cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Acute Intravesical Infusion of a Cobalt Solution Stimulates a Hypoxia Response, Growth and Angiogenesis in the Rat Bladder

ABSTRACTPurpose: Experimental partial bladder outlet obstruction of rats induces a bladder growth and remodeling process similar to that in humans with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Previously we have proposed that bladder hypoxia associated with partial bladder outlet obstruction is a stimulus of this bladder growth process. We report our results of testing the acute effects of a simple chemical agent (cobaltous ion) known to mimic hypoxia in the rat bladder. We measured its ability to effect bladder gene expression, angiogenesis and growth processes.Materials and Methods: Adult rats were divided into 2 groups. One group (controls) received intravesical saline 3 times for 30 minutes in 6 days and the other received intravesical saline with 100 μM. CoCl2 at the same times. All animals also received continuous infusion of BrdU for the 6-day period through an implanted osmotic pump. Portions of the bladders from these rats were fixed, sectioned, stained for microscopic analysis and immunohistochemically sta...
The U.S. Army and network-centric warfare a thematic analysis of the literature

This paper examines network-centric warfare (NCW) penetration within the U.S. Army. NCW was intended to be an emerging theory of war for the information age. It was supposed to provide a conceptual framework that would prevent new technology enabled approaches to warfare from being constrained by outmoded ideas. A thematic analysis of the literature was performed using NVivo 10, a computer assisted qualitative data analysis software, to assess NCW adoption within the U.S. Army. The data did not support the idea that it has been adopted. A lack of adoption can result in limitations on the ability of today's soldiers to take advantage of the enhanced approaches to warfare offered by the theory. U.S. Army leaders should adopt NCW so that they have a theoretical framework for the conduct of military operations in an information rich environment.
Activation of human platelets by the membrane-expressed A1 domain of von Willebrand factor

Platelet activation and microthrombus formation are invariable features of xenograft rejection and the vascular injury observed when porcine organs are transplanted into primates. This pathological process could be mediated, at least in part, by aberrant interactions of von Willebrand Factor (vWF) associated with the donor vasculature with host platelets. Unlike human vWF, native porcine vWF (pvWF) interacts with human GPIb independently of shear stress or nonphysiological stimuli, eg, ristocetin. We therefore contrasted the potential of isolated human and porcine vWF-A1-domains to interact with human platelets in vitro. Both human and porcine vWF-A1-domains expressed as glycosyl phosphatidylinositol-linked FLAG fusion proteins on COS-7 cells induced GPIb-dependent aggregation and intracellular Ca++ uptake of platelets, independent of both the remainder of the vWF protein and additional modifying factors. Porcine A1-domains were more potent than human homologues, and in addition ristocetin could boost platelet aggregation only with the human A1-domain. Putative conformational changes in the porcine A1-domain could result in the heightened, ristocetin-independent interactions observed with human platelets and may be of importance for xenograft survival.
Dual coding theory for interactive learning systems

In this project, we conducted research on how to develop better teaching techniques for computer programming. Part of the reason that some students don't understand the concepts of programming could be due to the fact that they are not presented with appropriate anchoring knowledge that is required for comprehension of new technical information.
Seasonal Alate Aphid Collections in Yellow Pan Traps in Northeastern Mississippi: Possible Relationship to Maize Dwarf Mosaic Disease

Yellow pan traps filled with water were used to collect alate aphids around the periphery of a field planted to corn during the summer and grain during the winter. Selected aphid species were tested for their ability to transmit the Mississippi isolate of maize dwarf mosaic virus (MDMV). A total of 4899 aphids was collected from October 1968 through September 1969; aphids collected represented 47 species in 22 genera. The 9 predominant species and their abundance as percentage of the total collection were: Aphis maidiradicis Forbes 27.6%, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) 18.3%, Myzus persicae (Sulzer) 12.7%, Aphis spiraecola Patch 11.1%, Dactynotus ambrosiae (Thomas) 10.6%, Aphis gossypii Glover 5.4%, Aphis fabae Scopoli 1.6%, Hyadaphis pseudobrassicae (Davis) 1.4%, and Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch) 1.3%. The total aphid collections during the 12-month sample period showed 2 distinct peaks of activity April–May and October–November. Thirty-five aphid species in 15 genera were collected during the corn-growing season. The predominant species were: A. pisum 51.5%, A. spiraecola 15.0%, A. maidiradicus 10.1%, and M. persicae 9.3%. Seven of 10 aphid species transmitted the Mississippi isolate of MDMV. Transmissions with groups of 5 aphids per test plant ranged from 1.9% of the plants infected for R. maidis to 26.4% for Schizaphis graminum (Rondani).
A comparative study of Olanzapine versus Clozapine in the treatment of treatment - resistant schizophrenia

Objective : To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Olanzapine in the treatment of treatment - resistant schizophrenia. Methods: A total of 68 patients with treatment - resistant schizophrenia were randomly assigned to the Olanzapine group and the Clozapine group for 12 weeks of treatment. The efficacy was evaluated with Positive and Negative Symptom scale (PANSS) and Clinical Global Impression (CGI), and the side effects were evaluated with treatment emergent symptoms scale (TESS) and Rating Scale for Extra pyramidal Side Effects (RSESE). Results: There were no significant differences in scores of the PANSS before treatment and in total effective rates after treatment between the two groups ( both P 0.05 ) ;there were significant differences in cognitive factor and score - reducing rates of negative symptoms ( P 0.05 ). The side effects of Olanzapine were milder than that of Clozapine. Conclusions : Olanzapine is effective and has milder side effects in the treatment of refractory schizophrenia, especially in improving cognitive function and negative symptoms.
Mortality of Patients after Radical Prostatectomy: Analysis of Recent Medicare Claims

A 100% sample of Medicare claims records of patients undergoing radical prostatectomy in 1990 was analyzed for 30-day mortality and 1-year all-cause mortality rates. Overall, there was a 0.5% 30-day mortality and 1.8% 1-year mortality rate. Compared to the general population, mortality was approximately half of expected mortality and close to estimated mortality of elderly men in excellent health. There was no trend of increasing 30-day mortality with patient age, and a modestly increased 1-year mortality rate with increasing age. These results are consistent with improved perioperative survival for all patients compared to analyses performed on data for prior years and selection of healthy patients undergoing radical prostatectomy. These trends improve the potential benefit of radical prostatectomy.
Convolutional autoregressive models for functional time series

Abstract Functional data analysis has became an increasingly popular class of problems in statistical research. However, functional data observed over time with serial dependence remains a less studied area. Motivated by Bosq (2000), who first introduced the functional autoregressive models, we propose a convolutional functional autoregressive model, where the function at time t is a result of the sum of convolutions of the past functions and a set of convolution functions, plus a noise process, mimicking the vector autoregressive process. It provides an intuitive and direct interpretation of the dynamics of a stochastic process. Instead of principal component analysis commonly used in functional data analysis, we adopt a sieve estimation procedure based on B-spline approximation of the convolution functions. We establish convergence rate of the proposed estimator, and investigate its theoretical properties. The model building, model validation, and prediction procedures are also developed. Both simulated and real data examples are presented.
Validation of AMSR-E Soil Moisture Products Using In Situ Observations

Soil moisture is an important water cycle variable. The Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for the Earth Observing System (AMSR-E) program was the first to implement a soil moisture algorithm development and validation program that would lead to global standard products. A key aspect of the program was the inclusion of multiple research algorithms with continuing evaluation. One approach is the single channel algorithm (SCA) that utilizes the AMSR-E channel with maximum sensitivity in combination with ancillary data on vegetation conditions. Over the course of the AMSR-E project, this approach has been developed and improved. A critical component of providing a standard soil moisture product is its validation. As part of the AMSR-E validation program networks of dedicated validation sites were developed. These networks provide estimates of the average soil moisture over watersheds and surrounding areas that approximate the size of the AMSR-E footprint. Measurements have been made on a continuous basis since 2002. The NASA and JAXA standard soil moisture products were compared to the network observations, along with SCA. The results indicate that each algorithm has different performance statistics that depend upon the site and that there is much room for improvement in the algorithms adopted by JAXA and NASA. They also illustrate the potential pitfalls in using the products without caution.
Characterization of Antithrombin-Specific RNA Aptamers for Use in Anticoagulant Therapy

Historically, unfractionated heparin (a complex polysaccharide classified as a glycosaminoglycan) has been used in the treatment and prevention of thromboembolic disorders. However, due to complications associated with heparin (such as bleeding and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia), low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs) have been developed and are being used in place of unfractionated heparin. LMWHs have proven effective as antithrombotic agents; however, the effects of LMWHs cannot be readily reversed, while unfractionated heparin can be reversed by protamine sulfate. The overall goal of this project was to characterize an antithrombin (AT)-specific RNA aptamer that will combine the safety and efficacy of LMWH with the reversibility of unfractionated heparin. I have developed an RNA molecule (aptamer) that binds to AT. Using Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment (SELEX) we created a combinatorial library consisting of single stranded RNA molecules with 20-40 randomized positions resulting in approximately 1014 different sequences. The RNA libraries after round 12 consisted of several different aptamers, and there was a progressive decrease in library complexity. We isolated four individual RNA molecules that bind in the nanomolar range to AT. Each displayed the same general properties, they accelerated factor Xa inhibition by AT in a dose-dependent manner. It should be noted that as anticipated, the aptamers did not promote the enhanced inhibition of thrombin by AT. Overall, our results show that these molecules are able to enhance the inhibition of factor Xa by AT. We suspect that these aptamers mimic the action of LMWH by binding to the D-helix of AT. Our previous AT specific RNA aptamer, Aptamer 7-4.16 was shown to prolonged bleeding in vivo in a vascular injury model. These data showed that Aptamer 7-4.16 is as effective as heparin in preventing clotting after vascular injury. We suspect that these new aptamers will have a similar effect in vivo. Proof of the concept was established by the work of Rusconi et al. (Nature, 2002), who developed an RNA aptamer and RNA aptamer antidote directed against coagulation factor IXa. The factor IXa aptamer completely inhibits the activation of factor X. Its anticoagulant action is controlled by the antidote, which is able to reverse the effects of the factor IXa aptamer within seconds. This aptamer/antidote pair is currently being tested clinically. Our data suggesting that antidotes to our AT aptamers have the ability to reverse its activity. If successful, this aptamer/antidote pair will have advantages over LMWHs because not only will it be able to control thrombosis in a fashion similar to LMWHs, but the availability of an antidote will allow for better therapeutic regulation and intervention. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
CRT-800.52 Sixteen Years of Cardiac Resynchronization Pacing among Congenital Heart Patients: Contractility (dP/dt) Screening When the Guidelines Don't Apply

Congenital heart disease (CHD) patients (pts) often develop early heart failure (HF) with few therapeutic options leading to transplant (HT). Unfortunately, guidelines for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) don't apply and function evaluations by cardiac ultrasound are often inaccurate among
Intelligent Techniques for Power Systems Vulnerability Assessment

With power grids considered national security matters, the reliable operation of the system is of top priority to utilities. This concern is amplified by the utility’s deregulation, which increases the system’s openness while simultaneously decreasing the applied degree of control. Vulnerability Assessment (VA) deals with the power system’s ability to continue to provide service in case of an unforeseen catastrophic contingency. Such contingencies may include unauthorized tripping, breaks in communication links, sabotage or intrusion by external agents, human errors, natural calamities and faults. These contingencies could lead to a disruption of service to part or all of the system. The service disruption is known as outage or blackout. The paper outlines an approach by which feature extraction and boundary tracking can be implemented to achieve on line vulnerability assessment.
Electrocatalytic CO2 reduction with nickel complexes supported by tunable bipyridyl-N-heterocyclic carbene donors: understanding redox-active macrocycles

A series of nickel complexes featuring redox-active macrocycles is reported for electrocatalytic CO2 reduction. A remarkable structure–activity relationship is elucidated from the series through electrochemical studies and DFT calculations, wherein a fine electronic balance between metal and ligand redox chemistry dictates selectivity for CO2 reduction versus the competing proton reduction reaction.
Body dissatisfaction, neuroticism, and female sex as predictors of calorie-tracking app use amongst college students

ABSTRACTObjective: This study investigated body dissatisfaction, neuroticism, and sex as potential predictors of calorie-tracking app usage amongst undergraduate college students. Participants: College students (N = 491) were recruited from a large northeastern university in October 2015. Methods: Participants completed an online survey asking about their sex, body dissatisfaction, neuroticism, and use of apps that track calories. Results: Analyses revealed that female sex and body dissatisfaction—but not neuroticism—were direct predictors of calorie-tracking app usage. Analyses also provided support for a causal sequence wherein neuroticism and body dissatisfaction mediate, in serial, the relationship between female sex and calorie-tracking app usage. Conclusions: The results from this study suggest that female college students are more likely to use calorie-tracking apps—a phenomenon which may be attributable to their higher levels of neuroticism and subsequent increased body dissatisfaction.
Confocal scanning microscopy provides rapid, detailed intraoperative histological assessment of brain neoplasms: Experience with 106 cases.

Abstract Objectives Frozen section histological analysis is currently the mainstay for intraprocedural tissue diagnosis during the resection of intracranial neoplasms and for evaluating tumor margins. However, frozen sections are time-consuming and often do not reveal the histological features needed for final diagnosis when compared with permanent sections. Confocal scanning microscopy (CSM) with certain stains may be a valuable technology that can add rapid and detailed histological assessment advantage for the neurosurgical operating room. This study describes potential advantages of CSM imaging of fresh human brain tumor tissues labeled with acriflavine (AF), acridine orange (AO), cresyl violet (CV), methylene blue (MB), and indocyanine green (ICG) within the neurosurgical operating room facility. Patients and methods Acute slices from orthotopic human intracranial neoplasms were incubated with AF/AO and CV solutions for 10 s and 1 min respectively. Staining was also attempted with MB and ICG. Samples were imaged using a bench-top CSM system. Histopathologic features of corresponding CSM and permanent hematoxylin and eosin images were reviewed for each case. Results Of 106 cases, 30 were meningiomas, 19 gliomas, 13 pituitary adenomas, 9 metastases, 6 schwannomas, 4 ependymomas, and 25 other pathologies. CSM using rapid fluorophores (AF, AO, CV) revealed striking microvascular, cellular and subcellular structures that correlated with conventional histology. By rapidly staining and optically sectioning freshly resected tissue, images were generated for intraoperative consultations in less than one minute. With this technique, an entire resected tissue sample was imaged and digitally stored for tele-pathology and archiving. Conclusion CSM of fresh human brain tumor tissue provides clinically meaningful and rapid histopathological assessment much faster than frozen section. With appropriate stains, including specific cellular structure or antibody staining, CSM could improve the timeliness of intraoperative decision-making, and the neurosurgical-pathology workflow during resection of human brain tumors, ultimately improving patient care.
ECONOMIC TRANSPORT OF DIGESTED SLUDGE SLURRIES

SUMMARY Pipeline transport of digested sewage sludge slurries is predicted to be more economical than convenional practice of filtration and incineration. Economic disposal on land at considerable distances from the sewage treatment plant can be combined advantageously with reclamation and restoration. At solids concentrations about 5 percent and below, digested sludge slurries are Newtonian in flow behavior; above 5 percent, they are plastic in nature. Dilution to 5 percent solids, where necessary, may be the most economic procedure despite an increased volume to transport. The quantity of digested sludge available in many cities dictates the use of pipeline diameters smaller than those previously used.
Can Ebola Virus Vaccines Have Universal Immune Correlates of protection

Testing vaccine efficacy against the highly lethal Ebola virus (EBOV) in humans is almost impossible due to obvious ethical reasons and the sporadic nature of outbreaks. For such situations, the 'animal rule' was established, requiring the product be tested in animal models, expected to predict the response observed in humans. For vaccines, this testing aims to identify immune correlates of protection, such as antibody or cell-mediated responses. In the wake of the 2013-2016 EBOV epidemic, and despite advancement of promising candidates into clinical trials, protective correlates remain ambiguous. In the hope of identifying a reliable correlate by comparing preclinical and clinical trial data on immune responses to vaccination, we conclude that correlates are not universal for all EBOV vaccines.
Working toward a Socially Just Future in the ELA Methods Class.

This review of literature highlights the efforts teacher educators and researchers have made over the past 18 years to work toward social justice in secondary English language arts (ELA) preservice...
Ex vivo comparison of intradermal closures with conventional monofilament suture vs unidirectional barbed suture in dogs.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the mechanical properties, strength, and quality of seal provided by continuous intradermal suture lines closed with barbed suture vs monofilament suture. STUDY DESIGN Experimental study. SAMPLE POPULATION Forty-eight full-thickness wounds in canine cadavers. METHODS Four-centimeter-long parasagittal cutaneous wounds were created in canine cadavers. Each intradermal closure was closed with smooth monofilament suture and terminated with a 2 + 1 Aberdeen knot (n = 24) or a unidirectional barbed suture terminated with a single end pass (n = 24). Wounds (n = 12/group) were harvested, and a servohydraulic machine applied tensile load perpendicular to the long axis of the suture line. A load-displacement curve was generated; maximum load, displacement, stiffness, and mode of construct failure were recorded. Harvested wounds were placed in a watertight construct to measure the volume of fluid leaking over 3 minutes at 1.0 ± 0.1 psi. RESULTS Stiffness did not differ between constructs (P > .05). Incisions closed with monofilament sutures sustained higher maximum load (311.21 N ± 87.40) and displacement at failure (21.19 mm ± 4.51) compared with those with barbed sutures (116.38 N ± 42.82 and 15.03 mm ± 2.32, respectively, P < .05). Closures with monofilament sutures leaked more (4.38 mL ± 7.90) compared with those with barbed sutures (0.15 mL ± 0.43, P < .05). CONCLUSION Monofilament sutures resulted in stronger constructs, whereas barbed suture constructs provided a better watertight seal. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE While unidirectional barbed sutures may improve watertight skin closure, surgeons should consider using conventional monofilament sutures when mechanical strength of the closure is of primary concern.
Electrostatic Force and Moment Approximations of Coulomb Charged Spacecraft Based on Center of Charge

A novel analytical formula is developed for the second order approximation of the potential function of a pair of charged spacecraft assuming either particle-body or body-body interactions. These approximations use the center of charge (CoCh) as the center of expansions provided that the charge distribution is known. The generated formulas for the potential function are then used to analytically find Coulomb force and corresponding moment about the center of mass (CoM) of the interacting bodies. The resulting expressions are presented in terms of the entire charge and the quadrupole charge tensor (QCT) of each individual body about the corresponding CoCh, as well as the relative distance between the centers of charge of the two charged spacecraft. Because of using expansions about the CoCh, dipole moments of each individual spacecraft do not explicitly appear in the resulting equations. Closed-form approximations of the force and moment are also obtained from the potential function using the CoM expansions. As it is shown, the CoCh expansions are generally more accurate when the distance between the CoCh and the CoM is a significant fraction of the separation distance.
Effect of Postharvest Naled and Sulfotep Fumigation on Western Flower Thrips Infesting Carnation

Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus) infested with western flower thrips (WFT) were harvested from a commercial greenhouse and prepared for shipment. The cut flowers were placed in water buckets and fumigated at ≈23°C in a 33-m3 ocean cargo container (a small fan circulated the fumigant). Naled (Dibrom 8EC) was applied at 4.49, 8.98 and 17.96 g (AI)/100 m3 for 1 h and 35.92 and 89.80 g (AI)/100 m3 for 2 h. Naled reduced thrips in flowers by 78.4 to 89.2%. Sulfotep (Plantfume 103) was applied at 13.77 g (AI)/100 m3 for 2 h and 15 h, and reduced thrips in flowers 52.4 and 64.3%, respectively. Naled was phytotoxic to the cultivar ‘Chianti’, which exhibited blackened petal tips at 8.98 g (AI)/100 m3 or higher. Sulfotep was also phytotoxic on ‘Chianti’. Naled at 4.49 g (AI)/10 m3 applied for 1 h resulted in significant reduction of thrips without phytotoxic effects. Increased fumigant rates and fumigation time did not eliminate WFT completely.
Effects of perceived parenting styles and mental health on drinking behaviors

ABSTRACTThis study focused on the effects of parenting styles, as perceived by the college student, on drinking behaviors. A total of 36 students between the ages of 18 and 34 were recruited from a...
Electrochemical redox refrigeration

The high conformational entropy change of the Fe(CN)63−/4− redox reaction can be used as the basis for a compact electrochemical refrigerator. This device is comparable to a liquid version of a Peltier cooler, with two distinct advantages: (1) the entropy change per carrier (1.5 mV/K) of the electrochemical refrigerant is more than 5 times larger than that of state-of-the-art solid thermoelectric materials; and (2) the liquid electrolyte can be advected continuously away from the cooling junction, so that Joule heating in the bulk element does not diminish the delivered cooling effect. In this work, we use infrared microscopy to visualize the thermal aspects of Fe(CN)63−/4− redox, and compare the estimated cooling to calculated values with and without electrolyte flow. While the temperature differences achieved in a single cell are small (~50 mK) and not enhanced by electrolyte flow, the cooling power density (~0.5 W/cm3) is high when normalized to the small electrode volume. Non-dimensional figures of merit are proposed to identify electrochemical redox species for maximizing the cooling effect.
Test treatment effect differences in repeatedly measured symptoms with binary values: The matched correspondence analysis approach

When a continuous variable is measured twice, paired t test can be used to examine the statistical difference between two time points. However, when several related but dichotomously scored (0, 1) variables are measured twice, it would not be reasonable to use paired t test (or chi-squared test) to examine the related binary variable differences. Therefore, the present study introduces a novel statistical approach, called matched correspondence analysis (matched CA), which tests the related binary value differences between two time points. Matched CA was originally designed to study between-group comparisons (e.g., gender) in two contingency tables of the same size, with the same row and column quantities. However, unlike the original matched CA, the present study applies matched CA to the analysis of within-group matched matrices (e.g., at admission and at discharge) and examines the related binary value differences between two time points. To test the stability of parameter estimates, permutation and bootstrapping methods are used, and the pros and cons of within-group matched CA are discussed.
Nonoperative Treatment of Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injuries

The anterior bundle of the medial ulnar collateral ligament (MUCL) is the prime valgus stabilizer of the elbow. Athletes who throw overhead, such as baseball players, and javelin throwers, most commonly fall victim to this type of injury as the MUCL is subject to significant loads during the late cocking phase/early acceleration phase of the throwing motion [9,10,11]. The MUCL reconstruction procedure, or one of its variants pioneered by Jobe, has routinely been used to stabilize the medial elbow after MUCL injury. Surgery, however, may not be necessary in all MUCL injuries. This is especially true in younger patients who may present with a more acute form of the injury to the ligament in isolated anatomical areas, and have injuries more along the lines of a sprain, which is an interstitial tear without structural incongruity, or a partial tear. Rettig et al [23] provided the first large series of patients treated with nonoperative management for MUCL injuries, thus demonstrating that MUCL injuries respond to conservative management. A structured return-to-throwing protocol, external stabilization with bracing, physical therapy, and biologic adjuncts such as platelet-rich plasma are potential solutions that may permit athletes to return their preinjury level of play while simultaneously averting the morbidity and longer return-to-play associated with operative treatment.
Stealthy Cyberattacks on Loads and Distributed Generation Aimed at Multi-Transmission Line Congestions in Smart Grids

Developing attack models is the first step to understand cyberattacks in smart grids and develop countermeasures. In this article, a three-level nonlinear programming formulation is proposed for false data injection (FDI) cyberattacks that could result in multiple transmission line congestions without being detected by conventional bad data detection (BDD) algorithms. The model is then converted to a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) formulation to guarantee a global optimum exists. A detection framework based on recursive least-square estimation (RLSE) is developed that can successfully detect the stealthy FDIs. The developed model with the detection framework is validated through various case studies in IEEE 118-bus benchmark.
In Vitro Assessment for Dose Preparation and Simulated Administration of Azithromycin Suspensions via Enteral Feeding Tubes

Administration of medication via enteral feeding tubes (EFT) is common in cases where patients are unable to swallow the dosage form or a patient is intubated. The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19, coronavirus...
Soldier production in Camponotus novaeboracensis during colony growth

Changes in allometry equations, size-frequency curves, and caste ratios were examined in different-sized colonies of the polymorphic carpenter antCamponotus novaeboracensis. Field collected colonies broadly grouped into three categories based on the number of workers in a colony: “incipient” if they had fewer than 150 workers, “juvenile” if they had 200 to 2,000 workers, and “mature” if they had more than 2,000 workers and had produced reproductives. There was no difference in the allometry equations between the three groups, but the mature colonies did contain a higher proportion of soldiers. The size-frequency histograms and caste ratios were significantly different between the three groups.
Analytical Investigation of Seismic Surface Waves in the Seafloor

Analytical studies are being conducted to assess the applicability of the Spectral Analysis of Surface Waves (SASW) method to the determination of the properties of the soil in the sea floor, and to understand the dispersive characteristics of the waves generated by a source applied on the surface of a soil deposit overlaid by water. A classical analytical model assuming two dimensional plane interface waves and determining the roots of the characteristic equation has been implemented in a computer program. In addition a three dimensional solution has been developed in order to reproduce more accurately the actual conditions of the test. In this case a dynamic load is applied over a small area at the soil water interface and the resulting displacements at various points along this interface (locations of the receivers) are computed. The apparent velocity of propagation is then obtained from the phase differences between receivers as a function of frequency or wavelength.
The Ecology and Evolution of Spatial Memory in Corvids of the Southwestern USA: The Perplexing Pinyon Jay

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the exploitation of pine seeds by species of the family corvidae. The seed of the pinyon pineiis contains up to 18% protein and 60% fat. This is a powerful fuel to sustain these birds through the long, cold, and unproductive winter. The behavior of nutcrackers and Pinyon Jays is immediately altered at the sight of these cones or seeds as they abruptly stop all other behaviors and begin harvesting. These birds spend a vast amount of time and energy in harvesting, transporting, and caching these seeds. This dramatic change in behavior is a clue that these pine seeds are of special biological significance, at least to some of these corvids. Eurasian Nutcrackers that had dispersed thousands of kilometers into Germany, owing to lack of pine seeds in Siberia, immediately began harvesting, eating, and caching seeds when presented with them. The pine tree also has an interesting role in this ecological play. In one out of every five to six years, the pinyon pines make it easy for the jays and nutcrackers to harvest their seeds. The seeds are extracted easily as the pine cones have no sharp spines on their relatively short cone scales to deter extraction.
Reliability and Validity in Neuropsychological Assessment

1. Preliminary Measurement Considerations in Clinical Neuropsychology. 2. General and Theoretical Considerations in the Assessment of Reliabilty. 3. Practical and Methodological. 4. Elemental Considerations in Validity. 5. Validity as Applied to Neuropsychological Assessment. 6. The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III. 7.The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-III. 8. Test of General Intelligence. 9. The Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Battery and Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery. 10. Benton's Neuropsychological Assessment. 11. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. 12. The Rorschach Inkblots. 13. The Wechsler Memory Scale and its Revisions. 14. Tests of Memory. 15. Tests of Visual and Construction Function. 17. Tests of Higher Cognitive Function. 18. Screening Devices. 19. Tests of Aptitude and Achievement. 20. Methods for Evaluating the Validity of Test Scores. 21. The Assessment of Child Neuropsychological Function. Postscript. References.
The Walkability Premium in Commercial Real Estate Investments

∗∗∗ This article examines the effects of walkability on property values and investment returns. Walkability is the degree to which an area within walking distance of a property encourages walking for recreational or functional purposes. We use data from the National Council of Real Estate Investment Fiduciaries and Walk Score to examine the effects of walkability on the market value and investment returns of more than 4,200 office, apartment, retail and industrial properties from 2001 to 2008 in the United States. We found that, all else being equal, the benefits of greater walkability were capitalized into higher office, retail and apartment values. We found no effect on industrial properties. On a 100-point scale, a 10-point increase in walkability increased values by 1‐9%, depending on property type. We also found that walkability was associated with lower cap rates and higher incomes, suggesting it has been favored in both the capital asset and building space markets. Walkability had no significant effect on historical total investment returns. All walkable property types have the potential to generate returns as good as or better than less walkable properties, as long as they are priced correctly. Developers should be willing to develop more walkable properties as long as any additional cost for more walkable locations and related development expenses do not exhaust the walkability premium. Walkability has become a more prominent issue as urban planners, governments and public health leaders increasingly promote pedestrian mobility. For example, according to a new global policy report by the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (2009), in order to reduce preventable cancers linked to obesity and inactivity, governments should require increased walking facilities, developers should construct more projects that promote walking, and employers should occupy buildings that facilitate physical activity. Similar goals were endorsed by former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala in her address to the Urban Land Institute in 2006 (Riggs 2006). Calls for more walkable cities can also be found
Spatial flow-volume dissociation of the cerebral microcirculatory response to mild hypercapnia.

Abstract The spatial and temporal response of the cerebral microcirculation to mild hypercapnia was investigated via two-photon laser-scanning microscopy. Cortical vessels, traversing the top 200 μm of somatosensory cortex, were visualized in α-chloralose-anesthetized Sprague–Dawley rats equipped with a cranial window. Intraluminal vessel diameters, transit times of fluorescent dextrans and red blood cells (RBC) velocities in individual capillaries were measured under normocapnic (PaCO2 = 32.6 ± 2.6 mm Hg) and slightly hypercapnic (PaCO2 = 45 ± 7 mm Hg) conditions. This gentle increase in PaCO2 was sufficient to produce robust and significant increases in both arterial and venous vessel diameters, concomitant to decreases in transit times of a bolus of dye from artery to venule (14%, P 0.08, n = 122). In contrast, on average, RBC velocities increased less in the smaller capillaries (39 ± 5%, P
Single-institution experience with ipilimumab in advanced melanoma patients in the compassionate use setting lymphocyte count after 2 doses correlates with survival

Melanoma is 1 of several cancers whose incidence has increased in the past several decades.1 In the metastatic setting, therapy is toxic and relatively ineffective.2–4 Most trials have reported objective responses in <15% of patients, which tend to be short-lived. In fact, a clear survival benefit for chemotherapy has yet to be demonstrated. The notable exception is treatment with high-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2), which has a similarly low response rate and serious toxicity but does lead to durable complete responses in a small subset of patients. As such, more effective therapy is urgently needed. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) is a coinhibitory molecule expressed by activated T cells and a subset of regulatory T cells.5–7 CTLA-4 is of primary importance in maintaining immune homeostasis by down-regulating T-cell signaling to inhibit the CD28-B7 costimulatory pathway, limiting T-cell responses, and contributing to tolerance to self-antigens.8, 9 Therefore, blockade of CTLA-4 is thought to prevent down-regulation of T cells and can potentiate immune responses against antigens expressed on tumor cells.10–13 Ipilimumab is a fully human immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody that blocks CTLA-4. In several phase 1 and 2 trials, it has been found to produce objective and durable tumor responses in several tumor types, notably melanoma.14, 15 A group of mechanism-based side effects, termed immune-related adverse events, occur in patients treated with CTLA-4–blocking antibodies. The induction of this organ-specific inflammation underscores the importance of CTLA-4 in restraining the immune system under normal circumstances. The immune-related adverse events can be controlled using corticosteroids, according to simple algorithms. Interestingly, the frequency of clinical benefit has been observed to be higher in patients having immune-related adverse events, and the use of corticosteroids and other immunosuppressive medications does not interfere with sustained tumor immunity.16 In this article, we report on 51 evaluable patients with advanced melanoma treated in a compassionate use trial of ipilimumab at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC). These were heavily pretreated patients who did not qualify for other clinical trials and were expected to have a poor prognosis. In addition to communicating a large single-institution experience with ipilimumab, which largely corroborates findings of multi-institutional trials, we also propose that the absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) after the first 2 treatments may be a useful biomarker to identify patients who are unlikely to benefit from ipilimumab therapy. Given the occurrence of immune-related adverse events in a significant number of patients and the sometimes long time interval required to obtain clinical benefit, a simple biomarker for identification of patients with low chance for benefit represents an important goal.
β-galactosidase activity in fibroblasts and tissues from sheep with a lysosomal storage disease

Tissues and fibroblasts of sheep affected with an inherited, neuronal lysosomal storage disease expressed a deficiency of β-galactosidase activity. Cerebrum, kidney, lung, spinal cord, and spleen from affected sheep had less than 8% of the β-galactosidase activity present in the respective tissues of normal sheep. No evidence for the presence of an endogenous inhibitor in affected sheep was detected by mixing studies. Liver of affected sheep expressed a deficiency of β-galactosidase activity only in the presence of the β-d-glycosidase inhibitors, glucono-δ-lactone and 2,5-dihydroxymethyl-3,4-dihydroxypyrrolidine. In these studies, we demonstrated the existence of tissue-specific β-galactosidases in sheep and showed that the affected sheep have a deficiency of the lysosomal β-galactosidase. Our results suggest that the high residual β-galactosidase activity in liver of affected sheep can be attributed to a nonlysosomal β-galactosidase that has a neutralpH optimum and may be under temporal regulation.
Breast cancer detection demonstration project data can determine whether the prognosis of breast cancer is affected by the time of surgery during the menstrual cycle

The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of using Breast Cancer Detection Demonstration Project (BCDDP) data to ascertain whether the prognosis of breast cancer in premenopausal women is affected when surgery is performed relative to the different phases of the menstrual cycle. In the Louisville BCDDP only 40 cases were available for study, but even with this small number, the data indicate that survivorship was superior when the surgery was performed between days 7–20 of the menstrual cycle (P < 0.06). One thousand eighty-seven premenopausal women underwent surgery for breast cancer during the first 5 years of the national BCDDP, beginning in 1972. This large number of cases, plus the long period of follow-up should provide sufficient statistical power for us to evaluate if there is any relationship between the day of the menstrual cycle, the day surgery was performed, and prognosis. This feasibility study indicates that these women should be followed up and the appropriate statistical studies should be done. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The role of practice and automaticity in temporal and nontemporal dual-task performance

Research on time and attention shows that a nontemporal task may interfere with a concurrent timing task by making time judgments shorter, more variable, and/or more inaccurate compared to timing-only conditions. Brown (1998, Psychological Research, 61, 71-81) counteracted the interference effect by giving subjects automaticity training on a nontemporal task to reduce the amount of processing resources the task required. Such practice attenuated interference in timing. Two new experiments were designed to replicate and extend the previous findings. Subjects generated a series of 5-s temporal productions under single-task (timing only) and dual-task (timing plus nontemporal task) conditions. The nontemporal tasks were pursuit rotor tracking (Experiment 1), and mirror-reversed reading (Experiment 2). We employed a pretest-practice-posttest paradigm, with the practice sessions devoted to performance of the nontemporal task. Pretest-posttest comparisons showed that practice reduced interference in timing in both experiments. Dual-task probe trials were given during the practice sessions to trace the time course of the improvement in timing. The results showed that interference in timing was reduced with even small amounts of practice. The findings support the idea that timing is very sensitive to changes in the allocation of attentional resources.
LH Does Not Increase Cyclic AMP in the Thyroid

We previously reported that LH increased cyclic AMP concentrations in dog thyroid slices and that this effect could not be accounted for on the basis of the stated TSH contamination of the preparation (1). This conclusion now appears incorrect since anti-² subunit LH antibody did not inhibit the effect of 2 μg LH on the thyroid. An equivalent amount of the antibody completely abolished the effect of 2 μg LH on cyclic AMP concentrations in slices of pig corpus luteum. Therefore, the action of LH on the thyroid represented TSH contamination and LH does not have any intrinsic activity to increase cyclic AMP in the thyroid. The TSH contamination of LH appears to be underestimated on the basis of a bioassay dependent upon 32P incorporation into phospholipids in chick thyroid. Bioassay based on cyclic AMP accumulation in thyroid slices indicated a TSH contamination tenfold greater than that reported using 32P incorporation into phospholipids. Two other LH preparations also had greater TSH contamination based on...
Fabrication of stable superhydrophilic surfaces on titanium substrates

We report a method of producing superhydrophilic surfaces on titanium substrates via sandblasting and dip-coating with colloidal silica nanoparticles. The surface exhibits a high level of hydrophilic stability, as it stays superhydrophilic for an excess of 40 days and through multiple wetting–dewetting cycles. The combination of microscale roughness from the sandblasting and nanoscale roughness from the silica particles results in a micro-nano binary structure, which greatly enhances the hydrophilicity of the titanium samples. Due to the simplicity and ease of implementation of this method, such a surface is suitable for potential use in a variety of applications, such as prosthetic dentistry and other biomedical fields.
Theory of optical absorption in diamond, Si, Ge, and GaAs

We report first-principles calculations of ${\ensuremath{\epsilon}}_{2}(\ensuremath{\omega})$ for diamond, Si, Ge, and GaAs that include the electron-hole interaction in detail. The only essential experimental input is the crystal structure of the materials. Comparison with reflectivity and ellipsometry measurements allows us to assess the validity of the approximations made in the calculation. We conclude that the approximation of singly excited electronic states and a statically screened electron-hole interaction is sufficient to understand the main features of the absorption spectra of these materials in the visible to near ultraviolet.
Food Deserts in Leon County, FL: Disparate Distribution of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Accepting Stores by Neighborhood Characteristics

Abstract Objective Examine whether neighborhood characteristics of racial composition, income, and rurality were related to distribution of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)–accepting stores in Leon County, Florida. Design Cross-sectional; neighborhood and food store data collected in 2008. Setting and Participants Forty-eight census tracts as proxy of neighborhoods in Leon County, Florida. All stores and SNAP-accepting stores were identified from a commercial business directory and a United States Department of Agriculture SNAP-accepting store list, respectively (n = 288). Main Outcome Measures Proportion of SNAP-accepting stores across neighborhoods. Analysis Descriptive statistics to describe distribution of SNAP-accepting stores by neighborhood characteristics. Proportions of SNAP-accepting stores were compared by neighborhood characteristics with Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Results Of 288 available stores, 45.1% accepted SNAP benefits. Of the 48 neighborhoods, 16.7% had no SNAP-accepting stores. Proportions of SNAP-accepting grocery stores were significantly different by neighborhood racial composition and income. Primarily black neighborhoods did not have any supermarkets. Results were mixed with regard to distribution of food stores and SNAP-accepting stores by neighborhood racial composition, income, and rurality. Conclusions and Implications This study suggests disparities in distribution of SNAP-accepting stores across neighborhood characteristics of racial composition, income, and rurality.