cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transfection of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum with In Vitro Transcripts of a Naturally Occurring Interspecific Recombinant of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Hypovirus 2 Significantly Reduces Virulence of the Fungus

ABSTRACT A recombinant strain of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum hypovirus 2 (SsHV2) was identified from a North American Sclerotinia sclerotiorum isolate (328) from lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) by high-throughput sequencing of total RNA. The 5′- and 3′-terminal regions of the genome were determined by rapid amplification of cDNA ends. The assembled nucleotide sequence was up to 92% identical to two recently reported SsHV2 strains but contained a deletion near its 5′ terminus of more than 1.2 kb relative to the other SsHV2 strains and an insertion of 524 nucleotides (nt) that was distantly related to Valsa ceratosperma hypovirus 1. This suggests that the new isolate is a heterologous recombinant of SsHV2 with a yet-uncharacterized hypovirus. We named the new strain Sclerotinia sclerotiorum hypovirus 2 Lactuca (SsHV2L) and deposited the sequence in GenBank with accession number KF898354. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum isolate 328 was coinfected with a strain of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum endornavirus 1 and was debilitated compared to cultures of the same isolate that had been cured of virus infection by cycloheximide treatment and hyphal tipping. To determine whether SsHV2L alone could induce hypovirulence in S. sclerotiorum, a full-length cDNA of the 14,538-nt viral genome was cloned. Transcripts corresponding to the viral RNA were synthesized in vitro and transfected into a virus-free isolate of S. sclerotiorum, DK3. Isolate DK3 transfected with SsHV2L was hypovirulent on soybean and lettuce and exhibited delayed maturation of sclerotia relative to virus-free DK3, completing Koch9s postulates for the association of hypovirulence with SsHV2L. IMPORTANCE A cosmopolitan fungus, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum infects more than 400 plant species and causes a plant disease known as white mold that produces significant yield losses in major crops annually. Mycoviruses have been used successfully to reduce losses caused by fungal plant pathogens, but definitive relationships between hypovirus infections and hypovirulence in S. sclerotiorum were lacking. By establishing a cause-and-effect relationship between Sclerotinia sclerotiorum hypovirus Lactuca (SsHV2L) infection and the reduction in host virulence, we showed direct evidence that hypoviruses have the potential to reduce the severity of white mold disease. In addition to intraspecific recombination, this study showed that recent interspecific recombination is an important factor shaping viral genomes. The construction of an infectious clone of SsHV2L allows future exploration of the interactions between SsHV2L and S. sclerotiorum, a widespread fungal pathogen of plants.
Teacher Presentation Rate and Point Delivery Rate: Effects on Classroom Disruption,Performance Accuracy, and Response Rate

In a class of five disruptive students, the effects of teacher presentation rate of academic response opportunities and point delivery were assessed on classroom disruption, performance accuracy, and student response rate. Two levels of teacher presentation rate were paired with two point delivery rates resulting in four treatment conditions: high point rate/fast presentation; high point rate/slow presentation; low point rate/fast presentation; low point rate/ slow presentation. Using a multielement design, it was demonstrated that the fast presentation rate was associated with significantly less disruptive behavior than the slow presentation rate. Point delivery had little effect. For some subjects the slow presentation rate was associated with higher student performance accuracy, although the fast presentation rate produced high overall rates of correct performance.
Childhood Aggression and Chronic Illness: Possible Protective Mechanisms

This study evaluated the development of children with severe chronic illness and matched comparison peers (COMPs) who were not chronically ill over a 2-year period. Differences between children with chronic illness and COMPs in the levels of aggression in the classroom and at home were examined. Additionally, the impact of childhood chronic illness, related biological variables, and parental monitoring on aggression were evaluated, controlling for potentially influential background characteristics (e.g., socioeconomic status) and difficult temperament. Results indicated that children with chronic conditions were perceived as less aggressive than COMPs by teachers and peers, whereas the mothers of children with chronic illness reported more aggressive behaviors than mothers of COMPs. In addition, fatigue, monitoring, and temperament had an impact on the level of aggression, and some support was obtained for monitoring as a moderator. Results indicated different perceptions of children with chronic illness in the classroom and at home. Disagreements over issues related to chronic illness (e.g., treatment compliance) could be responsible for the mothers' report of greater behavioral difficulties.
Trends in embryo transfer practices and multiple gestation for IVF procedures in the USA, 1996–2002

BACKGROUND Increasing use of IVF in the USA has been a major contributor to the rising national multiple birth rate. Many have advocated that reducing the number of embryos transferred is essential for addressing the IVF-associated multiple birth problem. METHODS A population-based sample of 506 072 IVF transfers performed in the USA in 1996-2002 was used to investigate trends in embryo transfer practices and to determine whether any changes in practice patterns have impacted the multiple gestation risk associated with IVF. RESULTS The proportion of procedures in which >or=3 embryos were transferred declined significantly for most patient groups between 1996 and 2002. However, declines for some groups were not sizeable (from 79 to 73% and from 76 to 71% for fresh, non-donor procedures among women aged 38-40 and 41-42 years respectively) and transferring >or=3 embryos remained the norm for all groups. As of 2002, single embryo transfer had not increased for most groups and remained uncommon. Some declines in overall multiple gestation rates were observed, although multiple gestation risk associated with 2 embryos transferred increased significantly for all groups. CONCLUSIONS Despite changes in embryo transfer practices, multiple gestation risk remains high, in part due to increased multiple gestation rates associated with the transfer of two embryos.
Bismarck on Austrian Parliamentarianism, 1867–1890

There is general agreement among historians that Otto von Bismarck never really approved of the principles of parliamentary government advocated by the nineteenth century progeny of the French Enlightenment, even though he could tolerate particular parliamentary institutions when he considered it practical to do so.1 Thus, while he looked upon political theorizing about natural laws of society and the natural rights of man—the philosophical bases of modern parliamentarianism—as futile efforts to oversimplify the complex nature of social and political organization and regarded revolutionary attempts to implement such rationalizations as sinful and arrogant intermeddling in the divinelyordained, hierarchical social order, he, nonetheless, rejected the rigidly legitimist anti-liberal concepts espoused by the post-1848 Metternichian reactionaries. While the latter called for a total repression of all revolutionary movements, Bismarck, perceiving the futility of sheer negativism, sought to capture revolutionary forces and enlist them in the service of the traditional ruling circle wherever it was possible to do so.
Pathophysiology and Diseases of the Proximal Pathways of the Biliary System.

Context.— Diseases of the proximal pathways of the biliary system can be divided into those that affect the interlobular bile ducts and those that affect the bile canaliculi. The former include primary biliary cirrhosis, small-duct variant of primary sclerosing cholangitis, graft-versus-host disease, and drug-induced liver injury, whereas the latter include progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis, benign recurrent intrahepatic cholestasis, intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, and drug-induced liver injury. Objective.— To summarize the current state of knowledge of diseases of the proximal pathways of the biliary system, with special emphasis on clinical presentation, pathological features, and differential diagnosis. Data Sources.— Clinicopathological information was extracted from pertinent published literature. Conclusions.— Care of the patient with cholestasis hinges on identifying the etiology. Diagnostic steps in cholestatic conditions comprise a thorough patient history, abdominal imaging, d...
Current concepts in the pathophysiology and treatment of aplastic anemia

Historically viewed in isolation as an odd, rare, and invariably fatal blood disease, aplastic anemia is now of substantial interest for its immune pathophysiology, its relationship to constitutional BM failure syndromes and leukemia, and the success of both stem cell transplantation and immunosuppressive therapies in dramatically improving survival of patients. Once relegated to a few presentations in the red cell and anemia sessions of the ASH, the Society now sponsors multiple simultaneous sessions and plenary and scientific committee presentations on these topics. This update emphasizes developments in our understanding of immune mechanisms and hematopoietic stem cell biology and new clinical approaches to stem cell stimulation as a therapy, alone and in combination with conventional suppression of the aberrant immune system.
Risk factors for and impact of infection or colonization with aztreonam-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Objective To identify risk factors for infection or colonization with aztreonam-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and examine the impact of this organism on mortality. Design A case-control study was performed to identify risk factors for infection or colonization with aztreonam-resistant P. aeruginosa. A cohort study was subsequently performed to examine the impact of aztreonam resistance on outcomes. Setting A tertiary referral center in southeastern Pennsylvania.Participants. Inpatients with a clinical culture positive for P. aeruginosa between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2000. Results Of 720 P. aeruginosa. isolates, 183 (25.4%) were aztreonam-resistant and 537 (74.6%) were aztreonam susceptible. In a multivariable model, prior fluoroquinolone use (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.81 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.17-2.80]), prior use of an antianaerobic agent (aOR, 1.56 [95% CI, 1.06-2.29]), and renal insufficiency (aOR, 1.59 [95% CI, 1.10-2.29]) were associated with infection or colonization with aztreonam-resistant P. aeruginosa, while older age (aOR, 0.98 [95% CI, 0.97-0.99] per year of age) was negatively associated with infection or colonization with this organism. In-hospital mortality was higher among subjects infected or colonized with aztreonam-resistant P. aeruginosa, compared with those who were infected or colonized with aztreonam-susceptible P. aeruginosa (25.7% vs 16.8%; P=.009), but in multivariable analysis, no significant association was found between infection or colonization with aztreonam-resistant P. aeruginosa and mortality. Conclusions Curbing the use of fluoroquinolones and antimicrobials with antianaerobic activity may be an effective strategy to limit the emergence of aztreonam-resistant P. aeruginosa.
Performance-Based Rewards and Work Stress

Even though reward systems play a central role in the management of organizations, their impact on stress and the well-being of workers is not well understood. We review the literature linking performance-based reward systems to various indicators of employee stress and well-being. Well-controlled experiments in field settings suggest that certain types of performance-based reward systems, such as piece rate pay, cause increases in psychological and physiological stress. Such findings are mirrored in nonexperimental studies as well, but the causal mechanisms for such effects are not well understood. We argue that reward systems generally deserve much more attention in the work stress literature, and identify several mediating and moderating variables worthy of study.
Magnetic resonance imaging-based treatment planning for prostate cancer: Use of population average tissue densities within the irradiated volume to improve plan accuracy.

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using population average tissue densities within the irradiated volume to improve the dosimetric accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging–based treatment plans for prostate cancer. Methods and materials Computed tomography images and radiation therapy treatment plans from 20 patients with prostate cancer were reviewed retrospectively. Patient anatomy was segmented into fat, nonfat soft tissue, and bone. Population average tissue densities within the irradiated volume were obtained. Two bulk density override plans were generated using the tissue densities reported in International Commission on Radiation Units & Measurements Report 46 and those obtained in this study, respectively. Both plans were compared to the clinically approved computed tomography-based plan to assess dosimetric accuracy. Results The population average tissue densities within the irradiated volume obtained in this study were found to be different from those reported in International Commission on Radiation Units & Measurements Report 46. Use of the population average tissue densities within the irradiated volume reduced dosimetric errors for all dose metrics, for example, V100 (percentage of prostate volume receiving 100% of the prescription dose; 0.32% vs 1.73%), D95 (dose covering 95% of the target volume; 0.32% vs 0.92%), D50 (dose covering 50% of the target volume; 0.30% vs 0.89%), and maximum dose to bladder (0.37% vs 0.78%), rectum (0.35% vs 0.95%), and penile bulb (0.23% vs 0.49%). All improvements were statistically significant. Conclusions Use of population average tissue densities within the irradiated volume by the density override technique can improve the dosimetric accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging-based treatment plans for prostate cancer.
Microfabricated cantilevers for measurement of subcellular and molecular forces

We present two new microfabricated cantilever-beam force transducers. The transducers were fabricated from thin silicon-nitride films, and were used respectively to measure forces generated by two small-muscle preparations: the single myofibril, and the single actin filament in contact with a myosin-coated surface. A simple resonance method was developed to characterize the transducers. Because of the high reproducibility of lever dimensions and the consistency of the modulus of elasticity, few calibration measurements sufficed to characterize the stiffness of all the levers on a single wafer.
Asymmetric Crying Facies in the 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome Implications for Future Screening

Objective. Asymmetric crying facies (ACF) is congenital hypoplasia of the depressor anguli oris muscle characterized by asymmetry of lower lip depression during crying. This has an overall incidence of 0.6%. This study determines the incidence of ACF in a large population of patients with 22q11.2 deletion. Patients and Methods. A retrospective review of medical records on patients with a confirmed 22q11.2 deletion was undertaken. Results. A total of 836 records were reviewed. Of these, 117 (14%) were noted to have ACF on physical examination. Within this latter group, palatal anomalies were common (77%), as was congenital heart disease (78%); however, these numbers did not differ significantly from their known prevalence in the 22q11.2 population. Conclusions. We report a 14% incidence of ACF in patients with a 22q11.2 deletion, significantly higher than in the general population. We suggest, therefore, that newborns with ACF be referred for further screening for the 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.
Some geometric questions in the theory of linear systems

In this paper we discuss certain geometrical aspects of linear systems which, even though they arise in the case of single input-single output systems, do not seem to have been explicitly recognized and studied before. We show, among other things, that the set of minimal, single input-single output, linear systems of degree n , when topologized in the obvious way, consists of n + 1 connected components. The Cauchy index (equivalently, the signature of the Hankel matrix) characterizes the components and the geometry of each component is investigated. We also study the effect of various constraints such as asking that the system be stable or minimum phase.
Evolving stability in bipedal robotic systems

In order for a bipedal robotic system to interact with its environment it must be able to have stability. And because an environment can be composed of different types of terrain and surfaces, adaptation must be part of system behavior. Many current bipedal systems (e.g. Honda's P3 and Asimo or Sony's) utilize high torque custom designed servos and/or control systems to handle specific terrain (flat surfaces). What remains to be seen is how well these bipedal systems respond to terrain that isn't well defined. A robust stable system will be free of behavior that could cause damage to the system such as can occur in a fall. This thesis proposal proposes this. In order to have a completely stable system, a biped robot must be able to adapt to its environments terrain in real time and have the ability to employ corrective behavior in the event of an occurrence of instability.
Developmentally Disabled Infants Can Be Hard to Trace

The purpose of this study was to determine how well the existing medical care system in a large geographic region communicates about and keeps track of the developmental problems of infants receiving tertiary inpatient care. Two hundred thirty-seven infants hospitalized in the first months of life were tracked, using a postal questionnaire at a mean age of 20 months. A discharge summary was present in 98 percent of charts, and a follow-up physician was identified in 95%. Questionnaires were returned by 116 physicians about 182 infants (77%). Seventy-one physicians had received a discharge summary. Current developmental information was obtained for 111 infants: 44 normal, 52 with known disabilities, and 15 with developmental delays. One hundred twenty-six infants could not be located at the time of the study. We conclude that many infants likely to have major disabilities are hard to track using simple retrospective techniques.
Required number of corn and soybean plants sampled necessary to determine the elemental content of their leaves at specific accuracy and confidence levels

Abstract A maximum crop yield depends upon a balanced supply of the 16 essential elements throughout the growth cycle. Achieving this balance can often be achieved by plant analysis guided fertilizer treatments. Sampling is the first step when conducting a plant analysis. An extensive survey of the literature revealed a lack of published research that statistically determined what number of plants must be sampled in order to obtain a representative sample. In our study, we utilized three field research sites in South Dakota, two locations planted to soybean (Glycine max L.) [Experiments 1 and 2] and the other to corn (Zea mays L.) [Experiment 3]. Ninety six plants were sampled at each site, collecting leaf tissue. After the leaf samples were collected, dried, and ground, they were analyzed for their N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Mn, and Zn content. Stein's equation, n = t2s2/d2, was used to estimate the number of plants required to be sampled in order to obtain a given level of precision and accuracy for each eleme...
Birth-Weight-Specific Infant and Neonatal Mortality: Effects of Heterogeneity in the Birth Cohort

Birth-weight-specific infant mortality is examined using a novel statistical procedure, parametric mixtures of logistic regressions. The results indicate that birth cohorts are composed of two or more subpopulations that are heterogeneous with respect to infant mortality. One subpopulation appears to account for the "normal" process of fetal development, while the other, which accounts for the majority of births at both low and high birth weights, may represent fetuses that were "disturbed" during development. Surprisingly, estimates of neonatal and infant mortality indicate that the "disturbed" subpopulation has lower birth-weight-specific mortality, although overall crude mortality rates are higher for this subpopulation. It is hypothesized that this is due to high rates of fetal loss among the "disturbed" subpopulation, resulting in a highly selected group at birth. The heterogeneity identified in the birth cohort could be responsible for recent decelerations in the decline in infant mortality, and might be the cause of unexplained ethnic differences in birth-weight-specific infant mortality. The novel statistical methodology developed here has broad application within human biology. In particular, it could be used in any context where parametric mixture modeling is applied, such as complex segregation analysis.
Improving Surveillance and Prevention of Surgical Site Infection in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery

Background Postoperative cardiovascular surgical site infections are preventable events that may lead to increased morbidity, mortality, and health care costs. Objective To improve surgical wound surveillance and reduce the incidence of surgical site infections. Methods An institutional review of surgical site infections led to implementation of 8 surveillance and process measures: appropriate preparation the night before surgery and the day of surgery, use of appropriate preparation solution in the operating room, appropriate timing of preoperative antibiotic administration, placement of a photograph of the surgical site in the patient's chart at discharge, sending a photograph of the surgical site to the patient's primary care physician, 30-day follow-up of the surgical site by an advanced nurse practitioner, and placing a photograph of the surgical site obtained on postoperative day 30 in the patient's chart. Results Mean overall compliance with the 8 measures from March 2013 through February 2014 was 88%. Infections occurred in 10 of 417 total operative cases (2%) in 2012, in 8 of 437 total operative cases (2%) in 2013, and in 7 of 452 total operative cases (1.5%) in 2014. Conclusions Institution of the surveillance process has resulted in improved identification of suspected surgical site infections via direct rather than indirect measures, accurate identification of all surgical site infections based on definitions of the National Healthcare Safety Network, collaboration with all persons involved, and enhanced communication with patients' family members and referring physicians.
Assyrian Government of Dependencies

The labor member of the Belgian ministry, M. van der Velde, has drawn a parallel between the Assyrian methods of deportation and those practiced by the Germans. An orientalist has developed this theme with chapter and verse citation. Whatever our sympathies in this present world catastrophe and however close we find the analogy, the episode has undoubtedly excited a certain amount of curiosity as to the methods used by the Assyrians in the government of their dependencies. To the more scientific student there must be great interest in a system which furnished the model to the Persians, to the Hellenistic rulers, to the Romans, and so to the modern systems of provincial government. As in so many other phases of their civilization, the Assyrians built upon Babylonian foundations, and, as in so many other cases, the Assyrians profoundly modified what they took over. In truth, the Babylonian foundation was comparatively slight. At the beginning of Babylonian history we have the completely independent city state. As one conquered the other, there was no attempt at incorporation, and the patesi, who as vice regent of god on earth ruled the dependent state, was permitted complete autonomy, subject only to the payment of a small tribute and to certain acts which acknowledged foreign suzerainty.
A comparison of porphyrin synthesis in certain tissues from normal and anemic dogs: some observations on the in vivo control of porphyrinogenesis.

SummaryThe ability of certain tissues from anemic dogs to form copro- and protoporphyrins from glycine and acetate or from delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) has been compared with that of tissues from normal control dogs. None of the tissues studied formed porphyrins from glycine and acetate. However, tissues from normal dogs formed porphyrins from ALA, and in decreasing order of activity, liver, spleen, kidney, and heart. The tissues from the phenylhydrazine-treated dogs showed significantly less copro- and protoporphyrin formation than did those of the control dogs. Porphyrin synthesis in the spleen was especially decreased. In contrast, all tissues from the group made anemic by bleeding showed increased porphyrinogenesis as compared with the controls. The same results were obtained in dogs similarly treated but administered added iron. It is suggested that the decrease of porphyrin biosynthesis observed in the tissues from the phenylhy-drazine-treated dogs may result from an in vivo “feedback” inhibition...
Safety by Nature: Potential Bacteriophage Applications

Bacteriophages, viruses that kill bacteria, are likely the oldest and most ubiquitous organisms on Earth. They date back 3 billion years, and their numbers range from 1030-1032. In their predator-prey relationship with bacteria, phages play a key role in maintaining balances in every ecosystem where bacteria exist.
ERYTHROPOIESIS AND DELTA-AMINOLEVULINIC ACID DEHYDRASE ACTIVITY.

SummaryThe delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydrase activity of rat and mouse spleen, bone marrow and liver fractions and homo-genates was determined. Spleen ALA dehydrase specific activity of normal, polycy-themic, and anemic rats was found to decrease exponentially with the increase in hematocrit of the animal. However, sheep plasma erythropoietin, incubated with the tissue fractions and homogenates, did not directly produce an increase in enzyme activity over that of the controls.
Neglected Rupture of the Achilles Tendon

Delayed treatment of a rupture of the Achilles tendon is a challenge. Operative treatment is generally recommended, with a variety of techniques being described to appose the tendinous ends and augment the repair.
Instar determination and growth and feeding indices of the forest tent caterpillar, Malacosoma disstria (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae), reared on tupelo gum, Nyssa aquatica L.

Forest tent caterpillar, Malacosoma disstria Hubner, larvae were reared from eclosion to pupation on tupelo gum, Nyssa aquatica L., foliage in the laboratory. Instars were determined using both head capsule and frass measurements. Although others have reported six instars, we found five. Males generally consumed more foliage per day than females, but females took longer to develop and, consequently, consumed more total foliage. Relative consumption rate, relative growth rate, and approximate digestibility decreased from third to fifth instar. Efficiency of conversion of digested food increased except for the fifth instar. Efficiency of consumption of ingested food increased, then declined; but this was not unexpected.
Other Infectious Diarrhea in Sichuan Province From 2002 to 2011

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of reported other infectious diarrhea(other than cholera,dysentery,typhoid or paratyphoid) cases in Sichuan province from 2002 to 2011.Methods Descriptive statistics were applied to describe epidemiological characteristics of reported infectious diarrhea.Results The annual incidence of infectious diarrhea ranged from 35.25/ 105 to 59.21/105,with the autumn and winter as the peak seasons.A portion of 43.29% of total reported cases were children of no more than 5 years old.There were totally 23 outbreaks from 2004 to 2011.Conclusion Scattered children from 0 to 5 years old were the high risk group of infectious diarrhea.Most outbreaks occurred in rural area schools and village.
Control and Monitoring of Codling Moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in Walnut Orchards Treated With Novel High-Load, Low-Density "Meso" Dispensers of Sex Pheromone and Pear Ester.

Low-density per ha “meso” dispensers loaded with pear ester, ethyl ( E,Z )-2,4-decadienoate, kairomone and codlemone, ( E,E )-8,10-dodecadien-1-ol, pheromone of codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L)., were evaluated versus meso dispensers loaded with pheromone alone for mating disruption control in walnut orchards receiving no insecticide sprays. Meso dispensers loaded with codlemone alone (Ph meso) were applied at 50 ha−1 and compared with mesos combining codlemone and pear ester (Ph + PE meso) at 25 and 50 ha−1. Various lures containing pear ester (PE), Ph–PE combo, and an experimental codlemone plus ( E )-4,8-dimethyl-1,3,7-nonatriene lure were tested alone and with acetic acid (AA) lures for moth capture efficacy. Male moth capture in pheromone traps was significantly reduced by 88% in Ph meso plots and 96% in Ph + PE meso plots versus control plots. Moth capture in Ph–PE combo traps was significantly reduced for both sexes in all meso plots. Harvest damage by both the codling moth and the secondary pest, navel orangeworm, Amyelois transitella (Walker), was significantly lower in all meso treatment plots compared with damage in control plots. Nut injury level with the Ph + PE meso treatment (50 ha−1) was significantly lower than in Ph meso plots for both codling moth and combined pest injury. Regression analysis suggested that nut infestation levels by navel orangeworm were influenced by codling moth levels. In all meso plots, the most effective lures attracting both codling moth sexes were PE & AA or Ph–PE combo & AA. Demonstrated disruption and control efficacy of these pheromone plus PE-meso dispensers applied at low densities supports development of the meso dispenser tactic for practical pest management use in walnut orchards with inherent low planting densities.
Investment Liquidity and Valuation

Investors value the venture based on the risks and challenges they f oresee. The venture valuation depends on the likelihood of investor exit at the investor’s anticipated exit valuation. Investors would like to see a clear path to liquidity prior to investing in a venture. Successful investors are proactive in planning an exit strategy at the time of investment. Most investors are very good at conducting due diligence and managing their investments, but they are not so good at exiting their investments. A framework is presented to develop an investor exit plan, including selecting potential strategic acquirers and developing an investment t hesis for the acquirers that would then guide the venture development. Valuing a venture too high or too low may foreclose future financing options for the venture. Several venture valuation methods are presented, including the venture capital method, prior-round-plus method, milestone-based valuation method, valuation multiples method, risk-adjusted investor equity method, and simulation method. The simulation method determines the maximum investment available to a startup and the minimum percentage of equity required by the investor. The venture valuation may be based on the economic value of the startup’s intellectual property.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Spine in Oncology

Before MRI was widely available, myelography, postmyelographic CT, and bone scans were the mainstay of the evaluation of possible tumours of the spine. Recently, MRI has begun to replace these modalities in many clinical situations. Soon after its inception, MRI was found to be often superior to CT in its ability to detect, delineate, and characterize lesions in the spine [1]. This was true because of its greater sensitivity to pathologic conditions, its freedom from bony artifact, and the advantages of multiplanar capability. Because of these advantages, MRI rapidly became the procedure of choice for much of the evaluation of the spine. The recent addition of contrast agents has completed this trend [2–4). While MRI was previously criticized for lacking either sensitivity or specificity in certain disease processes, the application of gadopentetate dimeglumine, until recently known as gadolinium-DTPA, has significantly diminished this weakness. In this chapter, the uses of MRI in neuro-oncologic diagnosis in the spine will be described.
An Innovative, No-cost, Evidence-Based Smartphone Platform for Resident Evaluation

Purpose Timely performance evaluation and feedback are critical to resident development. However, formulating and delivering this information disrupts physician workflow, leading to low participation. This study was designed to determine if a locally developed smartphone platform would integrate regular evaluation into daily processes and thus increase faculty participation in timely resident evaluation. Methods Formal, documented resident operative and patient interaction evaluations were compiled over an 8-month study period. The study was divided into two 4-month phases. No changes to the existing evaluation methods were made during Phase 1. Phase 2 began after a washout period of 2 weeks and coincided with the launch of a smartphone-based platform. The platform uses a combination of Likert scale questions and the Dreyfus model of skill acquisition to describe competence levels in technical and nontechnical skills. The instrument inflicts minimal effect on surgeon workflow, with the aim of integrating resident evaluation into daily processes. The number of different faculty members performing evaluations, resident level (postgraduate year), type of interaction or procedure, and competency data were compiled. All evaluations were tracked by the program director as they were automatically uploaded into a database. Faculty members were introduced to the new platform at the beginning of Phase 2, and previous methods of evaluation continued to be encouraged and were considered valid throughout both phases of the study. Data were analyzed using Fisher exact test for specific PGY level, and chi-square test was used for overall program analysis. Statistical significance was set at p Results Total faculty engagement, that is, number of faculty members completing evaluations, increased from 13% (5/38) in Phase 1 to 53% (20/38) in Phase 2. During Phase 1, all evaluations consisted of online forms through the department’s established system or e-mails to the program director. Evaluations were completed in 0.9% (15/1599) of cases residents completed in Phase 1 versus 12% (217/1812) of those in Phase 2. During Phase 2, evaluations were conducted exclusively using the new platform. This was done based on participant’s choice. Total numbers of residents and core faculty members did not change between Phases 1 and 2. Conclusions A smartphone-based platform can be created with existing technology at no cost. It is adaptable and can be updated in real-time and can employ validated scales to build an evaluation portfolio for learners assessing technical and nontechnical skills. Furthermore, and perhaps most importantly, it can be designed to integrate into existing workflow patterns to increase faculty participation.
Electrochemically-controlled DNA Release under Physiological Conditions from a Monolayer-modified Electrode

An indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode prepared on a flexible polymeric support was modified with an amino-silane and then functionalized with trigonelline and 4-carboxyphenylboronic acid covalently bound to the amino groups. The trigonelline species containing quarterized ammonium group produced positive charge on the electrode surface regardless of the pH value, while the phenylboronic acid species were neutral below pH 8 and negatively charged above pH 9 (note that their pKa=8.4). The total charge on the monolayer-modified electrode was positive at the neutral pH and negative at pH>9 (note that 4-carboxyphenylboronic acid was attached to the electrode surface in excess to trigonelline, thus allowing the negative charge to dominate on the electrode surface at basic pH). Single-stranded DNA molecules were loaded on the modified electrode at pH 7.0 due to their electrostatic attraction to the positively charged surface. By applying electrolysis at −1.0 V (vs. Ag/AgCl reference) electrochemical oxygen reduction resulted in the consumption of hydrogen ions and local pH increase in the vicinity of the electrode surface. The process resulted in the transition to the total negative charge due to the negative charges formed on the phenylboronic acid species. This resulted in the electrostatic repulsion and release of the loaded DNA. The developed approach allowed the electrochemically-triggered DNA release not only in the aqueous solutions, but also in human serum solution, thus giving promise for future biomedical applications.
On the flexural stiffness of 3D printer thermoplastic

This paper describes the process of estimating Young’s modulus for the thermoplastic material commonly used in a type of 3D printer. Its twin goals are to compare and contrast a number of simple te...
Space Resection Problems in Photogrammetry

The paper gives a solution of the resection problem in space to find the position of a camera station and to obtain orientation data for a vertical photograph with a small amount of tilt by applyin...
Optimal Attack Strategies Against Predictors - Learning From Expert Advice

Motivated by many real-world examples, such as recommendation systems or sensor fusion, and aiming to capture the influence of malicious experts who intentionally degrade the performance of learning systems, we analyze optimal adversarial strategies against the weighted average prediction algorithm in the learning with expert advice framework. All but one expert is honest and the malicious expert’s goal is to sabotage the performance of the algorithm by strategically providing dishonest recommendations. We formulate the problem as a Markov decision process and analyze it under various settings. For the logarithmic loss, somewhat surprisingly, we prove that the optimal strategy for the adversary is the greedy policy, i.e., lying at every step. For the absolute loss, in the 2-experts, discounted cost setting, we prove that the optimal strategy is a threshold policy, where the malicious expert tells the truth until he earns enough weight and then lies afterwards. We extend the results to the infinite horizon problem and find the exact thresholds for the stationary optimal policy. Finally, we use a mean field approach in the $N$ -experts setting to find the optimal strategy when the predictions of the honest experts are independent and identically distributed. We justify our results using simulations throughout this paper.
Interactions of water levels with water quality, endemic waterbirds, and invasive species in a shallow, tropical pond

This study responds to a need for baseline physical and chemical data in shallow tropical water bodies. We investigated the degree to which water level fluctuations affected water quality and biota in a shallow tropical pond, Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge in Hawaii. We observed strong interactions among climate, water levels, salinity, DO, turbidity, waterbirds, fish, and invertebrates. Seasonal precipitation and air temperature patterns led to higher pond levels in winter and lower pond levels in summer. Low water levels in summer were associated with very high salinity and turbidity, and low DO. Endemic waterbirds were favored by lower water levels. Extremely low DO concentrations at minimum water levels caused fish die-offs, primarily non-native tilapia. The fish die-offs temporarily resulted in lower turbidities, clearer water, and a large increase in invertebrates, specifically a native rotifer but also a non-native chironomid midge. Nuisance emergences of midge only occurred in winters following summer fish die-offs but only if there was sufficient winter streamflow to lower salinity and create brackish conditions in the pond. The study results were used to assess restoration and management options to promote endemic waterbirds and other natives and suppress invasive species.
Stimulus specific adaptation in the auditory system of insects: Can a single neuron learn?

Stimulus-specific adaptation (SSA) is the suppression of a neuron's activity to repetitive stimuli while maintaining responsiveness to infrequent signals. In Neoconocephalus katydids, one auditory interneuron (TN-1) shows strong SSA in oddball paradigms, when standard and oddball pulses differ in carrier frequency. SSA occurred for pulse rates from >140 Hz down to 1 Hz. At fast repetition rates (>100 Hz), responses to the common pulses ceased, while oddballs elicit single spikes. At slower rates ( 100 Hz). The mechanisms underlying SSA at slow pulse rates are less well understood; likely, dendritic Ca2 + -gated currents contribute to SSA at slow pulse rates. At slow rates, response reduction to repeated pulses resembles habituation as oddball pulses cause dishabituation, i.e., the response to the following standard pulse is larger than that to the preceding one. Whether this habituation is generated within TN-1 or by its synaptic inputs remains an open question.
Inhibition of Surface Chemical Moieties by Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane: A Key to Understanding Oxygen Reduction on Iron–Nitrogen–Carbon Catalysts

The effect of tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (Tris) on the activity of metal–nitrogen–carbon (M–N–C) platinum metal group-free (PGM-free) catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is studied. Electrochemical tests performed in the acidic and alkaline electrolyte and comparison between electrochemical observations for metal-free and metal-containing catalysts along with density functional calculations showed the multiplex mechanism of oxygen reduction in which numerous species perform partial and full reduction of oxygen to peroxide or water, respectively. The important role of protons in the mechanism of oxygen reduction is highlighted.
Exposure to Crude Oil and Chemical Dispersant May Impact Marine Microbial Biofilm Composition and Steel Corrosion

The release of hydrocarbons and chemical dispersant in marine environments may disrupt benthic ecosystems, including artificial reefs, formed by historic steel shipwrecks, and their associated organisms. Experiments were performed to determine the impacts of crude oil, dispersed crude oil, and dispersant on the community structure and function of microorganisms in seawater (SW) and biofilms formed on carbon steel, a common ship hull construction material. Steel corrosion was also monitored to illustrate how oil spills may impact preservation of steel shipwrecks. Microcosms were filled with seawater (SW) and incubated at 4oC. Carbon steel disks (CSDs) were placed in each tank, and tanks were amended with crude oil and/or dispersant or no treatment. SW and CSD biofilms were sampled biweekly for genetic analysis using Illumina sequencing of 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicons. Predicted and sequenced bacterial metagenomes were analyzed to examine impacts of oil and dispersant on metabolic function. Gammaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, and Flavobacteriia dominated SW and biofilms. Bacterial community structure differed significantly between treatments for SW and biofilms. OTUs affiliated with known (Pseudomonas) and potential (Marinomonas) hydrocarbon-degraders were roughly twice as abundant in biofilms treated with oil and dispersed oil, and steel corrosion of CSDs in these treatments was higher compared to control and dispersant treatments. OTUs affiliated with the Rhodobacteraceae family (biofilm formers and potential oil degraders) were less abundant in the dispersant treatment compared to other treatments in biofilm and SW samples, but OTUs affiliated with the Pseudoalteromonas genus (biofilm formers and proposed hydrocarbon degraders) were more abundant in dispersant-treated biofilms. Overall, functional gene analyses revealed a decrease in genes (predicted using PICRUSt and observed in sequenced metagenomes) associated with hydrocarbon degradation in dispersant-treated biofilms. This study indicates that exposure to oil and dispersant could disrupt the composition and metabolic function of biofilms colonizing metal hulls, as well as corrosion processes, potentially compromising shipwrecks as ecological and historical resources.
Threats to Courtship and the Physiological Response: Testosterone Mediates the Association Between Relational uncertainty and Disclosure for Dating Partner Recipients of Relational Transgressions

Scholars have increasingly recognized that an important avenue for future research is to examine why the relational characteristic of uncertainty incites reactivity for romantic partners during times of transition. Grounded within relational turbulence theory, this study examined whether testosterone, a social hormone that inspires approach behaviors that protect against status and dominance threats, can help account for the negative relationship between relational uncertainty and disclosure for dating partner recipients of severe relational transgressions. Baseline testosterone levels were measured through a dried blood spot method for dating partners who had experienced severe relational transgressions within 5-months of their study participation. The results revealed that each type of relational uncertainty was negatively associated with testosterone, that testosterone was positively associated with reports of disclosure, and that testosterone mediated the relationship between each type of relational uncertainty and disclosure. The findings demonstrate that experiences with relational uncertainty following a severe relational transgression may negatively impact levels of disclosure for transgression recipients and that testosterone levels may be an explanatory mechanism for this association.
Non-rigid mammogram registration using demons algorithm: preliminary results

X-ray mammography is the main tool used for the detection and diagnosis of breast malignancies. Mammogram registration plays an important role in breast cancer detection. The inhomogeneous, anisotropic nature of the soft-tissue within the breast, its inherent non-rigid body behavior, temporal changes of the breast tissue, and various imaging conditions, make breast image registration a challenging task. In this paper, we present a novel non-rigid mammogram registration approach using demons algorithm. The algorithm is fully automatic, intensity-based, and is implemented in a multi-resolution framework. An extension is also applied to accelerate the convergence. Mammogram data sets from MIAS database are used in our study. Preliminary results are presented. The performance of the algorithm was evaluated both visually and quantitatively, and the method yields promising results.