cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Testing hypotheses of functional relationships: a comparative survey of correlation patterns among floral traits in five insect-pollinated plants

To test hypotheses on the evolution of functional relationships, phenotypic correlations among floral traits were estimated in five species of insect-pollinated plants. The species studied were wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum), canola (Brassica napus), phlox (Phlox divaricata), dame's rocket (Hesperis matronalis), and black mustard (Brassica nigra). Six floral traits were measured on each species. In three of the five species the correlations between the filaments and corolla tube were significantly greater than the other floral correlations. This result is consistent with the hypothesis that selection for proper anther placement to enhance pollination has increased the filament-corolla tube correlations in these three species. In contrast, none of the species showed evidence of selection for an optimal stigma placement; the correlations between the pistil and corolla tube lengths were not greater than the other floral correlations in any of the five species. Organisms are not collections of independent traits. Groups of traits must work together as organs to perform essential functions, and these organs must in turn work together in organ systems to produce an organism that is adapted to its environment. A major unresolved question in evolutionary biology is how genetic, developmental, and phenotypic relationships among different traits evolve to produce functionally integrated organs or or­ ganisms. One approach to answering this question is to examine the evolution of phenotypic and genetic corre­ lations among traits (Olsen and Miller, 1958; Cheverud, 1982, 1984). Selection on the correlation between traits can occur when certain combinations of trait values con­ fer higher fitness than other combinations. Given ade­ quate genetic variance, this selection can in turn alter the correlations over evolutionary time. Very little empirical evidence concerning the evolution of correlations exists, but a few studies demonstrate selection for increased cor­ relation between traits that are functionally related (Ar­ nold and Bennett, 1988; Moore, 1990; Brodie, 1992). On the other hand, some traits or groups of traits may func­ tion more effectively if they are decoupled from each other, so that they vary independently (Berg, 1960). One way to study the evolution of correlations is to look for evidence of past selection in present-day corre­ lation patterns (Berg, 1960; Kingsolver and Wiernasz, 1987, 1991; Armbruster, 1991; Conner and Via, 1993). Based on patterns of correlations among morphological traits in wild radish, Conner and Via (1993) hypothesized that pollinators might have caused selection for increased
Cultivating Positive LGBTQA Identities: An Intervention Study with College Students

A brief intervention exercise focusing on positive experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning young adults and their young adult allies (LGBTQA) was hypothesized to increase positive LGBTQA identity, collective self-esteem, and individual self-esteem. Participants (N = 52) completed pretest, listened to a presentation on positive LGBTQA identities, and wrote personal narratives related to their own positive identity experiences. They then completed posttest and one-month follow-up surveys. Findings indicated that scores on all three outcomes significantly increased between the pre- and posttest but returned to baseline levels when reassessed one month later. Future research should explore ways to enhance the long-term impact of exposure to positive identity interventions on LGBTQA well-being in the current heteronormative cultural environment.
NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 deficiency increases susceptibility to benzo(a)pyrene-induced mouse skin carcinogenesis.

NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) is a flavoprotein that catalyzes the metabolic detoxification of quinones and their derivatives. This protects cells against quinone-induced oxidative stress, cytotoxicity, and mutagenicity. C57BL6 NQO1−/− mice, deficient in NQO1 RNA and protein, were generated in our laboratory. To investigate the role of NQO1 in chemical carcinogenesis, the dorsal skin of NQO1-deficient (NQO1−/−) and wild-type (NQO1+/+) mice were treated with a single dose of benzo(a)pyrene, followed by twice weekly applications of phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate. The NQO1−/− mice showed a much higher frequency of skin tumor development when compared with their wild-type littermates. Interestingly, the male NQO1−/− mice were slower to develop skin tumors than their NQO1−/− female littermates. Histological analysis of the NQO1−/− tumors showed proliferative activity. These results demonstrate that NQO1 acts as an endogenous factor in protection against benzo(a)pyrene carcinogenicity.
Applications of high performance ceramics in heat engine design

Abstract Modern high performance ceramics offer unique combinations of properties which make them very attractive materials for application in advanced heat engines. This paper will provide an introductory review of the brittle materials design procedures required for the successful application of ceramics as structural components. A case history of the iterative evolution of the design of one particular gas turbine stator will be examined as an illustration of these procedures. The current status of ceramics in both diesel and gas turbine applications is reviewed, with emphasis on automotive engine technology. The trade-offs and interrelationships between materials and design will be stressed throughout the paper.
Production metrology for MEMS characterization

Accurate measurements of MEMS geometries and motions are crucial to achieving the desired performance of the devices. The wide variety of MEMS devices in development and production requires very flexible metrology for single-platform characterization. In addition to having greatly varying geometries, devices must also be characterized statically and under actuation. White-light interferometry, fortunately, is a technique flexible enough to meet most MEMS measurement needs. This high-speed, non-contact measurement method allows both large lateral and vertical ranges with nanometer-level vertical resolution and position accuracy. When standard illumination is replaced with strobed light, dynamic measurements of MEMS can also be carried out. This paper presents some of the hardware and software design considerations for producing a single metrology platform with the required flexibility for production MEMS metrology. Several static and dynamic MEMS measurements are presented to illustrate the design requirements.
Numerical analysis of microdisk lasers with rough boundaries

Microdisk lasers with rough boundaries are investigated using the finite-difference time-domain method. Two types of rough boundaries are considered. The first is a sinusoidal roughness, and the second is a random Gaussian function generated by a Monte Carlo method. Results indicate that rough boundaries can affect the scattering loss and the resonant wavelength and can create modal coupling.
Scalable cryptographic key management in wireless sensor networks

We propose a scalable key management scheme for sensor networks consisting of a large-scale random deployment of commodity sensor nodes that are anonymous. The proposed scheme relies on a location-based virtual network infrastructure and is built upon a combinatorial formulation of the group key management problem. Primary features of our scheme include autonomously computing group keys, and dynamically computing, using a simple hash function, the mapping of nodes to group keys. The scheme scales well in the size of the network and supports dynamic setup and management of arbitrary structures of secure group communications in large-scale wireless sensor network.
DNA base composition and genome size of the prokaryotic symbiont in Riftia pachyptila (Pogonophora)

It has been proposed that Riftia pachyptila, a pogonophoran tube worm abundant at hydrothermal deep sea vents, metabolizes solely via a chemoautotrophic symbiosiols. The symbionts resemble sulfur oxidizing bacteria and form the specific ‘trophosome’ tissue. Samples of DNA purified from trophosome and vestimentum (muscle) tissues of R. pachyptila were comparatively characterized by thermal denaturation studies, and by analysis of renaturation kinetics. The results show that the great majority of trophosome DNA is homogeneous and prokaryotic with a base ratio of approx. 58 mol% G + C. Its genome size (genetic complexity) is typical of free-living bacteria. Approx. 5% of trophosome DNA appears to be invertebrate DNA equivalent to that found in the vestimentum tissue which lacks symbionts.
Lupus Nephritis: Treatment of Resistant Disease

Lupus nephritis (LN) remains a major cause of ESRD and is associated with a >4-fold increase in mortality and significant morbidity in patients with lupus. The treatment of LN has evolved significantly over the past decade due to data from well conducted randomized controlled trials. We are currently in an era in which effective regimens exist in the form of induction and maintenance agents. Histopathologic classification of LN remains one of the main factors guiding therapy.
Glomeruloid hemangioma leading to a diagnosis of POEMS syndrome

POEMS is an acronym for polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal protein, and skin changes. It is a poorly understood paraneoplastic syndrome that stems from an underlying plasma cell dyscrasia. Of the skin changes, the glomeruloid hemangioma is considered to be a specific marker of POEMS syndrome. We describe a 68-year-old man who presented to his dermatologist with multiple hemangiomas, whose biopsy diagnosis of glomeruloid hemangioma resulted in further evaluation and an eventual diagnosis of POEMS.
Influence of doping on the cation ordering and charge–discharge behavior of LiMn1.5Ni0.5−xMxO4 (M = Cr, Fe, Co, and Ga) spinels between 5.0 and 2.0 V

The charge–discharge behaviors of doped high-voltage spinel oxides LiMn1.5Ni0.5−xMxO4 (M = Cr, Fe, Co, and Ga) have been investigated between 5.0 and 2.0 V before and after post-annealing at 700 °C. It is found that the discharge profiles of LiMn1.5Ni0.5−xMxO4 below 3 V are influenced by the dopant ions due to the variations in lattice strain during lithium ion insertion into 16c octahedral sites caused by the differences in the degree of cation ordering in the 16d sites of the spinel lattice. The differences in the degree of cation ordering can be attributed to the size differences between the Mn4+ and M3+ (M = Cr, Fe, Co, and Ga) ions. Furthermore, after post-annealing at 700 °C, the degree of cation ordering in the 16d sites of the undoped and Fe-doped samples increases, as supported by the discharge profile below 3 V, decrease in lattice parameter, and a reduction in microstrain. In contrast, the highest degree of cation disorder in the 16d sites is found with Co doping due to the uniform distribution of the Co dopant ions in the bulk and the lower concentration of Ni2+ ions in the bulk compared to the other doped samples that encounter a segregation of the dopant ions to the surface. The study demonstrates that the charge–discharge behavior below 3 V is an effective way to assess precisely the degree of cation ordering in the 5 V spinels.
Occurrence of QoI Resistance and Detection of the G143A Mutation in Michigan Populations of Venturia inaequalis

Control strategies for Venturia inaequalis rely heavily on chemical fungicides. Single-site fungicides such as the quinone-outside inhibitors (QoI) have been used in Michigan apple orchards for more than 11 years. In 2008, we sampled eight commercial orchards in the Fruit Ridge growing region of Michigan in which apple scab control failures were observed on 'McIntosh' apple following applications of kresoxim-methyl or trifloxystrobin. QoI resistance was assessed in 210 total isolates (a total of 17 orchards) using a spore germination assay and in 319 isolates using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to detect the G143A mutation located within the V. inaequalis cytochrome b gene (CYTB). The G143A mutation is known to confer high-level QoI resistance in plant-pathogenic fungi. QoI resistance was confirmed in 50 and 64% of the isolates tested with the spore germination and PCR assays, respectively, and there was a 97% concordance observed between the assays. In 2009, we sampled and examined an additional 1,201 V. inaequalis isolates from 64 orchards in Michigan and 86 isolates from four baseline sites in Ohio. All of these isolates were assayed for the G143A mutation and it was detected within 67 and 0% of the Michigan and Ohio isolates, respectively. Our results indicate the widespread occurrence of QoI resistance in Michigan commercial orchard populations of V. inaequalis. Loss of QoI fungicides further limits the arsenal of fungicides available to commercial apple growers for successful scab management.
ARE MICROHABITAT PREFERENCES OF COEXISTING SPECIES UNDER SELECTION AND ADAPTIVE

Microhabitat preferences are assumed to be adaptive, suggesting that fitness is higher in preferred microhabitats and potentially reflecting natural selection on habitat choices. I examined microhabitat preferences and adaptiveness of preferences for seven bird species coexisting in high elevation snowmelt drainages based on study of microhabitat and survival of 1556 nests. Habitat features in the nest patch differed from both random and non-use (sites centered on the same plant species as used for the nest) sites within each bird species, indicating nonrandom nest site choice. Bird species within a nesting guild (ground, shrub) also differed from each other based on the same vegetation features that differentiated nest sites from non-use and random sites, and this vegetation feature dominated the microhabitat type that was used most frequently by each species. In short, frequency of use of dominant vegetation types, comparisons of nest vs. random and non-use sites, and comparisons among species were concordant in their indications of microhabitat preferences. The frequency in use of microhabitats was taken as an unambiguous measure of microhabitat preference within this study system: vegetation varied along a short microclimate gradient in the study system and territories of birds encompassed the entire gradient, thereby making all microhabitats available within the territory of each individual, such that use reflected a clear choice among alternatives. Microhabitat preferences differed among species and reflected differing positions on the microclimate gradient. Thus, species partitioned either microhabitat or microclimate within each nesting guild. Nest success was greater at preferred than at nonpreferred microhabitats for all seven species, indicating that preferences were adaptive. Examination of cubic spline curves and standardized directional selection differentials (s) and selection gradients (β) indicated that preferences had positive directional selection coefficients. These selection coefficients suggested that selection might be acting to favor preferences, but information on genetic bases of habitat choices is needed before selection can be ascertained. Advances in understanding evolution of habitat preferences depend on an individual-level examination of habitat choices and their fitness consequences, and also examination of the phenotypic traits and mechanisms that underlie habitat-induced variation in fitness components.
Science training for European journalists.

“Immunology”, it was stated recently in a leading European national newspaper, “is a complicated and obscure discipline … that immunologists don't understand much about themselves”. Set against this background, Byron Waksman reports on a recent meeting ∗-, which was attended by journalists and scientists from all over Europe, on the attitude o f the general public towards science and the need for scientific training among journalists.
Implementation of the derivative back projection - finite Hilbert inverse algorithm in projection reconstruction MRI

The reconstruction of artifact-free images from truncated datasets poses a challenging problem in any medical imaging modality. Such a problem occurs in Projection Reconstruction MRI when the object is not fully encompassed within the FOV. This is always the case for coronal and sagittal planes in extremity imaging. Introduced recently in CT and SPECT, the derivative back projection-finite Hilbert inverse (DBP-FHI) algorithm has been proven useful to accurately reconstruct from truncated datasets within regions-of-interest. Here, we propose an adaptation of the DBP-FHI algorithm to handle PR-MRI data. Details of the underlying theory and its discrete implementation are explained. Numerical simulations show that shading artifacts present when the image is reconstructed with filtered back projection (FBP) disappear with this new algorithm. In vivo phantom and knee scans demonstrate that truncation artifacts resulting from the FBP algorithm are mitigated by the DBP-FHI algorithm. Within geometric constraints, the proposed algorithm always outperforms the FBP algorithm by its ability to reconstruct truncated datasets.
Comparison of Er:YAG and 9.6‐μm TE CO2 lasers for ablation of skull tissue

Background and Objective Craniotomy by using a drill and saw frequently results in fragmentation of the skull plate. Lasers have the potential to remove the skull plate intact, simplifying the reconstructive surgery. Study Design/Materials and Methods Transverse-excited CO2 lasers operating at the peak absorption wavelength of bone (λ = 9.6 μm) and with pulse durations of 5–8 μsec, approximately the thermal relaxation time in hard tissue, produced high ablation rates and minimal peripheral thermal damage. Both thick (2 mm) and thin (250 μm) bovine skull samples were perforated and the ablation rates calculated. Results were compared with Q-switched and free-running Er:YAG lasers (λ = 2.94 μm, τp = 0.5 μsec and 300 μsec). Results The CO2 laser produced ablation rates of up to 60 and 15 μm per pulse for thin and thick sections, respectively, and perforated thin and thick sections with fluences of less than 1 J/cm2 and 6 J/cm2, respectively. There was no discernible thermal damage and no need for water irrigation during ablation. Pulse durations ≥20 μsec resulted in significant tissue charring, which increased with the pulse duration. Although the free-running Er:YAG laser produced ablation rates of up to 100 μm per pulse, fluences of 10 J/cm2 and 30 J/cm2 were required to perforate thin and thick samples, respectively, and peripheral thermal damage measured 25–40 μm. Conclusions In summary, the novel 5- to 8-μsec pulse length of the TE CO2 laser is long enough to avoid a marked reduction in the ablation rate due to plasma formation and short enough to avoid peripheral thermal damage through thermal diffusion during the laser pulse. Furthermore, in vivo animal studies with the TE CO2 laser are warranted for potential clinical application in craniotomy and craniofacial procedures. Lasers Surg. Med. 28:335–343, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Transmission of Neospora caninum between wild and domestic animals

To determine whether deer can transmit Neospora caninum, brains of naturally infected white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) were fed to 4 dogs; 2 of these dogs shed oocysts. Oocysts from 1 of the dogs were tested by polymerase chain reaction and found to be positive for N. caninum and negative for Hammondia heydorni. The internal transcribed spacer 1 sequence of the new strain (designated NC-deer1) was identical to N. caninum from domestic animals, indicating that N. caninum is transmitted between wild and domestic animals, often enough to prevent divergent evolution of isolated populations of the parasite. NC-deer1 oocysts were administered to a calf that developed a high antibody titer, providing evidence that N. caninum from wildlife can infect cattle. In addition, N. caninum antibody seroprevalence was detected in 64/164 (39%) free-ranging gray wolves (Canis lupus), 12/113 (11%) coyotes (Canis latrans), 50/193 (26%) white-tailed deer, and 8/61 (13%) moose (Alces alces). These data are consistent ...
Future Prospects for Ultra-High Resolution Imaging of Binary Systems at UV and X-ray Wavelengths

UV and X-ray space-based interferometry will open unprecedented possibilities for spectral and spatial studies of a wide range of currently unresolvable interacting systems. Ultra-high angular resolution direct imaging of individual components and transport processes in interacting binary systems is essential for detailed studies and modeling of accretion and activity. Understanding the mass loss characteristics of both components, and the dynamics of the system as a function of time, will provide key inputs to evolutionary models and will revolutionize our view and understanding of the Universe.
The role of negative reinforcement eating expectancies in the relation between experiential avoidance and disinhibition.

Abstract Objectives Eating-related disinhibition (i.e., a tendency to overeat in response to various stimuli) is associated with weight gain and poorer long-term weight loss success. Theoretically, experiential avoidance (i.e., the desire or attempts to avoid uncomfortable internal experiences), may predispose individuals to developing negative reinforcement eating expectancies (i.e., the belief that eating will help to mitigate distress), which in turn promote disinhibition. Such relationships are consistent with an acquired preparedness model, which posits that dispositions influence learning and subsequent behavior. Drawing from this framework, the current study represents the first investigation of relations between negative reinforcement eating expectancies, experiential avoidance (both general and food-specific) and disinhibited eating. In particular, the mediating role of negative reinforcement eating expectancies in the relation between experiential avoidance and disinhibited eating was examined. Method Participants (N = 107) were overweight and obese individuals presenting for behavioral weight loss treatment who completed measures of general and food-related experiential avoidance, negative reinforcement eating expectancies, and disinhibition. Results Experiential avoidance and negative reinforcement eating expectancies significantly related to disinhibition. Furthermore, the relation between experiential avoidance and disinhibition was mediated by negative reinforcement eating expectancies. Discussion The current study supports an acquired preparedness model for disinhibition, such that the relation between experiential avoidance and disinhibition is accounted for by expectations that eating will alleviate distress. Findings highlight the potential role of eating expectancies in models accounting for obesity risk, and identify negative reinforcement eating expectancies as a potential treatment target for reducing disinhibition.
The Sociolinguistic Evolution of a Sound Change

This study focuses on the analysis of linguistic and extralinguistic factors influencing the phonological variation of vowel nasalization in the speech of bilingual speakers of Uruguayan Portuguese (UP). The setting is the city of Rivera located along the Uruguayan-Brazilian borderline. The data were collected in participant-observation and sociolinguistic interviews with fifty-four local UP speakers. Data results show that vowel nasalization is a linguistic variable constrained mainly by morphophonological and sociophonetic factors. Phonological processes interact with affixation in inflectional and derivational morphology in the process of vowel nasalization. Results show that functional category of the word and preceding phonological environment play a significant role in the distribution of nasal variation in contemporary UP in Rivera.
European Literature and the Latin Middle Ages

Norman Cantor’s Inventing the Middle Ages tritely labeled Ernst Robert Curtius a “formalist”; T. S. Eliot, in a 1949 letter to its author, called European Literature and the Latin Middle Ages a “ma...
Interception and Characterization of Alkyl and Acyl Complexes in Rhodium-Catalyzed Hydroformylation of Styrene

Reaction of [Rh(H)(CO)2(BDP)] (BDP = bis(diazaphospholane)) with styrene at low temperatures enables detailed NMR characterization of four- and five-coordinate rhodium alkyl complexes [Rh(styrenyl)(CO)n(BDP)] presumed to be intermediates in rhodium-catalyzed hydroformylation. The five-coordinate acyl complexes [Rh(C(O)styrenyl)(CO)2(BDP)] are also observed and characterized. The equilibrium distribution of these species suggests an inversion of thermodynamic preference for branched vs linear species from the alkyl to the acyl stage.
Determination of Total Arsenic in Food With Microwave Digestion-hydride Generation Atomic Florescence Spectrophotometry

Objective To determine total arsenic in food by using microwave digestion-hydride generation atomic florescence spectrophotometry.Methods The samples were microwave digested by nitric acide,and were detected by hydride generation atomic florescence spectrophotometry.Results The detection limit of the method was 0.002 mg/kg,the relative standard deviation was 1.0 and 1.2,the recovery rate was 95.9% to 103.2%.Conclusion The method is rapid,accurate and reliable,which can meet the requirements for determination of total arsenic in food.
Not-so-hyper hyperlipo-proteinemia and coronary artery disease.

The role played by hyperlipoproteinemia in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis is still open to conjecture. Clinical and epidemiologic studies, however, seem to indicate that even mild hyperlipoproteinemia may be an important factor and that a diet low in cholesterol and saturated fats may reduce the risk of subsequent coronary artery disease.
On the Qualitative Transformation of Developmental Science: The Contributions of Qualitative Methods

The articles in this special issue underscore the contributions to developmental theory and methodology that can be made by qualitative research elucidating the mutually influential relations between individuals and their contexts. The articles provide important, new information about how individuals, through active, positive engagement with their context can be active agents in their own, positive development. The articles illustrate that the nuances of how agentic youth contribute to their worlds, at the same time that they are influenced by their settings, would be difficult if not impossible to capture richly and scientifically with only quantitative methods. The articles in this special issue powerfully illustrate that, today, qualitative research is an essential part of mixed-method approaches to developmental science, and that such approaches are regarded as defining the cutting edge of methodological innovations needed to understand intra-individual change across the life span.
Inhibitors of NF-κB Activity

A part from being a paradigm for understanding cellular signaling, the NF-κB pathway has been thoroughly investigated over the last two decades due to its involvement in a number of human diseases. In the post genomic era, improved knowledge and novel technologies have contributed immensely to the discovery of several hitherto unknown cellular processes that regulate NF-κB. Identification of covalent modifications of many NF-κB pathway components, both in the cytoplasm and the nucleus has shed light on novel mechanisms that regulate NF-κB activity. Similarly, study of a number of cellular and viral proteins that regulate this pathway has added to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms and molecular targets in the NF-κB pathway for drug development.
Producibility and performance of the microwave power HBT

The authors address the producibility and performance of self-aligned AlGaAs-GaAs heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) for microwave power applications. Excellent device DC and RF characteristics and power performance have been demonstrated. The RF probing yield was consistently achieved from the DC screened HBTs. A f/sub max/ of 350 GHz was extrapolated for the common-base HBT. 7-12-GHz monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) amplifiers achieved a 4-W power level with 34% peak power added efficiency. A 7.5-14.0-GHz linear power amplifier demonstrated a low level of third-order intermodulation distortion. This excellent performance is achievable because of the characteristic uniformity of the material epitaxial growth and the simplicity of the self-aligned lithography process. >
Endotoxemia contributes to CD27+ memory B-cell apoptosis via enhanced sensitivity to Fas ligation in patients with Cirrhosis.

Peripheral CD27+ memory B-cells become quantitatively reduced and dysfunctional in patients with cirrhosis through poorly characterized mechanisms. We hypothesized that the disappearance of CD27+ memory B-cells results from enhanced sensitivity to apoptosis caused by exposure to gut microbial translocation products. Using isolated naive and memory B-cells from patients with cirrhosis and age-matched controls, ex vivo and activation-induced sensitivity to Fas-mediated apoptosis was assessed under relevant experimental conditions. We observed differential expression of CD95(Fas) in CD27+ B-cells from cirrhotic patients that was inversely correlated with peripheral CD27+ B-cell frequency. While memory B-cells from cirrhotic patients were resistant to Fas-mediated apoptosis ex vivo, Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)-ligation restored Fas-sensitivity. Sensitivity to Fas-mediated apoptosis could be transferred to healthy donor memory B-cells by co-culturing these cells with plasma from cirrhotic patients, a sensitivity partially mediated by Fas and TLR4 signaling, and partially rescued via B-cell receptor crosslinking. We conclude that peripheral CD27+ memory B-cells in cirrhosis exhibit increased sensitivity to Fas-induced apoptosis in an activation-dependent manner to which endotoxin contributes, associated with reduced frequency of circulating memory B-cells. Destruction of this critical cell subset may contribute to the cirrhotic immunodeficiency state and heightened risk of systemic infections in advanced liver disease.
The Human Environment Design Misfit Factor Concept

Abstract The Human Environment Design Misfit Factor Concept is a technique which can be used to creatively design and detail a problem statement and present it in a workbook format that verbally and visually communicates the significant problem areas in total context. This workbook can serve as an information tool for all members of an interdisciplinary design team whose efforts would have a significant effect on the human environment design solution. This tool also serves as a measuring device for comparing the effectiveness of alternative human environment design solutions. The problem statement can be designed to emphasize safety, efficiency, comfort, aesthetic appeal or a good balance of all of these factors. It is described here in a particular application for the development of a dual operator console design for the Navy. However, it can be tailored to the particular requirements of any complex human environment design project. This technique was not developed as a substitute for the traditional human engineering techniques such as operational sequence diagrams, task analysis studies and other more scientific human factors activities. The Misfit Factor concept was designed primarily as a technique that will effectively cope with the more qualitative and subjective aspects of human environment design. It is the author's belief that this concept will provide a more creative role for the Industrial Designer in his support of the human engineering functions related to complex human environment design problems.
Racial and ethnic differences in opioid agonist treatment for opioid use disorder in a U.S. national sample

Background Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT) is the standard of care for the treatment of opioid use disorders. However, most people in treatment do not receive OAT. This study evaluated whether there are racial and/or ethnic differences in OAT receipt among adults entering specialty treatment for opioid use disorders in publicly-funded treatment programs across the U.S.
Accommodating binary and count variables in mediation: A case for conditional indirect effects

The existence of several accessible sources has led to a proliferation of mediation models in the applied research literature. Most of these sources assume endogenous variables (e.g., M, and Y) hav...
Relationships between Scalp, Brain, and Skull Motion Estimated using Magnetic Resonance Elastography

The objective of this study was to characterize the relationships between motion in the scalp, skull, and brain. In vivo estimates of motion transmission from the skull to the brain may illuminate the mechanics of traumatic brain injury. Because of challenges in directly sensing skull motion, it is useful to know how well motion of soft tissue of the head, i.e., the scalp, can approximate skull motion or predict brain tissue deformation. In this study, motion of the scalp and brain were measured using magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) and separated into components due to rigid-body displacement and dynamic deformation. Displacement estimates in the scalp were calculated using low motion-encoding gradient strength in order to reduce "phase wrapping" (an ambiguity in displacement estimates caused by the 2 π-periodicity of MRE phase contrast). MRE estimates of scalp and brain motion were compared to skull motion estimated from three tri-axial accelerometers. Comparison of the relative amplitudes and phases of harmonic motion in the scalp, skull, and brain of six human subjects indicate that data from scalp-based sensors should be used with caution to estimate skull kinematics, but that fairly consistent relationships exist between scalp, skull, and brain motion. In addition, the measured amplitude and phase relationships of scalp, skull, and brain can be used to evaluate and improve mathematical models of head biomechanics.
Linear convolution model of fetal circulation for hemodynamic responses to maternal hyperoxia using in utero functional MRI

Functional MRI studies have started the hemodynamic responses of the placenta and fetal brain using maternal hyperoxia. While most studies have focused on analyzing the changes in magnitude of fMRI signals, few studies have analyzed the latency and duration of responses to hyperoxia. This paper proposes a linear convolution model of fetal circulation where a chain of responses to maternal hyperoxia are produced in the placenta and fetal brain. Specifically, an impulse response to hyperoxia was modeled as the hemodynamic response function (HRF) which consists of multiple gamma functions. Both time-to-peak and full width at half maximum of HRF were estimated using simulated annealing (SA). A Monte Carlo simulation was carried out to evaluate the performance of the SA-based method for estimating both parameters. Finally, we provided an example of estimating HRFs from fMRI time series of the placenta and fetal brain acquired during maternal hyperoxia in vivo.
A Brief Look at Land Use Regulations in Karst Terrains

Karst regulations are in place in karstic areas throughout the United States, although the specific forms these ordinances take can vary widely from place to place. In seeking to understand how these regulations are developed and how they work, one must consider the possibility that they are influenced by factors that are tied to geographic location. This chapter examines this possibility by describing the regulatory goals of karst-aware land use regulations and ordinances, defining many commonly used tools for achieving these goals and exploring detailed examples of these regulations and ordinances from across the United States, grouped by region. The chapter finds that there do not seem to be strong regional influences on the development and character of karst land use regulations and it ends by identifying several characteristics that are widely shared by these regulations across the United States.
A prospectus on innovations in the plasma treatment of cancer

This prospectus outlines some new ideas regarding plasma application in medicine. In particular, plasma parameter adaptation might allow for real time modification of the chemical composition of plasma in an effort to optimize the plasma effect on cancer and normal cells. Nowadays, there is convincing evidence that plasma effects might play an important role in cancer therapy. Among others, understanding plasma discharge self-organization, the mechanisms driving transition between different discharge patterns, and the development of the plasma devices having multiple discharge modes are very important aspects.
A Novel Method to Predict Knee Osteoarthritis Progression on MRI Using Machine Learning Methods

This paper explored the hidden biomedical information from knee magnetic resonance (MR) images for osteoarthritis (OA) prediction. We have computed the cartilage damage index (CDI) information from 36 informative locations on tibiofemoral cartilage compartment from 3-D MR imaging and used principal component analysis (PCA) analysis to process the feature set. Four machine learning methods (artificial neural network (ANN), support vector machine, random forest, and naive Bayes) were employed to predict the progression of OA, which was measured by the change of Kellgren and Lawrence (KL) grade, Joint Space Narrowing on Medial compartment (JSM) grade, and Joint Space Narrowing on Lateral compartment (JSL) grade. To examine the different effects of medial and lateral informative locations, we have divided the 36-D feature set into a 18-D medial feature set and a 18-D lateral feature set and run the experiment on four classifiers separately. Experiment results showed that the medial feature set generated better prediction performance than the lateral feature set, while using the total 36-D feature set generated the best. PCA analysis is helpful in feature space reduction and performance improvement. For KL grade prediction, the best performance was achieved by ANN with AUC = 0.761 and F-measure = 0.714. For JSM grade prediction, the best performance was achieved by random forest with AUC = 0.785 and F-measure = 0.743, while for JSL grade prediction, the best performance was achieved by ANN with AUC = 0.695 and F-measure = 0.796. As experiment results showing that the informative locations on medial compartment provide more distinguishing features than informative locations on the lateral compartment, it could be considered to select more points from the medial compartment while reducing the number of points from the lateral compartment to improve clinical CDI design.
Vitamin B12 Deficiency Defined Using Total Cobalamin, Holo-Transcobalamin II, and an Algorithm of Both Total Cobalamin and Holo-Transcobalamin II in Vegetarians, Vegans, and Omnivores

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is a water-soluble vitamin essential for purine and pyrimidine synthesis, DNA methylation, and the myelination of nerve cells. As vitamin B12 is only found in animal product...
Taking it from the team: Assessments of bias and credibility in team-operated sports media:

Team- and league-operated media play a growing role in the sports media system. Few have looked at how audiences perceive the credibility of in-house content, which regularly mimics traditional spo...
A 28-GHz, 18-dBm, 48% PAE Stacked-FET Power Amplifier with Coupled-Inductor Neutralization in 45-nm SOI CMOS

A single stage, millimeter-wave 2-stack FET power amplifier operates with a peak saturated power of 18.2 dBm and peak PAE of 48.2%. The high PAE results from a proposed $C_{gd}$ neutralization through coupled inductor feedback between the drains of the stacked FETs. The technique reuses the interstage matching shunt inductor to reduce the loss and chip area while improving the PA gain. The PA achieves 13.6 dB gain with a 3 dB bandwidth of 12 GHz at a 2.4-V power supply. The PA is implemented in a 4S-nm SOI CMOS technology using a trap-rich substrate and has an area of $\mathbf{520}\ \mu\mathbf{m}\times \mathbf{530}\ \mu\mathbf{m}$ . To the author's knowledge, this work demonstrates the highest gain and power added efficiency (PAE) for a single-stage Si-based PA at 28 GHz.
Social networking site as a Political Filtering Machine: Predicting the Act of Political Unfriending and Hiding on Social Networking Sites

Social networking sites (SNSs) seem to have become a political filtering machine that allows users to classify their online friends based on their political ideologies. Hiding and unfriending on social media has turned into being a political gesture, discriminating individuals with opposite political views on SNSs. Unfriending activities during the 2016 U.S. Presidential election and during the Hong Kong Umbrella Movement are two notable examples. Individuals have the tendency to consume politically congenial information and be surrounded by people who share the same views. The formation of echo chambers and the reason for relationship dissolution on SNSs can be explained by Social Identity Theory. Through an online panel survey of 386 SNS users, this study examined how factors of political ideologies, social media and offline political participation and likeminded exposure on SNSs can predict hiding and unfriending/unfollowing on Twitter and Facebook. Results from ordinary least square (OLS) regression analysis revealed that if individuals had been in a politically homogeneous SNS environment, they were more likely to unfriend, suggesting the reinforcement of echo chambers in SNSs. Both social media and offline political participations predicted the dissociative, indicating that unfriending and hiding could be regarded as a new form of online political participation to engage in political affairs.
Injectable mineralized microsphere-loaded composite hydrogels for bone repair in a sheep bone defect model

The efficacy of cell-based therapies as an alternative to autologous bone grafts requires biomaterials to localize cells at the defect and drive osteogenic differentiation. Hydrogels are ideal cell delivery vehicles that can provide instructional cues via their composition or mechanical properties but commonly lack osteoconductive components that nucleate mineral. To address this challenge, we entrapped mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in a composite hydrogel based on two naturally-derived polymers (alginate and hyaluronate) containing biomineralized polymeric microspheres. Mechanical properties of the hydrogels were dependent upon composition. The presentation of the adhesive tripeptide Arginine-Glycine-Aspartic Acid (RGD) from both polymers induced greater osteogenic differentiation of ovine MSCs in vitro compared to gels formed of RGD-alginate or RGD-alginate/hyaluronate alone. We then evaluated the capacity of this construct to stimulate bone healing when transplanting autologous, culture-expanded MSCs into a surgical induced, critical-sized ovine iliac crest bone defect. At 12 weeks post-implantation, defects treated with MSCs transplanted in composite gels exhibited significant increases in blood vessel density, osteoid formation, and bone formation compared to acellular gels or untreated defects. These findings demonstrate the capacity of osteoconductive hydrogels to promote bone formation with autologous MSCs in a large animal bone defect model and provide a promising vehicle for cell-based therapies of bone healing.
Short-Term Outcomes of Inflammatory Bowel Disease after Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass vs Sleeve Gastrectomy.

Background Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) are the most effective therapies for obesity and may have beneficial effects on the immune system. Therefore, we compared RYGB vs SG outcomes in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Study Design In this retrospective cohort study, we identified 54 patients with either Crohn's disease (CD; n = 31) or ulcerative colitis (UC; n = 23), diagnosed before bariatric surgery, between 2000 and 2017. Nineteen patients underwent RYGB and 35 patients underwent SG. Results Patients presenting for RYGB and SG were of similar age (46.2 ± 9.5 years vs 47.2 ± 12.3 years), preoperative BMI (48.5 ± 7.7 kg/m2 vs 44.9 ± 7.3 kg/m2) and IBD status, as measured by medications. Both operations led to significant weight loss at 1 year. After RYGB and SG, there were no significant differences in the proportion of patients with UC who had improved (27% vs 8%), unchanged (64% vs 92%), or worse (9% vs 0%) IBD medication requirements, respectively. Similar analysis in the patients with CD showed no significant differences in the proportion who had improved (37.5% vs 44%), or unchanged (25% vs 52%) IBD-medication requirements after RYGB and SG, respectively. However, there was a significant difference in the proportion of patients who had worsened CD after RYGB compared with SG (37.5% vs 4%; p = 0.016). There was a greater rate of surgical complications after RYGB compared to SG (26% vs. 3%; p = 0.02). Conclusions A sizable proportion of patients experienced improvements in IBD post-bariatric surgery. However, in CD patients, RYGB was associated with a significantly greater number of patients with increased IBD-medication requirements. Sleeve gastrectomy led to less weight loss, but had a lower rate of severe complications compared with RYGB. In patients with IBD, and particularly CD, SG may be the safer surgery.
Tobacco cessation practices among primary care physicians in northern Illinois.

e23054Background: Tobacco cessation is an acknowledged key component of cancer survivorship programs, but significant barriers to program implementation exist. In a 2012 ASCO member survey, 86% of ...
Studium und Weiterbildung

Medienpadagogik als Beruf zu bestimmen ist mit dem Problem verbunden, zahlreiche Unscharfen im Hinblick auf die Tatigkeitsfelder von ‚Medienpadagog/innen‘, deren professionstheoretische Fundierung und ihre Bezeichnung vorzufinden. Allerdings lassen sich Kernmerkmale wenigstens grob identifizieren, auf deren Basis dann Ausbildungsmoglichkeiten in Form von Studium und Weiterbildung — das akademische Niveau wird hier also schon vorausgesetzt — und die disziplinare Verortung der Medienpadagogik diskutiert werden konnen.
The transportation safety of elderly pedestrians: modeling contributing factors to elderly pedestrian collisions

For the elderly, walking is an important, reliable mobility option, since the elderly frequently lose their physical and/or sensory ability to drive as their age increases. However, elderly pedestrians are vulnerable on the streets and are at great risk of injury or death, when involved in a collision. This is due to not only increased frailty but also such issues as reaction speed and confidence on the streets. Therefore, pedestrian safety for older adults is a growing concern. This paper comprehensively examines the relationship between physical conditions and elderly pedestrian safety at the intersection level. By constructing a multinomial logistic regression (MLR) model, this paper identifies the exclusive contributing factors to elderly pedestrian collisions rather than younger pedestrian collisions. The outputs from the model suggest that facilities such as raised median, three-way intersection, street tree, and park and recreational land use improve the safety of elderly pedestrians. They also imply that bus stops increase elderly pedestrian collisions, while the intersections with crosswalks or colored crosswalks do not contribute to elderly pedestrians' safety, but the safety of younger pedestrians. The findings of this paper provide insight to transportation policies like Complete Street and Vision Zero and help to improve the current road system that are designed for automobiles and young, healthy road users.