cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Caffeine content in coffee as influenced by grinding and brewing techniques

Abstract The caffeine content of coffee as influenced by various coffee preparation methods was investigated. The variables studied included the coffee solids to water volume ratio, the volume of coffee prepared, home versus store grinding, and drip/filtered versus boiling. Caffeine contents per 177 ml (6 oz) of coffee ranged from 50 to 143 mg, depending upon the mode of preparation. As expected, more coffee solids and larger extents of grinding led to significantly higher caffeine contents in filtered coffee. Larger volumes of coffee prepared at a constant coffee solids to water ratio also yielded significantly higher caffeine contents. Homegrinding yielded caffeine contents similar to that of store-ground coffee. Boiled coffee had caffeine contents equal to or greater than filtered coffee, depending upon the length of boiling time. The variable caffeine contents in coffee resulting from the mode of preparation should be recognized and addressed by both food composition data bases and epidemiologists.
Systematics, reproductive isolation and species boundaries in monogonont rotifers

The typological concept of rotifer species and the morphological basis of rotifer systematics is reviewed and alternatives proposed. Occasional sexuality in the cyclical parthenogenetic life cycle of monogononts permits application of the biological species concept to this group. Data from cross-mating experiments with Asplanchna, Brachionus and Epiphanes illustrate the usefulness of reproductive isolation as a criterion for species boundaries. Populations from different geographic regions are often interfertile indicating that rotifer species are genetically integrated over wide areas. The main types of isolating mechanisms operating in monogononts are reviewed. The role of behavioral reproductive isolation in maintaining species boundaries is examined. The use of a mate recognition bioassay which estimates the probability of copulation and quantifies the degree of isolation is described. Recent work of the mechanism of mate recognition is reviewed. It is concluded that the biological species concept is applicable to rotifers and that a more experimental approach to determining species boundaries is both feasible and desirable.
Spectrum of regular tachycardias with wide QRS complexes in patients with accessory atrioventricular pathways.

Abstract Reciprocating tachycardia and atrial flutter or fibrillation are the rhythm disorders most frequently documented in patients with accessory atrioventricular (A-V) pathways. Reciprocating tachycardia typically results in a regular tachycardia (140 to 250/min) with a normal QRS pattern, although on occasion bundle branch block aberration occurs. Atrial flutter or fibrillation may result in an irregular ventricular response, with the QRS configuration being normal or exhibiting bundle branch block or various degrees of ventricular preexcitation, or both. Although much less common than either reciprocating tachycardia or atrial flutter/fibrillation, regular tachycardias with a wide QRS complex suggestive of ventricular preexcitation are observed in patients with accessory pathways. Excluding functional or preexisting bundle branch block, several arrhythmias may cause these electrocardiographic findings which may mimic those of ventricular tachycardia. In the present study a variety of arrhythmias that resulted in tachycardias with a wide QRS complex were examined in 163 patients with accessory pathways who underwent clinical electrophysiologic study for evaluation of recurrent tachyarrhythmias. Twenty-six patients (15 percent) manifested a regular tachycardia with a wide QRS complex suggesting ventricular preexcitation. Atrial flutter with 1:1 anterograde conduction over an accessory pathway (15 of 26 patients, 58 percent) was the most frequent arrhythmia and was usually associated with a heart rate of 240/min or greater (12 of 15 patients). Reciprocating tachycardia with conduction in the anterograde direction over an accessory pathway (antidromic reciprocating tachycardia) occurred in 7 of 26 patients (27 percent), and resulted in a slower ventricular rate than atrial flutter (217 ± 22 versus 262 ± 42, P In this study the clinical electrophysiologic diagnostic features of several arrhythmias which cause tachycardias with a wide QRS compex suggesting ventricular preexcitation are outlined. It is apparent that definitive arrhythmia diagnosis during these tachycardias is often complex and usually requires careful study using intracardiac electrode catheter techniques.
Presidential Pork: Executive Veto Power and Distributive Politics

It is often argued that executive powers such as the veto serve to reduce particularistic spending by the legislature. I argue that the effect of the executive veto depends strongly on assumptions about both the nature of executive preferences and the institutional structure of executive-legislative bargaining. To support these claims, I develop a model of distributive policymaking subject to an executive veto. This framework incorporates variation in presidential objectives and formal powers into a dynamic bargaining model. In equilibrium, stronger veto power leads to a lower level of distributive spending, but the effects are mitigated to the extent that the president prefers spending in some districts over others. The model also generates new insights and predictions about fiscal policy under the separation of powers, including the effects of divided government, electoral rules, and term limitations for the executive.
Inhibition of acetyl CoA carboxylase by GTPγS

Abstract The effect of nonhydrolyzable guanine nucleotides on mammalian acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC) activity was examined. Using porous rat adipocytes and crude fat cell homogenates to study metabolic pathway flux, GMPPNP and/or GTP γ S inhibited [ 14 C] fatty acid formation by up to 95% when either [6- 14 C]glucose-6-phosphate or [1- 14 C]acetyl CoA was used as substrate. If [2- 14 C] malonyl CoA initiated flux, however, no inhibition was apparent. These pathway flux studies suggested that ACC was the locus of inhibition, and that the mechanism might involve a disruption of guanine nucleotide hydrolysis by the nonhydrolyzable analogues. Using partially and avidin–sepharose-purified ACC preparations from rat fat, liver and mammary tissue, citrate-stimulated ACC activity was inhibited by 25–75% with 50 μ M GTP γ S. Related compounds and nucleotides had absent-to-minimal effects on ACC. ATP γ S was inhibitory (10–30% at 5–15 μ M), but always to a lesser degree than equimolar GTP γ S. Filter binding assays with [ α - 32 P]GTP or [ 35 S] GTP γ S were negative, but low-level GTPase activity was detected. Using photoaffinity labelling techniques, [ α - 32 P]GTP was found to bind ACC and not pyruvate carboxylase. The hypothesis that citrate-responsive ACC activity may be modulated by an intrinsic or associated GTP binding site is explored. Since ACC forms polymers, as does the cytoskeletal protein β -tubulin, amino acid sequence comparisons between ACC and atypical GTP binding domain of β tubulin are presented.
Mechanisms of action of long-acting analogs of somatostatin

Abstract The prolactin secreting rat pituitary tumor cell line, GH3, expresses high affinity receptors for both vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and somatostatin (SS14). VIP induces prolactin secretion by GH3 cells, an action which is antagonized by SS14. This in vitro model was used to examine the mechanism of action of two synthetic somatostatin analogs, d -Phe-Cys-Phe- d -Trp-Lys-Thr-Cys-Thr-OH (octreotide; SMS 201–995) and cyclo(aminoheptanoyl-Phe- d -Trp-Lys-Thr (benzyl)) (cyclic pentapeptide; CPP). Octreotide and CPP bind to the pituitary somatostatin receptor with lower affinity than does SS14 ( K D = 1.3 ± 1.1 ; 80 ± 29 ; 211 ± 107 nM for SS14, octreotide and CPP, respectively). SS14 and octreotide were equally effective as inhibitors of VIP-mediated accumulation of cAMP (40% and 45% inhibition, respectively, P ). SS14 and octreotide also inhibited forskolin-mediated accumulation of cAMP (42% and 40% inhibition of cAMP production, respectively; P ). The inhibitory action of somatostatin and octreotide on both VIP- and forskolin-mediated cAMP accumulation was blocked by pre-treatment of GH3 cells with pertussis toxin ( P ). Neither SS14 nor octreotide affects the apparent affinity of VIP for its specific receptors on GH3 cells; thus, the inhibitory action of SS14 and octreotide appears to be mediated at the locus of the G-protein-adenylate cyclase complex. In contrast, CPP inhibited VIP-mediated cAMP accumulation slightly, but had no effect on forskolin-mediated cAMP production. Pertussis toxin did not attenuate CPP affects on VIP-mediated cAMP accumulation. However, pre-incubation of GH3 cells with CPP decreased the apparent affinity of receptors for VIP, suggesting that effects of CPP are attributable to interference with VIP binding rather than inhibition at the G-protein-adenylate cyclase complex.
A game theoretic analysis of public/government interactions in human capital formation

Abstract Despite that the influence of the education and innate capabilities of workers on production has always been a principal concern of educational researchers and economists, not all relevant aspects of the topic have been sufficiently covered. For example, the influence exerted by government as the supplier of education and the responses of the public to the government’s decisions have not been studied in detail. This paper attempts to fill this gap. The interaction of government and the public is analyzed using an elementary game theoretic model. The empirical validity of the model is evaluated using information from other studies on workers’ productivity and education.
Upper-Airway Resistance Syndrome

Figure 1. A 42-year-old woman was evaluated because of excessive daytime sleepiness and habitual heavy snoring. A nocturnal polysomnogram revealed no evidence of obstructive or central sleep apnea, but it did show frequent periods of snoring and augmented negative esophageal pressure that was indicative of a high level of upper-airway resistance. Typically, these periods were terminated by transient arousal from sleep. The repeated arousals caused sleep fragmentation and, hence, daytime sleepiness. The combination of habitual heavy snoring, increased upper-airway resistance, sleep fragmentation, and daytime sleepiness is referred to as the upper-airway resistance syndrome, which is considered part of the continuum . . .
Growth, patterning, and weak link behaviour in high T/sub c/ thin films

The authors report techniques for making Josephson weak links in thin films of the high-temperature ceramic superconductors. They have fabricated superconducting thin films of YBaCuO and BiSrCaCuO by several methods. These films have been patterned into fine lines and small loops, and a variety of measurements have been performed on these structures, Intrinsic weak link behaviour is observed between grains in patterned films and can be modified by an in-situ ion beam milling and measurement procedure. >
An XX sex chromosome complement in an infant having male-type external genitals, renal agenesis, and other anomalies

Summary A newborn infant is reported with renalagenesis, male-type external genitals, empty scrotum, and imperforate anus. At laparotomy the infant was found to have no kidneys. The adrenal glands were apparently normal in size. No uterus could be seen, but Fallopian tubes were present as were gonads resembling ovaries. Karyotype analysis of peripheral leukocytesrevealed 44 autosomes and an XX sex chromosome complement. The infant closely resembles 3 infants withrenal agenesis reported by Carpentier and Potter. 1 The possibility is suggested that these fetuses may be masculinized in utero as a result of reduced androgen excretion due to renal agenesis.
Liquid Scintillation Vial for Cumulative and Continuous Radiometric Measurement of In Vitro Metabolism

A two-compartment vial is described in which suspensions of bacteria, cells, or tissues may be cultured and their growth and metabolism measured radiometrically by using a liquid scintillation counter. The device consists of a scintillation vial lined with a cylinder of scintillating paper into which is placed a sterilized inner culture vial containing a carbon-14 substrate. The assembled device can be carried by the sample transport systems of conventional liquid scintillation counters. Evolved 14CO2 is collected and measured cumulatively and continuously. The device can be constructed simply and economically from readily available reagents and glassware. Data are given on relative sensitivity and on the effect of the color and transparency of the inner vial. A pilot experiment with bacteria (Escherichia coli) is described.
Use of Stochastic Automata for Parameter Self-Optimization with Multimodal Performance Criteria

The application of stochastic automata to adaptive parameter optimization problems is considered. The fundamental problem is that of relating the concepts of automata theory and mathematical psychology learning theory to the usual notion of a performance index in a control system. Consideration is given to a number of possible automata structures, linear and nonlinear. One particular linear model is derived with optimal rather than expedient properties of convergence. A basic feature of this model is that it is based on a system response set of rewards and inactions, the latter being substituted for the more common penalty responses. This choice of response set is directly related to the achievement of the desired behavior. Simulations are described for the maximization of multimodal performance functions intentionally constructed to demonstrate the use of the method in situations where relative extrema occur. An example is also given of the automaton as a direct adaptive controller for a third order control system.
A framework for large eddy simulation of Burgers turbulence based upon spatial and temporal statistical information

We present a novel theoretical framework that has the potential not only to improve the reliability and computational efficiency of large-eddy simulation (LES) predictions for turbulent flows but also promises to address a major drawback of many existing constructs of LES, namely, inaccurate predictions for the underlying spatiotemporal structure. In our proposed framework, subgrid models are constructed based upon information that is consistent with the underlying spatiotemporal statistics of the flow. Unlike many pre-existing LES approaches, the proposed subgrid models include non-Markovian memory terms whose origins can be related to the optimal prediction formalism. These optimal subgrid models are studied within the context of the forced Burgers equation. Results indicate that the proposed models perform better than standard LES models by virtue of their ability to better preserve the underlying spatiotemporal statistical structure of the flow. Furthermore, the presence of coarse-grained temporal information in our subgrid models allows for faster simulations (resulting in about an order of magnitude reduction in computational time, in comparison to conventional LES) through the use of larger time steps.
Thermal and Thermomechanical Phenomena in Picosecond Laser Copper Interaction

Thermal and thermomechanical phenomena in laser metal interaction are of great importance in terms of understanding the underlying mechanisms in laser materials processing, optimizing the efficiency of laser micro-machining, and minimizing laser induced damage. In this work, Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulation is carried out to investigate picosecond laser copper interaction. A method has been developed to account for the laser beam absorption in, and the thermal transport sustained by, free electrons. Superheating is observed, and an evident temperature drop is revealed at the solid-liquid interface, which moves at a speed of 4400 m/s. However, the later phase change from solid to liquid happens in the target simultaneously and no visible movement of solid-liquid interface is observed. The results show that the laser induced stress wave consists of a strong compressive stress and a weak tensile stress. After reflection at the back side of the MD domain, the strong compressive stress becomes a strong tensile stress, which results in a visible drop of the number density of atoms. In the presence of this strong tensile stress, voids have formed in the region near the back side of the MD domain, indicating that the strong tensile stress in laser materials interaction plays an important role in terms of inducing structural damage. @DOI: 10.1115/1.1725092#
Pass–fail grading: laying the foundation for self-regulated learning

Traditionally, medical schools have tended to make assumptions that students will "automatically" engage in self-education effectively after graduation and subsequent training in residency and fellowships. In reality, the majority of medical graduates out in practice feel unprepared for learning on their own. Many medical schools are now adopting strategies and pedagogies to help students become self-regulating learners. Along with these changes in practices and pedagogy, many schools are eliminating a cornerstone of extrinsic motivation: discriminating grades. To study the effects of the switch from discriminating to pass-fail grading in the second year of medical school, we compared internal and external assessments and evaluations for a second-year class with a discriminating grading scale (Honors, High Pass, Pass, Fail) and for a second-year class with a pass-fail grading scale. Of the measures we compared (MCATs, GPAs, means on second-year examinations, USMLE Step 1 scores, residency placement, in which there were no statistically significant changes), the only statistically significant decreases (lower performance with pass fail) were found in two of the second-year courses. Performance in one other course also improved significantly. Pass-fail grading can meet several important intended outcomes, including "leveling the playing field" for incoming students with different academic backgrounds, reducing competition and fostering collaboration among members of a class, more time for extracurricular interests and personal activities. Pass-fail grading also reduces competition and supports collaboration, and fosters intrinsic motivation, which is key to self-regulated, lifelong learning.
Adhesion of plant roots to poly-L-lysine coated polypropylene substrates.

Abstract The ability to immobilize plant tissue in a bioreactor is an important process tool. We have shown that roots of several species rapidly attach to poly- l -lysine coated polypropylene mesh in a liquid environment. Using transformed roots of Artemisia annua as a model, the attachment process was found to be enhanced by sheep serum, but not BSA and inhibited by excess Mn2+, but unaffected by Ca2+ or Mg2+. Attempts to characterize the molecule(s) responsible for binding using lectins and antibodies showed that the binding site does not appear to be glycosylated or vitronectin-like. This method of rapid attachment should prove useful for controlled immobilization of roots in bioreactors.
Chemical variation in Pennsylvanian brachiopod shells; diagenetic, taxonomic, microstructural, and seasonal effects

ABSTRACT To improve our ability to use minor and trace element (MTE) variation in biotic carbonates as diagenetic and paleoenvironmental indicators, we performed electron probe microanalysis on more than 100 Late Pennsylvanian brachiopod shells from Texas, Kansas, Missouri, and New Mexico. Texturally preserved specimens of the genera Crurithyris, Composita, and Neospirifer from all three regions were analyzed, as were Eridmatus specimens from Texas. Twenty measurements were made in two transects across each shell. Shell microstructure and cathodoluminescence were described for each spot analyzed. Three modern shells were analyzed for comparison. Diagenesis, as indicated by cathodoluminescence and/or absence of microstructure, tends to enrich shells in Fe and Mn (X/Ca >= 0.7 mmol/mol) and deplete shells in Na and S. Mg content shows no consistent trend with diagenesis. In fabric-retentive, nonluminescent shell areas, Mg, Na, and S contents vary twofold to sevenfold depending on taxonomy, microstructure, and season. Overall, taxonomy is the dominant factor controlling MTE composition. Na and S concentrations are consistently highest in Crurithyris and Eridmatus, intermediate in Neospirifer, and lowest in Composita. In taxa with mixed microstructure (Composita, Neospirifer), secondary fibrous layer calcite contains 1.5 to 2 times more Na than does interlayer prismatic calcite. Thus whole-shell Na contents of these taxa depend on the proportion of fibrous and prismatic shell. Seasonal cycles are revealed in MTE transects across growth lines. Mg, Na, and S contents commonly vary by more than a factor of two between maxima (presumably summer) and minima (winter) within the same shell. Retention of taxonomic, microstructural, and seasonal effects in shell chemistry argues for preservation of original chemistry in fabric-retentive, nonluminescent Paleozoic brachiopod shells.
Evidence of “regional hyperemia” in patients with severe closed head injury using single-photon emission computed tomography

Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was assessed in 32 patients with acute/subacute (n = 18) or chronic (n = 14) head injury using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and (99m)Tc-hexamethylpropylenenamine oxime (HMPAO) (n = 20) or (123)I-IMP (n = 12). Twelve of the 18 patients with acute/subacute head injury were studied with a high-resolution three-head camera and (99m)Tc-HMPAO. Twenty-eight SPECT studies showed regional abnormalities of tracer uptake. In all cases in which computed tomography (CT) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (n = 30) were available for comparison, SPECT showed similar or more extensive abnormalities with high agreement on the laterality of the lesions. Particularly in the 18 patients with acute/subacute head injury, SPECT revealed more and larger lesions than the anatomical scans. In 9 of the 12 patients, at least one region with increase in HMPAO uptake reflecting "hyperemia" was detected (mean study time after injury, 6.3 ± 2.7 days). Follow-up SPECT scans in two patients showed decreased tracer uptake in the previous hyperemic regions and encephalomalacia in the anatomical scan. Thus, hyperemia may reflect "luxury perfusion" in early phases of head injury. In three patients with diffuse axonal injury, a generalized reduction in cortical tracer activity, especially in occipital/parietal regions, was observed. The typical finding in chronic head injury was observation of lesions of similar sizes and high agreement in focal abnormalities between SPECT and CT and/or MRI. However, in nine patients with behavioral disturbances, a decrease in the cortical/basal ganglia was detected. Thus, our study confirms the presence of hyperemia in acute/subacute head injury and demonstrates the value of SPECT for assessing functional impairment in these patients.
Campylobacter Colonization of the Turkey Intestine in the Context of Microbial Community Development

Patterns of microbial community dynamics in the turkey intestine were examined. Every week of the 18-week production cycle, cecal bacterial communities and Campylobacter loads were examined from five birds for each of two flocks. Molecular fingerprinting via the automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis (ARISA) and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) of the cecal samples revealed that microbial communities changed in a time-dependent manner, and during both trials they developed via transition through three phases during the production cycle. A core component of the microbiota consisting of 11 Bacteroidetes types was present throughout both trials. In contrast, constant succession was detected in the Clostridiales populations until week 10 or 11, with few shared sequences between the flocks. Changes in Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli loads were correlated to, but not dependent on, the two acute transitions delimiting the three developmental phases.
Effect of drawing on the α relaxation of poly(vinyl alcohol)

The α relaxation of isotropic and drawn poly(vinyl alcohol) dried gel films was studied using dynamic mechanical analysis. The temperature of the relaxation Tα increased from 160°C in the isotropic gel to 220°C in a fiber drawn 19 ×. The relaxation, which is associated with the crystalline regions of the material, also decreased continuously in magnitude as drawing proceeded, although crystallinity increased. At draw ratios over 12 ×, the relaxation became difficult to resolve, and no relaxation was observed in fibers drawn over 19 ×. The melting points of the fibers increased with draw ratio, but not enough to account for the large change in Tα. Crystal thickness in the fiber direction also increased with draw ratio. An analogy is drawn to the case of polyethylene where crystal thickness has been found to control Tα. The absence of a resolvable α relaxation is one reason why it is difficult to draw poly(vinyl alcohol) gels to extremely high ratios.
The State of U.S. Living Kidney Donors

Background and objectives: Increasing living kidney donation mandates ongoing assessment of living donors for future health risks and revision of national health policy. Design, setting, participants, & measurements: Living kidney donors as reported to the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network database from January 1988 through December 2008 were reviewed for minor medical abnormalities, presence of donor health care coverage, and occurrence of surgical complications and death. Results: At donation in 2008, 19.5% were obese, 2.0% had a history of hypertension, and 3.5% had proteinuria. The median estimated GFR of living donors was 92.2 ml/min. Additionally, 12.2% of donors were reported not to have health insurance at the time of donation. By racial background, 14.9% of black and 17.0% of Hispanic donors did not have insurance at donation. Perioperative complications included blood transfusion (0.4%), reoperation (0.5%), and vascular complications (0.2%). Death occurred within 30 days of donation in 0.03% donating between October 1999 and December 2008. During those same years, overall donor death was 2.8%. Conclusions: Almost one quarter of living donors have medical conditions that may be associated with future health risk. Close follow-up and a registry of these donors are necessary. Only then will we be able to inform prospective living donors most accurately of the real risk of donation on their health and survival. Additionally, these data speak to the need for a national discussion on the provision of health insurance for living donors.
Resonant Frequency and Q of an Open-Ended Rectangular Cavity

A field analysis of the TE /sub 10m/ resonant mode in an open-ended rectangular cavity is presented. The cavity geometry consists of rectangular waveguide with thick H-plane bifurcations for the terminations at each end. The bifurcation problem is solved by the method of modal analysis and a resonance criterion is established. Expressions for the cavity fields are written and used to compute stored energy, power lost, and Q. Calculated values for resonant frequency and Q are given and compared with experimental data.
Potential Densities of Symmetric Lévy Processes

H. Cart an introduced Hilbert space methods into the study of Newtonian potential theory in the 1940’s [2,3]. Many of his results were generalized immediately to symmetric translation invariant potential theories in R d by Deny [5], and most of the results are valid for general symmetric Markov processes.
AN EXAMPLE OF DISCOVERY RESEARCH INVOLVING THE TRANSFER OF STIMULUS CONTROL

The initial purpose of the present study was to replicate procedures for teaching preschool children to recruit attention at appropriate times by having an experimenter signal the availability and unavailability of attention (i.e., arrange a multiple schedule involving reinforcement and extinction; Tiger & Hanley, 2004). Following the development of discriminated social responding, the schedule-correlated stimuli were removed (i.e., a mixed schedule of reinforcement was arranged). However, discriminated responding continued during these conditions. Further evaluation suggested that stimulus control over children's social responding had transferred from the schedule-correlated stimuli to the delivery of reinforcement. The effect of a history of reinforcement under multiple-schedule conditions on performance under mixed schedules was then replicated with 2 participants in a reversal design. These findings suggest that following experience with schedule-correlated stimuli, these stimuli may be removed with only modest disruption to discriminated responding.
Characterization of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether Toxicity in Wistar Han Rats and Use of Liver Microarray Data for Predicting Disease Susceptibilities

The toxicity of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), flame-retardant components, was characterized in offspring from Wistar Han dams exposed by gavage to a PBDE mixture (DE71) starting at gestation day 6 and continuing to weaning on postnatal day (PND) 21. Offspring from the dams underwent PBDE direct dosing by gavage at the same dose as their dams from PND 12 to PND 21, and then after weaning for another thirteen weeks. Liver samples were collected at PND 22 and week 13 for liver gene expression analysis (Affymetrix Rat Genome 230 2.0 Array). Treatment with PBDE induced 1,066 liver gene transcript changes in females and 1,200 transcriptional changes in males at PND 22 (false discovery rate < 0.01), but only 263 liver transcriptional changes at thirteen weeks in male rats (false discovery rate < 0.05). No significant differences in dose response were found between male and female pups. Transcript changes at PND 22 coded for proteins in xenobiotic, sterol, and lipid metabolism, and cell cycle regulation, and overlapped rodent liver transcript patterns after a high-fat diet or phenobarbital exposure. These findings, along with the observed PBDE-induced liver hypertrophy and vacuolization, suggest that long-term PBDE exposure has the potential to modify cell functions that contribute to metabolic disease and/or cancer susceptibilities.
Radiation oncology Lean Six Sigma project selection based on patient and staff input into a modified quality function deployment

Quality Function Deployment (QFD) is a methodology that has proven to be useful by incorporating the 'voice of the customer' by translating customer needs into technical requirements, guaranteeing that new or existing products and services meet or exceed customer expectations. In this study, a modified QFD is developed to select and prioritise projects by weighting an internal staff assessment and mapping this against a patient survey. We present how the modified QFD tool is used for the selection and prioritisation of Lean Six Sigma projects in a hospital's radiation oncology department. In addition, we present how internal feedback (staff, administrators, physicists, physicians) and external feedback (patients) are collected and used in the tool.
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Recombination and the Evolution of Science and Public Health in China

The views expressed in this Commentary do not necessarily reflect the views of this journal or of ASM. Since the discovery of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in late 2012, more than 1,400 people have received a laboratory diagnosis of MERS and over 450 people have died. Most of the cases have been documented on the Arabian Peninsula; however, sporadic cases have also been reported in Europe and Asia in travelers returning from the Middle East. Except in South Korea, the imported MERS-CoV has not established a …
EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN UTILIZATION OF ALCOHOL/SUBSTANCE SCREENING, BRIEF ADVICE AND DISCHARGE: A 10-YEAR COMPARISON

Abstract Background In 2007, of the 130 million emergency department (ED) visits, ∼ 38 million were due to injury, and of those, 1.9 million involved alcohol. The emergency department is a pivotal place to implement Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) due to the high number of patients presenting with alcohol/substance abuse risk factors or related injuries. Study Objective This study compares two surveys, approximately 11 years apart, of emergency physicians nationwide which assesses the use of validated screening tools, the availability of community resources for alcohol/substance abuse treatment, and the prevailing attitudes of emergency physicians regarding Screening and Brief Intervention for alcohol/substance abuse. Methods We performed cross-sectional anonymous surveys of 1500 emergency physicians drawn from American College of Emergency Physicians members. The survey results were compared for time interval change. Results The two surveys had comparable response rates. The median percentage of patients screened for alcohol/substance abuse in 1999 was 15%, vs. 20% in 2010. In 2010, 26% of emergency physicians had a formal screening tool, and the majority used Cut-down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener (85%). In 2010, a statistically significant increase in the number of emergency physicians said they would “always” or “almost always” use discharge instructions that were specific for alcohol/substance abuse, if available, vs. 1999. Conclusion Few emergency physicians screen for alcohol/substance abuse despite evidence that screening and brief intervention is effective. Emergency physicians are receptive to the use of discharge material.
Social Stories, Written Text Cues, and Video Feedback: Effects on Social Communication of Children With Autism

This study investigated the effects of written text and pictorial cuing with supplemental video feedback on the social communication of 5 students with autism and social deficits. Two peers without disabilities participated as social partners with each child with autism to form five triads. Treatment was implemented twice per week and consisted of 10 min of systematic instruction using visual stimuli, 10 min of social interaction, and 10 min of self-evaluation using video feedback. Results showed increases in targeted social communication skills when the treatment was implemented. Some generalized treatment effects were observed across untrained social behaviors, and 1 participant generalized improvements within the classroom. In addition, naive judges reported perceived improvements in the quality of reciprocal interactions. These findings support recommendations for using visually cued instruction to guide the social language development of young children with autism as they interact with peers without disabilities.
On multiuser detection in asynchronous CDMA flat Rayleigh fading channels

The performance analysis of low-complexity decorrelating detectors is presented for both coherent and differentially coherent transmission over the multiple-access, frequency-nonselective Rayleigh fading channel. While it is known that correlation-type receivers are near-far limited in the case when a single fading path dominates, it is shown that the multiuser detectors eliminate the bit error rate floor, alleviate the near-far problem, and rival optimum demodulation for isolated transmission. The results apply to wideband and narrowband CDMA systems. >
Comparing Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld and Satellite Digital Multimedia Broadcasting

New generation multimedia mobile standards, DVB-H and S-DMB is are very attractive recently. This paper compares digital video broadcasting-handheld and satellite digital multimedia broadcasting.
Objective Possibility and Adequate Cause

John Venn is traditionally regarded as the founder of the relative frequency interpretation of probability, but this tradition is misleading, both historically and textually. In The Logic of Chance, Venn was skeptical about such concepts as propensities, which he regarded as unmeaning restatements of descriptive statements of empirical relative frequencies. But while he often said that particular relations described by probabilities or rates are ‘nothing but’ expressions of the relative frequency of occurrences within a class (1866, p. 34) — a literally true characterization of such things as crime rates — he did not elevate this into a ‘theory’ of distinct probability, as writers such as Richard von Mises were to do in the period after the First World War. The German probability writing that arose out of the reaction to Quetelet was based on a kind of skepticism as well.
Ischemic Monomelic Neuropathy: Diagnosis, Pathophysiology, and Management.

Ravi K. Thimmisetty, Swetha Pedavally, Noreen F. Rossi, J. Americo M. Fernandes and Joleen Fixley Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA; Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA; and Department of Internal Medicine, Creighton University Medical Center, VA Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Phase I/II trial of ruxolitinib in combination with trastuzumab in metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer.

TPS666 Background: Integrated analysis of whole genome RNAi screening with computationally reverse engineered interactome models identified IL6/JAK/STAT as a master regulator pathway essential for ...
PERCEPTIONS OF SECONDARY AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS, THE NATIONAL FFA ORGANIZATION, AND AGRICULTURAL CAREERS OF STUDENTS NOT ENROLLED IN A HIGH SCHOOL AGRICULTURAL COURSE

OF THESIS PERCEPTIONS OF SECONDARY AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS, THE NATIONAL FFA ORGANIZATION, AND AGRICULTURAL CAREERS OF STUDENTS NOT ENROLLED IN A HIGH SCHOOL AGRICULTURAL COURSE Secondary agricultural education programs provide students an opportunity to gain a wide variety of knowledge about agriculture, as well as, the career opportunities within agriculture. The National FFA Organization is available for all youth enrolled in a secondary agricultural education program with a mission to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success. In order to continue to have youth interested in agricultural colleges and the potential for pursuing agricultural careers, students must be educated about those program areas. Student perceptions of these program areas can greatly influence their motivation enroll in secondary agricultural education programs, join the National FFA Organization, and pursue agricultural career. This study used a survey method to determine the perceptions of students not enrolled in a high school agricultural program of secondary agricultural education programs, the National FFA Organization, and agricultural careers, as well as, determine the demographic characteristics of those students.
Advanced cell-level control for extending electric vehicle battery pack lifetime

A cell-level control approach for electric vehicle battery packs is presented that enhances traditional battery balancing goals to not only provide cell balancing but also achieve significant pack lifetime extension. These goals are achieved by applying a new life-prognostic based control algorithm that biases individual cells differently based on their state of charge, capacity and internal resistance. The proposed life control approach reduces growth in capacity mismatch typically seen in large battery packs over life while optimizing usable energy of the pack. The result is a longer lifetime of the overall pack and a more homogeneous distribution of cell capacities at the end of the first life for vehicle applications. Active cell balancing circuits and associated algorithms are used to accomplish the cell-level life extension objectives. This paper presents details of the cell-level control approach, selection and design of the active balancing system, and low-complexity state-of-charge, capacity, and series-resistance estimation algorithms. A laboratory prototype is used to demonstrate the proposed control approach. The prototype consists of twenty-one 25 Ah Panasonic lithium-Ion NMC battery cells from a commercial electric vehicle and an integrated BMS/DC-DC system that provides 750 W to the vehicle low voltage auxiliary loads.
A taxonomic reconsideration of some Plasmodium species from iguanid lizards.

Saurian Plasmodium populations previously identified as P. tropiduri from Panama are described as subspecies or distinct species. The nominate subspecies, P. tropiduri tropiduri parasitizes Tropidurus species from Brazil, Guyana and Venezuela. Two other subspecies occur in Panama, P. tropiduri panamense from Anolis biporcatus and P. tropiduri aquaticum from the semi-aquatic lizards Anolis lionotus and A. poecilopus . Parasites found in Anolis frenatus are described as a distinct species, P. marginatum , while those from Anolis limifrons represent a third, un-named species. A parasite of Plica plica in Guyana, previously called P. cnemidophori , is designated P. guyannense , while identification of Plica umbra parasites as P. tropiduri is corrected to P. vacuolatum and Fallisia simplex .
Abstract 37: Centrosome Destabilization Through the Ubiquitin-Proteasome Pathway Regulates Proplatelet Production

Background: Proteasome inhibitors such as bortezomib, a chemotherapeutic used to treat multiple myeloma, induce thrombocytopenia within days of initiation. The mechanism for this thrombocytopenia h...
An evolutionary method to refine imperfect sensor data for construction simulation

Construction simulation is used to analyze uncertainties inherent to project activities and variations in work packages. However, existing simulation systems often fail to meaningfully contribute to the decision-making process due to their inability to evolve with changing project conditions. Equipping simulation models with sensing and reality capture technologies has been investigated as possible remedies to this problem. This, however, requires meticulous effort to procure, set up, operate, synchronize, and calibrate peripheral devices for data collection, transmission, and mining. Furthermore, sensor readings are often noisy and imperfect. The chaos theory explains how small variations in sensor readings used as simulation model input can lead to relatively large volatility in the output even in simple linear systems. This paper investigates a scientific methodology for generating more stable simulation models using an evolutionary algorithm that produces clean datasets by processing and significantly reducing noise in imperfect data obtained from consumer-grade sensors.
High oxygen barrier multilayer EVOH/LDPE film/foam

High oxygen barrier film/foam system had been developed using multilayer coextrusion technology. The film/foams contained alternating ethylene–vinyl alcohol (EVOH) copolymer film layers and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) foam layers. To ensure good adhesion and layer integrity, the LDPE was preblended with LDPE grafted maleic anhydride. The layered structure of film/foam was characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The film/foams showed adjustable density, oxygen permeability, and mechanical properties by changing the film and foam composition. Film/foam with 10% EVOH film layer was successfully thermoformed at room temperature. The cells in the foam layer were observed to deform during the mechanical forming process. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46425.
Announcing Pregnancy Loss on Facebook: A Decision-Making Framework for Stigmatized Disclosures on Identified Social Network Sites

Pregnancy loss is a common experience that is often not disclosed in spite of potential disclosure benefits such as social support. To understand how and why people disclose pregnancy loss online, we interviewed 27 women in the U.S. who are social media users and had recently experienced pregnancy loss. We developed a decision-making framework explaining pregnancy loss disclosures on identified social network sites (SNS) such as Facebook. We introduce network-level reciprocal disclosure, a theory of how disclosure reciprocity, usually applied to understand dyadic exchanges, can operate at the level of a social network to inform decision-making about stigmatized disclosures in identified SNSs. We find that 1) anonymous disclosures on other sites help facilitate disclosure on identified sites (e.g., Facebook), and 2) awareness campaigns enable sharing about pregnancy loss for many who would not disclose otherwise. Finally, we discuss conceptual and design implications. CAUTION: This paper includes quotes about pregnancy loss.
Why broadened marketing has enriched marketing

The marketing discipline, which emerged in the early 1900s, spent its first 70 years focused on describing and evaluating how for-profit organizations conduct their commercial operations with products and services. Starting in the 1970s, marketing scholars – Philip Kotler, Sidney Levy, Gerald Zaltman, and Richard Bagozzi – wrote a series of articles showing that marketing activities go on in the non-profit sector as well. They proposed that the marketing discipline would be enriched by working with the “marketing” problems of non-profit and public organizations--not just the marketing problems of commercial organizations. This subsequently came to be known as the “broadening of marketing.” A few years later, some marketers challenged the broadening idea as not belonging in the discipline of marketing. The broadening scholars suggested carrying out a referendum with marketing professors. The subsequent vote proved to be overwhelmingly in favor of the broadening movement. More recently, Adel El-Ansary and co-authors (El-Ansary et al. AMS Review, 2018) raised the question of whether the broadening work is part of a larger paradigm that might lead to a general theory of marketing.
Topographic Organization of Extraoccipital Visual Processing Areas in the Macaque

The macaque visual system has long been used as a model for investigating the processing of incoming visual stimuli results from the coordinated work of a distributed network of areas interacting at many different levels (Felleman and Van Essen, 1991). While much is known about the organization and layout of the occipital visual areas, there are still substantial gaps in our understanding of layout and organization of the higher-level areas. The goal of this study is to describe the whole brain functional anatomy using BOLD-fMRI in macaques performing a series of demanding visuospatial attention tasks. We wish to study the spatial specificity of visual responses in terms of contralateral preference, i.e. stronger responses to contralateral visual stimuli, as well as retinotopic organization both in terms of polar angle and eccentricity. We found that most visuospatial processing areas only respond to contralaterally presented stimuli; ipsilaterally presented stimuli evoked little or no activity in these areas. Additionally, we found that LIP, MT, and possibly PITd contained polar-angle maps of the contralateral hemifield. These same areas, plus FEF and area 46, appear to have separate representations of the fovea and periphery. When compared to previous human fMRI studies, these results indicate that there may be significant differences between macaque visual processing areas and their putative human homologues.