cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Polyunsaturated hydrocarbons in the stable fly

Three triply-unsaturated hydrocarbons were identified from cuticular lipids of male and mixed-sex stable flies,Stomoxys calcitrans. The major compound, (Z,Z)-1,7,13-pentacosatriene, and two minor compounds, (Z,Z)-1,7,13-tetracosatriene and (Z,Z)-1,7,13-tricosatriene, were synthesized. Samples of male and female stable flies that differed in age, seasonality, geographic origin, rearing conditions of adults, and methods of extraction were analyzed for the presence of these triolefins. Females were found to have small quantities of the same C25 triolefin, which appeared to be identical to that in males. No evidence was seen for attraction of males or females to natural or synthetic triolefins.
Comparison of Clinical Features and Liver Histology in Hepatitis C-Positive Dialysis Patients and Renal Transplant Recipients

Objective: Liver biopsies in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients before or after renal transplantation were compared to study the effect of transplant-related immunosuppression. Methods: In this prospective study all patients on the active transplant list and all patients with functioning renal transplants at our hospital were tested for HCV antibody (ELISA-2) over a 30-month period. HCV infection was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction in most patients. All HCV-positive patients were asked to undergo liver biopsy without regard to serum transaminase levels. Patients were interviewed, examined, and had detailed chart review. By protocol, liver histology was evaluated according to stage and inflammatory activity in a blinded fashion. Results: There were 129 HCV-antibody–positive patients, of 795 tested. Sixty-seven agreed to liver biopsy. Of these, 22 patients had never been transplanted and 45 had received transplants. Mean transplant duration before biopsy was 41.2 months (range, 1–204 months). Transplant patients had significantly longer duration of ESRD and estimated duration of HCV infection than patients not transplanted. Dialysis patients had significantly more portal inflammatory activity and lymphoid follicles on biopsy whereas transplant patients had more piecemeal necrosis and steatosis. However, the total histological activity score and stage were similar between groups. Multivariate analysis confirmed the association between transplant and steatosis. But independent variables including transplant duration, HCV infection duration, and ESRD duration were not correlated with histological findings. Conclusion: Renal transplantation may not be associated with an increased risk of progressive liver disease in HCV-positive patients, compared with ESRD patients receiving chronic dialysis. Long-term studies with serial liver biopsies are needed to resolve this issue.
A novel mixture of propofol, alfentanil, and lidocaine for regional block with monitored anesthesia care in ophthalmic surgery.

Abstract Study Objective The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy and safety of sedation/analgesia using a mixture of propofol, alfentanil, and lidocaine. Design A retrospective case review was undertaken. Setting This study took place at a university medical center. Patients Eighty-nine American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status 1, 2, and 3 adult patients undergoing ophthalmic surgery with regional block and monitored anesthesia care were studied. Intervention Six milliliters of propofol, 2 mL of alfentanil, and 2 mL of 2% lidocaine (6-2-2 mixture) were freshly mixed. The bolus dose was determined based on the patients' age: 5 μ g/kg of alfentanil (and 0.3 mg/kg of propofol) for patients older than 75 years; the dose increased 1 μ g/kg per 10-year decrease in age; and up to 9 μ g/kg of alfentanil (0.54 mg/kg of propofol) for patients younger than 45 years. Regional block was performed at 1 minute after bolus completion. Blood pressure (BP), Sao 2 , electrocardiogram, capnography, clinical signs of sedation, responses to block, need for airway support, nausea and vomiting (N/V), pain due to propofol infusion, recall, and patient and surgeon satisfaction were recorded. Measurements and Main results Seventy-eight percent of patients achieved analgesia and sedation without adverse response to the block. Twelve percent achieved good analgesia and sedation with only eyebrow movement upon needle insertion. Twenty-seven percent had respiratory depression but were able to follow commands and maintain adequate ventilation. Two percent had brief apnea alleviated by chin lift or jaw thrust. None had pain because of propofol infusion or N/V. Before sedation, average systolic BP was significantly increased ( P P Conclusion Adjusted for age and weight, the dose of the 6-2-2 mixture met the sedation requirements for most patients. With a low incidence of need for airway support, no pain during infusion, and no N/V, this novel mixture of propofol, alfentanil, and lidocaine provided adequate analgesia and sedation as well as hemodynamic stability for ophthalmic surgery under regional block.
The Web, the Millennium, and the Digital Evolution of Distance Education.

This paper discusses Industrial and Digital Age educational paradigms, needs, and expectations of adult and traditional learners for Internet‐based education; knowledge management and its impact on technical communication; the Universal Campus Network and the nature of Web‐based education in the near future; elements for success for Web‐based distance education in technical communication; and future directions in electronic communication.
A Nonbinary LDPC Decoder Architecture With Adaptive Message Control

A new decoder architecture for nonbinary low-density paritycheck (LDPC) codes is presented in this paper to reduce the hardware operational complexity in VLSI implementations. The low decoding complexity is achieved by employing adaptive message control (AMC) that dynamically trims the message length of belief information to reduce the amount of memory accesses and arithmetic operations. To implement the proposed AMC, we develop the architecture of a horizontal sequential nonbinary LDPC decoder. Key components in the architecture have been designed with the consideration of variable message lengths to leverage the benefit of the proposed AMC. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed nonbinary LDPC decoder architecture can significantly reduce hardware operations and power consumption as compared with existing work with negligible performance degradation.
Magnetic resonance imaging for evaluating neurogenic dysphagia.

Dysphagia due to CNS pathology usually stems from one of two patterns of disease: (1) bilateral corticobulbar tract dysfunction (“pseudobulbar palsy”) or (2) pontomedullary dysfunction (“bulbar palsy”). Computed tomography (CT) has proved to be useful for evaluating the brainstem in patients with neurogenic dysphagia. Nonetheless, artifacts are common in CT imaging of the posterior fossa. Also, direct sagittal imaging is not usually obtainable by CT in adult patients.
Small-droplet steatosis and intracranial hypertensionin arginosuccinic lyase deficiency

or plasma zinc concentrations, to provide an earlier and more reliable warning of inadequate zinc nutr i t ional status than would be the case by measur ing serum alkaline phosphatase activity. Theoretically, the ra te and degree of recovery of mucosal integrity af ter t r ea tment of these patients with gluten-free diet could be influenced by zinc deficiency that had developed before inst i tut ion of thera-
Adult-onset adrenal ganglioneuroblastoma — Bone metastasis two years after surgery: Report of a case

Ganglioneuroblastoma (GNB) is a common type of tumor in children but is rarely seen in adults. This report presents a case of an adrenal GNB in a 53-year-old man with bone metastasis after surgery. The patient experienced an increased frequency of urination and was found to have a nonfunctioning tumor in the right adrenal gland. The tumor was 11 cm in diameter with no local invasion or distant metastasis, and was completely removed. Histologically, on gross examination the tumor contained a visible neuroblastomatous nodule with ganglioneuromatous component, and was diagnosed as GNB nodular classical type. Two years after surgery, multiple metastatic lesions were found in the patient’s lumbar spine. Only 48 GNB cases have been reported in the literature. According to these reports, large GNB tumors, more than 8 cm in diameter, tend to arise from the retroperitoneal cavity and develop to metastasize to nearby bone or lymph nodes. Because the prognosis was not favorable, despite surgery and radiation therapy or chemotherapy, it is necessary to closely follow patients with large GNB tumors.
The effect of hormonal condition on dose-dependent amphetamine-stimulated behaviors in the male rat

Abstract The effects of varying doses (1.25, 2.5, and 5.0 mg/kg, ip) of d -amphetamine sulfate (AMPH) on eight individual behaviors (Rearing, Grooming, Sniffing, Stationary, Gnawing, Head Bobbing, “Sleeping,” and Licking) of Castrate + Oil-treated, Castrate + Testosterone Propionate (TP)-treated, and Intact male rats were examined. For Stationary, Sniffing, and “Sleeping” at 1.25 mg/kg AMPH and Rearing and Sniffing at the 2.5 mg/kg dose a significantly greater duration in the behavioral score was obtained for Castrate + Oil versus Castrate + TP and Intact males. These results indicate the complexity of the AMPH dose-response effects upon measurable behaviors, the alteration in the duration of these effects as a function of the hormonal condition of the male rat, and the importance of examining discrete components of behavior when hormone-amphetamine interactions are examined.
Relative toxicity of cyclic antidepressants

To compare the relative central nervous system and cardiac toxicity of amoxapine, maprotiline, and trazodone with the older tricyclic antidepressants, a three-year (1981 through 1983) retrospective review was performed on 1,313 cases involving cyclic antidepressant exposures reported to the Maryland Poison Center. Seizures were more common in the amoxapine (24.5%) and maprotiline (12.2%) groups, compared with either the tricyclic antidepressants (3.0%) or trazodone (0%) ( P
Orbit Crowding of Molecular Gas at a Bar-Spiral Arm Transition Zone in M83

The southwestern bar-spiral arm transition zone in M83 is been studied in CO, H-alpha, H I, red light, and the radio continuum. A massive molecular gas complex in the heart of the transition zone is composed or two principal components which have the morphology and kinematics expected from orbit crowding, where gas on highly elliptical orbits form the bar region converges with gas on more circular orbits from the spiral arm region. Three mechanisms for the origin of the orbit crowding are investigated, and it is proposed that the crowding is due primarily to density wave streaming motions caused by the bar and spiral arms. The inner CO component is partially coincident with a region of highly polarized radio continuum emission which precedes the H-alpha spiral arm by 15-25 arcsec, indicating that it lies on or just downstream from a shock front. This suggests that the bar gas approaching the transition zone is shocked and explains the ridge of dense gas seen upstream from the spiral arm.
The paradoxical nature of the grief experience

This paper develops the thesis that the grief experience attendant to loss by death is a natural phenomenon and that language has been used to obscure its nature as a process. The paradoxical nature of the grief experience refers to an expanded appreciation of its nature which can include a consideration of the survivor's own joy at being alive. A feeling of joy can occur consequent to allowing the more intense grief pain to be exposed and shared. Frequent references from playwrights and other well-known authors herein support the universal recognition of the above. The author has found these thoughtful individuals to constitute an important intellectual network for himself through the years.
Modifiable Risk Factors for Asthma Morbidity in Bronx Versus Other Inner-City Children

Background: Bronx children have higher asthma prevalence and asthma morbidity than other US children. Objective: To compare risk factors for asthma morbidity present in Bronx children with those of children from other US inner-city areas. Methods: Cross-sectional, multi-state study of 1772 children ages 5–11 yrs. old with persistent asthma. Parental responses to the Child Asthma Risk Assessment Tool for 265 Bronx children are compared with those of 1507 children from 7 other sites (1 Northeast, 2 South, 2 Midwest, 2 West). Results: Bronx children were significantly more likely to be sensitized to reported aeroallergens in their homes than were children from the other sites (86% vs. 58%; p <.001). More Bronx parents reported household cockroaches (65% v 20%; p <.001), mice (42% v 11%; p <.001), and rats (7% v 3%; p <.001); using a gas stove to heat the home (20% v 9%; p <.001); and visible mold (48% v 25%; p <.001). Bronx parents were more likely to report pessimistic beliefs about controlling asthma (63% ...
Modeling high-concentration L-band EDFA at high optical powers based on inversion function

High-concentration erbium-doped fibers used in L-band erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) are known to experience additional losses due to effects of energy transfer between Er/sup 3+/ ions and possibly quenchers (e.g., homogeneous and clustering-induced up-conversion, quenching, etc.). These interactions between Er/sup 3+/ ions make modeling of inversion dynamics in L-band EDFA more complicated. We present a modeling approach for high-concentration doped fiber based on lumping of all complex phenomena of energy transfer in EDFA into a function of two variables hereafter referred to as the inversion function. The inversion function is evaluated for high optical powers (which constitutes a typical situation for fiber amplifiers) using a cluster expansion and assuming that upconversion is the leading loss mechanism. The modeling results show a close agreement with the measurement data for various input power conditions and inversion levels.
Sum capacity of the deterministic interference channel with an out-of-band half-duplex relay

We consider the linear deterministic model for the two user interference channel (IC) with an out-of-band relay (OBR). In this model, each user has access to two orthogonal bands, where one band forms the IC, and the other band is assisted by a half-duplex relay, i.e., the relay receives and transmits in orthogonal bands. The channel is assumed to be symmetric. We first derive new outerbounds using genie arguments, and then construct optimal relaying strategies. As a result, we characterize the sum capacity of this model for all channel parameters. In particular, it is shown that similar to the case of the IC with output feedback (and without a relay), the “W” curve for the sum capacity of the IC becomes “V” curve as the strength of the links in the OBRC grows. The interference links are classified as extremely strong, very strong, strong, moderate, weak, and very weak. For the IC without the relay, it is known that some signal spaces are left unused for the sum-capacity-optimal transmission strategy. We show that, with an OBR, these spaces can be utilized to achieve the sum capacity of this model improving upon that of the IC without the OBR. We show that for very strong and extremely strong interference, the interference is useful to improve the achievable rates. For weak or very weak interference, the unused signal spaces of the IC can be utilized to transmit new information bits.
Using allopoietic agents in replicated software to respond to errors, faults, and attacks

As software becomes more prevalent in society and attacks and faults grow, it is important to have software that can survive. Autopoietic software exists to continuously repair, recreate, and improve itself without producing any computational result or providing any service. Replicated software introduces redundancy into software with diverse, redundant components doing tasks. This research proposes to work in an unbounded environment with agents used to search for software components that exhibit signs of faults, or attacks. The autopoietic agents would kill these processes and similar processes to make the healthy components more available and able to proactively deal with attacks, faults and errors.
Understanding axon guidance: attraction, repulsion, and statistical physics

Understanding axon guidance is important for developing therapies to restore neuronal connections damaged by injury or disease. Axons migrate in response to extracellular guidance molecules that induce or inhibit axon outgrowth activity within the axon. The direction of guidance is determined by the attractive and repulsive responses that the axon has to the guidance cues. In a deterministic model of guidance, the direction of guidance can be precisely determined if the attractive and repulsive effect that each cue has on the axon is known. But what if there are numerous attractive and repulsive responses induced by multiple guidance cues, and the direction of the attractive and repulsive events fluctuates? If the effect that each attractive and repulsive event has on guidance becomes too complex to measure then understanding how each molecular cue influences the guidance decision becomes impossible.
Sensitivity quantification of remote detection NMR and MRI.

A sensitivity analysis of the remote detection NMR techniqueis presented. With remote detection, information about a sample isencoded onto a mobile sensor fluid, which facilitates a spatialseparation of encoding and detection of spin magnetization. This approachcan be interpreted as a two-dimensional NMR experiment, therefore thesame general formalism can be used for a sensitivity analysis. Eventhough remote detection is a point-by-point experiment, the sensitivitydoes not scale unfavorably with the number of detected points compared totransient detection. It is proportional to the relative sensitivitybetween the remote detector and the circuit that is used for encoding.The influence of the different signal decay times is analyzed, and thedistinction between spectroscopy and imaging experiments ismade.
The New Century of Multi-Agriculturalism

Two large issues face American agriculture in the 21st century. Commodity policy has erred by placing excessive regulations on prices and production levels, creating rent-seeking opportunities for some farm producers. Escaping the lingering adverse consequences of these market regulations remains a challenge, both at home and abroad. A new challenge will be to avoid an onerous reregulation of agriculture according to production methods, creating new rent-seeking opportunities. Diverse farm enterprises can prosper in the future if informed consumer choice is preserved within free and competitive food markets, but finding a policy framework to foster this desirable multi-agriculturalism will prove daunting.
From book to screen : modern Japanese literature in film

This classic introduction to the Japanese political system has been revised and updated to take the account of a time of turmoil in the country's political life. It incorporates new coverage of the end of the Koizumi era, the brief and troubled premiership of Abe, and the selection of Fukuda as prime minister. This edition also includes expanded material on 'bubble' and 'post-bubble' economic developments, as well as all-new coverage of health care policy.The text opens with an overview of Japan's geographical setting and history. The next group of chapters covers political institutions, processes, and actors. Two sections then address the country's distinctive social order and economy, educational, healthcare, and public safety systems. Part five looks at the increasingly contentious realm of foreign relations and security issues, including China's expanding role and the issue of North Korea. A concluding section considers dynamics of change in Japanese politics.
Autonomic modulation of the U wave during phenylephrine and esmolol infusions.

The etiology of U waves on the electrocardiogram is uncertain. We previously found that U waves could be amplified by isoproterenol infusion. Whether other autonomic interventions modify U-wave amplitude is unknown. Twenty-five healthy subjects underwent graded infusions of esmolol and phenylephrine. Heart rate, T-wave amplitude, U-wave amplitude, and QT and QU intervals were measured using interactive computerized electrocardiogram software. Heart rate decreased with both interventions (P < .001), though to a greater degree with phenylephrine. U-wave amplitude increased by 16.3% during phenylephrine (P < .001) but decreased by 14.5% during esmolol (P < .001). The change in U-wave amplitude was strongly dose-dependent for both phenylephrine (P < .001) and esmolol (P < .001). T-wave amplitude increased with phenylephrine (597-692 μV, P < .001) but decreased with esmolol (632-568 μV, P < .001). QT and QU intervals increased with both interventions (P < .001). We conclude that sympathetic and parasympathetic activities are important determinants of U-wave timing and amplitude.
Epidemic typhus meningitis in the southwestern United States

A patient residing in New Mexico had murine typhus diagnosed. A novel molecular assay was performed at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Rickettsia prowazekii, the agent of epidemic typhus, was found, rather than R. typhi. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of epidemic typhus confirmed by means of polymerase chain reaction--based testing of cerebrospinal fluid, and it introduces a novel assay for the molecular diagnosis of both epidemic and murine typhus.
Noncanonical Amino Acids to Improve the pH Response of pHLIP Insertion at Tumor Acidity

The pH-Low Insertion Peptide (pHLIP) offers the potential to deliver drugs selectively to the cytoplasm of cancer cells based on tumor acidosis. The WT pHLIP inserts into membrane with a pH50 of 6.1 while most solid tumors have extracellular pH (pHe) of 6.5-7.0. To close this gap, a SAR study was carried out to search for pHLIP variants with improved pH-response. We learned that (a) replacing Asp25 with α-aminoadipic acid (Aad) adjusts the pH50 to 6.74, matching average tumor acidity, and (b) replacing Asp14 with γ-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla) increases the sharpness of pH-response (i.e. transition over 0.5 instead of 1 pH unit). These effects are additive — the Asp14Gla/Asp25Aad double variant shows a pH50 of 6.79, with sharper transition than Asp25Aad. Further, the advantage of the double variant over WT pHLIP in terms of cargo delivery was demonstrated in turn-on fluorescence assays and anti-proliferation studies (using paclitaxel as cargo) in A549 lung cancer cells at pH 6.6.
Microwave Attenuation Properties of Vegetation Canopies

A major impediment to the understanding and modeling of propagation through and backscattering and emission from vegetation canopies has been the lack of canopy attenuation data as a function of frequency, incidence angle, and polarization configuration. This paper presents the results of attenuation experiments conducted for canopies of winter wheat and soybeans in the late spring and early summer of 1984. Attenuation data were acquired at 1.55, 4.75, and 10.2 GHz for horizontal and vertical polarizations at incidence angles near 20° and 50°. In addition, wheat decapitation and soybean defoliation experiments were conducted to evaluate the relative importance of different canopy constituents (such as heads, leaves, and stalks) to the total canopy attenuation. The measured data were compared to calculations based on a model that treats the stalks as parallel elements of a uniaxial crystal and the leaves and branches as randomly oriented disks and needles, respectively. Very good agreement was obtained between theory and experimental observations for the soybean canopy for both polarizations and for the wheat canopy for vertical polarization; however, the model consistently underestimated wheat attenuation (relative to the data) for horizontal polarization. This deficiency of the model is attributed to the fact that it considers all the stalks to be vertically oriented, whereas in reality the stalks exhibit an orientation distribution, although it is centered around the vertical direction.
Staphylococcus aureus Panton-Valentine Leukocidin Contributes to Inflammation and Muscle Tissue Injury

Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) threatens public health worldwide, and epidemiologic data suggest that the Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) expressed by most CA-MRSA strains could contribute to severe human infections, particularly in young and immunocompetent hosts. PVL is proposed to induce cytolysis or apoptosis of phagocytes. However, recent comparisons of isogenic CA-MRSA strains with or without PVL have revealed no differences in human PMN cytolytic activity. Furthermore, many of the mouse studies performed to date have failed to demonstrate a virulence role for PVL, thereby provoking the question: does PVL have a mechanistic role in human infection? In this report, we evaluated the contribution of PVL to severe skin and soft tissue infection. We generated PVL mutants in CA-MRSA strains isolated from patients with necrotizing fasciitis and used these tools to evaluate the pathogenic role of PVL in vivo. In a model of necrotizing soft tissue infection, we found PVL caused significant damage of muscle but not the skin. Muscle injury was linked to induction of pro-inflammatory chemokines KC, MIP-2, and RANTES, and recruitment of neutrophils. Tissue damage was most prominent in young mice and in those strains of mice that more effectively cleared S. aureus, and was not significant in older mice and mouse strains that had a more limited immune response to the pathogen. PVL mediated injury could be blocked by pretreatment with anti-PVL antibodies. Our data provide new insights into CA-MRSA pathogenesis, epidemiology and therapeutics. PVL could contribute to the increased incidence of myositis in CA-MRSA infection, and the toxin could mediate tissue injury by mechanisms other than direct killing of phagocytes.
Multivariate Resource Performance Forecasting in the Network Weather Service

This paper describes a new technique in the Network Weather Service for producing multi-variate forecasts. The new technique uses the NWSs univariate forecasters and emprically gathered Cumulative Distribution Functions (CDFs) to make predictions from correlated measurement streams. Experimental results are shown in which throughput is predicted for long TCP/IP transfers from short NWS network probes.
Applying Moral Development Literature And Ethical Theories To The Administration Of Taxes In Kosovo

The population of Kosovo had suffered years of abuse, ethnic cleansing, turmoil, human atrocities, and constant conflict - the results of which plunged Kosovo into costly war. Following the war Kosovo was placed under the protection of the United Nations in 1999. Kosovo received many years of support and developmental assistance from the international community and became a sovereign nation in February 2008. It was very important for Kosovo’s government to serve the needs of the people without continued oversight and intervention by the United Nations. Public institutions are vital to the success of the government. There is no institution more important to the successful development of a sovereign nation and their economy than the ethical administration of a tax authority. In the spring of 2008, after Kosovo’s declaration of independence, this study was initiated to determine the moral maturity of the members of the Tax Authority of Kosovo. This study provides a review of the current situation in Kosovo and discusses ethical considerations in tax administration. The paper further provides a comprehensive discussion of ethical concerns and discusses the importance of moral development in the tax administration of Kosovo. Recommendations for managers and future research are presented.
DESYCO: A decision support system for the regional risk assessment of climate change impacts in coastal zones

Abstract Several decision support systems were developed in recent years to encourage climate adaptation planning in coastal areas, especially at a national to global scale. However, few prototypes are easy to use and accessible for decision-makers to evaluate and manage risks locally. DESYCO is a GIS based decision support system specifically designed to better understand the risks that climate change poses at the regional/subnational scale (e.g. the effect of sea level rise and coastal erosion on human assets and ecosystems) and set the context of strategic adaptation planning within Integrated Coastal Zone Management. It implements a Regional Risk Assessment (RRA) methodology allowing the spatial assessment of multiple climate change impacts in coastal areas and the ranking of key elements at risk (beaches, wetlands, protected areas, urban and agricultural areas). The core of the system is a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) model used to operationalize the steps of the RRA (hazard, exposure, susceptibility, risk and damage assessment) by integrating a blend of information from climate scenarios (global/regional climate projections and hydrodynamic/hydrological simulations) and from non-climate vulnerability factors (physical, environmental and socio-economic features of the analysed system). User-friendly interfaces simplify the interaction with the system, providing guidance for risk mapping, results communication and understanding. DESYCO was applied to low-lying coastal plains and islands (the North Adriatic Sea, the Gulf of Gabes and the Republic of Mauritius), river basins and groundwater systems (Upper Plain of Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Marche Region). The paper presents the RRA methodology, the structure of DESYCO and its software architecture, showing the capabilities of the tool to support decision making and climate proofing in a wide range of situations (e.g. shoreline planning, land use and water resource management, flood risk reduction).
Isolation and Characterization of Porcine and Rat Relaxin

Hisaw (1926) first reported that experimentally induced “relaxation” of the pubic ligament in guinea pigs was controlled by hormones. In 1930 Fevold, Hisaw, and Meyer (1930) showed that an aqueous extract of sow corpora lutea caused relaxation of the pubic ligament in estrogen-primed, ovariectomized guinea pigs. They named the active substance relaxin. Essentially all subsequent efforts to isolate relaxin employed ovaries obtained from pigs daring late pregnancy since this source of relaxin is known to have a high content of relaxin activity and is relatively easy to acquire. Progress toward the isolation of porcine relaxin was slow. It was not until the 1950’s and early 1960’s when new techniques for the isolation and characterization of proteins, as well as improved methods for relaxin bioassay (Steinetz et al.3 1960, 1969), became available that well documented advancement was made in relaxin purification efforts.
Copper–tin anodes for rechargeable lithium batteries: an example of the matrix effect in an intermetallic system

Lithium batteries are typically constructed from a lithium cobalt oxide cathode and a carbon anode. We have investigated intermetallic anode materials based on tin, which can provide a high theoretical capacity at a slightly higher voltage (0–400 mV) than metallic lithium and thus reduce the safety concerns associated with the carbon anode. In particular, we have investigated the copper–tin system at around the composition Cu6Sn5 and have determined the effect on cycling and capacity of electrodes with various ratios of copper to tin. Anode compositions that are slightly copper rich (Cu6Sn4) were found to exhibit greater utilization of the tin than those with the stoichiometric bronze ratio (Cu6Sn5) or those having a slight excess of tin (Cu6Sn6). The differences in electrochemical behavior are explained in terms of an inert matrix model.
Ion Induced Crystallization and Growth of Nanoscale Grains in Ceramics

Self supporting thin films of amorphous alumina and zirconia were irradiated with light and heavy ions at various temperatures(25–430°C). Irradiation was found to result in the formation of 10–30 nm large grains well below conventional crystallization temperatures. These grains were quite stable against subsequent thermal growth. Crystallization, grain size, and growth depended on ion species as well as on “stabilizing” additives (yttria or Pt).
A New Start Toward a More Decentralized Federalism in Brazil

Brazil's political history can be read as a cyclical alternation between centralization and decentralization--a contest between the center and the periphery. Centralizing tendencies reached one height under the "Estado Novo" of Getdilio Vargas (1937-1945) and peaked again under a series of military governments from 1964 to 1985. Forces favoring regionalism and more state and local autonomy have been given impetus during the 1980s by trends of regional differentiation, popular mobilization, return to civilian government in 1985, several key elections, and state and local financial crises. The constitution promulgated in October 1988 features decentralizing fiscal provisions that give reason to believe that federalism may be revitalized in the next several years in response to grassroots demands from state and local governments. However, these federalism reforms may be threatened by the national government's attempts to thwart the constitution's decentralization provisions and by national economic and political instability.
Attention Allocation in ASD: a Review and Meta-analysis of Eye-Tracking Studies

Research on attention allocation to social and non-social stimuli in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has produced mixed results, with some studies suggesting that attention allocation is atypical in ASD (e.g., Klin, Jones, Schultz, Vokmar, & Cohen, 2002) and others finding no significant differences in attention allocation patterns when comparing individuals with ASD to typically developing (TD) controls (e.g., Parish-Morris et al. 2013). This meta-analysis aggregates results from 68 articles that compared individuals with ASD with TD controls, using eye-tracking measures of attention. As an index of attention allocation, mean effect sizes for looking time to six areas of interest (AOIs) are computed in this meta-analysis: eyes, mouth, face, body, non-social elements, and the whole screen. The results suggest the presence of atypical attention allocation in ASD, indicated by small but significant effect sizes: overall reduced attention to the eyes (d = 0.33), mouth (d = 0.25), and face (d = 0.4); increased attention to the body (d = −0.48) and non-social elements (d = −0.34); and reduced attention to the screen (d = 0.53). This pattern of findings suggests less accessing of social information by individuals with ASD. The results are discussed in light of future research directions.
Indoor/Outdoor Classification with Multiple Experts

Indoor/outdoor classification is a fundamental step toward scene understanding. When data become more diverse, traditional approaches are not able to efficiently provide robust performance. In this chapter, we will firstly review the weakness of existing approaches and then propose a systematic machine-learning approach, Expert Decision Fusion (EDF) to obtain robust classification performance.
Teaching Reform for Basis of Computer Hardware Technology

Basis of Computer Hardware Technology is a basic course facing the students of non-electrical major.Based on the teaching experience and the nature of teaching,this paper introduces some methods of teaching reform aiming at some problems in the teaching process from two perspectives: theory teaching and practice teaching. After practicing,these methods generally increase the study enthusiasm of students and achieve a well teaching result.
Electrical stimulation for incontinence in myelomeningocele.

Abstract Urinary incontinence is the most obvious urinary tract complication in children with myelomeningocele, Incontinence is owing to a hyperreflexic (spastic) bladder and/or pelvic floor weakness, which responds to functional electrical stimulation. Of 33 incontinent children the criteria for functional electrical stimulation were absent in 21 because of denervation of the pelvic floor muscles. Of 6 children who used functional electrical stimulation 5 had a successful result. However, incontinence recurred in 3 of the 5 patients between 6 and 18 months after functional electrical stimulation treatment was completed and they are awaiting repeat treatment.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Diagnosis and Followup of Idiopathic Retroperitoneal Fibrosis

AbstractFour cases of idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis are reported. Magnetic resonance and computerized tomographic images were obtained for diagnosis in each case, and followup scans were obtained at various intervals after therapy. In all 4 cases magnetic resonance imaging was equal or superior to computerized tomography in the diagnosis of retroperitoneal fibrosis, outlining the extent of involvement, preoperative planning and assessing response to medical or surgical therapy.
Glucose Dyshomeostasis in Endotoxicosis Direct Versus Monokine-Mediated Mechanisms of Endotoxin Action

Among the many pathophysiologic disturbances which are elicited by gram-negative sepsis and concomitant endotoxicosis are global disruptions in the control mechanisms of normal metabolism. These mechanisms include the regulation and integration of the storage, mobilization, transport, and utilization of major cell nutrients such as fatty acids, ketone bodies, amino acids, lactic acid and especially glucose. Since these logistical considerations of physiologic nutrients constitute “caloric homeostasis” (37), there is heuristic value in viewing the pathophysiologic metabolic syndrome of sepsis and endotoxicosis as a paradigm of “caloric dyshomeostasis”—that is, a metastable steady state of life-threatening derangements in the cellular mechanisms, neuroendocrine regulation and systemic integration of carbohydrate, lipid and protein metabolism.
Long-term implications of sustained wind power growth in the United States: Direct electric system impacts and costs

Abstract This paper evaluates potential changes in the power system associated with sustained growth in wind generation in the United States to 35% of end-use demand by 2050; Wiser et al. (2016) evaluate societal benefits and other impacts for this same scenario. Under reference or central conditions, the analysis finds cumulative wind capacity of 404 gigawatts (GW) would be required to reach this level and drive 2050 incremental electricity rate and cumulative electric sector savings of 2% and 3% respectively, relative to a scenario with no new wind capacity additions. Greater savings are estimated under higher fossil fuel costs or with greater advancements in wind technologies. Conversely, incremental costs are found when fossil fuel costs are lower than central assumptions or wind technology improvements are more-limited. Through 2030, the primary generation sources displaced by new wind capacity include natural gas and coal-fired generation. By 2050, wind could displace other renewables. Incremental new transmission infrastructure totaling 29 million megawatt-miles is estimated to be needed by 2050. In conjunction with related societal benefits, this work demonstrates that 35% wind energy by 2050 is plausible, could support enduring benefits, and could result in long-term consumer savings, if nearer-term (pre-2030) cost barriers are overcome; at the same time, these opportunities are not anticipated to be realized in their full form under “business-as-usual” conditions.
Production of gold nanoparticles by electrode-respiring Geobacter sulfurreducens biofilms

The goal of this work was to synthesize gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using electrode-respiring Geobacter sulfurreducens biofilms. We found that AuNPs are generated in the extracellular matrix of Geobacter biofilms and have an average particle size of 20nm. The formation of AuNPs was verified using TEM, FTIR and EDX. We also found that the extracellular substances extracted from electrode-respiring G. sulfurreducens biofilms reduce Au3+ to AuNPs. From FTIR spectra, it appears that reduced sugars were involved in the bioreduction and synthesis of AuNPs and that amine groups acted as the major biomolecules involved in binding.
National Geographic magazine and the Eskimo stereotype: a photographic analysis, 1949–1990

ABSTRACTThe origins of the ‘Eskimo stereotype’ found in the consciousness of today’s American students are explored, tracing its specific elements such as wearing traditional clothing and hunting sea mammals to Robert Peary’s Arctic exploration. Peary’s exploits were followed closely by an eager public reading about the journeys in popular media such as newspapers and magazines, who were especially captivated by his Polar Eskimo companions. National Geographic magazine is hypothesized to have contributed to the Eskimo stereotype by publishing photographs through four decades that continued the traditional themes and activities contained in Peary’s original dispatches. To test that hypothesis, the author evaluated National Geographic photographs from 1949 through 1990 for components of the North American Arctic stereotype begun by Peary, assessing 30% of the nearly 400 Eskimo photographs contained in the magazine during the study period for thematic elements and activities. The results suggested that Natio...
The Associations between Yelp Online Reviews and Vape Shops Closing or Remaining Open One Year Later.

Author(s): Kong, Grace; Unger, Jennifer; Baezconde-Garbanati, Lourdes; Sussman, Steve | Abstract: INTRODUCTION:Vape shops are popular brick-and-mortar stores that sell e-cigarette products but are not understood well. Previous analysis of Yelp reviews of vape shops located in various ethnic neighborhoods in Los Angeles, California in 2014 identified characteristics of vape shop as delineated by consumers. In this study, we assessed the associations between these characteristics and vape shops going out of business in 2015. METHODS:Content analysis of Yelp reviews of 72 vape shops in 2014 identified 1) general characteristics of the reviews/reviewers, 2) vape shop, staff, and marketing attributes, 3) physical environment, and 4) health claims. In 2015, in-person visits confirmed that 22% of these vape shops closed permanently. We analyzed whether characteristics/attributes identified in 2014 associated with stores remaining open (n = 56) or permanently closing (n = 16) in 2015. RESULTS:Univariate findings showed that open vape shops relative to closed shops had greater 1) number of reviews, 2) rebuilds/fixings, 3) ratings of staff attributes as "helpful/patient/respectful," and 4) report of the physical environment as "bar type." CONCLUSIONS:Bar type vape shops and those with rebuilding/fixing capabilities were associated with staying open, suggesting the popularity of these attributes. Yelp consumer reviews is a useful research tool to identify consumer-determined important sustaining attributes of vape shops and may be used to identify aspects of enduring shops that need regulations.
An Ear-Tissue Model for High-Resolution In Vivo Imaging.

Abstract 1456 The use of microscopy in medicine has revolutionized medical research, diagnosis, and treatment. Unfortunately, current use of microscopy is mostly limited to 2 dimensional structures. The introduction of next generation microscopy, such as confocal and multiphoton, has enabled study of 3 dimensional structures deep in living tissues. Because there is a limit as to how deep these microscopic techniques can detect signal in tissue, many tissues/organs can not be studied due to inaccessibility (e.g., thymus). We have been using an ear-heart murine model to study immune tolerance. In this model, a heart from a newborn mouse is transplanted subcutaneously into the ear pinna. If the heart is not rejected (e.g., syngeneic setting), it can survive and beat indefinitely. In this study, we tested a hypothesis that other tissues can also be transplanted into the mouse ear pinna and function. Skin on the mouse ear pinna is extremely thin ( + and CD8 + T cells were followed by flow cytometric analysis in peripheral blood over time. CD4 + T cell counts were significantly higher in thymic tissue recipients compared with sham transplanted control group (Figure, P + B cells, which are normal in nude mice and are not produced in thymus, remained similar between transplanted and sham transplanted groups at all time points. To test whether this model is useful for high-resolution imaging in live animals, we transplanted GFP + C57BL/6 T cell depleted bone marrow into thymic tissue recipients. After bone marrow transplantation, almost all hematopoietic cells were replaced by GFP + cells. Using two photon microscopy technology, we were able to obtain 4 dimension images of the transplanted thymic tissue at the cellular level in living animals. Because surgical exposure is not required, we were able to perform imaging of living tissues repeatedly in these animals indefinitely. We conclude that multiple tissues are able to survive and function for a long period of time when transplanted into ear pinna. Our innovative ear-tissue transplant model has the potential to allow many living tissues to be visualized at the cellular and subcelluar level in real time and in live animals. Disclosures: Chao: Genzyme: Research Funding.
Haptic and audio correlation in user interfaces

With the rising popularity of the internet, user interfaces are becoming increasingly important. The dominant parts of interfaces in Virtual Reality (VR) are not only the visual stimulation, but also the combinations between sounds and textures in the VR world. Lederman (1979) conducted a study in which she investigated the role of touch-produced sounds in the perception of surface texture. She was able to show that subjects were capable of judging roughness on the basis of sounds alone. Auditory judgments were similar, but not identical to corresponding haptic touch judgments. The above suggests that there may be a correlation between audio and texture roughness and it is this topic that we decided to explore further in a VR environment with the use of a haptic tool called the Phantom.
A Combination of a Polycaprolactone Fumarate Scaffold with Polyethylene Terephthalate Sutures for Intra-Articular Ligament Regeneration

Intra-articular ligamentous injuries are typically unrepairable and have limited outcomes after graft reconstruction. A combination of porous polycaprolactone fumarate (PCLF) scaffolds with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) sutures was developed with the goal of regenerating intra-articular ligaments. Scaffolds were fabricated by injecting PCLF over three-dimensional-printed molds containing two strands of PET suture down its central pore followed by cross-linking. Scaffolds were seeded with human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from adipose tissue. To demonstrate cell attachment and proliferation in culture, we performed live/dead staining and cell proliferation assays. These experiments showed that MSCs remain viable and continue to proliferate on the scaffolds in culture for at least 2 weeks. Bare scaffolds were then used to reconstruct the rabbit anterior-cruciate ligament (ACL), while control rabbits underwent semitendinosus autograft reconstruction. The specimens underwent micro-computed tomography (CT...