cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Recurrent Half-Sib Selection with Testcross Evaluation for Increased Oil Content in Soybean

Protein meal and oil are the two commodities produced from soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] that give the crop its value. Increasing seed concentrations of either or both may add value. Objectives of this study were to investigate the effectiveness of recurrent half-sib selection for increased seed oil, to evaluate the effect of tester oil content on selection response, and to investigate testcross heterosis and inbreeding depression for seed oil content. A recurrent half-sib selection system was devised for soybean and selection for increased oil content was conducted in a population for seven and three cycles using a high and a low-oil tester, respectively. The base population was a high-oil composite with gray pubescence (tt) that was segregating for nuclear genetic ms, male sterility. In summer, the base population was planted in single plant hills and bordered with the tester (Ms i Ms i TT) in a random mating block in North Carolina. About 100 to 200 random male-sterile plants with hybrid seeds were harvested. Half-sib families derived from each male-sterile plant were then grown in Puerto Rico in winter. At maturity, seeds from tawny plants (tester hybrid) were used to identify half-sib families with high-oil content. Corresponding gray plant hybrids from sib matings within the population were bulked to start the next cycle of selection. Random progenies from the base populations and selected progenies from each cycle of selection were evaluated in a replicated field experiment at three locations in North Carolina. Cycle x tester hybrids and cycle x cycle sib hybrids were also included in the tests. The results showed that oil content was significantly increased at a rate of 1.1 ± 0.2 g kg -1 cycle -1 in the high-oil tester populations but not in the low-oil tester populations. The realized heritability estimate for the high-oil tester population was 0.12 ± 0.03. Evidence of heterosis indicated that some dominance effects on oil content existed. Dominance effects may affect the evaluation accuracy of the genotypes being tested. A high-oil tester and high-oil populations may have many common alleles resulting in less dominance and more additive effects in their hybrids. Consequently, a high-oil tester can lead to better evaluation and selection precision, compared with a low-oil tester which could mask additive effects and reduce selection precision.
Renderings of the Charleston, South Carolina, Theatre of 1793

Charleston will be celebrating another bicentennial in 1993, the restoration of its theatre. Several illustrations of the Charleston Theatre of 1793, its scenery, costumes, and performers have recently surfaced, enabling us to celebrate its bicentennial more vividly. An oil painting of the theatre under construction reappeared in a private estate in 1989 and was purchased by the Gibbes Art Gallery, Charleston, the following year. In addition, watercolors and pencil sketches of the interior of the theatre, its scenery, and costumes have recently been deposited at the South Carolina Historical Society.
Mechanism of Stereospecific Production of l-Amino Acids from the Corresponding 5-Substituted Hydantoins by Bacillus brevis

The mechanism of stereospecific production of l-amino acids from the corresponding 5-substituted hydantoins by Bacillus brevis AJ-12299 was studied. The enzymes involved in the reaction were partially purified by DEAE-Toyopearl 650M column chromatography and their properties were investigated. The conversion of dl-5-substituted hydantoins to the corresponding l-amino acids consisted of the following two successive reactions. The first step was the ring-opening hydrolysis to N-carbamoyl amino acids catalyzed by an ATP dependent l-5-substituted hydantoin hydrolase. This reaction was stereospecific and the N-carbamoyl amino acid produced was exclusively the l-form. N-Carbamoyl-l-amino acid was also produced from the d-form of 5-substituted hydantoin, which suggests that spontaneous racemization occurred in the reaction mixture. In the second step, N-carbamoyl-l-amino acid was hydrolyzed to l-amino acid by an N-carbamoyl-l-amino acid hydrolase, which was also an l-specific enzyme. The ATP dependency of the l-...
Gibt es zu den heutigen Großdieselmotoren eine Alternative

Bei der MAN B&W Diesel AG wurde untersucht, ob es eine sinnvolle Alternative zu den heutigen Bauformen des langsamlaufenden Kreuzkopf-Zweitakt- und des mittelschnelllaufenden Tauchkolben-Viertaktmotors gibt. Einige Voruberlegungen ergaben, dass diese Alternative, wenn uberhaupt, nur ein mittelschnelllaufender Tauchkolben-Zweitaktmotor sein kann.
Study on the immunization coverage rate of EPI vaccines in Hubei Province in 2010

Objective To know the immunization coverage rate of EPI vaccines since 2004 in Hubei and find the factors associated with children who were not inoculated.Methods Stratified random sampling was conducted by selecting 10 counties in the investigation of immunization of children born from January 1,2004 to December 31,2009.Descriptive epidemiology method was conducted to analyse the rate of inoculation and unvaccinated reasons.Results The routine immunization coverage rate of BCG,OPV,DPT,MV/MR/MMR and HepB was all more than 95%,and the five vaccines coverage rate was all more than 89.64%,and the timely rate of immunization of HepB1 was 91.13%.The immunization coverage rate of JE,MenA1,MenA2 and HepA,which were included in EPI recently,was 71.82%、80.27%、73.74% and 57.42% respectively.The reinforced immunization coverage rate of DPT,OPV,MV/MR/MMR,MenAC1 and JE was 80.10%、76.29%、82.35%、58.48% and 59.93% respectively.Sickness accounted for 52% factors involved in failure of immunization BCG.Lack of positivity of immunization of OPV、DPT、MV、HepB、JE、MenA、MenAC、HepA accounted for 57.9%、47.7%、40.3%、45.9%、38.8%、44.6%、46.2%、39.0% respectively.Conclusions The routine immunization rate of the five Immunization program vaccines were still high.The reinforced immunization coverage rates decreased with the increase of age.Lack of positivity of immunization of parents for their children led to the lower rate of inoculation of all vaccines.
Estimating Encounter Rates and Densities of Three Lemur Species in Northeastern Madagascar

Primate populations, including Madagascar’s lemurs, are threatened worldwide and conservationists need accurate population estimates to develop targeted conservation plans. We sought to fill knowledge gaps for three lemur taxa —white-fronted brown lemur (Eulemur albifrons); eastern woolly lemur (Avahi laniger); and Allocebus/Microcebus, a category combining observations of hairy-eared dwarf lemurs (Allocebus trichotis) and mouse lemurs (Microcebus spp.)— in northeastern Madagascar by estimating their density, examining how their encounter rates and densities vary across three different forest types, and monitoring trends in encounter rates and densities at resurveyed sites, using data from surveys at six forest sites over a 4-year period (2010–2013). Landscape density for white-fronted brown lemur, eastern woolly lemur, and Allocebus/Microcebus was 21.5 (SE 3.67), 57.7 (SE 9.17), and 39.1 (SE 9.55) individuals/km2, respectively. There was no difference in density estimates at intact and intermediately degraded forest sites; however, we encountered white-fronted brown lemurs more often in intact forest (1.64 ± SE 0.40 individuals/km) than in intermediately degraded and degraded forest (0.15 ± SE 0.06 and 0.16 ± SE 0.06 individuals/km). In addition, we encountered white-fronted brown lemurs at lower rates in 2013 (0.15 ± SE 0.06 individuals/km) compared to 2010 (0.82 ± SE 0.12 individuals/km) at a resurveyed site. Our findings emphasize that primate researchers must account for variation in how lemur encounter rates and densities differ between intact and degraded forests, and although we observed a decline in white-fronted brown lemur encounter rate at our resurveyed site, we caution that changes in lemur encounter rates may simply reflect lower detection rates rather than lower density. Future research should focus on using conventional distance sampling techniques, which are infrequently used in primate studies, to provide more robust density estimates as a way to accurately assess trends and the effects of anthropogenic pressures on lemur populations.
RNA Viruses Infecting Pest Insects

RNA viruses contain ribonucleic acid as their genetic material and may be double or single stranded. They can be further categorized as negative- or positive-sense viruses, and according to whether they have a lipid envelope, and single or multiple genomes. There is a wide variety of RNA viruses, many of which induce disease in plants, vertebrates, and invertebrates. Their structural simplicity, reduced genome size, and prolific replication rates make them ideal models for studying virus biology. Despite being the most prevalent group of viruses, RNA viruses infecting insect pests are currently limited to six families. Recent progress in the study of insect RNA viruses presents opportunities for better understanding, prevention, and treatment of the diseases they cause. This chapter focuses on RNA viruses infecting pest insects and reviews their morphology, genome organization, phylogeny, natural history, transmission, and pathogenesis. Prospects for research and the potential of using RNA viruses as biological control agents are discussed.
Abstract 1358: Structure-based drug design of 3-site binding, high affinity inhibitors of S100B in malignant melanoma

An especially predictive biomarker when used in combination with other diagnostic indicators, S100B is elevated in >90% of malignant melanoma (MM) patients and its protein level correlates directly with poor survival ( Citation Format: Michael C. Cavalier, Paul T. Wilder, Diane Luci, David J. Maloney, Lei Fang, Mohd. Imran Ansari, Alexander D. MacKerell, Andrew Coop, Ajit Jadhav, David J. Weber. Structure-based drug design of 3-site binding, high affinity inhibitors of S100B in malignant melanoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 1358.
Successful Return to Sport Following Distal Femoral Varus Osteotomy.

Objectives: Distal femoral varus osteotomy is an effective treatment for unloading valgus knee malalignment; however, there is limited evidence on the ability for patients to return to athletics following this procedure. The purpose of this study is to report the functional outcomes and return to sport for athletic patients that underwent distal femoral varus osteotomy.
Multiple myeloma in a patient with hoarseness, dysphagia, aspiration, and cervical lymphadenopathy

Multiple myeloma, which primarily affects the elderly, is rare in the head and neck. We report the case of a 71-year-old man who came to us with hoarseness, dysphagia, intermittent aspiration, and cervical lymphadenopathy. Our work-up included laboratory tests, radiographic examinations, analysis of bone marrow aspiration, and histopathologic evaluations. Cervical lymph node biopsy confirmed a diagnosis of multiple myeloma. Despite treatment with chemotherapy and radiation, the patient died of his disease 6 months later.
Cloud Computing and Digital Forensics Challenges

Abstract—Nowadays, the storage of computer data is moving rapidly toward cloud computing as an evolving information technology phenomenon. Instead of building, maintaining, and managing a physical Information technology infrastructure, the organizations start to replace the physical infrastructure with remote and virtual environments that are managed by third parties. This shift has a significant impact on forensics investigators, hardware and software vendors, IT experts, law enforcements and corporate audit departments since more crimes are committed with the involvement of computers. Digital forensics helps courts and law enforcement agencies to collect valuable evidence for investigations. This paper presents a general overview of cloud computing and digital forensics. Also, it discusses the major benefits and challenges of using cloud computing on digital forensics.
Modeling Bisolute Adsorption of Aromatic Compounds Based on Adsorbed Solution Theories.

A large number of organic contaminants are commonly found in industrial and municipal wastewaters. For proper unit design to remove contaminant mixtures by adsorption, multicomponent adsorption equilibrium models are necessary. The present work examined the applicability of Ideal Adsorbed Solution Theory (IAST), a prevailing thermodynamic model, and its derivatives, i.e., Segregated IAST (SIAST) and Real Adsorbed Solution Theory (RAST), to bisolute adsorption of organic compounds onto a hyper-cross-linked polystyrene resin, MN200. Both IAST and SIAST were found to be less accurate in fitting the experimental bisolute adsorption isotherms than RAST. RAST incorporated with an empirical four-parameter equation developed in this work can fit the adsorbed phase activity coefficients, γi, better than RAST combined with the Wilson equation or the Nonrandom two-liquid (NRTL) model. Moreover, two polyparameter linear free energy relationships were developed for the adsorption of a number of solutes at low concentr...
Structural water engaged disordered vanadium oxide nanosheets for high capacity aqueous potassium-ion storage.

Aqueous electrochemical energy storage devices using potassium-ions as charge carriers are attractive due to their superior safety, lower cost and excellent transport properties compared to other alkali ions. However, the accommodation of potassium-ions with satisfactory capacity and cyclability is difficult because the large ionic radius of potassium-ions causes structural distortion and instabilities even in layered electrodes. Here we report that water induces structural rearrangements of the vanadium-oxygen octahedra and enhances stability of the highly disordered potassium-intercalated vanadium oxide nanosheets. The vanadium oxide nanosheets engaged by structural water achieves high capacity (183 mAh g−1 in half-cells at a scan rate of 5 mV s−1, corresponding to 0.89 charge per vanadium) and excellent cyclability (62.5 mAh g−1 in full cells after 5,000 cycles at 10 C). The promotional effects of structural water on the disordered vanadium oxide nanosheets will contribute to the exploration of disordered structures from earth-abundant elements for electrochemical energy storage. The authors report that the interplay between structural water and highly disordered vanadium oxide can stabilize the layered metal oxides and enhanced their performance for aqueous potassium-ion storage based on neutron scattering measurements and electrochemical characterizations.
Towards properties on demand in quantum materials

The past decade has witnessed an explosion in the field of quantum materials, headlined by the predictions and discoveries of novel Landau-symmetry-broken phases in correlated electron systems, topological phases in systems with strong spin-orbit coupling, and ultra-manipulable materials platforms based on two-dimensional van der Waals crystals. Discovering pathways to experimentally realize quantum phases of matter and exert control over their properties is a central goal of modern condensed-matter physics, which holds promise for a new generation of electronic/photonic devices with currently inaccessible and likely unimaginable functionalities. In this Review, we describe emerging strategies for selectively perturbing microscopic interaction parameters, which can be used to transform materials into a desired quantum state. Particular emphasis will be placed on recent successes to tailor electronic interaction parameters through the application of intense fields, impulsive electromagnetic stimulation, and nanostructuring or interface engineering. Together these approaches outline a potential roadmap to an era of quantum phenomena on demand.
Fabrication and Actuation of an Electrowetting Droplet Array on a Flexible Substrate

Electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) is a fast, well-established actuation method for a variety of applications, from microfluidics to electrowetting displays to electrowetting lenses. We therefore seek to develop a robust, scalable fabrication method for the realization of EWOD on a flexible polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate in order to increase the range of possible applications. We fabricated a 5 × 5 array of individually controlled electrowetting cells to manipulate silicone oil droplets via EWOD. The fabrication process utilized exclusively flexible materials to improve the robustness of the overall device, and processing methods were adapted to accommodate the particular challenges posed by flexible materials. Simulation of the EWOD devices was conducted using ANSYS Fluent and showed the change in contact angle in response to voltage applied. Fabricated devices were also tested, with actuation of the oil droplet observed with up to 100 V (RMS) AC applied across underlying electrodes. We demonstrated fabrication of a fully flexible array and verified actuation to center droplets over the electrodes. This work may be expanded to address more specific flexible applications for EWOD.
What Circuit Classes Can Be Learned with Non-Trivial Savings?

Despite decades of intensive research, efficient - or even sub-exponential time - distribution-free PAC learning algorithms are not known for many important Boolean function classes. In this work we suggest a new perspective on these learning problems, inspired by a surge of recent research in complexity theory, in which the goal is to determine whether and how much of a savings over a naive 2^n runtime can be achieved. We establish a range of exploratory results towards this end. In more detail, (1) We first observe that a simple approach building on known uniform-distribution learning results gives non-trivial distribution-free learning algorithms for several well-studied classes including AC0, arbitrary functions of a few linear threshold functions (LTFs), and AC0 augmented with mod_p gates. (2) Next we present an approach, based on the method of random restrictions from circuit complexity, which can be used to obtain several distribution-free learning algorithms that do not appear to be achievable by approach (1) above. The results achieved in this way include learning algorithms with non-trivial savings for LTF-of-AC0 circuits and improved savings for learning parity-of-AC0 circuits. (3) Finally, our third contribution is a generic technique for converting lower bounds proved using Neciporuk's method to learning algorithms with non-trivial savings. This technique, which is the most involved of our three approaches, yields distribution-free learning algorithms for a range of classes where previously even non-trivial uniform-distribution learning algorithms were not known; these classes include full-basis formulas, branching programs, span programs, etc. up to some fixed polynomial size.
Increased macrophage-derived SPARC precedes collagen deposition in myocardial fibrosis

Myocardial fibrosis and the resultant increases in left ventricular and myocardial stiffness represent pivotal consequences of chronic pressure overload. In this study a murine model of cardiac fib...
Undergraduate majors in public administration and competitor fields: How do student characteristics and career outcomes compare?

We know strikingly little about the people who earn undergraduate degrees in public administration/policy. Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) for 2009–...
Hic-5 expression is a major indicator of cancer cell morphology, migration, and plasticity in three-dimensional matrices.

We show that the relative expression of the focal adhesion protein Hic-5 to paxillin dictates mesenchymal versus amoeboid cell morphologies and migration in a range of cancer cell lines. Further, u...
Cytologic findings in thyroid nodules after 131I treatment of hyperthyroidism.

Findings in seven cytologic specimens obtained with fine-needle aspiration biopsy were described in three patients in whom thyroid nodules developed after iodine 131 treatment of hyperthyroidism. In two patients, the presence of large bizarre cells with hyperchromatic nuclei, coarse chromatin, and prominent nucleoli suggested the possibility of malignancy, and in particular, anaplastic carcinoma. These bizarre nuclear changes were diffuse in one patient and focal in the other. In the third patient, nuclei with chromatin clearing, grooves, and nuclear pseudoinclusions suggested papillary carcinoma. At follow-up, lesions were benign in all three patients. We conclude that nuclear changes suggestive of either anaplastic carcinoma or papillary carcinoma may be seen in thyroid nodules after 131I treatment. Clues to the benign nature of these nodules include architectural arrangement of cells in cohesive clusters and flat sheets; presence of lymphocytes, histiocytes, colloid, cytoplasmic vacuoles, and Hurthle cells; and a clinical history of treatment with radioactive iodine.
Network Reliability Optimization

This chapter presents design of reliable networks. The exact calculation of any general network reliability measure is NP-hard. Therefore, network designers have been reluctant to use reliability as a design criterion. However, reliability is becoming an important concern to provide continuous service quality to network customers. The chapter discusses various network reliability measures and efficient techniques to evaluate them. Two genetic algorithms are presented to demonstrate how these techniques to estimate and compute network reliability can be incorporated within an optimization algorithm. Computational experiments show that the proposed approaches significantly reduce computational effort without compromising design quality.
The molecular aspects of pigments and photosynthesis in Cyanidium caldarium

Cyanidium caldarium is a unicellular rhodophyte capable of growing at extremes of temperature and pH (Brock 1978). C. caldarium has been isolated in the field at Yellowstone National Park in Wyom ing, Lassen National Park and The Geysers in California, Steamboat Springs in Nevada, and from acid, thermal habitats in Italy, Iceland, New Zealand, Japan, Indonesia, Dominica and El Salvador. The requirements for growth, pigmentation and photosynthesis in the natural habitat have resulted in the evolution of remarkable organism with properties ideally suited for investigations on chloroplast biogenesis, biosynthesis of photosynthetic pigments and regulation of chloroplast gene expression (Troxler 1986).
The Complete, Loose Fundoplication: Results of Operation for Severe Reflux Esophagitis 1975–1985

The safety, reliability, and durability of a transabdominal, circumferential, loose fundoplication for severe reflux esophagitis has been evaluated in 40 patients treated since 1975 by a standardized technique. The patients were followed to assess the fundoplication’s ability to prevent esophagitis and to determine the frequency and severity of postfundoplication symptoms.
Some topics in symmetrization

the surface area measure on Sn-l. If u is a measurable function on Sn-l its spherical symmetrization uo:s n-1 ffi can be defined as in the point symmetrization case. o is a function of 0, decreases with 0, and satisfies o(u > t) o(uo > t) for every t. If u is defined in the spherical shell A(R 1 , R2) = (x ffin:R1 < Ixl < R2) its spherical symmetrization o = uo(r,O) is defined by symmetrizing on each sphere Ixl = r, R1 < r < R2" There are many other types, for example k-dimensional cap symmetrizations, which include spherical and "cylindrical" symmetrizations, and k-dimensional steiner symmetrizations,
Mind-Brain Dichotomy, Mental Disorder, and Theory of Mind

The tendency to draw mind-brain dichotomies and evaluate mental disorders dualistically arises in both laypeople and mental health professionals, leads to biased judgments, and contributes to mental health stigmatization. This paper offers a theory identifying an underlying source of these evaluations in social practice. According to this theory, dualistic evaluations are rooted in two mechanisms by which we represent and evaluate the beliefs of others in folk psychology and theory of mind: the doxastic conception of mental disorders and doxastic voluntarism. Tracing these origins contributes to our understanding of mental state representation in cognitive science and philosophy of psychiatry, the concept of belief in philosophy of mind, and may help improve patient experience and treatment in light of social stigmatization and bias toward mental illness.
The dataset of scanning electron microscope images of silver nanoparticles formed in situ by dopamine chemistry

The mussel inspired chemistry of dopamine oxidation to form polydopamine (PDA) and in situ reduction of metal ions in solution to form metal nanoparticles have widely opened the application of metal nanoparticles surface modification technology. This article contains the dataset of the scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of silver nanoparticles coated on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films utilizing dopamine chemistry alone or combined with polyvinylpyrrolidone or glucose. The Ag NPs formed in various environments present round, cubic, or triangle shape. Mendeley Data, http://dx.doi.org/10.17632/bjjrt2dwbn.1.
On the Relationship Between Income Inequality and the Shadow Economy

We empirically investigate the linkages between income inequality and the shadow economy. Employing a panel vector autoregression model, we build impulse response functions to study the time path of income inequality following a shock to the shadow economy, and vice versa. Our results using panel data for 144 countries over the period 1960–2009 reveal a bidirectional positive relationship between the two: specifically, higher income inequality promotes the spread of the shadow economy while the development of the shadow economy contributes to income inequality. Overall, these findings withstand a variety of robustness checks.
AMPK-Mediated Lysosome Biogenesis in Lung Cancer Growth

Cancer cells must adapt to metabolic stress during tumor progression. In this issue of Cell Metabolism, Eichner et al. (2019) report that lung cancer development in genetically engineered mice requires the energy sensor AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Their findings suggest that AMPK-mediated induction of lysosomal function supports cancer cell fitness, particularly during the early stages of tumorigenesis.
Monophosphoryl Lipid a Attenuates Multiorgan Dysfunction During Post-Burn Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Pneumonia in Sheep.

Background Monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA) is a TLR4 agonist that has potent immunomodulatory properties and modulates innate immune function to improve host resistance to infection with common nosocomial pathogens in mice. The goal of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of MPLA in a sheep model of burn injury and Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia. The sheep provides a favorable model for preclinical testing as their response to TLR4 agonists closely mimics that of humans. Methods Twelve chronically instrumented adult female Merino sheep received 20% total body surface area, third-degree cutaneous burn under anesthesia and analgesia. At 24 h after burn, sheep were randomly allocated to receive: MPLA (2.5 μg/kg i.v., n = 6), or vehicle (i.v., n = 6). At 24 h after MPLA or vehicle treatment, Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia was induced. Sheep were mechanically ventilated, fluid resuscitated and cardiopulmonary variables were monitored for 24 h after induction of pneumonia. Cytokine production, vascular barrier function, and lung bacterial burden were also measured. Results MPLA infusion induced small and transient alterations in core body temperature, heart rate, pulmonary artery pressure, and pulmonary vascular resistance. Pulmonary mechanics were not altered. Vehicle-treated sheep developed severe acute lung injury during Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia, which was attenuated by MPLA as indicated by improved PaO2/FiO2 ratio, oxygenation index, and shunt fraction. Sheep treated with MPLA also exhibited less vascular leak, lower blood lactate levels, and lower modified organ injury score. MPLA treatment attenuated systemic cytokine production and decreased lung bacterial burden. Conclusions MPLA was well tolerated in burned sheep and attenuated development of acute lung injury, lactatemia, cytokinemia, vascular leak, and hemodynamic changes caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia.
Residential water-soluble organic gases: chemical characterization of a substantial contributor to indoor exposures

Characterization of residential indoor air is important to understanding exposures to airborne chemicals. While it is well known that non-polar VOCs are elevated indoors, polar VOCs remain poorly characterized. Recent measurements showed that total polar water-soluble organic gas (WSOG) concentrations are also much higher indoors than directly outdoors (on average 15× greater at 13 homes, on a carbon-mass basis). This work aims to chemically characterize these WSOG mixtures. Acetic, lactic, and formic acids account for 41% on average (30–54% across homes), of the total WSOG-carbon collected inside each home. Remaining WSOGs were characterized via high-resolution positive-mode electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. In total, 98 individual molecular formulas were detected. On average 67% contained the elements CHO, 11% CHN, 11% CHON, and 11% contained sulfur, phosphorus, or chlorine. Some molecular formulas are consistent with compounds having known indoor sources such as diethylene glycol (m/z+ 117.091, C4H10O3), hexamethylenetetramine (m/z+ 141.113, C6H12N4), and methacrylamide (m/z+ 86.060, C4H7NO). Exposure pathways, potential doses, and implications are discussed.
Surgical treatment for chronic postoperative inguinal pain - Short term outcomes of a specialized center.

Abstract Background Chronic postoperative inguinodynia is a challenging long-term complication after inguinal hernia repair. Surgery may be an option for patients who are refractory to non-operative measures. We aim to evaluate the short-term outcomes of surgical treatment for chronic inguinodynia at our institution. Methods Consecutive patients undergoing surgical treatment for chronic groin pain were identified in a prospectively maintained database. Outcomes included operative details, intra- and postoperative complications, pain scores, and patient satisfaction. Results 29 patients were included in the study. All patients were refractory to multimodal pain management. The median pain score on presentation was 8 (IQR 7–10), and after a median follow-up of 6 months (IQR 4–11), there was a statistically significant reduction in pain scores (median 2, IQR 2–6, p Conclusions Chronic groin pain is a complex problem with no universal solution. In our experience, surgical treatment significantly decreased short-term pain scores.
Task and Participant Variables Predict Communication Complexity Scale (CCS) Scores: Closer Examination of the CCS

Communication Complexity Scale (CCS) scores for 269 minimally verbal participants were examined to determine if communicator behavior and task and communicator characteristics were related to scores in a manner consistent with theoretical and research evidence expectations. Each participant completed an interactive assessment with 6 joint attention tasks and 6 behavior regulation tasks. Caregivers completed the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales II. Results indicated (a) joint attention tasks yielded lower scores than behavior regulation tasks, (b) older participants had lower scores, (c) individuals with autism spectrum disorder scored more similarly than those without, (d) the difference between joint attention and behavior regulation scores was greater for the autism spectrum disorder group, and (e) adaptive behavior was significantly positively related to complexity scores.
La Constitución Europea renace de sus cenizas: el Tratado de Lisboa

This editorial looks at the Treaty of Lisbon approved last October. Reference is made to the project for a European Constitution that was withdrawn after being rejected by referendum in Holland and France. We maintain that the text of the present Treaty consists of a new version of the two Treaties now in force, comparing it with the above mentioned Constitution project. Reference is made to the proposals on Presidency of the Union, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs, the definition of qualified majority and Parliamentary power. An assessment is given both of the process (absence of leadership, practise of gradualism, maintaining of most of the Constitution’s content although a certain pro–European “elan” is lost) and of the European model (criticism of its character as being too liberal, a model based on advanced social democracies, the need for a redefinition of sovereignty). Finally the future challenges for the Union are outlined: ratify the new Treaty, set institutional changes in motion, assimilate enlargement, define Europe’s frontiers, incorporate the challenge of globalisation, consolidate the new finance model, reform the Common Agricultural Policy, consolidate and enlarge the Monetary Union and face up to world challenges as a block.
Toxicity of high-dose methotrexate administration at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center (SKCC): A retrospective review to guide establishment of an outpatient treatment program.

30Background: High-dose methotrexate (HDMTX) is administered for the treatment of primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma (PCNSL), leptomeningeal metastases, and osteosarcoma, as well as CNS ...
Energy-Transfer Edge Centrality and Its Role in Enhancing Network Controllability

The ability to modify the structure of network systems offers great opportunities to enhance their operation, improve their efficiency, and increase their resilience against failures and attacks. This paper focuses on the edge modification problem, i.e., improving network controllability by adding and/or re-weighting interconnections while keeping the actuation structure fixed. We consider a network system following linear dynamics and propose a novel edge centrality measure that captures the extent to which an edge facilitates energy exchange across the network through its defining nodes. We analyze the effectiveness of the proposed measure by characterizing its relationship with the gradient (with respect to edge weights) of trace, log determinant, and inverse of the trace inverse of the Gramian. We show that the optimal solution of the edge modification problem lies on the boundary of the feasible search space when the objective is the trace of the Gramian or the network has a diagonal controllability Gramian and the objective is either log determinant or the inverse of the trace inverse of the Gramian. Finally, using the proposed edge centrality measure we design two network modification algorithms that restrict the search space to a smaller subset of all possible edges and numerically demonstrate their efficacy.
A prelude to postcolonial cultural histories of education: “reading” Amanda Kernell’s Sami Blood

The focus on colonial power and domination tend to muffle the emotional complexities, ambiguous attachments, and cultural paradoxes of persons who become wards of colonial educational systems. Draw...
A Cardiac Amino-Terminal Grk2 Peptide Inhibits Maladaptive Adipocyte Hypertrophy and Insulin Resistance During Diet-Induced Obesity

Objective: Investigate the effect of cardiac βARKnt expression on metabolic function in response to diet-induced obesity. Background: Heart disease remains the leading cause of death, and mortality rates positively correlate with the presence of obesity and diabetes. The exact mechanisms linking dysfunction in cardiac and systemic metabolism are not fully understood. Previously, our lab investigated the role of the amino-terminus of GRK2 in cardiac function using transgenic mice with cardiac restricted expression of a short peptide, βARKnt. Male mice exhibited cardioprotection during chronic pressure overload, enhanced spare respiratory capacity and ATP production using glucose and fatty acids, and reduced abdominal fat weight before and after cardiac stress, potentially due to a novel functional interaction with Akt substrate of 160 kDa (AS160) in the heart. Methods and Results: We subjected animals to high fat diet to trigger cardiac and metabolic adaptive changes. Despite equivalent weight gain, unlike control mice that developed insulin resistance, βARKnt mice exhibited enhanced glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, more metabolic flexibility during indirect calorimetry, and increased energy expenditure. As before, βARKnt mice had reduced gonadal white adipose tissue that exhibited improved inflammatory and energetic markers. Surprisingly, neither β3 adrenergic receptor-mediated nor natriuretic peptide adipose tissue activation explained this enhanced thermogenesis. These mice also exhibited enhanced fractional shortening and cardiac output during both acute and chronic high fat diet stress, and enhanced insulin-mediated AS160 signaling in the heart. Conclusions: These data suggest a cardiac-driven mechanism to ameliorate maladaptive cardiac remodeling and improve systemic metabolic homeostasis during metabolic stress.
Separating Paternal and Maternal Contributions to Thermal Transgenerational Plasticity

Climate change is rapidly altering the thermal environment in terrestrial and aquatic systems. Transgenerational thermal plasticity (TGP) – which occurs when the temperatures experienced by the parental generation prior to the fertilization of gametes results in a change in offspring reaction norms – may mitigate the effects of climate change. Although ‘maternal effects’ have been widely studied, relatively little is known about TGP effects in vertebrates, particularly paternal contributions. We used artificial fertilization to cross sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus) parents exposed to either low (26°C) or high (32°C) temperatures and measured growth rates of the offspring over the first 8 weeks of life at both low and high temperatures. A linear mixed effects model was employed to quantify the effects of maternal, paternal, and offspring temperatures on offspring growth and fecundity. We found that the offspring growth rate up to 63 days post-hatch was affected by both the temperature they experienced directly and parental temperatures prior to fertilization. Growth was lowest when neither parents’ temperature matched the offspring temperature, indicating a strong transgenerational effect. Notably, offspring growth was highest when all three (offspring, sire, and dam) temperatures matched (although the three-way interaction was found to be marginally nonsignificant (P = 0.155)), suggesting that TGP effects were additive across significant sire-offspring (P <0.001) and dam-offspring interactions (P<0.001). Transgenerational effects on fecundity (GSI) were suggestive for both maternal and paternal effects, but not significant. The finding that thermal TGP is contributed by both parents strongly suggests that it has an epigenetic basis.
SU-E-J-263: Repeatability of SUV and Texture Parameters in Serial PET Studies

Purpose: Standardized uptake values (SUV) are standard quantitative PET measures of FDG tumor uptake used,and are used as a tool to monitor response to therapy. Textural analysis is emerging as a new tool for assessing intratumoral heterogeneity which may allow better tissue characterization and improved prediction of response and survival rate.Understanding what variations may be expected in these parameters is key in order to make decisions based on how the change throughout the course of treatment. The aim of this study was to assess repeatability in SUV measures and texture parameters,and establish criteria that differentiate changes associated with treatment rather than statistical variability. Methods: Eighty patients,167 random lesions total,were scanned in a GE Discovery STE PET/CT Scanner. One field-of-view was chosen centered on the largest lesion observed in a clinical whole-body FDG PET.Immediately following,a gated 9 min scan was acquired in list mode,without changing the patient’s position between any scans. Data was replayed into 3 time bins,3 min each,in order to insure equivalent noise characteristics in each replicate.Data was reconstructed into 128×128×47 square matrices.One VOI was drawn over each lesion for each patient and used to segment all 3 replicates. The mean.max and peak SUV were calculated for each VOImore » and replicate. First-order textural features were also calculated (skewness and kurtosis). Repeatability was calculated as the average standard deviation over the mean for the 3 repeated measurements for each lesion. Results: The average percent error in the SUV max,peak and mean were 3.4%(0– 12.9%),1.9% (0–7.5%),2.8% (0–12.2%),respectively.For skewness and kurtosis they were 10.9% and 17.8%. Conclusion: We have shown that there is a large variation in %error in SUV measures across patients. SUVpeak is the least variable and kurtosis and skewness parameters are less reliable thatn SUVs.Higher order textures are be.« less
Decreased retinal ganglion cell number and misdirected axon growth associated with fissure defects in Bst/+ mutant mice.

Purpose. The autosomal semidominant mutation Bst (belly spot and tail) is often associated with small and atrophic optic nerves in adult mice and shales several important attributes with heritable optic nerve atrophy in humans. In this article, the authors present;tdult and developmental studies on the retinal phenotype in Bst/+ mice. Methods. Retinal ganglion cells in adult Bst/+ mice were labeled retrogradely with horseradish peroxidase injected into the right optical tract. Labeled ganglion cells were mapped in the whole-mounted retinas ipsilateral and contralateral to the injection site. The number of axons in optic nerves of these and other cases were quantified using an electron microscopic method. Eyes of neonatal, embryonic day 15 (E15), and embryonic day 12 (E12) Bst/+ mutants were examined histologically to understand the etiology of the retinal phenotype. Results. Approximately 60% of adult Bst/+ mice have deficiend direct pupillary light responses. This neurologic phenotype is associated with a reduction in the number of retinal ganglion cells from the wild-type average of 67,000 to less than 20,000 in Bst/+ mutants. Ganglion cells with crossed projections are more severely affected than those with uncrossed projections. Histologic analysis of eyes from E12 mice reveals a delayed closure of the optic fissure. Despite this abnormality, other ocular structures appear relatively normal. However, some E15 mutants exhibit marked disorganization of the retinal neuroepithalium, and ganglion cell axons are found between pigmented and neural retina. At birth, optic nerves of affected mice are smaller than those of xild-type mice, ectopic axons are found within the eyes, and the ganglion cell layer many dying cells. Conclusions. The expression of the retinal phenotype in Bst/+ mutants is highly variable-ranging from a complete absence of gangllion cells to numbers comparable to that in wild-type mice. The reduction in ganglion cell number in affected adult Bst/+ mice is attributable to the failure of ganglion cell axons to reach the optic nerve head early in development. Delayed fusion of the fissure is consistently associated with the Bst/+ genotype and probably contributes to the failure of ganglion cell axons to grow out of the eye.
Optical rotatory dispersion and absolute configuration—IV

Abstract Optical rotatory dispersion measurements on α-hydroxy acids, α-substituted alcohols, and their derivatives indicate that a knowledge of the dispersion curve between 200 and 225 mμ permits the direct assignment of the absolute configuration of these compounds. In this way the configurational identity of d -glyceric acid, d -serine, d -lactic acid and d -alanine with d -glyceraldehyde has been confirmed, and compounds derived from, or related, to, α-substituted alcohols may thus be correlated with d -glyceraldehyde.
The effect of calcium on pulmonary vascular resistance and right ventricular function.

Calcium chloride is frequently administered to patients immediately after separation from cardiopulmonary bypass to improve the contractile state of the myocardium. Animal studies suggest that calcium chloride may produce increases in pulmonary vascular resistance, which can precipitate right ventricular failure. In an attempt to determine the effect of calcium chloride administration after cardiopulmonary bypass on right ventricular function, this study was designed to evaluate patients with normal and elevated pulmonary vascular resistance. Fifty patients scheduled for elective cardiac surgery were prospectively studied for changes in ionized calcium levels before and after bypass. The impact of calcium administration on right ventricular function was assessed by a pulmonary artery catheter modified for the measurement of right ventricular ejection fraction. In all patients the level of ionized calcium decreased during bypass from a mean of 4.91 to 4.29 mg · dl-1. However, the infusion of calcium chloride (10 mg · kg-1) after bypass resulted in increasing the ionized calcium levels to prebypass levels. Administration of calcium chloride after bypass to patients with normal right ventricular function resulted in a transient increase in both cardiac output and right ventricular ejection fraction without any change in pulmonary vascular resistance. Eight patients with both elevated pulmonary vascular resistance and depressed right ventricular function were evaluated to determine the effect of calcium chloride after bypass on pulmonary vascular resistance and right ventricular ejection fraction. Administration of calcium chloride (10 mg · dl-1) to these patients did not result in any significant increase in pulmonary vascular resistance or depression of right ventricular performance. More important, in these patients, right ventricular ejection fraction and cardiac output were significantly increased after calcium chloride administration. In summary, the results of this study fail to demonstrate any increase in pulmonary vascular resistance or deterioration of right ventricular function with the administration of calcium chloride (10 mg · kg-1) after bypass in patients with elevated pulmonary vascular resistance. (J T horac C ardiovasc S urg 1992;104:327-32)
Complications of intrathecal drug delivery systems.

Objectives. To report complications associated with implant of the intrathecal drug delivery systems (IDDS). Patients and Methods. A retrospective review of the implant database was undertaken to determine various complications associated with the IDDS. A total of 122 patients were reviewed, 97 included in the final analysis, 25 excluded due to incomplete data. The complications of excluded patients were reviewed separately. The complications were divided in to categories pharmacologic, equipment, procedural, programming errors and psychological. The drugs used were morphine, dilaudid, fentanyl, sufentanil, baclofen, and marcaine. Results. There were 60 men and 37 women. A total of 43 patients reported various complications. Most common were transient pharmacologic side effects (n= 33), procedural (n= 5), equipment (n= 16), programming (n= 2), and psychological (n= 3). The most serious procedural complication was Staphylococcus aureus meningitis (n= 1). Catheter disconnection and leakage was noted in (n= 6) patients. Two programming errors were related to increase in drug concentration with failure to reduce the dose. Seven pumps were explanted, including three due to distorted body image. Conclusion. IDDS are effective and safe devices for pain management. The complications associated with implants are mostly pharmacological and transient.