cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transcriptional regulatory elements in fungal secondary metabolism

Filamentous fungi produce a variety of secondary metabolites of diverse beneficial and detrimental activities to humankind. The genes required for a given secondary metabolite are typically arranged in a gene cluster. There is considerable evidence that secondary metabolite gene regulation is, in part, by transcriptional control through hierarchical levels of transcriptional regulatory elements involved in secondary metabolite cluster regulation. Identification of elements regulating secondary metabolism could potentially provide a means of increasing production of beneficial metabolites, decreasing production of detrimental metabolites, aid in the identification of ‘silent’ natural products and also contribute to a broader understanding of molecular mechanisms by which secondary metabolites are produced. This review summarizes regulation of secondary metabolism associated with transcriptional regulatory elements from a broad view as well as the tremendous advances in discovery of cryptic or novel secondary metabolites by genomic mining.
Phage cluster relationships identified through single gene analysis

Phylogenetic comparison of bacteriophages requires whole genome approaches such as dotplot analysis, genome pairwise maps, and gene content analysis. Currently mycobacteriophages, a highly studied phage group, are categorized into related clusters based on the comparative analysis of whole genome sequences. With the recent explosion of phage isolation, a simple method for phage cluster prediction would facilitate analysis of crude or complex samples without whole genome isolation and sequencing. The hypothesis of this study was that mycobacteriophage-cluster prediction is possible using comparison of a single, ubiquitous, semi-conserved gene. Tape Measure Protein (TMP) was selected to test the hypothesis because it is typically the longest gene in mycobacteriophage genomes and because regions within the TMP gene are conserved. A single gene, TMP, identified the known Mycobacteriophage clusters and subclusters using a Gepard dotplot comparison or a phylogenetic tree constructed from global alignment and maximum likelihood comparisons. Gepard analysis of 247 mycobacteriophage TMP sequences appropriately recovered 98.8% of the subcluster assignments that were made by whole-genome comparison. Subcluster-specific primers within TMP allow for PCR determination of the mycobacteriophage subcluster from DNA samples. Using the single-gene comparison approach for siphovirus coliphages, phage groupings by TMP comparison reflected relationships observed in a whole genome dotplot comparison and confirm the potential utility of this approach to another widely studied group of phages. TMP sequence comparison and PCR results support the hypothesis that a single gene can be used for distinguishing phage cluster and subcluster assignments. TMP single-gene analysis can quickly and accurately aid in mycobacteriophage classification.
A Large-Scale Reconfigurable Analog Signal Processor (RASP) IC

The Reconfigurable Analog Signal Processor (RASP), one of the first Large-Scale Field-Programmable Analog Arrays (FPAAs), is composed of 56 Computational Analog Blocks (CABs). Each CAB contains various levels of analog computational granularity utilizing over 50,000 programmable analog elements. Bias currents are programmable to within 0.2% from 100 pA to greater than 3 ?A. Internal bandwidths are greater than 50 MHz, and the kT/C noise can be adjusted using the drawn capacitances and routing network parasitics. A range of compiled circuits and resulting signal processing systems are presented.
The phantom limb of the triple aim.

R ecent health care improvement efforts have focused on the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s Triple Aim of improving patient care quality, decreasing total cost of care, and improving the experience of care for patients. The phantom limb of this triad is the well-being of the health care workforce that is essential for acting on and implementing the necessary changes for achieving the Triple Aim. Phantom limb pain is a condition in which patients experience a sensation of itching, twitching, or pain in a previously amputated limb or body part. The Triple Aim suffers from a similar phenomenon. Focusing only on the quality of patient care, the total cost of care, and the patient experience of care, the Triple Aim has separated the well-being of the health care workforce from system change initiatives. The separation has resulted in phantom limb pain, which is often expressed as burnout. In 2008, Berwick et al from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement proposed the Triple Aim as a model for improving health care in the United States. The Triple Aim defines a conversion from a “physician-centric” to a “patient-centric” medical system that is focused on “improving the experience of care, improving the health of populations, and reducing per capita costs of health care.” Since that time, many health care systems have embraced the goals of the Triple Aim. A conscious decision to measure and understand the patient experience of care coupled with the identification of measurable outcomes of quality is transforming the work we do. We see it in different ways, ranging from honoring patients as consumers who share in decision making to physicians who use evidence-based protocols for diagnosis and treatment. Arguments persist about whether these transformations will “bend the cost curve” for health care. Nonetheless, it seems clear that the Triple Aim will continue to be a part of medicine. Business models of employee engagement are widely used by health care systems to assess an individual’s attachment to an organization, but these models fail to account for the effects of an individual’s perception of his or
The Resurgence of Research Into Transfer: An Introduction to the Final Articles of the Transfer Strand

We are in the midst of a resurgence of research into the transfer-of-learning. This is essential because transfer is arguably one of the most important issues in the learning sciences. The success ...
Controlled self-assembly of rodlike bacterial pili particles into ordered lattices.

Pili pickup sticks: Rodlike type 1 bacterial pili particles (see picture, red) self-assemble into highly ordered nanostructures through molecular recognition in the presence of suitable inducers. 1D bundles, 2D double-layer lattices, and 3D multilayer lattices were produced by varying the nature and concentration of the inducers. The self-assembled pili serve as templates for nucleating and organizing inorganic nanomaterials such as silica.
Near-field scanning fluorescence microscopy study of ion channel clusters in cardiac myocyte membranes.

Near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) has been used to study the nanoscale distribution of voltage- gated L-type Ca 21 ion channels, which play an important role in cardiac function. NSOM fluorescence imaging of im- munostained cardiac myocytes (H9C2 cells) demonstrates that the ion channel is localized in small clusters with an average diameter of 100 nm. The clusters are randomly distributed throughout the cell membrane, with some larger fluorescent patches that high-resolution images show to consist of many small closely-spaced clusters. We have imaged unstained cells to assess the contribution of topography-induced artifacts and find that the topography-induced signal is ,10% of the NSOM fluorescence intensity. We have also examined the dependence of the NSOM signal intensity on the tip-sample separation to assess the contributions from fluorophores that are significantly below the cell surface. This indicates that chromophores .;200 nm below the probe will have negligible contributions to the observed signal. The ability to quantitatively measure small clusters of ion channels will facilitate future studies that examine changes in protein localization in stimulated cells and during cardiac de- velopment. Our work illustrates the potential of NSOM for studying membrane domains and protein localization/colocalization on a length scale which exceeds that available with optical microscopy.
Now IT's Personal: Offshoring and the Shifting Skill Composition of the U.S. Information Technology Workforce

We combine new information technology (IT) offshoring and IT workforce microdata to investigate how the use of IT offshore captive centers is affecting the skill composition of the U.S. onshore IT workforce. The analysis is based on the theory that occupations involving tasks that are “tradable,” such as tasks that require little personal communication or hands-on interaction with U.S.-based objects, are vulnerable to being moved offshore. Consistent with this theory, we find that firms that have offshore IT captive centers have 8% less of their onshore IT workforce involved in tradable occupations; those without offshore captive centers have increased the proportion of onshore employment in these same occupations by 3%. In addition, we find that hourly IT workers (e.g., IT contractors) are disproportionately employed in tradable jobs, and their onshore employment is 2%--3% lower in firms with offshore captive centers. These findings persist after considering different measures of employment composition, including controls for human capital, firm performance, domestic outsourcing, and whether firms choose to build or buy software. Instrumental variables and corroborating regressions suggest that our estimates are conservative---the magnitude of the effect generally rises after accounting for reverse causality and measurement error. This paper was accepted by by Chris Forman, guest department editor.
Consistency of Blood Pressure Control After Ischemic Stroke: Prevalence and Prognosis

Background and Purpose—Blood pressure (BP) reduction lowers vascular risk after stroke; however, little is known about the relationship between consistency of BP control and risk of subsequent vascular events. Methods—In this post hoc analysis of the Vitamin Intervention for Stroke Prevention trial (n=3680), individuals with recent ( 132 mm Hg. Among individuals with baseline systolic BP >75th percentile (>153 mm Hg), risks of primary and secondary outcomes...
PHYSICAL EXERTION AND IMMEDIATE MENTAL PERFORMANCE OF SIXTH-GRADE CHILDREN

The intent of this investigation was to examine the potential influence of varying durations of physical exertion at different times of the day on immediate mathematical performance by 120 sixth-grade boys and girls. Subjects were assigned to two control and two treatment groups (Solomon Four-group Design), with treated subjects administered physical exertion (paced walking at controlled moderate intensity) for durations of 20, 30, and 40 min. at three different times of the school day [8:30 a.m., 11:50 a.m. (before lunch), 2:20 p.m.] over 3 weeks. After each exertion session, subjects were immediately administered a 90-sec. mathematical computation test. Analysis indicated no significant differences in mathematical performance at any duration in the morning, but scores were significantly higher at 11:50 a.m. and 2:20 p.m. at 30- and 40-min. durations in comparison to the 20-min. duration. There were no differences by gender of subject.
Stiftförmige Verbindungsmittel des Holzbaus im Normenvergleich

Bei der Bemessung stiftformiger Verbindungsmittel des Holzbaus gab es im Zuge der Umstellung auf eine neue Normengeneration einen Paradigmenwechsel. Fur das einzelne Verbindungsmittel muss eine ganze Reihe von Nachweisen auf der Grundlage einer deutlich verfeinerten Versagenstheorie gefuhrt werden. Zudem wird das Zusammenwirken mehrerer Verbindungsmittel an einem Knotenpunkt mit wesentlich groseren Reduktionsfaktoren belegt, als dies bisher der Fall war. Dowel type fasteners for timber construction in comparison of design codes. The change to new design codes for timber constructions led to a paradigm shift in the dimensioning of dowel type fasteners. For the single fastener a series of regulations have to be obeyed on a basis of a much more detailed theory of failure. In addition to this the interaction of fasteners in a joint is backed with much higher reduction factors than before.
Alarm pheromone recognition in a Missouri darter assemblage

The a priori null hypotheses that responses to donor, orangethroat darter Etheostoma spectabile, johnny darter Etheostoma nigrum, logperch Percina caprodes, slenderhead darter Percina phoxocephala and blackside darter Percina maculata, extracts would be absent in the three test species, orangethroat darter, johnny darter and logperch, was rejected. This was because orangethroat and johnny darter responded with decreased activity to skin extracts derived from conspecifics and from other members of the assemblage. In contrast, logperch were notable by their lack of a detectable response to any species. Similarities and differences in habitat utilization are seen as a possible basis for these responses.
Fetal Programming: Testosterone Exposure of the Female Sheep During Midgestation Disrupts the Dynamics of Its Adult Gonadotropin Secretion During the Periovulatory Period

Prenatal exposure of the female sheep to excess testosterone (T) leads to hypergonadotropism, multifollicular ovaries, and progressive loss of reproductive cycles. We have determined that prenatal T treatment delays the latency of the estradiol (E2)-induced LH surge. To extend this finding into a natural physiological context, the present study was conducted to determine if the malprogrammed surge mechanism alters the reproductive cycle. Specifically, we wished to determine if prenatal T treatment 1) delays the onset of the preovulatory gonadotropin surge during the natural follicular phase rise in E2, 2) alters pulsatile LH secretion and the dynamics of the secondary FSH surge, and 3) compromises the ensuing luteal function. Females prenatally T-treated from Day 60 to Day 90 of gestation (147 days is term) and control females were studied when they were approximately 2.5 yr of age. Reproductive cycles of control and prenatally T-treated females were synchronized with PGF2alpha, and peripheral blood samples were collected every 2 h for 120 h to characterize cyclic changes in E2, LH, and FSH and then daily for 14 days to monitor changes in luteal progesterone. To assess LH pulse patterns, blood samples were also collected frequently (each 5 min for 6 h) during the follicular and luteal phases of the cycle. The results revealed that, in prenatally T-treated females, 1) the preovulatory increase in E2 was normal; 2) the latencies between the preovulatory increase in E2 and the peaks of the primary LH and FSH surges were longer, but the magnitudes similar; 3) follicular-phase LH pulse frequency was increased; 4) the interval between the primary and secondary FSH surges was reduced but there was a tendency for an increase in duration of the secondary FSH surge; but 5) luteal progesterone patterns were in general unaltered. Thus, exposure of the female to excess T before birth produces perturbances and maltiming in periovulatory gonadotropin secretory dynamics, but these do not produce apparent defects in cycle regularity or luteal function. To reveal the pathologies that lead to the eventual subfertility arising from excess T exposure during midgestation, studies at older ages must be conducted to assess if there is progressive disruption of neuroendocrine and ovarian function.
A predictive fatigue model. I. Predicting the effect of stimulation frequency and pattern on fatigue

Previously we developed a mathematical force- and fatigue-model system that could predict fatigue produced by a wide range of frequencies and pulse patterns. However, the models tended to overestimate the forces produced by higher frequency trains. This paper presents modifications to our previously developed force- and fatigue-model system to improve the accuracy in predicting forces during repetitive activation of human skeletal muscle. By comparing the predictions produced by the modified force and fatigue models to those by our previous models, the modification appears to be successful. The current force- and fatigue-model system accounts for about 93% variance in experimental data produced by fatigue protocols consisting of trains with a wide range of frequencies and pulse patterns. In addition, the present models successfully predict the effect of stimulation frequency and pulse pattern on muscle fatigue. The success of our current force- and fatigue-model system suggests its potential use in helping to identify the optimal activation pattern to use during the clinical application of functional electrical stimulation.
A Mitochondrial DNA Primase Is Essential for Cell Growth and Kinetoplast DNA Replication in Trypanosoma brucei

Kinetoplast DNA in African trypanosomes contains a novel form of mitochondrial DNA consisting of thousands of minicircles and dozens of maxicircles topologically interlocked to form a two-dimensional sheet. The replication of this unusual form of mitochondrial DNA has been studied for more than 30 years, and although a large number of kinetoplast replication genes and proteins have been identified, in vitro replication of these DNAs has not been possible since a kinetoplast DNA primase has not been available. We describe here a Trypanosoma brucei DNA primase gene, PRI1, that encodes a 70-kDa protein that localizes to the kinetoplast and is essential for both cell growth and kinetoplast DNA replication. The expression of PRI1 mRNA is cyclic and reaches maximum levels at a time corresponding to duplication of the kinetoplast DNA. A 3'-hydroxyl-terminated oligoriboadenylate is synthesized on a poly(dT) template by a recombinant form of the PRI1 protein and is subsequently elongated by DNA polymerase and added dATP. Poly(dA) synthesis is dependent on both PRI1 protein and ATP and is inhibited by RNase H treatment of the product of PRI1 synthesis.
Foreign Body with Gas Gangrene in an Elderly Patient with Diabetes.

A 76-year-old African-American man who lived alone, with an 11year history of poorly controlled diabetes and symptomatic peripheral neuropathy, presented to the Emergency Department with right foot pain and swelling. His initial evaluation included a lower extremity Doppler that ruled out a deep venous thrombosis and the patient was discharged. The patient returned to the Emergency Department after one week for worsening right foot pain and swelling. He was afebrile and hemodynamically stable. The physical exam revealed new unroofed blisters on the dorsal aspect of the right foot. Foot x-ray (Panel 1) showed a 3 cm linear metallic foreign body, which appeared to be a broken sewing needle in the soft tissues between distal first and second metatarsals. Computed Tomography (CT) scan (Panel 2) showed moderate air suggesting deep tissue infection, with multiple tiny gas bubbles within the proximal phalanx of the second digit, concerning for gas gangrene. He received broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics and underwent a two-stage operation on his right leg. The first stage was a guillotine amputation. The patient remained afebrile and hemodynamically stable. Antibiotics were stopped since now, after removal of the gangrenous tissue, there was adequate source control of the infection. A few days later, he underwent a definitive, below-theknee amputation. The differential diagnoses for gas gangrene includes inflammation
Environment and resolutions to avoid discontinuity in supply chain management

Supply chain management (SCM) is a quintessential area that entails numerous external factors that are both controllable and uncontrollable. Nature is indeed one of the most influential disruptor that affects a steady supply chain. The US Government has implemented many environmental laws and regulations to protect today's environment from pollutants caused by the general public, governmental operations and businesses. The costs can come in the form of lawsuits, fines, cleanup, testing, disposing and the implementation of necessary technology. Benefits from the execution of these regulations can come in various ways in the end. These include more efficient ways to dispose of chemical wastes, increased revenues, lower cost of production and a better overall wellbeing of the environment, providing a better quality of life for everybody. This paper discusses historical occurrences and suggests proper techniques, such as business continuity planning (BCP) that managers can employ to ensure they are prepared for significant disruptions to their respective supply chains.
Eight weeks of dietary overfeeding increases renal filtration rates in humans: implications for the pathogenesis of diabetic hyperfiltration.

Objective Diabetic nephropathy is characterized at its onset by glomerular hyperfiltration. Prospective studies in humans measuring filtration rates with weight gain are lacking. We investigated renal filtration following weight gain induced by overfeeding. Design Eight weeks of overfeeding (40% above energy requirements, 44% fat, 15% protein and 41% carbohydrate) as well as a 6-month follow-up after the overfeeding intervention. Subjects Thirty-five participants (age: 26.7 ±5.3 years; body mass index: 25.5 ± 2.2 kg m−2; 29 m/6f). Measurements Creatinine clearance rate (Ccr) from 24-h urine collection, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) from the modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD), insulin sensitivity/glucose disposal rate (GDR) by a euglycemic–hyperinsulinemic clamp, components from basic metabolic panels and serum lipid panels. Results Both eGFR and Ccr increased with overfeeding (P = 0.04) and serum lipids (all P < 0.05), along with a decrease in insulin sensitivity (P = 0.003). Fasting glucose concentration was not affected (P = 0.98), but the per cent change in Ccr correlated positively with the change in GDR with overfeeding (r = 0.39, P = 0.02). Six months following overfeeding, serum glucose was maintained, and no evidence of urinary glucose was observed at any time-point. Conclusions These data suggest that renal hyperfiltration may act as a mechanism to preserve insulin sensitivity through maintenance of systemic glucose homoeostasis with caloric excess.
Migraine in the United States: a review of epidemiology and health care use

According to the American Migraine Study, 17.6% of females and 6.0% of males in the United States currently suffer from severe migraine. These findings are based on the responses of more than 20,000 people to a self-administered questionnaire mailed to respondents. The study reveals that migraine prevalence varies according to age, gender, and income. Despite high rates of headache-related disability, the study also shows that most people with migraine have never been diagnosed by a doctor or treated with prescription medications. To improve diagnosis and treatment of migraine, public health interventions are indicated.
Nanosecond and femtosecond laser ablation: Isotopic characterization of boron carbide molecular spectra using a non-gated detector

Femtosecond and nanosecond laser ablation were used to perform isotopic measurements of boron using molecular emission spectra acquired by a non-gated detector. The accuracy of isotopic reconstruction is relatively insensitive to laser pulse duration.
Reliability of social skills and social anxiety ratings with different sets of raters.

Two independent sets of 2 raters who rated the same 34 videotaped role-plays of psychiatric patients for social skill and social anxiety showed high intraset and interset reliabilities. These findings increase confidence that continuing assessment of these constructs should not be affected by changes in raters.
PATERNAL MITOCHONDRIAL DNA DIFFERENTIATION FAR EXCEEDS MATERNAL MITOCHONDRIAL DNA AND ALLOZYME DIFFERENTIATION IN THE FRESHWATER MUSSEL, ANODONTA GRANDIS GRANDIS.

Comparisons of population structure revealed by organellar genomes and protein polymorphisms have yielded strikingly discordant patterns in oysters (Buroker 1983; Reeb and Avise 1990; Karl and Avise 1992), horseshoe crabs (Selander et al. 1970; Saunders et al. 1986), the copepod Tigriopus californicus (Burton and Lee 1994), the California closed-cone pines (Millar et al. 1988; Hong et al. 1993; Strauss et al. 1993), and perhaps also in lodgepole pine (Wheeler and Guries 1982; Dong and Wagner 1993, 1994). For example, allelic frequencies at protein polymorphisms in the American oyster, Crassostrea virginica, are relatively homogeneous from Maine to Texas (Buroker 1983), suggesting extensive gene flow mediated by long distance dispersal of pelagic larvae. However, nuclear and mtDNA polymorphisms reveal the contrasting pattern of a sharp genetic discontinuity in northeastern Florida, suggesting only limited and local dispersal. Furthermore, the relationship between heterozygosity and components of fitness may differ between protein markers and DNA markers (Pogson and Zouros 1994). In the sea scallop, Placopecten magellanicus, growth rate is positively correlated with allozyme heterozygosity, but not with heterozygosity at DNA markers (Pogson and Zouros 1994). These and other studies (review in Mitton 1994) clearly indicate that various types of gene markers can give discordant results when they are used to estimate population structure, gene flow, and selection intensities. Plants contain two organellar genomes, one chloroplast genome and one mitochondrial genome, and most animals carry a single mitochondrial genome (Avise 1994). In animals, the inheritance of mtDNA is generally maternal, although a low level of paternal transmission does occur in mouse (Gyllensten et al. 1991) and Drosophila hybrids (Satta et al. 1988; Kondo et al. 1992). Recently, Skibinski et al. (1994) and Zouros et al. (1994) described a unique pattern of mtDNA inheritance in the blue mussel, Mytilus edulis, which they referred to as "doubly uniparental inheritance." In this mode of inheritance, the transmission of mitochondrial types depends upon the sex of the offspring. Males receive approximately five of the
Risk Assessment and Maintenance Decision for Transmission and Transformation Equipments

Life Circle Cost(LCC) and Condition Based Maintenance(CBM) are 2 important tools to achieve Asset Management(AM) in power system. Risk assessment for running equipment is an effective method to combine both their advantages. How to calculate the risk value and how to make risk decision are 2 most difficult problems. This paper proposes the risk assessment method based on former work and condition assessment result of equipments. Equipment loss, safety and environment loss, system loss and social loss are included. Then a risk model based on monetary indices is built. Finally maintenance decision is made by the benefit and cost.
Communication between women and their health care providers: research findings and unanswered questions.

The available literature is reviewed in an effort to determine what is known about gender differences in provider-patient communication. There is considerable evidence from epidemiologic surveys that women use more health services than men even after services related to reproduction have been considered and that women report more symptoms than men. Women are known to receive more diagnoses of psychosomatic illness and more prescriptions for psychotropic drugs than men. It is unknown whether this results from physicians biases about women or from womens greater reporting of certain types of symptoms. Research on provider-patient communication has shown that female patients ask more questions than male patients in the medical encounter. Numerous studies report that physicians generally underestimate their patients desire for information but it has not been demonstrated that this occurs more in the case of women than men. Several studies have reported that female physicians spend more time than males in face-to-face interaction with patients. Few studies have been designed to observe communication in same-sex versus opposite-sex physician-patient interactions. In a study involving student subjects and hypothetical male and female physicians Young found that male and female respondents were more willing to disclose symptoms to a physician of the same sex than to a physician of the opposite sex. Several studies in which all the patients were female but the sex of the provider varied suggest that communication is enhanced when women treat women (as compared to when men treat women). It is argued that physician-patient dyads in which both parties are female should enhance communication under certain conditions namely: when the patient prefers to be treated by a physician of the same sex; when sex-specific conditions are being treated; when conditions of a highly personal or sensitive nature are being treated such that sex or sexuality are salient; or when a longterm relationship between physician and patient is required.
Why do trees die? Characterizing the drivers of background tree mortality.

The drivers of background tree mortality rates—the typical low rates of tree mortality found in forests in the absence of acute stresses like drought—are central to our understanding of forest dynamics, the effects of ongoing environmental changes on forests, and the causes and consequences of geographical gradients in the nature and strength of biotic interactions. To shed light on factors contributing to background tree mortality, we analyzed detailed pathological data from 200,668 tree-years of observation and 3,729 individual tree deaths, recorded over a 13-yr period in a network of old-growth forest plots in California's Sierra Nevada mountain range. We found that: (1) Biotic mortality factors (mostly insects and pathogens) dominated (58%), particularly in larger trees (86%). Bark beetles were the most prevalent (40%), even though there were no outbreaks during the study period; in contrast, the contribution of defoliators was negligible. (2) Relative occurrences of broad classes of mortality factors (biotic, 58%; suppression, 51%; and mechanical, 25%) are similar among tree taxa, but may vary with tree size and growth rate. (3) We found little evidence of distinct groups of mortality factors that predictably occur together on trees. Our results have at least three sets of implications. First, rather than being driven by abiotic factors such as lightning or windstorms, the “ambient” or “random” background mortality that many forest models presume to be independent of tree growth rate is instead dominated by biotic agents of tree mortality, with potentially critical implications for forecasting future mortality. Mechanistic models of background mortality, even for healthy, rapidly growing trees, must therefore include the insects and pathogens that kill trees. Second, the biotic agents of tree mortality, instead of occurring in a few predictable combinations, may generally act opportunistically and with a relatively large degree of independence from one another. Finally, beyond the current emphasis on folivory and leaf defenses, studies of broad-scale gradients in the nature and strength of biotic interactions should also include biotic attacks on, and defenses of, tree stems and roots.
Treatment Selection and Modalities

The objectives of this chapter are to describe the reported treatment modalities/interventions in different settings of treatment for adolescents with psychoactive substance use disorders (PSUDs). The development of the current state of knowledge concerning relations among patient variables, treatment characteristics, and environmental factors is discussed in light of the treatment-related politics of the era. Consideration is given to selection and planning of individualized treatment menus and review of updated treatment strategies, with special attention to the most commonly diagnosed comorbid psychiatric disorders. Present and future suggestions to decrease attrition and treatment failure and to improve treatment efficacy and aftercare are illuminated.
Suggestions are Welcome: Provider Responses to Unsolicted Advice Feedback

In today’s competitive business landscape many companies are increasingly encouraging customers to take a more active role in producing goods and services. Many researchers have argued that inviting customers to co-produce enhances service quality and satisfaction (Meuter and Bitner 1998). To date, little is known on how a company should respond when a customer voluntarily participates in the production process as an advisor and advocate. A notable phenomenon is the customer’s desire for advocacy that results in the customer volunteering ideas and suggestions to the service provider. From the service provider perspective this trend is exciting, yet equally troublesome, as managers must consider whether to implement a customer’s suggestion, whether to respond, and if so, how to respond without damaging the relationship. Often individual suggestions disappear in a black hole and the advice-giver receives no acknowledgement that the organization values their efforts. The marketing literature has not addressed the importance of advice acknowledgement and ways to negate repercussions of not implementing customer advice. Prior research has examined the impact of acknowledging customer complaints and compliments on customer attitudes (Bone et al. 2009).
Using a blog for enrichment readings in CSO

This paper is a report on our experience with providing a wide variety of optional readings to enrich the content of our CSO survey course. A blog was used to allow students to report on their readings and to see the reports of other students. The topics of the readings chosen included relevant historical notes, exciting new technologies, the breadth of computer science research and applications, job opportunities in computer science, and women in computer science.
An Alternative Perspective on Simulations.

We recently read the Strategies article by Antony Parish, “Using Immersion as a Teaching Method to Develop an Understanding, Appreciation and Empathy for Special Needs Populations,” in the May/June...
Social cognitive career theory and the goal of becoming a certified public accountant

A primary goal for professors in academia is to facilitate the career success of their students by providing them with the necessary subject knowledge, skills, experience, and confidence. In this p...
Ergonomic evaluation of new wrist rest on using computer mouse

Literatures reviewing showed that excessive computer use, particularly mouse usage might be an occupational risk factor for carpal tunnel syndrome. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the wrist rest on EMG activities of forearm muscle and wrist postures while using computer mouse. Thirteen participants applied the computer mouse to play the FreeCell game for ten minutes on four conditions of usage wrist rest (wrist band, wrist pad, wrist belt with pad, no wrist rest). Electromyography activities of the pronator teres muscle groups and wrist postures were recorded by Biometric data acquisition system. Results of ANOVA showed that there are not significant differences in EMG activities between four conditions. Further, using computer mouse with wrist rest reduced significantly the wrist deviation and dorsiflexion. There are the largest ulnar deviation and dorsiflexion while using computer mouse with no wrist rest. Although mouse pad could decrease the dorsiflexion, ulnar deviation did not control. Thus, the wrist belt with pad could keep the wrist on neutral posture and the better comfort rating.
Introductory Econometrics: The Gauss–Markov Theorem

[J]ust a year after getting his degree, Mansfield Merriman, Ph.D. Yale 1876, wrote of Gauss's elegant demonstration of the “Gauss-Markov” theorem that “The proof is entirely untenable.” In charity to Merriman it might be added that no less a mathematician than Poincare also misconstrued the nature of Gauss's result. Stephen M. Stigler Introduction This chapter brings together all the key ideas in this book: In order to do inference one must have a model of the data generating process. There are many possible estimators of the population parameters. Estimators can be classified according to whether they are unbiased – that is, on average correct. Many, but by no means all, estimators are linear estimators. One of the main criteria for comparing estimators is the variance of the estimator. When the data are generated according to the classical econometric box model, ordinary least squares is the best estimator in the class of linear, unbiased estimators – best, that is, according to the criterion of finding the estimator with the minimum variance for a given sample size. This last statement is often stated in shorthand as “OLS is BLUE” (best linear unbiased estimator) and is known as the Gauss–Markov theorem from which the title of this chapter is derived. This theorem explains the preeminence of the OLS estimator in econometrics. The Gauss–Markov theorem also works in reverse: when the data generating process does not follow the classical econometric model, ordinary least squares is typically no longer the preferred estimator.
Alignment of the ( 3 d 10 4 s 5 s ) 3 S 1 State of Zn Excited by Polarized Electron Impact

We measure the integrated Stokes parameters of light from Zn $(4s4p)4{^{3}P}_{0,1}\text{\ensuremath{-}}(4s5s)5{^{3}S}_{1}$ transitions excited by a transversely polarized electron impact at energies between 7.0 and 8.5 eV. Our results for the electron-polarization-normalized linear polarization Stokes parameter ${P}_{2}$, between incident electron energies 7.0 and 7.4 eV, are consistent with zero, as required by basic angular-momentum coupling considerations and by recent theoretical calculations. They are in qualitative disagreement with previous experimental results for the ${P}_{2}$ parameter.
Characterization of frequency stability in electromagnetically induced transparency-based atomic clocks using a differential detection scheme

We investigate a recently proposed scheme for differential detection of the magneto-optical rotation effect and its application to electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) atomic clocks [Opt. Lett.40, 3703 (2015)OPLEDP0146-959210.1364/OL.40.003703]. This scheme utilizes a linearly polarized bichromatic laser field that is EIT-resonant with alkali atoms. The results of our study reveal that the suppression of the laser noise can substantially improve the signal-to-noise ratio in EIT atomic clocks. Our preliminary results demonstrate an order of magnitude improvement in clock stability under some conditions when incorporating the differential detection scheme.
Are we simplifying balance evaluation in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

Abstract Background Clinical evaluation of the postural balance in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis has been measured by sagittal vertical axis and frontal balance. The impact of the scoliotic deformity in three planes on balance has not been fully investigated. Methods 47 right thoracic and left lumbar curves adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and 10 non-scoliotic controls were registered prospectively. 13 spinopelvic postural parameters were calculated from the 3-dimantional reconstructions of X-rays. 7 balance variables describing the position and sway of the center of pressure were recorded using a pressure mat. A regression analysis was used to predict sagittal vertical axis and frontal balance from the 7 balance variables. A canonical correlation analysis was performed between all the postural parameters and balance variables and the significant associations between the postural and balance variables were determined. Findings sagittal vertical axis and frontal balance were not significantly associated with the position or sway of the center of pressure (p > 0.05). Canonical correlation analysis showed significant associations between the postural variables in the 3 planes and center of pressure position (R2 = 0.81) and sway (R2 = 0.62), p Interpretation Frontal Cobbs, apical rotations, distal kyphosis, pelvic incidence, sacral slope, sagittal vertical axis, and frontal balance contributed to the postural balance in the cohort. The compensatory role of the pelvis and distal kyphosis in sagittal plane was underlined. Multidimensional analyses between the postural and balance variables showed the alignment of the thoracic, lumbar, and pelvis in the 3 planes, in addition to the global head-pelvic position impact on adolescent idiopathic scoliosis balance.
Role of TRPV1 in acupuncture modulation of reflex excitatory cardiovascular responses

We have shown that acupuncture, including manual and electroacupuncture (MA and EA), at the P5-6 acupoints stimulates afferent fibers in the median nerve (MN) to modulate sympathoexcitatory cardiovascular reflexes through central regulation of autonomic function. However, the mechanisms underlying acupuncture activation of these sensory afferent nerves and their cell bodies in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) are unclear. Transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) is present in sensory nerve fibers distributed in the general region of acupoints like ST36 and BL 40 located in the hindlimb. However, the contribution of TRPV1 to activation of sensory nerves by acupuncture, leading to modulation of pressor responses, has not been studied. We hypothesized that TRPV1 participates in acupuncture's activation of sensory afferents and their associated cell bodies in the DRG to modulate pressor reflexes. Local injection of iodoresiniferatoxin (Iodo-RTX; a selective TRPV1 antagonist), but not 5% DMSO (vehicle), into the P6 acupoint on the forelimb reversed the MA's inhibition of pressor reflexes induced by gastric distension (GD). Conversely, inhibition of GD-induced sympathoexcitatory responses by EA at P5-6 was unchanged after administration of Iodo-RTX into P5-6. Single-unit activity of Group III or IV bimodal afferents sensitive to both mechanical and capsaicin stimuli responded to MA stimulation at P6. MA-evoked activity was attenuated significantly ( P < 0.05) by local administration of Iodo-RTX ( n = 12) but not by 5% DMSO ( n = 12) into the region of the P6 acupoint in rats. Administration of Iodo-RTX into P5-6 did not reduce bimodal afferent activity evoked by EA stimulation ( n = 8). Finally, MA at P6 and EA at P5-6 induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK; an intracellular signaling messenger involved in cellular excitation) in DRG neurons located at C7-8 spinal levels receiving MN inputs. After TRPV1 was knocked down in the DRG at these spinal levels with intrathecal injection of TRPV1-siRNA, expression of phosphorylated ERK in the DRG neuron was reduced in MA-treated, but not EA-treated animals. These data suggest that TRPV1 in Group III and IV bimodal sensory afferent nerves contributes to acupuncture inhibition of reflex increases in blood pressure and specifically plays an important role during MA but not EA.
Statistical tests and identifiability conditions for pooling and analyzing multisite datasets.

When sample sizes are small, the ability to identify weak (but scientifically interesting) associations between a set of predictors and a response may be enhanced by pooling existing datasets. However, variations in acquisition methods and the distribution of participants or observations between datasets, especially due to the distributional shifts in some predictors, may obfuscate real effects when datasets are combined. We present a rigorous statistical treatment of this problem and identify conditions where we can correct the distributional shift. We also provide an algorithm for the situation where the correction is identifiable. We analyze various properties of the framework for testing model fit, constructing confidence intervals, and evaluating consistency characteristics. Our technical development is motivated by Alzheimer’s disease (AD) studies, and we present empirical results showing that our framework enables harmonizing of protein biomarkers, even when the assays across sites differ. Our contribution may, in part, mitigate a bottleneck that researchers face in clinical research when pooling smaller sized datasets and may offer benefits when the subjects of interest are difficult to recruit or when resources prohibit large single-site studies.
Mesenchymal Cells Affect Salivary Epithelial Cell Morphology on PGS/PLGA Core/Shell Nanofibers

Engineering salivary glands is of interest due to the damaging effects of radiation therapy and the autoimmune disease Sjogren’s syndrome on salivary gland function. One of the current problems in tissue engineering is that in vitro studies often fail to predict in vivo regeneration due to failure of cells to interact with scaffolds and of the single cell types that are typically used for these studies. Although poly (lactic co glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanofiber scaffolds have been used for in vitro growth of epithelial cells, PLGA has low compliance and cells do not penetrate the scaffolds. Using a core-shell electrospinning technique, we incorporated poly (glycerol sebacate) (PGS) into PLGA scaffolds to increase the compliance and decrease hydrophobicity. PGS/PLGA scaffolds promoted epithelial cell penetration into the scaffold and apical localization of tight junction proteins, which is necessary for epithelial cell function. Additionally, co-culture of the salivary epithelial cells with NIH3T3 mesenchymal cells on PGS/PLGA scaffolds facilitated epithelial tissue reorganization and apical localization of tight junction proteins significantly more than in the absence of the mesenchyme. These data demonstrate the applicability of PGS/PLGA nanofibers for epithelial cell self-organization and facilitation of co-culture cell interactions that promote tissue self-organization in vitro.
Costs of Cancer Care for Elderly Patients with Neuroendocrine Tumors.

The incidence and prevalence of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) have been steadily rising. NETs can arise in various parts of the body and have distinct pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, treatment, and survival compared to other neoplasms. The magnitude of the economic burden of NETs is largely unknown. This study aimed to estimate the cost of illness for NETs among elderly patients based on a large amount of observational data. We estimated the direct medical costs by phase of care using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare data, including claims from January 1, 2002 through to December 31, 2012. Patients’ care was categorized into three phases: initial phase (first year after diagnosis), terminal phase (last year of life), and continuing phase (the period between). We estimated the cost of illness by calculating the difference in medical costs between NET patients and a matched sample from a non-cancer control group. Our study sample included 8409 elderly NET patients in the initial phase, 9218 patients in the continuing phase, and 7897 in the terminal phase. The mean cost of care for the initial phase was $46,462 in 2016 US dollars; mean cost of care for the terminal phase with a cancer-related death was $122,702; while the mean cost of care for the continuing phase was $10,457. The mean 5-year cost was $87,079. This population-based study showed that NET patients had substantial continuing phase costs and 5-year costs. Among elderly NET patients, those with pancreas as the primary cancer site had the highest costs.
Prior independent mechanisms via prophet inequalities with limited information

Abstract Prophet inequalities have recently become a fundamental tool in the design of sequential and multi-dimensional mechanisms in Bayesian settings. However, existing mechanisms—as well as the underlying prophet inequalities behind their analysis—require sophisticated information about the distribution from which inputs are drawn. Our goal in this work is to design prior-independent sequential and multi-dimensional mechanisms. To this end, we first design prophet inequalities that require knowing only a single sample from the input distribution. These results come in two forms: the first is via a reduction from single-sample prophet inequalities to secretary algorithms. The second is via novel single-sample prophet inequalities for k-uniform matroids. Leveraging our new prophet inequalities, we construct the first prior-independent sequential mechanisms where the seller does not know the order in which buyers arrive, and buyers may have asymmetric value distributions. We also construct the first prior-independent multi-dimensional mechanism where buyers may have asymmetric value distributions.