cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
How do UV radiation, temperature, and zooplankton influence the dynamics of alpine phytoplankton communities?

Plankton in mountain lakes are confronted with generally higher levels of incident ultraviolet radiation (UVR), lower temperatures, and shorter growing seasons than their lower elevation counterparts. The direct inhibitory effects of high UVR and low temperatures on montane phytoplankton are widely recognized. Yet little is known about the indirect effects of these two abiotic factors on phytoplankton, and more specifically whether they alter zooplankton grazing rates which may in turn influence phytoplankton. Here, we report the results of field microcosm experiments that examine the impact of temperature and UVR on phytoplankton growth rates and zooplankton grazing rates (by adult female calanoid copepods). We also examine consequent changes in the absolute and relative abundance of the four dominant phytoplankton species present in the source lake (Asterionella formosa, Dinobryon sp., Discostella stelligera, and Fragilaria crotonensis). All four species exhibited higher growth rates at higher temperatures and three of the four species (all except Dinobryon) exhibited lower growth rates in the presence of UVR versus when shielded from UVR. The in situ grazing rates of zooplankton had significant effects on all species except Asterionella. Lower temperatures significantly reduced grazing rates on Fragilaria and Discostella, but not Dinobryon. While UVR had no effect on zooplankton grazing on any of the four species, there was a significant interaction effect of temperature and UVR on zooplankton grazing on Dinobryon. Discostella and Dinobryon increased in abundance relative to the other species in the presence of UVR. Colder temperatures, the presence of zooplankton, and UVR all had consistently negative effects on rates of increase in overall phytoplankton biomass. These results demonstrate the importance of indirect as well as direct effects of climate forcing by UVR and temperature on phytoplankton community composition in mountain lakes, and suggest that warmer climates and higher UVR levels may favor certain species over others.
When is a field initiated bioeffect thermal

Physics and biology concepts important for understanding interaction of electric fields with biological systems are discussed with emphasis on how heating effects may be separated from non-thermal mechanisms. Electric fields from DC to millimeter waves are considered. Average amplitudes inside tissue important for eliciting different phenomena are indicated.
An Aspirin a Day to Keep the Clots Away Can Aspirin Prevent Recurrent Thrombosis in Extended Treatment for Venous Thromboembolism

Patients presenting with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the absence of any identifiable risk factors are said to have an unprovoked or idiopathic DVT. Recurrent events are much more common in these patients (10% versus ≤ 3% at 1 year) compared with patients with a DVT provoked by a reversible risk factor, and such events represent a major healthcare problem.1 Three months of anticoagulation is sufficient to decrease the risk of recurrent thrombosis related to the initial DVT. However, once therapy is discontinued, the risk for recurrence rises dramatically. It has been suggested that 30% to 50% of patients experience a recurrence at 10 years.2,3 Factors associated with a higher likelihood of recurrence are male sex, elevated D dimer, incomplete resolution of DVT, body mass index ≥30, and post-thrombotic syndrome.4 In fact, a number of tools have been developed to determine the risk of recurrence after DVT. Article see p 1062 In the current management paradigm, patients with unprovoked DVT are evaluated for long-term anticoagulation after initial treatment with 3 to 6 months of anticoagulation. The risks of major bleeding during prolonged therapy are periodically weighed against the benefits of continuing anticoagulation in high-risk patients. Data supporting this approach come from 4 studies demonstrating a decrease in recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) by 90% with extended conventional dose vitamin K antagonists (VKA) therapy.5 Major bleeding occurs in 20 per 1000 patients, and as of yet no validated prediction tool exists to predict risk–benefit ratio of extended therapy.6 Factors associated with an increased risk of bleeding include advanced age >75 years, history of gastrointestinal bleeding, noncardioembolic stroke, renal or hepatic disease, concomitant antiplatelet usage, and poor control of anticoagulation.5 In the interest of diminishing the bleeding risk while conferring protection against recurrent venous thromboembolism …
Logging Concessions Can Extend the Conservation Estate for Central African Tropical Forests

The management of tropical forest in timber concessions has been proposed as a solution to prevent further biodiversity loss. The effectiveness of this strategy will likely depend on species-specific, population-level responses to logging. We conducted a survey (749 line transects over 3450 km) in logging concessions (1.2 million ha) in the northern Republic of Congo to examine the impact of logging on large mammal populations, including endangered species such as the elephant (Loxodonta africana), gorilla (Gorilla gorilla), chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), and bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus). When we estimated species abundance without consideration of transect characteristics, species abundances in logged and unlogged forests were not different for most species. When we modeled the data with a hurdle model approach, however, analyzing species presence and conditional abundance separately with generalized additive models and then combining them to calculate the mean species abundance, species abundance varied strongly depending on transect characteristics. The mean species abundance was often related to the distance to unlogged forest, which suggests that intact forest serves as source habitat for several species. The mean species abundance responded nonlinearly to logging history, changing over 30 years as the forest recovered from logging. Finally the distance away from roads, natural forest clearings, and villages also determined the abundance of mammals. Our results suggest that logged forest can extend the conservation estate for many of Central Africa's most threatened species if managed appropriately. In addition to limiting hunting, logging concessions must be large, contain patches of unlogged forest, and include forest with different logging histories.
DNA sequences and characterization of four early genes of the tryptophan pathway in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Abstract Two pairs of related but easily distinguishable genes for the two subunits of anthranilate synthase have been identified in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These were cloned, sequenced, inactivated in vitro by insertion of an antibiotic resistance cassette, and returned to the P. aeruginosa chromosome, replacing the wild-type gene. Gene replacement implicated only one of the pairs in tryptophan biosynthesis. This report describes the cloning and sequencing of the tryptophan-related gene pair, designated trpE and trpG, and presents experiments implicating their gene products in tryptophan production. DNA sequence analysis as well as growth and enzyme assays of insertionally inactivated strains indicated that trpG is the first gene in a three-gene operon that also includes trpD and trpC. Complementation of Trp auxotrophs by R-prime plasmids (T. Shinomiya, S. Shiga, and M. Kageyama, Mol. Gen. Genet., 189:382-389, 1983) has shown that a large cluster of pyocin R2 genes is flanked at one end by trpE and the other end by trpDC; the physical map that was obtained shows the distance between trpE and trpDC to be about 25 kilobases. Our restriction map of the trpE and trpGDC regions agrees with data presented by Shinomiya et al.
Efficient Deterministic and Probabilistic Simulations of PRAMs on Linear Arrays with Reconfigurable Pipelined Bus Systems

In this paper, we present deterministic and probabilistic methods for simulating PRAM computations on linear arrays with reconfigurable pipelined bus systems (LARPBS). The following results are established in this paper. (1) Each step of a p-processor PRAM with meO(p) shared memory cells can be simulated by a p-processors LARPBS in O(log p) time, where the constant in the big-O notation is small. (2) Each step of a p-processor PRAM with meΩ(p) shared memory cells can be simulated by a p-processors LARPBS in O(log m) time. (3) Each step of a p-processor PRAM can be simulated by a p-processor LARPBS in O(log p) time with probability larger than 1−1/p^c for all c>0. (4) As an interesting byproduct, we show that a p-processor LARPBS can sort p items in O(log p) time, with a small constant hidden in the big-O notation. Our results indicate that an LARPBS can simulate a PRAM very efficiently.
Assertiveness among professional nurses

Assertiveness is considered healthy behaviour for all people that, when present, mitigates against personal powerlessness and results in personal empowerment. Nursing has determined that assertive behaviour among its practitioners is an invaluable component for successful professional practice. The purpose of this descriptive study was to determine assertiveness levels of a population of professional nurses and to determine if assertiveness levels are related to selected demographic factors including age, gender, years of nursing experience, basic nursing education, clinical nursing specialty, type of employer, highest educational level and prior assertiveness training. The sample was composed of 500 registered nurses (64% response rate), chosen randomly from the list of active licensees registered with the Minnesota (USA) State Board of Nursing, who completed and returned an assertiveness questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of the Rathus Assertiveness Schedule (RAS) and a personal/professional data form. Data analysis included descriptive as well as inferential statistics. The results revealed that this group of nurses was more assertive than any other group of nurses or non-nurses reported in the literature using the RAS. The oldest group of nurses (60-76 years) was significantly less assertive than any of the younger groups of nurses. Nurses practising with a diploma as the highest level of education were significantly less assertive than nurses having a baccalaureate or above. And there was a significant difference in assertiveness between groups of nurses practising in different clinical specialties based on the ANOVA. It appears that the majority of nurses in this study are assertive. They believe in themselves and their abilities. It is hoped that the self-assertion generated by this belief will eventually lead to further personal and professional empowerment.
The effect of hypothyroidism and thyrotoxicosis on thyroxine metabolism in the rat.

The effect of alterations in metabolic status on the peripheral metabolism of thyroxine (T4) has been studied in thyroidectomized rats by an isotopic equilibration technique. In hypothyroid animals total T4 clearance rate was decreased as a result of decrease in the activity of both fecal and deiodinative routes of T4 metabolism. T4 distribution space was unchanged or very slightly decreased, and the net thyroid hormone binding affinity of the serum proteins, as judged by in vitro uptake tests, was increased little, if at all. In animals made thyrotoxic by daily administration of 10 M—g T4/ISO g bw daily, total T4 clearance rate was more than doubled, this as a consequence of increases in both fecal and deiodinative clearance. Total T4 distribution space was slightly increased and net thyroid hormone binding affinity of serum slightly decreased. Qualitatively similar results were obtained when animals were made thyrotoxic by administration of 3.3 µg L—triiodothyronine/150 g bw daily. Since the changes in ...
The response of a general circulation model to cloud longwave radiative forcing. II: Further studies

Following on from the first part of this study, the impact of cloud longwave forcing on the general circulation has been studied further using a series of 510-day, constant January integrations with the NCAR Community Climate Model. The sensitivity of the global response to the vertical profile of the forcing has been assessed by replacing the cloud prediction scheme by that used in the ECMWF model. The results confirm those reported in Part I and emphasize the influence of tropical cirrus clouds on the local thermal structure and on the strength of the subtropical jets. The impact on the model's hydrological cycle of the cloud longwave forcing associated with boundary-layer clouds is also shown to be important. Several integrations are described which assess the relative importance of the three major tropical forcing maxima over Indonesia, South Africa and South America in determining both the local and remote responses. For each region, the perturbation to the upper tropospheric diabatic heating by the radiative effects of the cirrus clouds excites an anticyclonic vorticity pair, located near the longitude of the forcing and almost symmetric about the equator. The influence of these anticyclones on the upper tropospheric circulation is substantial. The results also indicate that a perturbation to the diabatic heating over South America, provided in this case by the cloud longwave forcing, may have an important effect on the Walker circulation and on the extra-tropical flow. The implications of these results for the problem of deforestation are discussed.
TRANSPORT THEORY OF A PARTIALLY DEGENERATE PLASMA.

Abstract : The transport coefficients of a high temperature, weakly coupled plasma of non-degenerate ions and partially degenerate electrons (i.e. stellar matter) are calculated by means of a Chapman-Enskog solution of the quantum Lenard-Balescu kinetic equation. Both electron-electron and electron-ion collisions are included. The leading term of the transport coefficients, the Coulomb logarithm, is evaluated exactly and relatively simply for all degrees of electron degeneracy. The method is applicable to any partially degenerate system with weak, long-range particle interactions. (Author)
Time to leave foreign stock markets

International stock markets have significantly outperformed the U.S. stock market from 2005 to 2008. But will this continue? The authors argue that international markets will hit their peak sometime this year—if they haven't already done so. The reason is that they will be dragged down by the anticipated U.S. recession. And what should U.S. investors do? The authors have some prudent recommendations. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
3-D ICs: a novel chip design for improving deep-submicrometer interconnect performance and systems-on-chip integration

Performance of deep-submicrometer very large scale integrated (VLSI) circuits is being increasingly dominated by the interconnects due to decreasing wire pitch and increasing die size. Additionally, heterogeneous integration of different technologies in one single chip is becoming increasingly desirable, for which planar (two-dimensional) ICs may not be suitable. This paper analyzes the limitations of the existing interconnect technologies and design methodologies and presents a novel three-dimensional (3-D) chip design strategy that exploits the vertical dimension to alleviate the interconnect related problems and to facilitate heterogeneous integration of technologies to realize a system-on-a-chip (SoC) design. A comprehensive analytical treatment of these 3-D ICs has been presented and it has been shown that by simply dividing a planar chip into separate blocks, each occurring a separate physical level interconnected by short and vertical interlayer interconnects (VILICs), significant improvement in performance and reduction in wire-limited chip area can be achieved, without the aid of any other circuit or design innovations. A scheme to optimize the interconnect distribution among different interconnect tiers is presented and the effect of transferring the repeaters to upper Si layers has been quantified in this analysis for a two-layer 3-D chip. Furthermore, one of the major concerns in 3-D ICs arising due to power dissipation problems has been analyzed and an analytical model has been presented to estimate the temperatures of the different active layers. It is demonstrated that advancement in heat sinking technology will be necessary in order to extract maximum performance from these chips. Implications of 3-D device architecture on several design issues have also been discussed with special attention to SoC design strategies. Finally some of the promising technologies for manufacturing 3-D ICs have been outlined.
Acantholytic squamous cell carcinoma: is it really a more-aggressive tumor?

BACKGROUNDAcantholytic squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC) is frequently considered to be a more-aggressive variant with worse prognosis than other squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) subtypes.OBJECTIVESTo analyze the biologic behavior of ASCC.METHODSWe conducted a literature search of articles in English plus
FlashBox: a system for logging non-deterministic events in deployed embedded systems

The ability to postmortem failures in deployed systems due to non-deterministic events is useful in crash investigations. With this goal in mind, we propose FlashBox - a system that acts as a black box for embedded systems, recording non-deterministic events (interrupts). The FlashBox hardware consists of a microcontroller and flash memory. The FlashBox software is an extension to a compiler, enabling recording capabilities at various granularities. There are no source code modifications required to use FlashBox and no assumptions made on processor capabilities such as hardware counters. The FlashBox log can be used for faithful replay with a goal to isolate faults and reason about failure.We present a prototype implementation of FlashBox that logs non-deterministic events on an AVR ATMega169 microcontroller. The FlashBox prototype consists of a 8051 microcontroller with flash memory. The avr-gcc compiler has been extended to log non-deterministic events. Based on our experimental results, FlashBox results in 10-23% overhead while providing capability to log non-deterministic events at instruction level granularity. With decreasing cost of flash memories, FlashBox provides a low cost logging mechanism. The use of standard I/O communication protocols enhances portability, enabling ease of integration for different classes of embedded systems.
Learn before Lecture: A Strategy That Improves Learning Outcomes in a Large Introductory Biology Class

Actively engaging students in lecture has been shown to increase learning gains. To create time for active learning without displacing content we used two strategies for introducing material before class in a large introductory biology course. Four to five slides from 2007/8 were removed from each of three lectures in 2009 and the information introduced in preclass worksheets or narrated PowerPoint videos. In class, time created by shifting lecture material to learn before lecture (LBL) assignments was used to engage students in application of their new knowledge. Learning was evaluated by comparing student performance in 2009 versus 2007/8 on LBL-related question pairs, matched by level and format. The percentage of students who correctly answered five of six LBL-related exam questions was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in 2009 versus 2007/8. The mean increase in performance was 21% across the six LBL-related questions compared with <3% on all non-LBL exam questions. The worksheet and video LBL formats were equally effective based on a cross-over experimental design. These results demonstrate that LBLs combined with interactive exercises can be implemented incrementally and result in significant increases in learning gains in large introductory biology classes.
The Other Iraq: Exploring Iraqi Kurdistan

Iraqi Kurdistan is a far cry from the common stereotypical images of Iraq that have most often made news headlines in the past few years. Whether one is walking around the market in an urban area, or driving through deserted mountain roads, there is a profound sense of peace and serenity that characterizes both the landscape and its people. It is for this reason that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) uses the moniker ‘‘the other Iraq’’ in its promotional literature to encourage investment and tourism. While its peaceful climate, coupled with its oil reserves, has made it a desirable location for investment, one can nonetheless travel for an entire week without encountering another Western traveler. What makes Kurdistan so unique will be the focus of this article. With the high death tolls amongst Iraqis (citizens and militants alike) and U.S. soldiers and contractors, it may come as a shock to hear of the relative tranquility of the northern part of Iraq (Figure 1). To help understand this seeming contradiction, it is useful to adopt a critical geographic perspective (Agnew 2003) to address this complexity rather than view nation-states as containers that erase all differences within their borders. As such, Iraqi Kurdistan is a prime example of this tremendous regional variability one finds within states. Ever since the establishment of the no-fly zone in northern Iraq following the first Gulf War in 1991, Iraqi Kurdistan has secured ever greater autonomy and, thus, has been shielded from most of the violence that has been associated with Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein. A cursory examination of a variety of travel forums, guidebooks, and even Iraqi Kurdistan’s own tourist website all emphasize the region’s safety for travelers. Statistics back up the research as well; not one coalition soldier has been killed, nor has any foreigner been harmed or kidnapped, since the March 2003 US invasion of Iraq; the most significant incident of violence were two suicide bomb attacks on one particular day in 2004. Before focusing exclusively on Iraq, an overview of the Kurdish people is warranted. Estimates suggest there are between 20–30 million people who would likely identify themselves as Kurdish, making them the largest stateless group in the world. Like the Roma, the Kurdish people are often referred to as a ‘‘nation without a state,’’ an ‘‘invisible nation,’’ or ‘‘people without a country’’ (Chaliand 1993; Lawrence 2008). The Kurdish diaspora has sizeable communities in numerous countries such as the United States, Germany, Russia, Israel, Georgia, and Canada. However, the majority of Kurds are located primarily in Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria, and historically this region has been referred to as Kurdistan. Nonetheless, it is important to be cognizant of the vast diversity among the Kurdish people. Living for generations in different states and societies has certainly created differences within this ethnic category (Natali 2005). Regardless of the extent to which some Kurds may identify with a Kurdish national identity, different loyalties and
Direct Potentiometric Method for the Determination of Cyanide in Biological Materials

A modified analytical procedure for routine Isolation of cyanide from biological materials that makes use of a cyanide electrode for direct potentiometric measurement of the liberated cyanide Is described. In this procedure, the sulfide interference is eliminated with a 30 g/liter lead acetate solution, and complete analytical recovery of various amounts of cyanide added to whole blood is attained. The total time per analysis is 20 minutes. The within-day coefficient of variation in the 11.6 to 85.5 /zmol/liter range is 4.8% or less. The method is particularly useful for routine diagnostic analysis of biological materials in cases of acute cyanide poisoning. The effects of temperature and time of storage on cyanide concentration in biological materials are also investigated. The results suggest that the least in vitro change in cyanide concentration during storage occurs at refrigeration temperature (+ 4~
Place and direction learning in a spatial T-maze task by neonatal piglets

Pigs are a valuable animal model for studying neurodevelopment in humans due to similarities in brain structure and growth. The development and validation of behavioral tests to assess learning and memory in neonatal piglets are needed. The present study evaluated the capability of 2-week old piglets to acquire a novel place and direction learning spatial T-maze task. Validity of the task was assessed by the administration of scopolamine, an anti-cholinergic drug that acts on the hippocampus and other related structures, to impair spatial memory. During acquisition, piglets were trained to locate a milk reward in a constant place in space, as well as direction (east or west), in a plus-shaped maze using extra-maze visual cues. Following acquisition, reward location was reversed and piglets were re-tested to assess learning and working memory. The performance of control piglets in the maze improved over time (P < 0.0001), reaching performance criterion (80 % correct) on day 5 of acquisition. Correct choices decreased in the reversal phase (P < 0.0001), but improved over time. In a separate study, piglets were injected daily with either phosphate-buffered saline (PBS; control) or scopolamine prior to testing. Piglets administered scopolamine showed impaired performance in the maze compared to controls (P = 0.03), failing to reach performance criterion after 6 days of acquisition testing. Collectively, these data demonstrate that neonatal piglets can be tested in a spatial T-maze task to assess hippocampal-dependent learning and memory.
Douglas Darden's Sex Shop: An Immodest Proposal

Abstract When once we resort to the arena of representation, we remove the weightiest and most obvious restrictions on imaginative flight. We are free at least to depict those things which architecture might do in certain circumstances—circumstances bounded only by the remotest confines of probability. Here is the sphere of the maker of architectural fantasies. He can explore a great margin of territory—nearly virgin territory—capable of yielding architectural treasure, unique and enthralling.
The Technical Communication Research Landscape

This article reports data from questionnaires assessing the day-to-day experiences that members of the technical communication field have in carrying out their research. The data revealed that most...
Effect of secretin on gastric function in normal subjects and in patients with duodenal ulcer.

The effect of constant intravenous infusion of secretin in doses of 0.25, 0.50, 1.50, and 3.0 μg per kg per hr on meal-stimulated acid secretion was measured by in vivo titration to pH 5.0. The pattern and degree of secretin inhibition of food-stimulated acid secretion depended on when the secretin infusion was begun, the effect being more pronounced when the secretin was begun 1 hr before the test meal than when the meal and secretin infusions were begun simultaneously. Inhibition of acid secretion in normals was approximately the same as in 2 patients with pancreatic exocrine insufficiency who could secrete only small amounts of pancreatic bicarbonate in response to secretin. Secretin in dose of 0.25 and 0.5 μg per kg per hr inhibited acid secretion only slightly, whereas 3.0 μg per kg per hr completely stopped acid secretion. Inhibition of acid secretion by secretin was similar in controls and in patients with duodenal ulcer. Secretin also reduced the rise in serum gastrin concentration after the meal, and delayed gastric emptying; both responses were approximately the same in normals and in duodenal ulcer patients. Secretin inhibited basal gastric acid secretion but had no consistent effect on basal serum gastrin concentration.
BIVOUAC CHECKING, A NOVEL BEHAVIOR DISTINGUISHING OBLIGATE FROM OPPORTUNISTIC SPECIES OF ARMY-ANT-FOLLOWING BIRDS

Abstract As swarms of the army ant Eciton burchelli forage across forest floors of the lowland Neotropics, birds gather to eat arthropods flushed by the advancing ants. Past efforts to distinguish members of the obligate ant-following bird guild from the many species that forage opportunistically with army ants have been inadequate. Obligate ant-followers track the locations of multiple nomadic ant colonies in order to maintain a consistent food supply. Each morning, they visit the bivouac site of each colony they are monitoring to assess the ants' activity. Only species dependent upon foraging with army ants exhibit this specialized bivouac checking behavior. This paper proposes a new method for distinguishing between obligate and opportunistic ant-following birds by observing which species check bivouacs. Verificacion de Vivaques, un Comportamiento Nuevo que Distingue a Especies Obligatorias de Especies Oportunistas Rastreadores de Hormigas-Ejercito Resumen. Cuando enjambres de la hormiga ejercito Ecito...
Will the Real SCIWORA Please Stand Up? Exploring Clinicoradiologic Mismatch in Closed Spinal Cord Injuries

OBJECTIVE. This article aims to familiarize radiologists with the terms used to describe clinicoradiologic mismatch in blunt spinal cord injuries, and also assesses MRI findings and their prognostic value for both pediatric and adult patients. CONCLUSION. Knowledge of the lexicon of spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality, the spectrum of MRI findings, and imaging predictors of outcome can help render a precise imaging diagnosis and can provide evidence-based prognostic information.
Bubble-Pen Lithography

Current lithography techniques, which employ photon, electron, or ion beams to induce chemical or physical reactions for micro/nano-fabrication, have remained challenging in patterning chemically synthesized colloidal particles, which are emerging as building blocks for functional devices. Herein, we develop a new technique - bubble-pen lithography (BPL) - to pattern colloidal particles on substrates using optically controlled microbubbles. Briefly, a single laser beam generates a microbubble at the interface of colloidal suspension and a plasmonic substrate via plasmon-enhanced photothermal effects. The microbubble captures and immobilizes the colloidal particles on the substrate through coordinated actions of Marangoni convection, surface tension, gas pressure, and substrate adhesion. Through directing the laser beam to move the microbubble, we create arbitrary single-particle patterns and particle assemblies with different resolutions and architectures. Furthermore, we have applied BPL to pattern CdSe/ZnS quantum dots on plasmonic substrates and polystyrene (PS) microparticles on two-dimensional (2D) atomic-layer materials. With the low-power operation, arbitrary patterning and applicability to general colloidal particles, BPL will find a wide range of applications in microelectronics, nanophotonics, and nanomedicine.
Predictors of Human Papillomavirus Vaccination in a Large Clinical Population of Males Aged 11 to 26 years in Maryland, 2012–2013

Background: Despite the recommendation for routine human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in males, coverage estimates remain low. We sought to identify predictors of receiving each HPV vaccine dose among a large clinical population of males. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of electronic medical records for 14,688 males ages 11 to 26 years attending 26 outpatient clinics (January 2012–April 2013) in Maryland to identify predictors of each HPV vaccine dose using multivariate logistic regression models with generalized estimating equations. All analyses were stratified in accordance with vaccine age recommendations: 11 to 12 years, 13 to 21 years, and 22 to 26 years. Analyses of predictors of receipt of subsequent HPV doses were also stratified by the number of clinic visits (≤3 and >3). Results: Approximately 15% of males initiated the HPV vaccine. Less than half of males eligible received the second and third doses, 49% and 47%, respectively. Non-Hispanic black males (vs. non-Hispanic white) ages 11 to 12 and 13 to 21 years and males with public insurance (vs. private) ages 13 to 21 years had significantly greater odds of vaccine initiation, but significantly decreased odds of receiving subsequent doses, respectively. Attendance to >3 clinic visits attenuated the inverse association between public insurance and receipt of subsequent doses. Conclusion: Overall, rates of HPV vaccine initiation and of subsequent doses were low. While non-Hispanic black and publicly insured males were more likely to initiate the HPV vaccine, they were less likely to receive subsequent doses. Impact: Tailoring different intervention strategies for increasing HPV vaccine initiation versus increasing rates of subsequent doses among males may be warranted. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 25(2); 351–8. ©2015 AACR .
OCMM Displacement Measuring Interferometer Probe with 3DoF Measurement

We present a 3DoF optical probe for measuring freeform optics with an optical coordinate measuring machine (OCMM), with the goal of investigating point-to-point measurement and establishing a probing methodology for self-alignment to the optical surface. Design and benchtop validation is presented.
Patterns of geographic speciation in the genus Flammulina based on sequences of the ribosomal ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 area

Previous studies based on morphology and on ability to intercross suggested that new bio- logical and morphological species were sheltered within the genus Flammulina as well as varieties with- in E velutipes. The currently described or proposed Northern Hemisphere Flammulina species are F "mexicana, "F. populicola, F rossica, F ononidis, E elas- tica, F. fennae and F velutipes. Within E velutipes are F velutipes var. velutipes, var. " lupinicola," and var. lac- tea. The ribosomal ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region was se- quenced for eighteen geographically diverse Flam- mulina collections, including the three F velutipesva- rieties. Results of neighbor-joining and parsimony analysis produced five distinct Northern Hemisphere clades, a clade consisting of F velutipes together with it's varieties, a clade consisting of F populicola and F. "mexicana", and clades representing F fennae, F. ros- sica and F elastica together with F. ononidis. Data are consistent with the hypothesis that F. populicola is a relatively old species which has diverged significantly on different continents, possibly giving rise to F "mexicana" in North America. The ITS sequence for Flammulina stratosa, an isolate from New Zealand, is highly divergent from all other Flammulina isolates and may represent an ancient endemic or the prod- uct of very rapid evolution. Species diversity is high-
Charge separation from the bursting of bubbles on water.

Film droplets formed from the bursting of 2.4 mm diameter bubbles on the surface of pure water are predominantly negatively charged. The charge generated per bubble varies chaotically; a few bubbles generate more than −3 × 106 elementary charges (e) but the vast majority generate much less. The average is −5 × 104e/bubble, and it is not significantly affected by bubbling rate or temperature. The charge diminishes with increasing salt concentration and vanishes for concentrations above 10−3 M. We propose a mechanism consistent with the observed charge separation. The model relies on the assumption that the surface of pure water has a slight excess of hydroxide ions. The charge separation results when water with entrained counterions (H3O+) flows out of the thinning film of the bubble cap, leaving behind the excess OH− on the surface. Addition of salt reduces the Debye length, and the charge separation mechanism becomes less effective as the Debye length becomes small compared with the film thickness. The e...
Prepartum body condition and weight influences on reproductive performance of first-calf beef cows.

Data were collected on 476 spring-calving, primiparous cows at six locations in Louisiana over a 2-yr period. Objectives of the study were to evaluate changes in prepartum body condition score (BCS) and BW of heifers when fed varying energy levels and to determine the influences of prepartum BCS and BW changes and BCS at calving on postpartum traits. Heifers were allocated to one of three energy levels from approximately 90 d prepartum to parturition. The diets were formulated to provide low, recommended, and high energy levels based on TDN requirements. After calving, cows were placed on annual ryegrass pasture and managed similarly at each location. Weight and BCS at calving were greater (P .05) by IBCS, energy level, prepartum changes in BCS and BW, or BCS at calving. Prepartum changes in BCS and BW regulated by varying energy levels had no effect (P > .05) on postpartum reproduction; however, BCS at calving influenced (P or = 5.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Phase Distribution of Nitrogen/Non-Newtonian Flow at Micro-T-Junction

With air as the gas test fluid and both pure water and PAAm aqueous solution with 0.01wt%,0.25wt% and 0.50wt% as the test fluid,an experimental investigation into phase distribution of gas-liquid flow through a T-junction with 178μm hydraulic diameter was conducted.The experimental results show that the property of non-Newtonian fluid in micro-T-junction can influence the phase distribution,and the decrease in liquid effective viscosity makes liquid's taking off of both slug and annular flow reduced.Comparing the flow pattern of slug and annular flow shows that the property of non-Newtonian fluid can influence liquid's taking-off much of the annular flow and does little on that of slug flow.
Psychosocial burdens of dialysis treatment modalities: do they differ and does it matter?

There have been changes and developments in recent years in the types of dialysis available for children. In particular, there has been an increasing use of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysi...
Cell Cultures: An Alternative in Biological Ion Microscopy

Most of the applications of ion microscopy to biological systems to date have involved the examination of thin tissue sections. Inherent in this approach has been the problem of redistribution of ions during sample preparation [1, 2]. An alternate approach which deserves exploration is the analysis of cell cultures. It has long been known that the study of cells growing and dividing in culture (in vitro) reveals many of the basic properties of cells, whose study is more difficult within the organisms. The use of tissue culture cells over thin sections in elemental distribution studies using ion microscopy provides several advantages. The cultured cells can be attached directly on the substrates typically used in SIMS analysis without showing any evidence of toxicity. This eliminates the need for tissue dissection before fixation, thereby limiting redistribution of diffusible elements (Na, K, Ca, etc.). The thickness of the cultured cells is less than 0.1 mm, so that their actual physiological and morphological states can be preserved relatively well by quick freezing [3].
Foraging, Learning, and Knowing

We come ready to investigate, to search for coherence and meaning. Embedded in the process of satisfying our basic wants and needs are a lot of problem-solving skills — something I like to call “cephalic capabilities.” I use the word cephalic, an older word not much used in the neurosciences, because of its link to the brain in the context of the body. Our brains are not “a brain in a vat” — that is, a brain detached from action and divorced from the contours of adaptation; rather, a brain is part of a body in space and time that is the rare limiting factor for behavior and experience. This chapter deals with some of the foraging skills our cephalic capabilities allow.
Wars of Succession

ABSTRACTI analyze a model of bargaining, war, and endogenous leadership turnover in which (1) leader attributes affect war outcomes and (2) war can insulate settlements from renegotiation. Shifts in bargaining power caused by leadership turnover are endogenous and discontinuous, but sufficiently decisive war outcomes can solve the associated commitment problem. In contrast to other models where the shadow cast by a hawkish successor encourages moderation toward a dovish incumbent, the foreign state attacks instead—despite a dovish incumbent’s known preference for peace—using war to lock in a settlement that would otherwise be lost to future leadership turnover. I discuss the theory’s implications for widening the empirical scope of the commitment problem explanation for war to limited wars over relatively lower stakes and for integrating the politics of leadership turnover with the study of strategic rivalries.
Exploiting Heterogeneity for Aging-Aware Load Balancing in Mobile Platforms

The pervasiveness of heterogeneous multiprocessors (HMP) in the mobile domain enables more energy efficient systems. However, current approaches to exploit the energy efficiency of HMPs results in unbalanced usage of resources, which leads to higher aging rates and delay degradation when compared to homogeneous architectures. In this paper, we propose ADAMANt , an aging-aware task mapping algorithm for HMPs. ADAMANt exploits on-chip sensing of aging, performance, and power in order to enable on-line workload characterization to select task-to-core mappings that yield both increased system lifetime and energy efficiency. Experimental evaluation using a typical mobile workload demonstrates an improvement in chip lifetime by up to 2 $\times$ on a big.LITTLE architecture.
Age-Dependent Absolute Abundance of Hepatic Carboxylesterases (CES1 and CES2) by LC-MS/MS Proteomics: Application to PBPK Modeling of Oseltamivir In Vivo Pharmacokinetics in Infants

The age-dependent absolute protein abundance of carboxylesterase (CES) 1 and CES2 in human liver was investigated and applied to predict infant pharmacokinetics (PK) of oseltamivir. The CES absolute protein abundance was determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry proteomics in human liver microsomal and cytosolic fractions prepared from tissue samples obtained from 136 pediatric donors and 35 adult donors. Two surrogate peptides per protein were selected for the quantification of CES1 and CES2 protein abundance. Purified CES1 and CES2 protein standards were used as calibrators, and the heavy labeled peptides were used as the internal standards. In hepatic microsomes, CES1 and CES2 abundance (in picomoles per milligram total protein) increased approximately 5-fold (315.2 vs. 1664.4) and approximately 3-fold (59.8 vs. 174.1) from neonates to adults, respectively. CES1 protein abundance in liver cytosol also showed age-dependent maturation. Oseltamivir carboxylase activity was correlated with protein abundance in pediatric and adult liver microsomes. The protein abundance data were then used to model in vivo PK of oseltamivir in infants using pediatric physiologically based PK modeling and incorporating the protein abundance-based ontogeny function into the existing pediatric Simcyp model. The predicted pediatric area under the curve, maximal plasma concentration, and time for maximal plasma concentration values were below 2.1-fold of the clinically observed values, respectively.
Protocol for the evaluation of a digital storytelling approach to address stigma and improve readiness to seek services among veterans.

Research suggests that at least 10% of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan meet criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to their military experiences. National dissemination initiatives have increased veterans’ access to best-practice interventions. However, treatment-seeking remains low among veterans with PTSD, often due to perceived stigma and other associated barriers. The National Center for PTSD recently developed and launched AboutFace, a digital storytelling (DST) resource designed to help veterans recognize PTSD and motivate them to seek evidence-based treatment. The Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) and the National Center for PTSD have partnered to conduct pilot work to evaluate veterans’ reactions to AboutFace to set the stage for a large-scale study to examine whether AboutFace effectively reduces stigma and improves attitudes toward treatment-seeking among veterans. If effective, this DST approach may serve as a valuable national model for a variety of treatment-seeking populations. During the first phase of the pilot, in-person usability assessments of AboutFace will be conducted via semi-structured interviews with 20 veterans. Audio recordings of interviews will undergo transcription and coding. A report of the results of qualitative analyses of these interviews will be provided to the National Center for PTSD and will inform revisions to the site. In the second phase of the pilot, 60 veterans referred to a specialized PTSD clinic will be recruited to demonstrate and refine the methodology that we propose to use in a larger randomized controlled trial evaluation of AboutFace. Veterans will be randomly assigned to receive AboutFace plus standard education vs. standard education alone. Baseline and 2-week telephone assessments will be conducted with participating veterans to measure stigma, attitudes toward seeking mental health services, and treatment access/engagement. The feedback we receive in this pilot will be used to strengthen the quality of the DST website in preparation for a large-scale evaluation. Future work will involve evaluation of reach and impact of the site relative to stigma, attitudes toward seeking mental health service, and utilization of care. If AboutFace is found to increase access to care, this finding would have broad and significant implications for overcoming barriers to care for veterans and other populations with stigmatized conditions. Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02486692
Fully Automated Deep Learning System for Bone Age Assessment

Skeletal maturity progresses through discrete phases, a fact that is used routinely in pediatrics where bone age assessments (BAAs) are compared to chronological age in the evaluation of endocrine and metabolic disorders. While central to many disease evaluations, little has changed to improve the tedious process since its introduction in 1950. In this study, we propose a fully automated deep learning pipeline to segment a region of interest, standardize and preprocess input radiographs, and perform BAA. Our models use an ImageNet pretrained, fine-tuned convolutional neural network (CNN) to achieve 57.32 and 61.40% accuracies for the female and male cohorts on our held-out test images. Female test radiographs were assigned a BAA within 1 year 90.39% and within 2 years 98.11% of the time. Male test radiographs were assigned 94.18% within 1 year and 99.00% within 2 years. Using the input occlusion method, attention maps were created which reveal what features the trained model uses to perform BAA. These correspond to what human experts look at when manually performing BAA. Finally, the fully automated BAA system was deployed in the clinical environment as a decision supporting system for more accurate and efficient BAAs at much faster interpretation time (<2 s) than the conventional method.