cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An exploratory study of fitness practitioner intentions toward exercise programming for individuals with multiple sclerosis.

Abstract Background Increasing community practice that facilitates physical activity for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) is critical to improve health outcomes and enhance quality of life in this population. Objective The purpose of this exploratory study was to employ the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) in order to examine beliefs, attitudes and intentions of fitness practitioners (FPs) toward working with adults with MS in community-based fitness facilities. The study also aimed to assess the relative contribution of FP attributes on the best predictor of favorable intentions to work with individuals with MS. Method Practitioners ( N = 580) completed the Fitness Practitioner Survey via a web-based platform. Results The FPs' intention to work with a club member with MS was best predicted by attitudes ( R = .81, R 2 = .65, F 6,373 = 114.46, p R = .52; R 2 = .27, F 9,338 = 14.18, p Conclusion Practitioners believed that, by working with a person with MS, both staff and other club members would benefit and that including an individual with MS into their practice was worth the effort. As well, the individual with MS would benefit by experiencing success, increasing functional independence, and having greater social interaction. Fitness practitioners who had more education, held various professional certifications associated with physical activity and fitness, and had prior positive quality experiences working with diverse populations reported higher perceived competence.
Optimum repair for massive ventral hernias in the morbidly obese patient--is panniculectomy helpful?

Abstract Background The appropriate surgical management of morbidly obese patients with symptomatic hernias is not well defined. The authors evaluated the role of simultaneous panniculectomy in complex abdominal wall reconstruction. Methods A retrospective study (2007–2010) was conducted of morbidly obese (body mass index > 40 kg/m 2 ) patients undergoing open complex abdominal wall reconstruction. Results Thirty patients were identified. Twenty underwent simultaneous panniculectomy. The median pannus weight was 5.2 kg. Greater all-cause postoperative complications and wound-related morbidity occurred in the panniculectomy group ( P P = .04). Following 7-month to 9-month follow-up, both groups had a recurrence rate of 10%. Conclusion Simultaneous panniculectomy in the setting of complex abdominal wall reconstruction is feasible but associated with significant postoperative morbidity. Its potential for benefit in reducing long-term hernia recurrence remains unclear.
Cellulase biosynthesis during degradation of cellulose derivatives by Thermomonospora curvata

A variety of commercially used cellulose derivatives were compared with crystalline cellulose as substrates for induction of cellulase biosynthesis in the actinomycete Thermomonospora curvata. Cellulase induction during growth on uncoated cellophane was as rapid as that on crystalline cellulose, but on coated cellophanes, induction was delayed. Susceptibility to enzymatic attack determined the inductive potential of the substrate. Cellulose acetate was a poor substrate because of its extreme recalcitrance to attack. With other cellulose derivatives, soluble sugar accumulation caused a transient repression of cellulase biosynthesis, but the ratio of cellobiose (a cellulase inducer) to glucose (a cellulase repressor) was not a controlling factor. Crystalline cellulose yielded the lowest inducer/repressor sugar ratio (1.1:1 compared to 3.8–4.0:1 for cellulose derivatives), but supported the highest cellulase production. Glucose could not repress cellulase biosynthesis in the presence of cellobiose due to the strong preference for uptake of the disaccharide even by glucose-grown cells.
High Density Plasma Etching of Ta2O5-Selectivity to Si and Effect of UV Light Enhancement

Etch rates up to 1200 Amin−1 for Ta2O5 were achieved in both SF6/Ar and Cl2/Ar discharges under Inductively Coupled Plasma conditions. The etch rates with N2/Ar or CH4/H2/Ar chemistries were an order of magnitude lower. There was no effect of post deposition annealing on the Ta2O5 etch rates, at least up to 800 °C. Selectivities to Si of ∼1 were achieved at low source powers, but at higher powers the Si typically etched 4-7 times faster than Ta 20 5. UV illumination during ICP etching in both SF6/Ar and Cl2/Ar produced significant enhancements (up to a factor of 2) in etch rates due to photo-assisted desorption of the TaFx products. The UV illumination is an alternative to employing elevated sample temperatures during etching to increase the volatility of the etch products and may find application where the thermal budget should be minimized during processing.
Effects of rate of reinforcement-time upon concurrent operant performance

Three experiments were conducted to investigate the theoretical reduction of rate and duration of reinforcement to their product, rate of reinforcement-time, under concurrent chain schedules. In Exp. I, rate of reinforcement-time was varied by varying rate of reinforcement delivery, holding duration of reinforcement availability constant; in Exp. II, rate of reinforcement-time was varied by holding rate of reinforcement delivery constant and varying duration of reinforcement availability; in Exp. III, rate of reinforcement-time was held constant by varying both rate and duration of reinforcement simultaneously and inversely. For all three experiments, both relative rate of responding and relative time spent in the initial link were found to match approximately the relative rate of reinforcement-time arranged in the terminal link. These data were interpreted as support for the notion that rate and duration of reinforcement may be functionally equivalent and reducible to a single variable, rate of reinforcement-time.
Relationship between increase in astrocytic GLT-1 glutamate transport and late-LTP

Na⁺-dependent high-affinity glutamate transporters have important roles in the maintenance of basal levels of glutamate and clearance of glutamate during synaptic transmission. Interestingly, several studies have shown that basal glutamate transport displays plasticity. Glutamate uptake increases in hippocampal slices during early long-term potentiation (E-LTP) and late long-term potentiation (L-LTP). Four issues were addressed in this research: Which glutamate transporter is responsible for the increase in glutamate uptake during L-LTP? In what cell type in the hippocampus does the increase in glutamate uptake occur? Does a single type of cell contain all the mechanisms to respond to an induction stimulus with a change in glutamate uptake? What role does the increase in glutamate uptake play during L-LTP? We have confirmed that GLT-1 is responsible for the increase in glutamate uptake during L-LTP. Also, we found that astrocytes were responsible for much, if not all, of the increase in glutamate uptake in hippocampal slices during L-LTP. Additionally, we found that cultured astrocytes alone were able to respond to an induction stimulus with an increase in glutamate uptake. Inhibition of basal glutamate uptake did not affect the induction of L-LTP, but inhibition of the increase in glutamate uptake did inhibit both the expression of L-LTP and induction of additional LTP. It seems likely that heightened glutamate transport plays an ongoing role in the ability of hippocampal circuitry to code and store information.
The Predictability of Rainfall over the Greater Horn of Africa. Part II: Prediction of Monthly Rainfall during the Long Rains

AbstractSeasonal prediction of the boreal spring rains in the Greater Horn of Africa has been notoriously challenging. Predictability is markedly lower than during the autumnal rainy season. Part I of this article explored predictability at the seasonal scale, using multiple linear regression. However, the three months of the boreal spring season are clearly different climatologically and with respect to the prevailing atmospheric circulation and controls on interannual variability. For that reason, the current study follows up on Part I by examining the predictability of the three months individually. The current study utilizes 1- and 2-month lead times and the results are evaluated via cross validation. This approach provided improved skill for April and May in the equatorial rainfall region, but not for March in this region and not for the region with predominantly summer rainfall. Overall, the best predictors are shown to be atmospheric variables, most often zonal and meridional wind. Sea surface temp...
Low Adult Return of Juvenile Steelhead Treated with 17α-Methyltestosterone to Produce Sterility

Abstract Juvenile hatchery summer steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss were treated with the hormone 17α-methyltestosterone by methods developed for rainbow trout O. mykiss in an attempt to obtain sterile returning adults. Our objective was to determine if sterile steelhead would return to a target stream at frequencies high enough to provide recreational fisheries while providing fishery managers with a tool for reducing steelhead interactions with wild fish. From three brood years of treated releases, only one sterile adult steelhead returned to the collection hatchery on the South Santiam River, Oregon. Gonads were absent in this fish at the end of spawning in February. Other returning adults from treatment groups were 80% male and 20% female. Adults from control groups were 49% male and 51% female. Males from treatment groups developed secondary sexual characteristics similar to controls but contained deformed gonads at the end of spawning. Gonads of treated females appeared normal, but only one ripened by t...
Dynamic warping of seismic images

ABSTRACTThe problem of estimating relative time (or depth) shifts between two seismic images is ubiquitous in seismic data processing. This problem is especially difficult where shifts are large and vary rapidly with time and space, and where images are contaminated with noise or for other reasons are not shifted versions of one another. A new solution to this problem requires only simple extensions of a classic dynamic time warping algorithm for speech recognition. A key component of that classic algorithm is a nonlinear accumulation of alignment errors. By applying the same nonlinear accumulator repeatedly in all directions along all sampled axes of a multidimensional image, I obtain a new and effective method for dynamic image warping (DIW). In tests where known shifts vary rapidly, this new method is more accurate than methods based on crosscorrelations of windowed images. DIW also aligns seismic reflectors well in examples where shifts are unknown, for images with differences not limited to time shifts.
Dynamically adaptive tracking of gestures and facial expressions

We present a dynamic data-driven framework for tracking gestures and facial expressions from monocular sequences. Our system uses two cameras, one for the face and one for the body view for processing in different scales. Specifically, and for the gesture tracking module, we track the hands and the head, obtaining as output the blobs (ellipses) of the ROIs, and we detect the shoulder positions with straight lines. For the facial expressions, we first extract the 2D facial features, using a fusion between KLT tracker and a modified Active Shape Model, and then we obtain the 3D face mask with fitting a generic model to the extracted 2D features. The main advantages of our system are (i) the adaptivity, i.e., it is robust to external conditions, e.g., lighting, and independent from the examined individual, and (ii) its computational efficiency, providing us results off- and online with a rates higher than 20fps.
How We Might Achieve the Radical Reform of Special Education

Special education is experiencing great pressures toward change. We face three immediate tasks created by these pressures: keeping the issue of place in perspective, choosing idea over image, and avoiding fanaticism. To achieve substantive reform, we must disaggregate special education populations, repair and elaborate our conceptual foundations, and strengthen our empirical base. Lasting change is more likely to be achieved by persistent, mundane, but carefully chosen activities than by fashionable actions and images of radical reform.
Patterns of Variations in Escherichia coli Strains That Produce Cytolethal Distending Toxin

A collection of 20 Escherichia coli strains that produce cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) were analyzed for their virulence-associated genes. All of these strains were serotyped, and multiplex PCR analysis was used to ascertain the presence of genes encoding other virulence factors, including Shiga toxin, intimin, enterohemolysin, cytotoxic necrotizing factor type 1 (CNF1) and CNF2, heat-stable toxin, and heat-labile toxin. These CDT-producing strains possessed various combinations of known virulence genes, some of which have not been noted before. Partial cdtB sequences were obtained from 10 of these strains, and their predicted CdtB sequences were compared to known E. coli CdtB sequences; some of the sequences were identical to known CdtB sequences, but two were not. PCR primers based on sequence differences between the known cdt sequences were tested for their ability to detect CDT producers and to determine CDT type. Correlations between the type of CDT produced, the presence of other virulence properties, and overall strain relatedness revealed that the CDT producers studied here can be divided into three general groups, with distinct differences in CDT type and in their complement of virulence-associated genes.
Cellular automata microsimulation of bidirectional pedestrian flows

The cellular automata (CA) microsimulation of pedestrians is a particle-hopping model in which a set of local rules prescribe the behavior of entities within local neighborhoods of cells. CA microsimulation has emerged as a tool for simulating traffic flow and modeling transportation networks. Pedestrian flow is inherently more complex than vehicular flow, and simulation models that are used for emulating vehicular traffic are not directly applicable to modeling pedestrian movements. In previous work the authors demonstrated that unidirectional pedestrian flow patterns consistent with well-established fundamental properties could be generated with CA microsimulation. This paper expands upon the previous effort and presents a CA microsimulation model and emergent fundamental flows for a bidirectional pedestrian walkway. Simulation experiments indicate that the basic model is applicable to walkways of various lengths and widths and across different directional shares of pedestrian movements.
Sulforaphane inhibits histone deacetylase in vivo and suppresses tumorigenesis in Apcmin mice

SPECIFIC AIMSWe recently reported that sulforaphane (SFN), an isothiocyanate from broccoli, inhibited HDAC activity and increased the acetylation of histone H3 and histone H4 in human colon cancer cells. Subsequent work in prostate cancer cells provided evidence for: 1) inhibition of HDAC; 2) increased histone acetylation, globally, as well as locally in association with P21 and bax promoters; 3) increased p21 and Bax mRNA and protein expression; and 4) activation of caspases. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of SFN on HDAC in vivo, and investigate suppression of intestinal polyps in the Apcmin mouse.PRINCIPAL FINDINGS1. SFN and SFN-N-acetylcysteine (SFN-NAC) inhibit HDAC activity in mouse colonic mucosaAn initial comparison of SFN with one of its metabolites—namely, SFN-NAC—showed that both compounds inhibited HDAC activity significantly in mouse colonic mucosa, 6 h after single oral gavage treatment (Fig. 1⤻ A). HDAC activity was decreased by 50% with SFN-NAC and by ∼65% with SFN ...
The Engaged Community College: Supporting the Institutionalization of Engagement through Collaborative Action Inquiry.

The purpose of this action research study was to explore how community colleges increase their capacity for community engagement. Faculty and staff members who were identified as community engagement leaders within a public community college participated in a series of interventions to improve community engagement practices within the college. The study produced 4 significant findings for community engagement practices. First, distributed leadership to advance community engagement is derived from college employees’ and community partners’ boundary-spanning behaviors. Second, the creation and extension of communication channels among multiple stakeholder groups for community engagement parallels the advancement of an institution’s community engagement agenda. Third, authentic engagement exists in various degrees throughout distinct stages of institutionalization, reflecting the unique contexts and stakeholder interests involved. Fourth, collaborative action inquiry as a method of professional and organizational development utilizes existing expertise among college employees, strengthens internal networks, and supports the institutionalization of engagement. These findings substantiate the necessary integration of theory and practice in community engagement in higher education.
Analysis of the performance of plasticating single-screw extruders with a new concept of solid-bed deformation

The performance of plasticating single-screw extruders is analyzed by combining three functional sections: (a) solids-conveying section, (b) melting section, and (c) melt-conveying section. In the analysis of the melting section, we have incorporated a new concept of solid-bed deformation (i.e., the rheology of the solid bed) into Lindt-Elbirli's analysis and included convective heat transfer in the energy equation. Specifically, we have computed stresses on the surfaces of the solid bed, which is surrounded by thin melt films and a melt pool, and, also, computed the apparent modulus of the solid bed in the bulk state as a function of temperature and position within the solid bed, along the extruder axis. From this information, we were able to compute the extent of solid-bed deformation, by assuming a linear stress-strain relationship as the constitutive equation of the solid bed. In this approach, we do not assume a priori whether the solid bed is rigid or freely deformable. The solution of the system equations gives us the following information: (a) whether or not the solid bed deforms and if it does, then, how much; (b) the solid-bed velocity along the extruder axis; (c) pressure profiles along the extruder axis; (d) solid-bed profiles in the melting zone along the extruder axis; (e) temperature profiles along the extruder axis; (f) velocity and temperature distributions in the melt pool along the extruder axis; and (g) thicknesses of thin melt films surrounding the solid bed. Theoretically predicted solid bed and pressure profiles along the extruder axis are compared with experimental results reported in the literature. We have pointed out an urgent need for measurements of the apparent modulus of the solid bed in the bulk state as a function of temperature and pressure, under a combined shear/drag flow field.
Use of a hybrid operating room to diagnose and treat delayed coronary spasm after mitral valve repair.

From the Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute, Nashville, Tenn. Disclosures: None. Received for publication June 10, 2009; revisions received July 14, 2009; accepted for publication July 31, 2009; available ahead of print Sept 27, 2009. Address for reprints: John G. Byrne, MD, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232-8802 (E-mail: john.byrne@vanderbilt.edu). J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2010;140:e25-7 0022-5223/$36.00 Copyright 2010 by The American Association for Thoracic Surgery doi:10.1016/j.jtcvs.2009.07.074
Workplace Racial Discrimination and Middle Class Vulnerability

Middle-class minority workers have skill and human capital credentials which should confer protections and relative workplace power. Moreover, they often work in more bureaucratic contexts where cu...
Concurrent validity of the MMPI-A in a counseling program for juvenile offenders

This study was conducted to examine the concurrent validity of the MMPI-A (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Adolescent) in an adolescent offender setting. From a sample of 50 court-adjudicated youths participating in an outpatient counseling program, 42 valid MMPI-A profiles were obtained, 33 of which were accompanied by counselor ratings of behavior problems. The highest mean elevations on the MMPI-A were on scales MAC-R (MacAndrew Alcoholism Scale-Revised), A-Con (Adolescent Conduct Problems), A-Sch (Adolescent School Problems), Pd (Psychopathic Deviate), and IMM (Adolescent Immaturity). Counselor ratings of behavior problems correlated highly with scales ACK (Alcohol and Drug Acknowledgment Scale), A-Sch, A-Ang (Adolescent Anger Problems), Ma (Hypomania), and PRO (Alcohol/Drug Problem Proneness). This pattern of results supports the concurrent validity of the MMPI-A for use in this setting.
The mass of extremal doubly-even self-dual codes of length 40

We determine the mass of extremal doubly-even self-dual binary codes of length 40. It follows that there are at least 12579 such codes.
Phase Composition and Compatibilities at 930° to 950°C in the System Europium(III) Oxide‐Barium Oxide‐Copper(II) Oxide in Air

Phase composition and compatibilites at 930° to 950°C were determined for the system Eu2O3–BaO–CuO in air. The binary compound Eu2CuO4 dissolves Ba to the extent 0 x 0.02 in Eu2-xBaxCuO4, whereas the other binary compounds, Eu2BaO4 and BaCuO2, do not exhibit solid solubility. Three ternary compounds were obtained, Eu2BaCuO5 and two solid solution phases. The first contains the 90 K ‘123’ superconductor and has solubility limits represented by Eu1+xBa2-xCu3O7±y, where 0 x 0.5. The second has a solubility limit represented as Eu1+xBa8-xCu4Oy, where 0 x 0.44. The limited solid solution range of this phase provides insight concerning the probable solid solution range of the analogous phase in the Y2O3-BaO-CuO system.
A requirements taxonomy for reducing Web site privacy vulnerabilities

The increasing use of personal information on Web-based applications can result in unexpected disclosures. Consumers often have only the stated Web site policies as a guide to how their information is used, and thus on which to base their browsing and transaction decisions. However, each policy is different, and it is difficult—if not impossible—for the average user to compare and comprehend these policies. This paper presents a taxonomy of privacy requirements for Web sites. Using goal-mining, the extraction of pre-requirements goals from post-requirements text artefacts, we analysed an initial set of Internet privacy policies to develop the taxonomy. This taxonomy was then validated during a second goal extraction exercise, involving privacy policies from a range of health care related Web sites. This validation effort enabled further refinement to the taxonomy, culminating in two classes of privacy requirements: protection goals and vulnerabilities. Protection goals express the desired protection of consumer privacy rights, whereas vulnerabilities describe requirements that potentially threaten consumer privacy. The identified taxonomy categories are useful for analysing implicit internal conflicts within privacy policies, the corresponding Web sites, and their manner of operation. These categories can be used by Web site designers to reduce Web site privacy vulnerabilities and ensure that their stated and actual policies are consistent with each other. The same categories can be used by customers to evaluate and understand policies and their limitations. Additionally, the policies have potential use by third-party evaluators of site policies and conflicts.
Measuring What Matters: CPR Quality and Resuscitation Outcomes

Although chest compression technique has not changed much since the first report of successful closed chest compression by Kouvehoven, Knickerbocker, and Jude in 1960,[1][1] it took nearly half a century before the promise of resuscitation would become reality for a significant portion of victims of
Drug‐Biomolecule Interactions: Mechanisms and Kinetics of Interactions of Biomolecules at Interfaces

At the air-water interface, the area occupied by the molecules of each component of mixed monomolecular layers of cholesterol with hexadecyl alcohol, hexadecylic acid, or hexadecylamine was independent of the presence of the other component. The values of the free energy of mixing of these lipids were within the range of the entropic factor of the free energy even at high surface pressures. Mixed monolayers of cholesterol and bovine serum albumin showed a similar independence of the area per molecule and of the free energy of mixing values when the concentration of the protein was expressed in terms of amino acid residues per molecule of protein forming the mixed monolayer. Higher values of the free energy of mixing were obtained for mixed monolayers of cholesterol with dipalmitoyl lecithin and dipalmitoyl phosphatidylethanolamine than were expected from an entropic factor. The interaction between monomolecular layers of lipidic biomolecules with bulk subphase components, the energy of activation, interaction kinetics, and effects of added electrolytes were also studied. The implications of these data to a mechanism of action are discussed.
MORPHOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIORAL PLASTICITY OF LARVAL ANURANS IN RESPONSE TO DIFFERENT PREDATORS

Many organisms can adjust to a changing environment by developing alter- native phenotypes that improve their fitness. Our understanding of phenotypic plasticity is largely based upon observations from single species responding to two different environ- ments and measuring a single plastic trait. In this study, I examine predator-induced phe- notypic plasticity in tadpoles by observing how six species of larval anurans respond to five different predator environments in 11 different traits (seven morphological traits, two behavioral traits, growth, and development). The results demonstrate that behavioral and morphological plasticity may be ubiquitous in larval anurans. The six prey species exhibited different responses to the same predator species, and each prey exhibited different responses to different predator species. This suggests that responses to a particular predator may not serve as general defense against all predators; rather, prey express predator-specific suites of responses. I also compared relative differences in plasticity among species and among traits. In contrast to earlier findings using only two predator environments, I found that different anurans possess similar degrees of plasticity for most of their traits when reared in a large number of environments. In addition, behavioral traits were always more plastic than morphological traits. Finally, I examined trait integration to address whether there were apparent trade-offs among traits and limits imposed by the abiotic environment. Trait integration, or the degree of correlated responses among traits across predator environments within a prey species, was very low. This further suggests that the suites of responses are predator specific and may be under independent directions of selection in different predator environments. Trait correlations across prey species indicated that there is an apparent trade-off between tail fin depth and body size. This relationship is supported by selection studies within prey species. Relating the responses to the pond permanence habitat gradient over which the amphibians exist, I found that species inhabiting more temporary ponds possess higher general activity levels, shallower tail fins, and larger bodies; these traits are known to result in more rapid growth. In a companion paper, I quantify the predation risk of the 30 predator- prey combinations and examine the relationships between prey response and predation risk.
Municipal Underbounding: Annexation and Racial Exclusion in Small Southern Towns

This paper examines patterns of annexation, including municipal ''underbounding,'' in nonmetropolitan towns in the South; that is, whether blacks living adjacent to municipalities are systematically excluded from incorporation. Annexation—or the lack of annexation—can be a political tool used by municipal leaders to exclude disadvantaged or low-income populations, including minorities, from voting in local elections and from receiving access to public utilities and other community services. To address this question, we use Tiger files, GIS, and other geographically disaggregated data from the Summary Files of the 1990 and 2000 decennial censuses. Overall, 22.6 percent of the fringe areas ''at risk'' of annexation in our study communities was African American, while 20.7 percent of the areas that were actually annexed during the 1990s was African American. However, communities with large black populations at the fringe were significantly less likely than other communities to annex at all—either black or white population. Largely white communities that faced a ''black threat''—which we defined in instances where the county ''percent black'' was higher than the place ''percent black''—were also less likely to annex black populations during the 1990s. Finally, predominately white communities were much less likely to annex black populations, even when we controlled for the size of the black fringe population at risk of annexation. Such results provide evidence of racial exclusion in small southern towns.
Making implicit personality theories explicit: A classroom demonstration

I developed a 9-item implicit personality theory (IPT) scale to demonstrate the naive, lay beliefs students have regarding the construct of personality. Students (N = 162) completed the IPT Scale during Week 1 and Week 16inaPersonality Theories course. Analysis of Week I responses showed definite student preferences for certain 1PTs. Factor analysis of these data also revealed a relatively unique factors that accounted for 65.2% of the variance. By Week 16, students' preference for a particular explicit theory of personality related to their responses on the IPT scale. Comparison of week 1 and Week 16 scores indicated that individual IPTs were fairly resistant to change. Pedagogically, these results demonstrate the role of IPTs in the construction and validation of explicit personality theories. Also, class discussion on topics such as individual differences, attribution theory, self-serving bias, and personal constructs are enhanced when students' IPTs are made explicit.
Characterization of hexamerin proteins and their mRNAs in the adult lubber grasshopper: The effects of nutrition and juvenile hormone on their levels

Abstract The lubber grasshopper ( Romalea microptera ) has three major hemolymph proteins with apparent sizes on native PAGE of 90, 270, and 500 kDa and subunit sizes (79, 81 and 82 kDa respectively) determined by SDS-PAGE . Trypsin fragments from each protein band were sequenced, used to design degenerate primers to amplify core cDNA fragments, which were extended by 5′ and 3′ RACE. All three cDNAs were closely related to insect hexamerins, had an N-terminal signal sequence, and their transcripts were found solely in the fat body. Adult females fed an ad libitum diet had their highest hexamerin levels on day 18 when oocytes begin rapid growth. Hexamerin levels fell as oocytes reached their maximum length on day 30. Animals fed a restricted diet had their highest hexamerin levels on day 30 which then fell as oocytes reached their maximum length on day 36. Hexamerin mRNA levels were only modestly different for animals on the two diets, indicating that nutrition affected translation of the hexamerin mRNA. Allatectomized animals treated with juvenile hormone III (JH) or methoprene caused the appearance of vitellogenin in the hemolymph, but had no effect on hexamerin levels. Thus, JH does not appear to directly regulate hexamerin production.
Transvaginal sonographic findings of isolated intramural uterine choriocarcinoma mimicking an interstitial pregnancy.

The differential diagnosis of highly vascular, intramural lesions of the myometrium Includes arteriovenous malformation, gestational trophoblastic neoplasia, hemangiomata, sarcoma, and interstitial pregnancy. We present an unusual case in which a patient with irregular uterine hemorrhage in the presence of increasing serum β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) levels exhibited transvaginal sonographic and color Doppler imaging findings considered consistent with an interstitial pregnancy. After laparoscopy and curettage yielded normal findings but with the continuously rising serum β-hCG levels and the concern for gestational trophoblastic neoplasia, the patient underwent vaginal hysterectomy. Histopathologic findings confirmed choriocarcinoma.
Biosimilars: What's in a Name?

The importance of drug names has already been evidenced worldwide. A survey on biologics was conducted by Fernandez-Lopez et al1 to gather the opinions of a small number of pharmacists involved in the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP), the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), or the American Pharmacists Association (APhA). Seventy-seven responding pharmacists indicated that they were more familiar with biosimilars (51; 66.2%) than with interchangeables (39; 50.6%). Of 75 pharmacists, 56 (74.6%) reported being confident or very confident with substituting an originator with an interchangeable if the drugs shared the same nonproprietary name. However, only 28 (37.3%) pharmacists felt confident or very confident in substituting an interchangeable that had a unique suffix distinct from the originator.
Error analysis of finite element method for Poisson-Nernst-Planck equations

In this paper we study the a priori error estimates of finite element method for the system of time-dependent Poisson-Nernst-Planck equations, and for the first time, we obtain its optimal error estimates in L ∞ ( H 1 ) and L 2 ( H 1 ) norms, and suboptimal error estimates in L ∞ ( L 2 ) norm, with linear element, and optimal error estimates in L ∞ ( L 2 ) norm with quadratic or higher-order element, for both semi- and fully discrete finite element approximations. Numerical experiments are also given to validate the theoretical results.
Peri-gestational risk factors for pediatric brain tumors in Neurofibromatosis Type 1.

Abstract Background Individuals with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) are strongly predisposed to developing pediatric brain tumors (PBTs), especially optic pathway gliomas (OPGs). Although developmental factors have been implicated in the origins of PBTs in both human and animal studies, associations between early-life factors and PBTs have not been evaluated in individuals with NF1. Our objective was to evaluate associations between peri -gestational characteristics and PBTs in this population. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study, ascertaining questionnaire and medical record data for 606 individuals peri -gestational characteristics (prematurity, birth weight, parental age, plurality, family history of NF1, assisted reproductive technology, maternal vitamin supplementation, and parental smoking). Results We observed no significant associations between any of the assessed characteristics and PBTs overall or OPGs with the exception of birth weight. After controlling for potential confounding variables, we observed a significant positive association between birth weight quartile and OPGs with a HR of 3.32 (95% CI 1.39⿿7.94) for the fourth (⿥3915.5g) compared to the first (⿤3020g) quartile (p for trend=0.001). Conclusions Consistent with results for PBTs in the general population, these results suggest that higher birth weights increase OPG risk in individuals with NF1.
Development and Validation of the Vocational Identity Measure

Having a strong vocational identity is a prelude to the formation of individuals’ overall identity. Hence, vocational identity has long been a variable of interest in vocational research. However, most existing studies utilized Holland, Gottfredson, and Power’s My Vocational Situation (MVS) vocational identity subscale to measure vocational identity. Due to how its items are worded, we contend that the MVS was not able to accurately capture vocational identity as a stable construct. Its dichotomous response scale also limits researchers’ attempts to evaluate its psychometric properties. To address these issues, we developed and validated a new “Vocational Identity Measure (VIM)” that utilizes Likert-type responses. The VIM seeks to measure how aware individuals are of their stable career goals, interests, and abilities. Results (Studies 1 and 2) suggest that the VIM possesses sound internal reliability, a stable single-factor structure, and incremental validity over the MVS. The scale also has good conver...
Optically computing the hit/miss transform with complexmodulation liquid crystal displays for cervical smear screening

Optically computed image processing for cervix cancer screening requires a system capable of locating objects based on multiple criteria, including nuclear size/shape, integrated optical density, and nucleoplasm-to-cytoplasm area ratio. An automated 4ƒ optical correlator finds interesting objects in the first stage of a two stage system [1] based on the size/shape of objects.
Distribution of Blood Groups and Agglutinogen M Among Indian “Blackfeet” and “Blood” Tribes.∗:

The early work on the distribution of blood groups among the various races led to the hope that results would indicate clear-cut racial relationships, but the significance of this line of investigation has been overestimated.1 This was the conclusion of Grove,2 who in her studies on various aborigines found branches of the same race showing widely different incidences of the 4 blood groups. Previous reports by Coca and Deibert3 and Snyder4 supported the view that American Indians are characterized by a high percentage of group O, but more recently Matson and Schrader5 described other tribes of Indians (“Blackfeet” of Montana and “Blood” of Canada) with a very high incidence of group A. Shanklin6 found a high percentage of group O among certain Arabian tribes, others having high values for A and B.All these studies, however, were limited to one set of factors—the 4 blood groups. Other agglutinable blood properties, the factors M, N, and P and the subgroups A1 and A2, and the peculiar taste reaction to para...
Free volume evolution in the process of epoxy curing and its effect on mechanical properties

Abstract We use molecular dynamics simulations to study the evolution of free volume during the process of curing of two thermoset epoxy polymers and correlate its volume fraction with the resulting thermo-mechanical properties. The simulations reveal that while the overall volume of the polymer shrinks during cure, the amount of free volume increases . Interestingly, this increase is due to the appearance of large voids (connected regions of free volume) while the number of small and medium-sized voids decreases during cure. We also find correlations between the location of the voids and the local chemical structure of the polymer. An analysis of the individual nanovoids shows a power-law scaling for over three orders of magnitude in volume (0.1 A 3 to 100 A 3 ) and a fractal scaling in surface with a fractal dimension ∼2.37. The effect of free volume on mechanical properties is also quantified. A very small reduction in the free volume fraction (∼1%) results in considerable (>10%) stiffening and strengthening.
Isolation of Lipid Rafts From B Lymphocytes

Recent advances in cell biology have provided evidence that the plasma membrane is not a homogeneous lipid bilayer but rather contains within it sphingolipid- and cholesterol-rich membrane microdomains, termed lipid rafts, which serve as platforms for both receptor signaling and trafficking. In B lymphocytes lipid rafts appear to play a key role in the initiation of B-cell antigen receptor (BCR) signaling. Current methods to isolate lipid rafts rely on the relative detergent insolubility of lipid rafts as compared to the nonraft, glycerophospholipid bilayer. Here a method to isolate and characterize lipid rafts from B lymphocytes is described. Particular emphasis is given to the potential artifacts inherent in current procedures that rely on detergents to isolate lipid rafts and alternative technologies that may circumvent these.
Estimability­Consistency and Regularity of Factorial Effects in Disconnected Designs:

This paper studies the estimability of an l factor design, dx, which is derived from a p factor factorial design, d, by deleting the last (p -l) factors of d. It is shown that under certain regularity conditions a given contrast belonging to a factorial effect in dx; is estimable in dx; if and only if its corresponding contrast in d is estimable in d.
Supply regulation techniques for phase-locked loops

Phase-locked loops (PLLs) which employ voltage regulators for low supply-noise sensitivity often rely upon significant decoupling capacitance to suppress negative (Gnd) supply noise and maintain low jitter. This paper compares various supply regulation techniques on the basis of their ability to reject noise from both positive and negative supplies. A novel replica-based dual-supply regulation technique is proposed which allows for significant reduction in decoupling capacitance for a given supply noise rejection. Comparison simulations in a 90nm CMOS technology show the replica-based dual-supply regulation technique achieving a worst case noise sensitivity of 1.6 rad/V, an improvement of 7.5 rad/V (15.1dB) relative to a single-supply replica-based regulator topology. At 4.7GHz, the replica-based dual-supply regulated PLL consumes 11mW from a 1.2V supply.
Capital-Market Competitiveness and Managerial Investment Decisions: Evidence from Commercial Real Estate

We investigate the association between capital-market competitiveness and the quality of investment decisions that delegated money managers make. We use commercial property as a natural laboratory, in that this industry contains funds that are traded in segmented capital markets of different competitiveness, but whose managers all choose from the same investment opportunity set. We find that the submarkets most bought by REIT managers outperform the least-bought (or most sold) submarkets, while for our groups of private managers this effect decreases in line with the competitiveness of their capital markets. We also distinguish between movement into submarkets in genuine anticipation of high returns, versus stock chasing, or movement into submarkets that offer availability and therefore easy entry. We find that REITs tend to move into submarkets in anticipation of high returns, while private institutions have more tendency to stock-chase, with such behavior again becoming more prevalent the less competitive the capital market.
On Random Walks and Random Sampling to Find Max Degree Nodes in Assortative Erdos Renyi Graphs

Social networks are naturally modeled as graphs, with edges indicating associations of users, and as such user popularity or influence is captured by the degree of the node corresponding to the user. It is of natural interest to seek maximum degree nodes, i.e., most popular members, in this graph, and as these networks are large, this requires an efficient search algorithm. In this paper we address the problem of finding a maximum degree node (as distinct from finding the maximum degree) in Erdos Renyi (ER) random graphs, where these graphs are ``rewired'' in a way to reach a target assortativity without affecting the marginal degree distribution. We address two questions: i) how many maximum degree nodes are in such a graph, on average, and ii) is it easier to find such a node via a biased random walk (BRW) or via random (star) sampling (RSS)? To answer the first question, we show that large ER graphs possess on average a unique maximum degree node. The answer to the second question is that the superiority of BRW vs. RSS depends critically on the assortativity. In particular, RSS is independent of, and BRW is highly sensitive to, the assortativity. We demonstrate numerically the sensitivity of BRW to assortativity is connected to the prevalence of local maxima; these maxima limit the ability of BRW to follow a gradient on the graph. Finally, we establish how the prevalence of local maxima may be computed from the joint degree distribution of the graph.
Clinical Reasoning: Two see or not two see-Is it really double vision?

A 57-year-old right-handed woman presented to the emergency department with complaints of double vision and intractable nausea that began abruptly 2 days earlier. Her visual symptoms were characterized as seeing overlapping or separate horizontally or diagonally displaced objects. She had no history of headaches or stroke. Her cerebrovascular risk factors included hypertension, type II diabetes, coronary artery disease, and cigarette smoking. Her medications included clopidogrel, lisinopril, paroxetine, and oxycodone. Her family history was notable for late-onset ischemic heart disease in her parents with no first-degree relatives with early vascular disease. On examination, her blood pressure was 158/101 mm Hg, pulse rate was 87 bpm, and she was afebrile. She was alert and fully oriented. Her attention, recall of recent events, and general fund of knowledge were normal. Her speech was fluent and nondysarthric. Cranial nerve examination was notable for no dysconjugacy or nystagmus, but double vision predominately in the horizontal plane, in all directions of gaze. The diplopia persisted with monocular vision in each eye, and did not improve with a pinhole test. The degree of diplopia waxed and waned during the examination, with visual field extinction tests being difficult to perform reliably. Her pupils were equal with bilateral hippus. Visual fields were full to confrontation. Direct funduscopy revealed normal optic discs. She had a mild right hemiparesis with mild right arm and leg drift, but no facial asymmetry. There was mild hypesthesia over her right arm and leg and appendicular ataxia in her right arm that was worse with eyes open. She did not have extinction to double simultaneous sensory stimuli. Gait evaluation was deferred during her initial examination.
Detection of a Peptide Biomarker by Engineered Yeast Receptors

Directed evolution of membrane receptors is challenging as the evolved receptor must not only accommodate a non-native ligand, but also maintain the ability to transduce the detection of the new ligand to any associated intracellular components. The G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily is the largest group of membrane receptors. As members of the GPCR family detect a wide range of ligands, GPCRs are an incredibly useful starting point for directed evolution of user-defined analytical tools and diagnostics. The aim of this study was to determine if directed evolution of the yeast Ste2p GPCR, which natively detects the α-factor peptide, could yield a GPCR that detects Cystatin C, a human peptide biomarker. We demonstrate a generalizable approach for evolving Ste2p to detect peptide sequences. Because the target peptide differs significantly from α-factor, a single evolutionary step was infeasible. We turned to a substrate walking approach and evolved receptors for a series of chimeric intermediates...
Heyday: The 1850s and the Dawn of the Global Age. By Ben Wilson. (New York, NY: Basic Books, 2016. Pp. xxviii, 460. $32.50.)

This study is a grand narrative with themes that are intersected with many different collateral subthemes. The author begins with the British Great Exhibition of 1851 at the Crystal Palace, which s...
3-D Object Representation from Range Data Using Intrinsic Surface Properties

A representation of three-dimensional object surfaces by regions homogeneous in intrinsic surface properties is presented. This representation has applications in both recognition and display of objects, and is not restricted to a particular type of approximating surface.