cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
RFID tag antenna based sensing: Does your beverage glass need a refill?

Liquid level detection in customer beverage glasses and liquor bottles in the service industry is important for maintaining quality of service and good approval ratings. Current sensing approaches rely either on visual inspection or expensive sensor electronics to detect liquid levels. In this study, we investigate how the paradigm of RFID tag antenna based sensing can be used as a low-cost alternative in the service industry, to detect the volume of liquid in a beverage glass by mapping a change in RSSI power measurements from RFID tags to the level of liquid in the glass. We demonstrate that this sensing technique when deployed in a real restaurant-like setting can be used to accurately predict the state of the glass over 80% of the time, and thus has good potential as a low-cost sensing methodology for applications in the restaurant industry.
Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn and the Evils of Soviet Communism

Solzhenitsyn, former Zek and Nobel Laureate, found the causes of the cruelty of which the Communists were capable to lie in the Marxist‐Leninist ideology. The atheistic Communists had substituted their ideology for the values of Christianity which had stood the Russians in good stead and had perdured the test of time. The Communists were bent on stamping out religion. They arrested priests, nuns and those who practised their beliefs. Solzhenitsyn sees in religion the anodyne to Russia′s ills.
Comprehensive Assessment of the Safety, Durability, Clinical Performance, and Healing Characteristics of a Double Velour Knitted Dacron Arterial Prosthesis

A resurgence of clinical reports documenting various modes of prosthetic graft failure have appeared recently in the literature. Increasing federal scrutiny and patient longevity make evaluation of graft durability and graft- related complications timely and imperative. Between October 1975 and February 1979, 298 patients underwent 310 arterial reconstructions using a single model of a porous double velour knitted Dacron graft. Average age was 61 ± 11 years (±SD) and males comprised 65% of the patient population. Two hundred forty-seven prosthetic grafts (80%) were used for aorto-iliac femoral reconstruction. Indications for operation included disabling claudi cation in 105 patients (35%), limb salvage in 71 patients (24%), aneurysm in 97 patients (33%), and other conditions in 25 patients. Follow-up averaged 1.8 years, extended to a maximum of 3.6 years, and yielded an aggregate of 475 graft-years of follow-up for analysis. Operative and late mortality rates were 10 and 10.8%, respectively; overall actua...
Association between fatigue and other cancer-related symptoms in patients with advanced cancer

Although fatigue is the chronic symptom most commonly experienced by patients with advanced cancer, little research has been done on the associations and correlates of fatigue in this population. The aim of this study was, therefore, to determine whether fatigue scores, as measured by the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F), are associated with age, gender, type of cancer diagnosed, pain, and other cancer-related symptoms measured using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS). We retrospectively reviewed the FACIT-F (when a higher score denotes lower fatigue) and ESAS (when a lower fatigue score denotes lower fatigue intensity) scores of 268 patients with advanced cancer who had been previously enrolled in clinical trials of therapies for fatigue. To determine associations between variables, we performed univariate and multivariate analyses on the data. We found no univariate association between fatigue score and gender, ethnicity (p = 0.31), or type of cancer diagnosed. Performance status was associated with fatigue (p < 0.0001). On multivariate analysis, we found, however, significant association between fatigue and pain (r = −0.20, p = 0.0012), nausea (r = −0.13, p = 0.04), anxiety (r = −0.27, p < 0.0001), fatigue and depression (r = −0.19, p = 0.0019), drowsiness (r = −0.24, p = 0.0002), dyspnea (r = −0.17, p = 0.007), anorexia (r = −0.29, p < 0.0001), insomnia (r = −0.25, p < 0.0001), and feelings of well-being (r = −0.37, p < 0.0001). Using backward stepwise logistic regression analysis, independent correlative factors associated with fatigue include well-being (p = .0003), drowsiness (0.006), anorexia (0.01), and anxiety (0.03). However, this model only explained 21% of the variation in the intensity of fatigue. Although we found that fatigue is significantly associated with the severity of psychological symptoms (anxiety and depression) and physical symptoms (pain, dyspnea, insomnia, anorexia, and drowsiness), additional research is required to confirm that these are indeed the main associations of fatigue and, by doing so, enable physicians to better characterize fatigue in patients receiving palliative care.
Use of Hybridization Chain Reaction-Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization To Track Gene Expression by Both Partners during Initiation of Symbiosis

The establishment of a productive symbiosis between Euprymna scolopes, the Hawaiian bobtail squid, and its luminous bacterial symbiont, Vibrio fischeri, is mediated by transcriptional changes in both partners. A key challenge to unraveling the steps required to successfully initiate this and many other symbiotic associations is characterization of the timing and location of these changes. We report on the adaptation of hybridization chain reaction-fluorescent in situ hybridization (HCR-FISH) to simultaneously probe the spatiotemporal regulation of targeted genes in both E. scolopes and V. fischeri. This method revealed localized, transcriptionally coregulated epithelial cells within the light organ that responded directly to the presence of bacterial cells while, at the same time, provided a sensitive means to directly show regulated gene expression within the symbiont population. Thus, HCR-FISH provides a new approach for characterizing habitat transition in bacteria and for discovering host tissue responses to colonization.
Dynamic Traffic Routing Problem in Distributed Parameter Setting

The aim of the Dynamic Traffic Routing (DTR) solution is to come up with the appropriate values of the traffic split factors at the node where the traffic can take the alternate routes between node A to node B. Then the traffic can be split at the node using VMS, highway advisory radio, or in-vehicle routing systems. The feedback controller is designed to use the current measurements of the traffic conditions on the alternate routes and calculate the split factor values. This strategy can be used for real on-line traffic control, but also can be used for traffic simulations and for planning purposes.
Quizmaster: a software-based student response system

There are several commercial hardware-based student response systems available, where students use a handheld remote to "vote" on a test or an informal quiz. This can be used for formal assessment of individual performance, or to give the instructor a quick "feel" how well the class as an aggregate understands the material at hand. We have developed a software version of this instrument, which uses a Java applet and a web server to perform the same functionality.
Mentoring K Scholars: Strategies to Support Research Mentors

The goal of this paper is to present strategies utilized to support K scholar research mentors. K scholars are generally assistant professors who are close to developing independent research programs. Of all the various types of mentees, K scholars offer the greatest challenges, as well as the greatest rewards, for research mentors. To see one's mentee achieve independent PI status and become an established investigator is one of the great joys of being a research mentor. Research mentors for K scholars, however, may not directly benefit from their mentoring relationship, neither in terms of obtaining data to support their research program or laboratory, nor in assistance with grants or scientific papers. There is a pressing need for the research community to address the workload, institutional expectations, and reward system for research mentors. The dearth of research mentors and role models in clinical translational science parallels the decreasing number of physicians choosing careers in clinical research. While there is limited empirical information on the effectiveness of mentor support mechanisms, this white paper concludes that providing mentor support is critical to expanding the available pool of mentors, as well as providing training opportunities for K scholars.
Topically Applied Phospho-Sulindac Hydrogel is Efficacious and Safe in the Treatment of Experimental Arthritis in Rats

Purpose Formulate phospho-sulindac (P-S, OXT-328) in a Pluronic hydrogel to be used as a topical anti-inflammatory agent and study its efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics in an arthritis model.
Adaptation of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans to extreme osmotic stress

The ability to control osmotic balance is essential for cellular life. Cellular osmotic homeostasis is maintained by accumulation and loss of inorganic ions and organic osmolytes. Although osmoregulation has been studied extensively in many cell types, major gaps exist in our molecular understanding of this essential process. Because of its numerous experimental advantages, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans provides a powerful model system to characterize the genetic basis of animal cell osmoregulation. We therefore characterized the ability of worms to adapt to extreme osmotic stress. Exposure of worms to high-salt growth agar causes rapid shrinkage. Survival is normal on agar containing up to 200 mM NaCl. When grown on 200 mM NaCl for 2 wk, worms are able to survive well on agar containing up to 500 mM NaCl. HPLC analysis demonstrated that levels of the organic osmolyte glycerol increase 15- to 20-fold in nematodes grown on 200 mM NaCl agar. Accumulation of glycerol begins 3 h after exposure to hypertonic stress and peaks by 24 h. Glycerol accumulation is mediated primarily by synthesis from metabolic precursors. Consistent with this finding, hypertonicity increases transcriptional expression of glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, an enzyme that is rate limiting for hypertonicity-induced glycerol synthesis in yeast. Worms adapted to high salt swell and then return to their initial body volume when exposed to low-salt agar. During recovery from hypertonic stress, glycerol levels fall rapidly and glycerol excretion increases approximately fivefold. Our studies provide the first description of osmotic adaptation in C. elegans and provide the foundation for genetic and functional genomic analysis of animal cell osmoregulation.
Stereospecific Reduction of Propargyl Alcohols: (E)‐3‐Trimethylsilyl‐2‐Propen‐1‐ol

Stereospecific reduction of propargyl alcohols: (E)-3-trimethylsilyl-2-propen-1-ol intermediate: 3-trimethylsilyl-2-propyn-1-ol product: (E)-3-trimethylsilyl-2-propen-1-ol Keywords: addition, to CC; deprotection, oxygen; Grignard and related reactions; reduction, CC CC; silylation; chlorotrimethylsilane; propargyl alcohol; tetrahydrofuran; distillation residues, exposure to air
Estrogen Receptor Dimerization: Ligand Binding Regulates Dimer Affinity and Dimer Dissociation Rate

Nuclear receptors form strong dimers that are essential for their function as transcription factors, and it is thought that ligand binding can affect dimer stability. In this report, we describe convenient fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based methods for measuring the thermodynamic and kinetic stability of dimers of the estrogen receptor-alpha ligand-binding domain (ERalpha-LBD). We have developed receptors that are chemically labeled with a single fluorophore in a site-specific manner. These fluorophore-labeled ERs are functional and can be used to measure directly the affinity and stability of ERalpha-LBD dimers. Our results indicate that unliganded ERalpha-LBDs exist as very stable dimers and that the dissociation rate of these dimers is slow (t(1/2)=39 +/- 3 min at 28 C) and is further slowed (< or =7-fold) by the addition of various ligands. Estrogen antagonists provide greater kinetic stabilization of the ER dimers than agonists. In addition, coactivator peptides containing the LXXLL motif selectively stabilize agonist-bound ERalpha-LBD dimers. These fluorescence-based assays for measuring the kinetic and thermodynamic stability of ER dimers provide a functional in vitro method for assessing the agonist or antagonist character of novel ligands.
Conceptualizing small group process.

This article is the prelude to a four-article sequence that will define, illustrate, and critique a multidimensional approach for measuring and understanding small group process. Problems associate...
Perspective taking: an organizing principle for learning in human-robot interaction

The ability to interpret demonstrations from the perspective of the teacher plays a critical role in human learning. Robotic systems that aim to learn effectively from human teachers must similarly be able to engage in perspective taking. We present an integrated architecture wherein the robot's cognitive functionality is organized around the ability to understand the environment from the perspective of a social partner as well as its own. The performance of this architecture on a set of learning tasks is evaluated against human data derived from a novel study examining the importance of perspective taking in human learning. Perspective taking, both in humans and in our architecture, focuses the agent's attention on the subset of the problem space that is important to the teacher. This constrained attention allows the agent to overcome ambiguity and incompleteness that can often be present in human demonstrations and thus learn what the teacher intends to teach.
Short- and medium-term effects of fuel reduction mulch treatments on soil nitrogen availability in Colorado conifer forests

Mechanical fuel reduction treatments have been implemented on millions of hectares of western North American forests. The redistribution of standing forest biomass to the soil surface by mulching treatments has no ecological analog, and this practice may alter soil processes and forest productivity. We evaluated the effects of mulch addition on soil nitrogen availability at 15 fuel reduction projects in the southern Rocky Mountains and Colorado Plateau regions of Colorado. Mulching treatments removed 38 Mg ha 1 of standing forest biomass on average and added 2–4 cm of irregular woody fragments to the O horizon. Mulching lowered maximum summer soil temperatures and increased soil moisture. The N added in mulch was equivalent to half the amount contained in untreated O horizons, and mulch had a lower N concentration and wider C:N ratio than material of similar size in untreated areas. Plantavailable soil N, measured in situ with ion exchange resins was reduced under heavily-mulched experimental plots the year mulching occurred, but the effect did not persist for a second year. The nitrogen content of freshly-applied mulch increased by 9, 24 and 55 kg N ha 1 year 1
Enhanced adenoviral‐vector mediated gene transfer using human albumin solder

Background and Objective Laser tissue welding with human albumin solder (HAS) has been used as an alternative method of wound closure. Adenoviral vectors have been used to introduce various cytokine genes into wounds to accelerate wound closure. In the present study, we were interested in the effect of HAS on adenoviral vector transfer of the β-galactosidase (β-gal) gene in vitro and in vivo. Study Design/Materials and Methods 3T3 fibroblasts were used to study the effect of HAS on β-gal gene transfer in vitro. The presence of β-gal was determined by Western blot, and its activity by a colorimetric assay. A punch biopsy model of wound healing in pigs was used for in vivo experiments. Results HAS increased the efficiency of adenoviral-mediated β-gal transduction and stabilized the adenovirus at room temperature. HAS protected adenovirus from inactivation by laser, both in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions HAS may stabilize adenoviral vectors to deliver cytokine genes in future wound healing experiments. Lasers Surg. Med. 30:313–319, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Approaches to large‐scale parallel self‐consistent field calculations

The availability of massively parallel computers with high computation rates but limited memory and input/output bandwidth prompts the reevaluation of appropriate solution schemes for the self-consistent field (SCF) equations. Several algorithms are considered which exhibit between linear and quadratic convergence using various approximations to the orbital Hessian. A prototype is developed to understand the computational expense of each approach. The optimal choice is found to be a conjugate–gradient method preconditioned with a level-shifted approximation to the orbital Hessian. This is a compromise between efficiency, stability, and low memory usage. Sample benchmarks on two parallel supercomputers are also reported. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Analysis of PCB level EMI phenomena using an adaptive low-frequency plane wave time domain algorithm

A novel integral equation based algorithm is proposed that permits the analysis of PCB-level EMI phenomena. The algorithm is based on the multilevel plane wave time domain algorithm (PWTD). For a problem of N/sub T/ temporal and N/sub S/ spatial unknowns involving no sub-wavelength features, the multilevel PWTD algorithm reduces the O(N/sub T/N/sub S//sup 2/) computational cost of a classical marching-on-in-time (MOT) algorithm to O(N/sub T/N/sub S/log/sup 2/N/sub S/). However, PCB structures with fine geometrical details such as very thin slots, closely spaced vias or pins, etc., call for a highly non-uniform spatial discretization of the problem domain. In such cases, a straightforward implementation of the multilevel PWTD scheme cannot achieve a reduced computational complexity. Here, an adaptive low-frequency PWTD algorithm is described to solve this problem. Numerical results are presented to demonstrate the applicability of the scheme to the EMI analysis of complex PCB problems.
Voice Loops as Coordination Aids in Space ShuttleMission Control

Voice loops, an auditory groupware technology, are essential coordination support tools for experienced practitioners in domains such as air traffic management, aircraft carrier operations and space shuttle mission control. They support synchronous communication on multiple channels among groups of people who are spatially distributed. In this paper, we suggest reasons for why the voice loop system is a successful medium for supporting coordination in space shuttle mission control based on over 130 hours of direct observation. Voice loops allow practitioners to listen in on relevant communications without disrupting their own activities or the activities of others. In addition, the voice loop system is structured around the mission control organization, and therefore directly supports the demands of the domain. By understanding how voice loops meet the particular demands of the mission control environment, insight can be gained for the design of groupware tools to support cooperative activity in other event-driven domains.
Radiative transport in the delta-P1 approximation: accuracy of fluence rate and optical penetration depth predictions in turbid semi-infinite media.

Using the delta-P(1) approximation to the Boltzmann transport equation we develop analytic solutions for the fluence rate produced by planar (1-D) and Gaussian beam (2-D) irradiation of a homogeneous, turbid, semi-infinite medium. To assess the performance of these solutions we compare the predictions for the fluence rate and two metrics of the optical penetration depth with Monte Carlo simulations. We provide results under both refractive-index matched and mismatched conditions for optical properties where the ratio of reduced scattering to absorption lies in the range 0 or =3 l*, the accuracy of the fluence rate predictions is no worse than in the planar irradiation case. For smaller beam radii, the predictions degrade significantly. Specifically for media with (micro(s')/micro(a))=1 irradiated with a beam radius of r(0)=l*, the error in the fluence rate approaches 100%. Nevertheless, the accuracy of the optical penetration depth predictions remains excellent for Gaussian beam irradiation, and degrades to only +/-20% for r(0)=l*. These results show that for a given set of optical properties (micro(s')/micro(a)), the optical penetration depth decreases with a reduction in the beam diameter. Graphs are provided to indicate the optical and geometrical conditions under which one must replace the delta-P(1) results for planar irradiation with those for Gaussian beam irradiation to maintain accurate dosimetry predictions.
On sphere packings, settling and dilatancy

Abstract The role of constraints in the stability and response to shear stress of random sphere packings is analysed. Suggestions are made for further experiments on such packings. Permanent address: Department of Physics, Trinity College, Ireland.
Sexual Isolation and Genetic Diversification Among Some Strains of Crypthecodinium cohnii-like Dinoflagellates Evidence of Speciation

SYNOPSIS. Nine new isolates of Crypthecodinium-like dinoflagellates from diverse geographic locations, together with 3 established strains from Woods Hole and Puerto Rico, were analyzed for sexual compatibility by means of a complementation test using motility mutants. The results indicate that 5 of the 12 are mutually compatible and thereby represent one species. Five others are clearly reproductively isolated from this group and from each other and therefore may belong to separate species. The position of 2 other isolates remains uncertain. Only one, MC-5, is markedly distinct morphologically from all the others. It is also sympatric with one of the others, strain G, and its separation from Crypthecodinium cohnii seems therefore more fully justified than that of the other sexually isolated strains. G and MC-5 would be considered “good” species by an evolutionary biologist. The others are from widely separate geographic origins and. though still poorly characterized, all superficially resemble C. cohnii. Comparison of many characters (DNA profile, radiation response, drug sensitivity, macroalgal association, etc.) of the incompatible strains show significant disparities which are discussed in considering speciation.
Efficient content location using interest-based locality in peer-to-peer systems

Locating content in decentralized peer-to-peer systems is a challenging problem. Gnutella, a popular file-sharing application, relies on flooding queries to all peers. Although flooding is simple and robust, it is not scalable. We explore how to retain the simplicity of Gnutella, while addressing its inherent weakness: scalability. We propose a content location solution in which peers loosely organize themselves into an interest-based structure on top of the existing Gnutella network. Our approach exploits a simple, yet powerful principle called interest-based locality, which posits that if a peer has a particular piece of content that one is interested in, it is very likely that it will have other items that one is interested in as well. When using our algorithm, called interest-based shortcuts, a significant amount of flooding can be avoided, making Gnutella a more competitive solution. In addition, shortcuts are modular and can be used to improve the performance of other content location mechanisms including distributed hash table schemes. We demonstrate the existence of interest-based locality in five diverse traces of content distribution applications, two of which are traces of popular peer-to-peer file-sharing applications. Simulation results show that interest-based shortcuts often resolve queries quickly in one peer-to-peer hop, while reducing the total load in the system by a factor of 3 to 7.
Metabolic regulation of Akt: roles reversed.

The respiration-deficient, highly glycolytic metabolic phenotype of cancer cells known as the “Warburg effect” has been appreciated for many years. A new study (see Pelicano et al. on p. 913 of this issue) demonstrates that respiration deficiency caused by mitochondrial mutation or hypoxia may directly promote the enormous survival advantage observed in cancer cells by activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase–Akt survival pathway. We discuss these and other recent findings that show how metabolic changes associated with cancer can play a significant role in tumor biology.
Acute alveolar hypoxia increases blood-to-tissue albumin transport: role of atrial natriuretic peptide

Albert, T. S. E., V. L. Tucker, and E. M. Renkin. Acute alveolar hypoxia increases blood-to-tissue albumin transport: role of atrial natriuretic peptide. J. Appl. Physiol. 82(1): 111–117, 1997.—Pla...
Invaded Invaders: Infection of Invasive Brown Treesnakes on Guam by an Exotic Larval Cestode with a Life Cycle Comprised of Non-Native Hosts.

Background Multiple host introductions to the same non-native environment have the potential to complete life cycles of parasites incidentally transported with them. Our goal was to identify a recently detected parasitic flatworm in the invasive Brown Treesnake (Boiga irregularis) on the remote Pacific island of Guam. We considered possible factors influencing parasite transmission, and tested for correlations between infection status and potential indicators of host fitness. We used genetic data from the parasite and information about the native ranges of other possible non-native hosts to hypothesize how it arrived on Guam and how its life cycle may be currently supported. Methods We identified the parasite by comparing larval morphology and mtDNA sequences with other Pseudophyllid tapeworms. We assessed probability of infection in individual snakes using logistic regression and examined different factors influencing presence of parasites in hosts. Results We identified the parasite as the pseudophyllid cestode Spirometra erinaceieuropaei, with all sampled worms from multiple snakes sharing a single mtDNA haplotype. Infection appears to be limited to the only freshwater watershed on the island, where infection prevalence was high (77.5%). Larger snakes had a higher probability of being infected, consistent with the chronic nature of such infections. While infection status was positively correlated with body condition, infected snakes tended to have lower intra-peritoneal fat body mass, potentially indicating a negative effect on energy stores. Conclusions We discovered that B. irregularis inhabiting a small area of forested habitat in a freshwater watershed on Guam are often infected by a novel parasite of Asian origin. While further work is needed, this species of Spirometra, itself a non-native species, likely depends on a suite of recently introduced hosts from different parts of the world to complete the life cycle. This baseline study provides little evidence of any effects on host fitness, but additional data are needed to more thoroughly explore the consequences of infection in this invasive snake population.
Torsional power study using CENTURION phacoemulsification technology.

BACKGROUND To evaluate the effect of varying levels of power on phacoemulsification efficiency using the CENTURION Vision System. METHODS Formalin-soaked porcine lenses were divided into 2-mm cubes; 0.9-mm, balanced tips were used. Torsional power levels were tested from 10% to 100% at 10% intervals. Vacuum was set to 550 mmHg, aspiration to 50 ml/min, and intraocular pressure at 50 mmHg. Efficiency (time to lens removal) and chatter (number of lens fragment repulsions from the tip) were determined. RESULTS Increasing torsional power up to 60% increased efficiency. This effect was linear from 30 to 60% power (R2 = .90; P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in efficiency past 60%. Chatter was highest at 10% power and decreased linearly (R2 = .87; P = 0.007) as power was increased up to 60% power, and chatter did not improve above this power level. CONCLUSIONS Power improved efficiency only up to a 60% power level, and then was negligible. Chatter correlated well with power up to the 60% level, so that as power was increased, chatter decreased. Because there are no additional benefits in efficiency past 60% power, and because chatter is minimal at 60% power, we recommend torsional ultrasound at 60% as the optimal power setting for using the CENTURION System for phacoemulsification.l.
Corn Pollen Germination and Tube Elongation Inhibited or Reduced by Commercial and Experimental Formulations of Pesticides and Adjuvants

Commercial and experimental formulations of 12 pesticides (carbaryl, carbofuran, diazinon, Dyfonate® ( O -ethyl S -phenyl ethylphosphonodithioate), endosulfan, ethion, Fundal SP® ( N -(4-chloro-o-tolyl)- N , N -dimethylformamidine, hydrochloride), Gardona® (2-chloro-l-(2,4,5-trichlorophenyl) vinyl dimethyl phosphate), methomyl, acephate, parathion, leptophos) and 7 adjuvants (Biofilm®, Dupont Spreader Sticker®, Fomark®, Fomex®, Multi-film X-77®, Nutrex®, Regulaid®) inhibited or reduced germination and tube elongation of corn pollen on an artificial medium. The degree of inhihition varied with the concentration of active ingredients of selected pesticides applied to the medium. Trichlorfon and the adjuvant Triton B-1956® did not inhibit germination. Strong inhibition was observed with trichlorfon-Dupont Spreader Sticker and trichlorfon-Multi-film X-77 combinations. Seven applications of carbaryl or Gardona to the silks at 24-hour intervals caused a high incidence of malformed and/or missing kernels. A lesser degree of abnormality was observed after two applications, at 3-day intervals, and 1 application of carharyl, whereas no signiflcant abnormalities were observed on ears similarly treated with Gardona.
Winter territories and night roosts of Northern Shrikes in Idaho

To study the winter ecology of Northern Shrikes in southwest Idaho, I observed the activities of six color-banded and six radio-tagged shrikes over the winters of 19881989 and 1989-1990. These shrikes occupied winter territories that averaged 216 ha in size (minimum convex polygon method). Over one-halfofthe activity of each shrike was confined to a core area of approximately 50 ha. Five of nine individual Northern Shrikes perched in or hunted within mesic areas significantly more than expected and four of the nine utilized grasslands significantly less than expected. Linear habitats such as riparian corridors and rimrock outcroppings appeared to be important to wintering shrikes since the former provided night roost habitat whereas the latter provided warm and productive areas for prey populations. I located 10 night roosts of Northern Shrikes. All were in deciduous shrubs with many small stems. Shrikes may depend upon these roosts for thermal protection and escape from predators.
Comparison of Implantation in Utero and in Vitro

Because implantation is the increasingly intimate interaction of a blastocyst with the endometrium of an intact uterus, there is really no such thing as in vitro implantation. However, trophoblast in vitro continues to differentiate beyond the preimplantation stage, and double organ culture can be used for cell associations. Therefore, it is possible to make models, if not of normal implantation, at least of ectopic implantation. The precise morphological events of implantation are sufficiently different in different groups of manmials to preclude all but the broadest generalizations concerning implantation (Wimsatt, 1975; Schlafke and Enders, 1975). In considering those species that have been studied by in vitro implantation models, attention has been confined to examples in which there is considerable invasion of the endometrium. Many domestic animals and most of the marsupials, in which implantation is more superficial, have been excluded from these studies.
Disorders of Defecation in Women

Publisher Summary Pelvic floor disorders are known to effect up to 42% of adult women. These disorders include urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and obstructed defecation. Risk factors include increasing age, increasing parity, and more recently, obesity. It is estimated that by 2030 more than one-fifth of the US female population will be over 65 years of age. As the age of this population increases, the national burden of healthcare costs, lost productivity, and decreased quality of life will be substantial. This chapter discusses the more common disorders of defecation, including constipation and fecal incontinence. It describes the etiology of constipation, and its evaluation and various treatment methods. The initial evaluation of a patient presenting with either longstanding or new-onset constipation is a detailed history. Current medical conditions and prescribed and over-the-counter medication use should be reviewed. Information regarding bowel habits at a young age may provide useful information into causation. Furthermore, a careful physical exam particularly of the anorectum, is essential to rule out any anorectal disorders that may exacerbate the patient's symptoms. Digital exam should be performed while having the patient squeeze the anal sphincter muscles, relax, and then attempt to evacuate. All patients, and especially those who are of the age of 50 years or have had a recent change in bowel habits, need to be evaluated with colonoscopy as part of the initial work-up of constipation. The chapter describes the treatment of constipation related to pelvic floor dysfunction and slow transit.
Random design of microfluidics

In this work we created functional microfluidic chips without actually designing them. We accomplished this by first generating a library of thousands of different random microfluidic chip designs, then simulating the behavior of each design on a computer using automated finite element analysis. The simulation results were then saved to a database which a user can query via to find chip designs suitable for a specific task. To demonstrate this functionality, we used our library to select chip designs that generate any three desired concentrations of a solute. We also fabricated and tested 16 chips from the library, confirmed that they function as predicted, and used these chips to perform a cell growth rate assay. This is one of many different applications for randomly-designed microfluidics; in principle, any microfluidic chip that can be simulated could be designed automatically using our method. Using this approach, individuals with no training in microfluidics can obtain custom chip designs for their own unique needs in just a few seconds.
Insect herbivory on juveniles of a threatened plant, Cirsium pitcheri, in relation to plant size, density and distribution

Pitcher’s thistle (Cirsium pitcheri [Torr.] Torrey & Gray) is a characteristic, rare endemic plant in the dunes around the Great Lakes. Although insect herbivory has been reported, little is known ...
Separating the configurational and vibrational entropy contributions in metallic glasses

Glassy materials exist in nature and play a critical role in technology, but key differences between the glass, liquid and crystalline phases are not well understood. Over several decades there has been controversy about the specific heat absorbed as a glass transforms to a liquid—does this originate from vibrational entropy or configurational entropy? Here we report direct in situ measurements of the vibrational spectra of strong and fragile metallic glasses in the glass, liquid and crystalline phases. For both types of material, the measured vibrational entropies of the glass and liquid show a tiny excess over the crystal, representing less than 5% of the total excess entropy measured with step calorimetry. These results reveal that the excess entropy of metallic glasses is almost entirely configurational in origin, consistent with the early theories of Gibbs and co-workers describing the glass transition as a purely configurational transition.
Effect of Red Blood Cell Transfusions on Clinical Outcomes in Critically Ill Children

Abstract Introduction: The association of packed Red Blood Cell (pRBC) transfusions with worse outcomes in critically ill adults is well documented. The impact of pRBC transfusions on clinical outcomes in critically ill children, however, has not been well studied. Associations of pRBCs with outcomes such as mortality and length of stay need to be studied in large clinical databases. This will lead to improvement of our knowledge and generation of guidelines for transfusions in children hospitalized in the Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PICU). Methods: With IRB approval, the Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) database was queried for children ≤ 18 years admitted to the PICU, receiving pRBC transfusions between January 2011 and December 2015. The PHIS is a database that captures de-identified patient information from 45 pediatric hospitals in the US. The patients of this study were stratified by age groups: less than 1 month of age; 1 month to Results: Of the 393,384 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 43,569 (11%) had transfusions, with 97.2% of the patients receiving only 1 transfusion. The median (IQR) overall length of stay was 5.0 days (2, 10) and the overall mortality was 3.1%. The median (IQR) LOS for those who received pRBCs was 13 days (6, 29) compared to 4.0 days (2, 8) for those who did not. Mortality for those who received pRBCs was 10.1% compared to 2.2% for those who did not. The highest rate of pRBC transfusion was noted in the patients less than 1 month old (22%). The highest unadjusted mortality for patients who received pRBCs was also in the same age group- 7%. The associations between transfusion of pRBCs and outcomes are summarized in Table 1. Of the 393,384 patients, 19,686 (5.0 %) had sepsis; 143,085 (36.4%) were on mechanical ventilation; 141,123 (35.9%) were on vasoactive agents and 14,243 (3.6%) had AKI. After adjusting for sepsis, mechanical ventilation, use of vasoactive agents, post-op state and AKI, pRBC transfusions were associated with significantly increased LOS for all age groups. The highest increase in LOS was noted for the infants younger than 1 month of age - by 11.6 days (p Conclusions: In this large, multicenter database study, we identified an association of increased mortality and LOS in critically ill children who received pRBC transfusions. More studies are needed to further investigate the impact of blood transfusions on clinical outcomes in the pediatric population. Download : Download high-res image (118KB) Download : Download full-size image Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Towards practical multiscale approach for analysis of reinforced concrete structures

We present a novel multiscale approach for analysis of reinforced concrete structural elements that overcomes two major hurdles in utilization of multiscale technologies in practice: (1) coupling between material and structural scales due to consideration of large representative volume elements (RVE), and (2) computational complexity of solving complex nonlinear multiscale problems. The former is accomplished using a variant of computational continua framework that accounts for sizeable reinforced concrete RVEs by adjusting the location of quadrature points. The latter is accomplished by means of reduced order homogenization customized for structural elements. The proposed multiscale approach has been verified against direct numerical simulations and validated against experimental results.
Hands-on Station: Microwave Devices

Microwave ablation is a form of thermal ablation that uses electromagnetic waves to establish a microwave near-field where direct tissue heating occurs by a phenomenon called dielectric heating. These exercises demonstrate an ex vivo microwave ablation model and microwave ablation body wall burns.
Offshore Outsourcing: Challenge to the Information Systems Discipline

Outsourcing as a means of meeting organizational information technology needs is now a commonly accepted and growing practice, and one that is continually evolving. From its beginnings as a cost-reduction tool, many now feel outsourcing has evolved into a vital component of a firm's overall business strategy. It has grown from the domain of IT embodying decisions such as where and how to source IT to a much wider set of business functions: logistics, payroll, human resources, legal, and so forth. To be sure, the generic notion of ‘outsourcing’ – making arrangements with an external entity for the provision of goods or services to supplement or replace internal efforts – has been around for centuries. Yet, IT outsourcing is fundamentally different: IT is pervasive throughout the organization. It is not a homogenous function, but rather is interrelated with virtually all organizational activities. And it is strategic. Until the late 1980s, strategic functions were thought to be incapable of being outsourced; however, Kodak changed that belief. Now whether a function is strategic or not makes little difference regarding outsourcing. Virtually all functions are candidates for outsourcing. Clearly, outsourcing is no passing fad (Dibbern et al. 2004).
Geothermal Power and Interconnection: The Economics of Getting to Market

This report provides a baseline description of the transmission issues affecting geothermal technologies. The report begins with a comprehensive overview of the grid, how it is planned, how it is used, and how it is paid for. The report then overlays onto this 'big picture' three types of geothermal technologies: conventional hydrothermal systems; emerging technologies such as enhanced engineered geothermal systems (EGS) and geopressured geothermal; and geothermal co-production with existing oil and gas wells. Each category of geothermal technology has its own set of interconnection issues, and these are examined separately for each. The report draws conclusions about each technology's market affinities as defined by factors related to transmission and distribution infrastructure. It finishes with an assessment of selected markets with known geothermal potential, identifying those that offer the best prospects for near-term commercial development and for demonstration projects.
Symbolic Interactionism, Naturalistic Inquiry, and Education

This article provides an overview of the symbolic interactionist approach to educational research, including the historical highlights, the methodological premises of naturalistic inquiry, the preferred research methods, and some research exemplars. Symbolic interactionism provides an epistemological and methodological stance that uniquely transcends conventional boundaries between research, theory, and practice. Interactionism also offers qualitative researchers a set of methodological procedures that can capture the qualities (immediacy, complexity, uniqueness, and symbolic mediation) of the lived experience of members of diverse learning communities.
Integration of Biomedical and Psychosocial Issues in Pediatric Functional Gastrointestinal and Motility Disorders

To understand functional gastrointestinal and motility disorders it is important to consider not only the biomedical aspects of the disorder but also personal and social aspects. Psychosocial factors play an important role in functional gastrointestinal and motility disorders where there is often no direct link between physiological findings on X-rays, blood tests or endoscopies, and symptoms. In this chapter the interpretation of how psychological symptoms affect these disorders is discussed. Pitfalls of the popular biomedical model are addressed as well as advantages and challenges of the currently endorsed biopsychosocial model. Next the influence of psychosocial factors on gut physiological functioning is presented. Evidence is presented on stress induced changes in (1) Motility, driven by changes in corticotropin releasing factor, (2) Visceral hypersensitivity under the control of emotion-regulation areas of the central nervous system, and (3) Immune functioning with an emphasis on the role of intestinal microbiota. Although studies in children are largely lacking there appears to be a bidirectional association between physiological and psychosocial factors such as stress. Thus, effective management of functional gastrointestinal and motility disorders in children clearly needs to address both physiological disturbances as well as possible contributing personal and social factors.
Interaction of Multiple Cylindrical Expanding Shock Waves

The study of shock-shock interaction has interested researchers since the days of Ernst Mach. The nonlinearity of the shocks yields a complex interaction featuring a Mach stem. This phenomenon is very similar to the reflection patterns of a planar shock wave over an inclined wedge. As the shocks expand, the two-shock system is no longer able to turn the flow as much as needed, and a Mach stem is generated. As the shocks continue to expand, so too does the Mach stem. The expansion of a shock wave has been studied analytically by Lin (J Appl Phys 25:54–57, 1950) and Taylor (Proc R Soc Ser A Math Phys Sci 201:159–174, 1954) for two and three dimensions, respectively. In these cases, however, there is only a single blast. For shock-shock interaction, von Neumann’s (Oblique Reflection of Shocks. Bureau of Ordinance, Washington, DC, 1943) work using a planar shock wave over a wedge, while similar, does not consider the decaying properties behind an expanding shock wave. This study will focus on two separate numerical methods; geometrical shock dynamics (GSD) and Euler simulations. Each of them was used to study a two-dimensional shock interaction case with two cylindrically expanding shock waves. The results from the GSD and Euler simulations were then compared to analogous experimental work conducted by Higashino et al. (Shock Waves 1:275, 1991). Good agreement is seen between the three cases apart from early times in the case of GSD.
(239) Tissue Inhibitor of Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 Attenuates the Onset of Hypersensitivity Using a Model of Cutaneous Inflammation

Tissue damage results in the release of molecules that aid in tissue repair and produce hypersensitivity. Tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), a protease inhibitor involved in extracellular matrix remodeling, contributes to neuropathic pain, but its role in modulating hypersensitivity during inflammatory conditions remains to be elucidated. To determine how inflammation regulates TIMP-1 expression in the skin we injected complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) subcutaneously (s.c.) into the dorsal hindpaw of WT mice and found that TIMP-1 protein was significantly increased 1- and 3-dayspost-injection, a time when behavioral hypersensitivity is not observed. Therefore, we hypothesized that the release of TIMP-1 following inflammation attenuates the onset of hypersensitivity. To test this, we used global TIMP-1 knockout (T1KO) mice to examine the development of inflammatory hypersensitivity in the absence of TIMP-1. We found that T1KO mice developed hypersensitivity within 24 hours of inflammation and remained sensitive for 7 days, while WT controls developed hypersensitivity 3 days following inflammation that resolved by day 7. Ex vivo electrophysiological recordings of cutaneous sensory neurons demonstrated that T1KO afferents exhibited greater sensitivity that WT afferents. Analysis of WT and T1KO skin did not detect any genotype-specific differences in MMP-9 activity or inflammatory cytokine expression. Given that the C terminal region of TIMP-1 binds to the CD63/beta 1 Integrin receptor complex, our results suggest that TIMP-1 may attenuate hypersensitivity through a receptor-mediated signaling pathway. To explore this possibility, we injected T1KO mice with a beta 1 integrin inhibitor (Ha2/5) at the time of inflammation. We found that antagonizing beta 1 integrin reversed inflammatory hypersensitivity. Thus, our data suggest that in the absence of TIMP-1 activation of beta 1 integrin contributes to inflammatory hypersensitivity.
Newton’s Method as Corrector

Let zero be a regular value of the smooth map H : RN+1 R N . We again consider the solution curve c contained in H™1(0) defined by the initial value problem (2.1.9), where the initial point c(0) = u0 such that H(u0) = 0 is assumed to be given.