cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Glyphosate-Induced Antagonism in Rapid Response Giant Ragweed (Ambrosia trifida)

Glyphosate application to the rapid-response (RR) biotype of glyphosate-resistant (GR) giant ragweed ensues in loss of foliage via rapid tissue death, thereby reducing glyphosate translocation. Experiments were performed to determine if this GR response, in contrast to a non-rapid response (NRR) GR biotype, results in antagonism of the selective herbicides atrazine, cloransulam, dicamba, lactofen, and topramezone. Application of glyphosate at 1,680 g ae ha-1 in the greenhouse resulted in antagonism between all five selective herbicides for the RR biotype, whereas glyphosate applied at 420 g ha-1 was antagonistic only for cloransulam. Application of selective herbicides 2 d prior to glyphosate treatment avoided the antagonism observed in the RR biotype. In the field, glyphosate mixtures with dicamba and topramezone were antagonistic on the RR biotype across both 2015 and 2016 field seasons. Thus, the RR effectively reduces glyphosate efficacy but also has potential to diminish the activity of glyphosate mixtures with selective herbicides, and the degree of antagonism between these mixtures escalates at increasing glyphosate rates.Nomenclature: Atrazine; cloransulam; dicamba; glyphosate; lactofen; topramezone; giant ragweed, Ambrosia trifida L. AMBTR
Final position control in planar horizontal arm movements

Simplified control strategies based on the concept of "Final Position Control" for free reaching movements of the human upper limb have been simulated in a model incorporating six lumped muscles. The resulting movement repertoires bear some resemblance to normal human movements, but do not provide a complete explanation for observed behavior. The significance of these findings are discussed, and some implications for manipulator control are suggested.
Fabrication of a Lab-on-Chip Device Using Material Extrusion (3D Printing) and Demonstration via Malaria-Ab ELISA

Additive manufacturing, such as fused deposition modeling (FDM), has been increasingly employed to produce microfluidic platforms due to ease of use, wide distribution of affordable 3D printers and relatively inexpensive materials for printing. In this work, we discuss fabrication and testing of an FDM-printed fully automated colorimetric enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) designed to detect malaria. The detection platform consists of a disposable 3D-printed fluidic cartridge (with elastomeric silicone domes on top of reagent-storage reservoirs) and a nondisposable frame with servomotors and electronic controls such as an Arduino board and a rechargeable battery. The system is controlled by a novel interface where a music file (so-called "song") is sent to the Arduino board, where the onboard program converts the set of frequencies into action of individual servomotors to rotate their arms a certain amount, thus depressing specific elastomeric domes atop reagent reservoirs and displacing the specific reagents into the detection wells, where bioassay steps are executed. Another of the distinguished characteristics of the demonstrated system is its ability to aspirate the fluid from the detection wells into the waste reservoir. Therefore, the demonstrated automated platform has the ability to execute even the most complex multi-step assays where dilution and multiple washes are required. Optimization of 3D-printer settings and ways to control leakages typical of FDM-printed fluidic systems are also discussed.
Efficacy of Prodiamine for Weed Control in Container Grown Landscape Plants Under High Temperature Production Conditions

Applications of preemergent herbicide prodiamine 65 WDG (wettable dry granule) (2,4-dinitro-N3,N3-dipropyl-6(trifluoromethyl)-1,3-benzenediamine) at 1.12, 2.24, 4.48, and 8.96 kg ai/ha (1.0, 2.0, 4...
Evaluation of the relationship between peripheral pulse palpation and Doppler systolic blood pressure in dogs presenting to an emergency service.

OBJECTIVE To assess the association between peripheral pulse palpation and Doppler-derived systolic blood pressure (SBP) measurement in dogs presenting to an emergency service. DESIGN Prospective observational study. SETTING University veterinary teaching hospital. ANIMALS Ninety-three dogs that were presented to the emergency service. Dogs were eligible for inclusion in the study if a physical examination and a SBP measurement were performed prior to any interventions. INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Both the femoral pulse quality and dorsal metatarsal pulse quality were digitally palpated and assessed as either strong, weak, or absent. The mean SBP in all dogs was 139 mm Hg (± 39 mm Hg). Seventeen (17/93; 18%) dogs were hypotensive with a SBP < 90 mm Hg (range, 40-88 mm Hg). The median SBP was not significantly different between dogs in the absent and present femoral pulse groups (P = 0.120) but the median SBP was significantly different between absent and present metatarsal pulse groups (P = 0.002). Dogs with absent metatarsal pulses were 7.6 times more likely to be hypotensive with a SBP < 90 mm Hg (OR, 7.6; 95% CI, 1.8-32) as compared to dogs with palpable metatarsal pulses. The sensitivity of absent metatarsal pulses to diagnose hypotension (SBP < 90 mm Hg) was 33% (95% CI, 10-65%) and the specificity was 94% (95% CI, 86-98%). CONCLUSIONS Absent metatarsal pulses are highly specific in the diagnosis of hypotension. However, dogs with palpable metatarsal pulses can still be hypotensive. Dorsal metatarsal pulse palpation is useful during triage assessment of dogs presenting to an emergency service, though it should not be used as the only indicator of a dog's cardiovascular stability and should not replace an actual blood pressure measurement.
Observations on graphing paleozoological data: Suggestions for better graphs

Abstract Paleozoologists have long used graphs of diverse styles to describe, analyze, and summarize their data. Some of these graphs provide excellent visual representations of complex data and are readily deciphered. Other graph styles require close study to be interpreted. Ease of visual decoding of information contained in a graph – graph perception – varies from graph style to graph style. Historical instances of graphing paleozoological data indicate some difficult to decipher graph styles have been used for at least a century. Graphs with three-dimensions, moire effects, superimposed lines, or segmented bars, or which demand simultaneous decipherment of position and magnitude, are ill-advised. Temporal trends in data are best graphed following the principle of superposition such that data from old material is graphed at the bottom and data from younger material is graphed at the top of the diagram.
Rapid determination of non-Newtonian flow behavior in mineral suspensions

Mineral suspensions in water show Newtonian flow properties at low percent solids. However, this changes to a non-Newtonian regime as the percent solids increases. For Newtonian fluids, viscosity is independent of shear rate, but, for non-Newtonian fluids, viscosity varies with shear rate. Therefore, if the slurry is non-Newtonian, attempting to measure the viscosity at a shear rate different from the shear rate experienced by the fluid within the process is futile. This is especially true for a hydrocyclone, where the rate of shear is different at different points within the hydrocy clone. In this case, it is very important to determine the flow type of the suspension before attempting to establish any correlation between the viscosity and the process efficiency. A new technique to distinguish such changes inflow type was developed. This involves two viscometers: a coaxial cylinder-type viscometer that measures apparent viscosity at low shear rates and a vibrating sphere-type viscometer that measures the apparent viscosity at high shear rates. For each of these instruments, special precautions were taken to allow for the measurement of the viscosity of rapidly settling mineral suspensions. Because the vibrating sphere viscometer is operated at a much higher shear rate than the rotating viscometer, the two instruments together could determine the shear-rate dependency of the viscosity. Ground silica (80% passing 65 µm) in water was used to prepare slurries at concentrations ranging from 10% to 70% (by weight) solids. The viscosity of each slurry sample was measured simultaneously by both viscometers, and the results were compared. With this technique, it was found that all of the silica-slurry samples tested were in the Newtonian flow regime for up to 70% (by weight) solids. Methocel and Cellosize polymer solutions showed clear non-Newtonian behavior using this technique. This confirmed that non-Newtonian behavior of the silica slurries, if pre sent, would have been detected by this arrangement.
Radiation With Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Does Not Improve Outcomes in Esophageal Squamous Cell Cancer.

Abstract Background Neoadjuvant treatment improves survival for patients undergoing esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Recent evidence suggests that neoadjuvant chemoradiation offers no advantage over chemotherapy alone before surgical resection for adenocarcinoma histology. We sought to examine if this applies to patients with squamous cell histology. Materials and methods The National Cancer Database was queried for patients who underwent treatment for squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus from 2004 to 2012. Patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy before esophagectomy were compared with those undergoing chemotherapy and radiation before surgical resection. Associations between potential covariates and treatment were analyzed using the Pearson chi-square test for categorical variables and Wilcoxon rank sum test for continuous variables. Univariate and multivariate proportional hazards modeling results were used to assess the effect of treatment on overall survival. Relative prognosis was summarized using estimates and 95% confidence limits for the hazard ratio. Unadjusted differences in overall survival and disease-specific survival between the treatment are shown using Kaplan-Meier methods. Results A total of 902 patients underwent neoadjuvant therapy before surgical resection during the study period, with 827 receiving chemotherapy and radiation, and 75 receiving chemotherapy alone preoperatively. The 30- and 90-d mortality for patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiation followed by surgery were 5.4% and 10.4% compared to 5.5% and 11.1% for patients who received chemotherapy alone preoperatively (P = 0.963 and P = 0.856), respectively. Median overall survival for patients receiving chemotherapy and radiation was 36.0 mo versus 40.8 mo for chemotherapy alone. The 5-y survival was 39% for the chemotherapy and radiation group and 43% for the chemotherapy group (logrank P = 0.7212). Conclusions For patients undergoing neoadjuvant treatment before planned surgical resection of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus, the addition of radiation to neoadjuvant chemotherapy did not improve long-term survival and did not appear to impact short-term outcomes postoperatively. Further study with a randomized phase III trial is needed.
Current Connections: Controversy, Civility, and Relevance in the Executive Business Classroom:

To connect course material to executive MBA student workplace experiences and current events more clearly, we created an online space for students to bring up relevant workplace experiences or to p...
Accounting for unobserved heterogeneity in on-street parking crash frequency

On-street parking provides an efficient means of parking for customers because it occupies less land per parking space compared to off-street parking. Nevertheless, there are safety concerns. The o...
Custom bile duct phantom for first-in-human multiplexed NIR fluorescence peptide imaging

Multimodal endoscopy, with fluorescence labeled peptides specific for multiple biomarkers, is a promising technique to detect early-stage GI tract cancers in vivo. A reproducible bile duct phantom with near infrared (NIR) fluorescent targets is developed for practicing the clinical study protocol and quantitative evaluation of multimodal endoscope performance during biliary duct imaging. Furthermore, this phantom with strictures will be used for testing new fluorescence guided biopsy devices. Materials and Methods: A soft, flexible synthetic human bile duct was fabricated from a paintable silicone rubber. Due to the complex structure of biliary system (such as hepatic ducts, cystic duct, and common bile duct), the template mold for lumen was designed for 3D printing using Polyvinyl Acetate (PVA), which can be later dissolved in water. Cured gelatin patches with different concentrations of fluorescence dyes (Cy5 and IRDye800) were placed onto the mold. Then silicone rubber with pigments to simulate visual appearance was painted in layers. After the silicone curing, the phantom was placed in warm water (40 degreeC) to dissolve PVA. Two different multimodal scanning fiber endoscope systems, RGB reflectance + NIR fluorescence and 3 fluorescence (IRDye800, Cy5, and FITC) + grayscale reflectance, were used to test the phantom. Results: The bile duct phantom is flexible, stable, and repeatable to fabricate with strictures. Clinical study procedures of fluorescence labeling were evaluated quantitatively. The NIR fluorescence targets in the phantom were used to calibrate the imaging system, further develop image-based biomarker quantification.
ARIC Hemostasis Study-IV. Intraindividual Variability and Reliability of Hemostatic Factors

We have recently reported the short-term intraindividual variability of several coagulation factors and inhibitors included in the ARIC study (Chambless et al. Ann Epidemiol 1992; 2:723). In this paper, we reported the intraindividual variability results of additional hemostatic factors. Blood samples were collected for hemostatic assays three times at 1-2-week intervals from 39 subjects recruited from 4 ARIC field centers. The contributions of within-person, processing and assay (designated "method") and between-person variances to the total variance were estimated and from them the reliability coefficient, R, was computed as the proportion of total variance in the between-person component. The R value was high for beta-thromboglobulin and tissue-plasminogen activator: 0.83 and 0.81, respectively; and intermediate for D-dimer and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1: 0.73 and 0.72, respectively. Protein S (total and free) and platelet factor 4 had low repeatability (R < 0.50) derived mostly from "method" variability while low R value (0.03) for fibrinopeptide A was attributed to high "method" and "within-person" variability. Gender, age and the level of hemostatic factors did not influence the intraindividual variability.
State Estimate of Wind Turbine Blades Using Geometrically Exact Beam Theory

As wind turbine blades fatigue, the blade’s dynamic response to loading may be expected to change. The kinematic quantities that exhibit significant changes are important for wind turbine blade operation from the perspective of measurement, estimation, and performance or even life cycle prediction. A state estimate providing accurate information on these features would lead to better estimates of remaining fatigue life and provide valuable information to the turbine control systems for the purpose of maximizing total energy output of a wind turbine system. In this work, we implement an observer for state estimation of nonlinear systems using the system Jacobian to correct the system output by updating the force input to a reference model in an iterative Newton-Raphson scheme. We apply this method to a surrogate wind turbine blade modeled using a geometrically exact beam theory to estimate its state given available measurements. LA-UR-12-25441.
Spatial Distribution of Cholesterol in Lipid Bilayers

1. Abstract We have performed molecular simulations to study spatial distribution and orientation of cholesterol molecules within three symmetric lipid bilayer systems: two binary lipid mixtures, namely, DOPC/CHOL (1, 2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine/cholesterol) and SM/CHOL (d20:1/20:0 sphingomyelin /Cholesterol), and a tertiary mixture of DOPC/SM/CHOL. We have studied the behavior of these bilayers at temperatures varying from 400 K to 210 K and cholesterol molar concentration from 0% to 60%.We observe that the spatial distribution of cholesterol is strongly correlated with the phase of the bilayer. In the disordered phase, cholesterol molecules are predominantly present near the center of the bilayer. In the ordered phase, cholesterol molecules are mainly present in the leaflets. At the order - disorder transition temperature, the fraction of cholesterol molecules is equal in the two leaflets and the center. In the leaflets, cholesterol molecules are oriented parallel to the bilayer normal, while near the center, cholesterol molecules are randomly oriented. In agreement with previous experimental studies, we find that increasing the cholesterol concentration favors ordered phase of the bilayers. The preference of cholesterol molecules to be present in the leaflets in the ordered phase is attributed to their favorable hydrophobic interactions with the lipid tails. 2. Statement of Significance Cholesterol has an important role in governing the physical properties of lipid bilayers, including their structural integrity, phase behavior and permeability. The spatial distribution of cholesterol in lipid bilayers is not well-understood because of the challenges associated with performing experiments for such a measurement. We show, via molecular simulations, that the spatial distribution of cholesterol molecules is strongly correlated with the phase behavior of the lipid bilayers. In the ordered phase, cholesterol molecules are predominantly present in the leaflets, whereas in the disordered phase, cholesterol molecules are in the center region of the bilayer. These results are important for understanding the relationship between lipid bilayer composition and their biological function and response.
Robot-Based Measures of Upper Limb Cognitive-Motor Interference Across the HIV-Stroke Spectrum

Robot-based neurorehabilitation strategies often ignore cognitive performance during treatment, but this is a need in populations dealing with a wide variety of cognitive and motor impairments, such as the stroke and HIV populations, for which an association between the two have been established. In this study, we concurrently measure cognitive and motor performance on a robotic cognitive-motor task and quantify cognitive-motor interference. We apply this method to a pilot group of healthy, stroke, and HIV-stroke subjects, and we demonstrate the potential of smoothness and correct response rate as metrics to capture motor and cognitive-related dual-task effects.
Quotas as Opportunities and Obstacles: Revisiting Gender Quotas in India

This article addresses the empirical uncertainty regarding whether gender quotas establish a foundation of political representation and experience that encourages female candidates to compete against men. It updates and expands existing empirical research by contributing an analysis of the most recent electoral data across four municipal corporations in India over two election cycles. Critical questions on the theoretical expectation that gender quotas should encourage and enable women politicians to compete in open-gender contests over time are considered. The Indian quota system has not encouraged women to broadly compete outside the quota at the local level but has made some wards more likely to elect women. Parties also continue to resist nominating women outside the quota but are more likely to do so in wards previously represented by a woman. Finally, the unique overlap of gender and community quotas can discourage incumbency by essentially blocking incumbents from running again in their ward due to shifting community requirements.
The US military experience with THAM.

Abstract Background Acidosis, a part of the lethal trauma triad, occurs frequently after major combat trauma. Tris-hydroxymethyl aminomethane (THAM) has been used to effectively treat acidosis in injured casualties. No research has been conducted assessing the safety of THAM in the military combat setting. We sought to describe the US military experience with THAM administration to battlefield injury subjects. Methods We conducted a retrospective descriptive cohort study reviewing the trauma data from the Department of Defense Trauma Registry. US military personnel with an injury severity score greater than 15, between September 2001 and December 2014, were analyzed. Our primary outcome was the 30-day all-cause mortality among cohort treated with THAM versus those who were not. Differences between the cohort were examined using a student t-test (continuous variables), Wilcoxon Rank Sum test (ordinal variables), and chi-squared test (nominal variables). Results 4558 subjects met the inclusion criteria. 69 received THAM and 4489 did not. Casualties receiving THAM had higher mean ISS scores (33 vs. 27, p Conclusions Within our combat trauma population, we were unable to detect worse 30 day mortality associated with THAM administration. Prospective investigations are needed to validate its use in critically injured combat casualties.
A Dimensionally Adaptive Technique for Computationally Efficient Cylindrical Discrete Ordinates Radiation Calculations

Abstract The use of high aspect ratio cylindrical pressure vessels and rotationally periodic burners in Pressurized Oxy-Coal (POC) furnaces leads to physical behavior that is 3D periodic near the burner, but which transitions to axisymmetric towards the outlet. A fully 3D model would consume unneeded resources, and an axisymmetric model would fail to capture periodic features of the near burner region, such as recirculation zones. The present work evaluates the ability of a dimensionally adaptive mesh (i.e., one that transitions from 3D to axisymmetric and 1D) to improve computational speed while still accurately calculating heat flux for such cylindrical systems. The Discrete Ordinates Method (DOM) was used to solve the cylindrical Radiative Transfer Equation (RTE) on both a dimensionally adaptive mesh and a fully 3D mesh. The effects of both spatial and angular refinement on speedup and agreement between the adaptive and fully 3D mesh were studied. For the four cylindrical combustor configurations studied, speedups ranged from 46.6% on a coarse adaptive mesh to 49.1% on a fine mesh. Increasing angular resolution decreased speedups from 48.0% at S2 to 37.1% at S8. Increasing angular resolution from S2 to S4 reduced the overall percent difference between adaptive and 3D meshes from 0.656% to 0.381%. Increasing angular resolution beyond S4 did not significantly improve agreement between mesh types.
Exploring Critical Consciousness in Engineering Curriculum Through an Ill-Structured Problem

This research-to-practice work-in-progress paper presents the preliminary effort to explore and actualize the third tenet of Ladson-Billing’s theory of culturally relevant pedagogy (CRP) into a required, sophomore-level engineering statics and dynamics course. The third tenet is focused on bettering students’ sense of critical consciousness, whereby critical consciousness is defined as a person’s awareness of their social context and their ability to advocate against injustices within their social context. Specifically, this paper focuses on exploring students’ changing awareness to their cultural, environmental, social, and political context in response to an ill-structured problem. This approach aims to challenge students to question the status-quo within engineering curriculum and practice, and it aims to equip them with vocabulary and tools to identify and challenge visible and invisible exclusionary barriers in their own present-day (curriculum) and future (practice) lives. If actualized within engineering curriculum, then such educational approaches could arm future engineering practitioners with the skillset and mindset needed to disarm exclusionary barriers that pervade engineering practice. The results of this limited study generated mixed results, indicating a need to continue exploring means of effectively fostering critical consciousness using ill-structured problems.
Alterations in Intestinal Innate Mucosal Immunity of Weaned Pigs During Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus Infection

In the small intestine, localized innate mucosal immunity is critical for intestinal homeostasis. Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) infection induces villus injury and impairs digestive function. Moreover, the infection might comprise localized innate mucosal immunity. This study investigated specific enterocyte subtypes and innate immune components of weaned pigs during PEDV infection. Four-week-old pigs were orally inoculated with PEDV IN19338 strain (n = 40) or sham-inoculated (n = 24). At day post inoculation (DPI) 2, 4, and 6, lysozyme expression in Paneth cells, cellular density of villous and Peyer's patch microfold (M) cells, and the expression of polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR) were assessed in the jejunum and ileum by immunohistochemistry, and interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were measured in the jejunum by ELISA. PEDV infection led to a decrease in the ratios of villus height to crypt depth (VH-CD) in jejunum at DPI 2, 4, and 6 and in ileum at DPI 4. The number of villous M cells was reduced in jejunum at DPI 4 and 6 and in ileum at DPI 6, while the number of Peyer's patch M cells in ileum increased at DPI 2 and then decreased at DPI 6. PEDV-infected pigs also had reduced lysozyme expression in ileal Paneth cells at DPI 2 and increased ileal pIgR expression at DPI 4. There were no significant changes in IL-1β and TNF-α expression in PEDV-infected pigs compared to controls. In conclusion, PEDV infection affected innate mucosal immunity of weaned pigs through alterations in Paneth cells, villous and Peyer's patch M cells, and pIgR expression.
A dynamic F4 algorithm to compute Gröbner bases

The F4 algorithm re-imagines Buchberger’s algorithm as the row reduction of a Macaulay matrix: each row corresponds to a polynomial; each reduction of one row by another corresponds to one step of reducing an S-polynomial; and any row that completes reduction with a new pivot position corresponds to a new element of the basis. On the other hand, each column corresponds to a term, so that while it is common in linear algebra to exchange a matrix’s columns during row reduction, this has not been done in F4-style algorithms, as it runs the risk of producing an incorrect result. We show that it is possible to adapt an analogous, “dynamic” technique for Buchberger-style algorithms to F4-style algorithms, and we examine its behavior on some commonly referenced benchmark ideals.
A Robust Affine Projection Algorithm Against Impulsive Noise

This letter proposes a prefiltered observation-based affine projection algorithm (APA) to achieve robustness against outliers. The conventional robust algorithm for correlated input signal, which is called the affine projection sign algorithm (APSA), was developed by using the $\mathcal {L}_1$ -norm of the error signal. However, it suffers from slow tracking speed for a system change suddenly, because it can not distinguish between the time-varying system and occurrence of the impulsive noise. To overcome this problem, the proposed algorithm is induced from the matrix inequalities in no impulsive interference. The proposed algorithm determines the necessity for updating the weight vector in the noise. Hence, it has robustness and tracking ability because it discriminates between the time-varying system and occurrence of the impulsive noise. Simulations in a system identification scenario show that the proposed algorithm surpasses the APA and APSA in terms of convergence rate and tracking performance under the impulsive noise environment.
Interview with Caryl Phillips

Elaine Savory interviews internationally renowned writer Caryl Phillips about his fascination with Rhys—a fascination borne out by the novel that he published in May of 2018. Entitled A View of the Empire at Sunset, Phillips’s novel tells Rhys’s life story with an emphasis on her relationship to her homeland of Dominica. This is Phillips’s 11th novel, others of which include Crossing the River, The Lost Child, A Distant Shore and Cambridge.
Pulse oximeter plethysmograph waveform and automated oscillometric sphygmomanometer for ankle-brachial index measurement

Abstract Objectives There are limited non-invasive methods to assess lower extremity arterial injuries in the emergency department (ED) and pre-hospital setting. The ankle-brachial index (ABI) requires careful auscultation by Doppler, an approach made difficult in noisy environments. We sought to determine the agreement of the ABI measured using the pulse oximeter plethysmograph waveform (Pleth) with auscultation by Doppler in a controlled setting. A secondary outcome sought to examine the agreement of ABI by automated oscillometric sphygmomanometer (AOS) with Doppler. Methods We measured blood pressure in the right upper and lower extremities of healthy volunteers using: (1) Doppler and manual sphygmomanometer; (2) Pleth and manual sphygmomanometer; and (3) AOS. The Bland-Altman approach to assessing agreement between methods was used comparing mean differences between ABI pairs to their means for Doppler versus Pleth and Doppler versus AOS. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) from mixed effects models examined intra- and inter-rater reliability. Results Among 100 participants with normal ABI the mean ABI (95%CI) were Doppler 1.11 (0.90–1.33), Pleth 1.10 (0.91–1.30), and AOS 1.10 (0.90–1.30). The ABI difference (95% CI for limits of agreement) were 0.01 (−0.20,0.18) for Doppler-Pleth and 0.02 (−0.26, 0.22) for Doppler-AOS. The ICC for the Doppler-Pleth comparison (ICC = 0.56, 95% CI 0.47–0.63) was greater than for the Doppler-AOS (ICC = 0.32, 95% CI 0.19–0.43). Conclusions The ABI measured using the Pleth has a high level of agreement with measurement by Doppler. The AOS and Doppler have good agreement with greater measurement variability. Pleth and AOS may be reasonable alternatives to Doppler for ABI.
Narratives of Electoral Violence: Evidence from Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria

This article addresses post-election violence (PEV) in Africa by drawing on the lived experiences of respondents in Cote d’Ivoire and Nigeria. It takes an actor-centered approach steeped in interpr...
Synthesis and characterization of gadolinium-decorated [60]fullerene for tumor imaging and radiation sensitization.

The excellent contrast of high atomic number (Z) elements compared to soft tissues has advanced their use as contrast agents for computed tomographic imaging and as potential radiation sensitizers....
Characterization of the Stanford Integrated Psychosocial Assessment for Transplant (SIPAT) in Lung Transplant Candidates

The SIPAT is a standardized measure for pre-transplant psychosocial evaluation. Previous SIPAT studies utilized a relatively small lung transplant sample and only included listed patients. This study characterized the SIPAT in 147 lung transplant candidates to better elucidate its utility. The average score corresponded to a minimally acceptable rating and nearly half of the patients had relative or absolute contraindications. Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) patients scored more favorably than non-ILD patients (U = 7.69, p < .05). The Total (β = − .05, SE = .018, p < .01), Social Support Subscale (β = − .133, SE = .058, p < .05), and Psychosocial Stability and Psychopathology Subscale (β = − .103, SE = .040, p < .05) significantly predicted listing status. The SIPAT has a unique profile in lung transplant candidates and demonstrated utility for guiding transplant decisions. Future research should examine which lung transplant outcomes are significantly associated with SIPAT scores.
Subtyping Autism Spectrum Disorder Via Joint Modeling of Clinical and Connectomic Profiles.

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a highly heterogeneous developmental disorder with diverse clinical manifestations. Neuroimaging studies have explored functional connectivity (FC) of ...
Spending More or Spending Less? Institutional Expenditures and Staffing in the Free-College Era:

While research has documented outcomes for students served by promise programs, few studies have considered the behavior of institutions themselves in the promise era. A new source of revenue combi...
Montana’s Pioneer Botanists: Exploring the Mountains and Prairies

Rachel Potter & Peter Lesica. 2017. Montana’s Pioneer Botanists: Exploring the Mountains and Prairies. (ISBN-13: 978-0-692-83690-3, hbk). Montana Native Plant Society, Missoula, Montana, U.S.A. (Orders: www.mtnativeplants.org). $39.95 US ($29.95 pbk), 167 pp., color figs., 8" × 10".
Implementing Interconception Care in a Dyadic Adolescent Mother-Child Clinic.

INTRODUCTION The birth of a second child to an adolescent woman worsens the adverse medical, socioeconomic, educational, and parenting outcomes for the woman and her children. Despite the known high efficacy of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), many postpartum adolescents use less effective or no contraception. Interconception care (ICC) focuses on modifying maternal risks between pregnancies and promoting healthy birth spacing to improve outcomes for women and children. Research shows that women regularly attend their child's health care visits even if they do not seek care for themselves between pregnancies. These visits present a potential opportunity for providers to educate women on available LARC options. METHODS In an adolescent mother-child clinic, demographic and ICC screening data were collected on women presenting for well child visits of children age 0-24 months. These data were analyzed using logistic regression models to identify independent predictors of LARC initiation and repeat pregnancy. RESULTS Mother-child dyads were screened an average of two times in the study period. Participants with only one visit were less likely to initiate LARC. Of the participants, 5.5% became pregnant again, with patients having only one ICC visit being slightly, but not significantly more likely. Hispanic ethnicity and having ≥ 2 visits were significant independent predictors of LARC initiation. The only independent predictor of repeat pregnancy was not initiating LARC. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that optimal ICC may rely on consistent and frequent touch points with providers and not solely on the medical management during the interconception period, making it adaptable to a traditional pediatric medical home. Tying the worlds of pediatric and maternal healthcare is pivotal for successful ICC.
U.S. COAST GUARD WIND-CLASS REPLACEMENT ICEBREAKER

The general arrangements for a Wind-Class replacement icebreaker are presented. The design of a vessel to these requirements is presented together with a discussion of the icebreaker synthesis model which was used to identify the design problem solution. The chief charac- teristics and some of the features of the design are then presented.
Biochemical effects of the modification of nucleic acids by certain polycyclic aromatic carcinogens.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the acute effects of the exposure of tissues or cells in culture to the polycyclic aromatic carcinogens 2-acetamidofluorene, benzo[a]pyrene, and aflatoxin B that include an inhibition of replicative deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis, DNA transcription, and protein synthesis. An almost immediate response of the cell to DNA damage, by these agents, is excision of the modified adducts and repairs of the DNA. In vitro studies reveal that the function of DNA during replication and transcription, and the function of tRNA's and mRNAs during translation, are inhibited by the covalent binding of activated forms of these carcinogens. All the evidence points to the inhibition of base-pairing rather than to errors in base-pairing, with these bulky carcinogens, whereas the simpler methylating and ethylating agents often induce mispairing. In bacteria, the polycyclic aromatic carcinogens produce mainly frame-shift mutations, but the specific types of mutations induced in mammalian cells are not known. For reasons that are not apparent, there is, in vivo, a preferential inhibition of nucleolar synthesis, as well as an apparent inhibition of the activity of ribonucleic acid (RNA) polymerase II. At present, very little is known about the effects of these agents in chromatin structure and the control of specific gene expression.
The place of proximity: social support in mother-adult daughter relationships.

The mother–adult daughter relationship has been highlighted in both the social sciences and the public health literature as an important facet of social support networks, particularly as they pertain to maternal and child health. Evolutionary anthropologists also have shown positive associations between support from maternal grandmothers and various outcomes related to reproductive success; however, many of these studies rely on proximity as a surrogate measure of support. Here I present data from the Puerto Rican Maternal and Infant Health Survey (PRMIHS) comparing geographic proximity of mother and daughter with a self-reported measure of mother-to-daughter support. These two measures were used to predict infant health outcomes as well as various measures of instrumental and emotional aid provided during pregnancy and after birth. Primary support was shown to have a positive effect across the analyses, whereas geographic proximity was associated with an increased risk of infant mortality and low birth weight as well as reduced odds of receiving support. This paradox was then examined using a combination variable that teased out the interactions of maternal support and proximity. Women who were geographically close to their mothers but who did not consider them a primary source of support had increased odds of infant death and low birth weight, and were less likely to receive either tangible or intangible forms of aid, while women whose mothers were both close and primary showed uniformly positive outcomes. These results place the role of propinquity within the larger context of social support and highlight the need for more detailed studies of social support within evolutionary anthropology.
Elevated baseline and postdexamethasone cortisol levels. A reflection of severity or endogeneity

This study investigated whether elevated baseline and postdexamethasone cortisol levels were more strongly related to severity of depression or presence of endogenous symptoms. In 43 inpatients with major depressive disorder, a positive correlation was found between the total score on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and 8.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. baseline and 8.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. postdexamethasone cortisol levels. Only the 8.00 a.m. postdexamethasone cortisol level was significantly correlated with the number of Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC) endogenous items present. Despite a statistically significant relationship between severity and endogeneity, our results suggest elevated baseline and postdexamethasone cortisol levels may be more closely related to severity of depression, rather than the presence of a cluster of symptoms referred to as endogenous.
Impact of prophylactic thoracolumbosacral orthosis bracing on functional activities and activities of daily living in the pediatric spinal cord injury population.

Background/Objective: The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of a thoracolumbosacral orthosis (TLSO) on children with spinal cord injuries (SCI) in terms of functional independence and t...
Micropulse lidar-derived aerosol optical depth climatology at ARM sites worldwide

[1] This paper focuses on climatology of the vertical distribution of aerosol optical depth (AOD (z)) from micropulse lidar (MPL) observations for climatically different locations worldwide. For this, a large data set obtained by MPL systems operating at 532 nm during the 4 year period 2007–2010 was used to derive vertical profiles of AOD (z) by combining the corresponding AOD data as an input from an independent measurement using nearly colocated multifilter rotating shadowband radiometer (MFRSR) systems at five different U.S. Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Program sites—three permanent sites (SGP in north-central Oklahoma, at 36.6°N, 97.5°W, 320 m; TWP-Darwin in the tropical western Pacific, at 12.4°S, 130.9°E, 30 m; and NSA at Barrow on the North Slope of Alaska, at 71.3°N, 156.6°W, 8 m) and two mobile facility sites (GRW at Graciosa Island in the Azores, at 39°N, 28°W, 15 m; and FKB in the Black Forest of Germany, at 48.5°N, 8.4°E, 511 m). Therefore, amount of data used in this study is constrained by the availability of the MFRSR data. The MPL raw data were averaged for 30 s in time and 30 m in altitude. The diurnally averaged AOD (z) profiles from 4 years were combined to obtain a multiyear vertical profile of AOD (z) climatology at various ARM sites, including diurnal, day-to-day, and seasonal variabilities. Most aerosols were found to be confined to 0–2 km (approximately the planetary boundary layer region) at all sites; however, all sites exhibited measurable aerosols well above the mixed layer, with different height maxima. The entire data set demonstrates large day-to-day variability at all sites. However, there is no significant diurnal variation in AOD (z) at all sites. Significant interannual variability was observed at the SGP site. Clear seasonal variations in AOD (z) profiles exist for all five sites, but seasonal behavior was distinct. Moreover, the different seasonal variability for the lower level (0 to ~2 km) versus the level above indicates a contribution of different types of air masses from different sources. The lower annual mean AOD (z) values (0.093 ± 0.033 for daytime and 0.093 ± 0.05 for nighttime) observed near the surface at GRW are not unexpected for maritime aerosols (mostly sea salt), and the corresponding higher values at SGP (0.118 ± 0.038 for daytime and 0.11 ± 0.05 for nighttime), FKB (0.124 ± 0.042 for daytime and 0.127 ± 0.047 for nighttime), and TWP (0.13 ± 0.078 for daytime and 0.14 ± 0.073 for nighttime) are usual for continental aerosols. The annual mean AOD (z) values observed near the surface during daytime and nighttime for NSA were 0.1 ± 0.042 and 0.09 ± 0.037, respectively. These results will aid the scientific community in understanding aerosol properties and boundary layer dynamics and in improving the incorporation of aerosol radiative effects into global climate models.
The Neurophysiological Bases of Cognitive Computation Using Rough Set Theory

A popular view is that the brain works in a similar way to a digital computer or a Universal Turing Machine by processing symbols. Psychophysical experiments and our amazing capability to recognize complex objects (like faces) in different light and context conditions argue against symbolic representation and suggest that concept representation related to similarities may be a more appropriate model of brain function. In present work, by looking into anatomical and neurophysiological basis of how we classify objects shapes, we propose to describe computational properties of the brain by rough set theory (Pawlak, 1992 [1]). Concepts representing objects physical properties in variable environment are weak (not precise), but psychophysical space shows precise object categorizations. We estimate brain expertise in classifications of the object's components by analyzing single cell responses in the area responsible for simple shape recognition ([2]). Our model is based on the receptive field properties of neurons in different visual areas: thalamus, V1 and V4 and on feedforward (FF) and feedback (FB) interactions between them. The FF pathways combine properties extracted in each area into a vast number of hypothetical objects by using "driver logical rules", in contrast to "modulator logical rules" of the FB pathways. The FB pathways function may help to change weak concepts of objects physical properties into their crisp classification in psychophysical space.
Cell communication in taste buds

Taste bud cells communicate with sensory afferent fibers and may also exchange information with adjacent cells. Indeed, communication between taste cells via conventional and/or novel synaptic interactions may occur prior to signal output to primary afferent fibers. This review discusses synaptic processing in taste buds and summarizes results showing that it is now possible to measure real-time release of synaptic transmitters during taste stimulation using cellular biosensors. There is strong evidence that serotonin and ATP play a role in cell-to-cell signaling and sensory output in the gustatory end organs.
Carbides of Group V: Vanadium, Niobium and Tantalum Carbides

Publisher Summary This chapter provides a review of the characteristics and properties of the interstitial carbides formed by the metals of Group V: vanadium, niobium, and tantalum. These three carbides have similar atomic bonding, composition, and crystallography. These carbides also have similar properties and characteristics. Only the monocarbide phases are of industrial importance. Tantalum carbide (TaC) is produced on a relatively large scale while the importance of vanadium carbide (VC) and niobium carbide (NbC) is still limited. The density of these carbides increases considerably with the increasing atomic number of the metal. The melting point of the carbides is higher in all cases than that of the other materials. The thermal conductivity of Group V carbides is relatively high and similar to that of the Group IV, showing the metallic character of these compounds . It is slightly lower than that of the host metals and increases with increasing temperature. The electrical resistivity of the carbides is only slightly higher than that of the host metals, reflecting the metallic character of these compounds and their strong metal-to-metal bond. The nitrides and especially the borides have lower resistivity.
Abstract 313: A Novel Catheter-Based Radionuclide Imaging System to Characterize Atherosclerotic Plaque

Objectives: Atherosclerosis underlies coronary artery diseases—the leading cause of death in the United States and worldwide. In this study, we developed a novel catheter-based radionuclide imaging (CRI) system to image 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG), a radionuclide, a marker of vascular inflammation, in murine carotid arteries and characterized the system for spatial resolution from multiple scintillating materials. Methods: The catheter system includes 35 mm and 8 mm fixed focal length lenses, which are subsequently connected to a CMOS camera and fiber holder. The distal ferrule of an image bundle is terminated with a wide-angle lens. The novelty of this system is a scintillating balloon with a crystal tip in the front of the wide angle lens to image light from the decay of 18F-FDG emission signal. The scintillating balloon is fabricated from 1mL of silicone RTV catalyst mixed with 1 mL base and 50 mg/mL calcium fluoride doped with Europium (CaF2:Eu). To identify the optimal scintillating materials with respect to resolution, we calculated modulation transfer function (MTF) of Yttrium Aluminum Garnet doped with Cerium (YAG:Ce), anthracene, and CaF2:Eu phosphors using a thin line optical phantom (Fig. 1a-1b). Macrophage-rich FVB murine atherosclerotic carotid plaque model (n = 4) was used in ex vivo experiments. Confirmatory imaging was also performed by an external optical imaging system (IVIS-200). Results: Analysis of the different phosphors (Fig 1b) showed that CaF2:Eu enabled the best resolution of 1.2μm. The CRI system visualized 18F-FDG in atherosclerotic plaques (Fig. 1d). The ligated left carotid (LR) artery exhibited 4.9х higher 18F-FDG signal intensity compared to the non-ligated right carotid (negative control) artery (2.6х104 ±1.4х103 vs. 5.4х103 ±1.3х103, A.U., p = 0.008) and confirmed with IVIS-200 (Fig. 1d). Conclusions: This CRI system enables high-resolution and sensitive detection of 18F-FDG uptake by murine atherosclerotic plaques. ![][1] [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif