cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Basis for Relative Growth Rate Differences Between Native and Invasive Forb Seedlings

Abstract The ability of invasive plants to achieve higher relative growth rates (RGR) than their native counterparts has been widely documented. However, the mechanisms allowing invasives to achieve higher RGR are poorly understood. The objective of this study was to determine the basis for RGR differences between native and invasive forbs that have widely invaded nutrient-poor soils of the Intermountain West. Six native and 6 invasive forbs were seeded in pots in a greenhouse, and 4 harvests were conducted over a 2-month period. These 4 harvests were used to calculate RGR and the components of RGR, net assimilation rate (rate of dry matter production per unit leaf area), leaf area ratio (LAR, leaf area per unit total plant mass), leaf mass ratio (the proportion of biomass allocated to leaves), and specific leaf area (SLA, leaf area per unit leaf biomass). Mean RGR of the 12 study species ranged between 0.04 and 0.15 g · g −1 · d −1 but was significantly higher for invasive forbs compared to native forbs ( P = 0.036). The higher RGR achieved by invasive forbs was due mainly to a greater SLA and LAR. This indicates that invasive forbs achieved higher RGR than natives primarily by creating more leaf area per unit leaf mass, not by allocating more biomass to leaf tissue or by having a higher net rate of dry matter production. A high degree of variation in RGR, SLA, and LAR was observed in native forbs, suggesting that the ability to design weed-resistant plant communities may be improved by managing for specific functional traits as opposed to functional groups.
Differential regulation of eotaxin expression by TNF-α and PMA in human monocytic U-937 cells

Regulation of eotaxin expression was investigated in U-937 cells, a human monocyte-like cell line. Eotaxin mRNA was induced by tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α; 0.1–100 ng/ml) and phorbol 12-myristat...
Modeling livestock systems. II. Understanding the relevant biology

Essential components of bio-mathematical simulation models of livestock systems were examined for degree of understanding, qualitative and quantitative, of the relevant underlying biology. Key knowledge gaps in modeling of growth, lactation, and energy metabolism were shown to exist. Suggestions for discipline-oriented research, directed to close these gaps, are given.
Comparison of corneal degeneration and calcific band keratopathy from 2000 to 2013 in 69 horses

Author(s): Berryhill, Emily H; Thomasy, Sara M; Kass, Philip H; Reilly, Christopher M; Good, Kathryn L; Hollingsworth, Steven R; Maggs, David J; Magdesian, K Gary; Pusterla, Nicola | Abstract: ObjectiveTo compare signalment, presentation, treatment, and outcome in horses diagnosed with corneal degeneration (CD) or calcific band keratopathy (CBK) at a referral hospital.Animals studiedSixty-nine horses (87 eyes) diagnosed with either CD or CBK.ProceduresMedical records of horses diagnosed with CD or CBK at the University of California-Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (UCD-VMTH) between 2000 and 2013 were reviewed. Signalment, concurrent ophthalmic diagnoses, previous therapies, diagnostic tests, systemic diagnoses, treatment, follow-up, and outcomes were compared between horses diagnosed with CD or CBK. Age, breed, and gender were compared between the CD/CBK and UCD-VMTH populations.ResultsThirty-three horses (42 eyes) and 36 horses (45 eyes) were diagnosed with CD and CBK, respectively. Horses with CD or CBK were significantly older (P l 0.001) than the UCD-VMTH population with a median age of 16 or 18 years, respectively. Appaloosas were significantly overrepresented in the CD/CBK population (33%) in comparison with the UCD-VMTH population (1.8%, P l 0.001). Equine recurrent uveitis was concurrently diagnosed in 67% and 84% of horses with CD or CBK, respectively. Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) was diagnosed significantly less often in horses with CD vs. CBK (P = 0.03). Chemical chelation with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid was performed significantly less frequently in horses diagnosed with CD (7.1%) vs. CBK (31.1% of eyes) (P = 0.012).ConclusionsDespite some differences, equine CD and CBK are relatively similar conditions and may represent a continuum of disease severity. Horses with PPID should be monitored closely for corneal disease including CBK.
Intergenerational Risksharing and Equilibrium Asset Prices: An Economy with Factor Accumulation

In an OLG (overlapping generations) economy with only two risky factors of production, human capital and physical capital, a social security system that optimally shares risks among generations was incorporated. By allowing for physical capital acumulation, this paper extends John Compbell's fixed supplies of asset economy into a dynamic environment. Under certain conditions, this new system has milder effects than Campbell's on risk-free interest rate, and prices and risk premium of physical capital. We also find that the level of human capital could make the system's effects on asset markets ambiguous and steady state physical capital stock is lower in the long run equilibrium.
Abstract C15: Inflammation-free survival as a surrogate endpoint for overall survival in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma

Background: The primary objective of the present study was to determine the degree to which factors other than race or ethnicity contribute to large disparities in clinical outcome for patients treated with targeted therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Methods: A single institution retrospective study was conducted at the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University. Inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) diagnosis of mRCC, (2) treatment with at least 1 targeted agent for mRCC and (3) concurrent serum C-reactive protein and albumin levels on at least 3 occasions that were at least 2 weeks apart. Statistical analysis was conducted using SAS V9.3 and R2.15.2. Kinetic risk assessment was performed with the newly devised inflammation intensity index (I 3 ). Univariate and multivariate analyses were also completed. Results: The median overall survival (OS) for the entire cohort (n=55) was 30.6 months (95% CI 19.8, 49.4) with a median follow up of 27.1 months (95% CI 22.0, 31.3). The median OS for non-Hispanic whites (n=39) was 38.4 months (95% CI 23.7, 49.4) vs. 8.6 months (95% CI 5.0, 25.6) for African Americans (n=14) and Hispanics (n=2) with a log-rank p value of 3 risk assessment tool (type 3 p value Conclusions: Prolonged OS was most closely associated with persistent inflammation free survival and shorter OS with increases in the intensity and duration of systemic inflammation. Citation Format: Wayne B. Harris, Dana C. Nickleach, Yuan Liu, Omer Kucuk, Viraj A. Master. Inflammation-free survival as a surrogate endpoint for overall survival in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Sixth AACR Conference: The Science of Cancer Health Disparities; Dec 6–9, 2013; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2014;23(11 Suppl):Abstract nr C15. doi:10.1158/1538-7755.DISP13-C15
The New Study of the Contributing Factor of the Dereliction of Duty——and the Absence of the Holy Sense and its rebuilding

The dereliction of duty is a malignant tumor of harming our country and people.It's also the enemy of building harmonious society.The preconditions of getting rid of it are to study the malignant tumor itself and to study the problem of its punishment.The essay puts forward some new ideas about the characteristics, contributing factors and the puzzle and tendency of punishing the dereliction of duty.The most distinctive and important contributing factor is the absence of holy sense.At the same time, the paper studies the reasons why the holy sense is absent.It thinks the rebuilding of holy sense is significant for promoting our people's quality and accomplishing long-term peace.
High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry for Determination of Perfluorinated Compounds in Animal Visceral and Muscle Tissues

A high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometric (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS) method was proposed for the determination of 11 perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) including 9 common PFCs,2-perfluorooctyl ethanoic acid (FOEA) and 2H-Perfluoro-2-decenoic acid (FOUEA) in animal visceral (pork heart,pork liver,pork kidney,chicken heart and chicken liver) and muscle (pork tenderloin and chicken breast) tissues.WAX and MAX SPE cartridges were compared for the difference in recovery of 11 PFCs and WAX SPE cartridge was selected.Ion-pair liquid-liquid extraction and alkaline digestion were determined to be optimal methods for sample pretreatment of visceral and muscle tissues,respectively.In the determinations of real samples including pork liver,etc purchased from a local farmers market,the developed method exhibited low spike recoveries of PFTA,FOEA and FOUEA,while the spike recoveries of other 8 PFCs were found to be in the range of 80%-120%.The limit of detection of the method ranged from 0.002 to 0.032 ng/g.
Security protocols: principles and calculi tutorial notes

This paper is a basic introduction to some of the main themes in the design and analysis of security protocols. It includes a brief explanation of the principles of protocol design and of a formalism for protocol analysis. It is intended as a written counterpart to a tutorial given at the 2006 International School on Foundations of Security Analysis and Design.
Neurocircuity of eating disorders.

Objectives: This chapter reviews brain imaging findings in anorexia and bulimia nervosa which characterize brain circuitry that may contribute to the pathophysiology of eating disorders (EDs).
Transient Infrared Spectroscopy for On-line Analysis of Solids and Viscous Liquids

Transient infrared spectroscopy (TIRS) is described as a developing technology that overcomes sample opacity, thickness and self-absorption problems to gain useful mid-IR spectral information from moving solids and viscous liquids for real-time, on-line process control. The utility of the technique is demonstrated by showing examples as diverse as monitoring the cure levels for acrylic coatings on polycarbonate sheets and monitoring the waste loading percentage for nuclear waste treatment by polymer microencapsulation.
Caught Off-Guard by Another Crisis

Financial crises have a long tradition both in the United States and globally. Despite this, most people were caught by surprise in the fall of 2008 when markets exploded and a global financial crisis commenced in earnest. Could we have been more prepared? Do we have the tools to be more prepared next time? The economics profession relies on theories of all sorts to make sense of what actually happens in the world. For our purposes, economists use theories of financial crises to help explain and understand financial crises. However, only by testing the theories to the data will we learn which are relevant and which are not in today’s world. That is the primary objective of this book — to determine which contemporary theories of financial crises stand up against empirical scrutiny and which do not. Because the health of the financial sector is positively related to the health of the macroeconomy, it is vital to have crises theories which help us understand real-life events.1
Language: A Paradigm for Tracing Previewing Behaviors

As discussed in earlier chapters, recent studies reveal that even from the first days of life behaviors that resemble previewing manifestations may be used by the caregiver to stimulate the infant’s future developmental acquisition. Interactions that incorporate previewing behaviors are designed to not only assist the infant in surviving in the alien and sometimes treacherous world outside of the womb, but also to guide the infant in the cumulative mastery of adaptational skills that are increasingly more complex and intricate. Clinical evidence gathered from observing dyadic interactions suggests that both the intuitive behaviors of the caregiver and the constitutional endowment of the infant play a key role in determining the outcome of the infant’s developmental destiny. As a result, by focusing on the interactional environment the pathway of development becomes predictable to the outward observer and, as the infant becomes attuned to the external milieu, eventually becomes predictable to the infant as well.
Syntactically arbitrary inflectional morphology

What is the relation between the formal categories of inflectional morphology and the structures revealed by a syntactic analysis of the sentences, phrases, etc. within which they occur in language? There is a clear temptation in analyzing a language to take its morphology absolutely at face value as an indicator of sentence structure. I will argue here, though, that this temptation should be resisted, since morphology is often systematically misleading as a guide to syntactic form. In making this point, my goal is by no means to denigrate morphology: what I intend, rather, is to urge that it be taken seriously in its own right, and not treated as a sort of ‘poor man’s syntax’.
Effect of NBTI degradation on transistor variability in advanced technologies

The effect of PMOS Negative Bias Temperature Instability (NBTI) on product performance is a concern. As technology scales and device dimension shrinks, the trend in the Vt-variability at both time zero and after NBTI aging increases. The timeO Vt- variability can be explained by the random nature of dopants, whereas the randomly generated defects in the gate oxide can account for the device aging-induced variability. This paper focuses on the NBTI-induced device Vt-variability and trend across technology generations. The remarkable correlation of aging-induced Vt-variability to the gate oxide area suggests that the geometry scaling is the dominant component that drives the increased trend in aging-induced variability.
Functional limitations and health care resource utilization for individuals with cognitive impairment without dementia: Findings from a United States population-based survey

Abstract Introduction Little is known about functional limitations and health care resource utilization of people with cognitive impairment with no dementia (CIND). Methods Respondents with stable or progressive cognitive impairment (CI) after the first (index) indication of CIND in 2000–2010 were identified from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Respondents never exhibiting CI were identified as potential controls. Propensity score–based optimal matching was used to adjust for differences in demographics and history of stroke. Differences between cohorts were assessed accounting for HRS survey design. Results After matching, CIND respondents had more functional limitations (difficulty with ≥1 activities of daily living: 24% vs. 15%; ≥1 instrumental activities of daily living: 20% vs. 11%) and hospital stays (37% vs. 27%) than respondents with no CI (all P Discussion Even before dementia onset, CI is associated with increased likelihood of functional limitations and greater health care resource use.
RoGuE : Robot Gesture Engine

We present the Robot Gesture Library (RoGuE), amotion-planning approach to generating gestures. Gestures improve robot communication skills, strengthening robots as partners in a collaborative setting. Previouswork maps from environment scenario to gesture selection. This work maps from gesture selection to gesture execution. We create a flexible and common language by parameterizing gestures as task-space constraints onrobot trajectories and goals. This allows us to leverage powerful motion planners and to generalize across environments and robot morphologies. We demonstrateRoGuE on four robots: HREB, ADA, CURI and the PR2.
Complex Reflectivity And Refractive Index Profiles From Reflectivity Magnitude Measurements

A problem of interest in thin film optics is to nondestructively measure one-dimensional refractive index profiles. We have been investigating the use of measurements of reflectivity magnitude as a function of incidence angle to determine such refractive index profiles. One approach is to use the Gel'fand Levitan algorithm as outlined by Moses and deRidderl. The algorithm requires knowledge of the Fourier transform of the complex reflectivity function. In this paper we present the results of computer testing an iterative technique for generating the complex reflectivity function from its magnitude and from appropriate constraints. The empirical results indicate that the iterative technique is capable of obtaining complex reflectivity estimates that could be within laboratory instrument generated uncertainty.© (1983) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Heart–Brain Axis: Effects of Neurologic Injury on Cardiovascular Function

A complex interaction exists between the nervous and cardiovascular systems. A large network of cortical and subcortical brain regions control cardiovascular function via the sympathetic and parasympathetic outflow. A dysfunction in one system may lead to changes in the function of the other. The effects of cardiovascular disease on the nervous system have been widely studied; however, our understanding of the effects of neurological disorders on the cardiovascular system has only expanded in the past 2 decades. Various pathologies of the nervous system can lead to a wide range of alterations in function and structure of the cardiovascular system ranging from transient and benign electrographic changes to myocardial injury, cardiomyopathy, and even cardiac death. In this article, we first review the anatomy and physiology of the central and autonomic nervous systems in regard to control of the cardiovascular function. The effects of neurological injury on cardiac function and structure will be summarized, and finally, we review neurological disorders commonly associated with cardiovascular manifestations.
End-of-Life Care Matters: Palliative Cancer Care Results in Better Care and Lower Costs.

This article reviews the current state of end‐of‐life care, analyzes the clinical and financial impact of palliative care, and proposes areas of future research and development.
A novel risk-predictive metric to uncover differences in cell cycling kinetics among racially-distinct breast tumors.

e13052Background: Breast tumors in African-Americans (AAs) exhibit higher recurrence rates and faster kinetic progression to metastasis than those in European-Americans (EAs). This results in a sta...
Anomalous piezo-dielectricity of a polymer-derived amorphous silicoaluminum oxycarbide (SiAlCO)

Abstract The piezo-dielectricity of a polymer-derived amorphous silicoaluminum oxycarbide ( a -SiAlCO) was studied. The material showed a relatively high dielectric constant and anomalous piezo-dielectricity characterized by a positive pressure coefficient as high as 0.10–0.25 MPa −1 . Further analyses indicated that this anomalous piezo-dielectricity resulted from an increase of polarizability with pressure. This phenomenon was ascribed to the unique self-formed bi-phasic (i.e., low-conductive ceramic and high-conductive free-carbon phases) structure of the SiAlCO material. The huge piezo-dielectric coefficient makes this material a very promising candidate for high-temperature sensing applications.
Detecting routes taken by users on public vehicles from their wearables

In this paper, we design a technique to process wearable sensor data in order to detect routes taken by humans as they travel in public buses across the city. Specifically, by processing streams of accelerometer and gyroscope readings from a wearable device worn on the wrist, and then deriving appropriate thresholds, our proposed technique can correctly identify the following activities a) subject boarding a public vehicle; b) starting and stopping of a public vehicle; c) left, right and U-turns of a public vehicle; and d) subject de-boarding a public vehicle. Subsequently, we design an efficient algorithm that takes as an input a) the activities detected above and their corresponding times from the wearable; and b) openly available ground truth data of timings and routes of public buses as they move around the city, and then matches these two to retrieve the possible routes taken by the subject. Using experimental investigations on public transport services offered by two distinct agencies (a city service and a university service), we demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed techniques to accurately identify routes from processing wearable sensor streams. We are confident that the problem addressed by this paper is unique, and it exposes a unique privacy problem from the perspective of fine grained location tracking of users without their knowledge.
Investigating effect of water of hydration on active pharmaceutical ingredients in a water-sensitive dosage form

Preparation of mini buccal tablets incorporating either of the Alzheimer’s drugs, rivastigmine tartrate or donepezil hydrochloride, were developed for patients who have difficulty swallowing as a source of effervescence, by pairing the less commonly used malic acid with sodium bicarbonate in an experimentally determined (1:2) stochiometirc ratio. To avoid premature reaction of the acid and the base during compounding, the tablet ingredients were mixed in the following order: acid, sweetener, binder, drug, preservative, base, and anti-adherent/lubricant. An accelerated thermal stability study at 40 °C and 25% relative humidity showed that the integrity of the effervescent tablets containing rivastigmine tartrate were superior to that of donepezil HCl tablets. FT-IR spectrometry confirmed the presence of water of hydrate in donepezil HCl crystals. This water was absent in the IR after one-month storage at accelerated thermal stability, but was present at room temperature. This behavior was not observed in the tablet made from rivastigmine tartrate powder. Differential scanning calorimetry of donepezil hydrochloride showed two thermal events: the first was associated with the loss of the water, and the second, at much higher temperature, was the melting of theanhydrous drug. Such behavior was not observed in the rivastigmine tartrate powder. Hidden water which may function as catalyst to induce premature effervescence during storage.
Power management of a self-powered multi-parameter wireless sensor for IoT application

This paper proposes a power management system for a self-powered wireless sensor that is designed for health monitoring of electric machines through analysis of the recorded vibration and temperature. Implementation of Internet of Things permits use of the monitoring methods based on machine learning and artificial-intelligence (AI). In order to accommodate a versatile and feasible implementation of such monitoring system, a self-powered multi-sensor wireless platform is desired. The proposed power management is based on an analog realization, which has low power consumption and by the virtue of the device multiplexing (i.e. energy harvesting and sensing) technology reduces the cost. A simple and effective control method is introduced and experimental results illustrating a monitoring time of the sensor of 19 seconds is captured.
Electrochemical characterization of lithium cobalt oxide within aqueous flow suspensions as an indicator of rate capability in lithium-ion battery electrodes

Abstract Rate capability is a critical metric for assessing lithium-ion battery materials, especially in the electric vehicle industry which requires high battery power density. The typical method for rate capability evaluation of battery materials involves electrode processing, battery assembly, and testing on a battery cycler with varying current rates. This method is very important in evaluating battery materials, however, it is time-consuming and depending on the cell type can take days to weeks. Rate capability can also be affected by other factors besides the active material properties including electrode slurry homogeneity, contact junctions formed during battery assembly, and the connectivity of the interfaces within the battery electrodes. Herein, we will describe the use of a technique termed dispersed particle resistance (DPR) to evaluate the battery cathode active material LiCoO2 (LCO), the first layered oxide evaluated using this method. This new technique works relatively fast, providing qualitative analysis within several minutes, and does not require electrode fabrication or additional materials in the system besides a carrier fluid for the electrolyte. While DPR does not explicitly give rate capability of the materials, DPR was successfully demonstrated to provide the relative rate capability for multiple different LCO samples, as supported by the results obtained from conventional rate capability testing using cycling data. Additionally, the physical properties of the material probed by the DPR were investigated by determining the lithium diffusivity in the crystal structure of the different LCO materials with galvanostatic intermittent titration technique.
Fish and Shellfish Behavior

In this chapter three aspects of fish behavior are discussed: the extent of migration of fishes, feeding behavior, and schooling behavior as they relate to fisheries management.
A11 Session 3: Computerized tools for cryosurgery training

As a part of an ongoing program to develop computerized training software for cryosurgery, this presentation addresses three key elements of development: (i) a method to simulate ultrasound imaging in a virtual cryosurgery setup, (ii) a training interface, and (iii) a framework for rapid bioheat transfer simulation, with a complete cryosurgery operation simulated in only a few seconds. The need for ultrasound simulations stems from the fact that frozen tissue and metallic objects have higher acoustic impedances than the surrounding soft tissue—the target of ultrasound imaging. The presence of these elements in the imaging field creates artifacts ranging from signal distortion to complete shadowing. A new method is displayed in the current presentation to effectively capture those artifacts for the physical simulation of the procedure. The need for a rapid simulation framework originates from the computationally intensive nature of computerized training, combining geometric modelling and phase-change effects. Benchmark studies on a newly developed GPU-based framework are displayed in this presentation, with a typical simulation runtime of 2 s for a cryosurgery operation of 5 min. Finally, a training interface is displayed to integrate imaging and thermal simulations. Source of funding: This study was supported by Award Number R01CA134261 from the National Cancer Institute.
Simulation of the Columnar Dendritic Solidification of a Pb-Sn Alloy

This study reports on numerical simulations of the columnar dendritic solidification of a Pb-20 wt.% Sn alloy in a rectangular cavity cooled from the side. Noteworthy features of the model include the detailed consideration of the liquid, α- and γ- phases, the coupling of convection to microstructural characteristics (e.g., anisotropy of the dendrites, dendrite arm spacings) and fully temperature and concentration dependent enthalpies and densities. The effects of flow due to both thermal/solutal buoyancy forces and solid/liquid density differences on the resulting solid structure and on macrosegregation are investigated.
Balance of Power: Political

While there are many conceptions of the balance of power, the most common and fruitful one is based on the assumption that independent states want to survive, can ally on the basis of self-interest, and are willing to fight. Balance of power theory argues that under these conditions the interaction among the states will produce a form of stability. Bloody wars may occur and individual states may rise, fall, and even be eliminated, but the basic outlines of the system are retained, wars rarely are fought to a finish, and losers are usually reintegrated into the system. This can occur even though none of the actors values the system or seeks to preserve it.
Extraction and Bioassay of Gibberellins from Fusarium moniliforme

The gibberellins (GAs) are one of the major groups of growth-promoting hormones which, in common with auxins, cytokinins, various growth inhibitors (e.g. abscisic acid) and ethylene, play essential roles in the regulation of growth and development of seed plants.
Ten Commandments for Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellows:

The transformation of a general pediatrician into a neonatologist requires rigorous training in a diverse range of core skills during neonatal-perinatal medicine fellowship. This training includes the care of high-risk newborn infants, as well as interdisciplinary communication with care team members and families in the neonatal intensive care unit. In addition, neonatal-perinatal medicine fellows need to acquire competency in key procedurals skills, including neonatal resuscitation techniques, to be able to safely practice neonatology without direct supervision on graduation. Although there is much general advice available to help residents and fellows navigate training, there is little specific advice or guidance for neonatal fellows. In this Perspective, we present 10 commandments for neonatal fellows. The commandments include (1) cherish your patients and their families, (2) know your limits and seek help when needed, (3) understand competency-based medical education, (4) remember the 6 core competencies, (5) review your specialty milestones, (6) have an individualized learning plan, (7) seek out feedback, (8) honor your attendings and nurses, (9) appreciate the importance of teamwork, and (10) do not take thyself in vain. These commandments were developed based on the experience of the authors, working closely with neonatal fellows over several decades. The commandments are present not as unbreakable rules, but rather as words of advice from 2 neonatologists who, having completed their neonatal fellowship, want to help guide others do the same. We believe that this resource will be useful to fellowship programs and neonatal-perinatal fellows.
Quantitative trait loci for salt tolerance in soybean

Soybean [Glycine Max (L.) Merr.] growth and yield are adversely affected by soil salinity. Identification of salinity tolerance genes that improve soybean performance in saline soils is a highly ef...
Launching forth: preservice teachers translating elementary mathematics curriculum into lessons

Translating a mathematics lesson from curriculum materials into instruction is not straightforward, and launching, or beginning, a lesson such that students will become productively engaged in the target mathematics is nontrivial. The purpose of the study was to investigate preservice teachers’ curricular noticing as they draw upon curriculum materials to design instruction, with a focus on how to launch that lesson. We engaged preservice elementary licensure students at two universities in a four-part process of analyzing mathematics curriculum, planning a lesson, demonstrating their visualization of enactment through animating their lesson launch, and reflecting on the process. Findings indicate that the focal case study pair modified the curricular materials to model mathematical aspects of fractions, adapted the introduction of key academic vocabulary, and introduced materials not mentioned in the curriculum to draw children into the lesson. We discuss implications for preservice teachers’ planning of the lesson launch and their curricular noticing.
Magnetic and Structural Studies of the Multifunctional Material SrFe0.75Mo0.25O3‐δ.

The title compound is prepared by the sol—gel method starting with SrCO3, FeC2O4, (NH4)6Mo7O24, citric acid, and HNO3 dissolved in H2O (heating the precursor at 950 °C for 12 h and at 1250 °C for another 12 h).
WHEAT RHIZOSPHERE pH AND THE BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF TAKE-ALL

Take-all of wheat and lineal extension of Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici hyphae along roots of intact wheat plants were lower in soils treated with ammonium-nitrogen (NH4-N) than with nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N). Differences in rhizosphere pH (pHr) of up to 2.2 units were recorded for NH4 vs. NO3 fed plants in the glasshouse, and up to 1.2 units in the field. The bulk soil pH (pHb) did not differ. Reduced disease was correlated with direct inhibition of the pathogen's growth at pHr < 5 and, in some soils, with indirect inhibition at pHr 5.0 — 6.5. In an alkaline soil that is suppressive to take-all the controlling influence of NH4-N on growth of G. graminis was eliminated by soil fumigation or by treatment with aerated steam at 60°C, and reintroduced by additions of 1% nonsterile soil. Effects of fumigation on hyphal growth were absent in nonsuppressive soil, and in NO3 treatments of the suppressive soil. Suppression of take-all by high NH4/NO3 ratios in the root zone has been attributed to direct inhibition of the pathogen's ectotrophic hyphal growth due to acidity in the rhizosphere of wheat growing in acid soils, and to a combined effect of acidity and specific antagonism by Pseudomonas fluoresoens in some neutral to alkaline soils.
ON MP TEST AND THE MVUEs IN A N (θ,cθ) DISTRIBUTION WITH θ UNKNOWN : ILLUSTRATIONS AND APPLICATIONS

Consider a sequence of independent observations X1, . . . , Xn from a N(θ, cθ) distribution with 0 0) is known. We begin with the problem of testing H0 : θ = θ0 against H1 : θ = θ1 where θ0, θ1(θ0 = θ1) are specified values of θ. The most powerful (MP) level α test depends upon ∑n i=1 X 2 i , a complete and sufficient statistic for θ, which has a multiple of a non-central chi-square distribution with its non-centrality parameter involving n and the true parameter value θ under H0, H1. We first target type-I and type-II error probabilities α and β respectively, with α > 0, β > 0, α + β < 1. We set out to determine the required exact sample size which will control these error probabilities and provide two useful large-sample approximations for the sample size. The three methods provide nearly the same required sample size whether n is small, moderate or large. We also show how one may derive the minimum variance unbiased estimators (MVUEs) for a number of interesting and useful functionals of θ by combining some previous work from Mukhopadhyay and Cicconetti (2004) and Mukhopadhyay and Bhattacharjee (2010). All methodologies are illustrated with both simulated data and real data.
Association of Use of Online Symptom Checkers With Patients' Plans for Seeking Care.

This cross-sectional study examines the association of patient use of a free online symptom checker tool with patient plans for seeking medical care.
Low Lung Allocation Score Predicts Poor Waitlist Outcomes for Patients on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation as a Bridge to Lung Transplantation

Purpose Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is increasingly used as a bridge to lung transplantation in the United States. However, ECMO is not separately distinguished from assisted ventilation in the lung allocation score (LAS), and there is a wide range in LAS for candidates on ECMO. In this study, we examined the relationship between LAS and waitlist outcomes in patients on ECMO. Methods This is a retrospective cohort study of lung transplant candidates on ECMO from 5/4/05 until 12/31/18 using data from the United Network for Organ Sharing. We modeled LAS as a continuous variable and as high LAS (top 50% of scores) versus low LAS (bottom 50% of scores). The LAS used was the first one calculated within two days of ECMO initiation. The primary outcomes were transplantation and a composite of death or removal from the waitlist for clinical deterioration. The secondary outcome was post-transplant survival. We used an adjusted competing risk regression model to compare waitlist outcomes and an adjusted Cox regression model to examine post-transplant survival. Results In total, 954 patients were bridged on ECMO with 594 (62.2%) receiving transplants and 329 (34.4%) dying or being removed from the waitlist. The mean LAS in the low and high LAS cohorts were 78.2 (SD ± 15.6) and 90.7 (SD ± 1.36), respectively. The low LAS cohort had decreased chance of transplant (SHR 0.80, 95% CI 0.67-0.96, p=0.02) and increased risk of death or waitlist removal (SHR 1.34, 95% CI 1.05-1.70, p=0.02) (Figure 1). For every 10 point increase in LAS, the risk of transplant increased by 14% (p Conclusion Among patients on ECMO as bridge to transplant, a lower LAS was associated with decreased risk of transplant and increased risk of death or clinical worsening without any difference in post-transplant survival.
Self-organizing cicada choruses respond to the local sound and light environment

Periodical cicadas exhibit an extraordinary capacity for self-organizing spatially synchronous breeding behavior. The regular emergence of periodical cicada broods across the United States is a phenomenon of longstanding public and scientific interest, as the cicadas of each brood emerge in huge numbers and briefly dominate their ecosystem. During the emergence, the 17-year periodical cicada species Magicicada cassini is found to form synchronized choruses, and we investigated their chorusing behavior from the standpoint of spatial synchrony.Cicada choruses were observed to form in trees, calling regularly every five seconds. In order to determine the limits of this self-organizing behavior, we set out to quantify the spatial synchronization between cicada call choruses in different trees, and how and why this varies in space and time.We performed 20 simultaneous recordings in Clinton State Park, Kansas, in June 2015 (Brood IV), with a team of citizen-science volunteers using consumer equipment (smartphones). We use a wavelet approach to show in detail how spatially synchronous, self-organized chorusing varies across the forest.We show how conditions that increase the strength of audio interactions between cicadas also increase the spatial synchrony of their chorusing. Higher forest canopy light levels increase cicada activity, corresponding to faster and higher-amplitude chorus cycling and to greater synchrony of cycles across space. We implemented a relaxation-oscillator-ensemble model of interacting cicadas, finding that a tendency to call more often, driven by light levels, results in all these effects.Results demonstrate how the capacity to self-organize in ecology depends sensitively on environmental conditions. Spatially correlated modulation of cycling rate by an external driver can also promote self-organization of phase synchrony.
Genetic Subtype-Phenotype Analysis of Growth Hormone Treatment on Psychiatric Behavior in Prader-Willi Syndrome

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a complex multisystemic condition caused by a lack of paternal expression of imprinted genes from the 15q11.2-q13 region. Limited literature exists on the association between molecular classes, growth hormone use, and the prevalence of psychiatric phenotypes in PWS. In this study, we analyzed nine psychiatric phenotypes (depressed mood, anxiety, skin picking, nail picking, compulsive counting, compulsive ordering, plays with strings, visual hallucinations, and delusions) recognized in PWS and investigated associations with growth hormone treatment (GHT), deletions (DEL) and uniparental disomy (UPD) in a cohort of 172 individuals with PWS who met the criteria for analysis. Associations were explored using Pearson chi-square tests and univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses to control for confounding exposures. This observational study of the largest dataset of patients with PWS to date suggested the following genetic subtype and phenotype correlations in psychiatric behaviors: (1) skin picking was more frequent in those with DEL vs. UPD; (2) anxiety was more common in those with UPD vs. DEL; and (3) an increased frequency of anxiety was noted in the UPD group treated with GHT compared to the DEL group. No other significant associations were found between the genetic subtype or GHT including for depressed mood, nail picking, compulsive counting, compulsive ordering, playing with strings, and visual hallucinations. Further studies will be required before any conclusions can be reached.
Does Medical Students' High Expression of Empathy Correlate with Their Choice of Primary Care Residencies?

OBJECTIVES There are many factors that influence medical students' (MS) decisions when choosing a career. Some prominent factors include life-work balance, indebtedness, and flexibility of work hours. Whereas the expression of empathy has many positive correlates with a trusting and meaningful physician-patient interaction, only a few studies have analyzed the association of MS empathy expression and primary care residency selection. The results of these studies about the relationship of MS expression of empathy and their selection of primary care specialties have been conflicting, depending on the empathy instrument used. In addition, there have been other variables that have affected career decision making in more recent years not previously encountered. The objectives of our study were to analyze the association of The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences (GWU) MS Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) scores and their residency selection, to compare our results with previous studies to determine whether the IRI provided more definitive relationships between empathy and career choice, and to assess whether our results confirmed the theoretical construct linking empathy with primary care physicians. METHODS GWU third-year MS (MS3s), representing the classes of 2008-2011, completed the perspective taking and empathy subscales of the IRI, which measure cognitive and affective empathy, respectively. MS empathy scores for individual specialty were compared to those scores in internal medicine (IM) using a linear regression model. Empathy scores for patient-oriented versus technology-oriented specialties and primary versus surgical specialties were compared using the independent t test. RESULTS A total of 593 (77.5%) MS3s had mean IRI scores of 45.1 (standard error 4.8), higher than a recent study involving MS. There were no significant differences between patient- and technology-oriented specialties (-0.65 to 0.88), primary care versus surgical residencies (-0.87 to 1.4), and women versus men (-0.20 to 1.4). Our study did not clarify previous conflicting studies in the literature. CONCLUSIONS There are no significant differences in expression of empathy in GWU students who chose patient- versus technology-oriented and primary care versus surgical residencies. The authors can only speculate why students' high expression of empathy was not associated with selecting primary care residencies, namely, women are outnumbering men entering medicine and are selecting technology-related specialties previously identified predominantly with men, and millennials have specific traits inherent in their generation that can affect their specialty choice. The results of our study shed doubt that the theoretical construct linking MS high empathy expression and choice of primary care careers is valid today.
Determination of ceftazidime in plasma by RP-HPLC and ultraviolet detection.

A simple high-performance liquid chromatography method for the determination of ceftazidime in plasma has been developed. Using an ultrafiltration technique samples were separated by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography on a Symmetry C18 4.6 × 250 mm column (5.0 μm) and ultraviolet absorbance was measured at 260 nm. The mobile phase was a mixture of 10 mm potassium phosphate monobasic pH 2.5 with phosphoric acid and acetonitrile (90:10). The standard curve ranged from 0.1 to 100 μg/ml. Intra- and inter-assay variability for ceftazidime was <12%, and the average recovery was 89%. The lower limit of quantification was 0.1 μg/ml. This method has been used successfully to analyze frog plasma samples at this institution and it could be applied to other small volume samples in a clinical or research setting.
High emotion differentiation buffers against internalizing symptoms following exposure to stressful life events in adolescence: An intensive longitudinal study

Exposure to stressful life events is strongly associated with internalizing psychopathology, and identifying factors that reduce vulnerability to stress-related internalizing problems is critical for development of early interventions. Drawing on research from affective science, we tested whether high emotion differentiation-the ability to specifically identify one's feelings-buffers adolescents from developing internalizing symptoms when exposed to stress. Thirty adolescents completed a laboratory measure of emotion differentiation before an intensive year-long longitudinal study in which exposure to stress and internalizing problems were assessed at both the moment-level (n=4,921 experience sampling assessments) and monthly-level (n=355 monthly assessments). High negative and positive emotion differentiation attenuated moment-level coupling between perceived stress and feelings of depression, and high negative emotion differentiation eliminated monthly-level associations between stressful life events and anxiety symptoms. These results suggest that high emotion differentiation buffers adolescents against anxiety and depression in the face of stress, perhaps by facilitating adaptive emotion regulation.
Does Attorney Advertising Stimulate Adverse Event Reporting

Lawyers frequently sponsor television advertisements that publicize the risks associated with a particular drug. The relationship between adverse event reporting and attorney advertising is heavily contested in litigation, but remains unknown. This study investigates whether attorney advertising is associated with changes in reporting volume through the Federal Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). The study examined both weekly and monthly volume of reports to FAERS for 28 groups of drugs targeted by attorney advertising, and compared it to attorney advertising volume, relative google search volume, media hits, and FDA safety interventions over a one-year period from July 2015 to June 2016. The study revealed no significant relationship between attorney advertising volume and the volume of adverse event reports. By contrast, FDA safety actions, google search volume, and media coverage were positively correlated with FAERS reports.
What got them through: community cultural wealth, Black students, and Texas school desegregation

Despite the robust body of scholarship on southern school desegregation, little has concentrated on the ways Black students’ home communities helped them persist in desegregated schools. Using oral...
Update: Domestic LNG Vessel Construction

The paper gives a picture of the present domestic LNG vessel construction program over the past four years, dealing exclusively with three U.S. shipyards constructing LNG vessels under the Construction Differential Subsidy (CDS) program. The paper dwells largely on the specialized facilities, equipment and techniques required and the problems encountered in the construction of LNG cargo containment systems for three designs and shows the successful solutions to those problems.