cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Portable forced oscillation device for point-of-care pulmonary function testing

The forced oscillation technique (FOT) provides a simple and accurate approach for pulmonary function testing. However, most current devices are large and high cost, hence the test remains sparingly used. To address this problem, we verified the feasibility of a smart and portable forced oscillation device based on a small subwoofer and ultrasonic sensor that is targeted at point-of-care pulmonary function testing. In this paper, we first develop and optimize the signal processing algorithm for impedance estimation. Then we characterize the signal quality of programmable oscillatory waveforms with varying frequency, amplitude and duration. Finally, we evaluate the performance of the device against both mechanical models and human subjects. The results show that the coherence function is above 0.9 for all frequencies and the measurement error is less than 10%. The device yields good repeatability and satisfies the clinical diagnostic requirements.
Rotational vertebrobasilar ischemia: hemodynamic assessment and surgical treatment.

Objective Rotational vertebrobasilar insufficiency is a severe and incapacitating condition. Proper investigation and management are essential to reestablish normal posterior circulation hemodynamics, improve symptoms, and prevent stroke. We present a series of 10 patients with rotational vertebrobasilar ischemia who were treated surgically and emphasize the importance of transcranial Doppler in the diagnosis and management of this condition. Methods All patients presented with symptoms of vertebrobasilar insufficiency induced by head turning. Transcranial Doppler documented a significant decrease in the posterior cerebral artery velocities during head turning that correlated with the symptoms in all patients. A dynamic cerebral angiogram was performed to demonstrate the site and extent of vertebral artery compression. Results The surgical technique performed was tailored to each individual patient on the basis of the anatomic location, pathogenesis, and mechanism of the vertebral artery compression. Five patients underwent removal of osteophytes at the level of the subaxial cervical spine, one patient had a discectomy, two patients had a decompression only at the level of C1-C2, and two patients had a decompression and fusion at the C1-C2 level. Conclusion The transcranial Doppler is extremely useful to document the altered hemodynamics preoperatively and verify the return of normal posterior circulation velocities after the surgical decompression in patients with rotational vertebrobasilar ischemia. Surgical treatment is very effective, and excellent long-term results can be expected in the vast majority of patients after decompression of the vertebral artery.
Local Government: Social Equity “First Responders”

Public administrators at all levels are discussing implications of President Trump’s proposed budget. While eventual outcomes remain uncertain, a recent interview of a panel of local government pra...
APPLICATION OF ATTACHEMENT THEORY TO EQUINE-FACILITATED THERAPY

Over the past two decades there has been a growing body of evidence, clinical and anecdotal, that equine-facilitated therapy (EFT) is a powerful tool for social workers and mental health clinicians. Recent research studies have begun to identify, name, and explain the mechanisms of EFT as a treatment tool for individual clients. However, EFT lacks a unified theoretical foundation; many studies lack an explicit theory altogether. Strong empirical support begins with a strong theoretical foundation, the research field lacks a unified voice for the scientific value of EFT. Attachment theory can guide the understanding of how EFT operates and can support more rigorous inquiry to evaluate its effect in mental health treatment. This article reviews the human-horse relationship in the context of attachment theory and concludes with a recommendation for research to strengthen the empirical base of EFT in social work practice.
Data Modeling to Support Environmental Information Exchange throughout the Supply Chain

With an ever-increasing awareness of the environmental impact of manufacturing, more and more political organizations (countries, states, and unions) are enacting legislation designed to protect the environment. One category of this restrictive legislation is called Extended Producer Responsibilities (EPR). EPR directives place greater responsibility on manufacturers for the environmental impact of their products. These laws shift the focus from the product’s origin to the product’s final destination and from the process of manufacturing to the product itself. The highest impact of these directives is the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive, finalized by the European Union in 2003. The RoHS directive restricts imports of new electrical and electronic equipment containing lead and five other hazardous substances. For manufacturers to successfully comply with RoHS and similar legislation, they need the ability to exchange material content information. This information would then propagate through the supply chain from the raw material suppliers all the way to the final producer. While a solution could be generated for any single piece of legislation, the problem is that companies will need to successfully deal with potentially dozens of laws and directives. To deal with this problem, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) (a US Government Research Laboratory) developed a data model to address the underlying material declaration problem using a software development methodology. This data model was used in the development of IPC’s 1752 Material Declaration standard. IPC’s 1752 standard helps the electronics industry comply with RoHS by providing a data exchange mechanism by which businesses can declare the presence or absence of the restricted materials. While IPC 1752 was created to deal with EU’s RoHS, the data model was designed with the intent that it would be able to support future RoHS-like legislation (China RoHS, California RoHS, etc). Even if different solutions were developed for each piece of Legislation, they can interoperate provided they are based on the same data model. This paper looks at the data model designed for the IPC1752 standard, the methodology that was used to create it, and how it can be adapted to similar RoHS-like laws and directives.
Ornstein, R. & Ehrlich, P. (1989). New World-New Mind: Moving Toward Conscious Evolution

(1992). Ornstein, R. & Ehrlich, P. (1989). New World-New Mind: Moving Toward Conscious Evolution. Journal of Leisure Research: Vol. 24, No. 3, pp. 298-300.
Bone’s Intrinsic Traits: Age Estimation from Mammalian Dentition

This chapter summarizes archaeofaunal methods for estimating age-at-death from teeth. It begins with ageing methods based on dental development features: eruption schedules, cement annuli, and radiological analysis of odontological development, from tooth bud to completely formed tooth. It then describes ageing methods that rely on attrition, or wearing away, of the teeth: occlusal wear-stage analysis and the remnant heights of enamel crowns. It considers taphonomic effects on dentitions of young animals. The chapter comparatively assesses ageing methods in terms of their precision and accuracy, stressing that some imprecision might result from flaws in a method but difficulties with precise age estimation can also arise from the variability inherent to living organisms. The chapter stresses that some research questions can reliably be pursued with age estimates of lower resolution but consistent accuracy.
Modeling Large Carnivore and Ranch Attribute Effects on Livestock Predation and Nonlethal Losses

Abstract Predator-livestock interactions are a major concern for both agriculture and conservation globally. Using retrospective survey data from 274 ranches in Wyoming, United States, we used information theory to model how ranch attributes and large carnivores influenced the timing, duration, and severity of livestock predation. We then used constrained ordination to understand how 1) landscape, weather, and animal features influence predation and 2) how livestock behavior and nonlethal loss relate to ranch attributes and large carnivores. Timing, duration, and severity of livestock predation were generally not explained by ranch size or number of counties but were explained by livestock type, livestock parturition (either timing or duration), and documented large carnivore loss. Addition of the large carnivore loss variable to global models always improved Akaike information criterion scores. Rangelands characterized as rough, forested, shrubby, or a public grazing allotment reportedly increased predation risk, in part, due to large carnivore exposure. Approximately two-thirds of participants noticed livestock nervousness if a predator was nearby, half of participants noted changes in livestock distribution patterns, and a quarter of participants noted a reduction in livestock grazing time. Nonlethal losses such as lower weight gains, lower conception rates, lower birth rates, and delayed birth season were reported by 27%, 19%, 12%, and 11% of participants, respectively. Ordination revealed separation between behavioral changes and nonlethal losses, attributed to large carnivore exposure. Parturition relative to livestock type was also strongly correlated to timing and duration of predation for cattle-only operations but not for operations with sheep. The predictive cattle predation-parturition model suggests that for each additional month of calving, producers should anticipate 21 additional d of predation. Understanding predator-livestock interactions relative to ranch and rangeland features, parturition, large carnivore exposure, and losses that extend beyond mortalities can assist in developing novel strategies to mitigate lethal and nonlethal losses.
Collaborative air traffic flow management: Incorporating airline preferences in rerouting decisions

Abstract This paper discusses the air traffic flow management problem under the new operating paradigm of collaborative rerouting. A route and slot allocation model that incorporates flight operator's disutility cost of rerouting to avoid an impacted airspace is proposed to optimally schedule flights into multiple flow constrained areas. In order to evaluate the benefits of a combined rerouting/ground holding control mechanism and assess the impacts of accounting for airline preferences on individual and aggregate system delays, the model is applied to a realistic case of flow management into LaGuardia Airport under capacity constraints caused by convective weather conditions in the transition airspace. The results show that incorporating rerouting as a control action has the potential to reduce flight delays considerably if compared to traditional ground holding based mechanisms. Moreover, the specific flight operators' inputs regarding route preference and cost of rerouting and the route network characteristics have major contributions to individual and system level efficiency. Finally, efficiency-fairness trade-offs are discussed for the multi-resource allocation process based on different fairness schemes.
Ultrasound, Computed Tomography and Endoscopic Retrograde Pancreatography in the Diagnosis of Chronic Pancreatitis: A Comparative Evaluation

The diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis is a continuing problem, but is becoming easier. To diagnose chronic pancreatitis early and to distinguish between chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer are particularly difficult. In this paper I will discuss mainly the diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis by imaging techniques and not contrast findings between pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.
The submillimeter-wave spectrum of F2SO (X∼1A′)

Abstract The sub-millimeter/THz spectrum of thionyl fluoride, F 2 SO ( X ∼ 1 A′), has been recorded for the first time using direct absorption techniques in the frequency range 286–508 GHz. This work considerably expands the previous measurements for F 2 SO, which were all below 77 GHz. F 2 SO was synthesized in the gas phase by the reaction of pure SF 6 with residual H 2 O vapor either in a DC discharge or a heated reaction chamber. Over two-hundred fifty transitions frequencies were recorded for this molecule in the range J = 16 to J = 30, with K c = 0–28, each with a c-type pattern. The data were analyzed with an asymmetric top Hamiltonian in a combined fit with previous microwave measurements, and highly accurate rotational and centrifugal distortion constants were determined, including sextic distortion terms that were previously undefined. These parameters are the most accurate set of spectroscopic constants to date for F 2 SO. An r m (1) structure was determined for F 2 SO, which appears to show less steric hindrance than its chlorine analog, Cl 2 SO. F 2 SO is an important degradation product of SF 6 , and its pure rotational spectrum is of interest for environmental studies.
Unmet need for clinician engagement about financial toxicity after diagnosis of breast cancer.

10080Background: Little is known about whether growing awareness of the financial toxicity of cancer diagnosis and treatment has led to increased clinician engagement nor the status of current pati...
THE ATTITUDES OF HUMAN CAPITAL IN INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES ?TOWARDS USING PODCASTING AS AN INNOVATIVE ASYNCHRONOUS TRAINING ?AND DEVELOPING TOOL

Although many studies discussed podcasting benefits from different areas like ( Lee & Chan, 2007‎; ‎ Evans, 2008; Kennedy et al., 2011‎)‎ no one discussed the attitudes of Human Capital ‎towards Using it as an ‎Innovative Asynchronous training ‎and developing ‎tool. ‎ so this ‎paper aims to investigate these attitudes.‎ In order to do so, The researcher investigated a field study taking a sample participants of 120 workers from the ‎studied companies and gave them a five-point Likert scale‎ questionnaire about their attitudes towards Using Podcasting in training. The data were analyzed using SPSS. It was found that ‎ participants ‎had a very positive attitude toward podcasts and had very high motivation to develop their skills with the help of podcasts.
Pumas as ecosystem engineers: ungulate carcasses support beetle assemblages in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

Ecosystem engineers create physical changes in abiotic and biotic material, and through this process control the availability of resources for other species. Predators that abandon large portions of their prey may be ecosystem engineers that create habitat for carrion-dependent invertebrates that utilize carcasses during critical life-history periods. Between 04-May-2016 and 04-Oct-2016, we sampled beetle assemblages at 18 carcasses of prey killed by pumas and matching control sites in the southern Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, USA, to measure the extent to which beetle families utilized these carcass “habitats”. We used generalized linear-mixed models and linear-mixed effect models to examine changes in beetle abundance, species richness, and Simpson’s Index of Diversity. We estimated kill rates and carrion production rates for individual pumas to better assess the impact of pumas on invertebrate communities. We collected 24,209 beetles representing 215 species. We identified eight beetle families that had significantly higher abundance at carcasses than control sites. Carcasses had a statistically large to very large effect (determined using Cohen’s d) on beetle abundance, richness, and diversity for the initial 8 weeks of sampling. Our research revealed strong effects of an ecosystem engineer on beetle assemblages while highlighting the potential role of apex predators in creating and modifying physical habitats for carrion-dependent species. This suggests that there may be consequences for invertebrate communities where apex predators exist at reduced numbers or have been eradicated. The ecological role of invertebrates is often overlooked, yet they are essential taxa that provide critical ecological services upon which we depend.
Investigation of mask absorber induced image shift in EUV lithography

With the introduction of EUV lithography into early manufacturing, the lithography community still struggles with some imaging issues, like the magnitude of usable depth of focus, and reduced contrast which can impact stochastic effects such as defectivity and line edge roughness. In recent years EMF mask effects and their impact on best focus shift in EUV lithography were investigated, and alternative absorber stacks were proposed in order to improve control of focus and contrast. Recently, interest in phase shifting masks has resurfaced, and there are proposals for alternative absorber stacks that depend on feature type to be patterned. In this paper, we investigate the phenomenon that for a dipole the separate images of the two monopoles do not overlap with each other. This means that the contrast for the dipole is measurably lower than that of the individual monopoles. We discuss the impact of this effect on contrast and usable depth of focus, propose a method to measure this image split effect, and investigate which absorber materials can reduce it. One approach to suppressing the image split has been the choice of a material that is index matched to vacuum, which therefore shows a negligible image split behavior. While this image split is indeed largely suppressed for absorbers with n ≈ 1, those materials have markedly low intrinsic image contrast, making them unsuitable as absorbers. Instead, we have converged on absorbers that create either a significant phase shift or feature very strong absorption, with recent proposals coming close to a π phase shift for attPSM. We hypothesize that the close index match to vacuum is detrimental to imaging because a larger part of the light is absorbed which would otherwise have contributed to imaging.
Quintet-triplet mixing determines the fate of the multiexciton state produced by singlet fission in a terrylenediimide dimer at room temperature.

Singlet fission (SF) is a photophysical process in which one of two adjacent organic molecules absorbs a single photon, resulting in rapid formation of a correlated triplet pair (T 1 T 1 ) state whose spin dynamics influence the successful generation of uncorrelated triplets (T 1 ). Femtosecond transient visible and near-infrared absorption spectroscopy of a linear terrylene-3,4:11,12-bis(dicarboximide) dimer (TDI 2 ), in which the two TDI molecules are directly linked at one of their imide positions, reveals ultrafast formation of the (T 1 T 1 ) state. The spin dynamics of the (T 1 T 1 ) state and the processes leading to uncoupled triplets (T 1 ) were studied at room temperature for TDI 2 aligned in 4-cyano-4′-pentylbiphenyl (5CB), a nematic liquid crystal. Time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy shows that the (T 1 T 1 ) state has mixed 5 (T 1 T 1 ) and 3 (T 1 T 1 ) character at room temperature. This mixing is magnetic field dependent, resulting in a maximum triplet yield at ∼200 mT. The accessibility of the 3 (T 1 T 1 ) state opens a pathway for triplet–triplet annihilation that produces a single uncorrelated T 1 state. The presence of the 5 (T 1 T 1 ) state at room temperature and its relationship with the 1 (T 1 T 1 ) and 3 (T 1 T 1 ) states emphasize that understanding the relationship among different (T 1 T 1 ) spin states is critical for ensuring high-yield T 1 formation from singlet fission.
The Language of Bioscience: Facts, Speculations, and Statements in Between

We explore the use of speculative language in MEDLINE abstracts. Results from a manual annotation experiment suggest that the notion of speculative sentence can be reliably annotated by humans. In addition, an experiment with automated methods also suggest that reliable automated methods might also be developed. Distributional observations are also presented as well as a discussion of possible uses for a system that can recognize speculative language.
Implementation and evaluation of SBIRT training in a Community Health nursing course

Objective The purpose of this paper is to report on the implementation and evaluation of a Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) educational program into an undergraduate nursing curriculum and to recommend modifications for future trainings. Design and sample A one-group pre-test/post-test design was used. The sample consisted of senior level undergraduate nursing students. Measures Core knowledge, perceived competency, and program satisfaction were measured. Process evaluation activities were performed to gather feedback on the training and solicit ideas and recommendations for improvement. Results Of the 354 nursing students enrolled in the training, 249 (70%) participated in the research portion, with 240 (96%) completed the pre- and post-training evaluations. All four core knowledge components and 13 perceived competency indicators were statistically significant (p ≤ .001) when comparing pre- and post-t test values. Process evaluation data collected through 25 telephone interviews found that the training improved the students' confidence and ability to screen for substance misuse with patients. Conclusion Findings support the implementation of SBIRT training into an undergraduate nursing curriculum. Modifications for future training and research are proposed.
Improving Formwork Design Using Lean Thinking

Formwork is one of major engineering works in reinforced concrete projects. Its performance affects project success and therefore profitability. Formwork engineering could be divided into design and construction phases. Conventional formwork engineering involves unnecessary non-value-adding activities, such as change orders and material movement. The objective of this study is to applying lean thinking in formwork design to reduce unnecessary waste, increase design reliability, and enhance construability. A lean thinking formwork design process is proposed to achieve the goal. Concurrent design and Building Information Modeling (BIM) ideas are used in the process to improve visibility. Design reliability is improved using design correctness reviewed by project stakeholders. Thus, a continuous learning culture is developed. A real building project is used to validate the feasibility of the proposed method. Analysis results demonstrate that the proposed approach could be used to increase design reliability and enhance construability, thus reduce unnecessary waste in formwork design.
Zika Virus: Relevance to the State of Hawai'i.

Zika virus (ZIKV) is spread among human populations primarily through the bite of Aedes mosquitoes. While most ZIKV infections are asymptomatic or cause self-limited symptoms, the major concerns are its association with Guillain-Barre Syndrome and fetal microcephaly together with other birth defects, known as congenital Zika syndrome (CZS). This article reviews the confirmed Zika cases in the continental United States (U.S.) and Hawai'i thus far, as well as literature of Zika research relevant to Hawai'i. The first case of CZS within the U.S. was reported in Hawai'i, highlighting the unique position of Hawai'i for emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. Recent studies of the Zika outbreak in Florida demonstrate the key role of Ae. aegypti mosquito in transmission; continuous and proactive vector surveillance in Hawai'i is warranted. Additionally, an updated interim pregnancy guidance for pregnant women with possible ZIKV exposure was summarized. Due to recent decline of ZIKV transmission in the Americas, the risk of ZIKV importation to Hawai'i has been greatly reduced. However, given the presence of Aedes mosquitoes, climate condition, and status of Hawai'i as a travel destination and foreign import market, public health officials and healthcare providers should remain vigilant for a potential outbreak of mosquito-borne diseases in the future.
An analytical method of switching waveform design for selective harmonic elimination

Abstract The paper proposes an analytical approach to the design of switching waveforms to eliminate harmonics and thereby improve THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) in power converters. Generally, numerical solutions are used to obtain the switching angles to eliminate targeted harmonics and the solution requires guessing of an initial value and a valid modulation index, m (a ratio of the fundamental to the dc input). Both of these values affect solution convergence whereas, such difficulties do not arise in analytical solutions. The closed-form solutions obtained through the analytical approach also determine the valid range of m. Due to the closed form, this method is suitable for real-time applications where a microcontroller can be programmed, thus making it attractive for low-cost applications. A PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signal with even–odd symmetry has been selected to minimize the complexity of the solution. The approach requires the solution of transcendental equations associated with Fourier coefficients of a periodic waveform. Chebyshev expansion is used to convert the transcendental equations to power-sum non-linear polynomials. A successive polynomial simplification method has been used that lead to a set of elementary functions in closed-form, which are used to generate a polynomial and its roots are the desired optimal switching angles. In this paper, the proposed approach has been examined through a fourth-order, three-phase system for bipolar and multistep waveforms. The approach is equally applicable to other types of PWM systems. Simulation results verify the harmonic cancellations.
The Trans-border Landscape: Regional Mobility and Health Before the Border

Dube discusses the landscape and disease environment of the border region in this chapter. He provides a vivid sense of the environmental diversity to show why people would have crossed the border. Dube shows that the organization of precolonial public health overlapped with environmental differences.
The Philosophical Foundations of Fundamental Leadership Competencies

Leadership is a perennially important activity insofar as leaders exert asymmetrical influence on organizational processes and their outcomes. However despite its burgeoning literature there is an ...
Trusting the Untrustworthy: The Social Organization of Trust Among Incarcerated Women

Although the benefits of trust are well documented across a variety of settings, little empirical attention has been dedicated to trust in carceral settings, particularly among incarcerated women. ...
Chance and Chandra

A few examples are given of Chandra’s work on statistical and stochastic problems that relate to open questions in astrophysics, in particular his theory of dynamical relaxation in systems with inverse-square interparticle forces. The roles of chaos and integrability in this theory require clarification, especially for systems having a dominant central mass. After this prelude, a hypothetical form of bosonic dark matter with a simple but nontrivial statistical mechanics is discussed. This makes for a number of eminently falsifiable predictions, including some exotic consequences for dynamical friction.
Experimental tests for gender effects in a principal-agent game

Traditional arguments against women as leaders suggest that women would not be extended the trust necessary for leadership and/or that women undermine their own bargaining position by extending too much trust to others. We examine data from a laboratory test in which pairs of subjects are given the task of negotiating a wage-labor agreement. We first derive the optimal contract offer for principals and response by agents. We find that men and women do not reach different bargaining outcomes. We also find that women in authority are perceived as more trustworthy than men with authority, and women are no more or less trusting than men of their superiors or subordinates. The perceived trust is not rooted in differential wage terms but is based on the negotiation setting. Thus, women are likely to be extended the trust necessary to lead and are not likely to produce outcomes that are significantly different from men.
High-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm presenting as a giant appendiceal mucocele

Appendiceal mucinous neoplasms are rare findings defined by an accumulation of mucus within the vermiform appendix, and can be caused by a variety of conditions. Appendiceal mucinous neoplasms are important to consider because they can develop into pseudomyxoma peritonei as a consequence of perforation. We report a case of a 55-year-old man who initially presented with increasing abdominal girth, constipation, anorexia, and unintentional weight loss. Computed tomography examination of the abdomen and pelvis demonstrated a huge thin-walled cystic mass causing significant displacement of the surrounding abdominal and pelvic structures. The mass was amenable to resection and removed without perforation. Gross pathologic examination demonstrated a 44.0 × 40.0 × 23.0 cm unilocular cystic mass with a section of attached bowel. Microscopic examination revealed high-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm arising in a background of low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm. This case report provides an evidence to include appendiceal mucinous neoplasms in the differential diagnosis of large abdominal cystic masses.
Time will tell: The temporal code of immune threats.

Activation of NF-κB is a common downstream consequence of inflammatory stimulation, yet it achieves stimulus-specific transcriptional responses. In this issue of Immunity, Adelaja et al. use single-cell imaging and computational approaches to understand temporal features of NF-κB dynamics that transmit information about immune threats.
Understanding Blind Screen-Reader Users’ Experiences of Digital Artboards

Two-dimensional canvases are the core components of many digital productivity and creativity tools, with “artboards” containing objects rather than pixels. Unfortunately, the contents of artboards remain largely inaccessible to blind users relying on screen-readers, but the precise problems are not well understood. This study sought to understand how blind screen-reader users interact with artboards. Specifically, we conducted contextual interviews, observations, and task-based usability studies with 15 blind participants to understand their experiences of artboards found in Microsoft PowerPoint, Apple Keynote, and Google Slides. Participants expressed that the inaccessibility of these artboards contributes to significant educational and professional barriers. We found that the key problems faced were: (1) high cognitive loads from a lack of feedback about artboard contents and object state; (2) difficulty determining relationships among artboard objects; and (3) constant uncertainty about whether object manipulations were successful. We offer design remedies that improve feedback for object state, relationships, and manipulations.
Genetic and phenotypic variation of the equine infectious anemia virus surface unit envelope glycoprotein during disease progression

Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) infection causes a variable disease course consisting of acute, chronic, and inapparent stages of disease. Previous studies have characterized genetic variation in the envelope during recurrent febrile episodes of the chronic period in EIAV infection, detecting the appearance of novel envelope variants with successive fever episodes. Recently, it has become apparent that virus replication continues during the inapparent stage of disease at higher titers than previously thought. Genetic and antigenic variation in the envelope is considered to play an important role in EIAV persistence; however, few studies have characterized variants isolated during the inapparent stage of disease. We undertook a longitudinal study of surface unit envelope glycoprotein (SU) variation in a pony experimentally inoculated with the virulent, wild1 Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, Iowa State University ^Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University
Making the Voyageur World: Travelers and Traders in the North American Fur Trade

Review of: "Making the Voyageur World: Travelers and Traders in the North American Fur Trade," by Carolyn Podruchny .
Genetic analysis of T4 tail fiber assembly. II. Bacterial host mutants that allow bypass of T4 gene 57 function.

Abstract The requirement for T4 gene 57 function, normally essential for tail fiber assembly and phage production, can be partially bypassed in mutants of host E. coli strains B and K12 ( byp mutants). 57 − Mutants plate with almost full efficiency on the byp hosts, but burst sizes in liquid culture are only 10% of normal, and tail fiber antigen production is also subnormal. The byp mutations are specifically permissive for 57 − mutant phage; amber mutants defective in other genes do not grow on the byp hosts. Enhanced 57 − phage growth reflects an increased rate of intracellular phage production rather than an extended latent period. The mutation in one byp strain, BP4, affects cell growth, cell morphology, and T4 rII plaque morphology in addition to the growth of 57 − phage. Simultaneous reversion of all these mutant characteristics suggests a single mutational origin. The nature of host byp mutations is discussed in relation to the possible mechanism of gene 57 function in normal T4 development.
Brief of Law Professors as Amici Curiae in Support of Petition for Writ of Certiorari in British American Tobacco (Investments) Ltd. v. United States

This amicus brief urges the United States Supreme Court to grant certiorari in the case American Tobacca (Investments) Ltd. v. United States, No 09-980. The appeal raises important issues implicating legislative jurisdiction, the effects test, and the presumption against extraterritoriality in the context of a civil RICO action. The D.C. Circuit below did not address the difficult question of whether Congress intended RICO to apply to the foreign conduct of nonnationals – an issue on which the lower courts are divided. Instead, the court of appeals embraced an approach that treats regulation of foreign conduct as domestic, not extraterritorial, regulation. Amici submitted the brief to clarify the history and application of the effects test and to show how that history bears upon the proper interpretation of whether Congress intended a statute to reach extraterritorial conduct.The amicus brief argues that the U.S. Supreme Court should grant review for a number of reasons. The brief explains how the D.C. Circuit opinion has added confusion to an existing three-way split on the scope and application of the effects test. The brief also demonstrates how the meaning of the presumption of extraterritoriality and its interplay with the effects test is now in doubt.
The Humbug in American Religion: Ritual Theories of Nineteenth-Century Spiritualism

This essay examines critical modes and dependencies of mid-nineteenth century spiritualism. It looks at the relationship between the ritual dynamics and promotional framings of rappings and seances, and it considers the contested location of those practices within nineteenth-century theories of religion. The argument is threefold: that components of spiritualist practice are better understood alongside certain commercial enterprises; that their examination demands reconsideration of the relative importance of belief, intellection, and criticism in religious ritual; and that, in light of nineteenth-century Americans' own critical thinking on these matters, we understand better the ways in which spiritualism itself became both a location and datum for Americans' definitions of religion. The long-ignored religious theory of P. T. Barnum supports reclamation of the Fox sisters' own ritual practices even as it illustrates the processes by which they were gradually exorcised from American religions, spiritualism, and their historiography. Meanwhile, evidence from court records, newspaper reports, and the professional careers of mediums and their debunkers aids reconstruction of a religious movement that consisted largely, for a time, in the formal recognition of its own skepticism and operational intrigue.
Regional gravity decrease after the 2010 Maule (Chile) earthquake indicates large-scale mass redistribution

[1] We report small but detectable changes in the GRACE satellites' relative trajectory after the M8.8 Maule, Chile earthquake on 27 February 2010 that can be used to delineate the shift in the gravity field. A gravity anomaly of −5 μGal with a spatial scale of 500 km was found east of the epicenter after the earthquake. Based on coseismic models, the long-wavelength negative gravity change is primarily the result of crustal dilatation as well as surface subsidence in the onland region. The offshore positive gravity anomaly predicted from finite fault coseismic models is considerably smaller because the gravity changes due to surface uplift and interior deformation are opposite in polarity. Our study suggests a role for large-scale gravity observations in deciphering changes of the Earth's interior during great earthquakes by filling in the seldom-observed long-wavelength spectrum of earthquake deformations as a complement to surface geodetic measurements and seismic data.
The relation between the 3-D Bode diagram and the root locus: insights into the connection between these classical methods

This paper revisits the generalized Bode diagram technique and demonstrates its usefulness for gaining a deeper understanding of both Bode and root locus analysis. Additional insights on the connection between these two analysis methods are provided and this connection is demonstrated using several examples.
Trans–fatty acid levels in sperm are associated with sperm concentration among men from an infertility clinic

We measured the sperm fatty acid composition using gas chromatography in anonymized semen samples of 33 men undergoing infertility evaluation at an academic medical center. Trans –fatty acids were present in human sperm and were related inversely to sperm concentration ( r = −0.44).
BACTERIAL SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AFTER AMPLIFICATION WITH A UNIVERSAL PRIMER PAIR. |[dagger]| 1059

Our group and others have shown that a single, universal primer pair designed to anneal to highly conserved regions within the bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA coding sequence (16S rDNA) can amplify genomic DNA from a wide variety of bacterial organisms. Since the highly conserved regions of the 16S rDNA flank regions of the gene which vary between species, we proposed to determine whether products amplified with a universal primer pair could then be used for identification of the species with specific hybridization probes. We examined a variety of bacterial 16S rDNA sequences from GenEMBL, a non-overlapping nucleotide sequence database, using FastA (GCG, Madison, WI). These sequences were aligned using PileUp (GCG, Madison, WI) and 19-21 bp sequences were identified with apparent species specificity. PCR amplification was performed with the universal primer pair, p806R and p8FPL, and amplification products were evaluated by manual and automated methods. Dot blots were prepared with the PCR products from both Gram positive and Gram negative organisms and hybridized with end-labeled species specific probes. Using this approach we were able to differentiate between PCR products generated from different bacterial DNA templates. We conclude, that individual species can be identified by species specific sequence variability within amplification products generated following PCR with a universal bacterial primer pair. We speculate that the application of molecular genetic technology for the diagnosis of bacterial infections will reduce the cost and the time for identification of pathogens, will allow for the molecular triage of sepsis, and will improve the quality of care for patients with infections.(E.R.B. McCabe is an Academic Associate for Corning-Nichols Institute.)
Toward Full-Sequence De Novo Protein Design with Flexible Templates for Human Beta-Defensin-2☆

In this article, we introduce and apply our de novo protein design framework, which observes true backbone flexibility, to the redesign of human β-defensin-2, a 41-residue cationic antimicrobial peptide of the innate immune system. The flexible design templates are generated using molecular dynamics simulations with both Generalized Born implicit solvation and explicit water molecules. These backbone templates were employed in addition to the x-ray crystal structure for designing human β-defensin-2. The computational efficiency of our framework was demonstrated with the full-sequence design of the peptide with flexible backbone templates, corresponding to the mutation of all positions except the native cysteines.
Endothelial progenitor cells in regenerative medicine and cancer: a decade of research

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are a heterogeneous subpopulation of bone marrow mononuclear cells that have an enhanced potential for differentiation within the endothelial cell lineage. In response to ischemic injury, EPCs are mobilized from the bone marrow to the peripheral circulation and home to the sites of new vessel growth, where they become incorporated into the growing vasculature. Thus, EPCs can be therapeutically useful for treating ischemic injury or for delivering anti-cancer agents to tumors.
Acute tolerance of juvenile Florida pompano, Trachinotus carolinus L., to ammonia and nitrite at various salinities

The acute tolerance of juvenile Florida pompano Trachinotus carolinus L. (mean weight SE 5 8.1 0.5 g) to environmental unionized ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N) and nitrite-nitrogen (NO2-N) at various salinities was determined via a series of static exposure trials. Median-lethal concentrations (LC50 values) of NH3-N and NO2-N at 24, 48, and 96 h of exposure were calculated at salinities of 6.3, 12.5 and 25.0 g L 1 at 28 1C (pH 5 8.23^8.36). Tolerance of pompano to acute NH3-N exposure was not aiected by salinity, with 24, 48 and 96 h LC50 values ranging from1.05 to 1.12,1.00 to 1.08 and 0.95 to 1.01mg NH3NL 1 respectively. Regarding NO2-N, tolerance of pompano to this environmental toxicant was compromised at reduced salinities. Median-lethal concentrations of NO2-N to pompano at 24, 48 and 96 h of exposure ranged from 67.4 to 220.1, 56.9 to 140.7 and 16.7 to 34.2 mg NO2-N L 1 respectively. The results of this study indicate that juvenile Florida pompano are relatively sensitive to acute NH3-N and NO2N exposure, and in the case of the latter, especially at lower salinities.
Comparison of post-fire seedling establishment between scrub communities in mediterranean and non-mediterranean climate ecosystems

Summary 1 Both fire regimes and the conditions under which fires occur vary widely. Abiotic conditions (such as climate) in combination with fire season, frequency and intensity could influence vegetation responses to fire. A variety of adaptations facilitate post-fire recruitment in mediterranean climate ecosystems, but responses of other communities are less well known. We evaluated the importance of climate by comparing sites with mediterranean and subtropical climates. 2 We used paired burned and mature sites in chamise chaparral, mixed chaparral and coastal sage scrub (California), and rosemary scrub, sand pine scrub and sandhill (Florida), to test whether (i) patterns of pre-fire and post-fire seedling recruitment are more similar between communities within a region than between regions, and (ii) post-fire stimulation of seedling establishment is greater in regions with marked fire-induced contrasts in abiotic site characteristics. 3 Post-fire seedling densities were more similar among sites within climatic regions than between regions. Both seedling densities and proportions of species represented by seedlings after fires were generally higher in California. 4 The only site characteristic showing a pre-fire–post-fire contrast was percentage open canopy, and the effect was greater in California than in Florida. Soil properties were unaffected by fire. 5 Mediterranean climate ecosystems in other regions have nutrient-poor soils similar to our subtropical Florida sites, but show post-fire seedling recruitment patterns more similar to the nutrient-rich sites in California. Climate therefore appears to play a more major role than soil characteristics.
Natural functions of bacterial multidrug transporters

Bacteria express several multidrug transporters that recognize structurally dissimilar toxic molecules and expel them from cells. These transporters may have evolved to protect bacteria from diverse environmental toxins or to transport specific physiological compounds with the ability to expel drugs being only a fortuitous side effect.
Relational demography and officer occupational attitudes: The influence of workgroup context

Abstract Purpose Researchers have long held an interest in understanding what role officer demographics play in explaining occupational attitudes. Despite this interest, evidence has consistently shown such relationships to be inconsistent. Using a relational demography framework that is based on the notion that demographic effects are contextual rather than universal across all officers, the current study examines the extent to which officer demographics influences their occupational attitudes when viewed in relation to other officers in their assigned workgroup. Methods S urveys of 1,022 patrol officers assigned to 187 workgroups were used to examine demographic effects across a number of occupational attitudes. A series of multilevel modeling techniques were used to test the viability of the relational demography framework. Results Certain demographic effects changed or were attenuated after accounting for workgroup membership. Demographic effects were also found to differ across workgroup contexts. Finally, results for job satisfaction indicated that gender and experience effects were dependent upon the demographic and cultural context of the workgroup. Conclusions Demographic-attitudinal relationships are influenced by the broader workgroup environment. The results also highlight the importance of taking into consideration non-independence issues associated with attitudes and demographics from both theoretical and analytical perspectives.
A new interpretation of the hydrolcgic cycle

Records of runoff from lands to oceans and of precipitation on lands are considered to be sufficiently reliable to indicate their relative proportions. It is estimated that for the United States less than 30 per cent of the moisture which falls as precipitation runs off the land and reaches the ocean. It may be argued that the continental moisture is transferred to the ocean only as runoff, and that since the ocean-levels are constant, less than 30 per cent of the precipitation has a marine origin and the remainder represents reprecipitation from continental evaporation. It may be argued equally well that all of the precipitation is of marine origin, and that, since less than 30 per cent runs off in streams and as underground flow, more than 70 per cent must return to the ocean as water-vapor. Thus, the disparity between the amount of water which falls upon a continent as rain and that which runs off from it to the ocean is in no sense an indication of the source of the precipitated moisture.