cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Indirect peroxidase staining using monoclonal antibodies specific for Mya arenaria neoplastic cells.

Two cytological methods are primarily used to diagnose hematopoietic neoplasia (HN) in the soft shell clam, Mya arenaria. These methods involve (1) the examination of fresh hemocytes by using a hemocytometer or (2) the evaluation of fixed hemocyte preparations stained with Feulgen Picromethyl Blue. This paper presents a new method which uses indirect peroxidase (IP) staining of hemocyte preparations treated with murine monoclonal antibodies specific for HN cells. Application of the IP method is described, and a comparison is made between the three methods. The hemocytometer method is only 53% as accurate as either the IP or the Feulgen Picromethyl Blue methods. When compared to the Feulgen Picromethyl Blue method, both the IP and Hemocytometer methods are quicker to read (3 vs. 15 min). Additionally, the IP method is more specific than either the hemocytometer or the Feulgen Picromethyl Blue methods because questionable cells are identified as neoplastic or normal by the IP stain. Thus, the IP method is the best method of the three for the diagnosis of HN in soft shell clams.
Spontaneous amelanotic melanomas of the uveal tract in F344 rats.

Five intraocular amelanotic melanomas were identified in the National Toxicology Program's database consisting of records from more than 60.000 female and 60.000 male F344 rats, which were used as ...
Relative volume of Kolmogorov?Arnold?Moser tori and uniform distribution, stickiness and nonstickiness in Hamiltonian systems

We discuss several open problems in the theory of Hamiltonian systems. They are all related to the Hamiltonian systems with divided phase space, where Kolmogorov–Arnold–Moser tori coexist with ergodic components of positive measure.
Insulin lispro in the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus after oral agent failure

This study assessed the safety profile and efficacy of a new combination therapy (insulin lispro plus sulfonylurea) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus experiencing secondary oral agent failure. A total of 423 patients were randomly assigned to 3 treatment groups: preprandial insulin lispro plus sulfonylurea (L + S), bedtime neutral protamine Hagedorn (NPH) insulin plus sulfonylurea (N + S), and preprandial insulin lispro plus bedtime NPH insulin (L + N). Mean decreases in glycosylated hemoglobin from baseline were 1.60%+/-1.27% for patients receiving L + S, 1.21%+/-1.21% for those receiving N + S, and 1.40%+/-1.46% for those receiving L + N (within treatment, P<0.001; for L + S vs. N + S, P = 0.003). Fasting blood glucose level was higher in patients receiving L + S (171+/-46.5 mg/dL) or L + N (166+/-52.5 mg/dL) than in those receiving N + S (144+/-48.2 mg/dL) (P<0.001, for both comparisons). Conversely, postprandial blood glucose level was lower in patients receiving L + S (165+/-41.6 mg/dL) or L + N (165+/-46.3 mg/dL) than in those receiving N + S (213+/-58.3 mg/dL) (P<0.001, for both comparisons). The overall rate of hypoglycemia (episodes per 30 days) was not statistically significant when the L + S, N + S, and L + N therapies were compared (0.99+/-1.74 vs. 0.87+/-2.31 vs. 1.16+/-2.38, respectively). The rate of nocturnal hypoglycemia was lowest in the L + S group (0.00+/-0.00 vs. 0.10+/-0.37 for the N + S group vs. 0.15+/-0.54 for the L + N group; P = 0.004). L + S, which has a safety profile equal to those of N + S and L + N, is an effective treatment for patients with type 2 diabetes who experience oral sulfonylurea agent failure. L + S offers an alternative to these established combination therapies in patients whose type 2 diabetes cannot be controlled with a sulfonylurea alone.
Mechanical behavior of nanocrystalline metals

The influence of grain size or cell size on the mechanical behavior of metals is well known, although debate continues about details of defect control mechanisms. In the past, difficulty in producing bulk samples with grain sizes smaller than about 1 {mu}m limited mechanical behavior studies in finer-grained materials. Expressions relating strength to grain size, determined from studies of coarse-grained materials, suggest that reducing grain size into the sub-micrometer range results in increased mechanical strength at low homologous temperatures. At high temperatures, diffusional creep effects may lead to increased ductility. This paper reports the major results to date of an ongoing study of the mechanical behavior of nanocrystalline metals produced by the inert-gas condensation method; some results have been reported elsewhere. Studies of the tensile strength, low-temperature creep and Vickers microhardness of Cu, Pd and Ag reported here are complemented in this broader study by processing studies, x-ray grain-size and strain analyses, and high resolution microscopy studies of nanostructure and microstructure. The work provides a basis for predicting low-temperature mechanical behavior of ultrafine-grained metals, subject to some significant constraints imposed by the processing conditions. 16 refs., 2 figs., 3 tabs.
Women go with the (optical) flow

Previous research reported interesting gender effects involving specific benefits for females navigating with wider fields of view on large displays. However, it was not clear what was driving the 3D navigation performance gains, and whether or not the effect was more tightly coupled to gender or to spatial abilities. The study we report in this paper replicates and extends previous work, demonstrating that the gender-specific navigation benefits come from the presence of optical flow cues, which are better afforded by wider fields of view on large displays. The study also indicates that the effect may indeed be tied to gender, as opposed to spatial abilities. Together, the findings provide a significant contribution to the HCI community, as we provide strong recommendations for the design and presentation of 3D environments, backed by empirical data. Additionally, these recommendations reliably benefit females, without an accompanying detriment to male navigation performance.
Uteroglobin Inhibits Prostaglandin F2α Receptor-mediated Expression of Genes Critical for the Production of Pro-inflammatory Lipid Mediators

Prematurity is one of the leading causes of infant mortality. It may result from intrauterine infection, which mediates premature labor by stimulating the production of inflammatory lipid mediators such as prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α). The biological effects of PGF2α are mediated via the G protein-coupled receptor FP; however, the molecular mechanism(s) of FP signaling that mediates inflammatory lipid mediator production remains unclear. We reported previously that in the human uterus, a composite organ in which fibroblast, epithelial, and smooth muscle cells are the major constituents, an inverse relationship exists between the levels of PGF2α and a steroid-inducible anti-inflammatory protein, uteroglobin. Here we report that, in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts and human uterine smooth muscle cells, FP signaling is mediated via multi-kinase pathways in a cell type-specific manner to activate NF-κB, thus stimulating the expression of cyclooxygenase-2. Cyclooxygenase-2 is a critical enzyme for the production of prostaglandins from arachidonic acid, which is released from membrane phospholipids by phospholipase A2, the expression of which is also stimulated by PGF2α. Most importantly, uteroglobin inhibits FP-mediated NF-κB activation and cyclooxygenase-2 gene expression by binding and most likely by sequestering PGF2α into its central hydrophobic cavity, thereby preventing FP-PGF2α interaction and suppressing the production of inflammatory lipid mediators. We propose that uteroglobin plays important roles in maintaining homeostasis in organs that are vulnerable to inadvertent stimulation of FP-mediated inflammatory response.
Effects of abiotic factors on the distribution and activity of the invasive Argentine ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

The Argentine ant, Linepithema humile (Mayr), has spread worldwide, often decimating native ant populations and other arthropod species in invaded areas. It is not known what abiotic and biotic conditions limit its distribution. We investigated the distribution of the Argentine ant in the Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve in northern California, a nature preserve that has been partially invaded by these ants. Canonical correlation analysis showed that the Argentine ant is most likely to occur near the edges of the preserve, which are next to disturbed areas and in low-elevation areas. Native ant species are associated with higher-elevation areas farther from the preserve edge. Distance to surface water and insolation were less important in predicting Argentine ant distribution. This suggests that dispersal from disturbed areas strongly determines the spread of the invasion. We examined how the daily activity patterns of Argentine ants and several native ant species depend on soil temperature, air temperature, and relative humidity. There was considerable overlap in activity times, and there were no values of any of the abiotic factors measured in which native ant species were more likely to be active than Argentine ants. Because the Argentine ant is usually active at the same times as any native species, most native species in invaded areas are likely to encounter the invaders frequently. Diet overlap was high with most native ant species except for seed-eating species. Overlap in activity times may intensify both exploitative and interference competition between the Argentine and native ant species.
Transparency and Accountability: Empirical Results for US States

Recent formal models of accountability allow us to make different conditional predictions about how transparency affects voters’ willingness to re-elect incumbents and acceptance of higher taxes. W...
Development and environmental application of a genus-specific quantitative PCR approach for Pseudo-nitzschia species

Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for the identification and quantification of microbes has become a common tool for the study of harmful algal blooms (HABs). We developed a qPCR method for the diatom genus Pseudo-nitzschia. Several species of this genus form toxic blooms through the production of the neurotoxin domoic acid (DA). Outbreaks of toxicity attributed to DA along the US west coast have caused sickness and death of marine mammals and seabirds through food web contamination. The method developed here quantifies Pseudo-nitzschia spp. at low abundances in natural samples, thereby, providing a method to improve our understanding of the environmental conditions leading to blooms of these species. This has been accomplished previously by techniques for identification and quantification that are slow and laborious compared to qPCR. The approach was successfully tested and validated using eight species of Pseudo-nitzschia and 33 non-target organisms and employed to follow local bloom dynamics.
Out-Of-Pocket Expenditures on Complementary Health Approaches Associated With Painful Health Conditions in a Nationally Representative Adult Sample.

Abstract National surveys suggest that millions of adults in the United States use complementary health approaches such as acupuncture, chiropractic manipulation, and herbal medicines to manage painful conditions such as arthritis, back pain, and fibromyalgia. Yet, national and per person out-of-pocket (OOP) costs attributable to this condition-specific use are unknown. In the 2007 National Health Interview Survey, the use of complementary health approaches, the reasons for this use, and the associated OOP costs were captured in a nationally representative sample of 5,467 adults. Ordinary least square regression models that controlled for comorbid conditions were used to estimate aggregate and per person OOP costs associated with 14 painful health conditions. Individuals using complementary approaches spent a total of $14.9 billion (standard error [SE] = $.9 billion) on these approaches to manage these painful conditions. Total OOP expenditures by those using complementary approaches for their back pain ($8.7 billion, SE=$.8 billion) far outstripped OOP expenditures for any other condition; the majority of these costs ($4.7 billion, SE=$.4 billion) were for visits to complementary providers. Annual condition-specific per person OOP costs varied from a low of $568 (SE = $144) for regular headaches to a high of $895 (SE = $163) for fibromyalgia. Perspective Adults in the United States spent $14.9 billion on complementary health approaches (eg, acupuncture, chiropractic manipulation, and herbal medicines) to manage painful conditions including back pain ($8.7 billion). This back pain estimate is almost one-third of the total conventional health care expenditure for back pain ($30.4 billion) and two-thirds higher than conventional OOP expenditures ($5.1 billion).
Injuries from firearms in hunting activities.

BACKGROUND: Recreational hunting is a very popular sport, and frequently involves firearms. Few studies address the pattern of firearm injuries occurring with hunting and how they differ from firearm injuries not associated with hunting. PURPOSE: A nation wide database will provide an overall perspective of the scope of the problem and types of injuries. METHODS: Our data were obtained from the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research Firearm Injury Surveillance Study 1993-2008 (ICPSR 30543). It was statistically analyzed for demographic and injury patterns using SUDAAN 10™ software. A pRESULTS: There were 1,841,269 ED visits for firearm related injuries 1993-2008; 35,970 were involved in hunting (1.95%). Hunters were older than non-hunters (34.5 vs. 26.7 years, pCONCLUSION: Hunters injured by firearms were nearly all Caucasian, older than non-hunters, did not involve handguns, presented to small hospitals, often sustained unintentional injuries and were not shot; most commonly injured in the head and neck, and had an overall mortality of 0.6%. These data can be a reference for future studies regarding hunting injuries associated with firearms. Language: en
Molecular Analysis of Sarcoidosis Tissues for Mycobacterium Species DNA

We performed polymerase chain reaction analysis, for Mycobacterium species 16S rRNA, rpoB, and IS6110 sequences, on 25 tissue specimens from patients with sarcoidosis and on 25 control tissue specimens consisting of mediastinal or cervical lymph nodes and lung biopsies. Mycobacterium species 16S rRNA sequences were amplified from 12 (48%) rpoB sequences from 6 (24%) of the sarcoidosis specimens. In total, 16S rRNA or rpoB sequences were amplified from 15 sarcoidosis specimens (60%) but were not detected in any of the control tissues (p=0.00002, Chi square). In three specimens, the sequences resembled Mycobacterium species other than M. tuberculosis. All specimens with sequences consistent with M. tuberculosis were negative for IS6110. We provide evidence that one of a variety of Mycobacterium species, especially organisms resembling M. tuberculosis, is found in most patients with sarcoidosis.
DYNAMICS OF AN UNDERDAMPED JOSEPHSON-JUNCTION LADDER

We show analytically that the dynamical equations for an underdamped ladder of coupled small Josephson junctions can be approximately reduced to the discrete sine-Gordon equation. As numerical confirmation, we solve the coupled Josephson equations for such a ladder in a magnetic field. We obtain discrete-sine-Gordon-like {ital IV} characteristics, including a flux flow and a {open_quote}{open_quote}whirling{close_quote}{close_quote} regime at low and high currents, and voltage steps that represent a lock-in between the vortex motion and linear {open_quote}{open_quote}phasons,{close_quote}{close_quote} and which are quantitatively predicted by a simple formula. At sufficiently high anisotropy, the fluxons on the steps propagate ballistically. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}
The Effects of Quadratic AM-PM Conversion in Frequency-Division Multiplexed Multiple-Access Communication Satellite Systems

A traveling-wave tube amplifier such as those employed in frequency-division multiplexed multiple-access communication-satellite repeaters is considered. The amplifier nonlinearity is assumed to follow an error-function characteristic, and the AM-PM conversion is taken to be a quadratic function of the envelope of the input signal. An exact expression allowing for both arbitrary amounts of amplifier saturation and AM-PM conversion is derived for the autocorrelation function of the amplifier output when the input is a Gaussian bandpass process. Distortion spectra are calculated for the parameters of a typical travelingwave tube transmitter.
Psychosocial Consequences of Intimate Partner Violence for Women and Men in Canada

Although the negative health consequences of intimate partner violence (IPV) are well documented, most research has conceptualized IPV as a unitary construct and has primarily focused on the impact of physical violence. However, recent theoretical and empirical work suggests that IPV may be heterogeneous, with different consequences associated with different patterns of violence, abuse, and control. This study used latent class analysis to examine the psychosocial consequences associated with different patterns of physical violence, sexual coercion, psychological abuse, and controlling behavior. Data from 676 women and 455 men who were interviewed for the 2004 Canadian General Social Survey on Victimization were analyzed. The results suggest that experiencing any pattern of violence is associated with a range of negative psychosocial outcomes for both women and men. However, they also show the increasingly negative impact and perceived dangerousness of IPV for those experiencing more severe and chronic patterns of violence and control. These findings were particularly pronounced for women as they experienced the most chronic pattern of abuse and control documented in the study. The psychosocial consequences were also greater for women than for men with similar experiences of IPV. These results suggest that the psychosocial impact of IPV is influenced by gender and by the nature of the violence, abuse, and control experienced.
Assessing biofuel crop invasiveness: a case study.

Background: There is widespread interest in biofuel crops as a solution to the world’s energy needs, particularly in light of concerns over greenhouse-gas emissions. Despite reservations about their adverse environmental impacts, no attempt has been made to quantify actual, relative or potential invasiveness of terrestrial biofuel crops at an appropriate regional or international scale, and their planting continues to be largely unregulated. Methodology/Principal Findings: Using a widely accepted weed risk assessment system, we analyzed a comprehensive list of regionally suitable biofuel crops to show that seventy percent have a high risk of becoming invasive versus one-quarter of non-biofuel plant species and are two to four times more likely to establish wild populations locally or be invasive in Hawaii or in other locations with a similar climate. Conclusions/Significance: Because of climatic and ecological similarities, predictions of biofuel crop invasiveness in Hawaii are applicable to other vulnerable island and subtropical ecosystems worldwide. We demonstrate the utility of an accessible and scientifically proven risk assessment protocol that allows users to predict if introduced species will become invasive in their region of interest. Other evidence supports the contention that propagule pressure created by extensive plantings will exacerbate invasions, a scenario expected with large-scale biofuel crop cultivation. Proactive measures, such as risk assessments, should be employed to predict invasion risks, which could then be mitigated via implementation of appropriate planting policies and adoption of the ‘‘polluter-pays’’ principle.
Concurrent fault detection for a multiple-plane packet switch

In high-speed and high-capacity packet switches, system reliability is critical to avoid loss of huge amounts of information and retransmission of traffic. We propose a series of concurrent fault-detection mechanisms for a multiple-plane crossbar-based packet switch. Our switch model, called the m+z model, has m active planes and z spare planes. This switch has distributed arbiters on each plane. The spare planes, used for substitution of faulty active ones, are also used in the fault-detection mechanism, thus providing fault detection and fault location for all switching planes. Our detection schemes are able to detect a single fault quickly without increasing transmission overhead. The proposed schemes can be used for switches with different numbers of active planes and a small number of spare planes.
DCT and wavelet based representations of arbitrarily shaped image segments

This paper describes two efficient algorithms for representing arbitrarily shaped objects. The first representation, called cosine filling, is a DCT-based approach for obtaining a compact description of objects, making it possible to achieve high compression. A wavelet-based approach is also proposed. This representation not only provides compact description, but also facilitates smooth extension, which can be useful in extrapolation and interpolation of objects.
Vascular endothelial dysfunction with aging: endothelin-1 and endothelial nitric oxide synthase

To determine whether impaired endothelium-dependent dilation (EDD) in older adults is associated with changes in the expression of major vasoconstrictor or vasodilator proteins in the vascular endothelium, endothelial cells (EC) were obtained from the brachial artery and peripheral veins of 56 healthy men, aged 18-78 yr. Brachial artery EC endothelin-1 (ET-1) [0.99 +/- 0.10 vs. 0.57 +/- 0.10 ET-1/human umbilical vein EC (HUVEC) intensity, P = 0.01] and serine 1177 phosphorylated endothelial nitric oxide synthase (PeNOS) (0.77 +/- 0.09 vs. 0.44 +/- 0.07 PeNOS/HUVEC intensity, P < 0.05) (quantitative immunofluorescence) were greater, and EDD (peak forearm blood flow to intrabrachial acetylcholine) was lower (10.2 +/- 0.9 vs. 14.7 +/- 1.7 ml.100 ml(-1).min(-1), P < 0.05) in older (n = 18, 62 +/- 1 yr) vs. young (n = 15, 21 +/- 1 yr) healthy men. EDD was inversely related to expression of ET-1 (r = -0.39, P < 0.05). Brachial artery EC eNOS expression did not differ significantly with age, but tended to be greater in the older men (young: 0.23 +/- 0.03 vs. older: 0.33 +/- 0.07 eNOS/HUVEC intensity, P = 0.08). In the sample with venous EC collections, EDD (brachial artery flow-mediated dilation) was lower (3.50 +/- 0.44 vs. 7.68 +/- 0.43%, P < 0.001), EC ET-1 and PeNOS were greater (P < 0.05), and EC eNOS was not different in older (n = 23, 62 +/- 1 yr) vs. young (n = 27, 22 +/- 1 yr) men. EDD was inversely related to venous EC ET-1 (r = -0.37, P < 0.05). ET-1 receptor A inhibition with BQ-123 restored 60% of the age-related impairment in carotid artery dilation to acetylcholine in B6D2F1 mice (5-7 mo, n = 8; 30 mo, n = 11; P < 0.05). ET-1 expression is increased in vascular EC of healthy older men and is related to reduced EDD, whereas ET-1 receptor A signaling tonically suppresses EDD in old mice. Neither eNOS nor PeNOS is reduced with aging. Changes in ET-1 expression and bioactivity, but not eNOS, contribute to vascular endothelial dysfunction with aging.
The Impact of Alternative Investments on Private Colleges' Endowment Investment Returns

Over the past twenty years, colleges have invested an increasing share of their endowment assets in “alternative investments.” Prior to 2009, an alternatives emphasis had been widely credited for the sterling endowment investment returns earned by many colleges. However, with college endowments generally suffering sharply negative investment returns during fiscal year 2009, many commentaries have more recently questioned the desirability of this increasing alternatives allocation. This paper addresses several key questions that are central to the current debate on the appropriate role for alternative investments in colleges’ endowment portfolios.Going beyond anecdotal accounts, the evidence confirms that an increased emphasis on alternatives did tend, ceteris paribus, to reduce private colleges’ investment returns in 2009. However, the extent of the impact on 2009 investment returns is perhaps smaller than has been commonly understood. Further, when one looks at the evidence for the ten-year period ending in 2009, an increased emphasis on alternatives tends, ceteris paribus, to significantly increase a college’s cumulative investment return. Despite concerns about the ability of colleges with smaller endowments to successfully invest in alternatives, the positive impact on investment returns over the decade of an increased alternatives allocation holds for colleges in all endowment size groups -- though the positive impact does tend to be smallest at colleges with the smallest endowments.One year’s returns do not tell the whole story, and even one decade’s returns are limited in the perspective they provide. The decade from 1999 to 2009 may have been an unusually strong one for alternatives relative to the returns earned in a more traditional portfolio emphasizing U.S. equities and fixed income securities. Yet, as argued in David Swensen’s Pioneering Portfolio Management, there is a reasonable conceptual basis for a move towards alternatives, especially among colleges with the needed expertise. For now, the actual cumulative record through 2009 of private colleges’ investments in alternatives supports a significant role for alternatives.
Nonthermal Synthesis of Three-Dimensional Metal Oxide Structures under Continuous-Flow Conditions and Their Catalytic Applications

Continuous-flow synthesis of one-dimensional (1D) metal oxide nanostructures and/or their integration into hierarchical structures under nonthermal conditions is still a challenge. In this work, a nonthermal, continuous-flow approach for the preparation of γ-manganese oxide (γ-MnO2) and cerium oxide (CeO2) microspheres has been developed. By this technique, γ-MnO2 materials with surface areas of 240, 98, and 87 m2/g and CeO2 microspheres with a surface area of 1 m2/g have been fabricated successfully. Characterization of the materials was carried out using powder X-ray diffraction, infrared and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP/OES), nitrogen sorption, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The synthesized materials showed good catalytic activity in the oxidation of α-methyl styrene.
Glucocorticoids Suppress Mitochondrial Oxidant Production via Upregulation of Uncoupling Protein 2 in Hyperglycemic Endothelial Cells

Diabetic complications are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. Elevated blood glucose contributes to the development of endothelial and vascular dysfunction, and, consequently, to diabetic micro- and macrovascular complications, because it increases the mitochondrial proton gradient and mitochondrial oxidant production. Therapeutic approaches designed to counteract glucose-induced mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in the vasculature are expected to show efficacy against all diabetic complications, but direct pharmacological targeting (scavenging) of mitochondrial oxidants remains challenging due to the high reactivity of some of these oxidant species. In a recent study, we have conducted a medium-throughput cell-based screening of a focused library of well-annotated pharmacologically active compounds and identified glucocorticoids as inhibitors of mitochondrial superoxide production in microvascular endothelial cells exposed to elevated extracellular glucose. The goal of the current study was to investigate the mechanism of glucocorticoids' action. Our findings show that glucocorticoids induce the expression of the mitochondrial UCP2 protein and decrease the mitochondrial potential. UCP2 silencing prevents the protective effect of the glucocorticoids on ROS production. UCP2 induction also increases the oxygen consumption and the "proton leak" in microvascular endothelial cells. Furthermore, glutamine supplementation augments the effect of glucocorticoids via further enhancing the expression of UCP2 at the translational level. We conclude that UCP2 induction represents a novel experimental therapeutic intervention in diabetic vascular complications. While direct repurposing of glucocorticoids may not be possible for the therapy of diabetic complications due to their significant side effects that develop during chronic administration, the UCP2 pathway may be therapeutically targetable by other, glucocorticoid-independent pharmacological means.
Morphological and Molecular Characterization of Two Aphelenchoides Endophytic in Poplar Leaves

During a long-term, large network study of the ecology of plant endophytes in native habitats, various nematodes have been found. Two poplar species, Populus angustifolia (narrowleaf cottonwood) and Populus trichocarpa (black cottonwood), are important ecological and genomic models now used in ongoing plant–pathogen–endophyte interaction studies. In this study, two different aphelenchid nematodes within surface-sterilized healthy leaves of these two Populus spp. in northwestern North America were discovered. Nematodes were identified and characterized microscopically and molecularly with 28S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and 18S rRNA molecular markers. From P. angustifolia, Aphelenchoides saprophilus was inferred to be closest to another population of A. saprophilus among sequenced taxa in the 18S tree. From P. trichocarpa, Laimaphelenchus heidelbergi had a 28S sequence only 1 bp different from that of a Portuguese population, and 1 bp different from the original Australian type population. The 28S and 18S rRNA trees of Aphelenchoides and Laimaphelenchus species indicated L. heidelbergi failed to cluster with three other Laimaphelenchus species, including the type species of the genus. Therefore, we support a conservative definition of the genus Laimaphelenchus, and consider these populations to belong to Aphelenchoides, amended as Aphelenchoides heidelbergi n. comb. This is the first report of these nematode species from within aboveground leaves. The presence of these fungal-feeding nematodes can affect the balance of endophytic fungi, which are important determinants of plant health.
On the Water Rights of California,America

Summery It is a mixed system that water laws of California evolves to adopt.This system comprises of Riparian right,Priority Appropriation Right and other kind of water rights.The thesis sets out to probe into the framework of water resources management in California through analyzing types,meaning and content of the important kinds of water rights in the state.In doing so,the thesis pays more attention to Priority Appropriation Right.
In Vitro Fertilization Rates after Varicocele Repair

AbstractCausal relationship of varicocele to infertility is controversial. Studies of hormonal milieu, semen and testicular tissue yield data of debatable significance. We herein assay the fertilizing ability of men with varicocele and monitor changes consequent to surgical correction of varicocele. Zona-free hamster ova were used to determine fertilizing ability. A fertilization rate of less than 10 per cent correlates with infertility.Between May 1978 and November 1979, 76 men with varicocele presenting for fertility evaluation and 23 men with painful varicocele were tested. Of the patients infertile clinically and by in vitro fertilization assay 42 elected ligation of the internal spermatic vein(s). Average fertilization rate of the painful varicocele group was 20.5 per cent and for the infertile group it was 1.2 per cent. Average fertilization rates postoperatively in the infertile group were 2.9 per cent (3 months), 7.7 per cent (6 months), 2.8 per cent (9 months), 7.8 per cent (12 months), 17.5 per ...
Viral challenge reveals further evidence of skin-deep resilience in African Americans from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Objective Studies have revealed a phenomenon called skin-deep resilience, which develops in upwardly mobile African American youth. They perform well in school, maintain good mental health, and avoid legal problems. Despite outward indications of success, they also show evidence of worse health in biomarker studies. Here we extend this research, asking whether it manifests in differential susceptibility to upper respiratory infection, and if it emerges in European Americans as well. Methods The sample included 514 adults in good health, as judged by physician examination and laboratory testing. Participants completed questionnaires about lifecourse socioeconomic conditions, conscientiousness, psychosocial adjustment, and lifestyle factors. They were subsequently inoculated with a rhinovirus that causes upper respiratory infection, and monitored in quarantine for 5 days the development of illness. Results Consistent with past work, African Americans from disadvantaged backgrounds displayed indications of skin-deep resilience. To the extent these participants were high in conscientiousness, they fared better across multiple domains of psychosocial functioning, as reflected in educational attainment, symptoms of depression, and close relationship quality (p values = .01-.04). But analyses of these participants' susceptibility to infection revealed the opposite pattern; higher conscientiousness was associated with a greater likelihood of becoming ill following inoculation (p value = .03). In European Americans, there was no evidence of skin-deep resilience; conscientiousness was associated with better psychosocial outcomes, but not infection risk. Conclusions These observations suggest that resilience may be a double-edged sword for African Americans from disadvantaged backgrounds. The same characteristics associated with academic success and psychological adjustment forecast increased vulnerability to health problems. (PsycINFO Database Record
Cultivating Mindfulness with Third Grade Students via Classroom-Based Interventions.

Forty-five third grade students, from six different classrooms at a local elementary school, participated in our 3-year study. We delivered three 30-min classroom lessons on mindfulness using a curriculum that included modified lessons from the Mindful Schools and MindUp curricula as well as material we developed. We also provided booster sessions for the same students in fourth and fifth grades. Classroom teachers from the participating classrooms as well as the students anonymously shared comments about their experiences. Students were given two measures. These measures included the Mindful Student Questionnaire (MSQ; Renshaw and O’Malley 2014) and the Positive Experiences at School Scale (Furlong et al. Child Indicators Research, 6, 753–775, 2013). This article describes the intervention used and reports the findings from the analysis of quantitative and qualitative data. Related to the classroom experience, 100% of teacher comments were favorable. Intervention: Qualitative comments from students were positive. Quantitative results indicate that mindfulness scores did not increase.
Thirty-day readmission and mortality among Medicare beneficiaries discharged to skilled nursing facilities after vascular surgery.

Abstract Background Readmission within 30 d of an acute hospital stay is frequent, costly, and increasingly subject to penalties. Early readmission is most common after vascular surgery; these patients are often discharged to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), making postacute care an essential partner in reducing readmissions. We characterize 30-day readmissions among vascular surgery patients discharged to SNF to provide evidence for this understudied segment of readmission after specialty surgery. Methods We utilize the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Chronic Conditions Warehouse, a longitudinal 5% national random sample of Medicare beneficiaries to study 30-day readmission or death after discharge to SNF following abdominal aortic aneurysm repair or lower extremity revascularization from 2005-2009. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression with Least Adaptive Shrinkage and Selection Operator were used for analysis. Results Two thousand one hundred ninety-seven patients underwent an abdominal aortic aneurysm procedure or lower extremity revascularization at 686 hospitals and discharged to 1714 SNFs. Eight hundred (36%) were readmitted or had died at 30 d. In adjusted analysis, predictors of readmission or death at 30 d included SNF for-profit status (OR [odds ratio] = 1.2; P = 0.032), number of hospitalizations in the previous year (OR = 1.06; P = 0.011), number of comorbidities (OR = 1.06; P = 0.004), emergent procedure (OR = 1.69; P P = 0.003), respiratory complication (OR = 1.45; P P = 0.019), and wound complication (OR = 0.70; P = 0.017). Conclusions Patients discharged to SNF following vascular surgery have exceptionally high rates of readmission or death at 30 d. Many factors predicting readmission or death potentially modify decision-making around discharge, making early detection, discharge planning, and matching patient needs to SNF capabilities essential to improving outcomes.
Designing for expansive science learning and identification across settings

In this study, we present a case for designing expansive science learning environments in relation to neoliberal instantiations of standards-based implementation projects in education. Using ethnographic and design-based research methods, we examine how the design of coordinated learning across settings can engage youth from non-dominant communities in scientific and engineering practices, resulting in learning experiences that are more relevant to youth and their communities. Analyses highlight: (a) transformative moments of identification for one fifth-grade student across school and non-school settings; (b) the disruption of societal, racial stereotypes on the capabilities of and expectations for marginalized youth; and (c) how youth recognized themselves as members of their community and agents of social change by engaging in personally consequential science investigations and learning.
Pediatric tinnitus: A clinical perspective.

Objectives/Hypothesis To define the clinical features and natural history of pediatric tinnitus from a practicing otolaryngologist's perspective and formulate hypotheses therein. Study Design Retrospective chart review. Methods A retrospective chart review of the electronic medical record was undertaken. Only relevant records with a prior otolaryngology clinic visit and audiologic testing were included. Patients seen during the last 2 years of the study period were contacted and completed a questionnaire to assess change in tinnitus and quantify potential alterations in quality of life, associated symptoms, and natural history. Results One hundred eighty subjects with mean/median age of 11.5/11.5 years were identified. Hearing loss was identified in 40 subjects (22.2%). Etiology of tinnitus was identified in 95 subjects (52.8 %). Tinnitus-specific and/or nonspecific therapies were given to 80 subjects (44.4%). Of the 54 available subjects, 28 (51.9%) participated in the telephone questionnaire. Tinnitus complaints shifted favorably to the improvement or resolution categories (P = .001) between the initial clinic visit and the telephone interview. Shorter duration of tinnitus was associated with a higher probability of having improved tinnitus (P = .046). Conclusions This study distinguishes pediatric tinnitus from adult tinnitus in terms of lower association with underlying hearing loss, lower likelihood of reported anxiety, and higher likelihood of improvement and resolution. There are opportunities for tinnitus prevention in the areas of reducing head injury and noise-induced hearing loss. Level of Evidence 4 Laryngoscope, 2017
Sublingual gland excision for the surgical management of plunging ranula.

Abstract Objective A plunging ranula is a pseudocystic collection of mucin extravasated from the sublingual gland into the floor of mouth and through the mylohyoid muscle into the neck. While the lining of a ranula is non-secreting and resection of the sublingual gland is adequate for simple sublingual mucoceles, many surgeons attempt to address plunging ranulas with extensive transoral and transcervical dissections. We review our experience managing plunging ranulas with intraoral sublingual gland excision and ranula drainage alone. Methods This is a case series of patients with plunging ranulas who underwent transoral sublingual gland excision and ranula drainage in the past 10 years at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear. All ranulas were confirmed by radiographic imaging. Data were gathered from the medical record and telephone surveys. Results Twenty-one patients with 22 distinct ranulas underwent this surgical approach. Average ranula size on imaging was 4.3 cm (SD = 1.3). Thirteen patients with 14 ranulas were followed up for greater than 6 months while the remaining 7 patients were lost to follow-up. Median follow-up for the 13 patients was 30 months (range 6 to 80). One ranula recurred requiring excision of residual sublingual gland (7%). One patient developed a local infection that was treated with antibiotics (7%). No long term complications were reported. Conclusion Simple transoral excision of the sublingual gland with ranula drainage is sufficient for treatment of plunging ranulas. It is essential to obtain a full resection of the gland to prevent relapse. This limited approach has low rates of complications and ranula recurrence.
Time Series and Multidimensional Streaming Outlier Detection

The temporal and streaming outlier-detection scenarios arise in the context of many applications such as sensor data, mechanical systems diagnosis, medical data, network intrusion data, newswire text posts, or financial posts. In such problem settings, the assumption of temporal continuity plays a critical role in identifying outliers. Temporal continuity refers to the fact that the patterns in the data are not expected to change abruptly, unless there are abnormal processes at work. It is worth noting that outlier analysis has diverse formulations in the context of temporal data, in some of which temporal continuity is more important than others. In time-series data, temporal continuity is immediate, and expected to be very strong. In multidimensional data with a temporal component (e.g., text streams), temporal continuity is much weaker, and is present only from the perspective of aggregate trends.
Adaptivity and Error Estimation for Discontinuous Galerkin Methods

We test the a posteriori error estimates of discontinuous Galerkin (DG) discretization errors (Adjerid and Baccouch, J. Sci. Comput. 33(1):75–113, 2007; Adjerid and Baccouch, J. Sci. Comput. 38(1):15–49, 2008; Adjerid and Baccouch Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Eng. 200:162–177, 2011) for hyperbolic problems on adaptively refined unstructured triangular meshes. A local error analysis allows us to construct asymptotically correct a posteriori error estimates by solving local hyperbolic problems on each element. The Taylor-expansion-based error analysis (Adjerid and Baccouch, J. Sci. Comput. 33(1):75–113, 2007; Adjerid and Baccouch, J. Sci. Comput. 38(1):15–49, 2008; Adjerid and Baccouch Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Eng. 200:162–177, 2011) does not apply near discontinuities and shocks and lead to inaccurate estimates under uniform mesh refinement. Here, we present several computational results obtained from adaptive refinement computations that suggest that even in the presence of shocks our error estimates converge to the true error under adaptive mesh refinement. We also show the performance of several adaptive strategies for hyperbolic problems with discontinuous solutions.
DNA analysis of a large collection of shark fins from a US retail shop: species composition, global extent of trade and conservation - a Technical Report from the Monterey Bay Aquarium

We identified shark fins sampled across the entirety of a shark fin shop that had operated on the west coast of the United States until 2014. From these specimens we obtained 959 species identifications with Cytochrome oxidase (COI) sequencing and 1,720 identifications with control region (CR) sequences. We found 37-40 distinct species with COI and 40-43 with CR. Of the species identified, 17-23 (COI or CR, respectively) are currently listed as Endangered or Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, an additional 6 are considered data deficient, and 5-6 currently listed under CITES Appendix II. Of the 2.5 tonnes of fins from this collection, we estimated 56-66% (CR or COI, respectively) come from CITES-listed species or those the IUCN considers threatened or data deficient. Most of these species occur outside of the United States EEZ, comprising a global set of species that is common in most fin surveys. The principal target shark fishery in the United States (spiny dogfish; Squalus acanthias) has no fins in our collection. Fins seen abundantly in our collection include pelagic species such as thresher, mako, oceanic whitetip, silky, blue and hammerhead sharks, as in previous samples of the shark fin supply chain. However, in addition, we see a large flood of blacktip, dusky, sandbar, and smalltail sharks that are common in shallow coastal waters. This may indicates that the global market for shark fins takes sharks from nearshore coastal zones, all over the world. Abundant species in the fin shop included globally-distributed species such as scalloped hammerheads and shortfin mako sharks, but also regionally-restricted species such as finetooth, blacknose, and Caribbean Reef sharks found only in the western Atlantic or Caribbean. Specimens identified from rare species of particular conservation concern included the wedgefish genus Rhyncobatus and the white shark. Both molecular markers performed well in identifying most fins, achieving a similar degree of taxonomic certainty. The universal primers for COI regularly amplified bacteria in wet fin samples, but the CR primers were able to return shark sequences even from these degraded samples. However, the CR primers amplified a second gene, likely a pseudogene, in some important and abundant species, and seriously underestimated some species of high conversation concern such as the thresher sharks.
What Can Be Learned From Empirical Evaluations of Nonexperimental Methods

Given the widespread use of nonexperimental (NE) methods for assessing program impacts, there is a strong need to know whether NE approaches yield causally valid results in field settings. In within-study comparison (WSC) designs, the researcher compares treatment effects from an NE with those obtained from a randomized experiment that shares the same target population. The goal is to assess whether the stringent assumptions required for NE methods are likely to be met in practice. This essay provides an overview of recent efforts to empirically evaluate NE method performance in field settings. We discuss a brief history of the design, highlighting methodological innovations along the way. We also describe papers that are included in this two-volume special issue on WSC approaches and suggest future areas for consideration in the design, implementation, and analysis of WSCs.
The U.N. celebrates a regulatory debacle.

During the early 2000s, delegates to the U.N.-sponsored Convention on Biological Diversity negotiated a “biosafety protocol” to regulate the international movement of organisms genetically modified...
Development of a BIM-Based Data Management System for Structural Health Monitoring with Application to Modular Buildings: Case Study

AbstractModular buildings or off-site construction of building units are increasingly gaining momentum. Although such construction practices have advantages in terms of cost competitiveness and del...