cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An empirical approach for delineating fine scaled spatial patterns of freezing rain in the Appalachian region of the USA

Analyses of freezing rain in the United States are restricted to the use of a sparse network of first-order stations that provide hourly reports of weather type. From this network, spatial analyses of freezing rain are limited to broad scales. Terrain features, however, can strongly modify these pat- terns at finer spatial scales. This is especially the case immediately east of the Appalachian Mountains, where cold air wedges commonly set up in conjunction with the approach of cyclonic disturbances and precipitation. In this study, an empirical approach is developed whereby daily climatological variables are used to predict mean annual freezing rain attributes over a dense network of cooperative observa- tion stations in the Appalachian region. Since freezing rain occurs when temperatures are at or below the freezing point, it is hypothesized that mean annual frequencies of daily high and low temperatures in a given range near 0°C on days in which rain is observed (wet days) provide a surrogate for various annual attributes of freezing rain. In order to test this hypothesis, these mean annual temperature char- acteristics are correlated with the mean annual number of freezing rain events (NFR) and hours of freezing rain (HFR) from a sample of first-order weather stations that observe freezing rain. Using the strongest identified relationships, regression models are developed to predict HFR and NFR. Over 80% of the variance in HFR and NFR is explained by the mean annual frequencies of daily minimum tem- perature less than 0 and -2°C, respectively, on wet days. These models are applied to daily climatolog- ical (e.g. temperature, precipitation, and snowfall) summaries at selected cooperative observer sites in order to generate estimates of freezing rain occurrence. These estimations provide input for maps that better delineate spatial patterns of freezing rain.
Vitamins in the sea

Nearly half of all photosynthesis happens in the oceans, in communities of microscopic microbial plankton that can vary greatly in time and space. On the one hand these communities are ephemeral, changing with changing ocean conditions, but on the other they can be counted on to cycle in predictable patterns driven by seasons, weather, and ocean currents (1, 2). In PNAS, Sanudo-Wilhelmy et al. (3) explore vitamin concentrations in the oceans, showing that B vitamins are distributed in complex patterns and offering the idea that they might be important factors controlling microbial plankton community composition. The issue considered is not gross ocean productivity but rather the composition of plankton communities, which can impact geochemical cycles.
Implications of high RNA virus mutation rates: lethal mutagenesis and the antiviral drug ribavirin

The antiviral drug ribavirin exhibits strong antiviral activity against a broad range of RNA viruses. This drug is currently used clinically to treat hepatitis C virus infections, respiratory syncytial virus infections, and Lassa fever virus infections. Although ribavirin was discovered in 1972, its mechanism of action has remained unclear until recently. Using poliovirus as an RNA virus model, it was shown that ribavirin is a virus mutagen, and it was proposed that the primary mechanism of action of ribavirin is via lethal mutagenesis of the RNA virus genomes. This represents a novel antiviral mechanism of action and provides a model for the development of new antiviral strategies. In this review we discuss the genetic explanations, evolutionary implications, and drug development opportunities associated with RNA virus mutagenesis.
Absolute electron density measurements in the equatorial ionosphere

Accurate measurement of the electron density profile and its variations is crucial to further progress in understanding the physics of the disturbed equatorial ionosphere. To accomplish this, a plasma frequency probe was included in the payload complement of two rockets flown during the Condor rocket campaign conducted from Peru in March 1983. This paper presents density profiles of the disturbed equatorial ionosphere from a night-time flight in which spread-F conditions were present and from a day-time flight during strong electrojet conditions. Results from both flights are in excellent agreement with simultaneous radar data in that the regions of highly disturbed plasma coincide with the radar signatures. The spread-F rocket penetrated a topside depletion during both the upleg and downleg. The electrojet measurements showed a profile peaking at 1.3 x 10 to the 5th per cu cm at 106 km, with large scale fluctuations having amplitudes of roughly 10 percent seen only in the upward gradient in electron density. This is in agreement with plasma instability theory. It is further shown that simultaneous measurements by fixed-bias Langmuir probes, when normalized at a single point to the altitude profile of electron density, are inadequate to correctly parameterize the observed enhancements and depletions.
Notes on the formation of sand

Many rivers flow on beds of clean sand although they carry in their waters countless tons of silt and clay. For example, the Mississippi, whose muddy water is visible many miles out in the Gulf of Mexico, for most of its length has a bed of material containing neither silt nor clay. The greater part of the material is a comparatively uniform sand. The result of the sorting action of flowing streams which causes these sand-formations is familiar to us all, but just what is its cause? Why is it that so often the silt and clay that is carried in such large quantities by the flowing water (in many cases comprising the greater part of the suspended load) is present in such small quantities in the bed-material, and why -are the sands of river-beds so often composed of grains of comparatively uniform size?
Tumor Hypoxia Detected by Positron Emission Tomography with 60Cu-ATSM as a Predictor of Response and Survival in Patients Undergoing Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy for Rectal Carcinoma: A Pilot Study

PURPOSE The response of rectal cancers to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy is variable. Tumor hypoxia reduces the effectiveness of both radiation therapy and chemotherapy and is a well-known risk factor for tumor radioresistence. We hypothesized that imaging with the novel hypoxia-detecting agent, 60Cu-diacetyl-bis (N4-methylthiosemicarbazone) (60Cu-ATSM), previously validated in cervical and lung cancers, would predict the response of rectal cancers to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and prognosis.
Anemia and heart failure.

Purpose of review The earlier enthusiasm for raising hemoglobin in heart failure has been followed by skepticism and concern of potential harm from using erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs). Recent findings Several recent studies have confirmed the high prevalence and prognostic role of anemia and have shown encouraging signals of the safety of using ESAs in heart failure and potential benefit that may be related to nonhematopoietic effects of ESAs. In addition, recent studies have also suggested a potential beneficial role of iron replacement in heart failure. Summary Despite the encouraging findings of these preliminary studies, the future role of ESAs and iron replacement will be determined by ongoing randomized placebo-controlled studies.
An Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Traveling Engineering Activity Kits in Pre-College Classrooms

The focus of this paper is assessment of the effectiveness of Traveling Engineering Activity Kits (TEAK) in engaging pre-college students in engineering-related activities. This includes a discussion of the challenges in assessing such a brief interaction with groups of middle school students with widely varying backgrounds as well as a discussion of how past assessment has led to modifications in TEAK activities. Program assessment has evolved from pre- and post-visit quizzes on technical content and interest in engineering to instructor observation of student engagement during TEAK visits relative to engagement during a typical class period. Initial results from pre- and post-visit quizzes showed that the vast majority of students self-reported an increased interest in engineering but that the percentage of students showing an increased understanding of engineering topics was highly dependent on the background of the students. Students who did well on the pre-visit quizzes would show less improvement after a TEAK visit, because their initial level of knowledge was higher. In the present model of rating levels of student engagement during TEAK visits, results seem much more promising, with teachers indicating that, during TEAK activities, their students are more engaged and ask more and better questions than during a typical class.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
The People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Masking and Unmasking Tragedy

Recent scholarship on Ethiopia describes the central oudine of events in the aftermath of the country's 1974 revolution. But the books that should be the most insightful, because of the theoretical ambitions of the authors, often disappoint because they obfuscate politics with abstract discussions of the "state." Three shortcomings of state theories are evident: they underestimate the impact of individual leaders, discount the content of ideology, and lead, disturbingly, to moral neutrality.
Multiobjective Control for T–S Fuzzy Singularly Perturbed Systems

This paper investigates the problem of multiobjective control for a class of Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy singularly perturbed systems. Based on a linear matrix inequality (LMI) approach, a state feedback controller that depends on the singular perturbation parameter epsiv is developed such that: 1) the H infin performance of the resulting closed-loop system is less than or equal to some prescribed value; 2) the closed-loop poles of each local system are within a prespecified LMI stability region; and 3) for a given upper bound epsivmacr for the singular perturbation parameter epsiv, both 1) and 2) are guaranteed for all epsiv isin [0,epsivmacr.] It is shown that the epsiv-dependent controller is well defined for any epsiv isin [0,epsivmacr], and can be reduced to an epsiv-independent one if epsiv is sufficiently small. Finally, a practical example is given to show the feasibility and effectiveness of the obtained method.
Diversity of Function of SCN Pacemakers in Behavior and Ecology of Three Species of Sciurid Rodents

Information on the widespread function of the suprachiasmatic (SCN) pacemaker has increased dramatically in the past decade for laboratory rodents and for humans. Interest is now also growing in the adaptive value of SCN pacemakers in wild species of free-living mammals in natural pristine habitat. The squirrel family, Sciuridae, is highly diverse in North America. Radiation into many specialized groups has evolved in response to the temporal and spatial characteristics of specific habitats. The sciurids thus offer possibilities for comparison of SCN function for closely related species from very different habitats. Results from field and laboratory investigations concerning the ecological significance of the SCN are reported here for three ground squirrel species. The semi-fossorial antelope squirrels of the American southwest deserts were arrhythmic in above ground activities after deletion of the SCN pacemaker. In a desert enclosure, predation rates rose dramatically for lesioned animals in comparison ...
The limits of localization using signal strength: a comparative study

We characterize the fundamental limits of localization using signal strength in indoor environments. Signal strength approaches are attractive because they are widely applicable to wireless sensor networks and do not require additional localization hardware. We show that although a broad spectrum of algorithms can trade accuracy for precision, none has a significant advantage in localization performance. We found that using commodity 802.11 technology over a range of algorithms, approaches and environments, one can expect a median localization error of 10 ft and 97th percentile of 30 ft. We present strong evidence that these limitations are fundamental and that they are unlikely to transcend without a fundamentally more complex environmental models or additional localization infrastructure.
Automated electronic reminders to prevent miscommunication among primary medical, surgical and anaesthesia providers: a root cause analysis

In this case report, the authors present an adverse event possibly caused by miscommunication among three separate medical teams at their hospital. The authors then discuss the hospital's root cause analysis and its proposed solutions, focusing on the subsequent hospital-wide implementation of an automated electronic reminder for abnormal laboratory values that may have helped to prevent similar medical errors.
Familiar voices: Using Ebonics communication techniques in the primary classroom

This article presents classroom vignettes illustrating an African American firstgrade teacher’s use of selected Ebonics communication techniques that celebrate African American oral traditions while supporting the academic success of the children in her racially and ethnically mixed class. Five common Ebonics rhetori cal devices are identified and explicated: (a) the use of repetitive, rhythmic phras ing for emphasis; (b) call and response exchanges; (c) testifying; (d) signifying; and (e) code switching. The experiences of three other teachers who attempt to employ these techniques in their classrooms are also reported. The vignettes and explications offer specific strategies for preparing teachers to deal effectively with linguistic diversity.
The Neurotransmitter Cycle and Quantal Size

Changes in the response to release of a single synaptic vesicle have generally been attributed to postsynaptic modification of receptor sensitivity, but considerable evidence now demonstrates that alterations in vesicle filling also contribute to changes in quantal size. Receptors are not saturated at many synapses, and changes in the amount of transmitter per vesicle contribute to the physiological regulation of release. On the other hand, the presynaptic factors that determine quantal size remain poorly understood. Aside from regulation of the fusion pore, these mechanisms fall into two general categories: those that affect the accumulation of transmitter inside a vesicle and those that affect vesicle size. This review will summarize current understanding of the neurotransmitter cycle and indicate basic, unanswered questions about the presynaptic regulation of quantal size.
Delay of tomato fruit ripening by an oligosaccharide N-glycan. Interactions with IAA, galactose and lectins

The unconjugated N-glycans Manα16(Manα3)Manα16(Manα13)-Manβ14GlcNAc (Man5GlcNAc) and Manα16(Manα13)(Xy1β12)-Manβ14GlcNAcβ14(Fucα13)GlcNAc were shown to stimulate and delay ripening of mature green tomato fruit (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Rutgers) at 1 and 10 ng (g fresh weight)−1, respectively (Priem and Gross 1992, Plant Physiol. 98: 399–401). Also, the occurrence and structure of 10 unconjugated N-glycans, including Man5GlcNAc, in tomato fruit were recently reported (Priem et al. 1993, Plant Physiol. 102: 445–458). In this work, we studied the potential interaction between Man5GlcNAc and several compounds by using a system that allowed pericarp discs to be kept up to 14 days after excision. Studies were performed to determine the effect of Man5GlcNAc, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), concanavalin A and tomato lectin on ripening as defined by red coloration of the skin. Ripening in pericarp discs, unlike that in intact fruit, was unaffected by 1 ng (g fresh weight)−1 Man5GlcNAc. However, discs showed delayed ripening with 10 ng (g fresh weight)−1, and the delay of coloration was galactose dependent. Man5GlcNAc at 10 ng (g fresh weight)−1 inhibited the stimulation of coloration induced by 100 μ IAA in the presence of 40 μg (g fresh weight)−1 galactose. Man5GlcNAc lost biological activity in the presence of the two lectins. These results support the possible interaction of IAA and various oligosaccharides during plant growth and development, and for the first time suggest a physiological significance for tomato lectin.
An empirical evaluation of ant build maintenance using Formiga

As a software project evolves, so does its build system. Significant effort is necessary to maintain the build system to cope with this evolution, in part because changes to source code often require parallel changes in the build system. Our tool, Formiga, is a build maintenance and dependency discovery tool for the Ant build system. Formiga's primary uses are to automate build changes as the source code is updated, to identify the build dependencies within a software project, and to assist with build refactoring. Formiga is implemented as an IDE plugin, which allows it to recognize when project resources are updated and automatically update the build system accordingly. A controlled experiment was conducted to assess Formiga's ability to assist developers with build maintenance. Subjects responded to scenarios in which various forms of build maintenance and/or knowledge about deliverables and their contents were requested. Subjects completed eleven different build maintenance tasks in both an experimental condition using Formiga and a control condition using only conventional IDE services. The study used a balanced design relative to both task order and use of Formiga. This design also ensured that order balancing was not confounded with the subjects' level of Ant expertise. Formiga was shown to significantly reduce the time required to perform build maintenance while increasing the correctness with which it can be performed for both novice and experienced developers.
To recycle, or not to recycle, that is the question: Insights from life-cycle analysis

Everyone has heard the slogan “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”—but does observing this hierarchy really minimize negative impacts? With respect to reduction, it seems clear that using less of something decreases the impact. Similarly, reuse of a material or product should decrease the impact of each use, as long as the resources needed to restore the item to usable condition each time are not too large. For recycling, the picture varies by material and often involves tradeoffs among impacts. Life-cycle analysis aims to comprehensively compare all of the impacts of various disposition options. This article summarizes the pros and cons of recycling materials used in paper, drink containers, and the complex batteries for electric vehicles from the perspective of life-cycle analysis.
Incorporating Attitudes and Imitation in the Bass Model of Diffusion

This study incorporated attitudes and imitation in the Bass (1969) model of diffusion. It was hypothesized that the Bass model with the inclusion of attitudes and imitation would perform better than a naive Bass model. Mean absolute deviations over three levels of purchase intention confirmed the hypothesis. 120 undergraduate business school students served as subjects and the stimulus object was athletic shoes.
Understanding Nonresponse to the 2007 Medicare CAHPS Survey

Purpose: The Medicare Consumer Assessments of Healthcare Providers and Systems (MCAHPS) survey, a primarily English-language mail survey with English and Spanish telephone follow-up, is the primary means of assessing the health care experiences of American seniors. We examine unit (whole survey) and item nonresponse for this survey to explore issues regarding surveying seniors about their health care. Design and Methods: We describe overall rates and analyze predictors of unit and item nonresponse for the 695,197 Medicare benefi ciaries selected for the 2007 MCAHPS survey (335,249 unit respondents, 49% overall response rate). Results: Asians, African Americans, and Hispanics responded at adjusted response rates 7–17 percentage points lower than non-Hispanic Whites (p < .001 for each). Among seniors, response rates dropped beyond age 75. Asians and older beneficiaries were especially likely to respond by mail, and African Americans and Hispanics by phone. Breakoff from telephone surveys was most common among African Americans and older respondents. Among respondents, older age was the strongest predictor of item missingness (e.g., those 85 years and older failed to answer items at twice the rate of those aged 65–74 years, p < .001). Non-Hispanic Whites had lower rates of item missingness than other racial/ ethnic groups (p < .001 for each; one-third lower than African Americans). Implications: Survey research on older adults, especially regarding racial/ethnic disparities in health care, could benefit from improved response rates. These results suggest that targeted prenotification materials and campaigns, tailored follow-up, targeted Spanish mailings, Chinese translations/calls, and adjustments to telephone protocols may improve representation and response.
Nationwide Increase in the Number of Hospitalizations for Illicit Injection Drug Use-Related Infective Endocarditis

Infective endocarditis is a potentially fatal consequence of illicit injection drug use. We estimate that the number of hospitalization for injection drug use-related infective endocarditis increased by 38%-66% in the United States between 2000-2001 and 2002-2003, a period during which the number of at-risk persons (i.e., injection drug users) remained stable. Increasing methamphetamine use and/or drug injection frequency may have increased the incidence of infective endocarditis among active injection drug users.
Evolutionary study of phishing

We study the evolution of phishing email messages in a corpus of over 380,000 phishing messages collected from August 2006 to December 2007. Our first result is a classification of phishing messages into two groups: flash attacks and non-flash attacks. Phishing message producers try to extend the usefulness of a phishing message by reusing the same message. In some cases this is done by sending a large volume of phishing messages over a short period of time (flash-attack) versus the same phishing message spread over a relatively longer period (nonflash attacks). Our second result is a corresponding classification of phishing features into two groups: transitory features and pervasive features. Features which are present in a few attacks and have a relatively short life span (transitory) are generally strong indicators of phishing, whereas features which are present in most of the attacks and have a long life span (pervasive) are generally weak selectors of phishing. One explanation of this is that phishing message producers limit the utility of transitory features in time (by avoiding them in future generations of phishing) and limit the utility of pervasive features by choosing features that also appear in legitimate messages. While useful in improving the understanding of phishing messages, our results also show the need for further study.
Crowd simulation in emergency aircraft evacuation using Virtual Reality

There has been considerable interest in crowd simulation and creating crowds of virtual humans that will move in a virtual environment in a believable way. This paper presents an experimental design for assessing human behavior in emergency evacuation of an aircraft among a team of players in a game set in a virtual environment. We present the sense of presence in a virtual environment as a possible way of validating human behavior and crowd simulation models. We are conducting a pilot experiment to explore crowd simulation in aircraft evacuation using Virtual Reality to achieve high levels of presence and thus could be used as a framework for validating crowd behavior simulations. We present two approaches for controlling crowd behavior. First by defining rules for computer simulated agents, second by providing controls to the users to navigate in the environment as autonomous agents and guiding other agents. Our contribution lies in our approach to combining these two approaches of behavior in order to simulate the crowd behavior in emergencies.
Fluoride Reduces Bone Strength in Older Rats

In response to recent concerns about the effect of water fluoridation on hip fracture rates, we studied the influence of fluoride intake on bone strength. Four groups of rats were fed a low-fluoride diet ad libitum and received 0, 5, 15, or 50 ppm of fluoride in their drinking water. Animals were euthanized after 3, 6, 12, or 18 months of treatment. Mechanical strength of the right femur was measured by three-point bending. Fluoride content for the left femur was measured, and static histomorphometric measurements were made on a lumbar vertebra. Femoral failure load was not significantly decreased in rats treated for 3 and 6 months, but was decreased as much as 23% in rats treated 12 and 18 months at 50 ppm fluoride. Extrapolation from regression equations predicted that older rats lose 36% of femoral bone strength when bone fluoride content is increased from 0 to 10,000 ppm, while younger rats will lose only 15%. Thus, the decreased strength appeared to be due to the combined effects of fluoride intake and age on bone tissue and was not associated with a decrease in bone density or mineralization defects. There were only small effects of fluoride on bone histomorphometry. Fluoride intake at high levels had no negative effects on bone mineralization. Fluoride intake was associated with slight increases in trabecular bone volume and trabecular thickness, but these effects could not be demonstrated consistently. The mechanism by which large amounts of fluoride affect bone strength more severely in older animals is unknown.
Fluorescence studies with human epidermal growth factor

Steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence studies have been performed with human epidermal growth factor, a small globular protein having two adjacent tryptophan residues near its C-terminus. Based on the relatively red fluorescence and accessibility to solute quenchers, the two tryptophan residues are found to be exposed to solvent. Anisotropy decay measurements show the dominant depolarizing process to have a sub-nanosecond rotational correlation time indicating the existence of rapid segmental motion of the fluorescing tryptophan residues. From an analysis of the low-temperature excitation anisotropy spectrum of the protein (and in comparison with that of tryptophan, the peptide melittin, and the dipeptide trp-trp), it is concluded that homo-energy transfer and/or exciton interaction occurs between the adjacent tryptophan residues. A thermal transition in the structure of the protein, which is observed by circular dichroism measurements, is not sensed by the steady-state fluorescence of the protein. This result, in conjunction with the anisotropy decay results, indicates that the two tryptophan residues are in a highly flexible C-terminus segment, which is not an integral part of the three-dimensional structure of the protein. Fluorescence measurements with three site-directed mutants also show very little variation.
Noise sensitivity of sparse signal representations: reconstruction error bounds for the inverse problem

Certain sparse signal reconstruction problems have been shown to have unique solutions when the signal is known to have an exact sparse representation. This result is extended to provide bounds on the reconstruction error when the signal has been corrupted by noise or is not exactly sparse for some other reason. Uniqueness is found to be extremely unstable for a number of common dictionaries.
Detection thresholds for 60 Hz electric fields by nonhuman primates

Because responses of animals to detection of the presence of an electric field (EF) are a possible mechanism for production of biological effects, it is important to know what EF intensities are detectable. Operant methods were used to train six baboons (Papio cynocephalus) to perform a psychophysical task involving detection of EF presence. During the response phase of a trial, a subject responded on one push button to report the presence of the EF and on a different push button to report the absence of the EF. Correct reports of EF presence or absence produced delivery of food rewards. The subjects became proficient at performing this psychophysical detection task; during 35 days of testing, false alarm rates averaged 9%. The average EF detection threshold was 12 kV/m; the range of means among subjects was 5--15 kV/m. Two special test procedures confirmed that the subjects were responding directly to EF presence or absence and not to artifacts that might be associated with EF generation. The EF detection threshold of nonhuman primates is similar to thresholds reported for rats and humans.
Reactivity and Antibody Response to Vaccination with Bivalent Influenza A/Victoria/75.A/New Jersey/76 Vaccines in Children with Chronic Pulmonary Diseases

Reactogenicity and antibody responses of high-risk children and adolescents (aged three to 18 years) to bivalent influenza A/Victoria/75-A/New Jersey/76 virus vaccine from nine participating centers were compared to the response of the total population of vaccinees in the multicenter study of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Split-product vaccines given in two doses four weeks apart offered protection without a significant risk of side effects. Patients with chronic pulmonary disease did not differ from the total study population to antibody response or reactivity to vaccination with A/New Jersey strains.
Eleven-year solar cycle signal throughout the lower atmosphere

[1] A statistically significant atmospheric signal, which represents the influence of solar radiation changes on our climate, is found in global data (1958–2003). Using a nonlinear, nonstationary time series analysis, called empirical mode decomposition, it is shown that atmospheric temperatures and geopotential heights are composed of five global oscillations and a trend. The fourth mode is synchronized with the 11-year solar flux almost everywhere in the lower atmosphere. Statistical tests show that this signal is different from noise, indicating that there is enhanced warming in the troposphere during times of increased solar radiation.
The power spectrum analysis of ocean-wave records

Techniques of power spectrum analysis developed by Tukey and Hamming for the analysis of noise in electronic circuits are applied to ocean-wave records The power spectrum of a sea-surface record is computed directly from the power spectrum of a pressure record. Statistical properties of the wave records are deduced and verified within the limitations of a linearized theory. The implications of the results with respect to the problem of wave forecasting and wave refraction are discussed. The relationship between the non-normalized autocorrelation function and the power spectrum is given, and the results of Deacon and Seiwell are interpreted in connection with the results of the analysis.
Temporal Synchrony Between Macrocentrus cingulum (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) with Its Preferred Host, Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

The seasonal occurrences of Macrocentrus cingulum Brischke and its host, Ostrinia nubilalis Hubner, were studied. Overwintering fifth-instar O. nubilalis were collected from the field in 1997, 1998, 2001, and 2002 and reared under controlled laboratory conditions to determine pupation and adult eclosion periods for M. cingulum and O. nubilalis. In addition, pheromone and yellow sticky traps were established in the field in 2001 and 2002 to monitor adult activity of O. nubilalis and M. cingulum. Mathematical equations were constructed based on the laboratory and field data. The equations confirmed the temporal co-occurrence of M. cingulum and O. nubilalis adults. However, third- and fourth-instar O. nubilalis, the preferred host stages of M. cingulum, occur later in the growing season. The timing of M. cingulum adult life expectancy and the occurrences of its preferred host stages in the field were predicted using the equations, published degree-day requirements for O. nubilalis and information from the literature on adult M. cingulum longevity. When the predicted period of M. cingulum adult activity was compared with the predicted timing of third- and fourth-instar O. nubilalis, M. cingulum adult presence was synchronized with preferred host stages.
Deletion of the Proximal Tubule Basolateral Bicarbonate Transporter, NBCe1, Impairs Ammonia Metabolism

Metabolic acidosis typically increases ammonia excretion, but people with proximal renal tubular acidosis (pRTA), despite acidosis, do not have increased ammonia excretion. Genetic forms of human p...
Measurement Equivalence of the Language Brokering Scale for Chinese American Adolescents and their Parents

Language brokering occurs frequently in immigrant families. Using data from 279 Chinese American families with adolescents who function as language brokers for their parents, the current study developed a comprehensive scale to assess adolescents' and their parents' perceptions of language brokering. Both versions, parent and adolescent, showed stable factor structures. We also examined measurement equivalence, including factorial and construct-validity invariance, for each subscale across parent gender, adolescent gender, adolescent nativity, and translation frequency. In general, metric factorial invariance was observed for most subscales across the different groups; these subscales can thus be used in future studies examining the relations between language brokering and other variables. Further, two adolescent subscales (i.e., adolescent-focused burden, positive relations with parents) and three parent subscales (i.e., parent-focused burden, negative feelings, positive relations with child) demonstrated strong factorial invariance consistently across different groups, and can thus be used in future studies examining mean group differences in language-brokering experiences. In terms of construct-validity equivalence, most subscales were associated with parent-child conflict and adolescent depressive symptoms to a similar degree across parent gender, adolescent gender, and nativity. Implications of the current findings and recommendations for future use are discussed.
Thermal-Based Emergence Model for the Bollworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in the Texas High Plains

Winter survival and spring emergence data for bollworm, Heliothis zea (Boddie), were collected over a 6-yr period and were used to develop a heat unit emergence model for the Texas High Plains. The driving force for H. zea emergence is soil temperature at the 10-cm level. Heat units were calculated using maximum and minimum 10-cm soil temperature and a threshold temperature of 23°C. The fit between accumulated heat units and cumulative emergence was linear. The agreement between predicted and actual emergence was good even though cumulative emergence varied among years in the dates of first and last emergence and the length of the emergence period. The results of this study indicate the developed model to be capable of responding to a variety of environmental conditions.
Screening and informed consent.

Before they participate in a screening program, patients must give informed consent. To do so, they need to understand the risk of a false positive result and the invasive procedures that may follow it. Rather than merely transmit expert recommendations, physicians should match the appropriate level of screening with each patient's unique attitude toward the risks of disease and the risks associated with the screening procedures. But to inform patients, physicians themselves must be informed. Stange et al. recently discovered that family physicians are more interventionist in their screening than the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends1. The study . . .
A markerless gene deletion and integration system for Thermoanaerobacter ethanolicus.

Thermoanaerobacter ethanolicus produces a considerable amount of ethanol from a range of carbohydrates and is an attractive candidate for applications in bioconversion processes. A genetic system with reusable selective markers would be useful for deleting acid production pathways as well as other genetic modifications. The thymidine kinase (tdk) gene was deleted from T. ethanolicus JW200 to allow it to be used as a selectable marker, resulting in strain X20. Deletion of the tdk gene reduced growth rate by 20 %; however, this could be reversed by reintroducing the tdk gene (strain X20C). The tdk and high-temperature kanamycin (htk) markers were tested by using them to delete lactate dehydrogenase (ldh). During positive selection of ldh knockouts in strain X20 on kanamycin agar plates, six out of seven picked colonies were verified transformants. Deletion of ldh reduced lactic acid production by 90 %. The tdk and 5-fluoro-2′-deoxyuridine (FUDR) combination worked reliably as demonstrated by successful tdk removal in all 21 colonies tested. A gene deletion and integration system with reusable markers has been developed for Thermoanaerobacter ethanolicus JW200 with positive selection on kanamycin and negative selection on FUDR. Gene deletion was demonstrated by ldh gene deletion and gene integration was demonstrated by re-integration of the tdk gene. Transformation via a natural competence protocol could use DNA PCR products amplified directly from Gibson Assembly mixture for efficient genetic modification.
Value of early enteral nutrition through Freka Trelumina after operation of Hilar cholangiocarcinoma

Objective: To evaluate the value of early enteral nutrition(EEN) through Freka Trelumina(FT),a new three-lumen gastrojejunal tube,in patients after operation of hilar cholangiocarcinoma.Methods: Thirty-two patients undergoing operation of hilar cholangiocarcinoma were divided into two groups: one-lumen tube group(nasojejunal + nasogastric tube,n = 15) and FT group(n= 17).The time required to restore anal exhaust,nausea/ vomiting,diarrhea,lung infection,abdominal infection,incision infection and liver-kidney function were observed.Results: In one-lumen tube group,the incidence of lung infection was more than in FT group(P0.05).Nausea/vomiting happened less in FT group than in one-lumen tube group.Other complications such as abdominal infection and incision infection were the same in the two groups(P0.05).Conclusion: EEN through FT is feasible and safe in patients after operation of hilar cholangiocarcinoma.
Analysis on epidemiological characteristics of mumps in Xishuangbanna Prefecture from 2005-2011

[Objective]To understand the epidemiological characteristics of mumps in Xishuangbanna Prefecture from 2005-2011,provide the reference for developing the prevention and control measures.[Methods]The epidemic data of mumps from Xishuangbanna disease surveillance information system during 2005-2011 were analyzed descriptively.[Results]During 2005-2011,a total of 2 329 mumps cases were reported in Xishuangbanna prefecture,the average annual report incidence rate was 31.29/lakh,and the male-to-female ratio was 1.27∶ 1.The peak seasons were April to July and October to January.63.20 % of cases were children aged 3-10 years old.The main occupation distribution included student(50.51%),scattered children(19.11%) and kindergarten children(15.71%).In seven years,there were 7 mumps outbreaks with 272 cases(11.68%),and all outbreaks occurred in primary school.[Conclusion]It is necessary to strengthen prevention and control,further improve the immunization program of MMR(measles,mumps,and rubella) vaccine in children,strengthen health education and enhance the vaccination rate.
Hurricanes, Catastrophic Risk, and Real Estate Market Recovery

Executive Summary.This paper examines data from the Cape Fear region of North Carolina, an area at elevated exposure to hurricanes and catastrophic risk. The findings support an earlier documented ...
BDNF rescues prefrontal dysfunction elicited by pyramidal neuron-specific DTNBP1 deletion in vivo

Dystrobrevin-binding protein 1 (Dtnbp1) is one of the earliest identified schizophrenia susceptibility genes. Reduced expression of DTNBP1 is commonly found in brain areas of schizophrenic patients. Dtnbp1-null mutant mice exhibit abnormalities in behaviors and impairments in neuronal activities. However, how diminished DTNBP1 expression contributes to clinical relevant features of schizophrenia remains to be illustrated. Here, using a conditional Dtnbp1 knockout mouse line, we identified an in vivo schizophrenia-relevant function of DTNBP1 in pyramidal neurons of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). We demonstrated that DTNBP1 elimination specifically in pyramidal neurons of the mPFC impaired mouse pre-pulse inhibition (PPI) behavior and reduced perisomatic GABAergic synapses. We further revealed that loss of DTNBP1 in pyramidal neurons diminished activity-dependent secretion of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Finally, we showed that chronic BDNF infusion in the mPFC fully rescued both GABAergic synaptic dysfunction and PPI behavioral deficit induced by DTNBP1 elimination from pyramidal neurons. Our findings highlight brain region- and cell type-specific functions of DTNBP1 in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, and underscore BDNF restoration as a potential therapeutic strategy for schizophrenia.
Why is the giant panda black and white

Lay Summary We use comparative information on carnivores and bear subspecies to investigate coloration of the giant panda. We find that white fur on the body is for matching white snowy backgrounds, black fur on legs is for camouflage in shade, but that markings on the face are for communication to other pandas or to would-be predators. The giant panda’s extrordinary pelage coloration has several different functions.
Polygenic Adaptation has Impacted Multiple Anthropometric Traits

Most of our understanding of the genetic basis of human adaptation is biased toward loci of large phenotypic effect. Genome wide association studies (GWAS) now enable the study of genetic adaptation in highly polygenic phenotypes. Here we test for polygenic adaptation among 187 world- wide human populations using polygenic scores constructed from GWAS of 34 complex traits. By comparing these polygenic scores to a null distribution under genetic drift, we identify strong signals of selection for a suite of anthropometric traits including height, infant head circumference (IHC), hip circumference (HIP) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), as well as type 2 diabetes (T2D). In addition to the known north-south gradient of polygenic height scores within Europe, we find that natural selection has contributed to a gradient of decreasing polygenic height scores from West to East across Eurasia, and that this gradient is consistent with selection on height in ancient populations who have contributed ancestry broadly across Eurasia. We find that the signal of selection on HIP can largely be explained as a correlated response to selection on height. However, our signals in IHC and WC/WHR cannot, suggesting a response to selection along multiple axes of body shape variation. Our observation that IHC, WC, and WHR polygenic scores follow a strong latitudinal cline in Western Eurasia support the role of natural selection in establishing Bergmann9s Rule in humans, and are consistent with thermoregulatory adaptation in response to latitudinal temperature variation.
Liposomal Bupivacaine in Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction.

Purpose:This study evaluates the role of liposomal bupivacaine in implant-based breast reconstruction.Methods:A prospective, randomized, single-blind trial of liposomal bupivacaine in implant-based breast reconstruction was performed. Patients in the control arm were treated with 20 mL 0.25% bupivac
Phonon-Driven Oscillatory Plasmonic Excitonic Nanomaterials

We demonstrate that coherent acoustic phonons derived from plasmonic nanoparticles can modulate electronic interactions with proximal excitonic molecular species. A series of gold bipyramids with systematically varied aspect ratios and corresponding localized surface plasmon resonance energies, functionalized with a J-aggregated thiacarbocyanine dye molecule, produces two hybridized states that exhibit clear anticrossing behavior with a Rabi splitting energy of 120 meV. In metal nanoparticles, photoexcitation generates coherent acoustic phonons that cause oscillations in the plasmon resonance energy. In the coupled system, these photogenerated oscillations alter the metal nanoparticle’s energetic contribution to the hybridized system and, as a result, change the coupling between the plasmon and exciton. We demonstrate that such modulations in the hybridization are consistent across a wide range of bipyramid ensembles. We also use finite-difference time domain calculations to develop a simple model describ...
shinySISPA: A web tool for defining sample groups using gene sets from multiple-omics data.

As opposed to genome-wide testing of several hundreds of thousands of genes on very few samples, gene panels target as few as tens of genes and enable the simultaneous testing of many samples. For example, some cancer gene panels test for 50 genes that can affect tumor growth and potentially identify treatment options directed against the genetic mutation. The increasing popularity of gene panel testing has spurred the technological development of panels that test for diverse data types such as expression and mutation. Once samples are tested, there is the desire to examine clinical associations based on the panel and for this purpose, one would like to identify, among the samples tested, which show support for a molecular profile (e.g., presence of mutation with increased expression) versus those samples that do not among the genes tested. With user-specified molecular profile of interest, and gene panel data matrices (e.g., gene expression, variants, etc.) that define the profile, shinySISPA (Sample Integrated Set Profile Analysis) is a web-based shiny tool to define two sample groups with and without profile support based on our previously published method from which clinical associations may be readily examined. The shinySISPA can be accessed from http://shinygispa.winship.emory.edu/shinySISPA/ .
Hope, Society, and History

A catalogue of hopes frequently concludes with the one most comprehensive, a state in which all mankind’s sound desires and real needs are fulfilled. Such a conception is a utopia, and usually emphasizes that human beings are truly human only within society, and thus the full measure of happiness can be taken only if it is a social order that is measured. Ernst Bloch has such an emphasis, as does Immanuel Kant; More’s Utopia and Plato’s Republic show such emphasis as well — in contrast, for example, to Schopenhauer’s nirvana.
Calcium and Neuromuscular Transmission

The importance of Ca2+ in the release of ACh at the neuromuscular junction was shown by experiments of such lucid design and clever execution that they became instant classics (summarized by Katz, 1969). The general opinion is that depolarization of the nerve terminal opens a voltage-gated Ca2+ channel, Ca2+ enters the terminal to initiate quantal release which ends when the Ca2+ is sequestered or ejected from the terminal. This clear picture, naturally enough, hides uncertainties and unanswered questions which will be uncovered as the evidence for the Ca2+ hypothesis is described.