cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gas chromatography olfactometry (GC/O) of dairy products.

Abstract Analysis of the aroma of dairy products is a complex problem due to the heterogeneous nature of milk. Several analytical methods have been used to study the aroma of dairy products; gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and gas chromatography– olfactometry (GC/O) are most commonly used. In order to identify the individual odor-active compounds a bioassay that is representative of the pattern of odorants in terms of their smell activity is advantageous. Identification of these compounds is carried out using extraction, distillation, concentration and chromatography. This paper reviews the GC/O work on dairy products to date. Common odor-active compounds were found in various types of dairy products analyzed. Seven common odorants were found in four different types of raw milk: dimethylsulfone, ethyl butanoate, ethyl hexanoate, heptanal, indole, nonanal, and 1-octen-3-ol. The effect of heating cows milk changed the aroma profile of the milk, resulting in the formation of four common odor-potent compounds: hexanal, 2-nonanone, benzothiazole, and δ -decalactone. Five fermented dairy products have been analyzed by GC/O. Fermentation resulted in the formation of common odorants: 1-octen-3-one, methional, 3-methylbutanal, and butyric acid. The flavor chemistry of dairy products has been successfully analyzed using GC/O. However, further work must be conducted to produce a sample that reflects the retronasal composition of the product. This requires the use of a retronasal aroma simulation (RAS) device and/or gas chromatography olfactometry headspace (GCO-H).
The Neutron Pile as a Tool in Quantitative Analysis; The Gallium and Palladium Content of Iron Meteorites.

Abstract : In recent years the science of meteoritics has come to be looked upon as a science of increasing importance, in large measure due to recognized bearing of meteorite information upon problems of astrophysical interest. In particular, it now appears likely that an intensive study of the distribution of elements in meteorites will enable one to draw important conclusions concerning the structure of planets, the origin of our solar system, and the relative 'cosmic' abundances of the chemical elements . Unfortunately, with the exception of a very few common elements such as oxygen, silicon, magnesium, iron, nickel, and calcium, the large majority of the elements are present in meteorites to an extent of only a few parts per million. As it is frequently desirable to assay the concentration of many of the rarer constituents of meteorites with an accuracy of 10 per cent or better, grave analytical problems are presented. V. M. Goldschmidt, Hevesy, and the Noddacks, who did much of the excellent earlier work on assaying the rarer constituents of meteorites, used at one time or another straightforward quantitative chemical methods, x-ray spectroscopy, and chemical spectroscopy.
Intrarenal effects of [Ala-Pro-Gly-(Ile3-Val5)] angiotensin II in the conscious dog.

Amphibian skin has functional characteristics of epithelium in the mammalian distal nephron and plays an important role in sodium and water metabolism in these animals. A peptide extracted from the skin of the Australian frog Crinia georgiana has been purified, has been determined to have the amino acid sequence of [Ala-Pro-Gly-(Ile3-Val5)]angiotensin II, and recently has been synthesized. We studied the renal effect of synthetic frog skin angiotensin II (FSAII) infused via the renal artery in doses that were confined to the kidney. FSAII was infused intrarenally at 0.2, 2, and 4 pmol/kg-min in uninephrectomized conscious dogs (n = 5) in metabolic balance at a sodium intake of 80 meq/day. FSAII was confined to the kidney, as demonstrated by the absence of any systemic pressor response and/or any increase in plasma aldosterone concentrations during intrarenal FSAII infusion at rats of 0.2 and 2 pmol/kg-min. At 4 pmol/kg-min, FSAII traversed the kidney in amounts sufficient to stimulate aldosterone secretio...
The Role of Surveillance in Interventions Directed Against Vector‐Borne Disease

To analyze the contribution of epidemiological surveillance to the sustainability of public health interventions, programs designed to suppress prevalence of vector-borne infections are contrasted with those aiming to contain outbreaks of such agents of disease. Suppression programs apply insecticides or drugs according to a predetermined plan, employing surveillance solely for evaluating progress. Containment programs, in contrast, react to epidemiological indicators. Although efforts to suppress prevalence should be time-limited, reactive programs may be indefinitely sustainable. Alternative epidemiological bases for surveillance are described, including indicators for the basic reproduction number of infections, vectorial capacity, reservoir capacity, entomological inoculation rates (EIR), and transmission indices (TI) based on experience. Although risk of human infection is most reliably estimated as a function of the EIR, interventions are most frequently guided by TI estimates. Because they invest in surveillance rather than application of insecticides or drugs, containment efforts are more sustainable and more conducive to ecosystem health than are programs designed to suppress transmission.
An elective surgery scheduling problem considering patient priority

This paper addresses a scheduling problem where patients with different priorities are scheduled for elective surgery in a surgical facility, which has a limited capacity. When the capacity is available, patients with a higher priority are selected from the waiting list and put on the schedule. At the beginning of each period, a decision of the number of patients to be scheduled is made based on the trade-offs between the cost for overtime work and the cost for surgery postponement. A stochastic dynamic programming model is formulated to address this problem. A structural analysis of the proposed model is conducted to understand the properties of an optimal schedule policy. Based on the structural analysis, bounds on feasible actions are incorporated into a value iteration algorithm, and a brief computation experiment shows the improvement in computational efficiency. Numerical examples show that the consideration of patient priority results in significant differences in surgery schedules from the schedule that ignores the patient priority.
Elastostatic interaction of multiple arbitrarily shaped cracks in plane inhomogeneous regions

Abstract A numerical technique has been developed for the determination of stress fields associated with multiple arbitrarily shaped cracks in plane inhomogeneous regions. The procedure allows the elastostatic analysis of cracks interacting with one or more straight bimaterial interfaces; of cracks located near, or emanating from, circular inclusions; and of cracks that emanate from single or multiple origins. The cracks may be branched or blunted, and may be subjected to arbitrarily applied stresses. The technique employs an efficient surface integral method, using distributions of edge dislocations to represent the cracks. The resulting singular integral equations are solved using a Gauss-Chebyshev integration formula; appropriate conditions are developed for closing the set of equations governing cracks intersecting inhomogeneity boundaries, based on a consideration of the stresses and displacements at the points of intersection. Crack-tip stress intensity factor results are presented for several crack configurations. The overall scheme provides a more general, direct, and convenient approach than other available schemes. A computer program has been developed to implement the various formulations in a single framework.
Visualizing chat log data collected in 3-D virtual worlds

The paper reports work in progress on the analysis and visualization of chat log data collected in 3-dimensional (3-D) virtual worlds. In particular, it presents an analysis and visualization of six log files containing chat utterances from 32 people that attended a demonstration of different learning environments in a 3-D virtual world. We start with an introduction and a review of research in social visualization. Subsequently, we introduce the 3D online browser technology used and present the analysis and discussion of chat log data. The paper concludes with a discussion and an outlook.
The Metrics of Children's Verse: A Cross‐Linguistic Study1

Nursery rhymes in many languages consist of verses of four lines, and each line has four major “beats.” The beats are spaced evenly in time and are usually marked by syllables with stress or with some other phonological distinction that sets them off from surrounding syllables, but rests occur in a few beat positions. Each language has its own special characteristics within this general pattern, but the similarities between languages seem greater for nursery rhymes than for more elaborate forms of poetry. It seems difficult to attribute the cross-linguistic similarities to anything except our common humanity.
Approximately Orchestrated Routing and Transportation Analyzer: Large-scale traffic simulation for autonomous vehicles

Autonomous vehicles have seen great advancements in recent years, and such vehicles are now closer than ever to being commercially available. The advent of driverless cars provides opportunities for optimizing traffic in ways not possible before. This paper introduces an open source multiagent microscopic traffic simulator called AORTA, which stands for Approximately Orchestrated Routing and Transportation Analyzer, designed for optimizing autonomous traffic at a city-wide scale. AORTA creates scale simulations of the real world by generating maps using publicly available road data from OpenStreetMap (OSM). This allows simulations to be set up through AORTA for a desired region anywhere in the world in a matter of minutes. AORTA allows for traffic optimization by creating intelligent behaviors for individual driver agents and intersection policies to be followed by these agents. These behaviors and policies define how agents interact with one another, control when they cross intersections, and route agents to their destination. This paper demonstrates a simple application using AORTA through an experiment testing intersection policies at a city-wide scale.
Role of Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase and Endocytosis in Nerve Growth Factor-Induced Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase Activation via Ras and Rap1

Neurotrophins promote multiple actions on neuronal cells including cell survival and differentiation. The best-studied neurotrophin, nerve growth factor (NGF), is a major survival factor in sympathetic and sensory neurons and promotes differentiation in a well-studied model system, PC12 cells. To mediate these actions, NGF binds to the TrkA receptor to trigger intracellular signaling cascades. Two kinases whose activities mediate these processes include the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase (or extracellular signal-regulated kinase [ERK]) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3-K). To examine potential interactions between the ERK and PI3-K pathways, we studied the requirement of PI3-K for NGF activation of the ERK signaling cascade in dorsal root ganglion cells and PC12 cells. We show that PI3-K is required for TrkA internalization and participates in NGF signaling to ERKs via distinct actions on the small G proteins Ras and Rap1. In PC12 cells, NGF activates Ras and Rap1 to elicit the rapid and sustained activation of ERKs respectively. We show here that Rap1 activation requires both TrkA internalization and PI3-K, whereas Ras activation requires neither TrkA internalization nor PI3-K. Both inhibitors of PI3-K and inhibitors of endocytosis prevent GTP loading of Rap1 and block sustained ERK activation by NGF. PI3-K and endocytosis may also regulate ERK signaling at a second site downstream of Ras, since both rapid ERK activation and the Ras-dependent activation of the MAP kinase kinase kinase B-Raf are blocked by inhibition of either PI3-K or endocytosis. The results of this study suggest that PI3-K may be required for the signals initiated by TrkA internalization and demonstrate that specific endocytic events may distinguish ERK signaling via Rap1 and Ras.
Attending Rounds: Patient with Hypokalemia and Metabolic Acidosis

Summary Hypokalemic paralysis represents a medical emergency requiring both rapid diagnosis and treatment. In this Attending Rounds a patient with hypokalemia and metabolic acidosis is presented to emphasize the role of routine laboratory studies in the assessment of such patients so that a correct diagnosis can be made and appropriate treatment can be initiated promptly.
Evaluation of laparoscopic Toupet fundoplication as a primary repair for all patients with medically resistant gastroesophageal reflux

Background: This prospective study assesses the outcome results in 100 consecutive patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) treated with a laparoscopic Toupet fundoplication. Methods: GERD was confirmed by 24-h pH study and/or esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Pre- and postoperative symptoms, operative times, and perioperative complications were recorded on standardized data forms. Early follow-up was at 3 months and late follow-up, including 24-h pH, manometry, and EGD was at 22 months. Results: Preoperative symptoms included heartburn (92%), regurgitation (58%), water brash (39%), and dysphagia (39%). Mean operative time was 3.2 hours. There were no conversions to celiotomy and there were no mortalities. The perioperative complication rate was 14%; 6% (5/83) of patients reported heartburn at 3 months and 20% (15/74) at 22 months. Early and late dysphagia was 20% (17/83) and 9% (7/74), respectively; 24-h pH testing was abnormal in 90% of symptomatic patients (9/10), 39% of asymptomatic patients (12/31), and 51% overall. Conclusions: Despite early improvement in reflux symptoms following laparoscopic Toupet fundoplications, there is a high incidence of recurrent GERD. Symptomatic follow-up underestimates the true incidence of 24-h pH-documented reflux. Based on these results we cannot recommend the laparoscopic Toupet repair for GERD patients with normal esophageal motility.
Water-Imbibing Capacity and Rheological Properties of Isolated Soy Proteins

Water-imbibing capacity (WIC) of isolated soy protein and rheological properties of the protein slurries from different stages of maturity were examined. WIC of isolated soy protein decreased with increasing maturity; this decrease correlated with the increase in the ratio of 7S to 11S protein. Storage time (0–6 months) had little effect on WIC of protein isolates. Consistency coefficient and flow behavior index of isolated soy protein dispersions varied with maturity; consistency coefficient decreased while flow behavior index increased with maturation. The isolated soy protein from immature soybeans formed a more viscous dispersion and showed more pseudoplasticity than that from mature soybeans. The WIC and rheological properties of isolated soy proteins at three maturation stages were related to the water ratio (Total/Imbibed) of their dispersions. A higher water-imbibing capacity resulted in lower water ratio with higher viscosity and more pseudo-plasticity.
The TLR7 agonist imiquimod enhances the anti-melanoma effects of a recombinant Listeria monocytogenes vaccine

Activation of innate immune cells through TLR triggers immunomodulating events that enhance cell-mediated immunity, raising the possibility that ligands to these receptors might act as adjuvants in conjunction with T cell activating vaccines. In this report, topical imiquimod, a synthetic TLR7 agonist, significantly enhanced the protective antitumor effects of a live, recombinant listeria vaccine against murine melanoma. This tumor protective effect was not dependent on direct application to the tumor and was associated with an increase in tumor-associated and splenic dendritic cells. Additionally, the combination of imiquimod treatment with prior vaccination led to development of localized vitiligo. These findings indicate that activation of the innate immune system with TLR ligands stimulates dendritic cell activity resulting in a bypass of peripheral tolerance and enhanced antitumor activity. The results of these studies have broad implications for future designs of immunotherapeutic vaccines against tumors and the treatment of metastatic melanoma.
Imported penicilliosis marneffei in the United States: report of a second human infection

The first natural infection due to Penicillium marneffei in a human was reported in the United States in 1973. We describe a second case of penicilliosis marneffei that was diagnosed in Florida. In both instances, the patients had a history of travel in Southeast Asia where P. marneffei is endemic. The Florida patient had recurrent episodes of hemoptysis attributed to bronchitis and bronchiectasis. In spite of therapy with various antibacterial antibiotics for tuberculosis, the granulomatous lesions in the left upper lobe of the lungs persisted. The diagnosis of penicilliosis marneffei was established by isolating and identifying the dimorphic species of Penicillium, P. marneffei. The histopathologic features of the lung tissue included granulomata with central areas of necrosis and neutrophilic infiltration with many yeast-like, tissue-form cells of P. marneffei, which multiplied by a fission rather than a budding process.
Stochastic Payoff Evaluation Increases the Temperature of Selection

We study stochastic evolutionary game dynamics in populations of finite size. Moreover, each individual has a randomly distributed number of interactions with other individuals. Therefore, the payoff of two individuals using the same strategy can be different. The resulting “payoff stochasticity” reduces the intensity of selection and therefore increases the temperature of selection. A simple mean-field approximation is derived that captures the average effect of the payoff stochasticity. Correction terms to the mean-field theory are computed and discussed.
Transition‐matrix model of bioturbation and radionuclide diagenesis

Bioturbation rates in muddy sediments are thought to be due primarily to the reworking activities of benthic deposit feeders. However, current mathematical models of bioturbation do not explicitly link rates of particle mixing with realistic biological reworking mechanisms. To address this problem, I present a transition-matrix model of bioturbation that quantitatively links the reworking activities of individual organisms and community-level particlemixing rates. Solutions to the model are presented for two kinds of tracers; particle-reactive radionuclides with a constant input flux and conservative tracers added to the sediment as a pulse. The model was used to predict the vertical profiles of excess 234 Th and 210 Pb in the field. The model parameters were determined from benthic community-structure data. Model predictions were then compared to measured profiles of these tracers. On the basis of this comparison, I inferred that maldanid polychaetes at the study site were collecting sediment at the sedimentwater interface and depositing it at depth. This transport mechanism had a large effect on the predicted tracer profiles. A sensitivity analysis of the model indicated that deposit feeding by the two most abundant species, Mediomastus ambiseta and Nucula annulata, was the most important process determining the burial rate of the tracers. The model results also indicated that the combined effects of deposit feeding and sedimentation were sufficient to determine the vertical distributions of excess 234
Police officers seat belt use while on duty

Typical seatbelt designs can interfere with police officers’ operational work by lengthening their response time in threatening situations. Therefore, in certain operational circumstances there is a direct conflict between operational safety (effective response to threat) and driving safety (seatbelt use). To evaluate this potential conflict, 341 police officers from the southeastern US completed a questionnaire that included work related and non-work related seatbelt usage information. Factor analysis revealed five influential and significant factors; (1) travel context, (2) crime context, (3) confidence in seatbelt design, (4) speed and distance of travel, and (5) seatbelt ergonomics. These results confirm that seatbelts themselves in police cruisers currently represent a real safety concern of police officers in high threat circumstances.
Bicarbonate Therapy in Severe Metabolic Acidosis

The utility of bicarbonate administration to patients with severe metabolic acidosis remains controversial. Chronic bicarbonate replacement is obviously indicated for patients who continue to lose bicarbonate in the ambulatory setting, particularly patients with renal tubular acidosis syndromes or diarrhea. In patients with acute lactic acidosis and ketoacidosis, lactate and ketone bodies can be converted back to bicarbonate if the clinical situation improves. For these patients, therapy must be individualized. In general, bicarbonate should be given at an arterial blood pH of ≤7.0. The amount given should be what is calculated to bring the pH up to 7.2. The urge to give bicarbonate to a patient with severe acidemia is apt to be all but irresistible. Intervention should be restrained, however, unless the clinical situation clearly suggests benefit. Here we discuss the pros and cons of bicarbonate therapy for patients with severe metabolic acidosis.
Genetic and morphological analysis of two novel nutsedge biotypes from California

Abstract The identities of two novel perennial nutsedge biotypes collected near Bakersfield, CA, were assessed using isozyme and random-amplified polymorphic deoxyribonucleic acid markers in conjunction with morphological analysis. The two biotypes, designated as CK (Cyperus rotundus cv. ‘Kempeni’) and CR (Cyperus esculentus cv. ‘Robusta’), morphologically resemble purple nutsedge and yellow nutsedge, respectively. Plants from both biotypes exhibited more prolific growth than the typical forms and possessed some traits that are not characteristic of the species they resemble. The morphological study was conducted on a total of 15 purple nutsedge, yellow nutsedge, CK, and CR populations collected in the first year and on 20 additional nutsedge populations were collected in the second year. The genetic analysis was performed on populations from the first year only. In general, there was agreement among the results obtained from the morphometric, isozymatic, and deoxyribonucleic acid studies. Populations of ...
Effect of Al-Si distribution on the powder-diffraction maxima of alkali feldspars and an easy method to determine T1 and T2 site occupancies

Extensive X-ray powder-diffraction data have been col- lected for alkali feldspar ion-exchange series spanning almost the whole range of physically accessible topochem- ically monoclinic AI-Si distributions. Analysis of the shifts of diffraction maxima as a function of composition, struc- ture, and degree of AI-Si order reveals which peaks are most useful for the calculation of computer-refined unit-cell dimensions, and for the estimation of AI-Si distribution directly from X-ray data. Separation of the 060 and 113 powder-diffraction maxima is highly sensitive to the state of AI-Si order and is independent of composition for speci- mens containing more than 70% potassium. The degree of AI-Si order (defined by Z, equal to twice the difference in the mole fraction of AI in the n versus the 12 tetra- hedral position) for alkali feldspars ranging from highly disordered sanidine to ordered orthoclase can be determined as Z = -4.207 + 1.587 (20060- 20I13) (assuming CuKa radiation). With highly precise X-ray data, this equation can produce AI contents for the tetrahedral sites of an unstrained monoclinic feldspar that are within:!: 0.012 of those that would have been determined from a single-crystal structure refinement of the same specimen. Values of Z for alkali feldspars with less than 70{1fo potassium may also be estimated from the 060 - 113 separation, and graphical methods are provided for doing so.
Nonsymmetrical Snap Buckling of Spherical Caps

Buckling of uniformly loaded clamped spherical caps is computed by energy procedure; use of single term approximations to represent initial and buckled shapes; analysis including development of boundary layer energy load as lower bound on buckling loads is examined.
Flocculation tests and their application to the study of liver disease.

Publisher Summary The chapter discusses the clinical application of the results of various flocculation tests. Certain changes in composition of serum proteins and lipids that are prevalent in liver disease may be demonstrated with the aid of reagents that cause aggregation and precipitation by a variety of reactions. The precipitate may consist of proteins, reagent, or both. It may remain suspended or it may separate as a flocculum. Quantitative evaluation by measurement or by visual inspection of the amount of flocculum formed is often possible. Information derived from these simple techniques often effectively supplements those obtained by more elaborate methods for the study of patients suffering from disease of the liver or biliary tract. In many circumstances, flocculation tests provide an adequate substitute for more complicated studies. At times, changes associated with liver disease may be readily elucidated only by means of the flocculation methods. In many circumstances, flocculation tests provide an adequate substitute for more complicated studies. The chapter presents the mechanisms of the flocculation tests. The various tests discussed are cephalin-cholesterol flocculation test, thymol test; colloidal gold and red test, Weltmann test, etc. Because of the simplicity of the procedures, there is a tendency to be casual in their performance. Unless meticulous care is applied to the examination of properly collected specimens, the usefulness of these procedures can be seriously impaired or entirely negated.
Rebooting the Bean

This Article discusses how the advent of genetically modified seeds challenge patent and antitrust policy norms, illustrated most vividly by the patent license restrictions employed by the chief purveyor of this seed technology – Monsanto Company – and the litigation surrounding those restrictions. The Federal Circuit has repeatedly endorsed Monsanto's claim against farmers who use its seeds on the basis that its rights continue in the progeny seeds bearing that technology. Against the Solicitor General's advice, the Supreme Court has recently accepted a farmer's petition to consider if this view of patent exhaustion is contrary to the Court's own decision in Quanta. The outcome of that decision could have profound effects on other technologies with self-replicating features. Monsanto has also attracted the scrutiny of the Justice Department and is defending itself against antitrust suits by DuPont alleging that its prohibitions against trait stacking are anti-competitive. The Article considers one of the most critical issues facing the agricultural sector today: have courts gone too far in protecting the patent rights of pioneer biotech companies like Monsanto? The discussion looks at how parallel litigation in industries as diverse as software and pharmaceuticals might inform the debate on balancing the rights of patentees of agricultural inventions against the rights of growers fighting to preserve their time honored rights and competitors locked in a battle for agricultural supremacy for the crop fields of America and beyond.
Silesia between two World Wars

Reconstruction began right after the end of World War I in all Silesia. To be sure, the struggle for Upper Silesia was supported by all Germans, but the Weimar Republic was busy with so many urgent problems that the Silesians had to relie on their own initiative.
Human Factors Approach to Comparative Usability of Hospital Manual Defibrillators.

Abstract Introduction Equipment-related issues have recently been cited as a significant contributor to the suboptimal outcomes of resuscitation management. A systematic evaluation of the human-device interface was undertaken to evaluate the intuitive nature of three different defibrillators. Devices tested were the Physio-Control LifePak 15, the Zoll R Series Plus, and the Philips MRx. Methods A convenience sample of 73 multidisciplinary health care providers from 5 different hospitals participated in this study. All subjects’ performances were evaluated without any training on the devices being studied to assess the intuitiveness of the user interface to perform the functions of delivering an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) shock, a manual defibrillation, pacing to achieve 100% capture, and synchronized cardioversion on a rhythm simulator. Results Times to deliver an AED shock were fastest with the Zoll, whereas the Philips had the fastest times to deliver a manual defibrillation. Subjects took the least time to attain 100% capture for pacing with the Physio-Control device. No differences in performance times were seen with synchronized cardioversion among the devices. Human factors issues uncovered during this study included a preference for knobs over soft keys and a desire for clarity in control panel design. This study demonstrated no clearly superior defibrillator, as each of the models exhibited strengths in different areas. When asked their defibrillator preference, 67% of subjects chose the Philips. Conclusions This comparison of user interfaces of defibrillators in simulated situations allows the assessment of usability that can provide manufacturers and educators with feedback about defibrillator implementation for these critical care devices.
Redundancy Control using software defined networking

We present a technique of providing resiliency in a computer network which some mission-critical applications require. The technique involves the use of redundancy through packet duplication and transmission over multiple disjoint paths between a pair of nodes in a network. To create a general-purpose resiliency system, we introduce a new network element, a Redundancy Controller (RC) that establishes and maintains the redundancy end hosts request. An RC also monitors path performance and replaces poorly performing paths. End users are able to specify criteria required for the performance of paths. The paper reports on work in progress. It outlines the motivation behind the project and describes our implementation plan.
An International Network of Coral Reef Ecosystem Observing Systems (I-CREOS)

Coral reefs are complex, biologically diverse, and highly-valued ecosystems that are declining worldwide due to climate change and ocean acidification, overfishing, land-based sources of pollution, and other anthropogenic threats. To assist policy makers and resource managers at international, national, and local levels in effectively implementing ecosystem approaches to sustainable management and conservation of coral reefs and their biodiversity, it is necessary to have timely, unbiased integrated ecosystem observations about the conditions of coral reefs and the complex physical and biogeochemical processes supporting them. To provide these interdisciplinary ecosystem observations, an International network of Coral Reef Ecosystem Observing Systems (I-CREOS) is proposed that will organize and build upon existing coral reef observation systems being developed around the globe. This paper uses examples of some developing observation systems to demonstrate some of the approaches and technologies available for acquiring biological, physical, and geochemical observations using combinations of: visual surveys, moored instrument arrays, spatial hydrographic and water quality surveys, satellite remote sensing, and hydrodynamic and ecosystem modeling. This fledgling, and hopefully expanding, network of observing systems represents the early stages of an integrated ecosystem observing system for coral reefs capable of providing policy makers, resource managers, researchers, and other stakeholders with essential information products needed to assess various responses of coral reef ecosystems to natural variability and anthropogenic perturbations. While significant challenges and gaps in the I-CREOS network remain, it demonstrably fulfills the requirements of an operational, integrated, interdisciplinary, coastal component of GOOS (Global Ocean Observing System). Continued support, further development, and open expansion of this emerging network are encouraged and needed to ensure the continually increasing value of the network’s observational and predictive capacity. With common goals to maximize versatility, accessibility, and robustness, the existing infrastructure and capacity provide a foundation by which increased global cooperation and coordination could naturally lead to a globally comprehensive I-CREOS.
Efficient high-speed cornering motions based on continuously-variable feedrates. II. Implementation and performance analysis

A novel high-speed cornering strategy for piecewise-linear motions is proposed, based on the G2 continuous Pythagorean–hodograph (PH) rounding segments and continuously-variable feedrates described in Part I of this two-part paper. This strategy employs an acceleration-limited approach to feedrate scheduling, including smooth deceleration and acceleration profiles along linear segments entering and leaving the rounded segments. A G-code part program parsing software package has been developed, that automatically identifies toolpath corners and inserts appropriately-sized PH quintic corner rounding segments, with associated feedrate suppression ratios. The method has been tested on a three-axis CNC mill with an open-architecture controller incorporating real-time interpolators that realize smoothly varying feedrates along the PH corner curves. Tests on a representative selection of toolpaths yield substantial savings (up to 40 %) in execution times, compared to the traditional “full stop” strategy for unmodified sharp corners.
Design and Development of a General-Purpose Transmit/Receive (T/R) Switch for 3T MRI, Compatible for a Linear, Quadrature and Double-Tuned RF Coil

This work presents the design and development of a general-purpose T/R switch for MR imaging and spectroscopy, compatible with single and double-tuned RF coils using linear, quadrature, or both modes at a low cost and with minimum development time using simple electronic circuits. This T/R switch was demonstrated with a custom double-tuned 1H/31P transmit receive surface RF coils built for 31P MRS of a lamb's heart with surgically created congenital heart defects. Two passive trap circuits tuned to 1H and 31P frequencies fed from a common drive point were built to filter two different frequency T/R switches. The T/R switch was built for a 1H linear RF coil and 31P quadrature RF coil. This T/R switch design is easily modifiable to linear, quadrature and double-tuned RF coils of relatively wide range of frequencies, so as to enable imaging of proton and X-nuclei at 3T field. The performance of the custom T/R switch was tested with bench measurements of its isolation, insertion loss and switching time, under pulsed conditions, and on a phantom with a 3T magnet by comparing the signal-to-noise ratio with a commercial T/R switch. A high isolation, low insertion loss and fast switching time in the range of nanoseconds were obtained on the bench. Identical isolation was observed under pulsed conditions. An improvement of about 29% gain in signal-to-noise ratio was obtained with this T/R switch compared to the commercial T/R switch.
Action Mechanism by Which SA Alleviates High Temperature-induced Inhibition to Spikelet Differentiation

Heat stress at the spikelet primordium differentiation stage of rice significantly decreases the grain yield due to reduced grain number per panicle.The hybrid rice Yongyou 12 was used as material to investigate the role of salicylic acid(SA)in alleviating the negative effect on spikelet differentiation induced by heat stress.The results indicated that under natural conditions,low concentration of SA increased the spikelet number per panicle,while high concentration decreased the number.Interestingly,either low or high concentrations of SA(10-50000μmol/L)increased the grain number per panicle under heat stress.The grain yield and grain number per panicle peaked under the treatment of 100μmol/L SA compared with their respective control(0μmol/L)under both natural conditions and heat stress.This might attribute to the increase in the leaf photosynthesis rate,antioxidant enzyme activities,concentrations of auxin(IAA)and zeatin(ZR)in spikelets under heat stress.Heat stress occurred at spikelet differentiation stage seemed to cause little damage to the leaf,but the actual light quantum efficiency and net photosynthetic rate of leaf were increased when sprayed with SA.Accordingly,there was no significant difference in the activities of SOD,POD and CAT of leaf in rice.However,these antioxidant enzyme activities in spikelets were significantly decreased when subjected to heat stress,especially under the treatment of 0μmol/L SA,suggesting that SA could enhance anti-oxidation.Further,SA could also prevent the decrease in the concentrations of IAA and ZR in spikelets induced by heat stress.In sum,SA obviously enhanced heat-resistance in rice at 100-1000μmol/L.
Analysis of School-Based Syndromic Surveillance on Infectious Disease Outbreaks

Objective To evaluate the school- based syndromic surveillance monitoring system and to analyze the outbreak of infectious diseases in schools. Methods Seven schools were selected from 34 schools under the administration of Hangu center for disease control and prevention in Binhai New area of Tianjin to carry out syndromic surveillance on student absence due to infectious illness since September 2012. The data obtained were compared with those from sentinel surveillance,which was used to evaluate the effect of syndromic surveillance monitoring system. Results It was reported that there were 540 cases of students absence,among which influenza- like illness occurred in 255 cases( 47. 22%),cold in244 cases,diarrhea in 13 cases,and pneumonia in 11 cases. Flu outbreak was detected in time in five of the seven schools,which was due to H3 subtype influenza and involved two middle schools and three primary schools. A total of 170 cases of influenza- like illness were reported from five schools,506 students were involved and the average incidence was 3. 09%.The outbreak of influenza- like illness was detected by school- based syndromic surveillance 17 days earlier than by sentinel surveillance. Conclusions School- based syndromic surveillance can provide timely warnings of infectious disease,supplement the insufficiency of sentinel hospital surveillance system,detect and manage epidemic outbreaks in time.
Biventricular distribution of cold blood cardioplegic solution administered by different retrograde techniques.

Although retrograde cardioplegia has been shown to provide adequate overall protection to the myocardium, delivery of cardioplegic solution to the right ventricle and septum is poor. We used an animal model of occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery to study the effects of modifying the conditions of retrograde cardioplegia administration on delivery to the right and left ventricles. Adult mongrel dogs (n=12) were each given five retrograde injections of microsphere-labeled cardioplegic solution at 10-minute intervals
"Pre-medical" informatics.

Many authors have presented arguments in the recent medical literature discussing the premedical preparation of medical students. Much of this work seems to center upon the need to balance the strong science concentration with an increased emphasis on humanities courses. This paper investigates another potential shortcoming of premedical education, that of information literacy. It defines the problem, argues its existence, and proposes the ready availability of a solution.
Antecedents and outcomes of migrant workers’ sociocultural adjustment in the hospitality industry

Abstract Migrant workers are an important part of the labor force for the hospitality industry in developed countries and emerging markets. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between perceived organizational support (POS) and dominant cultural orientation (DCO), sociocultural adjustment (SCA), job satisfaction (JS), life satisfaction (LS), and turnover intention (TI) of migrant workers. This research uses a respondent-driven sampling (RDS) method with a dual incentive system to attain hard-to-reach migrant employees. The findings demonstrate that both POS and DCO have a significant and positive relationship with SCA and, interestingly, that POS has a stronger impact on hospitality migrants’ SCA than DCO. The findings also imply that although personal efforts of migrant workers are important for their effective socialization, positive support from a hospitality organization plays a far more important role. Furthermore, this study highlights the significant relationships between POS and JS and between DCO and LS. The findings also show that SCA had a significant and positive effect on LS and that hospitality migrants who adjust well in their host society tend to have a high satisfaction with their lives in the foreign country and are apt to stay longer in their positions.
Teaching Critical Perspectives on Body Weight: The Obesity “Epidemic” and Pro-Ana Movement in Classroom Discussions

While most sociology students are well prepared to think critically about inequalities involving race, gender, social class, and sexuality, the topics of body weight and health present some challen...
Feature Selection in Environments with Limited Voluntary Information Sharing

Feature selection is a form of both data reduction and attribute prioritization. It is modeled in existing work as a game between agents (buyers and sellers of information) in a corporate environment where information is accessible at a price. However, the interactions are typically moderated by a trusted third-party agent. Extending that work, we observe behavior in an unmoderated environment, integrated with information sharing. Existing models of information sharing among agents enforce an obligation to provide information upon request. For a corporate setting (such as an e-marketplace), this mandate is not necessarily true, and is introduced in this work as an incentive-based provision. To further incorporate real-world settings, information sharing happens only by request. Our work explores agent behaviors in this environment and the ability of sellers to gain utility. In an environment consisting of non-malicious agents, incentive-based information sharing removes the requirement to explicitly model reputation. It also allows agents to keep certain information private. Evaluation of different levels of incentive produces varied behavior across sellers.
Correlation of Peripheral Immunity With Rapid Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Progression.

Importance Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has an immune component, but previous human studies have not examined immune changes over time. Objectives To assess peripheral inflammatory markers in participants with ALS and healthy control individuals and to track immune changes in ALS and determine whether these changes correlate with disease progression. Design, Setting, and Participants In this longitudinal cohort study, leukocytes were isolated from peripheral blood samples from 35 controls and 119 participants with ALS at the ALS Clinic of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, from June 18, 2014, through May 26, 2016. Follow-up visits occurred every 6 to 12 months. Fifty-one participants with ALS provided samples at multiple points. Immune cell populations were measured and compared between control and ALS groups. Surface marker expression of CD11b+myeloid cells was also assessed. Changes over time were correlated with disease progression using multivariate regression. Main Outcomes and Measures The number of immune cells per milliliter of blood and the fold expression of cell surface markers. Multivariate regression models were used to correlate changes in immune metrics with changes on the Revised Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R). Results Thirty-five controls (17 women [48.6%] and 18 men [51.4%]; mean [SD] age, 63.5 [9.9] years) and 119 participants with ALS (50 women [42.0%] and 69 men [68.0%]; mean [SD] age, 61.4 [11.5] years) were enrolled. Compared with controls, participants with ALS had increased mean (SEM) counts ( × 106/mL) of total leukocytes (4.57 [0.29; 95% CI, 3.94-5.11] vs 5.53 [0.16; 95% CI, 5.21-5.84]), neutrophils (2.87 [0.23; 95% CI, 2.40-3.35] vs 3.80 [0.12; 95% CI, 3.56-4.04]), CD16+monocytes (0.03 [0.003; 95% CI, 0.02-0.04] vs 0.04 [0.002; 95% CI, 0.03-0.04]), CD16−monocytes (0.25 [0.02; 95% CI, 0.21-0.30] vs 0.29 [0.01; 95% CI, 0.27-0.31]), and natural killer cells (0.13 [0.02; 95% CI, 0.10-0.17] vs 0.18 [0.01; 95% CI, 0.16-0.21]). We also observed an acute, transient increase in a population of CD11b+myeloid cells expressing HLA-DR, CD11c, and CX3CR1. Finally, early changes in immune cell numbers had a significant correlation with disease progression measured by change in ALSFRS-R score, particularly neutrophils (−4.37 [95% CI, −6.60 to −2.14] per 11.47 × 104/mL [SD, 58.04 × 104/mL] per year) and CD4 T cells (−30.47 [95% CI, −46.02 to −14.94] per −3.72 × 104/mL [SD, 26.21 × 104/mL] per year). Conclusions and Relevance Changes in the immune system occur during ALS and may contribute to the pathologic features of ALS.
Fear of predation shapes social network structure and the acquisition of foraging information in guppy shoals.

Spatio-temporal variation in predation risk is predicted to select for plastic anti-predator responses, which may in turn impact the fine-scale social structure of prey groups and processes mediated by that structure. To test these predictions, we manipulated the ambient predation risk experienced by Trinidadian guppy ( Poecilia reticulata ) groups before quantifying their social networks and recording individual latencies to approach and solve a novel foraging task. High-risk conditions drove the formation of social networks that were more strongly assorted by body size than those exposed to low ambient risk and promoted longer durations of contact between preferred partners. Additionally, high background predation risk reduced the probability individuals would approach and solve a novel foraging task. Network-based diffusion analysis revealed that while social transmission of the task solution from knowledgeable to naive individuals occurred at a higher rate within low-risk groups, individuals in high-risk groups were particularly likely to investigate the task while shoaling with preferred social partners. Taken together, our results suggest that the structure and functional importance of prey social networks may partly depend on local predation pressure. Furthermore, by influencing individuals9 access to information, fear of predation may impact decision-making in a potentially wide array of behavioural contexts.
A Spatial and Temporal Analysis of 30-Day Heavy Snowfall Amounts in the Eastern United States, 1900–2016

AbstractHeavy 30-day snowfall amounts were evaluated to identify spatial and temporal characteristics east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States during the period 1900–2016. An extensive data assessment identified 507 stations for use in this long-term climate study. The top 30-day heavy snowfall amount and the average of the top five 30-day heavy snowfall amounts were examined. Both amounts generally increased with latitude; however, much higher amounts were found downwind of the Great Lakes, at higher elevations, or in locations impacted by topographic features (e.g., Rockies, Black Hills, and Appalachians). When compared with the 1981–2010 average winter snowfall, the top 30-day amount was found to be greater than the winter average in most areas of the eastern United States. The number of stations experiencing a top-five 30-day heavy snowfall period in a winter ranged from 1 to 128 (1959/60), with a greater overall occurrence in the second half of the 117-yr period. Six episodes had 10% or more ...