cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
D.C. Skin Conductance Variation at Acupuncture Loci

Skin conductance was measured in 10 subjects with a DC Wheatstone bridge in 10 areas puportedly containing acupuncture loci on the Triple Burner (TB) and Lung (Lu) meridians. When the results were compared to those from antomically similar locations devoid of acpuncture loci, local conductance variation was found to be significantly different (p<0.05) in most acupuncture locus locations.
The Arabidopsis JAGGED gene encodes a zinc finger protein that promotes leaf tissue development.

Important goals in understanding leaf development are to identify genes involved in pattern specification, and also genes that translate this information into cell types and tissue structure. Loss-of-function mutations at the JAGGED (JAG) locus result in Arabidopsis plants with abnormally shaped lateral organs including serrated leaves, narrow floral organs, and petals that contain fewer but more elongate cells. jag mutations also suppress bract formation in leafy, apetala1 and apetala2 mutant backgrounds. The JAG gene was identified by map-based cloning to be a member of the zinc finger family of plant transcription factors and encodes a protein similar in structure to SUPERMAN with a single C2H2-type zinc finger, a proline-rich motif and a short leucine-rich repressor motif. JAG mRNA is localized to lateral organ primordia throughout the plant but is not found in the shoot apical meristem. Misexpression of JAG results in leaf fusion and the development of ectopic leaf-like outgrowth from both vegetative and floral tissues. Thus, JAG is necessary for proper lateral organ shape and is sufficient to induce the proliferation of lateral organ tissue.
Joint Decoding of LDPC Codes and Finite-State Channels Via Linear-Programming

This paper considers the joint-decoding problem for finite-state channels (FSCs) and low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes. In the first part, the linear-programming (LP) decoder for binary linear codes is extended to perform joint-decoding of binary-input FSCs. In particular, we provide a rigorous definition of LP joint-decoding pseudo-codewords (JD-PCWs) that enables evaluation of the pairwise error probability between codewords and JD-PCWs in AWGN. This leads naturally to a provable upper bound on decoder failure probability. If the channel is a finite-state intersymbol interference channel, then the joint LP decoder also has the maximum-likelihood (ML) certificate property and all integer-valued solutions are codewords. In this case, the performance loss relative to ML decoding can be explained completely by fractional-valued JD-PCWs. After deriving these results, we discovered some elements were equivalent to earlier work by Flanagan on linear-programming receivers. In the second part, we develop an efficient iterative solver for the joint LP decoder discussed in the first part. In particular, we extend the approach of iterative approximate LP decoding, proposed by Vontobel and Koetter and analyzed by Burshtein, to this problem. By taking advantage of the dual-domain structure of the joint-decoding LP, we obtain a convergent iterative algorithm for joint LP decoding whose structure is similar to BCJR-based turbo equalization (TE). The result is a joint iterative decoder whose per-iteration complexity is similar to that of TE but whose performance is similar to that of joint LP decoding. The main advantage of this decoder is that it appears to provide the predictability and superior performance of joint LP decoding with the computational complexity of TE. One expected application is coding for magnetic storage where the required block-error rate is extremely low and system performance is difficult to verify by simulation.
Attitude and Prediction of Behavior

The relationship of attitude to behavior is investigated through improvement in attitude measurement and the use of multiple variable analysis. The certainty of response to attitude items was used as a moderator variable to produce better attitude measurement. Regression analysis was used to consider the relation of a number of relevant personal and social variables to attitude, behavioral intention, and behavior. Data supporting the interpretation that certainty identifies individuals with developed attitudes are presented. Analysis of the relation of attitude and other variables to behavioral intention and behavior suggests when respondents are certain of attitude item responses, attitude is a major predictor of behavior and behavioral intentions, and additional personal and social variables fail to markedly improve behavior prediction. These findings are discussed in relation to selected aspects of Fishbein's (1967) analysis of the relation of attitude to behavior.
The development of adaptive competence: Why cultural psychology is necessary and not just nice

Abstract I argue that developmental psychologists need to view cultural approaches to cognitive development as necessary and not just nice. Cultural psychology enables one to study problems one otherwise might not be able to study and also to identify solutions to problems that might be obscured or even distorted if one looked only at results within a single culture (usually, one’s own). I describe work my colleagues and I have done around the world addressing specific problems such as what does it mean to be adaptively intelligent in various cultures, how does illness affect intellectual functioning, and what do people even mean by “intelligence” in different cultures. The results show that cognitive development can be fully understood only if one looks beyond one’s own cultural boundaries and preconceptions. The article further argues that a theory of successful intelligence can be a useful way of studying phenomena of intellectual development within a cultural framework.
Simbios: an NIH national center for physics-based simulation of biological structures

Physics-based simulation provides a powerful framework for understanding biological form and function. Simulations can be used by biologists to study macromolecular assemblies and by clinicians to design treatments for diseases. Simulations help biomedical researchers understand the physical constraints on biological systems as they engineer novel drugs, synthetic tissues, medical devices, and surgical interventions. Although individual biomedical investigators make outstanding contributions to physics-based simulation, the field has been fragmented. Applications are typically limited to a single physical scale, and individual investigators usually must create their own software. These conditions created a major barrier to advancing simulation capabilities. In 2004, we established a National Center for Physics-Based Simulation of Biological Structures (Simbios) to help integrate the field and accelerate biomedical research. In 6 years, Simbios has become a vibrant national center, with collaborators in 16 states and eight countries. Simbios focuses on problems at both the molecular scale and the organismal level, with a long-term goal of uniting these in accurate multiscale simulations.
Studies of feedback suppression of bile salt synthesis in the bile-fistula rat.

We have previously reported that intravenous infusion of taurocholate at 10 mumol (100 g.hr) into bile-fistula rats suppressed bile salt synthesis by 85% (Pries et al. 1983. J. Lipid Res. 24: 141-146). Recently, however, infusion rates twice this high have been reported not to suppress synthesis (Davis et al. 1984. Falk Symposium 42. MTP Press Ltd., Boston. 37-45). Because the only major difference in design of these two studies was supplementation with sodium bicarbonate to replace biliary losses induced by bile salt choleresis, we have repeated our studies with and without bicarbonate supplementation. Without bicarbonate, as before, we found suppression of synthesis during infusion of taurocholate at 10 mumol/(100 g.hr). With bicarbonate, no suppression of synthesis occurred at these infusion rates. These data indicate that bicarbonate supplementation is essential when testing physiological effects of infused bile salt in the bile-fistula rat.
Leveraging Crowdsourced Data for Creating Temporal Segmentation Ground Truths of Subjective Tasks

We present a new approach to the collection and labeling of ground truth data for annotation of temporal events in ad-hoc videos taken by active operators recording interactions and activities in the field. We present experimental data and related research from experimental psychology which indicate that the conventional methodology based on asking annotators to pick a single instance in time for an event boundary is both unnatural and has several undesirable effects. Our approach is based on allowing the annotators to choose event boundary intervals and modeling each annotators segmentations with mixtures of Gaussians. We use fuzzy measurements to determine an annotators quality and compute a segmentation likelihood function as a Gaussian Mixture of Models (GMMs) over all annotators and boundary intervals. Since the majority of evaluation methods require hard boundaries, we can extract these from the likelihood function as relevant local maxima. We show that given a small set of annotators, this GMM approach provides a more stable ground truth than conventional approaches including majority voting, and demonstrate the application of our approach on two segmentation problems.
Effects of the neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor in an experimental model of retinal detachment.

PURPOSE. TO examine the effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in an animal model of retinal detachment. METHODS. Cat retinas were detached from the retinal pigment epithelium for either 7 or 28 days. Animals received either an intravitreal injection of BDNF (100 jag) or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), the vehicle for BDNF. Retinas were evaluated using morphology and immunocytochemistry. The width of the outer segment zone was measured, and the retinas were evaluated for changes in protein expression by labeling with antibodies to rod opsin, phosducin, synaptophysin, calbindin D, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). The effect of BDNF on both proliferation and apoptotic cell death was examined. RESULTS. Although there was variability in the treated retinas, most of the animals receiving BDNF had well-organized outer segments that were longer than those in vehicle-treated controls. Immunocytochemistry revealed that treated retinas had consistently less opsin redistribution to the plasma membrane, less phosducin upregulation, and fewer calbindin D-labeled horizontal cell processes. BDNF did not reduce overall cell death in the detachments or death of photoreceptors by apoptosis. However, it significantly reduced the proliferative response of Miiller cells and the extent of upregulation of GFAP. CONCLUSIONS. The results suggest that BDNF may aid in the recovery of the retina after reattachment by maintaining the surviving photoreceptor cells, by reducing the gliotic effects in Muller cells, and perhaps by promoting outer segment regeneration. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Set. 1999;40: 1530-1544)
Bacterial Exchange via Nanotubes: Lessons Learned from the History of Molecular Biology

DNA transfer between bacteria has a long and storied history. Starting shortly after the discovery by Avery, MacLeod and McCarty that DNA was the genetic material, the exchange of DNA between bacteria confirmed that DNA transfer could stably change the phenotypic behavior of organisms. Continued efforts along these lines led to the discovery of conjugation systems, bacteriophage transduction, bacterial genome mapping, and to some represents the birth of molecular biology. Recent findings by Dubey and Ben-Yehuda expand on these early results by suggesting that exchange between bacteria may occur continuously under certain growth conditions via nanotubes. These nanotubes have a structure similar to cell membranes and are sensitive to mild detergent treatment. Transfer of protein and plasmid DNA was demonstrated directly between neighboring and distant bacteria of the same and different genera. Transfer of RNA cannot be ruled out and the transfer of chromosomal DNA was not addressed. This work may reveal an important mechanism behind the spread of antibiotic resistance, however, much work remains to be done in order to confirm or refute the role of this mechanism in the dangerous spread of antibiotic resistance within the prokaryotic biosphere. The work of early molecular biology pioneers can be used as inspiration, if not as a direct template to guide future experimental confirmation.
Modified fincke-pohst algorithm for low-complexity iterative decoding over multiple antenna channels

In recent years, soft iterative decoding techniques have been shown to greatly improve the bit error rate performance of various communication systems. For multiple antenna systems employing spacetime codes, however, it is not clear what is the best way to obtain the soft-information required of the iterative scheme with low complexity. In this paper, we propose a modification of the Fincke-Pohst (sphere decoding) algorithm to estimate the maximum a posteriori (MAP) probability of the received symbol sequence. The new algorithm (FP-MAP) solves a nonlinear integer least-squares problem and, over a wide range of rates and SNRs, has polynomial-time (often cubic) expected complexity. The FP-MAP algorithm provides soft detection information for the soft channel decoder. The soft decoder's output is then fed back to the FP-MAP, and iterated on. The performance of the FP-MAP algorithm on a multiple antenna system employing turbo code is demonstrated.
The insertion/deletion polymorphism of the ACE gene is related to insulin sensitivity in overweight women.

OBJECTIVE —The ACE insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism has been identified as a genetic risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD). The deletion (D) allele of the ACE gene may be associated with higher insulin sensitivity. Individuals who are homozygous for the DD allele have higher ACE levels and possibly more angiotensin II, which, when infused exogenously, causes an increase in insulin sensitivity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of the I/D polymorphism of the ACE gene with insulin sensitivity and CHD risk factors. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS —The study included 66 women (ages 57 ± 1 years) who were overweight or obese (means ± SEM, BMI = 33 ± 1 kg/m 2 ) and sedentary ( V o 2max = 19.6 ± 0.4 ml · kg –1 · min 1 ). Total body fat mass and percent fat were determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and abdominal fat was by computed tomography. Insulin sensitivity was measured during the last 30 min of 3-h hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps (40 mU · m −2 · min −1 ). Comparisons were made among women with the II ( n = 9), ID ( n = 36), and DD ( n = 21) genotypes. RESULTS —Age, percent body fat, waist-to-hip ratio, visceral and subcutaneous abdominal fat areas, plasma lipid levels, and systolic and diastolic blood pressures did not differ by ACE genotype. Fasting glucose and 2-h glucose levels were similar among genotypes, but fasting plasma insulin levels were lower in DD women than in ID women ( P −1 FFM · min −1 , P = 0.01) and was higher in ID women than in II women (48.5 ± 2.5 μmol · kg −1 FFM · min −1 , P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS —These data suggest that the I/D polymorphism is not associated with risk factors for CHD in overweight sedentary women; however, women who are homozygous for the D allele of the ACE gene are more insulin sensitive, whereas women who are homozygous for the I allele of the ACE gene have greater insulin resistance and potential risk for type 2 diabetes.
Real-time energy management of an islanded microgrid using multi-objective Particle Swarm Optimization

While minimizing cost has always been a primary objective in energy management, because of increasing concerns over emissions, minimization of this objective has been brought to the forefront of energy management as well. Minimization of cost and emission are two conflicting objectives. Moreover, the optimization problem becomes more complex with the addition of renewable technologies that have varying power generation energy storage. This paper presents a multi-objective, multi-constraint energy management optimization problem for an islanded microgrid solved in real time using a modified Multi-objective Particle Swarm Optimization (MOPSO) algorithm. Simulation results show the benefits of real-time optimization and the freedom of choice users make to meet their energy demands. Furthermore, the simulation results from the MOPSO-based algorithm are compared with those from the Multi-objective Genetic Algorithm (MOGA)-based optimization package available in the Matlab optimization toolbox. The results show that the proposed MOPSO-based algorithm used for a 24-hour period energy management simulation performs much faster than the MOGA-based optimization package.
Democratization, Divided Government and the 2001 Taiwanese Legislative Yuan Elections:

The 2001 Legislative Yuan elections in Taiwan were the first to be held following the change in control of the presidency that occurred after the 2000 elections. The transition from a one-party dominant system to one where the opposition had control of the government provides a good opportunity to examine the prevalence of democratic attitudes in Taiwan. Democracy can be frustrating when control over public policy is divided between two opposing groups. Under these circumstances, it could be reasonable for voters to desire a return to authoritarianism government. In a survey conducted following the 2001 Legislative Yuan elections, Taiwanese citizens were asked a series of questions about democratic norms. In this article, I analyze these attitudes as a means of exploring how Taiwan’s voters feel about democracy as Taiwan moves away from a one-party dominant system and faces potential difficulties operating within a multi-party semi-presidential system.
Transnational Mobilization and Civil Rights in Northern Ireland

While usually seen in positive terms, transnational mobilization can sometimes hurt movements as well as help them. An examination of the transnational network of organizations supporting civil rights demands in Northern Ireland between 1967 and 1972 suggests that international involvement, not only can exacerbate problems encountered by domestic coalitions, but can also introduce additional obstacles to the effective pursuit of social change. Using a wide range of sources, four types of impediments to positive issue network dynamics are conceptualized and illustrated—structural, organizational, cultural, and ideological. Structurally, the civil rights network brought together groups outside of Northern Ireland that, otherwise, would not have attempted to cooperate because of diametrically opposed positions on domestic issues. In terms of organization, spatial variations in Irish Diaspora and New Left protest limited sustained network activity to a few societies. Weak ties between organizations located in different societies reduced the likelihood of cooperation. Competition for resources led to the formation of rival transnational blocs within the issue network. Cross-societal differences in cultural norms and group identities led to clashes. Interactions across borders exported and amplified ideological tensions already existing on the domestic-level. The findings suggest that political process assumptions regarding the effects of the presence of external allies require qualification.
Macrophage Infiltration, but Not Apoptosis, Is Correlated with Immune-Mediated Demyelination following Murine Infection with a Neurotropic Coronavirus

Mice infected with mouse hepatitis virus strain JHM (MHV-JHM) develop a chronic demyelinating encephalomyelitis that is in large part immune mediated. Potential mechanisms of immune activity were assessed using an adoptive transfer system. Mice deficient in recombinase-activating gene function (RAG1(-/-)), defective in B- and T-cell maturation, become persistently infected with MHV but do not develop demyelination. Adoptive transfer of splenocytes from mice immunized to MHV into RAG1(-/-) mice infected with an attenuated strain of the virus results in the rapid and progressive development of demyelination. Most striking, adoptive transfer resulted, within 5 to 6 days, in extensive recruitment of activated macrophages/microglia to sites of demyelination within the spinal cord. Clearance of virus antigen occurred preferentially from the gray matter of the spinal cord. Apoptotic cells were identified in both the gray and white matter of the central nervous system (CNS) from RAG1(-/-) mice before and after adoptive transfer, with a moderate increase in number, but not distribution, of apoptotic cells following the development of demyelination. These results suggest that apoptosis following MHV-JHM infection of the murine CNS is not sufficient to cause demyelination. These results, showing that macrophage recruitment and myelin destruction occur rapidly after immune reconstitution of RAG(-/-) mice, suggest that this will be a useful system for investigating MHV-induced demyelination.
Regulation of DNA damage responses by mismatch repair

DNA mismatch repair (MMR) is a major genome maintenance system that is responsible for correction of replication errors. Many human cancers exhibit very high rates of spontaneous mutagenesis and a microsatellite instability (MIN+) phenotype, which are characteristics of inactive MMR. This raises important questions regarding the nature of selection processes leading to the loss of functional MMR during malignant transformation and what it means for the use of specific chemotherapeutic agents. One of the unusual cases of a very high MIN+ incidence (>80%) is lung tumors caused by occupational exposure to carcinogenic hexavalent chromium (Cr-6). Evidence from different cellular models will be presented to demonstrate a critical role of MMR in processing of relatively innocuous DNA phosphate-Cr adducts into highly toxic DNA double-stranded breaks and subsequent activation of stress signaling and apoptosis. MMR-mediated DNA breakage requires a passage of Cr-damaged DNA through S-phase and an unprecedented sequential assembly and activation of both MSH6 and MSH3 branches at S/G2 border. MSH6, a single base mismatch detecting protein, is a sensor of Cr-DNA damage, which subsequently recruits downstream MLH1-PMS2 dimer followed by activation of the MSH3 branch. Inactivation of any of several MMR proteins prevents chromosomal breakage and cytotoxicity by Cr-6. Based on these results, we propose that a chronic exposure to Cr-6 selects for resistant cells with deficient MMR, leading to the outgrowth of populations with a mutator phenotype conferring high transformation potential. Thus, one origin of MIN+ cancers could involve selective pressure imposed by prolonged exposures to specific carcinogens to inactivate MMR. We will also present biochemical and genetic evidence that shed light on the mechanistic basis of differences in sensitivity of MIN+ cancer cells to alkylating chemotherapeutic agents.
Ductal lavage in the high-risk patient.

Abstract Backgound This analysis was conducted in a single-surgeon clinical practice to evaluate the utility and practicality of performing ductal lavage in a population determined to be at high risk for breast cancer. Methods One hundred twenty patients with negative mammograms and/or negative breast examinations had nipple aspiration and ductal lavage performed by a single surgeon. All were at high risk either according to Gail risk score, a previous breast carcinoma, or nipple discharge. Results One hundred twenty patients underwent nipple aspiration. Thirty-two did not undergo lavage: 29 had no fluid, and 3 had unsuccessful cannulation. Eighty-eight underwent lavage: 15 had insufficient epithelial content, 51 had benign cytology, and 22 had abnormal cells. Of the 22, 20 had mild atypia, 1 had marked atypia, and 1 had malignant cells. Conclusions Ductal lavage can be done in a surgical practice and can stratify risk for the individual patient. This is important to both patient and surgeon in formulating a treatment plan based on objective cytologic criteria.
Governance and One Health: Exploring the Impact of Federalism and Bureaucracy on Zoonotic Disease Detection and Reporting

The merits of One Health have been thoroughly described in the literature, but how One Health operates in the United States federal system of government is rarely discussed or analyzed. Through a comparative case-study approach, this research explores how federalism, bureaucratic behavior, and institutional design in the United States may influence zoonotic disease outbreak detection and reporting, a key One Health activity. Using theoretical and empirical literature, as well as a survey/interview instrument for individuals directly involved in a past zoonotic disease outbreak, the impacts of governance are discussed. As predicted in the theoretical literature, empirical findings suggest that federalism, institutional design, and bureaucracy may play a role in facilitating or impeding zoonotic disease outbreak detection and reporting. Regulatory differences across states as well as compartmentalization of information within agencies may impede disease detection. However, the impact may not always be negative: bureaucracies can also be adaptive; federalism allows states important opportunities for innovation. While acknowledging there are many other factors that also matter in zoonotic disease detection and reporting, this research is one of the first attempts to raise awareness in the literature and stimulate discussion on the intersection of governance and One Health.
Effects of preincubation on the ability of rat adipocytes to bind and respond to growth hormone.

To examine whether the binding of human GH (hGH) to target cells changes when metabolic responsiveness to the hormone changes, the stimulation by hGH of glucose oxidation and incorporation into lipids and the binding of [125I]iodohGH were measured simultaneously in isolated adipocytes of normal rats. When studied at 37 C, freshly prepared adipocytes failed to respond metabolically to hGH added in vitro but did bind hGH rapidly and reversibly. In contrast, adipocytes that were preincubated for 3 h at 37 C were metabolically responsive to hGH at concentrations as low as 100 ng/ml. The specific binding of hGH to preincubated adipocytes was also increased over a wide range of hGH concentrations tested. Metabolic responses to hGH and increased hGH binding were also observed in cells that were preincubated at 37 C for only 90 min. Preincubation did not alter the rate of dissociation of hGH from the cells. Although some degradation of [125I]iodo-hGH occurred when the hormone was incubated with the cells at 37 C,...
Estimating the Productivity of Agricultural Pesticides

The controversy surrounding the use of agricultural pesticides has resulted in the examination of pest control technology and a need for estimates of the costs and benefits of pesticides. Estimates of the productivity of expenditures for agricultural pesticides are made from an aggregate production function analysis for 1963. The results indicate that chemical pesticides are a highly productive input, comparable to commercial fertilizer, and that the marginal value product of pesticides exceeds marginal factor cost by a considerable amount. These results are consistent with increasing sales volumes of pesticides and fertilizer nationally. Use of values determined through the market system to estimate benefits are a necessary part of evaluating chemical pest control. Up to the present time, no systematic effort has been made to estimate separately the productivity of pesticides. The findings point to a need for better data on the response of crops and livestock to pest control as well as a need for data on the external effects of chemical pesticides. Considerably more analysis and information are required to evaluate pesticide technology and to form good national policy in this area.
Literature searching skills of first and third professional year pharmacy students

Background: Few studies have evaluated literature searching skills of pharmacy students and how these skills change as student’s progress through school. Aims: Determine if there is a difference in literature searching and search results evaluation skills between first and third professional year students. Methods: Rubrics to assess search strategy and article quality evaluated a drug information assignment given to both classes of students. Scores were compared. Results: A statistically significant difference in results evaluation skills (p=0.001) and no difference in quality of search skills (p=0.8) was found between first and third year students. Third year students scored higher in search evaluation. Conclusion: With no difference in quality of literature searches between the two groups, and the superior performance of third year students in selection of appropriate results, improved clinical knowledge may be sufficient to overcome a suboptimal search strategy. Speed and efficiency may be the benefits of an improved search strategy and need further study.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Adults: Recognition and Diagnosis of this Often-Overlooked Condition

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults poses diagnostic challenges. How does it differ from ADHD in children? What are the necessary characteristics to make the diagnosis? What features of a patient's behavior are suggestive of ADHD? Which psychiatric disorders can mask its presence? What is the most important diagnostic procedure? This article provides insight into the behavior patterns of adults with ADHD, presents useful tools for identifying unrecognized cases, and includes several vignettes of actual patients.
Measuring Credential Candidates’ Impact on Student Achievement

The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) requires faculty from educator preparation programs to provide evidence of credential candidates’ impact on K-12 student learning. However, there is a paucity of information on preparation programs’ use of direct assessments of student learning to gauge credential candidate effectiveness and engage in a continuous cycle of program improvement. Rather, measures of impact consist primarily of indirect estimates, such as results from licensure exams, supervisor evaluations, and classroom observations. This article describes the use of single-subject research design as a method of assessing the impact of credential candidates on K-12 student learning, especially as it relates to meeting the instructional and behavioral needs of diverse students. Implications for how this evaluation approach may be applied to a wide array of commonly targeted K-12 student skills, and employed within a broader program evaluation system are discussed.
Reeves' Muntjak(Muntiacus reevesi) in Großbritannien

Reeves' Muntjak ist eine subtropische Hirschart, die zu Beginn dieses Jahrhunderts in Grosbritannien eingeburgert wurde. Viele gezielte Freilassungen und zufalliges Entweichen aus Bestanden in Gefangenschaft haben zu dem Vorkommen in der Gegenwart gefuhrt. Ganzjahrige Empfangnisbereitschaft, verbunden mit der Moglichkeit fur erwachsene weibliche Tiere, im Abstand von sieben Monaten ein Kalb zur Welt zu bringen, haben zu dem Verbreitungsergebnis fur den Muntjak gefuhrt. Uber Jahrzehnte galt der Muntjak als eine unbedenkliche Ansiedlung einer fremdlandischen Hirschart. Nachdem die moglichen hohen Wilddichten erreicht sind, speziell in Zentralsudengland, findet der Einflus auf die heimische Flora Beachtung. Die Notwendigkeit fur mehr Bewirtschaftung wird in vielen Vorkommen gesehen. Das Interesse an der Trophaenjagd hat in den letzten Jahren zugenommen.
Heart rate of the developing chick embryo.

SummaryA new technique was used to measure the heart rate of developing chick embryos. Ballistocardiography should afford ideal conditions for observing embryonic heartbeats with a minimum of disturbance to the embryo. The same embryos can be measured on each day of incubation. The heart rate increased from day 4 through day 10 and then decreased until hatching time. The average frequency at 10 days was 280 bpm and 263 bpm at 19 days of incubation. Male embryos consistently had slower average heart rates than did females. No significant difference was observed in the average daily heart rate of embryos from 4 different genotypes, even though differences are apparent between adults of these genotypes. Mechanical disturbances or alterations in temperature had a marked effect on the heart rate of the embryo. Brief exposure to room temperature or slight injuries, such as those following insertion of electrodes, usually result in a decreased heart rate.
Analysis of water quality monitoring results of rual centralized water supply in Handan in 2012

Objective To investigate the drinking water quality in rural areas of Handan,and provide scientific basis for selection of water resources and sites, as well as plan of supervision and monitoring of centralized water supply projects. Methods The water quality monitoring results of 400 rural centralized water supply projects in Handan were analyzed and evaluated in accordance with"Standard examination methods for drinking water"( GB / T 5750-2006) and"Standards for drinking water quality"( GB 5749-2006). Results The monitoring results of water quality showed that the overall passing rate of water samples from centralized water supply was 65% in rural areas of Handan in the whole year. The passing rate of finished water was obviously higher than that of tap water. The passing rates of finished water and tap water had no significant difference between dry and wet season. Microbial indicators were the major indicators which exceeded the standard. The overall passing rate of centralized water supply projects in rural areas was 40%. Conclusion Centralized water supply was the main way of rural areas in Handan. Microbial indicators were the main reason why the passing rate of centralized water supply in rural areas was at a low level. The disinfection of drinking water in rural areas should be paid more attention.
An introduction to Alice programming as a steam engagement tool: tutorial presentation

Attracting under-represented groups into the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) pipeline (to college and, beyond, to career) has become a top priority in higher education, but it will become even more important as our nation's population becomes increasingly diverse (according to the US censes, by 2044, more than half of all Americans are projected to belong to a minority group [3]). Though there are many theories on what are the most effective methods for increasing the number of girls, specifically, into the STEAM pipeline, there is general agreement that we must engage them as early as possible, either in elementary or middle school [6]. There are numerous tools/environments [4, 5, 7, 8] that have been developed to get young girls interested in (excited about) programming; educators at all levels are participating in workshops, summer and after school programs [1,9, 10] that introduce these tools/environments to the target population(s). This tutorial will focus, specifically, on the Alice programming environment [2]. Attendees will get: a short tutorial on programming in Alice, a template for a workshop format that was (successfully) implemented during a girl-scout event at the tutorial leader's institution and plenty of opportunity for exploring/experimenting with the numerous features and functionality of Alice.
Surface chemistry and fundamental limitations on the plasma cleaning of metals

Abstract In-situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies reveal that plasma cleaning of air-exposed Co or Cu transition metal surfaces results in the formation of a remnant C film 1–3 monolayers thick, which is not reduced upon extensive further plasma exposure. This effect is observed for H 2 or NH 3 plasma cleaning of Co, and He or NH 3 plasma cleaning of Cu, and is observed with both inductively coupled (ICP) and capacitively-coupled plasma (CCP). Changes in C 1 s XPS spectra indicate that this remnant film formation is accompanied by the formation of carbidic C on Co and of graphitic C on Cu. This is in contrast to published work showing no such remnant carbidic/carbon layer after similar treatments of Si oxynitride surfaces. The observation of the remnant carbidic C film on Co and graphitic film on Cu, but not on silicon oxynitride (SiO x N y ), regardless of plasma chemistry or type, indicates that this effect is due to plasma induced secondary electron emission from the metal surface, resulting in transformation of sp 3 adventitious C to either a metal carbide or graphite. These results suggest fundamental limitations to plasma-based surface cleaning procedures on metal surfaces.
Instrument Motion Metrics for Laparoscopic Skills Assessment in Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality

Objective To determine the construct and concurrent validity of instrument motion metrics for laparoscopic skills assessment in virtual reality and augmented reality simulators. Study Design Evaluation study. Sample Population: Veterinarian students (novice, n = 14) and veterinarians (experienced, n = 11) with no or variable laparoscopic experience. Methods Participants' minimally invasive surgery (MIS) experience was determined by hospital records of MIS procedures performed in the Teaching Hospital. Basic laparoscopic skills were assessed by 5 tasks using a physical box trainer. Each participant completed 2 tasks for assessments in each type of simulator (virtual reality: bowel handling and cutting; augmented reality: object positioning and a pericardial window model). Motion metrics such as instrument path length, angle or drift, and economy of motion of each simulator were recorded. Results None of the motion metrics in a virtual reality simulator showed correlation with experience, or to the basic laparoscopic skills score. All metrics in augmented reality were significantly correlated with experience (time, instrument path, and economy of movement), except for the hand dominance metric. The basic laparoscopic skills score was correlated to all performance metrics in augmented reality. The augmented reality motion metrics differed between American College of Veterinary Surgeons diplomates and residents, whereas basic laparoscopic skills score and virtual reality metrics did not. Conclusion Our results provide construct validity and concurrent validity for motion analysis metrics for an augmented reality system, whereas a virtual reality system was validated only for the time score.
NOTES ON BACILLUS BOTULINUS

The production of heterologous toxins by different strains of B. botulinus was first recognized by Leuchs, in 1910. He produced antitoxins in horses for both the Ellezelles and Darmstadt strains and found that the antitoxin of the Ellezelles strain would protect against the toxin of its own strain but not against the toxin of the Darmstadt strain, and vice versa. In 1917 Dr. E. C. Dickson of the Stanford Medical School, San Francisco, produced antitoxins in three goats, which were immunized against his strains III, IV and VI, respectively. He found that strains III and IV, which he had isolated from outbreaks of botulism in California and Oregon were homologous. Strain VI, however, which was isolated in Albany, New York, from cheese which had caused the death of several persons, produced a toxin which was not neutralized by the antitoxin of either strain III or strain IV. Neither would the antitoxin of strain VI neutralize the toxins of strains III or IV. By means of toxin-antitoxin tests I have identified twelve strains of B. botulinus from material obtained in different parts of California and one from an outbreak of food poisoning in Seattle, Washington. Five of the California strains came directly from outbreaks of poisoning from home-canned vegetables and fruits. One came from hay suspected in a case of forage poisoning in horses. The other six had no direct connection with cases of poisoning. (Burke, 1919 b). These twelve strains fall into two distinct types as shown by the toxin-antitoxin
Doubting the Democrats: Current Disenchantment and Political Futures

From the 1960s on, African Americans have been one of the Democratic Party’s most important political constituencies. Black voters have offered nearly unwavering support to Democratic candidates. For the Democrats, it has been easy to maintain this relationship by taking credit for good deeds, and blaming the Republicans for trying to reverse the gains of the 1960s during the 1980s. The Republicans have never completely accepted the Democratic Party’s hold over the Black electorate, but they have never made a concerted effort until the opening of the twenty-first century. Recent Republican campaigns and even national conventions have been carefully orchestrated to appeal to Black voters, and several Black women and men hold high-level Cabinet positions, Condoleezza Rice being one of them.
Royal authority versus corporate sovereignty: the Levant Company and the ambiguities of early Stuart statecraft

ABSTRACTThe ambassadorship of Thomas Bendish (1646–1660) to the Ottoman Porte was a period of turmoil that saw the arrest and imprisonment of his predecessor, Sackville Crowe, and the arrest and subsequent beheading of a usurper, Henry Hyde. This crisis in Turkey coincided with the domestic crisis of the English Civil War, which plunged the English state into chaos. This article uses the Bendish/Crowe/Hyde affair to analyse the relationship between state and trading company in order to gain a deeper understanding of how the early modern economic and state-building system of mercantilism was made. The article will show that mercantilism was, in the words of Phil Stern, an “awkward alliance” where merchant and state required one another while remaining suspicious of the other’s motives and authority.
Efficacy and Factors Associated with Treatment Response of Intravenous Immunoglobulin in Inpatients with Refractory Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

Background The administration of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) has demonstrated promise in the treatment of medically refractory inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). We aimed to identify factors associated with IVIG failures in the treatment of refractory IBD. Methods Our historical cohort included patients with refractory IBD admitted to our inpatient service with an exacerbation and treated with at least 1 dose of IVIG (0.4 g/kg). Detailed clinical variables were recorded for subjects. Examined outcomes included changes in disease-specific severity indices, the duration of surgery-free survival after IVIG, infusion reactions, subsequent IBD-related emergency department visits, hospital readmissions, and mortality. Results Fifty-four subjects with refractory IBD (61% female, age 42 ± 16 yrs, 23 with Crohn's disease, 15 with ulcerative colitis, 16 with pouchitis) met the inclusion criteria. All disease severity scores were significantly improved after IVIG administration (Harvey-Bradshaw index P = 0.007, partial Mayo score P = 0.002, modified Pouchitis Disease Activity Index P = 0.008). Twenty-seven patients (50%) underwent surgery, with a mean surgery-free survival of 28.7 ± 3.7 months. In univariable analysis, patients with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) had a 3-fold increased risk of bowel resection surgery after IVIG compared with those without (hazard ratio = 2.9, 95% confidence interval, 1.2-7.4; P = 0.023), and in subsequent multivariable analysis, CDI remained significant (hazard ratio = 3.0, 95% confidence interval, 1.2-7.6; P = 0.024). CDI was also associated with increased risk of hospital readmission (hazard ratio = 2.5, 95% confidence interval, 1.05-5.9; P = 0.038). Conclusions Our study demonstrates that IVIG is beneficial in patients with medically refractory IBD, and that concomitant CDI is a risk factor for the treatment failure of IVIG for refractory disease.
Towards Accreditation of Diagnostic Models for Improved Performance

The research community mainly concentrates on developing new and updated diagnostic algorithms to achieve high diagnostic performance which is necessary but not sufficient for the diagnostic models that are embedded in software. The focus of this paper is to understand the requirements for accrediting diagnostic system models to meet high performance and safety criticality in case of both models and embedded system (model + software). For embedded systems, models need to be accredited first to allow a more accurate distinction of whether the model or the code within which the model is embedded is the cause of degraded performance. This is because, neither standards for models and simulations (NASA-STD-7009) nor software engineering requirements (NPR 7150.2A) are sufficient to accredit the models in embedded systems. NASA-STD- 7009 assesses the correctness of the physics in models and simulations and NPR 7150.2A lists software engineering requirements for NASA systems. Thus, it is important to understand the accreditation standards in terms of performance requirements of models in embedded systems that can smoothly transit from NASA-STD-7009 to NPR 7150.2A. We will discuss interactive diagnostic modeling evaluator (i-DME) as an accreditation tool that provides the performance requirements or limitations imposed while accrediting embedded systems. This process is done automatically, making accreditation feasible for larger diagnostic systems.
Impact of Latin Dance on Physical Activity, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, and Sedentary Behavior Among Latinos Attending an Adult Day Center

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether a Latin dance program with sedentary behavior information would have an impact on physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and sedentary behavior among older Latinos attending an adult day center (ADC). Method: Participants (N = 21, 75.4 ± 6.3 years old, Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE] score = 22.4 ± 2.8) were randomized into a dance or wait-list control group. Participants wore an accelerometer and inclinometer and completed a sedentary behavior questionnaire, and a nonexercise equation was used to calculate CRF. Results: Findings indicate small to medium effect sizes in the desired direction during midpoint of the intervention for physical activity, sedentary behavior-related outcomes, CRF, and self-reported sedentary behavior in the dance group; however; dance participants did not maintain that trajectory for the remaining 2 months of the intervention. Discussion: Future studies may consider implementing behavioral strategies during midpoint of the intervention to encourage participants attending an ADC to maintain physical activity and sedentary behavior changes.