cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Grassland birds demonstrate delayed response to large‐scale tree removal in central North America

Summary Maintenance of early successional and open habitats often requires active removal of encroaching vegetation. In many cases, fire or other historically applied methods can no longer maintain or create open or early-successional habitat. In these situations, managers must employ mechanical or chemical treatments to control vegetation and improve habitat quality for wildlife that depend on open habitats. We conducted a large-scale study of tree removal from 2005 to 2011 on 14 grassland sites in central North America. Beginning in the autumn of 2005, shrubs, scattered trees, shelterbelts and woodlots were removed from six of fourteen study sites with cutting and burning treatments. Trees and shrubs accounted for 7–21% of pre-treatment ground cover. We conducted vegetation and bird surveys on each site for one year before and six years after initiating tree removal treatments. Treatments effectively removed larger woody vegetation (>6 m in height), but effects of shrub removal were less consistent due to rapid regrowth. Tree removal sites also experienced reductions in grassy litter as a result of prescribed fires that were used to discourage shrub and tree regrowth. On untreated sites, abundance of all grassland birds declined throughout the study, on average declining by 62%. On tree removal sites, we estimated that grassland bird abundance dropped from 2·04 (birds per count) before treatment to a low of 0·90 in the second year after initiating treatments, but recovered in the final three years of study with a weak, but significant positive response six years after initiating treatment, with an estimated 1·42 birds per count. Waterfowl and wetland birds increased following tree removal, whereas woodland birds, particularly those that nest in cavities, declined on treated sites. Synthesis and applications. Tree removal did appear to improve habitat suitability for grassland birds, but a positive response was weak and delayed, and treatments caused short-term habitat disturbances that significantly reduced abundance of target species. When planning large-scale tree removal, it may be beneficial to allow undisturbed habitat in the surrounding landscape to ameliorate potential short-term displacement of wildlife in early phases of treatment. In addition, managers should expect site recovery to require repeated treatments over multiple years.
Temporal synthesis and release of Endothelin within the systemic and Myocardial circulation during and after cardiopulmonary bypass : Relation to postoperative recovery

Abstract Objective: To determine endothelin levels in arterial, pulmonary, and myocardial vascular compartments in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery and to examine the influence of endothelin on postoperative recovery. Design: Prospective, clinical study. Setting: University hospital. Participants: Fifty patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Interventions: Endothelin plasma content (fmol/mL) was measured in 50 patients undergoing coronary revascularization from various vascular compartments before surgery and at specific intervals up to 24 hours postoperatively. Measurements and Main Results: Myocardial endothelin gradient (coronary sinus − aorta) was calculated before cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), at release of the aortic cross-clamp, immediately after CPB, and 0.5 hour after CPB. The requirement for inotropic therapy and duration of patient stay in the intensive care unit were determined. Systemic and pulmonary endothelin levels were increased by >80% immediately after CPB when compared with preoperative values and increased again by approximately 60% during the first 24 hours postoperatively ( p v 0.5 hour post-CPB, 0.60 ± 0.49 fmol/mL; p 28 hours) were associated with higher systemic endothelin levels when compared with shorter times ( v 9.81 ± 1.67 fmol/mL; p ± 0.05). Patients with higher endothelin levels 6 hours postoperatively had greater inotropic requirements during the intensive care unit period. Conclusion: Endothelin levels after CPB remained persistently increased for at least 24 hours after surgery and were associated with increased myocardial production of endothelin. These results suggest that the increased endothelin observed in the early postoperative period may contribute to a complex recovery from coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Copyright © 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company
The lack of interaction between vinculin and actin

Vinculin was purified from chicken gizzard by a modification of the method of Feramisco and Burridge [1980; J Biol Chem 255:1194]. Vinculin did not alter the viscosity of actin as measured in an Ostwald viscometer, nor did it affect actin polymerization as measured with the fluorescent NBD-actin assay. Sedimentation experiments demonstrated that vinculin did not bind to actin, and electron microscopy of negatively stained specimens indicated that vinculin did not aggregate actin filaments into bundles. These results suggest that vinculin, by itself, does not interact with actin at least under commonly used conditions to assay actin-protein interactions in vitro.
A reversed structure-from-motion effect for simultaneously viewed stereo-surfaces.

A spatially flat stimulus is perceived as varying in depth if its velocity structure is consistent with that of a three-dimensional (3D) object. This is structure from motion (SFM). We asked if the converse effect also exists. A motion-from-structure effect would skew an object’s perceived velocity structure to make it more consistent with the 3D structure provided by its depth cues. This proposed phenomenon should be opposite in sign from velocity constancy and could potentially interfere with it. Previous tests of velocity constancy compared stimuli presented at different times, not simultaneously. This explains why a reversal of SFM has not been previously reported, as it is expected to appear only for simultaneous presentations. We tested this prediction using random-dot stereograms to define two adjacent moving surfaces separated in stereoscopic depth. We found that subjects did not perceive velocity constancy with either simultaneous or sequential stimulus presentations. For sequential presentations, subjects matched retinal speeds, in agreement with previous work. However, for simultaneous presentations, the nearer surface was seen as moving faster when both surfaces were moving with the same retinal speed, an effect opposite in polarity from velocity constancy and a signature of the motion-from-structure phenomenon.
Correction of near-field effects in phased array element pattern measurements

Differences in phased array element patterns measured in the near-field and far-field are shown to be due to attenuation and distortion of mutual coupling and edge diffraction effects in the near-field. A technique based on the virtual array concept is presented to correct the near-field element patterns. The technique is also used to determine a lower bound on phased array sidelobe performance achievable with adaptive calibrations.
Inhibition of bovine spermatozoa by caudal epididymal fluid: I. Studies of a sperm motility quiescence factor.

Spermatozoa from all portions of the bovine epididymis are essentially quiescent when examined in vitro without dilution. However, sperm from the caudal epididymis, particularly the distal portion, develop full motility when they are diluted into seminal plasma or simple isotonic buffers. Dilution of the sperm into neat cauda epididymal fluid (CE fluid) does not result in the initiation of motility. The initiation of motility upon dilution into buffers is complete within 10-20 min, while the inhibition induced by CE fluid is nearly instantaneous. CE fluid concentration, but not sperm concentration, controls sperm motility. Therefore, an inhibitory component of this fluid, but not sperm-sperm interactions, is responsible for the inhibition. CE sperm, which have been diluted into isotonic buffers and are consequently motile, become quiescent when resuspended in CE fluid; thus, this process is fully reversible. No elevations in sperm cyclic AMP levels can be detected concomitant with the induction of motility but high concentrations of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase inhibitors can overcome the quiescence induced by CE fluid. The inhibitors of CE sperm motility reported for other species, e.g., the high-viscosity mucin, immobilin ; carnitine; calcium; or glycerylphosphorylcholine , do not appear to be of importance in the bovine caudal epididymis. The quiescence produced by bovine CE fluid is strongly dependent upon the extracellular pH; i.e., motility is inhibited at pH 5.5 but not at pH 7.6.
Sociocultural Barriers to the Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine for HIV

The author investigated sociocultural barriers that constrain use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in the lives of people with HIV. Qualitative interviews with 62 persons with HIV revealed that 73% (n = 45) of interviewees were classified as potential users of CAM. These included both users and nonusers who expressed interests in using CAM or specific modalities but did not use. The demand for CAM was constrained to the extent that participants were unable to incorporate CAM into their health strategies. Three main CAM constraints dealt with obstacles stemming from the Culture of Medicine, the Social Organization of Alternative Medicine, and Everyday Life. From these constraints, the author drew conclusions about sociocultural factors that slow the diffusion of CAM into mainstream health practices.
Platelet collagen receptors and risk prediction in stroke and coronary artery disease.

The importance of thrombosis as a health hazard cannot be overestimated. Ischemic heart disease and cerebrovascular disease are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among both adult men and adult women in the developed western world.1,2 Recent evidence indicates that the incidence of this disease is steadily increasing among Asian populations,3 and cardiovascular disease is now the leading cause of death among native American Indians.4 Epidemiological studies indicate that these diseases result from complex interactions between genetic susceptibility factors, long-term environmental influences (for example, hormonal imbalance, smoking, or obesity), and established, intercurrent disorders (such as diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, or hyperhomocysteinemia). See p 1459 A devastating complication of these disorders is acute myocardial infarction, which results from the formation of an occlusive thrombus at the site of a ruptured atherosclerotic plaque. The critical role of platelets in this process is now well accepted.5 Plaque rupture and/or endothelial damage lead to the exposure of von Willebrand factor and collagen, among other platelet-reactive substrates, which facilitate the adhesion of circulating platelets to the damaged vessel wall. Several receptors, each with distinct functions, are involved in this process, including the glycoprotein (GP) Ib-IX-V complex, the integrins α2β1 and α5β1,6 and platelet GP VI. As a result of these initial interactions, the platelet is activated, leading to a conformational change in another integrin, αIIbβ3, which contributes in a fundamental way to the homotypic aggregation of platelets into a thrombus. Thrombin generated at the blood-plaque interface converts fibrinogen to fibrin, which stabilizes thrombus growth. At the same time, efficient platelet cohesion is necessary for the life-saving process of hemostasis, which is a normal response to vascular injury, typically at the site of a wound, to limit blood loss. The …
The Efficacy of Remote Sensing in Quantifying Natural Water Sources in the Grand Staircase‐Escalante National Monument

The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSENM) was established by Presidential Proclamation in 1996. The GSENM management plan identified determining the status of natural water sources and their ability to support wildlife species as a priority. The arid, rugged terrain of the GSENM limited the utility of conducting ground surveys to accomplish this task. Given the technological advancements in remote sensing (RS), monument managers were interested in learning if this new technology could be used to quantify natural water sources. We conducted this study to determine if satellite imagery and predictive Geographic Information Systems (GIS) models could accomplish this task. To conduct this research, we established training sites at known GSENM natural water sources. We used these training sites to identify areas on satellite imagery that exhibited similar spectral characteristics. These sites were subsequently ground-truthed. We found water sources at only 3 of 36 sites predicted (8% efficiency). Limitations of the RS/GIS techniques employed in this study included imagery resolution, water-source size, and geographic shadowing.
Salmonella enterica isolates from pasture‐raised poultry exhibit antimicrobial resistance and class I integrons

Aims: While considerable foodborne pathogen research has been conducted on conventionally produced broilers and turkeys, few studies have focused on free-range (organic) or pastured poultry. The current surveillance study was designed to isolate, identify and genetically characterize Salmonella from pastured poultry farm environment and from retail samples. Methods and Results: In this study, 59 isolates were collected from two pastured poultry farms (n = 164; pens, feed, water and insect traps) and retail carcasses (n = 36) from a local natural foods store and a local processing plant. All isolates were serotyped and analysed phenotypically (antimicrobial resistance profiles) and genotypically (DNA fingerprints, plasmid profiles and integron analysis). Salmonella enterica was detected using standard microbiological methods. Salmonella Kentucky was the most prevalent serotype detected from the sampled sources (53%), followed by Salmonella Enteritidis (24%), Bareilly (10%), Mbandaka (7%), Montevideo (5%) or Newport (2%). All isolates were resistant to sulfisoxazole and novobiocin, and the majority (40/59) possessed class I integrons shown by PCR detection. Each Salmonella serotype elicited a distinct pulsed-field gel electrophoresis fingerprint profile, and unique differences were observed among the serotypes. Conclusions: The findings of this study show that Salmonella serotypes isolated from pasture-raised poultry exhibit antimicrobial resistance and class I integrons. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study demonstrates that despite the cessation of antibiotic usage in poultry production, antibiotic resistant Salmonella may still be recovered from the environment and poultry products.
Morphologic and molecular evaluation of Chlamydia trachomatis growth in human endocervix reveals distinct growth patterns.

In vitro models of Chlamydia trachomatis growth have long been studied to predict growth in vivo. Alternative or persistent growth modes in vitro have been shown to occur under the influence of numerous stressors but have not been studied in vivo. Here, we report the development of methods for sampling human infections from the endocervix in a manner that permits a multifaceted analysis of the bacteria, host and the endocervical environment. Our approach permits evaluating total bacterial load, transcriptional patterns, morphology by immunofluorescence and electron microscopy, and levels of cytokines and nutrients in the infection microenvironment. By applying this approach to two pilot patients with disparate infections, we have determined that contrasting growth patterns correlate with strikingly distinct transcriptional biomarkers, and are associated with differences in the levels of IFNγ in the endocervix. Our multifaceted approach will be useful to dissect infections in the human host and be useful in identifying patients at risk for chronic disease. Importantly, the molecular and morphological analyses described here indicate that persistent growth forms can be isolated from the human endocervix when the infection microenvironment resembles the in vitro model of IFNγ−induced persistence.
Analyzing the Democratic Potential of the Internet: A Comparative Study of Offline and Online Modes

Analyzing the Pew Research Center's national survey in 2008, this paper assesses democratic potentials of the Internet for political participation. It focuses on U.S. citizens' four different political activities in both offline and online modes: casual political talk, contact with a government official, petition, and political contribution. The study answers two research inquiries: 1) How does the Internet influence the established patterns of political participation?; and 2) How does the Internet influence the demographic distribution of participatory (in)equality? First, the Internet, by providing the existing participants with additional tools for participation, reinforces conventional participation rather than mobilizes new participation in politics. Second, the online patterns of the participation divide with respect to demographic characteristics imitate the traditional patterns of inequality and disproportionate representativeness in political participation.
Streptomycin- and pyribenzamine-induced chlorosis in Euglena.

SYNOPSIS. Streptomycin (SM) and pyribenzamine (PBZ at 5 × 10−4 inhibit the growth rate of Euglena gracilis var. bacillaris in the light. Growth rates based on optical density, however, differed from those based on direct cell counts. The drugs also induced chlorosis (bleaching). SM caused chlorosis 10% of plated colonies after 1 to 2 hr of exposure, 50% after 8 hr, and 100% after two days. PBZ treatment yielded no chlorotic colonies after 1 to 2 hr exposure, and only 18–20% chlorotic colonies after 5 to 15 days. Since no chlorotic colonies were initially present, these drugs must have acted directly on each cell. Resistance to bleaching probably varies among the cells of a culture. The lower incidence of bleached cells in PBZ-treated cultures might mean that the drug affects cells only during the early stage of growth. Morphological evidence as well as the viability of the druptreated cultures showed that at equimolar concentrations SM is less toxic to Euglena than PBZ but more readily causes bleaching. Therefore the mechanism of action of SM differs from that of PBZ. Conditions governing the PBZ effect are not completely known.
Kras mutation selectivity and isoform specificity in lung cancer

C17 Activating Kras mutations occur in 15-30% of human lung adenocarcinomas, and in the majority of carcinogen induced lung tumors in the mouse, highlighting the importance of Kras in lung carcinogenesis. Kras deficiency is embryonically lethal, but mice (HrasKI) with the Hras coding sequence placed into the Kras locus on chromosome 6 are viable. We show that urethane treated HrasKI mice develop ~10-fold more lung tumors than wild-type (WT) mice in spite of lacking Kras expression. The Kras protein is therefore not essential for lung carcinogenesis. However, while most lung tumors in this model exhibit activating mutations at codon 61 in the inserted HrasKI allele, no mutations are found at the corresponding position in the endogenous Hras locus on chromosome 7. These results demonstrate that the mechanism of Kras mutation selectivity during lung carcinogenesis involves specific regulatory elements within or near the Kras gene. Two alternative splicing isoforms of Kras, designated 4A and 4B, are present in the lung. Kras-4B is the major isoform and is thought to be the major mediator of Kras function. However, KrasKI mice with the Kras-4B coding sequence placed back into the endogenous Kras locus are highly resistant to lung tumor development. Moreover, mutations always occur in the native Kras gene and not in the KrasKI allele in lung tumors from KrasKI heterozygous animals. These results are consistent with Kras-4B having a minimal role in lung carcinogenesis and suggest that the major effect of Kras in lung tumor development is mediated through Kras-4A. Since Kras-4A and Kras-4B proteins undergo distinctive post-translational modifications, these findings can have important implications in the design of therapeutic strategies for inhibiting oncogenic Kras activity for the treatment of cancer.
Abstract A93: The convergence of lung cancer rates between blacks and whites under age 40, United States

Lung cancer rates in the U.S. have been consistently higher in blacks than whites at all ages in men and at younger ages in women. However, since 1970s, smoking initiation decreased more rapidly among blacks than whites. We examined trends in lung cancer rates for white and black young adults (age 20–39) from 1992–2006 using joinpoint models and black‐to‐white rate ratios by sex. Lung cancer death rates in 20–39 year olds significantly decreased in all groups but much steeper for blacks than for whites. From 1992–94 to 2004–06, the black‐to‐white mortality rate ratio (95% CI) decreased from 2.16 (1.90–2.44) to 1.28 (1.05–1.55) for men and from 1.47 (1.25–1.71) to 0.97 (0.78–1.19) for women. Similar convergence was observed in the lung cancer incidence rates. These findings suggest that if current smoking trends in the young continue, racial differences in overall lung cancer rates in men will be eliminated in the next 40–50 years. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2010;3(1 Suppl):A93.
Parliamentarism in Western Germany: The Functioning of the Bundestag

Although universal male suffrage as the basis for a representative assembly existed in Germany half a century earlier than in Great Britain, the Reichstag never occupied as important a position in the German constitutional order as the House of Commons did in the British. Neither in its representative function of integrating the community (in Friedrich's terms), nor in its deliberative function as a lawmaking and supervisory body, did the Reichstag ever achieve the significance that would warrant describing the German system of government, either under the Second Empire or the first Republic, as a parliamentary system. The popularly elected Reichstag under Bismarck, in form so advanced for its time, existed under a constitutional system whose “artfully manufactured chaos” permitted, in reality, the exercise of authoritarian government with little parliamentary interference. When, during the latter years of the first World War, the Reichstag demonstrated an increasing ability to call governments to account, this apparent development of a parliamentary system gained a fleeting constitutional recognition during the last days of the Empire and paved the way for the provisions of the Weimar Constitution under which the Government was to be responsible to the Reichstag. Nevertheless, the republican Reichstag never actually fulfilled its constitutional functions, and in difficult times fell victim to the habits of the authoritarian past, manifesting themselves in the autonomy of the army and the bureaucracy, and the irresponsible behavior of the political parties and the President. “Surely the new constitution granted the Reichstag unquestioned leadership in the formation of policy,” a political analyst of the Weimar epoch has written.
Textured Pb(Zr0.54Ti0.46)O3 Thin Films with YBa2Cu3O7-δ and Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia Buffer Layers on (001)Si

Characteristics of textured Pb(Zr0.54Ti0.46)O3 (PZT) thin films on (001)Si with YBa2Cu3O7−δ (YBCO) and yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) buffer layers have been studied using X-ray diffraction and high resolution electron microscopy techniques. Excimer KrF laser has been used for deposition of PZT, YBCO and YSZ thin films. The YBCO layer was utilized to provide a seed for PZT growth, while YSZ layer acted as a seed and a buffer layer for the growth of YBCO on (001)Si. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and X-ray diffraction were used to determine the texture and the nature of defects, interfaces and grain boundaries. Predominant orientation relationships were found to be [001]PZT//[001]YBCO; [001]YBCO//[001]YSZ; and [001]YSZ//[001]Si.
Recent Advancements in Photoacoustic Tomography Image Reconstruction

We review physics-based models of photoacoustic computed tomography and associated inversion methods for reconstructing images from limited data sets in acoustically heterogeneous media. Transcranial brain imaging and breast cancer detection applications will be presented.
Perception of Risk for Developing Diabetes Among Foreign-Born Spanish-Speaking US Latinos

The purpose of the study was to describe perception of risk for developing diabetes among foreign-born Spanish-speaking US Latinos.Participants (N = 146), recruited at food-pantry distribution events and free clinics, were surveyed using the Risk Perception Survey for Developing Diabetes in Spanish. Type 2 diabetes risk factors measured included body mass index, physical activity, and A1C.Sample characteristics were mean (SD) age of 39.5 (9.9) years, 58% with less than a high school graduate-level education, and 65% with a family income less than $15,000/year. Prevalence of risk factors was 81% overweight or obese, 47% less than 150 minutes/week moderate/vigorous-intensity physical activity, and 12% A1C consistent with prediabetes. Of the 135 participants with complete data, 31% perceived a high/moderate risk for developing diabetes. In univariate logistic regression analyses, 9 of 18 potential variables were significant (P < .05) predictors of perception of risk. When these 9 variables were entered into a multiple logistic regression model, 5 were significant predictors of perception of risk: history of gestational diabetes, high school graduate or above, optimistic bias, worry, and perceived personal disease risk.Use of the Spanish-language translation of the Risk Perception Survey for Developing Diabetes revealed factors influencing perception of risk for developing diabetes. Results can be used to promote culturally acceptable type 2 diabetes primary prevention strategies and provide a useful comparison to other populations.
Ileal substitution of the ureter in renal transplantation.

AbstractWe report on a patient with extensive necrosis of a transplant ureter after bilateral nephroureterectomy. An isolated segment of ileum was used as ureteral replacement. The distal end of the ileal segment was tapered and implanted into the bladder with creation of a submucosal tunnel. This operation seems feasible in an exceptional situation.
Channel avulsions and related processes, and large-scale sedimentation patterns since 1875, Rio Grande, San Luis Valley, Colorado

Analysis of a section of the Rio Grande in south-central Colorado using data from 1875 to the present shows that along four reaches relatively abrupt shifts of the channel to a new location (avulsions) have been common, but in five other reaches the channel has been laterally stable. In the unstable reaches, repeated avulsions have led to the development of subequally spaced, lozenge-shaped internodes composed of coarse-grained point-bar deposits and both coarse- and fine-grained abandoned-channel fill. In the stable nodes that separate the active internodes deposition has been minimal. In map view, the large-scale depositional geometry of these nodes and internodes is analogous to a string of lozenge-shaped, linked sausages, the links representing the nodes and the lozenges representing the internodes. Two end-member geometries could result from the aggradation of the nodes and internodes: (1) laterally swelling and thinning, mostly coarse-grained, channel-derived deposits (internodes) enclosed by fine-grained overbank sediments in systems dominated by overbank sedimentation, and (2) vertically and laterally amalgamated nodes and inter-nodes composed primarily of coarse-grained deposits in systems dominated by channel-derived sedimentation. Rio Grande mean annual discharge decreased by 60%–70% from 1875 to 1925 because of irrigation withdrawals upstream from the study area. From 1875 to the present the following changes have occurred: (1) Meander wavelength decreased from about 500 m to about 320 m. Empirical data from other studies suggest that this was probably a result of decreased discharge. (2) Sinuosity increased from about 1.2 to 1.7, and the number of two-channel reaches appears to have decreased, probably as a direct result of the avulsion process. During an avulsion, the new channel evolves from low to high sinuosity due to rapid meander growth at the same time that dis-charge shifts from the old to the new channel. As a result, early in an avulsion two channels of different sinuosity generally are present, but later a single high-sinuosity channel develops. Thus, the observed decrease in avulsion frequency may be responsible for the present high number of single channel, high sinuosity reaches. (3) The number of avulsions that occurred decreased from about 19 (1875–1941) to 2 (1941-present). Data are inadequate to show what, if any, relationship exists between the decrease in discharge and the change in avulsion frequency.
I Am Here Because they Were There

A psychiatrist at Harvard Medical School reflects on his own education, revealing the importance of the individual teachers in his life. He asks, How can we make room on our campuses for the teache...
Foreign Investment Strategy

Prior to 1979 China’s economic policy was based on the principle of self-reliance. Foreign trade and investment played a very small role. The reforms from 1978 onward led to greater openness, more decentralized authority over economic policy, and a growing foreign trade system. The 1979 Law on Joint Ventures and subsequent legislation reinforced the trend toward an improving foreign investment climate in China.
Development of Micro-Stirling Cooler

Publisher Summary In the various fields of applications such as the temperature measurements, the image watchings, the quality controls and the medical diagnostics, the need of an infra-red imaging camera in commercial use has been increasing, and in order to achieve its high sensitivity and high resolution performances, the requirements of a micro-cooler which cools the infra-red sensors upto 80K of a temperature level has been also increasing. This chapter focuses on the development of a split Stirling refrigerator with a compressor having dual opposed pistons driven by linear motors. The weight of the cooler is 420g and the occupation volume is about 250cm3. Operating frequency was 50Hz, and the charged pressure of helium gas was 1.3MPa. For this cooler, 210mW of the cooling capacity at 80K was obtained at the nominal input power of 8W, and 400mW at the maximum allowable input power of 15W. The cooling capacities measured by replacing 10 expanders for the same compressor showed good reproducibility.
Studies in approximation methods—III: Boundary value ordinary differential equations

Abstract A numerical comparison is made between the orthogonal collocation and Runge-Kutta techniques for solving boundary value ordinary differential equations. Using various forms of the catalyst effectiveness factor system, it is shown that orthogonal collocation is the computationally superior method; this result also holds for a specific class of initial value problems. A multiple element approach in which the elements are located in an optimal manner is also developed. This optimal procedure holds promise for efficiently solving complicated boundary value problems.
Flipping the Script - A Patient-Centered Approach to Fixing Acute Care.

Though largely overlooked in health care reform efforts, the U.S. acute care system is plagued by inefficiency, fragmentation, and redundancy. Fundamentally, to fix acute care, we need to place patients at the center of the delivery system.
Classroom Strategies Coaching Model: Integration of Formative Assessment and Instructional Coaching

This article describes the theory, key components, and empirical support for the Classroom Strategies Coaching (CSC) Model, a data-driven coaching approach that systematically integrates data from multiple observations to identify teacher practice needs and goals, design practice plans, and evaluate progress towards goals. The primary aim of the model is to improve teachers' use of specific evidenced-based instructional and behavioral management practices at the claxsssroom level. Key components of the model include integration of instruction and classroom behavior management; brief structured problem solving framework; formative assessment with a validated observation instrument; establishing measurable goals; and visual performance feedback. Results from a randomized controlled study offer emerging evidence of the potential impact of formative assessment and coaching on teacher classroom practices in elementary schools. Additionally, we offer recommendations for future research and practice.
Phase II study of vorinostat (V) in combination with idarubicin and high-dose cytarabine (IA) as front-line therapy in patients (pts) with high-risk myelodyplsatic syndrome (MDS) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML)

7004 Background: Standard induction therapy for pts with AML has not changed over the last 2 decades nor has the outcome of these pts. We demonstrated in vitro and ex vivo that the combination of a...
ACTH, cortisol and aldosterone level of preterm infants with critical illness

Objective To investigate the effect of illness severity on preterm infant's hypothalamusputituary-adrenal (HPA) axis, we measured the serum concentration of cortisol,aldosterone and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). Methods Ninety preterm infants who were transferred to our hospital within 72 hours after birth were involved. These preterm infants were divided into two groups:gestational age (GA) ≥34 weeks' preterm infants and GA <34 weeks' preterm infants. We evaluated these preterm infants at the time of admission,day 7 and day 14 after birth with neonatal critical illness score (NCIS). Then they were divided into mild group and severe group by the lowest score. We measured their serum cortisol,aldosterone and ACTH at the time of admission,day 7 and day l4 after birth. Results (1) The serum cortisol concentration of preterm infants with severe illness was higher than that of preterm infants with mild illness. Among the GA ≥34 weeks' preterm infants,the serum cortisol concentration of preterm infants with severe illness was significandy higher than that of preterm infants with mild illness within 72 hours after birth (t = -2.263,P =0. 029). Among the GA <34 weeks' preterm infants,the serum cortisol concentration of preterm infants with severe illness was significantly higher than that of preterm infants with mild illness on day 14 after birth (t =-2. 913 ,P =0. 006). (2) Among the preterm infants with severe illness,the serum cortisol concentration of the GA≥34 weeks' was significantly higher than that of the GA < 34 weeks' within 72 hours after birth (t =-2. 641 ,P =0. 010) ;the serum cortisol concentration of the GA <34 weeks' was significantly higher than that of the GA≥34 weeks' on the day 14 after birth(t = -2. 189,P =0. 036) . (3) The serum cortisol concentration was significantly decreased in the GA≥34 weeks'preterm infants (F = 4. 679, P =0. 012). (4) The serum cortisol concentration of aldosterone and ACTH was not significantly different between preterm infants with severe illness and those with mild illness. Conclusion The preterm infant already has the ability to respond to stimuli by regulating cortisol secretion. The serum cortisol concentration increases as disease severity worsens.Serum aldosterone and ACTH concentration are not correlated with the severity of the disease. Key words: Adrenal cortex functiou; Cortisol; Aldosterone; Adrenocorticotropic hormoue; Preterm infant
Reactivation of irradiated Escherichiacoli B by ribonuclease

Abstract Addition of ribonuclease to an actively growing culture of Escherichia coli B which has been exposed to ionizing radiation (Cobalt 60 γ-rays) results in a substantial increase in survivors. This paper discusses conditions under which this phenomenon has been found to take place.
A multi-objective state transition algorithm for continuous optimization

This paper proposes a new approach called multi-objective state transition algorithm(MOSTA) which incorporates state transition algorithm with the concept of Pareto dominance to solve continuous multi-objective optimization problems. Based on an incumbent best solution, candidate solutions are generated using state transformation operators by sampling, and then the next best solution is chosen from a sorted set consisting of solutions in the first rank and then stored in an archive. Meanwhile, MOSTA inherits the distance operator to make solutions uniformly distributed in pareto front. The results of several standard benchmark test functions illustrates that this approach is valid. By using convergence metric and spacing metric for evaluation, it shows fast convergence and solutions could approximate to true pareto front, which indicates that multi-objective state transition algorithm (MOSTA) is a promising approach.
Dead Women Talking: Figures of Injustice in American Literature, by Brian Norman: The Johns Hopkins UP, 2013

Brian Norman’s wide-ranging and well-researched book, Dead Women Talking: Figures of Injustice in American Literature, analyzes the phenomenon of dead, female bodies who speak in order to address i...
Grid cells map the visual world

Neuroimaging studies of human entorhinal cortex activity revealed 60-degree spatial periodicity, a hallmark of grid cells, as gaze movements were made throughout the visual field. This activity may serve as a framework for organizing visuospatial memory.
X-ray scaling relations from a complete sample of the richest maxBCG clusters

National Aeronautics and Space Administration [NNX16AH32G, NNX16AH26G]; National Aeronautics and Space Administration through Chandra Award [GO4-15119B, GO4-15115X]; National Aeronautics Space Administration [NAS8-03060]; DOE [DE-SC0015975]; Sloan Foundation [FG-2016-6443]; NSF [AST-1412768, 1513618]
An empirical study examining the perceptions and behaviours of security-conscious users of mobile authentication

The purpose of this study is to better understand, from an explorative qualitative perspective, the motivations and practices of highly security-conscious users of mobile authentication, and their ...
Bronchial mucus after lung autotransplantation in dogs.

Mucus transport in the bronchi of normal and autotransplanted dog lungs was studied with radioisotopic and radiographic methods. There is impaired mucus transport on the operated side in the early postoperative period. Recovery usually occurred within 1 month. Radiologic study of clearance of barium sulfate paste showed the same time course as the radioisotopic method. The exact mechanism(s) producing the impaired bronchial clearance remain unknown, but denervation seems unlikely to be the major pathogenetic factor because of the relatively rapid rate of recovery during the period of persistent denervation.
Comparative In Vitro and In Vivo Analysis of H1N1 and H1N2 Variant Influenza Viruses Isolated from Humans between 2011 and 2016

Influenza A virus pandemics are rare events caused by novel viruses which have the ability to spread in susceptible human populations. With respect to H1 subtype viruses, swine H1N1 and H1N2 viruses occasionally cross the species barrier to cause human infection. Recently isolated from humans (termed variants), swine viruses were shown to display great genetic and antigenic diversity, hence posing considerable public health risk. Here, we utilized in vitro and in vivo approaches to provide characterization of H1 subtype variant viruses isolated since the 2009 pandemic and discuss the findings in context with previously studied H1 subtype human isolates. The variant viruses were well adapted to replicate in the human respiratory cell line Calu-3 and the respiratory tracts of mice and ferrets. However, with respect to hemagglutinin (HA) activation pH, the variant viruses had fusion pH thresholds closer to that of most classical swine and triple-reassortant H1 isolates rather than viruses that had adapted to humans. Consistent with previous observations for swine isolates, the tested variant viruses were capable of efficient transmission between cohoused ferrets but could transmit via respiratory droplets to differing degrees. Overall, this investigation demonstrates that swine H1 viruses that infected humans possess adaptations required for robust replication and, in some cases, efficient respiratory droplet transmission in a mammalian model and therefore need to be closely monitored for additional molecular changes that could facilitate transmission among humans. This work highlights the need for risk assessments of emerging H1 viruses as they continue to evolve and cause human infections.IMPORTANCE Influenza A virus is a continuously evolving respiratory pathogen. Endemic in swine, H1 and H3 subtype viruses sporadically cause human infections. As each zoonotic infection represents an opportunity for human adaptation, the emergence of a transmissible influenza virus to which there is little or no preexisting immunity is an ongoing threat to public health. Recently isolated variant H1 subtype viruses were shown to display extensive genetic diversity and in many instances were antigenically distinct from seasonal vaccine strains. In this study, we provide characterization of representative H1N1v and H1N2v viruses isolated since the 2009 pandemic. Our results show that although recent variant H1 viruses possess some adaptation markers of concern, these viruses have not fully adapted to humans and require further adaptation to present a pandemic threat. This investigation highlights the need for close monitoring of emerging variant influenza viruses for molecular changes that could facilitate efficient transmission among humans.
Autophagy regulates hyaluronan synthase 2 levels in vascular endothelial cells

Hyaluronan is emerging as a key player regulating wound repair, inflammation, and angiogenesis. Of the three hyaluronan synthases (HAS1-3), HAS2 is the main driver of tumorigenicity by enhancing hyaluronan deposition. We discovered that HAS2 was degraded in vascular endothelial cells via autophagy, a catabolic process evoked by endorepellin and endostatin, two angiostatic and pro-autophagic effectors, and by Torin 1, a specific mTOR inhibitor. Protracted autophagy increased co-localization of HAS2 with three core components of the autophagosome, LC3, p62, and ATG9A, and binding of HAS2 to ATG9A. Importantly, autophagic induction led to an exclusive and marked suppression of secreted hyaluronan with no significant effects on either heparan or chondroitin sulfate levels. Thus, we have unveiled autophagy as a key catabolic mechanism regulating the production of hyaluronan in endothelial cells. Moreover, our study provides a biological link between autophagy and angiogenesis that could lead to potential targets for tumor neovascularization.
Wubble World

We introduce Wubble World, a virtual environment for learning situated language. In Wubble World children create avatars, called "wubbles," which can interact with other children's avatars through free-form spontaneous play or structured language games. Wubbles can also learn language from direct interaction with children, since the system uses principles from developmental psychology to restrict the complexity of this learning task: a shared attention model that includes deictic pointing, and a concept acquisition system that allows for rapid learning of new words from a limited number of exposures. Since we have complete knowledge of the state and structure of the virtual environment, we are able to track correspondences between utterances and the scene in which they are uttered. This sentence/scene corpus will be a valuable resource as we attempt to tackle more sophisticated language learning tasks, such as the acquisition of syntax and verb semantics from world dynamics.
Repeated treatment with cocaine or methamphetamine increases CRF2 and decreases astrocytic markers in the ventral tegmental area and substantia nigra

Abstract Dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra (SN) and ventral tegmental area (VTA) play a crucial role in the reinforcing properties of abused drugs including methamphetamine and cocaine. Evidence also suggests the involvement of non-dopaminergic transmitters, including glutamate and the stress-related peptide corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), on the chronic effects of psychostimulants in the SN/VTA. Astrocytes express a variety of membrane-bound neurotransmitter receptors and transporters which influence neurotransmission in the SN/VTA. CRF2 activity in the VTA is important for stress-induced relapse and drug-seeking behavior, but the localization of its effects are not completely understood. Here we used immunofluorescence to identify the effect of methamphetamine and cocaine administration on astrocytes, the glial glutamate transporter GLAST, and CRF2 in the SN/VTA. We treated adult male mice with i.p. injections of methamphetamine (3 mg/kg), cocaine (10 mg/kg), or saline for 12 days. Coronal brain sections were processed for immunofluorescence using S100β (marker for astrocytes), glial-specific glutamate/aspartate transporters (GLAST), and CRF2. The results showed a significant decrease in GLAST immunofluorescence in brains of mice treated with cocaine or methamphetamine compared to saline. In addition, we observed increased labelling of CRF2 in drug treated groups, a decrease in the number of S100β positive cells, and an increase in co-staining of these two markers. Our results suggest that administration of either methamphetamine or cocaine decreases astrocytic markers and increases immunoreactivity for CRF2 in the VTA, an effect that is most pronounced in S100β positive cells.