cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Changes in body tissues and hemolymph composition of Culex pipiens in response to infection by Romanomermis culicivorax.

Abstract Hemolymph composition of fourth instar larvae of an autogenous strain of Culex pipiens was examined to determine the effects of parasitism by a mermithid nematode, Romanomermis culicivorax . Mosquitoes were reared under two different p H regimens: 4.5 and 7.3. Wet and dry weight of infected mosquitoes reared at either p H were significantly lower than controls. The effects of parasitism in the development of C. pipiens were evaluated from paraffin sections of mosquito larvae 2, 4, and 6 days postinfection. At 2 days postinfection, the infected larvae showed no apparent effects of parasitism; at day 4, the fat body tissue was reduced and imaginal disc development was retarded; and at day 6, parasitized mosquitoes were smaller in cross section, fat body tissue was found only in isolated clumps, and there was a complete absence of imaginal discs. Concentrations of total carbohydrates in hemolymph from infected fourth instar mosquitoes reared at p H 7.3 were reduced. Trehalose and glucose were each reduced by more than half. Total α-amino nitrogen was significantly lower in infected mosquitoes reared at p H 7.3. However, total amino acid concentrations for hemolymph from control and infected larvae reared at p H 7.3 were the same. Methionine sulfoxide decreased 63% and proline increased 2.5 times in infected mosquitoes. Hemolymph protein concentrations were reduced 80% in infected mosquitoes reared at both p Hs. The number of hemolymph proteins also declined from 35 to 22 during infection. Two host proteins, 82,000 and 158,000 daltons, remained prominent throughout the mermithid infection.
The Case of Trinity University Collegial Rift, Mission Drift, Corporate Shift

The case of Trinity University is an ideal way to introduce graduate students in educational leadership preparation programs to the university culture and how it shapes the graduate curriculum, fac...
Body image of dancers in Los Angeles: the cult of slenderness and media influence among dance students

Body image and self‐esteem are examined through personal stories among Los Angeles college dancers who grew up in the Hollywood culture of the cult of slenderness. The study incorporates a body image survey, eating disorder screen, and an interview process capturing dancers’ lived experiences with daily pressures. Dancers reveal their experiences with body image struggles and empowerment. Quantitative and qualitative results point to a need for future social activist intervention with dancers in their formative years when body image concepts are formed. At this time of need and rebellion, the dance community could support change by increasing focus on wellness to better support girls and women so mediated pressures will not continue to squelch the self‐esteem of girls and women.
On the macroscopic response, microstructure evolution, and macroscopic stability of short-fiber-reinforced elastomers at finite strains: II - Representative examples

In Part I of this work, we presented a homogenization-based constitutive model for the overall behavior of reinforced elastomers consisting of aligned, spheroidal particles distributed randomly in an incompressible, hyperelastic matrix. In particular, we provided analytical estimates for the effective stored-energy functions of the composites, as well as for the associated average particle rotations under finite deformations. The rotation of the particles is found to be very sensitive to the specific loading conditions applied, and is such that the particles tend to align themselves with the largest tensile direction. In addition, we obtained corresponding formulae for the detection of macroscopic instabilities in these composites. With the objective of illustrating the key features of the analytical results presented in Part I, we conduct here a more detailed study of these results for several representative values of the microstructural and loading parameters, as well as matrix properties. More specific...
Implementing collaborative forecasting to improve supply chain performance

Sales forecasting and collaboration are two business phenomena that have independently been recognized as contributing to improved organizational performance. The present research employs case study methodology to explore the synergies to be gained from combining the two processes. Depth interviews were conducted with executives at three firms currently engaged in collaborative forecasting with supply chain partners. Results revealed unique approaches to collaborative forecasting that circumvent the inhibitors of collaborative planning, forecasting, and replenishment adoption, and yield substantial improvement in company and supply chain performance including increased responsiveness, product availability assurance, optimized inventory and associated costs, and increased revenues and earnings. Seven guidelines to implementing interfirm collaborative forecasting are presented.
Earthquake Risk Analysis for Los Angeles County under Present and Planned Land Uses

Local governments rarely use risk analysis, the most sophisticated level of hazard assessment, to inform their planning and development decisions. But new tools are rapidly becoming available to ac...
Examining brand communities among children and adolescents: an exploratory study

Purpose – Online communities designed to appeal to children are on the rise. The success of this marketplace phenomenon indicates that adolescents are likely candidates for brand community membership; however, the literature has yet to examine this trend. This research aims to address this gap and establish the likely existence of brand community involvement among adolescents. It further seeks to explore the characteristics which may differentiate children who are more likely to become involved in brand communities and examine what impact their involvement may have on adolescents' psychological well-being. Design/methodology/approach – A national online panel was employed to collect survey data from respondents aged 7-18 and their parents. Findings – The results support the existence of a high brand community involvement segment among adolescents. Adolescents high in brand community involvement are found to display noteworthy differences in attitudes, values, and marketplace behaviors. Several interesting...
Multiple Balloon Rupture During Coronary Angioplasty: A Case Report

The authors report a case of coronary angioplasty of the left anterior descending artery complicated by multiple balloon rupture. Various balloon types including polyethylene terephthalate and PE 600 (ACS) ruptured at low atmospheric pressure. During balloon rupture, a septal side branch was dissected with severe intimal staining. The authors postulate that a particular lesion morphology was responsible for balloon rupture. Approaches to such lesions using alternative coronary angioplasty techniques and newer technologies are discussed.
Cosmogenic neutrinos and gamma rays

Abstract We describe the photoproduction interactions of ultrahigh energy protons on the universal photon backgrounds and the production of very high-energy neutrinos and γ-rays in such interactions. We compare the production in propagation in the microwave background to that in the extragalactic background light. The propagation of heavy nuclei is discussed only briefly. We show the extreme models for cosmogenic neutrino production and the limits set on them by different experiments.
Seeing Black: Race, Crime, and Visual Processing

Using police officers and undergraduates as participants, the authors investigated the influence of stereotypic associations on visual processing in 5 studies. Study 1 demonstrates that Black faces influence participants' ability to spontaneously detect degraded images of crime-relevant objects. Conversely, Studies 2-4 demonstrate that activating abstract concepts (i.e., crime and basketball) induces attentional biases toward Black male faces. Moreover, these processing biases may be related to the degree to which a social group member is physically representative of the social group (Studies 4-5). These studies, taken together, suggest that some associations between social groups and concepts are bidirectional and operate as visual tuning devices--producing shifts in perception and attention of a sort likely to influence decision making and behavior.
Contribution of Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition and Cancer Stem Cells to Pancreatic Cancer Progression

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma remains among the most lethal of human malignancies. Overall 5-y survival is less than 5%, and only 20% of patients presenting with localized disease amenable to surgical resection. Even in patients who undergo resection, long-term survival remains extremely poor. A major contributor to the aggressiveness of multiple cancers, and pancreatic cancer in particular, is the process of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). This review highlights the growing evidence of EMT in pancreatic cancer progression, focusing on the contribution of EMT to the development of cancer stem cells and on interaction of EMT with other pathways central to cancer progression, such as Hedgehog signaling, the K-ras oncogene, and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β). We will also discuss EMT-targeting agents currently in development and in clinical trials that may help to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with pancreatic cancer.
Ultrastructure of Pollen Embryogenesis

In vitro androgenesis has been induced in a wide range of species (for reviews see Maheshwari et al. 1982; Bajaj 1983; Heberle-Bors 1985; Raghavan 1986). One of the major goals in the study of pollen androgenesis is to determine how pollen grains are induced to enter a new developmental pathway to form embryoids. Since there are numerous ultrastructural changes that occur during pollen transformation, a thorough analysis of these events would aid in attaining this goal. The purpose of this chapter is to review the ultrastructural cytology of pollen embryogenesis to illustrate how this knowledge has been used to gain some insight into this phenomenon. This review will concentrate on Hyoscyamus niger L. (henbane; Solanaceae) and use other systems to illustrate variations.
Border patrol: regulation of immunity, inflammation and tissue homeostasis at barrier surfaces by IL-22

The maintenance of barrier function at exposed surfaces of the mammalian body is essential for limiting exposure to environmental stimuli, preventing systemic dissemination of commensal and pathogenic microbes and retaining normal homeostasis of the entire body. Indeed, dysregulated barrier function is associated with many infectious and inflammatory diseases, including psoriasis, influenza, inflammatory bowel disease and human immunodeficiency virus, which collectively afflict millions of people worldwide. Studies have shown that interleukin 22 (IL-22) is expressed at barrier surfaces and that its expression is dysregulated in certain human diseases, which suggests a critical role in the maintenance of normal barrier homeostasis. Consistent with that, studies of mouse model systems have identified a critical role for signaling by IL-22 through its receptor (IL-22R) in the promotion of antimicrobial immunity, inflammation and tissue repair at barrier surfaces. In this review we will discuss how the expression of IL-22 and IL-22R is regulated, the functions of the IL-22-IL-22R pathway in regulating immunity, inflammation and tissue homeostasis, and the therapeutic potential of targeting this pathway in human disease.
Identification of pixels with stray light and cloud shadow contaminations in the satellite ocean color data processing.

A new flag/masking scheme has been developed for identifying stray light and cloud shadow pixels that significantly impact the quality of satellite-derived ocean color products. Various case studies have been carried out to evaluate the performance of the new cloud contamination flag/masking scheme on ocean color products derived from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) onboard the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP). These include direct visual assessments, detailed quantitative case studies, objective statistic analyses, and global image examinations and comparisons. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Multisensor Level-1 to Level-2 (NOAA–MSL12) ocean color data processing system has been used in the study. The new stray light and cloud shadow identification method has been shown to outperform the current stray light flag in both valid data coverage and data quality of satellite-derived ocean color products. In addition, some cloud-related flags from the official VIIRS–SNPP data processing software, i.e., the Interface Data Processing System (IDPS), have been assessed. Although the data quality with the IDPS flags is comparable to that of the new flag implemented in the NOAA–MSL12 ocean color data processing system, the valid data coverage from the IDPS is significantly less than that from the NOAA–MSL12 using the new stray light and cloud shadow flag method. Thus, the IDPS flag/masking algorithms need to be refined and modified to reduce the pixel loss, e.g., the proposed new cloud contamination flag/masking can be implemented in IDPS VIIRS ocean color data processing.
Phospholipase C activity in normal rat mammary tissues and in DMBA-induced rat mammary tumors.

AbstractEmploying phosphatidylinositol as the substrate, phospholipase C (PLC) activity was measured in various cellular fractions derived from DMBA-induced rat mammary tumors and mammary tissues from 12-14 day pregnant rats. In the 2,000g pellet, 10,000g pellet, 100,000g pellet and 10U,000g supernatant fractions, PLC activity was more than 5 fold higher in the fractions derived from the neoplastic tissues. This was true whether PLC activity was expressed on the basis of protein content or 5' nucleotidase activities.
A generalized quadratic-based model for optimal power flow

A quadratic-based model of a power system is used to formulate a generalized optimum power system flow problem. The conditions for feasibility, convergence, and optimality are included in the construction of the optimal power flow (OPF) algorithm. The algorithm is capable of using hierarchical structures to include multiple objective functions and selectable constraints. The generalized algorithm using sensitivity of objective functions with optimal adjustments in the constraints yields a global optimal solution. The generalized algorithm includes special cases of the OPF that reduces the computational burden when the number of constraints is equal to the number of variables and can select the constraint sets that are binding or nonbinding. The package is flexible and can accommodate other models and solution methods. The algorithm has been tested using different objective functions on actual power systems, and optimal solutions were reached in relatively few iterations. The potential of the method for online application is being investigated with several utility companies. >
Feedback rate versus capacity loss in limited feedback MIMO systems

In this paper, a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication system employing a quantized feedback channel is considered. Because of their capacity gain benefits, MIMO communication systems are expected to be a core technology of next generation wireless systems. We study the capacity loss of such systems when the transmitted signal covariance matrix is designed using a low rate feedback channel. For the MIMO channel, we find a universal bound on the instantaneous capacity loss, and we derive a bound on the average capacity loss in the particular case when random codebooks, generated from the uniform distribution on the complex unit sphere, are used to design the transmitted signal covariance matrix. In this case, we find a closed-form expression for the capacity loss as a function of the number of feedback bits used at each channel realization, and it is that the capacity loss decreases exponentially as a function of the number of feedback bits
The electrophysiology of the motor neuron diseases.

Charcot is credited with the first descriptions of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in the 1860s. 1 He named the disease based on the pathologic features of muscle atrophy (amyotrophy) and sclerosis of the cortical spinal tracts (or lateral columns) in the spinal cord. In the early British literature the disease came to be known as motor neuron disease, and since that time the two terms are generally considered synonymous. The illness gained particular notoriety in the United States around 1940 when Lou Gehrig, the famous baseball player for the New York Yankees, was diagnosed with and died of the disease. In the United States, the disease soon became widely known in the lay literature eponymously as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Lou Gehrig offers a unique perspective in ALS that is not possible in most other cases. His baseball statistics offer a nearly daily assessment of his physical abilities. In analyzing these, one can observe when his physical decline began. A review of his batting average indicates that in 1939, his last full year of baseball, a steady and continuous decline occurred in his batting average 2 ; this was a full year before the onset of his symptoms in 1940. This fact highlights the difficulty facing experimental treatment trials in ALS; the disease is already well established and advanced before presentation, limiting the potential impact of any disease-modifying therapy. Also interesting historically was Lou Gehrig’s participation in a clinical trial studying the effects of vitamin E in the treatment of ALS. Lou Gehrig was a patient of Dr Wechsler’s in New York and appears as index case #4 in Wechsler’s publication of this clinical trial. 3 In his case description, Wechsler identifies the classic features of ALS, including the upper motor neuron features of spasticity, slowness of movements, and hyperreflexia, and the lower motor neuron features of atrophy, weakness, and fasciculations. The only missing clinical feature from his description is the asymmetric focal onset that is characteristic of the disease.
Computer programs for estimating substrate flux into steady‐state biofilms from pseudoanalytical solutions

Fixed-film processes employing microorganisms attached to an inert surface (biofilms) are widely used for biological treatment of municipal and industrial wastewater. For optimal design and analysis of these processes, mathematical models are necessary that describe the dynamics of contaminant transport within these biofilms and the associated contaminant utilization by the microorganisms. However, these governing equations that typically involve Fickian diffusion for contaminant transport and Monod kinetics for contaminant utilization are inherently nonlinear and have no closed form solutions except under special conditions. This can restrict their use in the classroom as cumbersome numerical techniques must be used for their solution. This problem is well documented in the literature and several authors have presented pseudoanalytical solutions that replace numerical solutions with algebraic equations. In the present study, we present pseudoanalytical solution-based computer programs for estimating substrate flux and biofilm thickness for a steady-state biofilm. Depending upon the intended end use, these programs can either partially or totally automate the solution process. In the partial automation mode, they can serve to enhance student understanding of important concepts related to steady-state biofilms, while complete automation can help bring more challenging and realistic problems associated with steady-state biofilms into the classroom. The programs have been tested on MATLAB version 5.0 and are available as freeware for educational purposes. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 10: 26–32, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com.); DOI 10.1002/cae.10017
Hydroxyapatite Coating on Thermally Oxidized Titanium Substrates

Titanium substrates were oxidized in oxygen or air at temperatures of 600°–800°C, then immersed in solutions of 2.0mM– 20.7mM CaCl2 and 1.2mM–12.4mM KH2PO4 for aging periods of 0.5–10 d. The titanium surface was successfully coated with hydroxyapatite (HAP) when the substrates were oxidized in oxygen gas at 610°C for 1 h and then aged in a solution of 2.00mM Ca2+ and 1.20mM PO43−. The Ca/P ratio of the surface coating increased toward its stoichiometric HAP value (return 10/6) as the aging time increased; the Ca/P ratio attained a value of 1.66 after 10 d.
Single Versus Combined Antibiotic Therapy for Gram-Negative Infections

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the available clinical data regarding single versus combination antimicrobial therapy for treatment of gram-negative infections, focusing on the more recent data in predominantly nonneutropenic hosts. In vitro and in vivo data regarding various antimicrobial combinations are also discussed.DATA SOURCESClinical trials, review articles, and meta-analyses were identified from a MEDLINE search (1960–July 2003). Special attention was given to clinical outcome trials performed since 1989. Search terms included gram-negative infections, drug synergism, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, monotherapy, combination therapy, carbapenems, β-lactams, cefepime, aminoglycosides, and fluoroquinolones.DATA SYNTHESISAlthough most of the studies were not randomized, double-blind, or controlled, the most recent literature indicates that monotherapy with agents that are active against isolated organisms, including P. aeruginosa, may be appropriate for most patients. Efficacy outcomes, including mortality, did not sig...
Thermal defects in B2 iron aluminide

Thermal defects in B2 FeAl samples with compositions between 49.5 and 54.7 at.% Fe were investigated using perturbed angular correlation of gamma rays (PAC). Vacancies on the Fe-sublattice were detected through quadrupole interactions induced at adjacent {sup 111}In/Cd probe atoms on the Al-sublattice. Five high-frequency quadrupole-interaction signals were detected (greater than 50 Mrad/s) that are attributed to complexes involving 1, 2, 3, 4 and (with less certainty) 5 Fe-vacancies in the first neighbor shells of the probes. These attribution are based on (1) a comparison between measured quadrupole interaction parameters and point-charge calculations of electric-field gradients for possible vacancy-probe complexes; and (2) numerical simulation of the evolution of site fractions of probes in the complexes at lower temperatures. Measurements were made at temperatures up to 950 C. Assuming that the equilibrium high-temperature is the triple defect (2 Fe-vacancies and one Fe-antisite atom), measurements over the range 600--900 C yield a formation enthalpy of 1.1(1) eV for the triple defect. Below about 600 C, Fe-vacancies are quenched-in with a fractional concentration of the order of 1 at.% close to stoichiometry. However, quenched-in vacancies continue to jump over short distances and trap next to the impurity probes atoms in day-long measurements downmore » to 200 C. Simulations of site fractions below 700 C were used to determine binding enthalpies of vacancies with probe complexes. Binding enthalpies obtained for the first four vacancies were 0.23, 0.23, 0.15 and 0.18 eV. Simulations in the range 200--700 C suggest a negative value for the formation entropy. The negative value indicates either that triple defects stiffen the B2 lattice or that repulsive defect-defect interactions become important at the high defect concentrations in FeAl.« less
Sexually transmitted diseases.

Adolescents have the highest rate of sexually transmitted disease (STD) of any sexually active age group. This article reviews the biological, psychological, and social factors that place adolescents at increased risk for STDs. The major STDs are reviewed, including epidemiology, clinical presentation, methods of diagnosis, and treatment modalities. In addition, major sequelae of STDs — including pelvic inflammatory disease, perihepatitis, Reiter's syndrome, and disseminated gonorrhea infection — are discussed.
The Development of Inflatable Space Radar Reflectarrays

The need for advanced spaceborne radar antenna systems has been identified by the National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) and the user community. The NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has been selected as the NASA center of excellence for inflatable structures, and has identified these structures as a possible way to advance radar array technology. JPL has combined this technology with some development work that is being conducted on flat passive radar arrays to create ultra-lightweight reflectarrays. To this end, JPL has teamed with ILC Dover, Inc., to design, manufacture, and test prototype arrays to demonstrate the validity of the approach. Inflatable, rigidizable structures offer several
W. Montague Cobb (1904–1990): Physical Anthropologist, Anatomist, and Activist

William Montague Cobb's life and work reflect a profound integration of art, literature, social activism, and science. This article presents some of the highlights of his academic development and professional contributions. We have considered his early academic development within the contexts of the formative years of American physical anthropology, Howard University Medical School, and the social issues in American society that influenced Cobb. His approaches to teaching, anatomical and anthropological research, and medicine are unique, and yet are closely reasoned and creative reflections of the major currents of academe and the broader society with which he dealt. Imbued with a sense of social responsibility, Cobb's applied anthropology involved the accumulation of extensive data on the one hand, and the formation of organizations for social activism on the other. It was directed toward solving problems of health care and racism. His work thereby served to balance the widespread distortion and neglect of medical and racial problems facing A fro-America between 1930 and the present day. He was also a principal builder of black medical and scientific institutions, and he preserved the record of his coworkers' contributions through his many biographies. This work represents no more than a sketch of his rich and prolific career (during which he produced more than 1,100 publications); the emphasis of this biographical study has been to ascertain the circumstances and attitudes that helped mold the first Afro-American Ph.D. in physical anthropology.
Direct Cache Access for High Bandwidth Network I/O

Recent I/O technologies such as PCI-Express and 10Gb Ethernet enable unprecedented levels of I/O bandwidths in mainstream platforms. However, in traditional architectures, memory latency alone can limit processors from matching 10 Gb inbound network I/O traffic. We propose a platform-wide method called Direct Cache Access (DCA) to deliver inbound I/O data directly into processor caches. We demonstrate that DCA provides a significant reduction in memory latency and memory bandwidth for receive intensive network I/O applications. Analysis of benchmarks such as SPECWeb9, TPC-W and TPC-C shows that overall benefit depends on the relative volume of I/O to memory traffic as well as the spatial and temporal relationship between processor and I/O memory accesses. A system level perspective for the efficient implementation of DCA is presented.
QoS guarantees in multimedia CDMA wireless systems with non-precise network parameter estimates

Overwhelming majority of the next generation wireless cellular networks are based on CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) technologies, with various flavors such as CDMA2000, WCDMA and their variations. Compared to the existing cellular networks which are designed for voice-only applications, the upcoming networks will be capable of providing high throughput and QoS dependent applications such as gaming, real-time streaming media, video conferencing etc., without significant improvements in the overall network capacity. Therefore for satisfactory end-user experiences, efficient use of the scarce network resources is vital. An efficient such algorithm has to depend on the estimates of information gathered from the network, such as the channel gains, received power levels, intercell/intracell interference etc. In such a scheme there are inherent sources for inaccuracies for the estimated values, such as the measurement errors, the delay in the estimates and the inaccuracies in models used for estimation. Implementing a resource allocation scheme which is robust 12to such measurement errors is important. In this paper, we study an optimum resource allocation scheme in a CDMA based cellular network, which is capable of allocating network resources to end-users of multimedia type applications, with QoS guarantees which are robust to inaccuracies in the estimated values, provided that those estimates can be bounded within a certain neighborhood of the real values.
Evaluation of the redesigned conformable GORE TAG thoracic endoprosthesis for traumatic aortic transection.

Objective To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the conformable GORE TAG thoracic endoprosthesis (CTAG) device (W. L. Gore and Associates, Flagstaff, Ariz) for the endovascular repair of traumatic aortic transections. Methods A prospective, nonrandomized, multicenter trial was conducted at 21 sites. Primary safety end points included 30-day all-cause mortality. The effectiveness end point was freedom from a major device event requiring reintervention through 1-month follow-up. Results Fifty-one subjects were enrolled between December 2009 and January 2011 with polytraumatic injuries and a mean Injury Severity Score of 32 ± 14. The proximal mean intimal aortic diameter measured 24 mm, while the mean distal intimal diameter was 22 mm. A total of 57 CTAG devices were implanted (mean, 1.1/subject; range, 1-2) with a mean patient age of 44 years (range, 21-87) and a male-to-female ratio of 2:1. Technical success was 100% with an operative mortality of 0%. Femoral access was utilized in 96% of patients. The mean procedure time and blood loss was 105 minutes and 148 mL, respectively. All subjects required admission to an intensive care unit with a mean hospital stay of 14.6 days. Adjuvant techniques (ie, lumbar drains and induced hypertension) to prevent paraplegia were used in only 7.8% of patients. No patient developed paraplegia despite 63% having complete or partial left subclavian artery coverage and only 9% of those receiving left subclavian artery revascularization. In addition, there were no device compressions or major device events reported. Overall mortality at 30 days was 7.8%, and all were adjudicated by the clinical events committee as not being device or procedure related. Serious adverse events occurred in 39.2% of patients through 30 days. To date, there have been no conversions to open repair. Two site-reported endoleaks were detected during the mean follow-up of 4.2 months, which did not require reintervention. Conclusions The CTAG device was demonstrated to be a safe and effective treatment for traumatic aortic transection based on 30-day outcomes. There were no device-related serious adverse events.
Virtual Spaces: Employing a Synchronous Online Classroom to Facilitate Student Engagement in Online Learning

This research study is a collaborative project between faculty in social foundations, special education, and instructional technology in which we analyze student data from six undergraduate and graduate courses related to the use of a virtual classroom space. Transactional distance theory (Moore & Kearsley, 1996) operates as our theoretical framework as we explore the role of a virtual classroom in distance education and analyze the ways in which a synchronous learning environment affects students’ learning experiences. Elluminate Live! was the software employed in the virtual classroom. In this analysis, particular themes emerged related to dialogue, structure, and learner autonomy. In addition, students rated convenience, technical issues, and pedagogical preferences as important elements in their learning experiences. The article discusses these themes as a contribution to reducing the ―distance‖ that students experience in online learning and to developing quality distance education experiences for students in higher education.
Agronomic Characteristics, Production, and Marketing

Soybeans have become an increasingly important agricultural commodity, with a steady increase in U.S. and worldwide annual production (Fig. 1.1). Currently global production is estimated at 137 million metric tons, with the major producers being the United States, Brazil, China, Argentina, and India (Fig. 1.2). In any given year, U.S. farmers produce about half of the total world soybean crop. Soybeans are one of the world’s leading cash crops because they have wide regions of adaptability and the ability to fix nitrogen. This chapter provides readers with origin, early history in Europe and North America, agronomic characteristics, production, and marketing of soybeans. Additional information is found in Caldwell (1973), Norman (1978), Scott and Aldrich (1983), and Wilcox (1987).
SNR Dependence of Optimal Parameters for Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Measurements

Optimizing the diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) parameters (i.e., the b-value and the number of image averages) to the tissue of interest is essential for producing high-quality apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps. Previous investigation of this optimization was performed assuming Gaussian noise statistics for the ADC map, which is only valid for high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) imaging. In this work, the true statistics of the noise in ADC maps are derived, followed by an optimization of the DWI parameters as a function of the imaging SNR. Specifically, it is demonstrated that the optimum b-value is a monotonically increasing function of the imaging SNR, which converges to the optimum b-value from previously proposed approaches for high-SNR cases, while exhibiting a significant deviation from this asymptote for low-SNR situations. Incorporating the effects of T2 weighting further increases the SNR dependence of the optimal parameters. The proposed optimization scheme is particularly important for high-resolution DWI, which intrinsically suffers from low SNR and therefore cannot afford the use of the conventional high b-values. Comparison scans were performed for high-resolution DWI of the spinal cord, demonstrating the improvements in the resulting images and the ADC maps achieved by this method.
Inducing Positive Mood without Demand Characteristics

The possibility that a state of private self-awareness induced by a small mirror can facilitate the effect of procedures which induce a positive mood was investigated. Participants were 171 female and 60 male undergraduates who were randomly assigned to one of six conditions in a 2 (Mirror vs No-mirror) × 3 (Control vs Velten manipulation vs Music manipulation) design. As predicted, participants who experienced the Velten and Music manipulations in the presence of the mirror reported elevated mood relative to control participants. The mood of participants who experienced the Velten and Music manipulations without the mirror did not differ from the mood of control participants. The potential benefits of using a small mirror as a substitute for explicit instructions about the expected effect of mood-induction procedures are discussed.
Impact of Selective Dropping Attacks on Network Coding Performance in DTNs and a Potential Mitigation Scheme

Some ad hoc network scenarios are characterized by frequent partitions and intermittent connectivity. A store-and-forward network architecture known as the disruption tolerant network (DTN) has been designed for such challenging network environments. To further improve the delivery performance, some researchers have proposed some network coding schemes for DTNs. However, not much papers discuss the security issues of network coding schemes in DTNs. In this paper, we first discuss some attacks that can be launched against network coding schemes in DTNs. Then, we focus on evaluating the impact of selective data dropping attacks on the delivery performance of a network coding scheme we design for DTN. Next, we describe a mitigation scheme that we design to overcome such attacks. Our mitigation scheme uses dynamic redundancy factor to generate more coded packets when a source notices performance degradation in the delivery performance. Via simulation studies, we show that our mitigation scheme is effective in restoring the performance degradation caused by the selective dropping attacks as long as alternate DTN paths exist for a source/destination pair.
Radiative Heating Methodology for the Huygens Probe

The radiative heating environment for the Huygens probe near peak heating conditions for Titan entry is investigated in this paper. The task of calculating the radiation-coupled flowfield, accounting for non-Boltzmann and non-optically thin radiation, is simplified to a rapid yet accurate calculation. This is achieved by using the viscous-shock layer (VSL) technique for the stagnation-line flowfield calculation and a modified smeared rotational band (SRB) model for the radiation calculation. These two methods provide a computationally efficient alternative to a Navier-Stokes flowfield and line-by-line radiation calculation. The results of the VSL technique are shown to provide an excellent comparison with the Navier-Stokes results of previous studies. It is shown that a conventional SRB approach is inadequate for the partially optically-thick conditions present in the Huygens shock-layer around the peak heating trajectory points. A simple modification is proposed to the SRB model that improves its accuracy in these partially optically-thick conditions. This modified approach, labeled herein as SRBC, is compared throughout this study with a detailed line-by-line (LBL) calculation and is shown to compare within 5% in all cases. The SRBC method requires many orders-of-magnitude less computational time than the LBL method, which makes it ideal for coupling to the flowfield. The application of a collisional-radiative (CR) model for determining the population of the CN electronic states, which govern the radiation for Huygens entry, is discussed and applied. The non-local absorption term in the CR model is formulated in terms of an escape factor, which is then curve-fit with temperature. Although the curve-fit is an approximation, it is shown to compare well with the exact escape factor calculation, which requires a computationally intensive iteration procedure.
The substitute brain and the potential of the gel model.

This purpose of this paper is to review the recent history of the use of agarose gels. Although originally confined to electrophoresis work, agarose gels have proven themselves useful to a number of disciplines in the modern world, which includes brain infusion studies for research involving the treatment of various neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s Disease. In reviewing the relevant research leading up to the modern day, this paper attempts to track agarose gels through their stages of accuracy verification, highlighting why they are useful to the neurosurgery discipline and characterizing the nature of their use. Agarose gels do have significant limitations, which are also discussed, but they have substantial potential as a modifiable medium or as a basis of comparison for even more accurate models in the future.
An Easy Path to Convex Analysis and Applications

Convex optimization has an increasing impact on many areas of mathematics, applied sciences, and practical applications. It is now being taught at many universities and being used by researchers of different fields. As convex analysis is the mathematical foundation for convex optimization, having deep knowledge of convex analysis helps students and researchers apply its tools more effectively. The main goal of this book is to provide an easy access to the most fundamental parts of convex analysis and its applications to optimization. Modern techniques of variational analysis are employed to clarify and simplify some basic proofs in convex analysis and build the theory of generalized differentiation for convex functions and sets in finite dimensions. We also present new applications of convex analysis to location problems in connection with many interesting geometric problems such as the Fermat-Torricelli problem, the Heron problem, the Sylvester problem, and their generalizations. Of course, we do not expect to touch every aspect of convex analysis, but the book consists of sufficient material for a first course on this subject. It can also serve as supplemental reading material for a course on convex optimization and applications.
Epistemological issues in omics and high-dimensional biology: give the people what they want.

Gene expression microarrays have been the vanguard of new analytic approaches in high-dimensional biology. Draft sequences of several genomes coupled with new technologies allow study of the influe...
IDENTIFICATION OF AN ELITE SORGHUM GENOTYPE WITH HIGH IN VITRO PERFORMANCE CAPACITY

Abstract The use of plant genetic engineering to augment plant breeding programs is significantly strengthened if novel trait(s) can be introduced directly into elite germplasm. Implementing this technology to sorghum breeding programs has been hampered by the lack of an efficient and transferable protocol that is suitable with elite genotypes. This study was conducted to identify parameters that maximize in vitro culture performance in sorghum targeting a specific elite genotype, C2-97, which possesses enhanced agronomic characteristics. Three different tissue culture media formulations, MS, N6, and M11 were evaluated. M11 medium contains approximately 16% and 85% more total nitrogen and sevenfold and threefold higher levels of potassium phosphate than MS and N6 formulations, respectively. Culture performance of C2-97 across the three media formulations was compared to sorghum genotypes that were previously reported to be amenable to genetic engineering, namely Tx430, P898012, Bwheatland, and C401. Maxim...
Predation and the ecological community

The major purpose of this book has been to explore what happens when the boundaries of one’s ecological system are expanded from consideration of only a single species to include both a predator and its prey. The lesson I have tried to communicate is that the class of potential population behaviors is so enlarged by such a broadening of perspective that the traditional concepts of single-species dynamics no longer provide a reliable theoretical guide. The question now remaining is what happens when the bounds of the system are drawn even more broadly?
Sacred/Secular Nexus: Afro-Brazilian Religion in the Afro-Brazilian Art of Mestre Didi and Ronaldo Rego

Afro-Brazilian religion has been central to the development of Afro-Brazilian art. This is because before art historians, curators, and critics demonstrated interest in Afro-Brazilian art in the se...
The Voting Rights Act and Black Registration in Mississippi

The impact of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) on black registration in Mississippi was dramatic. Black registration increased from 28,500 in 1965 to 406,000 in 1984. The influence of the VRA on black registration, however, varied across Mississippi counties. The impact of the VRA was especially evident in counties having a large number of unregistered blacks. The presence of a large number of unregistered blacks apparently stimulated a high level of civil rights activity, which then provokedfederal intervention. Nevertheless, blacks are registered at lower rates than whites; blacks are less likely to vote than whites; and blacks are less likely than whites to be elected to public office.
Endodontic Treatment and Metal Crown Restoration of a Fractured Maxillary Right Fourth Premolar Tooth: A Case Report

A 2 year-old, spayed female Shetland sheepdog presented with a fractured maxillary right fourth premolar tooth during oral examination for a dental prophylaxis. Seven months after conventional root canal therapy was performed, the tooth was prepared for non-precious metal, full crown restoration, which was cemented in place 1 month after crown margin preparation. During re-examination for an unrelated problem 6 months later, the metal crown was in place and there was no evidence of further fracture of the tooth.
Quantum Chemical Insight into the Interactions and Thermodynamics Present in Choline Chloride Based Deep Eutectic Solvents

We report quantum chemical calculations performed on three popular deep eutectic solvents (DESs) in order to elucidate the molecular interactions, charge transfer interactions, and thermodynamics associated with these systems. The DESs studied comprise 1:2 choline chloride/urea (reline), 1:2 choline chloride/ethylene glycol (ethaline), and 1:1 choline chloride/malonic acid (maloline). The excellent correlation between calculated and experimental vibrational spectra allowed for identification of dominant interactions in the DES systems. The DESs were found to be stabilized by both conventional hydrogen bonds and C–H···O/C–H···π interactions between the components. The hydrogen-bonding network established in the DES is clearly distinct from that which exists within the neat hydrogen-bond donor dimer. Charge decomposition analysis indicates significant charge transfer from choline and chloride to the hydrogen-bond donor with a higher contribution from the cation, and a density of states analysis confirms the...
Unusual Urological Presentations of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome: Large Cell Lymphoma

Abstract We describe 2 patients with unrecognized acquired immunodeficiency syndrome who presented with acute urological conditions. One patient had inapparent obstructive anuric renal failure and the other had a testicular mass. The etiology in each case was large cell lymphoma. Recognition of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome by urologists requires an awareness of its many unusual presentations. ( J. Urol., 138: 627–629, 1987 )
Uncertainty by regulation: Rottenberg׳s invariance principle

Abstract What has come to be called Rottenberg׳s (1956) “Invariance Principle” states that the same talent allocation would result in a profit-maximizing league with or without interventions often claimed in the name of furthering competitive balance (e.g., a player draft or a reservation system that granted club owners complete control of the player׳s labor market). While the stuff of undergraduate classes on sports economics, the invariance principle goes virtually ignored in policy. We provide the basic modern theory of the invariance principle, review the empirical work on the topic, and apply meta-analysis thinking to derive future research ideas on this fundamental sports economics principle.
Implications of biologic rhythms for clinical practice.

The fact that many bodily functions display rhythmicity has an important bearing on resistance to toxins, response to drugs or irradiation, and weight gain or loss according to when food is ingested. Though considerable clinical research remains to be done, “chronobiology” has already made available techniques for establishing predictable human rhythms, opening the way to more specific treatment of many conditions.
Long term planning and hedging for a lignocellulosic biorefinery in a carbon constrained world

While bioethanol has become a promising candidate for replacing fossil based transportation fuels, its economic feasibility still eludes industry investors. In particular, uncertainties exist in both production processes and associated markets. Hence, it is critical to develop process technology and strategize the operation and hedging decisions that improve financial viability. This paper considers long-term production scheduling under the impact of carbon tax constraints and ethanol spot price uncertainty, as well as risk management via ethanol swap contracts. More specifically, a framework consisting of a two-stage stochastic program and a two-factor time series model is presented to determine the weekly production rate and swap portfolios to maximize the process profit under spot price uncertainty.