cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dynamic two-connectivity with backtracking

We give algorithms and data structures that maintain the 2-edge and 2-vertex- connected components of a graph under insertions and deletions of edges and vertices, where dele- tions occur in a backtracking fashion (i.e., deletions undo the insertions in the reverse order). Our algorithms run in (logn) worst-case time per operation and use (n) space, where n is the number of vertices. Using our data structure we can answer queries, which ask whether vertices u and v belong to the same 2-connected component, in (log n) worst-case time.
Association of antibody to nerve growth factor with ganglionic non-neurons (glia) and consequent interference with their neuron-supportive action.

Abstract Most neurons dissociated from neonatal mouse dorsal root ganglia require for their attachment, neurite production, and survival in monolayer cultures, either the administration of exogenous Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) or the availability of ganglionic non-neuronal (glial) cells in adequate numbers. In the glia-supported cultures, the neuronal performance is drastically impaired by the presence of antibody against mouse submaxillary NGF, despite the assumed absence of such factor, implying the occurrence and functional importance in the test system of an NGFlike antigen. The present studies demonstrate that the same impairment of neuronal performance can be induced by pretreating with antibody the non-neuronal supplement prior to its presentation to the test neurons. The immune pretreatment achieved maximal effectiveness with antibody concentrations comparable to those needed for maximal interference during continuous presence of the antibody, and equivalent to those capable of blocking one unit of NGF in the standard NGF bioassay. Effective pretreatment required a minimum of 45 min of immune exposure, was unaffected by the presence or absence of ten-fold excess of fetal calf serum protein and appeared to resist brief exposure to trypsin. When antibody-pretreated non-neurons were reincubated in antibody-free medium before being used in the neuronal test system, they retained their full ability to impair neuronal performance for at least 4 h and lost it gradually thereafter over a 20-h period. The loss of interfering ability was accompanied by the appearance of ‘interfering ’ activity in the reincubation medium to a maximal level that matched the apparent depletion of active material noticeable in the medium initially used to pretreat the ganglionic nonneurons.
A Critical Examination of the Causal Link Between Child Abuse and Adult Dating Violence Perpetration and Victimization From a Propensity Score Matching Approach

There has been a considerable amount of published research investigating the link between experiencing child abuse and later offending and victimization. Most of the evidence gleaned from these studies demonstrates support for a cycle of violence. However, prior research has overwhelmingly been based on correlational observations. Considering this limitation, the current study uses a rigorous, quasi-experimental research design to assess the causal effect of experiencing child abuse on adult dating violence perpetration and victimization. Relying on data from a large sample of college students and utilizing a propensity score matching approach, the results indicate that the link between child abuse and adult dating violence victimization and perpetration is spurious. Study limitations and implications are discussed.
Trick or Technique

Michael Sheard (SheardM@rhodes.edu) is the chair of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at Rhodes College in Memphis, TN, a position he recently took on after 22 years at St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY. His main area of research is set theory and logic, with a special emphasis on some topics that lie right on the boundary of mathematics and philosophy. When not engaged in professional activities, he can often be found outdoors with his family, canoeing, hiking, and especially birding.
Clinical and treatment response characteristics of late-life associated with vascular disease: A pooled analysis of two multicenter trials with sertraline

1. The safety and efficacy of sertraline in the treatment of moderate-to-severe major depression in elderly outpatients, aged 60 years and older, with comorbid vascular disease was evaluated. 2. An analysis of the pooled results for the sertraline treatment group drawn from two prospective, randomized, double-blind studies (sertraline vs. fluoxetine, and sertraline vs. nortriptyline) was done. Patients were retrospectively categorized into one of 3 clinical groups: 1) patients with a current diagnosis of hypertension but no other past or present cardiovascular illness (HTN), 2) patients reporting a current or past history of cardiovascular illness, but excluding hypertension (VASC), and 3) patients with no hypertension, and no other comorbid vascular illness (NoVASC). Patients received 12-3. weeks of double-blind treatment with sertraline in flexible daily doses in the range of 50 - 150 mg (in the nortriptyline comparator trial) or 50 - 100 mg (in the fluoxetine comparator trial). 4. Sertraline treatment yielded comparable levels of response in all 3 groups (response criterion: CGI-much or very much improved) at treatment endpoint on both a completer analysis (HTN, 86%; VASC, 89%; NoVASC, 77%) and significantly higher response rates on a 12-week endpoint analysis (HTN, 74%; VASC, 69%; NoVASC, 58%; p < 0.05). Sertraline treatment was well-tolerated, with no between-group differences in rates of adverse events, or in discontinuation due to adverse events. Patients taking 5 or more concomitant medications showed no difference, when compared with patients taking none-or-one concomitant medication, either in rates of adverse events, or in discontinuation due to adverse events. 5. Sertraline was found to be a safe, well-tolerated, and effective as an antidepressant in elderly patients suffering from hypertension and other forms of vascular comorbidity.
Complications of surgical feeding jejunostomy in trauma patients.

Objective: To determine the complication rate of feeding jejunostomy (FJ) performed as an adjunct to trauma celiotomy. Methods: Retrospective analysis of 222 patients from January of 1988 to May of 1998. Results: Thirty-seven total FJ-related complications occurred in 22 patients (10% Major FJ-related complications occurred in nine patients (4% ): two small bowel perforations, two small bowel volvuli with infarction, two intraperitoneal leaks, and three small bowel necroses. Patients suffering major FJ-related complications were similar to those without complications, except for the FJ type. Patients with major FJ-related complications were more likely to have had a Witzel tube jejunostomy than a needle catheter jejunostomy (p = 0.03). Three deaths were related to major FJ complications, for a FJ-related mortality rate of 1.4%. Conclusions: FJ has a major complication rate of 4% in severely injured patients. Major complications occur more frequently with larger, Witzel-type tubes. Needle catheter jejunostomy appears to be a safer method of surgical jejunal access in trauma patients.
Expression of the bHLH gene NSCL-1 suggests a role in regulating cerebellar granule cell growth and differentiation.

We report that the neuronal-specific basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) gene NSCL-1 is expressed at multiple and distinct stages of cerebellar granule cell differentiation. During embryonic development, NSCI-1 expression is initially evenly distributed in the cerebellar primordium and then becomes restricted to the ventricular zone. At the early steps of granule cell development, NSCL-1 is not expressed in rhombic lip cells, but instead in migrating granule cell precursors. Its expression culminates during postnatal proliferation of the external germinal layer, and remains only transiently in the newly formed internal granular layer, and at a much lower level. Thus, NSCL-1 expression is linked to the onset of granule cell differentiation, but is not involved in the maintenance of the differentiated state. These findings suggest that NSCL-1 does not behave as a specification factor, but rather as a factor promoting expansion of progenitor external germinal layer (EGL) cells. Gel mobility shift assays show that NSCL-1 only binds DNA as a heterodimeric complex with the ME1a E-protein. We also provide the first evidence that NSCL-1 functions as a transcriptional activator when heterodimerized with the ME1a E-protein. Taken together, these results suggest that NSCL-1 participates in the regulatory network controlling gene expression during cerebellar granule cell differentiation.
Modified flasking technique for removable partial dentures.

Abstract This modified technique for flasking removable partial dentures minimizes processing stresses to the metal framework. No significant disadvantages are noted.
Chronic relapsing thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and antiphospholipid antibodies : A report of two cases

We report on 2 cases of chronic relapsing thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, in which anti-phospholipid antibodies were also found. The first patient was felt to have the anti-phospholipid antibody syndrome, while the second patient had anti-phospholipid antibodies without clinical manifestations of the anti-phospholipid antibody syndrome. We discuss chronic relapsing thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and the anti-phospholipid antibody syndrome. Furthermore, we introduce the possibility of an association between chronic relapsing thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and the presence of anti-phospholipid antibodies.
The collapse of stacking-fault tetrahedra by interaction with gliding dislocations

The collapse of stacking-fault tetrahedra (SFT) by gliding dislocations was observed in in situ straining experiments in a transmission electron microscope (TEM). A stacking-fault tetrahedron was collapsed by intersection with a gliding perfect dislocation: only the base portion divided by the gliding plane of the dislocation annihilated, while the apex portion remained intact. As a result of analysis on evolution of atom configuration induced by intersection with perfect dislocation in SFT, it was found that an unusual atom configuration inevitably appeared in one of the ledges formed on stacking-fault planes, which is traditionally called I-ledge: the atoms on adjacent (111) planes were overlapping each other. The overlapping configuration provides a strong repulsive force, being a conceivable driving force to induce a chain reaction of atom displacements that collapses the SFT base portion.
Applications of Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) to Neurorehabilitation of Cognitive Disabilities

Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a neuroimaging technique that utilizes light in the near-infrared spectrum (between 700 and 1000 nm) to detect hemodynamic changes within the cortex when sensory, motor, or cognitive activation occurs. FNIRS principles have been used to study brain oxygenation for several decades, but have more recently been applied to study cognitive processes. This paper provides a description of basic fNIRS techniques, and provides a review of the rehabilitation-related literature. The authors discuss strengths and weaknesses of this technique, assert that fNIRS may be particularly beneficial to neurorehabilitation of cognitive disabilities, and suggest future applications.
A Conceptual Framework for Selecting and Analyzing Stressor Data to Study Species Richness at Large Spatial Scales

/ In this paper we develop a conceptual framework for selectingstressor data and analyzing their relationship to geographic patterns ofspecies richness at large spatial scales. Aspects of climate and topography,which are not stressors per se, have been most strongly linked withgeographic patterns of species richness at large spatial scales (e.g.,continental to global scales). The adverse impact of stressors (e.g., habitatloss, pollution) on species has been demonstrated primarily on much smallerspatial scales. To date, there has been a lack of conceptual developmenton how to use stressor data to study geographic patterns of speciesrichness at large spatial scales.The framework we developed includes four components: (1) clarification of theterms stress and stressor and categorization of factors affecting speciesrichness into three groups-anthropogenic stressors, natural stressors, andnatural covariates; (2) synthesis of the existing hypotheses for explaininggeographic patterns of species richness to identify the scales over whichstressors and natural covariates influence species richness and to providesupporting evidence for these relationships through review of previousstudies; (3) identification of three criteria for selection of stressor andcovariate data sets: (a) inclusion of data sets from each of the threecategories identified in item 1, (b) inclusion of data sets representingdifferent aspects of each category, and (c) to the extent possible, analysisof data quality; and (4) identification of two approaches for examiningscale-dependent relationships among stressors, covariates, and patterns ofspecies richness-scaling-up and regression-tree analyses.Based on this framework, we propose 10 data sets as a minimum data base forexamining the effects of stressors and covariates on species richness atlarge spatial scales. These data sets include land cover, roads, wetlands(numbers and loss), exotic species, livestock grazing, surface water pH,pesticide application, climate (and weather), topography, and streams.KEY WORDS: Anthropogenic impacts; Biodiversity; Environmental gradients;Geographic information systems; Hierarchy
Teaching, Preaching, and Queaching About Commodities

Soulevant la question de la possibilite d'une structure generale pour la determination de la vente et de l'interdiction de certains produits sur le marche, l'A. etudie le modele kantien des limites morales de la commercialisation propose par E. Anderson dans son ouvrage intitule «Value in ethics and economics» (1993). Examinant la classification des differents rapports a l'objet tels que l'utilisation, le respect, l'appreciation, la consideration et l'amour, ainsi que l'orientation de la politique sociale vers une interpretation culturelle du produit a la place du calcul, l'A. montre que l'analyse expressive d'Anderson n'est pas exhaustive et qu'elle doit etre comprise dans le sens d'une meilleure comprehension des echanges de marchandises dans la vie quotidienne plutot que dans le sens d'une limitation des echanges economiques
Time Periodical Adaptive Friction Compensation

In this paper, the adaptive compensation of Coulomb friction is considered where the Coulomb friction coefficient is unknown but can be time-varying with a known period. Detailed stability analysis is given with some demonstrative simulation results. The major contributions of this paper is a periodic adaptive control law for friction compensation in nonlinear electromechanical systems not satisfying local and global Lipschitz condition
Pseudopodial Tension in Amphisorus hemprichii , a Giant Red Sea Foraminifer

We used the giant discoid Red Sea foraminifer (“foram”), Amphisorus hemprichii as a model system to study the development and maintenance of traction forces in foram pseudopodial networks (i.e.,reticulopodia). Amphisorus extends pseudopodia radially from the margins of its shell. When plated on a flexible rubber substrate, wrinkles develop where pseudopodia initially contact the substrate and pull against it. Numerous microtubules extend throughout the networks, whereas F-actin-containing plaques are only seen along the ventral surface of the pseudopodia, in regions in close contact with the substrate. Pseudopodial tension was relieved by severing the pseudopodia with a glass needle or by treating the networks with colchicine or cytochalasin B. Together with earlier observations these findings suggest that microtubules and microfilaments interact to generate tensile forces within the pseudopodia; these forces may be used for cell attachment or locomotion.
Structurally Identical Capsular Polysaccharide Expressed by Intact Group B Streptococcus versus Streptococcus pneumoniae Elicits Distinct Murine Polysaccharide-Specific IgG Responses In Vivo

We previously reported distinct differences in the murine in vivo Ig polysaccharide (PS)-specific responses to intact Streptococcus pneumoniae compared with responses to Neisseria meningitidis and that in each case, the bacterial subcapsular domain markedly influences the Ig response to the associated PS. In light of potentially unique contributions of biochemically distinct capsular PS and/or their characteristic attachments to the underlying bacterium, it remains unresolved whether different bacterial subcapsular domains can exert differential effects on PS-specific Ig responses to distinct bacterial pathogens. In this report, we used a mutant strain of group B Streptococcus ( Streptococcus agalactiae ) type III (GBS-III) that expresses desialylated capsular polysaccharide of GBS-III, biochemically identical to capsular pneumococcal polysaccharide type 14 (PPS14) of Streptococcus pneumoniae (intact inactivated Streptococcus pneumoniae , capsular type 14, Pn14), directly to compare the in vivo PPS14-specific IgG responses to two distinct Gram-positive bacteria. Although both GBS-III and Pn14 elicited relatively rapid primary PPS14-specific IgG responses dependent on CD4 + T cells, B7-dependent costimulation, and CD40–CD40L interactions, only GBS-III induced a highly boosted ICOS-dependent PPS14-specific IgG response after secondary immunization. Of note, priming with Pn14 and boosting with GBS-III, although not isolated PPS14, elicited a similar boosted PPS14-specific IgG response that was dependent on CD4 + T cells during secondary immunization, indicating that Pn14 primes for memory but, unlike GBS-III, fails to elicit it. The inability of Pn14 to elicit a boosted PPS14-specific IgG response was overcome by coimmunization with unencapsulated GBS-III. Collectively, these data establish that structurally identical capsular PS expressed by two distinct Gram-positive extracellular bacteria can indeed elicit distinct PS-specific IgG responses in vivo.
Solvent diffusion in amorphous polymers

New diffusivity data are presented for solvent diffusion in poly(vinyl acetate), poly(methyl methacrylate), and polystyrene. These data are used to test the predictive and correlative capabilities of a recently proposed free-volume theory of diffusion. Comparisons of data and theory showed that the proposed theory provided an accurate description of diffusion in concentrated polymer solutions.
A specific hypoactivation of right temporo-parietal junction/posterior superior temporal sulcus in response to socially awkward situations in autism

People with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) often have difficulty comprehending social situations in the complex, dynamic contexts encountered in the real world. To study the social brain under conditions which approximate naturalistic situations, we measured brain activity with fMRI while participants watched a full-length episode of the sitcom The Office. Having quantified the degree of social awkwardness at each moment of the episode, as judged by an independent sample of controls, we found that both individuals with ASD and control participants showed reliable activation of several brain regions commonly associated with social perception and cognition (e.g., those comprising the “mentalizing network”) during the more awkward moments. However, individuals with ASD showed less activity than controls in a region near right temporo-parietal junction (RTPJ) extending into the posterior end of the right superior temporal sulcus (RSTS). Further analyses suggested that, despite the free-form nature of the experimental design, this group difference was specific to this RTPJ/RSTS area of the mentalizing network; other regions of interest showed similar activity across groups with respect to both location and magnitude. These findings add support to a body of evidence suggesting that RTPJ/RSTS plays a special role in social processes across modalities and may function atypically in individuals with ASD navigating the social world.
A model-based meta-analysis for estimating species-specific wood density and identifying potential sources of variation

Summary 1. Plant functional traits are important determinants of survival and fitness, and wood density (WD) is a key trait linked to mechanical stability, growth rates and drought- and shade-tolerance strategies. Thus, rigorous WD estimates are necessary to identify factors affecting tree performance. 2. We obtained 1766 records of WD from the literature for 141 tree species in the United States. We implemented a hierarchical Bayesian (HB) meta-analysis that incorporated sample size, variance, covariate (e.g. moisture content and latewood proportion) and methodological information to obtain standardized estimates of WD for 305 U.S. tree species. The HB framework allowed ‘borrowing of strength’ between species such that WD estimates for data-poor species were informed by data-rich species via taxonomic or phylogenetic relationships. 3. After accounting for important covariates and sampling effects, evaluation of the residual variation revealed the potential importance of environmental factors and evolutionary history. Differential variation in WD between species within genera and between genera within orders suggested that WD is relatively conserved in some genera and orders, but not in others. WD also varied between studies (or sites) indicating the potential influence of edaphic, topographic, or population factors on intraspecific variation in WD. 4. Synthesis. Our hierarchical Bayesian approach overcomes many of the limitations of traditional meta-analyses, and the incorporation of phylogenetic or taxonomic information facilitates estimates of trait values for data-poor species. We provide relatively well-constrained WD estimates for 305 tree species, which may be useful for tree growth and forest models, and the uncertainties associated with the estimates may inform future sampling campaigns.
Breaking the language barrier: experimental evolution of non-native Vibrio fischeri in squid tailors luminescence to the host

Although most Vibrio fischeri isolates are capable of symbiosis, the coevolution of certain strains with the Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes, has led to specific adaptation to this partnership. For instance, strains from different hosts or from a planktonic environment are ineffective squid colonists. Even though bioluminescence is a symbiotic requirement, curiously, symbionts of E. scolopes are dim in culture relative to fish symbionts and free-living isolates. It is unclear whether this dim phenotype is related to the symbiosis or simply coincidental. To further explore the basis of symbiont specificity, we developed an experimental evolution model that utilizes the daily light organ venting behavior of the squid and horizontal acquisition of symbionts for serial passage of cultures. We passaged six populations each derived from the squid-naive strains of V. fischeri MJ11 (a fish symbiont) and WH1 (a free-living isolate) through a series of juvenile squid light organs. After 15 serially colonized squid for each population, or an estimated 290–360 bacterial generations, we isolated representatives of the light organ populations and characterized their bioluminescence. Multiple evolved lines of both strains produced significantly less bioluminescence both in vitro and in vivo. This reduction in bioluminescence did not correlate with reduced quorum sensing for most isolates tested. The remarkable phenotypic convergence with squid symbionts further emphasizes the importance of bioluminescence in this symbiosis, and suggests that reduced light production is a specific adaptation to the squid.
NORMATIVE VALUES FOR THE SCAT3 IN ADOLESCENT ATHLETES

Background Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT3) was published March 2013 to allow more complete clinical assessment of concussed athletes. Objective Establish normative SCAT3 values in adolescent athletes. Design Prospective cohort. Setting 7 Wisconsin high schools. Participants 758 (187 Female, 571 Male) athletes (age 15.9±1.1 yrs.) in 19 sports. Risk factor assessment SCAT3 administered summer 2013. Subjects reported previous SRC history in past 12 months. Main outcome measurements Total symptoms (TS, 0–22), symptom severity (SS, 0–132), total Standardized Assessment of Concussion (SAC, 0–30), Orientation (OR, 0–5), Immediate Memory (IM, 0–15), Concentration (CO, 0–5), Delayed Recall (DR, 0–5), Balance Error Scoring System (BESS, 0–20). T-tests (P Results Mean scores (95% CI) were: TS 1.32 (1.31–1.33); SS 2.15 (1.80–2.48); total SAC 26.12 (25.90–26.26); OR 4.69 (4.64–4.72); IM 14.25 (14.15–14.31); CO 3.25 (3.15–3.33); DR 3.93 (3.85–3.99); BESS 13.46 (13.05–13.79). No difference in baseline scores by sex: SS (P=.51), IM (P=.37), CO (P=.30), DR (P=.19), BESS (P=.98). Males had higher TS (1.41 vs 1.04, P=.05) and lower total SAC (26.02 vs 26.4, P=.03), and OR (4.66 vs 4.76, P=.02). No difference in baseline scores by previous SRC history for total SAC (P=.18), OR (P=.57), IM (P=.13), CO (P=.69), DR (P=.53), BESS (P=.06). Athletes with previous SRC reported higher TS (1.91 vs 1.25, P=.01) and SS (3.33 vs 2.0, P=.02). Conclusions Normative SCAT3 values in adolescent athletes vary by gender and previous SRC history.
Collecting Non-Experimental Driving Behaviors A Method Leading to External Validation of Experimental Outcomes

Human factors research in transportation safety has not clearly demonstrated how experimental behaviors are related to public driving behaviors. The appropriateness of determining external validity measures has been debated, and it is known that external validity is not a necessary component in research if those findings do not need to transfer outside of that context; however, results in the transportation safety community are frequently generalized, if improperly, to a stated risk in public driving situations. Few studies have validated driving behavior between experimental and non-experimental (observed behavior in public) settings. Proposed is an empirical method to establish a baseline of non-experimental driving behaviors to compare with experimental driving behaviors. This method involves video recording public driving behaviors during the same time interval that data collection occurs in the real world (instrumented vehicle) and virtual world (driving simulator). These video recorded non-experimental driving behaviors at locations along an experimental route can then be compared to experimental driving behaviors in instrumented vehicles and driving simulator scenarios (if developed) to establish empirical differences and potentially contribute to measures of external validity. This method introduces collecting nonexperimental driving behavior in order to establish methods that will generalize experimental results as they relate to public driving situations.
Real-time tracking control using modular neural chips with on-chip learning

We employ a modular analog chip of a neural architecture with continuous-time learning in a real-time control of a prototype physical system. The novel control structure and the experiments demonstrate the capability of the modular chips in applications that enhance system performance and which achieve calibration in real-time. The chips represent a new class of reconfigurable real-time controllers which can self-adapt to regulate, steer, or track a given profile without explicit mathematical modeling.
An analysis of the surface production of sea-salt aerosols

The rate of production of sea water droplets by bubble bursting at the ocean surface is very difficult to measure directly. Laboratory simulations are also difficult. However, the surface flux can be inferred from measuremerits of the rate of change of aerosol densities and changes in the height of the marine boundary layer. Data from CEWCOM-78 have been analyzed to produce the aerosol surface flux volume spectrum from 0.8 to 15 pm radius at a wind speed of 9 m s -1 . Using this flux spectrum and equilibrium aerosol spectra from JASIN. flux spectra are calculated for wind speeds from 6 to 18 m s -1 . DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0889.1983.tb00005.x
Translational genomics: The challenge of developing cancer biomarkers

Early detection and definitive treatment of cancer have been shown to decrease death and suffering in epidemiologic and intervention studies. Application of genomic approaches to many malignancies has produced thousands of candidate biomarkers for detection and prognostication, yet very few have become established in clinical practice. Fundamental issues related to tumor heterogeneity, cancer progression, natural history, and biomarker performance have provided challenges to biomarker development. Technical issues in biomarker assay detection limits, specificity, clinical deployment, and regulation have also slowed progress. The recent emergence of biomarkers and molecular imaging strategies for treatment selection and monitoring demonstrates the promise of cancer biomarkers. Organized efforts by interdisciplinary teams will spur progress in cancer diagnostics.
REFLECTIONS OF A CENTRAL BANKER

From the early years of Sproul's presidency until the Treasury-Federal Reserve Accord of 1951, Federal Reserve policy was subordinated to the Treasury's wartime and postwar financing needs. In this 1955 speech, Sproul speaks of the resurgence of flexible monetary policy. He invites the academic economists in his audience to turn their attention to the study of central banking issues and to contribute in this way to informed monetary policy decisions. Sproul's address provides an overview of the structure, techniques, and objectives of the Federal Reserve System and gives particular attention to the policy-making role of the Federal Open Market Committee.
Tuber melanosporum outcrosses: analysis of the genetic diversity within and among its natural populations under this new scenario

Tuber melanosporum is an ectomycorrhizal ascomycete producing edible ascocarps. The prevalent view is that this species strictly selfs, since genetic analyses have never detected heterozygotic profiles in its putatively diploid/dikaryotic gleba. The selfing model has also forged the experimental approaches to assess the population genetic variability. Here, the hypothesis that T. melanosporum outcrosses was tested. To this end, SSR (simple sequence repeats) and ITS (internal transcribed spacer) markers were employed to fingerprint asci and the surrounding gleba within single ascocarps. The distribution of genetic variability was also investigated at different geographical levels using single (SSR and ITS) and multilocus (AFLP, amplified fragment length polymorphism) markers. It is shown that T. melanosporum outcrosses since asci display additional alleles besides those present in the surrounding, uniparental, gleba. Furthermore, SSR and AFLP data reveal a high rate of intrapopulation diversity within samples from the same ground and root apparatus and the highest rate of genetic variability within the southernmost populations of the distributional range. These data call for a profound re-examination of T. melanosporum mating system, life cycle and strategies for managing man-made plantations. They also strongly support the idea that the last glaciation restricted the species distribution to the Italian and Spanish peninsulas.
Visual evoked potential augmenting-reducing and personality: the vertex augmenter is a sensation seeker☆

Assessment of personality correlates of evoked potential augmenting-reducing (A/R) requires appropriate psychophysiological procedures to assure valid assessment of cortical functiong (Tepas, Guiteras and Klingaman, 1974). Using a Maxwellian-view optical system to precisely control retinal illuminance, two studies compared A/R at Oz and Cz and their correlation with personality measures: Zuckerman's Sensation Seeking Scale and Vando's Reducer-Augmenter Scale. Both the amplitude and latency of the occipital potentials varied in a very systematic and consistent manner with intensity and the A/R measures failed to correlate with personality. In contrast, the vertex potentials, which are known to be affected by nonsensory factors such as cortical arousal and attention, were significantly correlated with personality. The vertex augmenter is a sensation seeker and, as previously found with animals (Lukas and Siegel, 1977a), this relationship was true only for the A/R slopes to the more intense light flashes. Apparently, how the brain responds to intense sensory stimulation as measured by A/R determines how people respond behaviorally to intense sensations.
OSMIUM ZINC IODIDE REACTIVE SITES IN THE EPIDERMAL LANGERHANS CELL

Fixation of epidermis with a mixture of osmium tetroxide and zinc iodide (OsO(4)-ZnI(2)) for 24 hr renders the central periodic lamella of the Langerhans cell granule (LCG), the Golgi region, and the nuclear envelope of epidermal Langerhans cells preferentially visible. The use of this technique on Langerhans cells in normal epidermis and in epidermis of patients with histiocytosis (Letterer-Siwe disease) allows a broader visualization of the LCG's than was heretofore possible with routine glutaraldehyde-osmium tetroxide fixation and uranyl acetate-lead staining. The identical staining of Golgi apparatus and LCG favors the view that there is close relation between the Golgi area and the LCG's. Different staining characteristics of the LCG's near the Golgi region and at the cell periphery, respectively, may suggest that the LCG undergoes changes on its way from the Golgi area towards the extracellular space. The hypothesis is advanced that the material which is heavily impregnated with metal after fixation with OsO(4)-ZnI(2) might be a lipid.
Velocity, force, power, and Ca2+ sensitivity of fast and slow monkey skeletal muscle fibers

In this study, we determined the contractile properties of single chemically skinned fibers prepared from the medial gastrocnemius (MG) and soleus (Sol) muscles of adult male rhesus monkeys and assessed the effects of the spaceflight living facility known as the experiment support primate facility (ESOP). Muscle biopsies were obtained 4 wk before and immediately after an 18-day ESOP sit, and fiber type was determined by immunohistochemical techniques. The MG slow type I fiber was significantly smaller than the MG type II, Sol type I, and Sol type II fibers. The ESOP sit caused a significant reduction in the diameter of type I and type I/II (hybrid) fibers of Sol and MG type II and hybrid fibers but no shift in fiber type distribution. Single-fiber peak force (mN and kN/m2) was similar between fiber types and was not significantly different from values previously reported for other species. The ESOP sit significantly reduced the force (mN) of Sol type I and MG type II fibers. This decline was entirely explained by the atrophy of these fiber types because the force per cross-sectional area (kN/m2) was not altered. Peak power of Sol and MG fast type II fiber was 5 and 8.5 times that of slow type I fiber, respectively. The ESOP sit reduced peak power by 25 and 18% in Sol type I and MG type II fibers, respectively, and, for the former fiber type, shifted the force-pCa relationship to the right, increasing the Ca2+ activation threshold and the free Ca2+ concentration, eliciting half-maximal activation. The ESOP sit had no effect on the maximal shortening velocity (Vo) of any fiber type. Vo of the hybrid fibers was only slightly higher than that of slow type I fibers. This result supports the hypothesis that in hybrid fibers the slow myosin heavy chain would be expected to have a disproportionately greater influence on Vo.
AWEsymbolic: compiled analysis of linear(ized) circuits using asymptotic waveform evaluation

Asymptotic Waveform Evaluation (AWE) is shown to be effective in the symbolic analysis of linear(ized) circuits. AWEsymbolic efficiently and accurately produces reduced order models of both frequency and time domain behavior of linear(ized) circuits. By use of moment level partitioning, the numeric and symbolic computations are substantially decoupled, hence increasing computation speed. Results for AWEsymbolic showed a marked decrease in execution time as compared to a full AWE analysis, while producing identical results. The use of AWEsymbolic in the frequency domain and in the time domain is illustrated. >
WebSAIL Wikifier: English Entity Linking at TAC 2013

In this paper, we report on our participation in the English Entity Linking task at TAC 2013. We present the WebSAIL Wikifier system, an entity disambiguation system that links textual mentions to their referent entities in Wikipedia. The system uses a supervised machine learning approach and a string-matching clustering method, and scores 58.1% B 3 + F1 on the TAC 2013 test set.
A New Challenge for Digital Age Tourism: Across the Border Learning and Education (Project ABLE)

The Across-the-border learning and education (ABLE) is a new concept to support diverse learners by describing and innovating a commonly accepted ideology of inclusive and equitable education. Unfortunately, emerging business education policies, failed school integration and a deficiency in attention to needs of diverse learners in schooling in society continues to leave more high potential learners on the outside rather than the inside of new global opportunities and online communities for learning in new learning environments in digital settings and traditional classrooms. Such a state or condition renders a new opportunity for educational tourism. Access to learning opportunities and content for the gifted, talented with special learning needs now command our attention in all disciplines. This need presents an urgent call for new ways to include all learners in new global educational systems who come from selected homes, schools, and communities worldwide and especially people who communicate in the least commonly taught languages (LCTL). In this editorial, I call attention to this problem and propose potential solutions to advance thinking and action for support to address this issue in. The call is to educational leaders, policy makers and world citizens to use global education, tourism and virtual learning as ways to create and innovate new solutions for including all people in the digital age of lifelong learning.
Rapid Anthropogenic Changes in CO2 and pH in the Atlantic Ocean: 2003‐2014

The extended multilinear regression method is used to determine the uptake and storage of anthropogenic carbon in the Atlantic Ocean based on repeat occupations of four cruises from 1989 to 2014 (A16, A20, A22, and A10), with an emphasis on the 2003–2014 period. The results show a significant increase in basin-wide anthropogenic carbon storage in the North Atlantic, which absorbed 4.4 ± 0.9 Pg C decade−1 from 2003 to 2014 compared to 1.9 ± 0.4 Pg C decade−1 for the 1989–2003 period. This decadal variability is attributed to changing ventilation patterns associated with the North Atlantic Oscillation and increasing release of anthropogenic carbon into the atmosphere. There are small changes in the uptake rate of CO2 in the South Atlantic for these time periods (3.7 ± 0.8 Pg C decade−1 versus 3.2 ± 0.7 Pg C decade−1). Several eddies are identified containing ~20% more anthropogenic carbon than the surrounding waters in the South Atlantic demonstrating the importance of eddies in transporting anthropogenic carbon. The uptake of carbon results in a decrease in pH of ~0.0021 ± 0.0007 year−1 for surface waters during the last 10 years, in line with the atmospheric increase in CO2.
Lipidomics and H218O labeling techniques reveal increased remodeling of DHA-containing membrane phospholipids associated with abnormal locomotor responses in α-tocopherol deficient zebrafish (danio rerio) embryos

We hypothesized that vitamin E (α-tocopherol) is required by the developing embryonic brain to prevent depletion of highly polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6), the loss of which we predicted would underlie abnormal morphological and behavioral outcomes. Therefore, we fed adult 5D zebrafish (Danio rerio) defined diets without (E−) or with added α-tocopherol (E+, 500 mg RRR-α-tocopheryl acetate/kg diet) for a minimum of 80 days, and then spawned them to obtain E− and E+ embryos. The E− compared with E+ embryos were 82% less responsive (p<0.01) to a light/dark stimulus at 96 h post-fertilization (hpf), demonstrating impaired locomotor behavior, even in the absence of gross morphological defects. Evaluation of phospholipid (PL) and lysophospholipid (lyso-PL) composition using untargeted lipidomics in E− compared with E+ embryos at 24, 48, 72, and 120 hpf showed that four PLs and three lyso-PLs containing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), including lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC 22:6, required for transport of DHA into the brain, p<0.001), were at lower concentrations in E− at all time-points. Additionally, H218O labeling experiments revealed enhanced turnover of LPC 22:6 (p<0.001) and three other DHA-containing PLs in the E− compared with the E+ embryos, suggesting that increased membrane remodeling is a result of PL depletion. Together, these data indicate that α-tocopherol deficiency in the zebrafish embryo causes the specific depletion and increased turnover of DHA-containing PL and lyso-PLs, which may compromise DHA delivery to the brain and thereby contribute to the functional impairments observed in E− embryos.
“But I Wanted to Appear Happy”: How using Arts-Informed and Mixed Methods Approaches Complicate Qualitatively Driven Research on Culture Shock

The study of culture shock has been limited in terms of the use of mixed methods research and arts-informed approaches. The purpose of this research was to expand upon the understanding of culture shock through the use of a mixed methods research design that included arts-informed, qualitative, and quantitative procedures. This study used a concurrent parallel design where all three data types were collected simultaneously, analyzed separately, and then analyzed together. It is based on an information-rich sampling of 10 undergraduate students participating in a short-term study abroad program based in the United States of America that traveled to a South American country. All data were collected throughout the duration of the program: self-portraits and explanatory artist statements, open-ended reflective journals, and responses to a modified version of the Revised Sociocultural Adaptation Scale. The analyses of each of these sets of data (i.e., the initial analysis stage) revealed a complexity of emotio...
Case 23-2009: A 13-Year-Old Boy with Headache, Nausea, Seizures, and Hypertension

A 13-year-old boy was admitted to the hospital because of headache, nausea, seizures, renal failure, and hypertension. Three weeks earlier, headaches, fatigue, and anorexia developed, with constipation and occasional nausea and vomiting. On the day of admission, nausea and vomiting became severe; episodes of numbness of the right leg and dizziness occurred, and he came to the emergency department, where he was found to be hypertensive with renal failure. A diagnostic procedure was performed.
Effects of Ascorbic Acid and Vitamin E on Serum Lipids of Cockerels Fed Wesson Oil-cholesterol Diets

The major lipid changes caused by adding 5% Wesson Oil and 1% cholesterol to cockerel diets were large increases in serum cholesterol, cholesteryl esters, and triglycerides. Lecithin and cephalin were not affected. Ascorbic acid significantly increased serum triglycerides; vitamin E significantly lowered serum cholesterol. Percentages of the saturated acids (palmitic, stearic, and arachidonic) of cockerels on the Wesson Oil-cholesterol diet decreased significantly; unsaturated linolenic and linolenic acids increased, and oleic acid remained the same. Dietary ascorbic acid seemed not to affect fatty acid distribution significantly, but when vitamin E was added to the diet, the stearic acid percentage rose and oleic acid percentage was lower. Acrylamide-gel electrophoresis showed that changes the vitamin E caused in the lipid and protein constituents of cockerel serum differed from changes the Wesson Oil-cholesterol diet caused.
Removal of Pharmaceutical Contaminants in Water

Pharmaceutical contaminants in drinking water could potentially lead to increasing risks of heart attacks, organ damage, mental health and even cancer. Because their presence, frequency of occurrence, or source may not be known, the chemicals being discovered in water that previously had not been detected or are being detected at levels that may be significantly different than expected. Removal of emerging contaminants is considered recently to be one of the most important processes within advanced Waste Water Treatment Plants (WWTPs) system. EPA is working to improve its understanding of a number of emerging contaminants, particularly pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs).The objectives of this research are: 1) to identify the presence of selected emerging contaminants (Acetaminophen, Bezafibrate, Caffeine, Carbamazepine, Cotinine, Diclofenac, Gemfibrozil, Ibuprofen, Metoprolol, Naproxen, Sulfadimethoxine, Sulfamethazine, Sulfamethoxazole, Sulfathiazole, Triclosan and Trimethoprim). These contaminants were selected based on analyte selection criteria such as occurrence and availability of analytical standards, chronological ecotoxicity and environment relevance concentration, volume of use, and priority ranking, as well as literature survey on environmental occurrence studies in local WWTPs; 2) to estimate the corresponding WWTPs’ removal efficiency; and the third objective is to evaluate the feasibility of applying ultra-filtration (UF) membrane combined with pretreatments — powder activated carbon (PAC), coagulation, and sand filtration to remove the above emerging contaminants.This paper appraises the efficacy of ultra-filtration membrane coupled pretreatments to mitigate the presence of pharmaceutical contaminants in water. This work is a sequel to an earlier work, Liu et al., published in 2014 ASME-IMECE conference proceedings. In this study, water samples were analyzed using direct aqueous injection High Performance Liquid Chromatography with Tandem Quadrupole Mass Spectrometric (LC/MS/MS) detection. Through the project research period, both historical concentrations from WWTPs and experimental removal efficiency data were obtained. Results showed that conventional WWTP failed to remove Carbamazepine, Diclofenac and Trimethoprim, and in some cases, the concentration of these contaminants at the effluent were higher than influent concentration. Secondly, the ultrafiltration membrane system by itself was insufficient to remove the selected contaminants. However, the use of PAC as a pretreatment to the UF system was effective in removing most of the contaminants, and the removal efficiency was a function of PAC dosage. Results indicated that there is an optimum dosage where the removal efficiency must be balanced with the cost of PAC. Unlike PAC, coagulation coupled with filtration process, was not able to increase the contaminants removal efficiency significantly. Additionally, the historical data indicated there was no dramatic fluctuation of the target contaminants level during the 12-month monitoring period.Copyright © 2015 by ASME