cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Periparturient cortisol, acute phase cytokine, and acute phase protein profiles of gilts housed in groups or stalls during gestation.

Use of gestation stalls in pork production remains a controversial topic in animal welfare. Immune status and measures are frequently used to assess stress levels and thus well-being of confined animals. The important welfare issue of close confinement among gestating gilts was tested by quantifying cortisol, acute phase cytokine, and acute phase protein pro-files before and after farrowing of gilts housed in 2 systems. Landrace x Yorkshire crossbred gilts housed in groups of 4 (group, n = 8) in pens (3.9 x 2.4 m with 4 individual feeding spaces, 9.36 m(2) total or 2.34 m(2)/gilt) were compared with gilts housed in standard industry stalls (stall, n = 16; 2.2 x 0.6 m, 1.32 m(2)/gilt). Floors were fully slatted, and a substrate was not provided for either system. Cortisol was determined from saliva on d 105 of gestation, 1 h after moving the gilts into farrowing stalls (d 111), and 24 h and 7 d after farrowing. Cortisol was greater (P = 0.04) for group gilts compared with stall gilts 1 h after moving them into farrowing stalls and 24 h after farrowing. Cortisol concentrations decreased (P = 0.001) over time. Leukocyte mRNA expression of IL-1, IL-1 receptor antagonist, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha was determined by quantitative, reverse transcription PCR on d 35, 63, and 91 of gestation and 72 h after farrowing. Cytokine mRNA expression of peripheral blood mononuclear cells did not differ between housing systems for IL-1, its receptor antagonist, or for tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Acute phase proteins, including fibrinogen, haptoglobin, and alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein were determined for plasma samples taken at d 35, 63, and 91 of gestation and 72 h and 14 d after farrowing. In contrast to cortisol, plasma fibrinogen concentrations increased (P 0.10). Stall gilts tended to have greater (P = 0.07) plasma alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein concentrations than group animals at d 35 of gestation and d 14 after farrowing. These data showed a trend (P < 0.07) for alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein concentrations to return to baseline more quickly in group-housed gilts, which did not appear to be directly related to increased cortisol just before farrowing. In conclusion, few differences in the acute phase response were detected between housing systems, suggesting that the resting immunological responses are only mildly affected by gestation stalls.
Surveillance protocol transplant renal biopsy: assessment of safety in 549 cases at a tertiary care transplantation center

Purpose Renal transplant surveillance biopsy performed at fixed time points after kidney transplantation is aimed at detecting subclinical graft rejection prior to overt manifestation as serum creatinine elevation. While these scheduled biopsies may provide a histologic basis for adjusting immunosuppressive regimens, they subject patients to intrinsic risk associated with invasive tissue sampling. This study was undertaken to assess the safety of a surveillance protocol transplant renal biopsy program at an urban tertiary care transplantation center. Materials and Methods In this single institution retrospective study, 399 patients underwent extraperitoneal renal transplant surveillance biopsy between January 2010 and October 2012. In general, biopsies were performed 1, 3, 6, and 12 months post-transplant, and annually thereafter. 18-gauge samples were obtained using direct sonographic guidance, with 3-4 needle passes made in each case with on-site pathologic assessment of tissue adequacy. Medical record review was used to identify procedure-related complications, which were graded according to the Society of Interventional Radiology classification of complications. Results 549 renal transplant surveillance biopsies were performed during the study period. Procedure-related complications occurred in 7/549 (1.3%) cases, and included 1 minor complication and 6 major complications. The minor complication consisted of transient post-biopsy hematuria. Major complications included 4 peri-nephric hematomas (1 requiring percutaneous drainage, 1 requiring operative evacuation, and 1 resulting in compressive renal failure), 1 case of hematuria requiring prolonged hospitalization, and 1 arteriovenous fistula requiring embolization. There were no patient deaths. Conclusion Surveillance renal transplant biopsy may be performed with a high degree of safety. Future studies should aim to weigh the low but non-zero overall complication rate against the frequency of detected subclinical graft rejection requiring immunosuppressive medication modification.
Temporal and Spatial Change in Equilibrium Beach Profiles from the Florida Panhandle

Guidance regarding equilibrium beach profiles has been well established, although limited knowledge exists regarding the spatial and temporal variability of the equilibrium beach profile parameter for engineering usage, and limited data have been published regarding such changes. Additionally, the controlling parameter in the equilibrium beach profile theory depends on assumed depth of profile closure. Equilibrium beach profile theory is utilized herein to assess the spatial and temporal variability of beach profiles along the Florida Panhandle Coast to provide added empirical guidance on this subject.
Metal-oxide-semiconductor characteristics of rapid thermal processed chemical vapor deposited SiO2 gate dielectrics

Abstract Current conduction, interfacial integrity, and charge trapping characteristics of 200 A rapid thermal nitrided/reoxidized (RTN/RTO) chemical vapor deposited (CVD) SiO 2 are studied. Results show that RTN reduces the leakage current of CVD oxides, contrary to the effects of RTN on thermal oxides. The as-deposited CVD oxide after rapid thermal annealing (RTA) in O 2 has the lowest electron trapping level as compared with the other devices, while devices with RTN/RTO gate dielectrics have superior endurance against constant current stressing. The increased electron trapping induced by RTN can be minimized by pre- and post-nitridation annealing in oxygen.
Optical and electrical properties of metallic SmS films

Abstract Preparation, absorption, conductivity, and Hall coefficient of metallic SmS films are reported. The results support the “virtual bound state” model which was recently introduced for explanation of the properties of alloys of SmS with other rare earths.
Effects of arctic temperatures on distribution and retention of the nuclear waste radionuclides 241Am, 57Co, and 137Cs in the bioindicator bivalve Macoma balthica

The disposal of radioactive wastes in Arctic seas has made it important to understand the processes aflecting the accumulation of radionuclides in food webs in coldwater ecosystems. We examined the eflects of temperature on radionuclide assimilation and retention by the bioindicator bivalve Macoma balthica using three representative nuclear waste components, 24’Am, 57Co, and ‘37Cs. Experiments were designed to determine the kinetics of processes that control uptake from food and water, as well as kinetic constants of loss. t3’Cs was not accumulated in soft tissue from water during short exposures, and was rapidly lost from shell with no thermal dependence. No eflects of temperature on s7Co assimilation or retention from food were observed. The only substantial effect ofpolar temperatures was that on the assimilation ejiciency of 24’Am from food, where 10% was assimilated at 2°C and 26% at 12°C. For all three radionuclides, body distributions were correlated with source, with most radioactivity obtained from water found in the shell and food in the soft tissues. These results suggest that in general Arctic conditions had relatively small eflects on the biological processes which influence the bioaccumulation of radioactive wastes, and bivalve concentration factors may not be appreciably d@erent between polar and temperate waters. 0 1998 Elsevier
Effect of culture conditions on glutathione content in A549 cells

The effects of varying culture conditions on glutathione content in A549 (human type II lung tumor derived) cells were examined. Parameters studied were growth time, serum concentration, and the presence or absence of a mixture of insulin, transferrin, and selenous acid. Glutathione content increased with serum concentration. When cells were grown with serum, glutathione increased sharply 24 hours after passage and decreased thereafter. Insulin, transferrin, and selenous acid had little effect on cell growth or glutathione content. Replacement of media with fresh media containing 10% serum did not prevent the growth dependent decrease in glutathione. These results demonstrate that glutathione content in A549 cells is strongly affected by culture conditions.
Perceptions of Special Education Professors and Culturally Linguistically Diverse Doctoral Students on Cohorts

The authors explore the perceptions related to cohort education models (CEMs) of special education professors and doctoral students at a Carnegie-designated research extensive university in a multicultural, urban area in the southeastern United States. Three themes emerged: (a) Organizational efficiency of CEMs and benefits to student learning outweigh concerns, (b) structure of CEMs impacts students who are not in the CEM, and (c) CEM structure impacts professors. Benefits of a CEM included interstudent support, a flexible learning model, support for culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) learners, opportunities for building trusting relationships, ease in class scheduling, and opportunity for maturation. Presence of the CEM affected the non-CEM students and professors negatively in several ways. Although CEMs are strong mechanisms for supporting students, the faculty must be aware of group cohesion within cohorts to effectively engage the students in the academic process to address the retention pr...
Relationships among catchment land use and concentrations of nutrients, algae, and dissolved oxygen in a southern California river

AbstractRapid human population growth engenders landuse changes and alters nutrients, algal biomass (as chlorophyll a [chl a]), and dissolved O2 concentrations (DO) in streams, but quantitative information on these relationships is limited in regions with a Mediterranean climate. We surveyed macroalgal % cover and chl a and physicochemical factors in spring and summer at 15 stream and estuarine sites in a catchment in southern California with a mosaic of undeveloped, agricultural, and urban areas to examine relationships among land use, nutrients, algae, and DO. We used nutrient diffusing substrata (NDS) at 12 sites to assess the nutrient(s) limiting algal growth. Algal chl a and pH often exceeded suggested or mandated water-quality impairment thresholds at sites affected by human activity, particularly those downstream from a wastewater treatment plant. Total N (TN) affected total and benthic algal chl a in spring and summer, total P (TP) affected benthic algal chl a in summer, and light influenced algae...
Inherent performance limitations of power-autonomous fuel cell system

The performance and robustness of power-autonomous fuel cell operation depends on balance-of-plant controls, for instance, reactant flow, water and temperature management from its own power. Transient performance in fuel cell power delivery is highly associated with air supply control among those. We present here inherent design limitations on autonomous operation of PEM fuel cells with compressor-driven air supply. To this end, we model and analyze the dynamics of a fuel cell system equipped with a compressor driven by the fuel cell itself. The analysis results clarify fundamental performance limitations in regulating oxygen delivery into the cathode. Several control architectures are proposed to demonstrate these limitations analytically and with simulations.
Reflections on the Practice of Theorizing: Conditional Party Government in the Twenty-First Century

This article focuses on the theory of Conditional Party Government (CPG). It seeks to recapitulate the development of the argument for CPG, pulling together various strands articulated during work on the theory over the last four decades in order to explain why the theory took the form it did. The discussion focuses on some of the most important evidence that relates to the predictions of CPG, in order to account for the evolution of the theory over time in interaction with that evidence. It also offers some reflections at various points on the implications of this theoretical and empirical effort for the study of Congress.
Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA PCR as a Tool for Assessment of Marine Viral Richness

Recent discoveries have uncovered considerable genetic diversity among aquatic viruses and raised questions about the variability of this diversity within and between environments. Studies of the temporal and spatial dynamics of aquatic viral assemblages have been hindered by the lack of a common genetic marker among viruses for rapid diversity assessments. Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) PCR bypasses this obstacle by sampling at the genetic level without requiring viral isolation or previous sequence knowledge. In this study, the utility of RAPD-PCR for assessing DNA viral richness within Chesapeake Bay water samples was evaluated. RAPD-PCR using single 10-mer oligonucleotide primers successfully produced amplicons from a variety of viral samples, and banding patterns were highly reproducible, indicating that each band likely represents a single amplicon originating from viral template DNA. In agreement with observations from other community profiling techniques, resulting RAPD-PCR banding patterns revealed more temporal than spatial variability in Chesapeake Bay virioplankton assemblages. High-quality hybridization probes and sequence information were also easily generated from single RAPD-PCR products or whole reactions. Thus, the RAPD-PCR technique appears to be practical and efficient for routine use in high-resolution viral diversity studies by providing assemblage comparisons through fingerprinting, probing, or sequence information.
Interaction of HSF1 and HSF2 with the Hspa1b Promoter in Mouse Epididymal Spermatozoa

The Hspa1b gene is one of the first genes expressed after fertilization, with expression observed in the male pronucleus as early as the one-cell stage of embryogenesis. This expression can occur in the absence of stress and is initiated during the minor zygotic genome activation. There is a significant reduction in the number of embryos developing to the blastocyte stage when HSPA1B levels are depleted, which supports the importance of this protein for embryonic viability. However, the mechanism responsible for allowing expression of Hspa1b during the minor zygotic genome activation (ZGA) is unknown. In this report, we investigated the role of HSF1 and HSF2 in bookmarking Hspa1b during late spermatogenesis. Western blot results show that both HSF1 and HSF2 are present in epididymal spermatozoa, and immunofluorescence analysis revealed that some of the HSF1 and HSF2 proteins in these cells overlap the 4′,6′-diamidino-2-phenylindole-stained DNA region. Results from chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed that HSF1, HSF2, and SP1 are bound to the Hspa1b promoter in epididymal spermatozoa. Furthermore, we observed an increase in HSF2 binding to the Hspa1b promoter in late spermatids versus early spermatids, suggesting a likely period during spermatogenesis when transcription factor binding could occur. These results support a model in which the binding of HSF1, HSF2, and SP1 to the promoter of Hspa1b would allow the rapid formation of a transcription-competent state during the minor ZGA, thereby allowing Hspa1b expression.
Response to Letter Regarding Article, “Clot Length Distribution and Predictors in Anterior Circulation Stroke: Implications for Intra-Arterial Therapy”

We thank Wanklyn et al1 for their comments. We agree wholeheartedly that even in the setting of long clots (eg, ≥8 mm), intravenous recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) should be administered rapidly to eligible acute ischemic stroke patients. Although the probability of early intravenous tPA recanalization of such clots is low, it is not zero, as demonstrated by the cases provided. Indeed, in a nonrandomized Virtual International Stroke Trials Archive (VISTA) study, intravenous tPA benefit extended to patients with severe neurological deficits, up to National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score of 24.2 We know that many of these patients with severe stroke harbor proximal occlusions and long clots. One argument against intravenous tPA use for long …
Inter-device power manageme nt for audio/video equipment

Electronics are an increasing fraction of electricity use in buildings, with those devices that support audio and visual display one of the largest portions. Collections of interconnected A/V devices in buildings are becoming larger as they become networked to A/V devices in other rooms, to traditionally IT devices, to non-electronic devices, and to the Internet. Managing the power state of such connected devices is increasingly difficult, resulting in user confusion and wasted energy. This paper presents an overall architecture for how power state could be managed automatically in the future to both increase user amenity as well as reduce energy use.
Reserve markets for power systems reliability

This paper defines a price-based decision making process for participating in a reserve market for power systems reliability. Reserve power is a fundamentally different commodity from spot market power. It is suggested that depending on the payment mechanism in place, two different types of formulae would be used by power producers and users when participating in such markets. The paper points out that despite the imminent trend to create reserve markets, several fundamental questions concerning reliable operation must be studied.
Extracting repeats from media streams

Many media streams consist of distinct objects that repeat. For example, broadcast television and radio signals contain advertisements, call sign jingles, songs and even whole programs that repeat. The problem we address is to identify explicitly the underlying structure in repetitive streams and deconstruct them into their component objects. Our architecture assumes no a priori knowledge of the streams, and does not require a pre-trained database. Everything the system needs is learned on the fly. We demonstrate that using a modestly capable computer it is perfectly feasible to identify, in realtime, repeating objects that occur days or even weeks apart in audio or video streams. We outline the algorithms, enumerate several applications and present results from real streams.
Target Detection Using 3-D Sparse Underwater Senor Array Network

Underwater target detection has been widely used nowadays. In this paper, we show that the 3-D nested-array system can provide O(N2) degree of freedom(DOF) by using only N physical sensors when the second order statistics of the received data is used, which means we can use less sensors to get a better performance. A maximum likelihood (ML) estimation algorithm for underwater target size detection is also introduced. Theoretical analysis illustrates that our underwater sensor network can greatly reduce the variance of target estimation. We show that our maximum likelihood estimator is unbiased, also the Cramer-Rao lower bound can be achieved when estimating the variance of parameter. Simulations further validate these theoretical results.
Resistance is Futile: How Legal Writing Pedagogy Contributes to the Law's Marginalization of Outsider Voices

This article tackles the question of whether the methods of instruction in legal research, writing and analysis courses can add to the alienation of outsider law students. Using the socio-linguistic theories of "muting" and linguistic determinism, the article argues that the two dominant pedagogies of legal writing instruction, the process view and the social view, can stifle the voices of outsiders in the legal academy. In linguistic terms, legal education, by teaching in the voice of the socially powerful, can force outsiders to distort their ideas in order to be heard, or can even render those ideas nonexistent. The methodologies of teaching legal writing demonstrate the problem starkly. By teaching students to focus on persuading the audience when framing the legal question and determining relevant facts, for example, legal writing pedagogy effectively prevents the law student from communicating an outsider viewpoint. The formalities of legal writing remove individual perspective by requiring writers to communicate in an abstract, "objective" style. Similarly, both the vocabulary and register of legal language is often biased against outsider perspectives. Thus, by becoming fluent in the language of the law, the outsider risks losing her individual perspective. The article recognizes the dilemma inherent in making any systematic changes to a practice-based course like legal writing. The goal of the course is to teach the realities of practice; the dilemma is how to do so without draining the law of the valuable voices of outsiders. The article suggests that a good first step would be to incorporate concepts from critical theory such as narrative theory, "multiple consciousness" and "positionality" into the first year of law school, even within the legal writing course. This would at least acknowledge the existence of the problem, show students that others have confronted the same dilemma and have considered it important and relevant enough to write about, and give students some guidance for how to cope with the problem.
Decommissioning Regulations and Workflows

Decommissioning regulations for offshore renewable energy facilities require that all facilities be removed and the seafloor cleared of all obstructions at the end of the life of the lease. In this chapter we provide an overview of the expected workflows and stages of decommissioning that are likely to arise for offshore wind farms. We begin with background information about the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and comparisons between offshore oil and gas facilities and wind decommissioning. When offshore wind decommissioning programs are executed, they will have many similarities with the oil and gas industry as well as some significant differences. An understanding of oil and gas decommissioning markets informs our expectations of the conditions expected to develop. Decommissioning regulations are specified and expected workflows are described. An alternative method for turbine removal is proposed which, if feasible, may significantly reduce decommissioning cost. We conclude by describing the exposure and liability of the parties involved.
Interaction of Francisella noatunensis subsp. orientalis with Oreochromis mossambicus bulbus arteriosus cell line.

Francisella noatunensis subsp. orientalis (Fno) (syn. F. asiatica) is an emergent warmwater fish pathogen and the causative agent of piscine francisellosis. Although Fno causes septicemia and can live extracellularly in infected tilapia (Oreochromis spp.), the early interaction of Fno with vasculature endothelium is unknown. In the present study, we examined the interaction of wild-type Fno (WT) and two Fno knockout [intracellular growth loci C (ΔiglC) and pathogenicity determinant protein A (ΔpdpA)] strains with the endothelial O. mossambicus bulbus arteriosus cell line (TmB) at 25 °C and 30 °C. Similar amounts of WT, ΔiglC, and ΔpdpA attached and were detected intracellularly after 5 h of incubation at both temperatures; however temperature affected attachment and uptake. While significantly greater amounts of Fno (WT, ΔiglC, and ΔpdpA) were detected intracellularly when TmB cells were incubated at 30 °C, bacteria attached to TmBs at greater levels at 25 °C. Only WT Fno was able to replicate intracellularly at 25 °C, which resulted in Fno mediated cytotoxicity and apoptosis at 24 and 72 h post-infection. WT Fno incubated at 30 °C as well as ΔiglC, and ΔpdpA incubated at 25 °C and 30 °C were all defective for survival, replication, and the ability to cause cytotoxicity in TmB. Taken together, these results demonstrate that temperature plays a vital role for Fno intracellular survival, persistence and cytotoxicity.
Automated User Interface Design for HEPA Filter Recertification

In the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry, there is a need to create an aseptic environment. Part of creating an aseptic environment is having HEPA filters installed and working properly. Many regulatory agencies, including the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) require strict controls over the factors that allow for a manufacturing facility to be aseptic. One of these factors is the use of High Efficiency Particle Air (HEPA) filters. The HEPA filters must be certified or recertified. This occurs as frequently as monthly, but in some cases six months are allowed. This paper addressed the process for recording and storing information for the HEPA filter recertification trials using an automated user interface system.
Commentary: Protecting Human Subjects and Their Data in Multi-site Research

Comparative effectiveness research is sometimes best done using routinely collected data from multiple real world settings. This raises important issues with respect to the authorizations to use the data, dealing with the multiple IRBs that may have oversight authority, and protecting it from breaches. Careful delineation of what is quality improvement vs. research-driven interventions can help with IRB reviews, especially for low-risk projects. It is impossible to totally de-identify data without markedly reducing its value for research, but creative strategies can markedly reduce the risk of advertent disclosures of patient identities.
A patient with constitutional ring 1 chromosome characterized by SNP array CGH

We present a male patient with constitutional ring 1 chromosome and subsequent 6 Mb deletion at 1q43q44. The patient displays overlapping clinical features with reported patients with ring 1 chromosome and 1q43q44 microdeletion syndrome. To our knowledge, this is the first patient with ring 1 chromosome characterized by comparative genomic hybridization.
On the Validity of Projective Questions

Consumer responses to direct, indirect, and projective questions about milk as a fattening food were scaled and included with other variables in regression tests using family milk consumption as th...
Pineal melatonin content in male hamsters throughout the seasonal reproductive cycle.

AbstractThe daily rhythm in pineal melatonin content has been characterized at 10-week intervals in male hamsters sequentially exposed to long photoperiods (14 hr light: 10 hr dark) for 10 weeks, short photoperiods (8 hr light: 16 hr dark) for 30 weeks, and then long photoperiods once again for 10 weeks. These photoperiodic manipulations induced the gonadal changes associated with the seasonal reproductive cycle experienced by this species. At the end of the initial long photoperiod, mean melatonin concentrations of 79-114 pg/gland were found throughout the day and the first 6 hr of darkness and a peak concentration of 949 pg/gland was found 8 hr after the onset of dark. Hamsters exposed to short photoperiods for either 10, 20, or 30 weeks had pineal melatonin concentrations ranging from 50 to 140 pg/gland throughout the day and the first 7 hr of darkness and peak concentrations ranging from 764 to 1025 pg/gland 13 hr after the light to dark transition. The last group of hamsters, which had been in long p...
A newborn with massive intra-abdominal haemorrhage

We describe an unusual case of an intra-abdominal teratoma with massive bleeding presenting as sudden cardiovascular collapse immediately after birth. The infant required massive volume and blood product transfusion, alongside emergent tumour resection, in order to obtain haemostasis and haemodynamic stabilisation. Haemorrhage of a sacrococcygeal teratoma is a known entity, but we are not aware of a previous report of massive intra-abdominal haemorrhage due to a teratoma, immediately after birth. This case emphasises the need to consider intra-abdominal pathology, including a teratoma, in the differential diagnosis of any newborn with early hypovolaemic shock and abdominal distention.
Geographic variation in acoustic signaling in the guardian darter Etheostoma oophylax: effects of contemporary versus historical isolation

Geographical variation in acoustic signals has been demonstrated in many taxa, including freshwater fishes. Previous studies have investigated variation in acoustic signaling between populations naturally isolated into separate drainages. However, the effect of man-made habitat modifications such as dams on the evolution of communication in fishes in unexplored. We used the guardian darter, Etheostoma oophylax to test for geographic divergence in acoustic signals in three streams in the Tennessee River Drainage. Panther and Sugar creeks were once linked by the Blood River but were isolated with the installment of the Kentucky Dam in 1930, while Anderson Creek was historically isolated from these two streams. This framework allowed us to test the effect of isolation on signal structure in these populations for both long and short timescales. We discovered significant variation in both the spectral and temporal components of E. oophylax vocalizations between sites isolated due to drainage locality, but not among sites isolated by the dam. We conclude that geographic isolation is contributing to signal divergence but it is likely that less than a century is not long enough of a timescale for signal divergence between Panther and Sugar Creek to become detectable.
The IκB/NF-κB system: a key determinant of mucosal inflammation and protection

The ubiquitous transcription factor NF-κB is a central regulator of the transcriptional activation of a number of genes involved in cell adhesion, immune and proinflammatory responses, apoptosis, d...
Comparison of Helplessness and Hopelessness as Sources of Cognitive Vulnerability Among Black and White College Students

The Cognitive Style Questionnaire (CSQ), an expansion of the Attributional Style Questionnaire (ASQ), was created as an enhanced measure of cognitive vulnerability to depression using a hopelessnes...
Use of Food Allergy Panels by Pediatric Care Providers Compared With Allergists

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Immunoglobullin E (IgE)-mediated food allergies affect 5% to 8% of children. Serum IgE levels assist in diagnosing food allergies but have low positive predictive value. This can lead to misinterpretation, overdiagnosis, and unnecessary dietary elimination. Use of IgE food allergen panels has been associated with increased cost and burden. The scale of use of these panels has not been reported in the medical literature. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of a commercial laboratory database associated with a tertiary care pediatric academic medical center for food IgE tests ordered by all provider types during 2013. RESULTS: A total of 10 794 single-food IgE tests and 3065 allergen panels were ordered. Allergists ordered the majority of single-food IgE tests (58.2%) whereas 78.8% of food allergen panels were ordered by primary care providers (PCPs) ( P P 15 years ordered a higher number of food allergen panels ( P P CONCLUSIONS: Review of food allergen IgE testing through a high volume outpatient laboratory revealed PCPs order significantly more food allergen panels, tests for uncommon causes of food allergy, and generate higher cost per patient compared with allergists. These results suggest a need for increased education of PCPs regarding proper use of food IgE tests.
SPERMINE EVOKES THE RAPID MOBILIZATION OF CELLULAR Ca2+ IN PARATHYROID CELLS

This chapter discusses the initial action of extracellular Ca 2+ that involves the interaction with a Ca 2+ -binding protein on the surface of the parathryoid cell and that the activation of this receptor is intimately linked to the regulation of parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion. Dissociated bovine parathyroid cells loaded with fura-2 show transient followed by lower yet sustained increases in [Ca 2+ ] in response to small increases in the concentration of extracellular Ca 2+ . Like cytosolic Ca 2+ transients elicited by extracellular divalent cations, those evoked by spermine arise from the mobilization of cellular Ca 2+ . The results show that spermine appears to mimic the effects of extracellular Ca 2+ and evokes rapid mobilization of cellular Ca 2+ in parathyroid cells. The competitive interactions beteen spermine and divalent cations can be taken as evidence that spermine acts at the Ca 2+ receptor. The Ca 2+ receptor on parathyroid cells may be even more promiscuous than previously supposed, and might respond not only to various di- and trivalent cations but also to certain organic polycations. An organic ligand, which can be chemically modified, may aid in the isolation and characterization of the Ca 2+ receptor on parathyroid cells.
Relation of bonding and electronic band structure to the creation of lattice vacancies in TiO

Abstract The relationship between bonding and electronic band structure in TiO is examined and it is found that a high equilibrium lattice vacancy concentration is energetically favorable. Lattice vacancies in TiO allow crystallization as a defective rock-salt type structure, emptying high-energy orbitais by reducing the effective number of valence electrons, which lowers the Fermi energy. Structural stability and mechanical properties of TiO, TiN and TiC are related to the position of the Fermi level, which for 100 per cent dense crystals of TiN and TiO would be forced to lie across antibonding levels. Consideration of energy band calculations by BILZ shows that lattice vacancies lower the Fermi energy by an amount (1.75 eV for TiO) which exceeds the total energy required to create a single titanium or oxygen vacancy (0.31 eV). In this process primarily antibonding orbitais are emptied giving for stoichiometric TiO a net reduction of ca. 1.1 eV in the free energy at absolute zero.
Hold the salt: Freshwater origin of primary plastids.

The evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis by cyanobacteria was arguably one of the most significant biological events in Earth’s history, shaping the atmosphere and subsequently leading to diverse ecosystems (1). The permanent endosymbiotic merger between a cyanobacterium and a unicellular heterotrophic eukaryote in deep evolutionary time set the stage for the stunning diversity of photosynthetic eukaryotes and ecosystems seen today, giving rise to the supergroup Archaeplastida, the red, glaucophyte, and green algae and their descendent land plants. Later transfers of photosynthesis to other lineages of heterotrophic eukaryotes through eukaryote–eukaryote mergers (secondary and tertiary endosymbiosis) led to many near-shore and open-ocean species, including kelps, diatoms, coccolithophors, and dinoflagellates (2). The cyanobacterial ancestry of primary plastids is no longer debated, but the precise donor of primary plastids, the timing and ecological context of the merger, and modifications since the event have received much attention (3⇓⇓–6). In PNAS, Sanchez-Baracaldo et al. (7) examine the evolution of primary photosynthesis and its habitat of origin using the most comprehensive dataset thus far from photosynthetic cyanobacteria and eukaryotes. Reconstructing the history of primary endosymbiosis is challenging due to its deep evolutionary time and long separation of descendent lineages. The oldest eukaryotic fossils (about 1.7 billion y ago) cannot be unequivocally assigned and most of the age constraints used for time-tree analyses are from Phanerozoic fossils. All three lineages of Archaeplastida possess primary plastids of cyanobacterial origin but, as seen from newly abundant plastid genomic data from diverse photosynthetic eukaryotes, each group has evolved distinct … [↵][1]1Email: louise.lewis{at}uconn.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Moving Towards Wellness: Physical activity practices, perspectives, and preferences of users of outpatient mental health service

Abstract Objective This study assessed the beliefs, barriers and preferences for physical activity (PA) among users of outpatient mental health (MH) services. Outpatient discussions with MH providers were also evaluated. Method Between September–December 2014, patient advisors approached adult and family members in an academic MH clinic's waiting room on high volume patient visit days during peak clinic hours; 83% participated in the survey. Analyses were restricted to MH services users (n = 295). Results Fully 84% of respondents reported a link between PA and their mood or anxiety level and 85% wanted to be more active. Less than half currently met US PA guidelines (≥ 150 min/week). Most (52%) reported their mood limited their involvement in PA. Only 37% reported their MH providers regularly discussed PA with them. Beliefs about the benefits of physical activity (p Conclusions Most MH outpatients may need and want assistance in increasing PA. Patient-centered research could inform the development of PA programs in MH settings.
Vertical Specialization and Interregional Trade: Hierarchy of Spatial Production Cycles and Feedback Loop Analysis in the Midwest Economy

The renewed interest in international trade has drawn attention to the phenomenon of vertical specialization, the use of imported inputs for producing goods that are exported (see Bruelhart and Hine, 1999). Balassa (1967, p.97) coined the term, vertical specialization; in a recent paper, Hummels et al, (1998) introduced and discussed the following definition of vertical specialization: (1) a good must be produced in multiple sequential stages, (2) two or more countries must specialize in producing some, but not all, stages, and (3) at least one stage must cross an international border more then once… Thus, countries link sequentially to produce a final good.
Effects of fetal and neonatal environment on sympathetic nervous system development

The sympathoadrenal system plays an important role in the regulation of metabolic and cardiovascular activity. With respect to carbohydrate metabolism, specifically, catecholamines affect both insulin secretion and insulin action. Alterations in sympathoadrenal system function have been suggested to contribute to the constellation of disorders referred to as syndrome X (obesity, hypertension, NIDDM, and dyslipoproteinemia). The origin of any such abnormalities in sympathoadrenal function is unknown. The sympathoadrenal system, like other parts of the mammalian nervous system, is susceptible to environmental influences during development. Although these neurological alterations in rats are particularly prominent during the postpartum period, they are also apparent during intrauterine life. Moreover, the effects of these early environmental factors last well into adulthood and may represent permanent alterations in sympathetic nervous system behavior. Although the impact of maternal diabetes on sympathetic neural development has not been examined extensively, limited data available indicate that maternal diabetes may affect sympathetic nervous system development in the offspring. Although the full impact of maternal diabetes on neurological development in the offspring is unknown, given the myriad effects of the sympathoadrenal system on mammalian physiology, lasting changes in autonomic nervous system function may have potentially profound consequences for metabolic and cardiovascular regulation in adulthood.
The United States and Cambodia, 1960–1991

After Prince Norodom Sihanouk’s ouster in 1970 (which the United States did not regret), the Americans worked closely with Lon Nol’s government and resisted calls to help Sihanouk return to power. Tragedy engulfed Cambodia when the Khmer Rouge took over in 1975, but the United States quietly saw diplomatic advantages in their rule and objected when Vietnam invaded in 1978 to remove the murderous regime. The United States opposed the Vietnamese-installed government and provided support to the non-communist opposition movements, while encouraging Thailand and China to resuscitate the Khmer Rouge remnants. This led to much domestic criticism, and toward the end of the period the United States began to change its policy and supported a compromise peace.
PI3K/Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathway and the Biphasic Effect of Arsenic in Carcinogenesis.

Arsenic is a naturally occurring, ubiquitous metalloid found in the Earth’s crust. In its inorganic form, arsenic is highly toxic and carcinogenic and is widely found across the globe and throughout the environment. As an International Agency for Research on Cancer–defined class 1 human carcinogen, arsenic can cause multiple human cancers, including liver, lung, urinary bladder, skin, kidney, and prostate. Mechanisms of arsenic-induced carcinogenesis remain elusive, and this review focuses specifically on the role of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in promoting cancer development. In addition to exerting potent carcinogenic responses, arsenic is also known for its therapeutic effects against acute promyelocytic leukemia. Current literature suggests that arsenic can achieve both therapeutic as well as carcinogenic effects, and this review serves to examine the paradoxical effects of arsenic, specifically through the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Furthermore, a comprehensive review of current literature reveals an imperative need for future studies to establish and pinpoint the exact conditions for which arsenic can, and through what mechanisms it is able to, differentially regulate the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway to maximize the therapeutic and minimize the carcinogenic properties of arsenic.
Conditioning algorithms for exact and approximate inference in causal networks

We present two algorithms for exact and approximate inference in causal networks. The first algorithm, dynamic conditioning, is a refinement of cutset conditioning that has linear complexity on some networks for which cutset conditioning is exponential. The second algorithm, B-conditioning, is an algorithm for approximate inference that allows one to trade-off the quality of approximations with the computation time. We also present some experimental results illustrating the properties of the proposed algorithms.
UVB and UVA-1 Effects on HIV Activation

Concern about safety of phototherapy for patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) exists because spread of the infection remains unabated, because HIV infection is associated with skin diseases responsive to phototherapy (including psoriasis, eosinophilic folliculitis, and pruritus), and because ultraviolet (UV) radiation has been shown to activate HIV and promote its proliferation.
Adolescence, Sociology of

The concept of adolescence as a stage in the life course has undergone several important changes since the term adolescence was first popularized in the early 1900s. This article details the development of the cultural construct of adolescence in Western societies, as well as the evolution of the study of adolescence in the social sciences. The effects of cultural, economic, and political influences on the length and nature of adolescence are described, as well as the role of institutions in shaping adolescence. The impact of changes in adolescence on family life and parenting are also discussed. The article concludes by addressing the public policy issues surrounding the changing nature of adolescence, the current place of adolescence in social science research, and directions for further research.
Dynamically quantized pyramids

Dynamically Quantized (DO) spaces have been developed [O'Rourke] in response to the need for high-precision, high-dimensional Hough-like transforms. [Ballard; Sloan and Ballard) Their purpose is to cover a parameter space with a limited number of accumulators in such a way that fine precision is maintained where it is needed. O'Rourke's solution to this problem is to maintain a binary tree of cells. Each cell covers an n-dimensional rectangular region of the space. Under certain conditions, the cell may be split along a particular dimension, and two sons created. Under complementary conditions, sets of cells may merge. Cell splitting is relatively simple, but the process of cell merging is quite complicated, for reasons which are explored extensively in [O'Rourke]. The solution presented here is based on a pyramid data structure, in which the number and connectivity (between fathers and sons) of cells is fixed. This data structure has the advantage that its resource allocation is fixed, and the cells and their connections may be reduced to a hardware implementation (e.g., in VLSI.) The customary difficulty with the pyramid is that the boundaries of the cells (and hence the spatial resolution) are fixed, also. In this Dynamically Quantized Pyramid (DQP), the boundaries of the cells are continually modified by means of a hierarchical warping process. Essentially, each cell tries to track the mean position of data points in its part of the space. This estimate of the local mean is used to define the boundaries of the cell's sons. An experimental implementation has been built and subjected to various distributions (spatial and temporal) of data. The resulting quantizations are shown and discussed.
The role of a decision analysis in treatment of T2N0 esophageal cancer

We would like to thank Dr. Wee (1) and Dr. Cerfolio (2) for their interest in our article (3). Their thoughtful editorials raise several important points about our research, “ Comparative effectiveness of upfront esophagectomy versus induction chemoradiation in clinical stage T2N0 esophageal cancer: A decision analysis ”, that merit in-depth consideration.
Implications of high rates of sexual recruitment in driving rapid reef recovery in Mo'orea, French Polynesia.

Coral abundance continues to decline on tropical reefs around the world, and this trend suggests that coral reefs may not persist beyond the current century. In contrast, this study describes the near-complete mortality of corals on the outer reef (10 m and 17 m depth) of the north shore of Mo’orea, French Polynesia, from 2005 to 2010, followed by unprecedented recovery from 2011 to 2017. Intense corallivory and a cyclone drove coral cover from 33–48% to <3% by 2010, but over the following seven years, recovery occurred through rapid population growth (up to 12% cover y−1) to 25–74% cover by 2017. The thirteen-year, U-shape trajectory of coral cover over time created by the loss and replacement of millions of corals through sexual reproduction underscores the potential for beneficial genetic responses to environmental conditions for at least one genus, Pocillopora. The high ecological resilience of this coral community appears to have been enhanced by variation among genera in the susceptibility to declining cover, and the capacity for population growth (i.e., response diversity). These results suggest that the outer coral communities of Mo’orea may be poised for genetic changes that could affect their capacity to persistence.
Developmental trends of performance monitoring measures in 7‐ to 25‐year‐olds: Unraveling the complex nature of brain measures

This study explores how trial-to-trial latency variability contributes to the developmental trends observed in ERN amplitude found in the incorrect trials of a performance monitoring task, the visual flanker task. An Adaptive Woody filter was used to measure and correct for the trial-to-trial latency variability of the ERN in 240 participants aged 7-25 years. Using three measures of latency variability, the degree of trial-to-trial latency variability was shown to decrease as the age of the participants increased from 7 to 25 years. The success of the Adaptive Woody filter technique to remove the trial-to-trial latency variability was demonstrated in a straightforward manner by the significant changes in the measures of fit and intraindividual variability obtained before and after applying the filter. After the latency variability effects were removed and adjusted averaged ERPs were obtained, a more subtle but significant nonlinear developmental trend was still found in the amplitude of the ERN component.