cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of Exergaming Based Exercise on Urban Children’s Physical Activity Participation and Body Composition

Background: Exergaming has been considered a fun solution to promoting a physically active lifestyle. This study examined the impact of an exergaming-based program on urban children’s physical activity participation, body composition and perceptions of the program. Methods: A sample of 185 children’s physical activity was measured in August 2009 (pretest), and percent body fat was used as index of body composition. Fourth graders were assigned to intervention group engaging in 30 minutes exergaming-based activities 3 times per week, while third and fifth graders were in comparison group. Measurements were repeated 9 months later (posttest). Interviews were conducted among 12 intervention children. Results: ANCOVA with repeated measures revealed a significant main effect for intervention, F(1, 179) = 10.69, P < .01. Specifically, intervention children had significantly greater increased physical activity levels than comparison children. Logistic regression for body composition indicated intervention children did not differ significantly in percent body fat change from comparison children, Chi square = 5.42, P = .14. Children interviewed reported positive attitudes toward the intervention. Conclusions: The implementation of exergaming-based program could have a significantly positive effect on children’s physical activity participation and attitudes. Meanwhile, long-term effect of the program on children’s body composition deserves further investigation.
Endogenous CD4+ CD25+ Regulatory T Cells Play No Apparent Role in the Acute Humoral Response to Intact Streptococcus pneumoniae

Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antiprotein and antipolysaccharide responses to intact Streptococcus pneumoniae are CD4+-T-cell dependent and therefore might be under the negative control of CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells. Injection of anti-interleukin 2 receptor α (anti-IL-2Rα) MAb to deplete regulatory T cells, injection of agonistic MAb against glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor family-related protein to inhibit regulatory-T-cell function, and adoptive transfer of regulatory-T-cell-depleted CD4+ T cells into athymic nude mice each had no effect on either the primary or secondary protein- or polysaccharide-specific IgG response to intact S. pneumoniae. Surprisingly, anti-IL-2Rα MAb also had no effect on the IgG response to intact S. pneumoniae in MyD88−/− mice or to a soluble protein-polysaccharide conjugate injected into wild-type mice in the absence of adjuvant. Collectively, these data are the first to suggest that, in contrast to their role in limiting chronic cell-mediated immunity, regulatory T cells may play no significant role in an acute humoral immune response to an intact extracellular bacterial pathogen.
The Physics of Tablet Compression IX: Fundamental Aspects of Tablet Lubrication

Abstract A study of lubricants during compression and in finished tablets has shown that, (1) lubricants are confined to the surface and intergranular regions of the finished tablets and do not mix intimately with the contents of the granules, (2) approximately 1 per cent lubricant appeared to give nearly o timum granulation lubricity when applied to the test granulations used in this stucfy, (3) fluid lubricants appeared to flow into tablet voids and unlike solid lubricants did not usually cause significant increase in punch forces when added in increasing amounts if the machine settings and weights of die fill were constant, (4) the addition of lubricants, e. g., ma nesium stearate, to granulations tended to roduce slightly softer tablets and at t8e same time significantly prolonged tablet $isintegration time in the usual concentrations.
Lifelong Learning to Leverage Project and Career Success: 21st-Century Imperative

AbstractTechnological innovation. Lifelong learning. Two forces—continual and interwoven—that not only define the workplace in the 21st century, but also demand that workers in every discipline exhibit a commitment to lifelong learning as a fundamental necessity and ingredient for success. For construction companies, the use of computer estimating programs, building information modeling, the Internet, advanced communications devices, and platforms such as Facebook and Twitter has provided more flexibility and connectivity and a need for continued learning.
Principles of Religious Prosociality: A Review and Reformulation

Historically, religion and religious belief have often been credited as the source of human morality. But what have been the real effects of religion on prosocial behavior? A review of the psychological literature reveals a complex relation between religious belief and moral action: leading to greater prosocial behavior in some contexts but not in others, and in some cases actually increasing antisocial behavior. In addition, different forms of religious belief are associated with different styles of co-operation. This body of evidence paints a somewhat messy picture of religious prosociality; however, recent examinations of the cognitive mechanisms of belief help to resolve apparent inconsistencies. In this article, we review evidence of two separate sources of religious prosociality: a religious principle associated with the protection of the religious group, and a supernatural principle associated with the belief in God, or other supernatural agents. These two principles emphasize different prosocial goals, and so have different effects on prosocial behavior depending on the target and context. A re-examination of the literature illustrates the independent influences of religious and supernatural principles on moral action.
Regularity of an elliptic problem with a singular nonlinearity

We study a semilinear boundary value problem with the feature that the vanishing boundary value makes the equation singular. We prove that the positive solution is in general Holder-continuous up to the boundary and has even better regularity in some special cases.
Expanding the definition of a positive family history for early-onset coronary heart disease

Purpose: Assessing familial risk for early-onset coronary heart disease (CHD) is typically limited to first-degree relatives with early-onset CHD. To evaluate the impact of additional family history, we examined the associations between various family history definitions and early-onset CHD. Methods: By using the national HealthStyles 2003 survey data, we assessed associations between self-reported family history and personal history of early-onset CHD (diagnosed at or before age 60 years), adjusting for demographics, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and obesity. Results: Of 4035 respondents, 60% were female and 72% were white, with a mean age of 48.8 years; 4.4% had early-onset CHD. In addition to having at least one first-degree relative with early-onset CHD, other significant associations included having at least one first-degree relative with late-onset CHD, at least one second-degree relative with early-onset CHD, and two or more affected second-degree relatives regardless of age of onset of CHD. Early-onset stroke in at least one first-degree relative and, in women, having at least one first-degree relative with diabetes were also significantly associated with early-onset CHD. Conclusions: Family history beyond early-onset CHD in first-degree relatives is significantly associated with prevalent CHD diagnosed at or before age 60 years.
Psychological Differences Between Children With and Without Chronic Encopresis

Objective: To validate a theoretical model of encopresis in terms of psychological factors that differentiates children with and without chronic encopresis and to identify scales that demonstrate these differences. Methods: Eighty-six children with encopresis were compared to 62 nonsymptomatic children on five psychometric instruments. Differences in the mean scores and the percentages of children falling beyond preselected clinical thresholds were compared across the patient-control groups. Results: Children with encopresis were found to have more anxiety/depression symptoms, family environments with less expressiveness and poorer organization, more attention difficulties, greater social problems, more disruptive behavior, and poorer school performance ( ps = .01 ≤ .001 on 15/20 subscales). There were no differences in self-esteem. On those subscales where proportionately more encopretic children exceeded clinical thresholds, approximately 20% more of the encopretic children exceeded thresholds than control children. Conclusions: As a group, children with encopresis differ from children without encopresis on a variety of psychological parameters. However, only a minority of children with encopresis demonstrated clinically significant elevations in these parameters. Identification and treatment of such clinical issues may enhance treatment efficacy.
Fabrication and operation of silicon field emission cathode arrays

The authors report on the operation and fabrication of a novel field emission structure based on an array of silicon-strip microcathodes. Using high-resolution electron-beam lithography, several highly selective anisotropic reactive ion etches, and high-temperature lateral thermal oxidation, strip-type cathodes have been fabricated. The cathode strip diameters range from 20 nm to 30 nm. The self-aligned anode is cantilevered typically less than 500 nm above the cathode. Arrays of 28, 25- mu m-long strips have been tested. The I-V characteristics obey the Fowler-Nordheim theory. Array currents are detected at 4 V and reach a maximum value of 274.3 mu A at 15.5 V. The maximum array current density is 2.0 A/cm/sup 2/. The measured diode conductance is 64.3 mu S. >
DISTINCT CELL SURFACE LIGANDS MEDIATE T LYMPHOCYTE ATTACHMENT AND ROLLING ON P AND E SELECTIN UNDER PHYSIOLOGICAL FLOW

Memory T lymphocytes extravasate at sites of inflammation, but the mechanisms employed by these cells to initiate contact and tethering with endothelium are incompletely understood. An important part of leukocyte extravasation is the initiation of rolling adhesions on endothelial selectins; such events have been studied in monocytes and neutrophils but not lymphocytes. In this study, the potential of T lymphocytes to adhere and roll on endothelial selectins in vitro was investigated. We demonstrate that T cells can form tethers and rolling adhesions on P selectin and E selectin under physiologic flow conditions. Tethering and rolling on P selectin was independent of cell-surface cutaneous lymphocyte antigen (CLA) expression, which correlated strictly with the capacity of T cells to form rolling adhesions under flow on E selectin. T cell tethering to P selectin was abolished by selective removal of cell surface sialomucins by a P. haemolytica O-glycoprotease, while cutaneous lymphocyte antigen expression was unaffected. A sialomucin molecule identical or closely related to P selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1), the major P selectin ligand on neutrophils and HL-60 cells, appears to be a major T cell ligand for P selectin. P selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 does not appear to support T cell rolling on E selectin. In turn, E selectin ligands do not appear to be associated with sialomucins. These data demonstrate the presence of structurally distinct ligands for P or E selectins on T cells, provide evidence that both ligands can be coexpressed on a single T cell, and mediate tethering and rolling on the respective selectins in a mutually exclusive fashion.
“NEW” STRUCTURAL POVERTY?

Proponents of the new structural poverty thesis contend that “overly generous” meanstested transfer payments increase poverty by encouraging female headship and welfare dependency. Skeptics of this...
Amperometric sensing of hydrogen peroxide vapor for security screening

Rapid detection of the hydrogen peroxide precursor of peroxide explosives is required in numerous security screening applications. We describe a highly sensitive and selective amperometric detection of hydrogen peroxide vapor at an agarose-coated Prussian-blue (PB) modified thick-film carbon transducer. The sensor responds rapidly and reversibly to dynamic changes in the level of the peroxide vapor, with no apparent carry over and with a detection limit of 6 ppbv. The remarkable selectivity of the PB-based screen-printed electrode towards hydrogen peroxide leads to effective discrimination against common beverage samples. For example, blind tests have demonstrated the ability to selectively and non-invasively identify concealed hydrogen peroxide in drinking cups and bottles. The attractive performance of the new microfabricated PB-based amperometric peroxide vapor sensor indicates great potential for addressing a wide range of security screening and surveillance applications.
Legal geographies of e-waste legislation in Canada and the US: Jurisdiction, responsibility and the taboo of production

Abstract Electronic waste (e-waste) is thought to be the fastest growing segment of the overall solid waste stream in many countries. Between 2003 and 2010 more than half of all Canadian provinces and US states passed legislation specifically to govern the disposition of e-waste. The purpose of this research is to investigate the legal geographies of this legislation. The principle findings are that the work of jurisdiction around e-waste in Canada and the US places financial responsibility for waste management on consumers not producers. Thus, contra the explicit intent of e-waste legislation, a regime of extended consumer, rather than producer, responsibility is emerging and waste generated as a result of design and manufacturing decisions remains taboo. But the implications of the legislative governance of e-waste go beyond questions of regulatory success or failure. At stake in the legislative governance of e-waste is the assembling of the social in a legal way that generates distributions of action that are democratized only so long as they limit public decision making to waste already produced and marketized only so long as they extend the ability of manufacturers, e-waste recyclers, and paramarket organizations to appropriate value. The work of jurisdiction around e-waste suggests jurisdiction can be more multiple, distributed, and patchy than prevailing theory allows.
Inversin modulates the cortical actin network during mitosis.

Mutations in inversin cause nephronophthisis type II, an autosomal recessive form of polycystic kidney disease associated with situs inversus, dilatation, and kidney cyst formation. Since cyst form...
Writing by methylation proposed for aqueous computing

The general concept of aqueous computing calls for molecules to be used as tablets on which bits can be written by physical or chemical procedures. Recently DNA plasmids have been written on successfully by using restriction enzymes and a ligase. Reading has been done from a single gel separation. Here we suggest writing on DNA molecules using methylating enzymes. A provisional reading procedure is suggested that uses interleaved sequences of cuts and gel separations.
Excellent Outcome of Immunomodulation or Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase Inhibition in Highly Refractory Primary Cutaneous Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma, Leg Type:

Primary cutaneous diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, leg type (PCDLBCL-LT) is a rare diffuse large B-cell lymphoma confined to the skin of the legs. The typical presentation is characterized by solitary or multiple growing plaques, usually confined to one leg. We report a case of PCDLBCL-LT of activated B-cell subtype characterized by multiple local relapses in the legs, initially, and systemic relapses about seven years after the diagnosis. Local relapses were sensitive to radiation therapy. Cutaneous and systemic relapses responded well to immunomodulatory therapy with lenalidomide followed by Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibition with ibrutinib. Ibrutinib is the only treatment that resulted in long-lasting complete remission. Lenalidomide and especially ibrutinib appear to have a significant activity against this lymphoma and should be incorporated in the treatment of this resistant and aggressive lymphoma. To our knowledge, this is the first case of PCDLBCL-LT reported in the literature exhibiting a complete response to ibrutinib.
Ineffective Esophageal Motility (IEM): the Old-New Frontier in Esophagology

Ineffective esophageal motility (IEM) is characterized by distal esophageal contraction amplitude of <30 mmHg on conventional manometry (Blonski et al. Am J Gastroenterol. 103(3):699–704, 2008), or a distal contractile integral (DCI) < 450 mmHg*s*cm on high-resolution manometry (HRM) (Kahrilas et al. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 27(2):160–74, 2015) in≥50 % of test swallows. IEM is the most common abnormality on esophageal manometry, with an estimated prevalence of 20-30 % (Tutuian and Castell Am J Gastroenterol. 99(6):1011–9, 2004; Conchillo et al. Am J Gastroenterol. 100(12):2624–32, 2005). Non-obstructive dysphagia has been considered to be frequently associated with severe esophageal peristaltic dysfunction. Defective bolus transit (DBT) on multichannel intraluminal impedance testing was found in more than half of IEM patients who presented with dysphagia (Tutuian and Castell Am J Gastroenterol. 99(6):1011–9, 2004), highlighting the functional defect of this manometric finding. Treatment of IEM has been challenging because of lack of promotility agents that have a definite effect on esophageal function.
Clergy: a partner in rural mental health?

Recent trends in rural mental health demonstrate increasing utilization of religious clergy for mental health service delivery. Services provided by clergy are an attractive solution to many of the barriers to rural mental health, such as the lack of accessibility, availability, and anonymity associated with services in rural areas. The religious orientation is another factor that influences the appeal to seek services for a mental health related problem from a clergy member in place of a mental health professional. Perceptions of mental health professionals, fear of judgment, and desire to incorporate religion into the therapeutic process have contributed to the demand on clergy to provide increasing amounts of therapy. Clergy report feeling inadequate and lacking in the skills needed to delivery therapy and appropriate services for mental health related issues. Collaboration between clergy and mental health professionals' may begin to bridge the gap between the two professions while insuring that the best possible services are delivered. Language: en
Fluoxetine Is Ineffective for Treatment of Cocaine Dependence or Concurrent Opiate and Cocaine Dependence: Two Placebo-controlled, Double-blind Trials

Cocaine dependence has proved difficult to treat, whether occurring alone or in combination with opiate dependence. No medication has been demonstrated to be uniquely effective. Fluoxetine was examined as a candidate in two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials, one with cocaine-dependent patients (study 1) and the other with patients both cocaine and opiate dependent (study 2). It was selected for known specific action, antidepressant effects, minimum side effects, and data showing reduced cocaine effect and self-administration. Clinic visit frequency requirement, a variable with implications for treatment and cost, was also examined in study 1. A total of 228 patients in study 1 and 21 patients in study 2 completed consent and intake procedures. Patients with serious medical or DSM-III-R diagnoses other than cocaine dependence (study 1) or opiate and cocaine dependence (study 2) were excluded. Study 1 patients were assigned to one of two visit frequency schedules (2 or 5 days/week) and one of three medication doses (0, 20, or 40 mg of fluoxetine/day). Study 2 patients received placebo or 20 mg of fluoxetine and 65 to 80 mg of methadone and attended the clinic 5 days/week. All patients participated in individual therapy sessions. Urine screens were conducted twice weekly. A fluoxetine dose response relationship emerged in study 1 for retention with groups from best to worst being placebo, 20 mg, and 40 mg. Dose effect order was the same for both visit conditions. Cocaine use persisted in all groups. The two visits/week condition was correlated with better retention than the five visits/week condition. A significant interaction emerged between intake urine and visit frequency; patients with benzoylecognine screens at intake used cocaine significantly less in the 5 days/week condition, while exhibiting no reduction in the 2 days/week condition. Patients cocaine positive at intake were better retained with infrequent visits. In study 2, a transient reduction in benzoylecognine-positive drug screens emerged for the fluoxetine group. These complementary studies demonstrate that fluoxetine is ineffective in reducing cocaine use or craving. Study 1 also points to setting conditions modulating treatment outcome.
Bacillus anthracis Prolyl 4-Hydroxylase Modifies Collagen-like Substrates in Asymmetric Patterns

Proline hydroxylation is the most prevalent post-translational modification in collagen. The resulting product trans-4-hydroxyproline (Hyp) is of critical importance for the stability and thus function of collagen, with defects leading to several diseases. Prolyl 4-hydroxylases (P4Hs) are mononuclear non-heme iron α-ketoglutarate (αKG)-dependent dioxygenases that catalyze Hyp formation. Although animal and plant P4Hs target peptidyl proline, prokaryotes have been known to use free l-proline as a precursor to form Hyp. The P4H from Bacillus anthracis (BaP4H) has been postulated to act on peptidyl proline in collagen peptides, making it unusual within the bacterial clade, but its true physiological substrate remains enigmatic. Here we use mass spectrometry, fluorescence binding, x-ray crystallography, and docking experiments to confirm that BaP4H recognizes and acts on peptidyl substrates but not free l-proline, using elements characteristic of an Fe(II)/αKG-dependent dioxygenases. We further show that BaP4H can hydroxylate unique peptidyl proline sites in collagen-derived peptides with asymmetric hydroxylation patterns. The cofactor-bound crystal structures of BaP4H reveal active site conformational changes that define open and closed forms and mimic "ready" and "product-released" states of the enzyme in the catalytic cycle. These results help to clarify the role of BaP4H as well as provide broader insights into human collagen P4H and proteins with poly-l-proline type II helices.
Immunochemical Analysis of Histoplasmin Proteins and Polysaccharide

Histoplasmin is the supernatant fluid obtained after static cultivation of the mycelial form of Histoplasma capsulatum for 3 to 6 months at ambient temperature (22 to 25°C) on asparagine-glucose-glycerol-salts medium (Smith et al, 1948). Three types of histoplasmin exist — skin test reagents from the mycelial and yeast forms and serological histoplasmin. The method of preparing skin test histoplasmin was established long ago (Shaw et al, 1950) and single lots were used widely for many years. The skin test antigen was standardized by its ability to elicit a reproducible cutaneous hypersensitivity response in sensitized humans. The antigens in histoplasmin responsible for the skin test have been inferred but no direct structure-activity evidence exists, because monomolecular antigens have not been available. Recently, histoplasmin from yeast form cultures has been approved for human use as a skin test antigen (Scalarone et al, 1985). The bulk of accumulated information concerns mycelial histoplasmin and there are far fewer data about the characteristics of the yeast form product. For that reason, and because of space limitation, the following discussion applies primarily to mycelial histoplasmin.
On Signal De-noising Method of Airborne Inertial Sensors

To the problem that the output interference of airborne inertial sensors is a nonstationary and nonlinear signal,and the traditional methods of signal de-noising have localization and shortage,the character of inertial sensors output signal is analyzed.And the method of inertial sensors signal de-noising is presented based on local wave method.Inertial sensors signal de-noising is analyzed by local wave method and wavelet packet transform based on the real flight data.The result shows that both methods are effective to reduce the noise and extract the usable signal.Finally,the conclusion is given that local-wave decomposition to signal de-noising is feasible and actual.
Simulation Study of the Lifting Process Based on Fuzzy PID Control

The lifting system is a hydraulic integrated system with complex structure,which is time-varying load and easily influenced by the work environment,so it is difficult to deduce a precise mathematical model and conduct simulation with single software.The relationship between the load on the hydraulic cylinder and the lifting angle is derived,and the hydraulic system model is built with AMESim,and the fuzzy PID control algorithm is written in MATLAB/Simulink and the process of lifting is co-simulated with the comprehensive utilization of the advantages of the two software.The lifting process pressure,flow,lifting angle and hydraulic cylinder load curve are obtained.Through conventional PID and fuzzy PID control results it obtains that fuzzy PID control can shorten the adjustment time,reduce the steady-state error and improve control accuracy.
Effect of dietary calcium and phosphorus level sequences on performance, structural soundness and bone characteristics of growing-finishing swine.

The effects of feeding various dietary Ca:P level sequences on gain and feed efficiency, leg structural soundness and bone indices of growing-finishing swine were evaluated as an incomplete 3 X 3 factorial arrangement of treatments in a split-plot design. A total of 664 pigs were fed one of three total dietary Ca:P levels (.52:.40, .65:.50, .80:.60%) from 19-kg to 56-kg body weights followed by one of three Ca:P levels (.45:.32, .52:.40, .65:.50%) to market weight. The .80:.60% and .65:.50% Ca:P mineral sequence was not evaluated. Diets were formulated to 14.5% crude protein using a corn-soybean meal mixture with proportions of dicalcium phosphate and limestone altered to attain the desired dietary Ca:P levels. Maximum gains occurred at the .65:.50% and .52:.40% Ca:P level during the grower (P less than .01) and finisher (P less than .01) periods, respectively. No grower X finisher phase pig gain or feed intake interaction resulted, providing evidence of no carry-over response on these measurements from the grower to the finisher period. Serum P concentration increased and plateaued at the same dietary Ca:P level, as did rate of gain at both 56-kg and 95-kg body weights. Leg soundness subjectively evaluated at 56-kg and 95-kg body weights revealed no effect of dietary Ca:P level on soundness scores at 56 kg, but at 95-kg body weight, the interaction between grower and finisher diets was significant. Percentage bone ash of the humerus, shaft thickness and bending moment of the femur increased as dietary Ca:P level increased at both 56-kg and 95-kg body weights.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Effects of BDNF and NT-3 on development of Ia/motoneuron functional connectivity in neonatal rats.

Effects of BDNF and NT-3 on development of Ia/motoneuron functional connectivity in neonatal rats. The effects of neurotrophin administration and neurotrophin removal via administration of tyrosine...
Oxidation of Electron Donor-Substituted Verdazyls: Building Blocks for Molecular Switches

Species that can undergo changes in electronic configuration as a result of an external stimulus such as pH or solvent polarity can play an important role in sensors, conducting polymers, and molecular switches. One way to achieve such structures is to couple two redox-active fragments, where the redox activity of one of them is strongly dependent upon environment. We report on two new verdazyls, one subsituted with a di-tert-butyl phenol group and the other with a dimethylaminophenyl group, that have the potential for such behavior upon oxidation. Oxidation of both verdazyls with copper(II) triflate in acetonitrile gives diamagnetic verdazylium ions characterized by NMR and UV-vis spectroscopies. Deprotonation of the phenol-verdazylium results in electron transfer and a switch from a singlet state to a paramagnetic triplet diradical identified by electron spin resonance. The dimethylaminoverdazylium 9 has a diamagnetic ground state, in line with predictions from simple empirical methods and supported by density functional theory calculations. These results indicate that verdazyls may complement nitroxides as spin carriers in the design of organic molecular electronics.
The urologic office laboratory.

SUMMARY In this article, we have attempted to outline some of the technology available to the urologist for in-office laboratory testing. To what extent, if any, one chooses to incorporate this technology into one’s own practice depends on highly individual needs. When providing laboratory services to the patient, the urologist must also bear the responsibility for meeting the government regulations reviewed here. Above all, the physician is responsible to the patient to provide accurate, reproducible, and cost-efficient laboratory evaluation.
Culling associated with Neospora caninum infection in dairy cows.

Objectives To estimate the extent to which cows infected with Neospora caninum were culled, compared with noninfected cows, and to identify differences in reasons for culling between infected and noninfected cows. Animals 442 Holstein cows on a commercial dairy with 36% seroprevalence for N caninum. Procedure Culling of cows was done after first calving without knowledge of N caninum serologic status. Results Risk of a seropositive cow dying was not different from that of a seronegative cow (P = 0.50). Seropositive cows were culled 6.3 months earlier than seronegative cows, and had a 1.6 times greater risk of being culled, compared with seronegative cows (P = 0.004), after adjusting for culling risk associated with abortion. For cows culled for low milk production, culling risk for a seropositive cow was twice that for a seronegative cow (P = 0.007). Conclusions The economic impact of N caninum infection in dairy cattle can be expected to extend beyond that for abortion alone. Costs of the disease also may include premature culling and diminished milk production. Clinical relevance Plans to control N caninum infection on dairies should include consideration that benefits may include reduction in premature culling and increase in milk production.
Core–shell rubbery fillers for massive electrical conductivity enhancement and toughening of polystyrene–graphene nanoplatelet composites

Graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) are an attractive additive for polymers to provide electrical conductivity to a composite. If the GNP surface and the polymer are incompatible, the interfaces are weak, resulting in a large drop in the flexural strength and toughness of the composite compared to the native polymer. In the present study, we show that adding core–shell rubbery (CSR) nanoparticles, that have a polyisobutadiene (PIB) core and a thin, polystyrene (PS) compatible shell, to a PS–GNP composite enhances the dispersion of the GNP and suppresses their restacking, increasing the electrical conductivity of the composite by several orders of magnitude. In addition, there is complete recovery of the flexural strength and a large increase in toughness compared to PS samples without fillers. The recovery of the mechanical properties is related to a uniform distribution of the CSR and good binding at the interfaces because of the compatibility of the filler surface with the PS matrix, as well as the rubbery nature of the PIB core. This strategy of using a second filler as both a toughening agent as well as a dispersion aid breaks a commonly encountered tradeoff between electrical and mechanical property enhancement by fillers. It can be deployed for applications where both a high electrical conductivity and excellent mechanical properties of polymer composites are desired.
Stability and pure shape equilibria for beacon-referenced cyclic pursuit

Cyclic pursuit systems provide a means to generate useful global behaviors in a collective of autonomous agents based on dyadic pursuit interactions between neighboring agents in a cycle graph. Here we consider a modified version of the cyclic pursuit framework in which a stationary beacon provides an additional reference for the agents in the system. Building on the framework proposed in our previous work, we derive necessary conditions for stability of circling equilibria in the n-agent system. Furthermore, we employ a change of variables to reveal the existence of a family of invariant manifolds related to spiral motions which maintain the formation shape up to geometric similarity.
Computing with dynamical systems in the post-CMOS era

In the pursuit for building hardware accelerators to compute optimization problems researchers realize that the challenges in achieving this objective lie not only in implementing the hardware but also in the formulating the computing fundamentals of such designs. Neural network algorithms are considered most suited for this task, as there is usually a direct description of distributed computing entities, called “neurons”, and their interactions which can be mapped to both electronic and non-electronic hardware. In this regard, coupled oscillator systems have been studied where individual oscillators correspond to neurons and the information is encoded in either phase or frequency. But as is the case with neural networks, the computational power of the network depends on complexity of interactions among oscillators, and it is a challenge to implement oscillator networks with complex simultaneous interactions among multiple oscillators. Sinusoidal oscillators with assumption of weak linear phase coupling, akin to Kumamoto models, have been studied in theory but implementing such oscillators with weak couplings and encoding information in phase or frequency have been a challenge. Examples of using novel devices for making neural network hardware include memristor based neuromorphic synapses [1] and spin-torque oscillator (STO) based systems [2]. In our work, we use relaxation oscillators coupled using passive elements — capacitances or resistances — without the assumption of weak linear phase couplings. Our theoretical models are derived from circuit implementations, instead of the other way round, which means there are only engineering challenges in implementing the hardware, and no modeling discrepancies. We have explored two kinds of implementations — (a) simple pairwise coupling scheme with information encoded as frequency for pattern matching and associative computing, and (b) complex global coupling with information encoded in phase for the NP-hard graph coloring problem. We have been demonstrated in theory, using simulations and experimental implementations using VO 2 devices, the working of such coupled relaxation oscillator networks.
A discussion of data center power challenges across the system

Data centers are fast-growing electricity consumers. Electric power system configurations and energy management opportunities are discussed across all levels of a data center, with emphasis on building distribution and dc conversion. Several strategies that enhance center energy efficiency are discussed. The general issues are related to energy and reliability needs of telecommunications power systems. It is shown that best-case scenarios based on emerging methods can achieve energy reductions approaching 30% for data centers.
NT-Pro Brain Natriuretic Peptide Levels and the Risk of Stroke and Death in the Cooperative Study of Sickle Cell Disease.

Abstract Abstract 1541 Poster Board I-564 Background Elevations in NT-proBNP levels are associated with hemolysis-associated pulmonary hypertension and mortality in adults with sickle cell disease. The association of this vasculopathy with the risk of stroke has not been explored. The Cooperative Study of Sickle Cell Disease (CSSCD) is the largest cohort of adult and pediatric patients with sickle cell disease with the longest median follow-up. Using stored plasma samples from patients enrolled in the CSSCD, we tested the hypothesis that adult patients with high levels of NT-proBNP would be at a high risk of death and stroke and that pediatric patients with a high BNP might be at a high risk of stroke. Methods A threshold NT-pro-BNP value previously identified to predict mortality in adults with sickle cell disease was used to determine the association between the risk of stroke and mortality in a cohort of 758 participants (pediatric cohort, n=428 and adult cohort, n=330) in the CSSCD. Results The prevalence of an abnormal NT-proBNP level ≥ 160 pg/ml was 27.6 % in patients in the adult CSSCD cohort. The prevalence of a NT-proBNP level ≥ 160 pg/ml was 27.4 % in the pediatric cohort, which is at least in part explained by known higher normal NT-proBNP levels in children, especially during the first year of life. The incidence of the development of a high NT-proBNP level in subjects with a normal baseline level was 6 % over a mean follow-up time of 5.9 years (incidence rate per 100-person years of 1.03) in the pediatric cohort and 16.5 % over a mean follow-up time of 1.9 years in the adult cohort (incidence rate per 100-person years of 8.59). In subjects with normal baseline levels, multivariate logistic regression analysis of clinical and laboratory factors associated with the development of a high NT-proBNP level included increasing age (OR 3.43, 95% CI 1.6-7.2, P = 0.001), low hemoglobin (OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.3-0.7, P Conclusions A high NT-proBNP level is a major risk factor for death in patients with sickle cell disease. These findings provide further support for a mechanistic link between hemolytic anemia and the development of cardiovascular complications in this patient population. Finally, we have identified a novel widely available biomarker of the risk of death and stroke in sickle cell disease. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Occurrence and Survival of Campylobacter jejuni in Milk and Turkey1

An enrichment procedure was used to determine the presence of Campylobacter jejuni in milk and ground turkey. This procedure consisted of subculturing a sample in antibiotic-supplemented brucella broth incubated at 37°C for 24 h, transferred to fresh broth, incubated microaerophilically at 42°C for 8 h and plated on agar medium selective for C. jejuni for detection. C. jejuni was suspected in 9 of 50 samples of raw milk, but was not confirmed. The organism was not recovered from rectal swabs of cows. Storage of whole milk and ground turkey inoculated with C. jejuni at 4, 37 and 42°C resulted in decreases in C. jejuni counts in milk at 4 and 42°C; and increases in counts in ground turkey at 37 and 42°C. No survivors were detected when suspensions of the organism were exposed to 10 ppm chlorine for 30 s or three common commercial sanitizers used according to manufacturers' specifications.
Layer-by-Layer Anatomy of the Anterolateral Complex of the Knee

Injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament can be associated with anterolateral capsular injuries. Recently, these capsular tears have been suggested to play an important role in rotatory knee instability. A critical review of the anterolateral complex of the knee is necessary to clarify nomenclatures of same structures and the complex anatomy of anterolateral side of the knee. In addition to the lateral collateral ligament and the arcuate complex, the iliotibial band (ITB) is an important lateral structure. It consists of different layers, namely, the superficial, middle, deep, and capsulo-osseous layers. Further, in a subset of patients, a capsular thickening, that is, the mid-third capsular ligament can be observed. Biomechanically, the functional unit of the ITB with its deeper layers between the firm attachment on the distal lateral femoral metaphysis (Kaplan fibers) and Gerdy tubercle was shown to contribute the most to resist internal tibial rotation. Therefore, the ITB and its deeper layers as well as the mid-third capsular ligament should be referred to collectively as the anterolateral complex.
Structure-based inhibitors of tau aggregation

Aggregated tau protein is associated with over 20 neurological disorders, which include Alzheimer's disease. Previous work has shown that tau's sequence segments VQIINK and VQIVYK drive its aggregation, but inhibitors based on the structure of the VQIVYK segment only partially inhibit full-length tau aggregation and are ineffective at inhibiting seeding by full-length fibrils. Here we show that the VQIINK segment is the more powerful driver of tau aggregation. Two structures of this segment determined by the cryo-electron microscopy method micro-electron diffraction explain its dominant influence on tau aggregation. Of practical significance, the structures lead to the design of inhibitors that not only inhibit tau aggregation but also inhibit the ability of exogenous full-length tau fibrils to seed intracellular tau in HEK293 biosensor cells into amyloid. We also raise the possibility that the two VQIINK structures represent amyloid polymorphs of tau that may account for a subset of prion-like strains of tau.
SiC power device design and fabrication, and insertion in novel MV power converters

• The U.S Department of Energy launched the PowerAmerica Institute under the initiative of “National Network of Manufacturing Institutes (NNMI)” to Accelerate Adoption Wide Band Gap (WBG) power devices • PowerAmerica started operations in 2015 with $140M funds over 5 years, and is managed by North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC USA • PowerAmerica addresses gaps in technology to enable manufacturing that contributes to its mission of realizing manufacturing jobs creation and energy savings through accelerated large-scale adoption of WBG semiconductor devices in power electronic systems.
Is evolution predictable

Forty years ago, Anderson ( 1 , 2 ) and Poole ( 3 , 4 ) debated the value of predictive models for understanding population dynamics in a temporally varying environment. Poole argued that he could predict the future with high confidence if he had a good record of the past. Anderson ( 1 ) expressed doubts. He pointed out that long-term predictions will hold only if past conditions persist into the future. He also argued that although sophisticated statistical models may be able to predict the future, they do not tell us why they succeed or, more pointedly, why they fail. Without deep biological understanding of the system under study, predictive models are not likely to offer much insight into either the past or future. On page 765 of this issue, Nosil et al. ( 5 ) apply the same scrutiny to evolution.
Manufacturing Environmental Laws, Directives, and Challenges

Publisher Summary This chapter examines current and pending environmental legislative initiatives and discusses the impacts, challenges, and risks to be considered by designers, manufactures, and companies. Environmental initiatives propose to limit or eliminate heavy metals and other environmental pollutants used in the manufacture of various types of electronic and electric equipment that have been linked to lasting environmental impacts and human health effects. The effort by the stakeholders requires the production of goods that are environmentally friendly. This is not a one-time effort, but an ongoing set of activities. The rapid change in fiber-optic technology and manufacturing processes has been motivated to a large extent by the emergence of new worldwide environmental governmental laws and legislative directives. Restriction of hazardous substances (RoHS) is a European Union directive that aims to restrict certain dangerous substances commonly used in electrical, electronic components, and electronic equipment. Environment requirement compliance and business impacts are also discussed.
The Shared Experience and Self-Disclosure

In a chapter prepared for a book I had previously coedited (1982) I wrote about an approach to psychoanalytic psychotherapy that was referred to as “the shared experience.” It was my belief then, as it continues to be now, that when patients present themselves for psychotherapy they are looking for a solution to loneliness or, more specifically, a “cure” for a lack of intimacy.
Isolation of QP-C and reconstitution of the QH2-c reductase.

Abstract A ubiquinone protein, QP-C, which acts in the cytochrome b - c 1 region has been solubilized. The isolated QP-C shows one band of molecular weight 15,000 in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate and isoelectric focusing at the isoelectric point of pH 3.6. QP-C reconstitutes with the QP-C deficient b - c 1 complex to restore the OH2-cytochrome c activity and recover the EPR signal of the complex.
Infrared Spectroscopy: A State of the Art Report

Due to the complementary nature of infrared and Raman spectroscopy for studying the vibrational and rotational energies of molecules, it is interesting to compare the two techniques in terms of sample handling, instrumentation, and applications. This information, which is listed in Table 1, is taken from an article written by H. J. Sloan [1] and represents state-of-the-art commercial Raman instrumentation and its dispersive infrared counterparts as of ten years ago. Of course, much of this information must now be modified in light of the recent innovations in both Raman and infrared spectroscopy, and, in particular, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The recent marketing of a table-top Fourier transform infrared spectrometer by Nicolet Instruments, Inc., with a pricetag competitive with the computerized grating instruments available, establishes Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy as the state-of-the-art technique for the applied chemist who does a variety of sophisticated research. In this chapter, we will attempt to summarize the state-of-the-art of infrared spectroscopy at the present time in terms of instrumentation, applications and techniques.
Historical Development and Present Status of Aluminum–Lithium Alloys

This chapter provides a brief overview and history of the development of aluminium-lithium alloys from the earlier days of the discovery of age hardening by Alfred Wilm to its current status. It examines the progress of alloy development from simple binary alloys to the complex alloys that are currently used in aerospace systems. The driving force for this development has been the advantages gained by weight reduction of aerospace systems by replacing conventional aluminium alloys with the lower density higher modulus aluminium-lithium alloys. The problems associated with the development of these alloys and the scientific solutions to solving these problems are described.
Quality Assessment and Restoration of Face Images in Long Range/High Zoom Video

Most existing face related research is restricted to close range applications with low and constant system magnifications (camera zoom). To improve the performance of face recognition algorithms in wide area surveillance applications, we initiate a study regarding the effects of increased system magnifications and observation distances on face recognition rates (FRR). We first describe a new face video database including still face images and video sequences from long distances (indoor: 10m-20m and outdoor: 50m-300m). The corresponding system magnification is elevated from less than 3× to 20× for indoor and up to 375× for outdoor. Deteriorations unique to high magnification and long range face images are investigated. Magnification blur proves to be a major degradation source for face recognition and is addressed via blur assessment and deblurring algorithms. Experimental results validate a relative improvement of up to 26% in FRR after assessment and restoration of high magnification face images.