cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Antibiotics upon the Requirement of Turkeys for Unidentified Vitamins

Abstract SEVERAL reports (Scott, Heuser and Norris, 1948; Scott, 1951) from this laboratory have presented evidence demonstrating that young poults require an unidentified vitamin or vitamins for normal growth. Indeed, it appeared from from these results that at least two unknown factors are required. One of these factors was found to be present in products of animal origin, especially in fish meal and liver meal. While vitamin B12 may represent a part of the growth-promoting activity of the animal protein supplements, the complete answer concerning the growth-promoting activity of fish meal and liver meal still remains to be determined. In addition to the factor or factors present in animal products, at least one other factor is required for optimum growth in turkeys. The properties and distribution of the second factor resemble those of factor S, an unidentified vitamin required by chicks. Casein, dried skimmilk, dried brewers’ yeast, dried distillers’ solubles, dried . . .
Runoff and soil erosion as affected by plastic mulch in a Hawaiian pineapple field

The effects of plastic mulch in Hawaiian pineapple culture on runoff generation and soil erosion are poorly understood and not covered in the literature. Field rainfall simulation experiments were conducted on an Oxisol commonly used in Hawaii for pineapple production. Four treatments were no cover (hereafter called bare), plastic mulch as the sole cover (plastic), pineapple crowns as the sole cover (crown), and both plastic and crowns as covers (plastic‐crown). The average slope of these plots was 4.2% and all were shaped into ridge-and-furrow configurations. For each treatment, three successive storms were imposed: a ‘dry run’ with an intensity of 35 mm h ˇ1 on the initially dry soil; a ‘wet run’ with the same intensity on the following day; and a ‘very wet run’ with an intensity of 62 mm h ˇ1 that immediately followed the wet run. Runoff was measured and sampled every 5‐10 min until a steady state was reached. Results indicated that plastic mulch itself substantially accelerated runoff generation and soil erosion due to its impervious nature. The simultaneous presence of plastic mulch and pineapple crowns, however, tended to retard runoff generation and reduce soil erosion. For all storms, runoff and erosion rates in the plastic‐crown plot were smaller than those of the bare and the crown plots (ca. 30 50% less) due to the formed microbasins in plastic‐crown system that enhanced infiltration. Plots without plastic mulch displayed soil surface sealing that impeded infiltration. The practical implication of the research is that the plastic mulch used in Hawaiian pineapple plantations may not necessarily increase runoff and soil erosion. # 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Label-free biological sensors based on ring resonators

This paper reports the progress (design, fabrication and measurement) in label-free biological sensors based on ring resonator technology originally developed for telecommunication. These sensors are made in silicon-on-insulator (SOI), a high index contrast material platform that provides enhanced sensitivity and allows compact waveguide geometries by employing very small bend radii. A double spiral shape allows designing millimetre-long resonator in a compact size (100-150 mum) compatible with spotting technology used for large biochip assays. The detection limit estimated from the resonance shift measurement is ~5 fg of streptavidin adsorbed on the sensor surface functionalised with biotin.
Herding the cats: the influence of groups in coordinating peer production

Peer production systems rely on users to self-select appropriate tasks and "scratch their personal itch". However, many such systems require significant maintenance work, which also implies the need for collective action, that is, individuals following goals set by the group and performing good citizenship behaviors. How can this paradox be resolved? Here we examine one potential answer: the influence of social identification with the larger group on contributors' behavior. We examine Wikipedia, a highly successful peer production system, and find a significant and growing influence of group structure, with a prevalent example being the WikiProject. Comparison of editors who join projects with those who do not and comparisons of the joiners' behavior before and after they join a project suggest their identification with the group plays an important role in directing them towards group goals and good citizenship behaviors. Upon joining, Wikipedians are more likely to work on project-related content, to shift their contributions towards coordination rather than production work, and to perform maintenance work such as reverting vandalism. These results suggest that group influence can play an important role in maintaining the health of online communities, even when such communities are putatively self-directed peer production systems.
Coherent manipulation of three-spin states in a GaAs/AlGaAs triple dot device

In this paper we describe our recent experiments on coherent manipulation of electron spin states formed in a highly tunable GaAs/AlGaAs triple quantum dot device. The coherent evolution of spin states is achieved by using fast pulses from an initialization point in the (201) charge configuration region of the stability diagram. We demonstrate the versatility of the triple dot system capable of tuning to different regimes controlled by the width of the (111) region and pulse parameters. In particular we observe Δ'1/2-Q3/2 (analogue of S-T+ in a double dot) and Δ'1/2-Δ1/2 exchange driven oscillations from both sides of the stability diagram involving all three spins. (© 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Prevention of Red Cell Dehydration: A Possible New Treatment for Sickle Cell Disease

One of the pathogenetic mechanisms responsible for sickling of erythrocytes in patients with sickle cell disease is the decreased hydration status of the cells. In this brief review, we discuss the pathophysiologic background and explore some new treatment options to prevent vasoocclusive crises or other problems in this patient population.
Gene Expression Changes after Exposure to Six-Mix in a Mouse Model

The exposure of Libby MT residents to amphibole-contaminated vermiculite is well known. To explore the gene-environment interactions in the development of asbestos-related diseases (ARD), a mouse model of asbestos exposure using Six-mix (a combination of amphibole fibers gathered from six sites at the Libby vermiculite mine), crocidolite asbestos, or saline as a negative control was used to determine both gene expression responses by using mouse 10,000 oligonucleotide array and to visualize these changes histologically. Mice were sacrificed and whole lungs harvested for histology and microarray analysis six months following exposure via intratracheal instillation. Using an arbitrary cutoff of 1.25-fold change, genes whose RNA expression levels were specifically altered in response to the different amphibole exposures were grouped into categories by a gene ontology analysis program, GoMiner. Our hypothesis was that assessment of asbestos-responsive genes would provide a better understanding of response mec...
FNR-mediated regulation of bioluminescence and anaerobic respiration in the light-organ symbiont Vibrio fischeri

Vibrio fischeri induces both anaerobic respiration and bioluminescence during symbiotic infection. In many bacteria, the oxygen-sensitive regulator FNR activates anaerobic respiration, and a preliminary study using the light-generating lux genes from V. fischeri MJ1 cloned in Escherichia coli suggested that FNR stimulates bioluminescence. To test for FNR-mediated regulation of bioluminescence and anaerobic respiration in V. fischeri, we generated fnr mutants of V. fischeri strains MJ1 and ES114. In both strains, FNR was required for normal fumarate- and nitrate-dependent respiration. However, contrary to the report in transgenic E. coli, FNR mediated the repression of lux. ArcA represses bioluminescence, and P(arcA)-lacZ reporters showed reduced expression in fnr mutants, suggesting a possible indirect effect of FNR on bioluminescence via arcA. Finally, the fnr mutant of ES114 was not impaired in colonization of its host squid, Euprymna scolopes. This study extends the characterization of FNR to the Vibrionaceae and underscores the importance of studying lux regulation in its native background.
Videoarthroscopy: Present and future developments

Videoarthroscopy is used by most orthopedic surgeons who do a significant volume of arthroscopic surgery. Constant advancement in technology and equipment requires an understanding of the various components of the videoarthroscopic system. The future will bring more simplified systems that combine the solid state camera, light source, and arthroscope. The potential to interface the digital data with computers for storage will enhance record keeping. However, no matter what new developments there are, the quality of the image will be no better than the compatibility of the entire videoarthroscopic system and how it is used by the surgeon.
The Cultural Constructs of Race, Gender and Class: A Study of How Afro-Caribbean Women Academics Negotiate Their Careers.

Research on the cultural constructs of race, gender and class among 44 full‐time faculty women from the Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad campuses of the University of the West Indies suggest that that racial identity does separate women. However, their gendered identity establishes a common ground that allows them to share a socially constructed reality. Through in‐depth interviews with Afro‐Caribbean faculty women who were from different ethnic groups but the same race, the researcher discovered the unique ability of these women to negotiate their identities as they shared their perceptions and interpretations of daily academic life as Black faculty women.
Heme oxygenase–1(HO-1)/carbon monoxide(CO) inhibit apoptotic signaling via a NFKB dependent pathway

INTRODUCTION: The physiological response to stress involves the up-regulation of protective genes including HO-1. HO-1 catalyzes the breakdown of heme to CO, iron and biliverdin. Induction of HO-1 or delivery of CO is protective in models of hemorrhagic shock, endotoxemia, and immune mediated hepatitis. We hypothesized that HO-1/CO protects against hepatocyte apoptosis via NFKB dependent signaling.
Isotopic exchange between carbon dioxide and ozone via O(1D) in the stratosphere.

We propose a novel mechanism for isotopic exchange between CO_2 and O_3 via O(^1D) + CO_2 → CO_3^* followed by CO_3^* → CO_2 + O(^3P). A one-dimensional model calculation shows that this mechanism can account for the enrichment in ^(18)O in the stratospheric CO_2 observed by Gamo et al. [1989], using the heavy O_3 profile observed by Mauersberger [1981]. The implications of this mechanism for other stratospheric species and as a source of isotopically heavy CO_2 in the troposphere are briefly discussed.
Filtering Internet image search results towards keyword based category recognition

In this work we aim to capitalize on the availability of Internet image search engines to automatically create image training sets from user provided queries. This problem is particularly difficult due to the low precision of image search results. Unlike many existing dataset gathering approaches, we do not assume a category model based on a small subset of the noisy data or an ad-hoc validation set. Instead we use a nonparametric measure of strangeness [8] in the space of holistic image representations, and perform an iterative feature elimination algorithm to remove the most strange examples from the category. This is the equivalent of keeping only features that are found to be consistent with others in the class. We show that applying our method to image search data before training improves average recognition performance, and demonstrate that we obtain comparative precision and recall results to the current state of the art, all the while maintaining a significantly simpler approach. In the process we also extend the strangeness-based feature elimination algorithm to automatically select good threshold values and perform filtering of a single class when the background is given.
Structural Changes Are Associated with Soluble N-Ethylmaleimide-sensitive Fusion Protein Attachment Protein Receptor Complex Formation

SNAP-25, syntaxin, and synaptobrevin play a key role in the regulated exocytosis of synaptic vesicles, but their mechanism of action is not understood. In vitro, the proteins spontaneously assemble into a ternary complex that can be dissociated by the ATPase N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein and the cofactors alpha-, beta-, and gamma-SNAP. Since the structural changes associated with these reactions probably form the basis of membrane fusion, we have embarked on biophysical studies aimed at elucidating such changes in vitro using recombinant proteins. All proteins were purified in a monomeric form. Syntaxin showed significant alpha-helicity, whereas SNAP-25 and synaptobrevin exhibited characteristics of largely unstructured proteins. Formation of the ternary complex induced dramatic increases in alpha-helicity and in thermal stability. This suggests that structure is induced in SNAP-25 and synaptobrevin upon complex formation. In addition, the stoichiometry changed from 2:1 in the syntaxin-SNAP-25 complex to 1:1:1 in the ternary complex. We propose that the transition from largely unstructured monomers to a tightly packed, energetically favored ternary complex connecting two membranes is a key step in overcoming energy barriers for membrane fusion.
Selective withdrawal and spin-up of a rotating stratified fluid

We present an experimental study demonstrating that rotation has a pronounced effect on currents induced by selective withdrawal of fluid from a density-stratified reservoir. Our observations show that initiating outflow from the reservoir generates Kelvin shear waves. These waves propagate cyclonically around the perimeter of the reservoir, establishing an anticyclonic withdrawal-layer flow. This flow accelerates owing to the production of relative vorticity by compression of ‘planetary’ vorticity. The withdrawal-layer thickness as shown by vertical profiles of the horizontal velocity grows with time. Separation of the side-wall boundary layers in the corners of the tank causes the spun-up flow to eventually break up into a series of counterrotating gyres. We also present a model that describes many features of the spin-up process observed before onset of separation and subsequent gyre formation. The model shows that vertical diffusion of vorticity plays an important role in the spin up process, leading us to conclude that apparent thickening of the withdrawal layer over time, as seen in changes in the velocity profile, is associated with the vertical diffusion of the spun-up vorticity.
A novel multi-stage estimation of signal parameters

A novel multistage estimation scheme is presented for estimating the parameters of a received carrier signal possibly phase-modulated by unknown data, and experiencing very high Doppler, Doppler rate, etc. Such a situation arises, for example, in the case of the Global Positioning System (GPS), where the signal parameters are directly related to the position, velocity, acceleration, and jerk of the GPS receiver. In the proposed multistage scheme, the first-stage estimator operates as a coarse estimator, resulting in higher root mean square estimation errors, but with a relatively small probability of the frequency estimation error exceeding one-half of the sample frequency (an event termed cycle slip). The second stage of the estimator operates on the error signal available from the first stage, refining the overall estimates, and in the process also reduces the number of cycle slips. One of the main advantages of the proposed algorithms is the reduction in threshold on received carrier power-to-noise power spectral density ratio. >
Coat Protein Activation of Alfalfa Mosaic Virus Replication Is Concentration Dependent

Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV) and ilarvirus RNAs are infectious only in the presence of the viral coat protein; therefore, an understanding of coat protein's function is important for defining viral replication mechanisms. Based on in vitro replication experiments, the conformational switch model states that AMV coat protein blocks minus-strand RNA synthesis (R. C. Olsthoorn, S. Mertens, F. T. Brederode, and J. F. Bol, EMBO J. 18:4856-4864, 1999), while another report states that coat protein present in an inoculum is required to permit minus-strand synthesis (L. Neeleman and J. F. Bol, Virology 254:324-333, 1999). Here, we report on experiments that address these contrasting results with a goal of defining coat protein's function in the earliest stages of AMV replication. To detect coat-protein-activated AMV RNA replication, we designed and characterized a subgenomic luciferase reporter construct. We demonstrate that activation of viral RNA replication by coat protein is concentration dependent; that is, replication was strongly stimulated at low coat protein concentrations but decreased progressively at higher concentrations. Genomic RNA3 mutations preventing coat protein mRNA translation or disrupting coat protein's RNA binding domain diminished replication. The data indicate that RNA binding and an ongoing supply of coat protein are required to initiate replication on progeny genomic RNA transcripts. The data do not support the conformational switch model's claim that coat protein inhibits the initial stages of viral RNA replication. Replication activation may correlate with low local coat protein concentrations and low coat protein occupancy on the multiple binding sites present in the 3' untranslated regions of the viral RNAs.
Flexibility implementation to a global workforce: a case study of Merck and Company, Inc.

Despite the fact that a business case exists for flexible work initiatives and employees consistently rank flexibility as the most important program to their success at work and home, little is known about why organizations adopt such programs and the process of developing a program. Even less is known about potential program outcomes and how these outcomes may differ across cultures. This case will document Merck and Company, Inc.'s (Merck) experience in creating and implementing a global workplace flexibility initiative. The purpose is threefold (1) to identify key catalysts moving Merck to consider such a program; (2) to provide a business example of how a multinational organization can successfully implement a policy to better support its employees worldwide; and (3) to examine both intended and unforeseen consequences of implementing the program. The case will conclude with design and implementation recommendations for practitioners as well as suggestions for future research surrounding workplace fle...
40Ar/39Ar age and correlation of the nonmarine Two Medicine Formation (Upper Cretaceous), northwestern Montana, U.S.A.

The age of the nonmarine Two Medicine Formation of northwestern Montana is currently based upon correlations with K–Ar-dated Western Interior ammonite zones. 40Ar/39Ar dating of biotite and plagioc...
The effect of indentation-induced microcracks on the elastic modulus of hydroxyapatite

The presence of microcracks in materials affects a wide range of mechanical properties including elastic modulus, Poisson’s ratio, fracture strength, and fracture toughness. The microcrack-induced reductions of the Young’s modulus, E, and Poisson’s ratio, υ, are functions of the size, geometry, and number density of microcracks. In this study, an array of Vickers indentation-induced microcracks was placed on the surfaces of two hydroxyapatite (HA) specimens with totals of 391 and 513 indentations per specimen. This study tests the validity of theoretical studies of microcrack damage-induced changes in E and υ, where the changes are expressed either by (i) the volumetric crack number density, N and (ii) the crack damage parameter, e. All elasticity measurements were done via resonant ultrasound spectroscopy. For both the HA specimens included in the study and alumina specimens indented in an earlier study [J Mater Sci 38:1910. doi: 10.1007/BF00595764 , 1], E and υ decreased approximately linearly with increasing microcrack damage. The slopes of the E and υ versus N and e are also computed and compared to the available theoretical models.
Evolution of circular, nonequatorial orbits of Kerr black holes due to gravitational-wave emission

A major focus of much current research in gravitation theory is on understanding how radiation reaction drives the evolution of a binary system, particularly in the extreme mass ratio limit. Such research is of direct relevance to gravitational-wave sources for space-based detectors (such as LISA). We present here a study of the radiative evolution of circular (i.e., constant Boyer-Lindquist coordinate radius), non-equatorial Kerr black hole orbits. Recent theorems have shown that, at least in an adiabatic evolution, such orbits evolve from one circular configuration into another, changing only their radius and inclination angle. This constrains the system's evolution in such a way that the change in its Carter constant can be deduced from knowledge of gravitational wave fluxes propagating to infinity and down the black hole's horizon. Thus, in this particular case, a local radiation reaction force is not needed. In accordance with post-Newtonian weak-field predictions, we find that inclined orbits radiatively evolve to larger inclination angles (although the post-Newtonian prediction overestimates the rate of this evolution in the strong field by a factor $\ensuremath{\lesssim}3).$ We also find that the gravitational waveforms emitted by these orbits are rather complicated, particularly when the hole is rapidly spinning, as the radiation is influenced by many harmonics of the orbital frequencies.
Ectoparasite Associations of Bats from Central Pennsylvania

Between April and October 1997, 689 bats representing seven species were captured at Pennsylvania's Canoe Creek State Park. Each bat was sampled for ectoparasitic arthropods, and four species were collected from 13.2% of the host individuals. Ectoparasites include the bat flea Myodopsylla insignis (Rothschild), the wing mite Spinturnix americanus (Banks), the bed bug Cimex adjunctus Barber, and the soft tick Ornithodoros kelleyi Cooley & Kohls. Prevalence, relative density, and mean intensity were calculated for ectoparasites of Myotis lucifugus (Le Conte), which harbored all four ectoparasite species and was the most commonly captured host. Patterns of ectoparasite associations were examined with respect to host sex and habitat (roost characteristics). Female M. lucifugus hosted higher densities of ectoparasites than did males. Moreover, relative densities of ectoparasites from M. lucifugus were dependent on the proximate roost; hosts captured near Bat Church were more heavily parasitized than those captured near Hartman Mine. Two other bat species were infested with at least one ectoparasite, but sample sizes were too small to analyze statistically. These bat species included Myotis septentrionalis (Trouessart), harboring M. insignis, S. americanus, and O. kelleyi, and Eptesicus fuscus (Beauvois), which harbored M. insignis and O. kelleyi.
Acoustic remote sensing of planetary boundary layer dynamics near Ross Island, Antarctica

Abstract The blocking effect of Ross Island and Hut Point peninsula, Antarctica, has been investigated since the early part of this century. Due to lack of continuous measurements of boundary-layer winds, the investigations were limited to an overall description of the blocking effect with no information on the diurnal variation or the detailed vertical structure of the approaching airflow. An acoustic sounder (sodar) was deployed during the 1990/91 austral summer season at Williams Field in the upwind area south of Ross Island, Antarctica. Such equipment can continuously measure three-dimensional winds from a few tens of meters above the surface up to an altitude of several hundred meters, thus providing a new opportunity to study the dynamics of the stably stratified planetary boundary layer. In addition to confirming earlier work, the sodar winds show a significant diurnal variation of the blocking effect, which amplifies with height. Such variation is dominated by the changes in the upstream air mass ...
Fungal Diseases of Fruit and Foliage of Citrus Trees

Several important diseases of the fruit and foliage of citrus trees are addressed in this chapter: Postbloom fruit drop, caused by Colletotrichum acutatum; Alternaria brown spot, caused by Alternaria alternata; scab diseases, caused by Elsinoe fawsettii and E. australis; melanose, caused by Diaporthe citri; and greasy spot caused by Mycosphaerella citri. With each disease the history, economic importance, disease cycle, epidemiology, and control are covered. Special emphasis is placed on diagnosis and identification of the diseases and pathogens. Basic methods are presented for isolation of the pathogen, culture, production of various spore forms as well as for inoculation of plants to reproduce Koch’s postulates.
Dopamine D4 receptor VNTR polymorphism associated with greater risk for substance abuse among adolescents with disruptive behavior disorders: Preliminary results.

Background and objectives The variable number tandem repeats (VNTR) polymorphism of the dopamine D4 receptor gene (DRD4) has received considerable attention as a potential genetic contributor to addiction. However, is unclear whether the polymorphism is involved in developing general traits that lead to risky behavior or an intermediate phenotype more specific to substance use disorders. Association studies have produced equivocal results. To control for potential confounds, the present study examined whether the long variant of the DRD4 VNTR polymorphism (DRD4L) is associated with greater substance misuse in a homogenous clinical sample of youth with a disruptive behavior disorder (DBD). Methods Fifty-one psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents (mean age = 14.86 years) with a DBD diagnosis were recruited as part of a larger study. Participants provided saliva samples for genotyping procedures after completing a diagnostic interview and an assessment battery. Results The odds of a substance use disorder diagnosis were significantly greater among DRD4L than DRD4S carriers (OR = 5.20, 95%CI:1.42-19.04, p = .01). Relative to DRD4S homozygotes, DRD4L carriers also reported greater marijuana use (t = -2.68, p = .01) and hard drug use (t = -2.26, p = .03). Discussion and conclusions Although adolescents with DBDs are already at heightened risk for substance misuse, the present findings suggest that DRD4L further increases those odds. Scientific significance As differences persisted even among a psychiatrically homogenous sample of impulsive and risk-prone adolescents, the present findings suggest that DRD4L may be involved in the development of an intermediate phenotype specific to substance abuse (eg, cue-elicited craving).
Correlation of Water Quality Indicators for Coastal Marshes

Encompassing 68,000 acres spread out between Wakulla, Jefferson, and Taylor counties along the Gulf Coast of northwest Florida, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1931 to provide wintering habitat for migratory birds. This study evaluated the water quality of coastal marshes at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in terms of coliform and chlorophyll a, along with dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, conductivity, and total suspended solid. Coliform and chlorophyll a were correlated to water physical and chemical parameters based on statistical analysis. Coliform showed direct correlations with turbidity. However, chlorophyll a displayed no correlation with turbidity. Instead, chlorophyll a had a correlation with pH. With the increase of pH, chlorophyll a exponentially decreased.
Liorhyssus hyalinus (F.) (Hemiptera: Rhopalidae) in the Western United States: New Host Records, Host-Plant Range, and Comments on Use of the Term “Host Plant”

Abstract. Liorhyssus hyalinus (F.) is a nearly cosmopolitan, polyphagous rhopalid, or scentless plant bug, that feeds mainly on flowers, fruits, and seeds of its hosts. Adults are known from numerous plants in diverse families, whereas nymphs develop on fewer species. Thirteen species of host plants were recorded for L. hyalinus during the sampling of grasses, forbs, subshrubs, and shrubs in the western United States (west of 100th meridian) from 2000 to 2015. The 11 new host records are Lygodesmia juncea, Machaeranthera tanacetifolia, Sonchus asper, Stephanomeria exigua, S. pauciflora, and S. thurberi (Asteraceae); Chamaesyce albomarginata (Euphorbiaceae); Erodium botrys and E. texanum (Geraniaceae); and Malva parviflora and Sphaeralcea ambigua (Malvaceae). The most common host (9 collections) was the adventive Erodium cicutarium, previously reported as a host in the Old World. Another previously known host was Sonchus oleraceus. Hosts of L. hyalinus in western states comprise four principal groups: late...
Time-lapse analysis and microgenomics profile the endogenous angiogenic phenotype in aggressive melanoma subpopulations

291 Beyond the elemental role of blood vessels in tumor growth, fluid conducting networks lacking endothelium were identified previously in metastatic melanoma and other cancer types (termed vasculogenic mimicry). The etiology remains unclear, though it appears to involve dysregulation of the tumor-specific phenotype and transdifferentiation. Instigating the molecular deciphering of this phenomenon, we established a novel technique for time-lapse imaging and topographical documentation of the spontaneously emerging vascular-like networks and randomly oriented cells (nests) followed by laser capture microdissection in living 3D cultures. The evolution of the vasculogenic mimicry phenotype was quantified in long-term cultures by 3 time-dependent variables: the distribution of network lengths, widths, and area coverage. Based on these morphological descriptors the networks were locally classified over time in “early” and “mature” stages. Microgenomics analysis of the network structures revealed for the first time that despite the shared genotype, transcription was differentially regulated among the phenotypically distinct melanoma structures in vasculogenic mimicry. Moreover the level of differential gene expression in network versus nest cells was shown to increase with the degree of network “maturity”. Several angiogenesis-specific genes were differentially expressed in higher levels in “mature” network cells of both uveal and cutaneous melanoma with intriguing representation of the ephrin family of angiogenesis factors. Moreover, the adjacent nest cells over-expressed ECM-related genes. Expression of angiogenesis-specific genes in melanoma resembled that of normal microvascular cells and was enhanced for melanoma disseminating hematogenously. The findings suggest that melanoma plasticity could enable autopoiesis of vascular-mimicking elements within the tumor infrastructure with significant clinical implications, such as response to anti-angiogenic treatments. Identifying factors regulating tumor plasticity and heterogeneity at the molecular level is essential in designing effective anti-cancer therapies.
Monitoring of sterilization effect of high pressure steam sterilizer for culture medium in microbiology laboratory

[Objective]To ensure the sterilization effect of microbial detection reagent,monitor and analyze the sterilization effect and influencing factors of high pressure steam sterilizer,so as to ensure the quality of sterilization.[Methods]By using three monitoring methods,the sterilization effect of four high pressure steam sterilizers in the laboratory were monitored monthly.[Results]A total of 48 times of monitoring survey were conducted.All of 48 times were qualified by chemical indicator with the qualified rate of 100%.39 times were qualified by biological indicator with the qualified rate of 81.25%.37 times were qualified by Prospore2 biological indicator with the qualified rate of 77.08%.The monitoring results were related to the temperature and time of requirements for sterilization effect of culture medium in microbiology laboratory.[Conclusion]Proper monitoring methods are the key to ensure the sterilization effect of high pressure steam sterilizer.
Reaction mechanism of special functional agents in composite solid propellant (III)--polyether/nitrate system

In the experimental system composed of the polyether binder plastized with nitrate and solid components such as HMX, AP, Al, the reaction behavior and mechanism of neutral polymeric bonding agent (NPBA) and tris (methylaziridinyl) phosphine oxide (MAPO) were investigated by the aid of rheological testing. The results show that NPBA is an efficient bonding agent of HMX in this system and leads to an obvious increase of viscosity and yield value of the system. Its reaction may be a physical bonding and vary with time. Usually, the added optimum content of NPBA is about 1.0%～1.5% of HMX weight. Besides, it is found that NPBA is a superior processing agent of ground fine AP, its addition can decrease the system viscosity in large range, and the suitable content added is about 0.4% of fine AP weight. MAPO takes as a good interface agent of fine AP and can improve obviously the processability of the propellant. However there is no effect of both NPBA and MAPO on the aluminum powder.
Cognitive and behavioral aspects of brain-injury rehabilitation.

One of the most exciting areas in current neurologic rehabilitation concerns cognitive remediation following brain injury. The experimental substrate upon which such rehabilitation rests is not yet firm, but results to date are suggestive of a positive effect, if not in specific cognitive ability, at least in functional and behavioral outcome. As more controlled studies are performed and improved, neuropsychological, behavioral, and social measures are developed, it can be anticipated that improved patient selection and therapeutic intervention will emerge. Also, as we gain further understanding of the molecular and cellular consequences of brain injury, it is not unreasonable to expect improved pharmacologic therapy of the various sequelae of brain injury.
Oral Perception: II. Mandibular Kinesthesia

Normative difference limen (DL) data for mandibular kinesthesia are reported. Following a constant stimuli paradigm, measures of the magnitude of change in mandibular positioning that are necessary...
The NCLEX-RN Experience: Qualitative Interviews With Graduate of a Baccalaureate Nursing Program

It is important for nursing faculty to pay attention to individual as well as institutional results on the National Council Licensure Examination for RNs (NCLEX-RN). This study was designed to identify themes to help faculty understand the NCLEX-RN experience from students' perspectives and help future students pass the examination at the first sitting. A sample of 1998 graduates of a baccalaureate program was selected, which included 10 students who were successful and 9 who were unsuccessful on the first testing attempt. Participants were interviewed about the testing experience and the relationship between nursing education and the NCLEX-RN. Findings indicate that participants who passed on the first attempt accepted responsibility for learning, were proactive in test preparation, took the examination when they felt ready, and used stress management techniques to cope with this challenge. The unsuccessful participants tended to perceive their lack of success on the NCLEX-RN was the responsibility of others, seemed less able to manage stress, and took the examination when they did not feel ready. Both successful and unsuccessful participants felt unprepared to answer NCLEX-RN-type questions and believed nothing had prepared them for this experience.
Convex synthesis of randomized policies for controlled Markov chains with density safety upper bound constraints

The main objective of this paper is to synthesize optimal decision-making policies for a finite-horizon Markov Decision Process (MDP) while satisfying a safety constraint that imposes an upper bound on the state probability density function (pdf) of the underlying Markov Chain (MC) for all time steps. The classical approach based on state-action frequencies for constrained MDPs yields decision policies that provide safety constraint satisfaction for stationary distributions (i.e., asymptotically), but not necessarily providing safety during the transient regime. This paper introduces a new synthesis method for randomized Markovian policies for finite-horizon MDPs, where the safety constraint satisfaction is guaranteed for both the transient and the stationary distributions independent from initial state (i.e., providing safe policies for the worst-case analysis). An efficient Linear Programming (LP) based synthesis algorithm is proposed, which produces a convex set of feasible policies and ensures that the expected total reward is above a computable lower-bound. A simulation example of a swarm of autonomous agents is also presented to demonstrate the practical importance of having safe policies.
Purine nucleoside phosphorylase from human erythrocytes: physicochemical properties of the crystalline enzyme

The major physicochemical properties of human erythrocytic purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNPase) have been described. The molecular weight, estimated by ultracentrifugation, molecular sieving and sucrose density gradient centrifugation, ranged from 87 000 to 92 000. Other physical constants of erythrocytic PNPase were: sedimentation coefficent (s20, w), 5.4 S obtained by sedimentation analysis and 5.5 S by the sucrose density gradient procedure; Stokes radius, 38 A; calculated diffusion coefficient (D20, w), 5.7 X 10(-7) cm2 s-1; frictional ration, 1.29; and partial specific volume calculated from amino acid analysis, 0.73 cm3 g-1. The CD spectra of the human erythrocytic and bovine spleen PNPases were almost identical and indicated a very low alpha-helical content. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate indicated that the molecular weight of the PNPase subunit is 30 000 +/- 500. These results corroborate earlier reports that the native enzyme is a homologous trimer. Comparative studies with crystalline bovine spleen PNPase confirmed that it is also a trimer but is somewhat smaller than the human erythrocytic enzyme with a molecular weight of about 86 000.
Repetitive spectral subtraction method for the spectrophotometric determination of rare earth elements

A new multiwavelength data-analysis method for the determination of multicomponent mixtures, the repetitive spectral subtraction method (RSSM), is proposed. In RSSM, spectral data are obtained at evenly spaced wavelengths in the range of interest, and the analysis of the spectrum is performed as repetitive determination-subtraction cycle. In the determination step, the series of data in the narrow wavelength range is used, which is specified as to include the most characteristic or the largest peak for each component. Assuming a linear background, the target component, which can be a small group of components, is simultaneously determined together with co-existing components. In the next subtraction step, the calculated contribution of the component is subtracted from the spectral data in the whole measured wavelength range, and the component is assigned as determined and is excluded from the following analysis. This determination-subtraction cycle is repeated until all the components are determined.
Long-Range Self-Assembly via the Mutual Lorentz Force of Plasmon Radiation

Long-range interactions often proceed as a sequence of hopping through intermediate, statistically favored events. Here, we demonstrate predictable mechanical dynamics of particles that arise from the Lorentz force between plasmons. Even if the radiation is weak, the nonconservative Lorentz force produces stable locations perpendicular to the plasmon oscillation; over time, distinct patterns emerge. Experimentally, linearly polarized light illumination leads to the formation of 80 nm diameter Au nanoparticle chains, perpendicularly aligned, with lengths that are orders of magnitude greater than their plasmon near-field interaction. There is a critical intensity threshold and optimal concentration for observing self-assembly.
Arachidonic acid metabolites of CYP4A and CYP4F are altered in women with preeclampsia

Abstract Few studies exist on cytochrome P450 (CYP450) metabolites of arachidonic acid (AA) pertaining to the pathophysiological events in pregnancy. We hypothesized that metabolism of AA via the CYP450 pathways is altered within the placenta in women with preeclampsia (PE) and contributes to the pathophysiology of the disease. Thus, placental vascular CYP450 enzyme expression and activity were measured in normal pregnant (NP) and preeclamptic (PE) patients. CYP450 isoform expression (CYP4A11, CYP4A22, CYP4F2, and CYP4F3) was found to be elevated within the placenta of women with PE compared to normal pregnant (NP) women and chronic hypertensive (CHTN) pregnant women. In addition, placental production of 20-HETE was significantly increased in PE women compared to both NP and CHTN women. Moreover, there was an imbalance in circulating 20-HETE:EETs in PE women. To examine whether alterations in CYP450 AA metabolism contribute to the altered placentation in PE, trophoblast function, proliferation and migration were assessed in the presence of exogenous 20-HETE and a 20-HETE specific synthesis inhibitor, HET0016. Trophoblast proliferation was significantly increased in the presence of 20-HETE (1 μM) and reduced with 20-HETE blockade by HET0016 (1 mM, 5 mM, and 10 mM). On the contrary, administration of exogenous 20-HETE (1 μM) significantly reduced trophoblast migration. In conclusion, metabolism of AA via CYP450 is altered in PE, and increased placental production of 20-HETE may contribute to the pathophysiology of the disease.
An overview of health and safety in the Colorado cannabis industry.

Background Understanding worker health and safety in the rapidly growing legal U.S. cannabis industry is important. Although little published research exists, workers may be exposed to biological, chemical, and physical hazards. This study investigated the Colorado cannabis industry workforce and both physical and psychosocial hazards to worker health and safety. Methods Two hundred and fourteen Colorado cannabis workers completed an online survey after in-person and online recruitment. Participants answered questions about their occupation, job tasks, general well-being, occupational health and safety, cannabis use, and tobacco use. Results Colorado cannabis workers were generally job secure and valued safety. However, they regularly consumed cannabis, expressed low concerns about workplace hazards, reported some occupational injuries and exposures, and reported inconsistent training practices. Conclusions Working in the cannabis industry is associated with positive outcomes for workers and their organizations, but there is an imminent need to establish formal health and safety training to implement best practices.
Bayesian classification and inference of occupant visual preferences in daylit perimeter private offices

Abstract The objective of this paper is to understand the complex interactions related to visual environment control in private offices of perimeter building zones and to develop a new method for learning occupant visual preferences. In the first step of our methodology, we conduct field observations of occupants’ perception and satisfaction with the visual environment when exposed to variable daylight and electric light conditions, and we collect data from room sensors, shading and light dimming actuators. Consequently, we formulate a Bayesian classification and inference model, using the Dirichlet Process (DP) prior and multinomial logistic regression, to develop probability distributions of occupants’ preference, such as prefer darker, prefer brighter, or satisfied with current conditions. Based on field observations, we encode within the model structure that occupants’ visual preferences are influenced by a combination of measured physical and control state variables describing the luminous environment, as well as latent human characteristics. The latter represent hidden random variables used to determine the optimal number of possible clusters of individuals with similar visual preference characteristics in the studied office building population. In the final step, we learn the visual preferences of new occupants in the dataset, by inferring their cluster values, and we derive the personalized profiles, using a mixture of the general probabilistic sub-models.
Uso de imagens Landsat-8 no mapeamento das lavouras cafeeiras nos municípios do entorno do Parque Nacional do Caparaó

The objective was to map the coffee plantations in the municipalities around the Caparao National Park (PARNA Caparao) using images from the Operational Land Imager sensor - Landsat-8, referring to June 2014. The mapping was carried out in Geographic Information System. The algorithm used was that of maximum likelihood. The quality of the classification was assessed by the overall performance and Kappa indices. It was found that the coffee plantations in the surrounding municipalities of the PARNA Caparao occupy an area of 594.52 km². The municipalities that presented the largest areas with coffee were Iuna-ES (123.47 km²) and Espera Feliz-MG (115.04 km²). The values are consistent with overall performance of 0.647 and Kappa of 0.216.
Human Factors for Military Applications of Head-Worn Augmented Reality Displays

Research into the human factors of augmented reality (AR) systems goes back nearly as far as research into AR. This makes intuitive sense for an interactive system, but human factors investigations are by most estimates still relatively rare in the field. Our AR research used the human-centered design paradigm and thus was driven by human factors issues for significant portions of the development of our prototype system. As a result of early research and more recent prototype development, mobile AR is now being incorporated into military training and studied for operational uses. In this presentation, we will review human factors evaluations conducted for military applications of mobile AR systems as well as other relevant evaluations.
Genetic and environmental interactions as risks for aerodigestive cancers.

Only a fraction of people exposed to carcinogens will ultimately develop cancer. This fact suggests that individuals are unique with respect to cancer risk and that in the general population, there is a broad range of susceptibility to carcinogenesis. These variations in susceptibility as well as in cancer incidence in different ethnic groups may be genetically determined, at least in part. The study of genetic susceptibility and exogenous carcinogens—their relation ship and interaction—is the basis for the important emerging science of ecogenetics.
POSSIBLE ROLE FOR SUPEROXIDE AND SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE IN G6PD TYPE HEMOLYTIC ANEMIA

ABSTRACT. An enzyme which has been studied extensively by electrophoresis under the various names of achromatic regions, indophenol oxidase, and tetrazolium oxidase, is now known to be superoxide dismutase (SOD). The SOD enzyme catalyzes the conversion of the superoxide radical (0 2 ) to hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ). In this paper we have investigated the possibility that 0 2 and the H 2 O 2 produced from it by SOD may be involved in the mechanism of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency type hemolysis.
IONIZATION ENERGY DETERMINATION IN INDIUM IMPLANTED SILICON.

Hall effect and electrical conductivity were measured as a function temperature in conjunction with layer removal to determine the ionization energy in indium implanted silicon. Similar measurements were performed on silicon shallow diffused with indium to verify the analysis procedure. In both cases, an indium energy level of 160 meV was observed which agreed with the bulk-doped value.