cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Communication for Development: A Personal Experience with Implications for Development Policy

Abstract Purpose: Communication for Development (C4D) is a new academic discipline and profession for addressing human dimension concerns in development, such as local participation, integration and capacity building, which are the main issues limiting aid effectiveness. However, my experience in Malawi, one of the poorest countries in Africa and where a multitude of international development experts attempt to bring about change have, perhaps, never heard about C4D. When the concept was explained, these officials felt C4D was precisely what Malawi and developing countries, need. It left me feeling that the success rate of poverty-reduction programming could be greater if C4D education was provided for development decision-makers and field staff, especially agricultural extension workers. Design/methodology/approach: The paper is a critical review of the literature on the role of agricultural extension education in development, focusing on how C4D can strengthen extension performance. Findings: The study ...
Importance of Cry1 δ-Endotoxin Domain II Loops for Binding Specificity in Heliothis virescens(L.)

We constructed a model for Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1 toxin binding to midgut membrane vesicles from Heliothis virescens. Brush border membrane vesicle binding assays were performed with five Cry1 toxins that share homologies in domain II loops. Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac, Cry1Ja, and Cry1Fa competed with (125)I-Cry1Aa, evidence that each toxin binds to the Cry1Aa binding site in H. virescens. Cry1Ac competed with high affinity (competition constant [K(com)] = 1.1 nM) for (125)I-Cry1Ab binding sites. Cry1Aa, Cry1Fa, and Cry1Ja also competed for (125)I-Cry1Ab binding sites, though the K(com) values ranged from 179 to 304 nM. Cry1Ab competed for (125)I-Cry1Ac binding sites (K(com) = 73.6 nM) with higher affinity than Cry1Aa, Cry1Fa, or Cry1Ja. Neither Cry1Ea nor Cry2Aa competed with any of the (125)I-Cry1A toxins. Ligand blots prepared from membrane vesicles were probed with Cry1 toxins to expand the model of Cry1 receptors in H. virescens. Three Cry1A toxins, Cry1Fa, and Cry1Ja recognized 170- and 110-kDa proteins that are probably aminopeptidases. Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac, and to some extent Cry1Fa, also recognized a 130-kDa molecule. Our vesicle binding and ligand blotting results support a determinant role for domain II loops in Cry toxin specificity for H. virescens. The shared binding properties for these Cry1 toxins correlate with observed cross-resistance in H. virescens.
Clustering of Detected Changes in High-Resolution Satellite Imagery Using a Stabilized Competitive Agglomeration Algorithm

The Geospatial Change Detection and exploitation (GeoCDX) is a fully automated system for detection and exploitation of change between multitemporal high-resolution satellite and airborne images. Overlapping multitemporal images are first organized into 256 m × 256 m tiles in a global grid reference system. The system quantifies the overall amount of change in a given tile with a tile change score as an aggregation of pixel-level changes. The tiles are initially ranked by these change scores for retrieval, review, and exploitation in a Web-based application. However, the ranking does not account for the wide variety of change types that are typically observed in the top-ranked change tiles. To automatically organize the wide variety of change patterns observed in multitemporal high-resolution imagery, we perform tile clustering using the competitive agglomeration (CA) algorithm stabilized using the fuzzy c-means (FCM) algorithm. Each resulting cluster contains tiles with a visually similar type of change. By visual inspection of these tile clusters, GeoCDX users can quickly find certain types of change without having to sift through a large number of tiles initially organized solely by their tile change score, thereby reducing the time it takes for users to discover and exploit the change pattern(s) of greatest interest to a given application (e.g., urban growth, disaster assessment, facility monitoring, etc.). The tile clusters also provide a high-level overview of the various types of change that occur between the two observations. This overview is compared with a similar yet more limited view offered by a relevance feedback tool that requires a user to select sample tiles for use as samples in the reranking process.
Descartes: The Smear and Related Misconstruals

In part because he is known through his Meditations, a short pamphlet he wrote, rightly in fear, to conciliate (unsuccessfully) with the church, and because his rationalism is misconstrued when interpreted empirically, Descartes is subject to a variety of misunderstandings. It does not help that he is dogged by a canard invented in the late 1600s and revived by the animal rights movement, a canard that was designed to denigrate the then burgeoning mechanistic new science, discovered cruelly cutting up living animals, while laughingly insisting the writhing animals feel no pain. Descartes maintained that, physically speaking, humans as well as animals are machines, but he also clearly maintained that animals feel pain and hunger, have sensory experiences, etc. As a more abstract level, 20th Century analytic empiricism revivified the attack on rationalist views. But the last half century has seen strong support (though largely unacknowledged) for Descartes’ views about cognition and perception.
PAD4 is essential for antibacterial innate immunity mediated by neutrophil extracellular traps

Neutrophils trap and kill bacteria by forming highly decondensed chromatin structures, termed neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). We previously reported that histone hypercitrullination catalyzed by peptidylarginine deiminase 4 (PAD4) correlates with chromatin decondensation during NET formation. However, the role of PAD4 in NET-mediated bacterial trapping and killing has not been tested. Here, we use PAD4 knockout mice to show that PAD4 is essential for NET-mediated antibacterial function. Unlike PAD4+/+ neutrophils, PAD4−/− neutrophils cannot form NETs after stimulation with chemokines or incubation with bacteria, and are deficient in bacterial killing by NETs. In a mouse infectious disease model of necrotizing fasciitis, PAD4−/− mice are more susceptible to bacterial infection than PAD4+/+ mice due to a lack of NET formation. Moreover, we found that citrullination decreased the bacterial killing activity of histones and nucleosomes, which suggests that PAD4 mainly plays a role in chromatin decondensation to form NETs instead of increasing histone-mediated bacterial killing. Our results define a role for histone hypercitrullination in innate immunity during bacterial infection.
CODATA Recommended Values of the Fundamental Physical Constants: 2006

This paper gives the 2010 self-consistent set of values of the basic constants and conversion factors of physics and chemistry recommended by the Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA) for international use. The 2010 adjustment takes into account the data considered in the 2006 adjustment as well as the data that became available from 1 January 2007, after the closing date of that adjustment, until 31 December 2010, the closing date of the new adjustment. Further, it describes in detail the adjustment of the values of the constants, including the selection of the final set of input data based on the results of least-squares analyses. The 2010 set replaces the previously recommended 2006 CODATA set and may also be found on the World Wide Web at physics.nist.gov/constants.
ATTEMPTS TO PRODUCE DIABETES IN GUINEA PIGS BY ALLOXAN AND PANCREATECTOMY With Observations on the Effect of a Diet Deficient in Cystine and Methionine

Although permanent diabetes has been produced in different ways in various species, it has not been reported in guinea pigs. Goldner (1945) observed degenerative lesions of the pancreas in guinea pigs only when they were given enough alloxan to cause death within 24 hours. Stoll (1946) reported that alloxan affected guinea pig islets but gave no details and Woerner (1947) noted damage to islets after 200 mg. per kg. An intense hypoglycemia persisting several days before death was observed by Saviano and DeFranciscis (1947) in guinea pigs injected intracardially with 50 to 450 mg. per kg. of alloxan. West and Highet (1948) found that 350 mg. per kg. intracardially caused death, but large doses were tolerated subcutaneously or intraperitoneally without diabetic or other symptoms. Charalampous and Hegstedt (1949) have confirmed their findings. We have attempted subtotal pancreatectomy in young guinea pigs in a manner similar to that used by Shapiro and Pincus (1936) in young rats,
Long-time behaviour of a random inhomogeneous field of weakly nonlinear surface gravity waves

In this paper we investigate nonlinear interactions of narrowband, Gaussian-random, inhomogeneous wavetrains. Alber studied the stability of a homogeneous wave spectrum as a function of the width σ of the spectrum. For vanishing bandwidth the deterministic results of Benjamin & Feir on the instability of a uniform wavetrain were rediscovered whereas a homogeneous wave spectrum was found to be stable if the bandwidth is sufficiently large. Clearly, a threshold for instability is present, and in this paper we intend to study the long-time behaviour of a slightly unstable modulation by means of a multiple-timescale technique. Two interesting cases are found. For small but finite bandwidth – the amplitude of the unstable modulation shows initially an overshoot, followed by an oscillation around the time-asymptotic value of the amplitude. This oscillation damps owing to phase mixing except for vanishing bandwidth because then the well-known Fermi–Pasta–Ulam recurrence is found. For large bandwidth, however, no overshoot is found since the damping is overwhelming. In both cases the instability is quenched because of a broadening of the spectrum.
The Balance Error Scoring System Learned Response Among Young Adults

BACKGROUND: Concussion management practices are important for athlete safety. Baseline testing provides a benchmark to which post-injury assessments are compared. Yet few neurophysical concussion assessment studies have examined learned response. The Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) measures postural stability through 6 conditions by counting the errors committed during each condition. In a study examining the performance of high school-aged athletes on the BESS, the learned response extinguished in 3 weeks. However, this phenomenon has not been studied in the college-aged population. HYPOTHESIS: College-aged adults performing the BESS will have a learned response at 1 and 2 weeks but would have no change from baseline at or after 3 weeks, as found previously in high school-aged subjects. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled clinical trial. METHODS: Three groups of college-aged adults ages 18 to 26 years were tested using the BESS at scheduled intervals. Each subject was randomly assigned into 1 of 3 groups to determine learned response at weeks 1, 2, and 4. Changes in pretest and posttest BESS scores were compared using the paired t test for each group at week 4 and other intervals. Differences among groups were compared using analysis of variance for means or the chi-square test for proportions. RESULTS: After 4 weeks, participants exhibited a mean (95% confidence interval) change from pretest baseline of -2.30 (-4.75, 0.16) in the control group (P = 0.065), -3.13 (-4.84, -1.41) in Group 1 (P = 0.001), and -2.57 (-5.28, 0.15) in Group 2 (P = 0.063). There were no statistically significant differences between the 3 groups for week 4 BESS score (P = 0.291) or changes from baseline to week 4 BESS scores (P = 0.868). Overall, participant score changes from baseline to the 4-week follow-up still showed a statistically significant or close to significant reduction across the 3 groups, indicating the learned response did not extinguish after 4 weeks. CONCLUSION: Repeated BESS testing results in a learned effect in college-aged adults did not extinguish after 4 weeks. These results question the ability of the BESS to assess an athlete's balance deficits following a concussion. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Given learned response did not extinguish in this sample and the BESS has a minimal detectable change/reliable change index of 7 or greater, the effectiveness of the BESS to assess balance may be limited. Language: en
Stigma and its public health implications.

The publication of Erving Goffmans Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity in 1963 generated a profusion of research on the nature sources and consequences of stigma--albeit with considerable variation on how stigma was defined. In our conceptualisation stigma is the result of a process in which a series of five interrelated components combine to generate stigma. In the first component people identify and label human differences. Although most human differences are socially irrelevant differences such as skin colour IQ and sexual preferences are highly salient in many social contexts. The point is that there is a social selection process determining which differences are deemed relevant and consequential and which are not. Medical conditions vary dramatically in the extent to which they are socially significant. Compare hypertension bone fractures and melanoma for example with incontinence AIDS and schizophrenia. (excerpt)
Second Harmonic Generation in Neurons: Electro-Optic Mechanism of Membrane Potential Sensitivity

Second harmonic generation (SHG) from membrane-bound chromophores can be used to image membrane potential in neurons. We investigate the biophysical mechanism responsible for the SHG voltage sensitivity of the styryl dye FM 4-64 in pyramidal neurons from mouse neocortical slices. SHG signals are exquisitely sensitive to the polarization of the incident laser light. Using this polarization sensitivity in two complementary approaches, we estimate a ∼36° tilt angle of the chromophore to the membrane normal. Changes in membrane potential do not affect the polarization of the SHG signal. The voltage response of FM 4-64 is faster than 1 ms and does not reverse sign when imaged at either side of its absorption peak. We conclude that FM 4-64 senses membrane potential through an electro-optic mechanism, without significant chromophore membrane reorientation, redistribution, or spectral shift.
Elimination of Vibration Localization in a Micro/Nanomechanical Resonator Array

A novel method has been developed to eliminate the vibration localization problem in a micro/nanomechanical resonator array with inevitable random disorder or mistuning in the system. This approach is based on the preprocessing of the input signal via a feedforward function. The derivation of this feedforward function is presented. Results from numerical simulations are presented to corroborate the validity of the proposed approach.
Changing Families, Changing Workplaces

Summary American families and workplaces have both changed dramatically over the past half-century. Paid work by women has increased sharply, as has family instability. Education-related inequality in work hours and income has grown. These changes, says Suzanne Bianchi, pose differing work-life issues for parents at different points along the income distribution.
Size and Temperature in the Evolution of Fish Life Histories

SYNOPSIS. Body size and temperature are the two most important variables affecting nearly all biological rates and times, especially individual growth or production rates. By favoring an optimal maturation age and reproductive allocation, natural selection links individual growth to the mortality schedule. A recent model for evolution of life histories for species with indeterminate growth, which includes most fish, successfully predicts the numeric values of two key dimensionless numbers and the allometry of the average reproductive allocation versus maturation size across species. Here we use this new model to predict the relationships of age-at-maturity, adult mortality and reproductive effort to environmental temperature and maturation size across species. Age-at-maturity, adult mortality and the proportion of the body mass given to reproduction per year are predicted to show 60.25 power allometries with mass at maturity, and an exponential (Boltzmann) temperature dependence. Temperature is assumed to affect only body size growth, so the temperature linkages of maturation, mortality and reproductive effort are indirect via life history optimization; this is briefly contrasted with the idea that (for example) temperature directly affects mortality.
Can Pharmacologic Gradient Reduction Decrease Mortality in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Pharmacologic therapy is the first line approach to relieve symptoms in obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. There are no randomized trials to evaluate their effect on prognosis. Gradient reduction by surgical septal myectomy is associated with excellent prognosis, but not all patients have symptoms severe enough to require surgery; and, guidelines recommend operation only for patients with high gradients and symptoms unresponsive to pharmacologic therapy. The combination of disopyramide and beta-blockade is effective in reducing resting gradients (though not to the extent of surgery). This review examines the question of whether pharmacologic reduction of gradient in asymptomatic patients or those with milder symptoms might decrease HCM-related mortality.
Soil hydraulic properties in one-dimensional layered soil profile using layer-specific soil moisture assimilation scheme

[1] We developed a layer-specific soil-moisture assimilation scheme using a simulation-optimization framework, Soil-Water-Atmosphere-Plant model with genetic algorithm (SWAP-GA). Here, we explored the quantification of the soil hydraulic properties in a layered soil column under various combinations of soil types, vegetation covers, bottom boundary conditions and soil layering using idealized (synthetic) numerical studies and actual field experiments. We demonstrated that soil layers and vertical heterogeneity (layering arrangements) could impact to the uncertainty of quantifying soil hydraulic parameters. We also found that, under layered soil system, when the subsurface flows are dominated by upward fluxes, e.g., from a shallow water table, the solution to the inverse problem appears to be more elusive. However, when the soil profile is predominantly draining, the soil hydraulic parameters could be fairly estimated well across soil layers, corroborating the results of past studies on homogenous soil columns. In the field experiments, the layer-specific assimilation scheme successfully matched soil moisture estimates with observations at the individual soil layers suggesting that this approach could be applied in real world conditions.
Elevated Alkaline Phosphatase Prior to Transarterial Chemoembolization for Neuroendocrine Tumors Predicts Worse Outcomes

We hypothesized that an elevated preoperative alkaline phosphatase (AP) predicted worse outcomes for patients undergoing transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for neuroendocrine tumor (NET) liver metastases. We reviewed all patients who underwent TACE for metastatic NET between 2009 and 2013. Survival was evaluated using preprocedure variables. One hundred and nine patients underwent 210 TACE procedures. The average age was 57.7 years (range 20–78). Primary sites included pancreas (N = 20), other gastrointestinal (N = 52), lung (N = 9), and unknown (N = 28). The tumor was grade 1 in 68 (62 %), grade 2 in 21 (19 %), and grade 3 in 3 (3 %). Extrahepatic disease was present in 54 (50 %) and greater than 50 % hepatic tumor burden by imaging in 63 (58 %). Elevated bilirubin occurred in 8 (7 %), elevated AP in 22 (20 %), elevated ALT in 21 (19 %), and elevated AST in 41 (38 %). Univariate predictors included tumor grade (43 vs 27 vs 21 months, p = 0.015), hepatic tumor burden (59 vs 37 months, p = 0.009), and elevated AP (59 vs 23 months, p < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, only elevated AP (p = 0.001) predicted worse survival. Elevated AP prior to TACE for metastatic NET portends a worse survival outcome, even more so than tumor grade or extent of hepatic disease.
Effects of Trace Mineral Supplementation, Source, and Growth Implants on Immune Response of Growing and Finishing Feedlot Steers123

To determine the effects of growth implants and trace mineral (TM) supplementation and source on immune response, 375 steers (approximately 7 mo of age and 250.0 ± 11.0 kg), stratified by initial body weight, were randomly assigned to 1 of 36 pens that were then randomly assigned to treatments. Treatments consisted of 1) control (no supplemental Cu, Zn, Mn, and Co), 2) inorganic TM (CuSO4, ZnSO4, MnSO4, and CoCO3), and 3) organic TM (iso-amounts of organic Cu, Zn, Mn, and Co). On d 28 post-arrival to the feedlot, steers from 6 pens per treatment received a growth implant containing 200 mg progesterone and 20 mg estradiol benzoate, whereas the other half of the steers within the same treatment (6 pens) did not receive a growth implant. Steers were fed a corn silage-based growing diet for 56 d and were then gradually switched toa high-concentrate finishing diet. At the beginning of the finishing phase, only steers receiving growth implants during the growing phase were reimplanted with 80 mg of trenbolone acetate and 16 mg of estradiol. During the finishing phase, all minerals excluding Zn were fed at NRC recommended concentrations in inorganic form. Treatments during the finishing phase consisted of 1) control (no supplemental Zn), 2) inorganic Zn (30 mg Zn/kg DM from ZnSO4), and 3) organic Zn (iso-amounts of organic Zn). At the end of the growing phase, steers receiving organic TM had greater (P < 0.02) total IgM concentrations than inorganic-supplemented steers, and implanted steers tended (P < 0.07) to have greater IgG antibody titer concentrations specific for pig red blood cells than nonimplanted steers. During the finishing phase, steers supplemented with organic Zn had greater (P = 0.04) ovalbumin antibody titer concentrations than steers supplemented with inorganic TM.Superoxide dismutase activity, interferon gamma concentrations, and antibody titers specific to pig red blood cells and infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus were unaffectedby TM treatment or growth implants.
The Recognition and Determinants of Depression at a South African Primary Care Clinic

Depression leads to substantial morbidity and mortality on a global scale, but it is frequently underrecognized and inadequately treated in primary care settings. The detection of depression is particularly challenging in under-resourced countries. This study attempts to determine rates of recognition and treatment of depressive disorders at a community clinic in the Cape Flats, South Africa. The diagnostic instrument PRIME-MD was administered and charts reviewed for a sample of 222 patients presenting to the Lotus River Community Health Centre. Outcomes sought were (1) the prevalence of depressive disorders and (2) rates of detection and treatment as indicated by antidepressant prescription through chart review. The prevalence of depressive disorders in the group was found to be 32% (N=70), with 13% meeting criteria for major depressive disorder (N=29). Depressed patients tended to be younger (p<.001) and female (p=.026) and were more likely to describe somatic symptoms than were non depressed (p<.001). There was a statistically significant correlation between a diagnosis of depression and prescription of a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) (p=.028). The sensitivity and specificity of a TCA prescription for depression were 20% and 91%, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the strongest factor contributing to either a diagnosis of depression or a prescription of an antidepressant was the presence of somatic complaints. In this primary care setting, patients with depressive diagnoses were reliably recognized as indicated by a significant correlation between depression and antidepressant receipt. Physicians appeared to respond primarily to somatic rather than psychological presentations. While depressed patients received antidepressants more frequently than non-depressed, only a minority of depressed patients was recognized as such. Analyzing patterns of recognition requires an understanding not only of physician practices but also of the cultural setting of the health care system.
Recent progress in nanoparticle photoresists development for EUV lithography

Extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography is a promising candidate for next generation lithography. For high volume manufacturing of semiconductor devices, significant improvement of resolution and sensitivity is required for successful implementation of EUV resists. Performance requirements for such resists demand the development of entirely new resist platforms. Cornell University has intensely studied metal oxide nanoparticle photoresists with high sensitivity for EUV lithography applications. Zirconium oxide nanoparticles with PAG enabling sub 30nm line negative tone patterns at an EUV dose below 5 mJ/cm2 show one of the best EUV sensitivity results ever reported. In this paper, recent progress in metal oxide nanoparticle photoresist research will be discussed. Several studies regarding composition investigation and new metal element study are reported.
High temperature x-ray diffraction study of PbTiO3 thin films grown on MgO(001) by MOCVD

Lead titanate (PT) is ferroelectric in its tetragonal phase (c/a=1.06). The domain formation is coupled to the relaxation of internal stress generated by a combination of lattice mismatch, transformation strain and differential thermal stress. The mechanism of domain formation in an epitaxially grown PT film is related to the substrate type and the growth temperature. In this study, PT films have been deposited on MgO(001) in a cold-wall, horizontal metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) system. The structure of domains and their evolution have been measured as a function of temperature by the x-ray diffraction method using a hot stage. Domain structure changes were observed by θ-2θ scans, ω scans, as well as in-plane ϕ scans. Effect of film stress on the ferroelectric transition temperature is discussed. Reproducibility of domain formation as a result of temperature cycling both below and above Tc is assessed.
An informal introduction to a high level language with applications to interval mathematics

The main problem of interval computations is as follows:given sets of possible valuesX i for variablesx i, and an algorithmf:R n → R, to.estimate the rangef(X 1, ..,X n ) of the possible values off(x 1, ...,x n ). In many real-life, situations setsX i are not intervals. To handle such problems, it is desirable to add set data type and operations with sets to a programming language. it is well known that the entire mathematics can be formulated in terms of sets. So, if we already have a set as a data type, why have anything else. The main reason, is that expression in terms of sets is often clumsy. To avoid this clumsiness, it has been suggested to use not only sets, but alsobags (multisets), in which an element can have multiple occurrences. Bags are used in many areas of Computer Science, and recently, several languages have appeared that use the bag as a basic data type. In this paper, we explain the main ideas behind bag languages, and we also show:
Gd(III)-Dithiolane Gold Nanoparticles for T1-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Pancreas.

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma has a 5 year survival of approximately 3% and median survival of 6 months and is among the most dismal of prognoses in all of medicine. This poor prognosis is largely due to delayed diagnosis where patients remain asymptomatic until advanced disease is present. Therefore, techniques to allow early detection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma are desperately needed. Imaging of pancreatic tissue is notoriously difficult, and the development of new imaging techniques would impact our understanding of organ physiology and pathology with applications in disease diagnosis, staging, and longitudinal response to therapy in vivo. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides numerous advantages for these types of investigations; however, it is unable to delineate the pancreas due to low inherent contrast within this tissue type. To overcome this limitation, we have prepared a new Gd(III) contrast agent that accumulates in the pancreas and provides significant contrast enhancement by MR imaging. We ...
Macromolecular events during differentiation of the chicken lens.

The synthesis of lens proteins during differentiation of the chicken lens was studied with antisera to adult lens and to fractions isolated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. δ-Crystallin (FISC) was first detected by immunoelectrophoresis at 60 hr. Lens placode cells showed immunofluorescence at 52 hr, mainly in their basal parts. Autoradiography after exposure to [3H]thymidine showed that their nuclei undergo interkinetic migration. During interkinesis they are located in the basal parts of the cells, but for mitosis the cells contract to the lumen. Following division the daughter cells again elongate and the nuclei return to the retinal side. Thus it is not surprising that δ-crystallin first appears here. At 57 hr the reaction had spread throughout the posterior wall, and at 3 days the epithelium was positive. At 8 days the latter reacted progressively weaker but the fibers remained positive. In 5-week-old chicks and in adults the cortex was negative while the center still showed strong fluorescence. α-Crystallin was detectable by immunoelectrophoresis on the fourth day of incubation. It was first demonstrated with immunofluorescence in centrally located lens fibers at 3ȁ3½ days. At 8 days the epithelium became positive and the fibers lost some fluorescence. This continued until in 5-week-old chicks the lens core was negative. The β-crystallins of the adult chicken consist of 8 or 9 immunologically related proteins. At 7 days the first component was seen immunoelectrophoretically. The pattern became more complicated until it was comparable at 17 days of embryonic life with that of the adult. Fluorecence was first observed in 28-somite embryos in the same location as δ-crystallin. At 3½ days the epithelium began to react and at 4 days the complete lens was positive. The reaction disappeared from the nucleus at a faster rate than that for α-crystallin. γ-Crystallins were not found. Fluorescence was never seen outside the lens. We conclude that crystallin synthesis is restricted to the lens itself and first occurs after placode formation has taken place. The most plausible explanation is that lens differentiation is dependent on differential gene activity at the level of the lens cell nuclei.
Determination Of Methamidophos And Acetphate In Human Serum by Solid Phase Extraction Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Objective To explore a determination method of acetphate and methamidophos in human serum,that is solid phase extraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS).Methods 0.3ml Sera to be assayed were taken and diluted to 3ml with the deionized water,and were extracted and purified by Carb 400 column.After the eluation of acetone and the blow dry of nitrogen,the titled compounds were settled to the volume of 1 ml through adding into 10 μl Phenol which was thought to be internal standard,then 1μl sample was injected into GC-MS for analysis.Results The linear range for the determination of methamidophos and acetphate were 20~100 mg/L and 10~80 mg/L respectively.The recovery of standard addition of the samples was 92.1%~114%.The relative standard deviation(RSD) was 3.5%~10.4%.The lowest detection limits of methamidophos and acetphate were 10 mg/L and 5 mg/L respectively when the 3ml sample was analyzed.Conclusion This method was rapid,accurate quantitatively and qualitatively,could satisfactorily meet the requirements of confirmatory analysis of emergency poisoning accidents.
Prediction of magnetic resonance imaging-derived trunk muscle geometry with application to spine biomechanical modeling.

Abstract Background Accurate geometry of the trunk musculature is essential for reliably estimating spinal loads in biomechanical models. Currently, many models employ straight muscle path assumptions that yield far less accurate tissue loads, particularly in extreme postures. Precise muscle moment-arms and physiological cross-sectional areas are important when incorporating curved muscle geometry in biomechanical models. The objective of this study was to develop a predictive model of moment arms and physiological cross-sectional areas of trunk musculature at multiple levels in the thoracic/lumbar spine as a function of anthropometric measures. Methods Based on magnetic resonance imaging data from thirty subjects (10 male and 20 female) reported in a previous study, a polynomial regression analysis was conducted to estimate the muscle moment-arms and physiological cross-sectional areas of trunk muscles through thoracic/lumbar spine as a function of vertebral level, gender, age, height, and body mass. Findings Gender, body mass, and height were the best predictors of muscle moment-arms and physiological cross-sectional areas. The predictability of muscle parameters tended to be higher for erector spinae than other muscles. Most muscles showed a curved muscle path along the thoracic/lumbar spine. Interpretation The polynomial regression model of the muscle geometry in this study generally showed good predictability compared to previous reports. The predictive model in this study will be useful to develop personalized biomechanical models that incorporate curved trunk muscle geometries.
Preventive rehabilitative cardiology: the Mayo Clinic approach.

Coronary artery disease is a chronic condition that requires careful patient management to ensure the best possible outcome. The optimal control of the major modifiable risk factors for coronary atherosclerosis (cigarette smoking, dyslipidemia, hypertension, sedentary lifestyle) have been demonstrated to improve the cardiac event rate and cardiac mortality, to reduce the need for revascularization, and result in lower utilization of health care resources in patients with documented disease. Risk factor intervention in patients who have not yet developed atherosclerosis is also highly effective in preventing cardiac events. The major limitation of current efforts at aggressive risk factor modification is a relative lack of efficient ?systems? for providing ongoing care specifically aimed towards risk reduction. This paper describes one such system.
Metal-ligand cooperation between palladium and a diphosphine ligand with an olefinic backbone

Abstract The tridentate palladium(0) compound [(cPCMe CMeP)Pd] ((Z)-2,3-bis(2-di-iso-propylphosphinephenyl)-2-butene) was synthesized and its oxidative addition products with CH3I, C6H5I, Ph2SiH2, and HCl were characterized. Hemilability of the olefinic backbone is observed in all cases and, excluding Ph2SiH2, results in trans palladium(II) species. Oxidative addition of Ph2SiH2 results in a fluxional species due to the reversibility of the Si H bond activation. Reactivity with HCl led to the oxidative addition of the acid, resulting in the formation of a clorohydride complex, [(cPCMe CMeP)PdHCl], followed by a irreversible insertion of the olefin into the Pd H bond resulting in [(PCMe CHMeP)PdCl]. Additionally, dehydrohalogenation was achieved with [(cPCMe CMeP)PdCl2] resulting in [(PCMe C( CH2)P)PdCl]. All metal complexes were characterized by multi-nuclei NMR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, and elemental analysis.
Transfusion and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: Clinical Epidemiology, Diagnosis, Management, and Outcomes

Transfusion related acute lung injury (TRALI) is a life-threatening complication of blood product transfusion. It is the leading cause of blood product transfusion related death in the USA. The syndrome is defined by hypoxemic respiratory failure with bilateral infiltrates on chest X-ray in the setting of a blood transfusion and absence of cardiac failure. The exact incidence of TRALI is unknown, but the incidence is higher in the critically ill patient population. Multiple patient and donor related risk factors for TRALI exist, including critically illness, alcohol use, and receiving transfusions with high plasma volumes. Practitioners should have a low index of suspicion for the diagnosis of TRALI, and blood bank reporting is vital to aid in diagnosis and future prevention. Management is primarily supportive care, with supplemental oxygen as the mainstay for therapy. Despite the transient course of TRALI, its morbidity is severe with the majority of patients requiring mechanical ventilation and treatment in the intensive care unit. For patients that survive TRALI, outcomes are promising without residual pulmonary deficits. Prevention strategies over the past 10 years have helped to decrease the incidence of TRALI and have led to increased awareness of this condition in the medical field.
Misplaced Trust: Racial Differences in Use of Tobacco Products and Trust in Sources of Tobacco Health Information.

Author(s): Alcala, Hector E; Sharif, Mienah Z; Morey, Brittany N | Abstract: IntroductionRecently, the rates of utilization of alternative tobacco products have increased. Providing health information about tobacco products from trustworthy sources may help decrease the popularity of these products. Using a nationally representative study of adults, we fill the current gap in research on racial and ethnic disparities in utilization of alternative tobacco products as well as in trust of sources of health information about tobacco products.Aims and methodsData came from the Health Information National Trends Survey (N = 3738), which was collected in 2015. Logistic regression models were used to calculate odds of use of seven different tobacco product (eg, hookah, e-cigarettes, etc.), trust in seven different sources of e-cigarette health information (eg, family or friends, health care providers, etc.), and trust in six different sources of tobacco health information, adjusting for control variables.ResultsThere were disparities in utilization of alternative tobacco products and in trust, in tobacco companies across racial and ethnic groups. Blacks and Asians were far more likely than whites to trust tobacco (adjusted odds ratios = 8.67 and 4.34) and e-cigarette companies (adjusted odds ratios = 6.97 and 3.13) with information about the health effects of e-cigarettes than whites.ConclusionsThe popularity of alternative tobacco products appears to be high and may offset recent observed decreases in cigarette use. Blacks and Asians appear to trust tobacco companies as sources of information when compared to whites.ImplicationsHigher levels of trust in tobacco companies among Asians and blacks may translate to greater susceptibility to utilize tobacco products among these groups, thereby increasing disparities. There is a need for social marketing and education efforts focused on increasing awareness of adverse health effects of using alternative tobacco products as well as on the untrustworthiness of tobacco and e-cigarette companies, especially among racial and ethnic minorities.
Reinterpreting Split-Ticket Voting in South Korea’s 2004 Legislative Election: Party Identification and Impeachment Perceptions

What explains ticket-splitting in South Korea’s 2004 National Assembly election? While the mixed member systems literature generally focuses on strategic rationales to split ticketing, the role of contextual factors—in this case the impeachment of President Roh Moo-Hyun—remains largely unexplored. An analysis of Korea’s first two-vote mixed system election from 2004 finds that, besides traditional strategic voting, approval of Roh’s impeachment influenced strategic voting, but only among supporters of Roh’s own party, the Uri Party.
Organosolv-Water Cosolvent Phase Separation on Cellulose and its Influence on the Physical Deconstruction of Cellulose: A Molecular Dynamics Analysis

Deconstruction of cellulose is crucial for the chemical conversion of lignocellulose into fuel/bioproduct precursors. Recently, a water-organosolv cosolvent system (THF-water) has been shown to both phase-separate on cellulose surfaces and partially deconstruct Avicel (cellulose) in the absence of acid. Here we employ molecular dynamics simulations to determine whether other common water-organosolv cosolvent systems (acetone, ethanol, and γ-valerolactone) exhibit phase separation at cellulose surface and whether this alters a purely physical cellulose dissociation pathway. Despite finding varied degrees of phase-separation of organosolv on cellulose surfaces, physical dissociation is not enhanced. Interestingly, however, the total amount the median water-cellulose contact lifetimes increases for the cosolvent systems in the order of THF > acetone > ethanol > γ-valerolactone. Together our results indicate two points: a purely physical process for deconstruction of cellulose is unlikely for these cosolvents, and in THF-water, unlike γ-valerolactone- (and some concentrations of acetone and ethanol) water cosolvents, a significant fraction of surface water is slowed. This slowing may be of importance in enhancing chemical deconstruction of cellulose, as it permits an increase in potential THF-water-cellulose reactions, even while the amount of water near cellulose is decreased.
Interactive Imagining in Interactive Digital Narrative

This poster presents cross-disciplinary theory to identify inter-dependent processes of digital and human systems involved in Interactive Digital Narrative (IDN). Extending previous research on IDN design affordances and Human Development (HD) capacities, the project explores theory with a method for understanding reciprocal person-program synergies. The poster defines this program-person synergy as “interactive imagining” and sketches a research approach for studying such shared processing. This illustrative research method involves the think-aloud protocol method adapted to foster IDN designer-player dialogue around problematic, surprising or otherwise interesting IDN episodes, indicated in previous pilot gameplay. The poster outlines a think-aloud study to examine the nature and impact of interactive imagining among student designer-players in an interdisciplinary college setting. The goal of this inquiry is to expand the definition of IDN as an inter-subjective process including the meta-reflections of designer and player, thereby advancing IDN theory and practice.
5 Programming of Stereotyped Limb Movements by Spinal Generators

During the past decade the capacity of the isolated mammalian spinal cord to generate rhythmic, stereotyped movements of the hindlimbs, such as locomotion (Grillner, 1973) and scratching (Berkinblit, et al 1978) has been the subject of intense investigation in several laboratories, including our own. * The concept of spinal generators, posited to be a series of interneuronal networks, is examined, and the role of these networks in programming locomotion, segmental reflexes and other stereotyped movements of the hindlimbs is discussed with respect to the chronic spinal cat. Although treadmill locomotion of cats transected at T12- T13 and curarized is normal in many respects (Grillner and Zangger, 1979), there are some abnormalities. The extensive interaction of peripheral and supraspinal signals during the control of normal locomotion, provides for optimal control, and a model of multilevel control is required to explain the animal's ability to move effectively.
Die Behandlung akzidenteller Wunden

Jede Zufallswunde ist theoretisch als infiziert zu betrachten. Ob es klinisch zur manifesten Infektion kommt, ist von vielerlei Umstanden abhangig.
Preferences for tactile and narrative counting books across parents with different education levels

Abstract Counting books are a potential source of input for children’s learning of early mathematics concepts. However, little is known about the factors that affect the counting books parents choose for their children. Parents (N = 696) of preschoolers (ages 2;6–4;11) were surveyed about their preferences for two specific counting book features, tactility and narrative quality. These two features were studied both covertly, by experimentally manipulating the types of books parents saw and asking parents why they would choose particular books, and explicitly, by asking parents to rate the importance of various factors when choosing counting books for their children. The a priori hypotheses were that parents would prefer tactile over non-tactile counting books for boys and narrative over non-narrative counting books for girls and that education level would be positively associated with counting book reading. Results did not support these hypotheses. Instead, parents’ preferences for the features depended on their education level. Higher education levels were generally associated with decreased preference for tactility and increased preference for narrative quality. Results raise the question of whether the books parents choose for their children may be one way parent education shapes children's early learning environments.
From visual place to aural space: the films of Mahamat-Saleh Haroun

AbstractMahamat-Saleh Haroun has become an increasingly relevant directorial voice in African and international cinema. His films deal with various themes, such as family (especially the loss of a parent), civil war, and social inequality, mostly set up against the socio-political backdrop of Chad. Haroun's camera records and observes the country as a visual place, at the intersecting narrative point of fiction and documentary. As such, the director visually builds a place of tragedy and conflict. However, as one transition from place to space through the movement of the characters and the movement of the camera, a subsequent space emerges: an aural space. This essay investigates the narrative transition from visual place to aural space that occurs in Haroun's films and proposes that the materialization of this aural space represents an innovative way to claim the spatial freedom of the neocolonial subject.
Social media technology for the strategic positioning of small and medium‐sized enterprises: Empirical evidence from Kenya

A Journal article by Dr. Joshua Rumo Ndiege, an Assistant Professor at the School of Science and Technology in USIU- Africa Full Article: https://doi.org/10.1002/isd2.12069
The Psychology of Alibis

The psychological study of alibis is in its nascent phase, and the empirical literature on alibis is correspondingly inchoate. This chapter reviews the current state of the literature on the psychology of alibis. First, we discuss the process of alibi generation and argue that there are three main obstacles that prevent innocent suspects from generating accurate and believable alibis: They often lack a memory of the critical event, they rely heavily on schema-based responding, and they lack the ability to produce corroborating evidence. Based on the extant literature, we propose the schema disconfirmation model as a theoretical framework in which to understand the process of alibi generation. Next, we discuss the process of alibi evaluation and delineate the factors that make alibis more or less believable. To reconcile seemingly conflicting findings, we suggest theoretical refinements to the alibi skepticism hypothesis, which claims that evaluators are particularly skeptical of alibi claims. Finally, we propose directions for future research with the aim of (a) advancing our theoretical understanding of the alibi generation and evaluation processes, and (b) encouraging researchers to adopt a system variables approach to maximize the impact alibi research can have on the collection and treatment of alibi evidence.