-Lys and the structure of TiO2. Both anatase and rutile were not able to catalyze the reaction in a solvent-free environment. In situ IR studies revealed that l-Lys adsorbed on these TiO2 in a dicationic form of which the positive −NH3+ functional groups are not able to interact with photogenerated holes. Interestingly, P-25 TiO2, which contains 80 wt % anatase and 20 wt % rutile, adsorbs l-Lys in a zwitterionic form, allowing its hydrogen in the α-amino group to be abstracted by the photogenerated hole, producing racemic PCA. The addition of H2O as a solvent allowed l-Lys to be adsorbed on P-25 in an anionic form, producing l-PCA as a major product. This study demonstrates that the reaction environment has a direct impact on the structure of a...
Soil Temperature and Precipitation Affect the Rooting Ability of Dormant Hardwood Cuttings of Populus

In addition to genetic control, responses to environmental stimuli affect the success of rooting. Our objectives were to: 1) assess the variation in rooting ability among 21 Populus clones grown under varying soil temperatures and amounts of precipitation and 2) identify combinations of soil temperature and precipitation that promote rooting. The clones belonged to five genomic groups ([P. trichocarpa Torr. & Gray x P. deltoides Bartr. ex Marsh] x P. deltoides 'BC'; P. deltoides 'D'; P. deltoides x P. maximowiczii A. Henry 'DM'; P. deltoides x P. nigra L. 'DN'; P. nigra x maximowiczii 'NM').