cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Collectivizing Rescue Obligations in Bioethics

Bioethicists invoke a duty to rescue in a wide range of cases. Indeed, arguably, there exists an entire medical paradigm whereby vast numbers of medical encounters are treated as rescue cases. The intuitive power of the rescue paradigm is considerable, but much of this power stems from the problematic way that rescue cases are conceptualized—namely, as random, unanticipated, unavoidable, interpersonal events for which context is irrelevant and beneficence is the paramount value. In this article, I critique the basic assumptions of the rescue paradigm, reframe the ethical landscape in which rescue obligations are understood, and defend the necessity and value of a wider social and institutional view. Along the way, I move back and forth between ethical theory and a concrete case where the duty to rescue has been problematically applied: the purported duty to regularly return incidental findings and individual research results in genomic and genetic research.
From the Streets of Bangkok to Global Society: An Introduction to Global Society in Transition

This essay is adapted from the introduction to Daniel N. Nelson and Laura Neack, eds., Global Society in Transition: An International Politics Reader (London: Kluwer Law International, 2002), pp. 528 Hardcover.
The distribution of shotgun pellets after ricochet from an intermediate target surface.

Abstract This paper presents a geometrical model for the ricochet of shotgun pellets from an intermediate target surface. The model predicts that after ricochet the shotgun pellet pattern will be elongated in the direction parallel to the intermediate target surface, as has been found in empirical studies. This paper also shows that the angle of impact θ of a mass of shotgun pellets with a target surface can be calculated without significant error from the width W and the length L of the pellet pattern using the formula sin θ = W L
The Development of a Self-Adaptive Forecasting Technique

Abstract Exponential smoothing is one of the most successful naive forecasting schemes, but it suffers from the inability to select the smoothing constants quantitatively without making crucial assumptions about the time series. The method presented, called SAFT, utilizes a modified evolutionary operation first to evolve the smoothing constants directly from the data and then to monitor them to account for changing influences in the data. SAFT provides good forecast accuracy and a more advantageous dynamic response than other forecasting schemes. Because of the modest information storage and computation time, SAFT is recommended when a large number of forecasts are needed on a routine basis.
Linkage of multilocus components of variance to polymorphic markers

Haseman & Elston (1972) introduced a sib pair method using classical regression analysis to detect linkage between a polymorphic marker locus and any quantitative trait locus. Most of the diseases mapped to date follow simple Mendelian, single locus transmission. But there are many familial diseases that do not follow simple Mendelian segregation, for example diabetes, several forms of cancer, etc. In this paper, we extend Haseman and Elston's sib pair method to two unlinked quantitative trait loci each linked to one of two unlinked polymorphic marker loci. For the two-locus epistatic model, we give a general formulation of the complete regression model and details of the regression coefficients in terms of variance components.
Investigation of the Low Frequency Dynamics of Heme Proteins: Native and Mutant Cytochrome P450cam and Redox Partner Complexes

Vibrational coherence spectroscopy (VCS) is used to investigate the low-frequency dynamics of camphor-free and camphor-bound cytochrome P450cam (CYP 101) and its L358P mutant. The low-frequency hem...
Nematode-Trapping Fungi Eavesdrop on Nematode Pheromones

The recognition of molecular patterns associated with specific pathogens or food sources is fundamental to ecology and plays a major role in the evolution of predator-prey relationships. Recent studies showed that nematodes produce an evolutionarily highly conserved family of small molecules, the ascarosides, which serve essential functions in regulating nematode development and behavior. Here, we show that nematophagous fungi, natural predators of soil-dwelling nematodes, can detect and respond to ascarosides. Nematophagous fungi use specialized trapping devices to catch and consume nematodes, and previous studies demonstrated that most fungal species do not produce traps constitutively but rather initiate trap formation in response to their prey. We found that ascarosides, which are constitutively secreted by many species of soil-dwelling nematodes, represent a conserved molecular pattern used by nematophagous fungi to detect prey and trigger trap formation. Ascaroside-induced morphogenesis is conserved in several closely related species of nematophagous fungi and occurs only under nutrient-deprived conditions. Our results demonstrate that microbial predators eavesdrop on chemical communication among their metazoan prey to regulate morphogenesis, providing a striking example of predator-prey coevolution. We anticipate that these findings will have broader implications for understanding other interkingdom interactions involving nematodes, which are found in almost any ecological niche on Earth.
Comparing a real-life WSN platform simple network traffic performance and its simulation model using hypothesis testing

A methodology for comparison between simulation outputs and real life measurements is proposed. The methodology is based on hypothesis testing and statistical evaluation of traffic performance indicators. On the basis of theoretical results a software tool for verification of the simulation results is developed. The tool is tested on an example of a ZigBee based wireless network system. The comparison tool demonstrates the need for simulation verification and analyzes examples of good agreements between simulation and measurements allowing for quick exposure of cases where the agreement is not satisfactory.
Modification of peanut allergen Ara h 3: effects on IgE binding and T cell stimulation.

Background: Peanut allergy is a major health concern due to the increased prevalence, potential severity, and chronicity of the reaction. The cDNA encoding a third peanut allergen,
Stabilization of the semilinear wave equation with viscous damping

that in order to achieve local stability for a certain class of nonlinear perturba- tions it is sufficient to stabilize the linear part of the system. The -same conclusion can be obtained in the case of ODE in Banach spaces when (i) the nonlinear perturbation is represented by the action of the bounded operator, or (ii) the underlying semigroup is analytic (see [H, D-L]). The problem (1.1 ), however, does not belong to either of these categories as the underlying dynamics are of hyperbolic type and the nonlinear perturbation
Sweet sorghum as a bioenergy crop: Literature review

Sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is a widely adapted sugar crop with high potential for bioenergy and ethanol production. Sweet sorghum can yield more ethanol per unit area of land than many other crops especially under minimum input production. Sweet sorghum is well-adapted to marginal growing conditions such as water deficits, water logging, salinity, alkalinity, and other constraints. Sweet sorghum potential exists for ethanol yield of 6000 L ha−1 with more than three units of energy attained per unit invested. Traditionally, sweet sorghum has served as a syrup crop and its culture and production are well understood. Sweet sorghum is genetically diverse and variations exits for characteristics such as Brix % (13–24), juice sucrose concentration (7.2–15.5%), total stalk sugar yield (as high as 12 Mg ha−1), fresh stalk yield (24–120 Mg ha−1), biomass yield (36–140 t ha−1) and others indicating potential for improvement. Transitioning sweet sorghum to a bioenergy crop is hampered by inadequate technology for large-scale harvest, transport and storage of the large quantities of biomass and juice produced, especially where the harvest window is short. Conversion of sweet sorghum to ethanol can be achieved by fermenting juice expressed from stems or directly fermenting chopped stalks. Integration of the fermentation and distillation of sweet sorghum juice in corn ethanol plants has not yet been achieved.
Public Opinion and Market Reforms:: The Limits of Economic Voting

The broadly held view that promarket reforms are good for most people is in conflict with the equally broadly held view that, in democracies, reforms will generate widespread resistance. Resistance is expected because reforms typically produce economic downturns, at least over the short term. Under normal circumstances, we expect citizens to withdraw support from governments during periods of economic decline. If citizens withdraw support, then governments, worried about the next election, may abandon reforms. But our expectations should be different of new democracies pursuing promarket reforms. Citizens may believe governments when they claim that things have to get worse before they get better or that economic stagnation is the fault of the past model. Research in Poland, Peru, and Mexico, reported in this special issue, supports these expectations. Hence under democracy there is more scope for support of painful reforms than frequently acknowledged.
Clinical Utility of the Exercise ECG in Patients With Diabetes and Chest Pain

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of exercise treadmill testing in diabetic patients presenting with chest pain. Background: The diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) in diabetic patients is confounded by different manifestations of coronary disease than are seen in the general population. Because of the association of diabetes with accelerated CAD, it is critical to assess the diagnostic utility of the standard exercise test in diabetic patients with chest pain. Methods: This study was a retrospective analysis of standard exercise test results in 1,282 male patients without prior myocardial infarction who had undergone coronary angiography and were being evaluated for possible CAD at two Veterans’ Administration institutions. Results: In patients with diabetes, 38% had an abnormal exercise test result, and the prevalence of angiographic CAD was 69%; the sensitivity of the exercise test was 47% (95% confidence interval [CI], 41 to 58), and specificity was 81% (95% CI, 68 to 89). In patients without diabetes, 38% had an abnormal exercise test result, and the prevalence of angiographic CAD was 58%; the sensitivity of the exercise test was 52% (95% CI, 48 to 56), and specificity was 80% (95% CI, 76 to 83). The receiver operating characteristic curves were also similar in both diabetic and nondiabetic patients (0.67 and 0.68, respectively). Conclusion: These data demonstrate that the standard exercise test has similar diagnostic characteristics in diabetic as in nondiabetic patients. (CHEST 2001; 119:1576 ‐1581)
A coherent query language for XML

Text search engines are inadequate for indexing and searching XML documents because they ignore metadata and aggregation structure implicit in the XML documents. On the other hand, the query languages supported by specialized XML search engines are very complex. In this paper, we present a simple yet flexible query language, and develop its semantics to enable intuitively appealing extraction of relevant fragments of information while simultaneously falling back on retrieval through plain text search if necessary. Our approach combines and generalizes several available techniques to obtain precise and coherent results.
Exchange diffusion of dopamine induced in planar lipid bilayer membranes by the ionophore X537A

A S S X a A C x The ionophore X537A causes a large increase in the [x4C]dopamine (a catecholamine) permeability of planar bilayer membranes. Dopamine transport increases linearly with the ionophore concentration. At relatively high concentrations in the presence of dopamine, the ionophore induces a conductance which is nearly ideally selective for the dopamine cation. However, the total dopamine flux as determined in tracer experiments is not affected by an electric field and is over 10 n times larger than predicted from the estimated dopamine conductance. Increasing the dopamine concentration on the side containing radioactive dopamine (the cis side) saturates the dopamine transport. This saturation is relieved by trans addition of nonradioactive dopamine, tyramine, H +, or K +. With unequal concentrations of dopamine c/s and trans (49 and 12.5 mM), the unidirectional dopamine fluxes are equal. Increasing H + c/s and trans decreases dopamine transport. It is concluded that at physiological pH, the X537A-induced transport of dopamine occurs via an electrically silent exchange diffusion of dopamine cation with another cation (e.g., dopamine +, H +, or K+). X537A induces a Ca++-independent release of catecholamines from sympathetic nerves by interfering with intracellular storage within storage vesicles (R. W. Holz. 1975. Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 575:138-152). It is suggested that X537 A causes an exchange of intravesicular catecholamine with a cytoplasmic cation (perhaps K + or H ÷) across the storage vesicle membrane.
Bordering on anthropology the dialectics of a national tradition in Mexico

This paper explores knowledge production within the framework of a «national anthropology». Mexico developed one of the earliest, largest and most successful «national» anthropologies of the postcolonial world, yet it has been haunted by constant absorption of its leading practitioners into the state apparatus and by a sense of intellectual discontinuity and isolation. The author explores four aspects of Mexican anthropology in the historical contexts in which they emerged: the role of the discipline in shaping a national image (1850–1900); its strategies of intervention in the modernization and «incorporation» of the indigenous and «backward» population (1880–1930); its role in the regulation of a development orthodoxy (1940–1968); and its role in the reformulation of a national image in the face of massive urbanization (1968–1980s).
Problems associated with the use of high purity aluminum in the design of composite conductors in the elasto-plastic region

High purity aluminum can apparently be used at high strain levels due to an anomalously low resistivity. However, the mechanical properties of aluminum strained to 0.003, which is unavoidable in large magnets, lead to extensive conductor confinement and support problems. High purity aluminum yields at 800 to 1200 psi which corresponds to a strain level of 0.0001 to 0.00017 at which point it becomes elasto-plastic with a small tangent modulus of approximately 0.2 × 106psi. In this region excessive plastic flow is opposed only by slight amounts of work hardening. New annular finite elements are reported for the stress analysis and strain limiting designs are given which may allow for the use of high purity aluminum in large magnets. Conceptual designs for large energy storage magnets are proposed. Experimental work is in progress; preliminary data are reported.
Brief Experimental Analyses of Academic Performance: Introduction to the Special Series

Academic skills are frequent concerns in K-12 schools that could benefit from the application of applied behavior analysis (ABA). Brief experimental analysis (BEA) of academic performance is perhaps the most promising approach to apply ABA to student learning. Although research has consistently demonstrated the effectiveness of academic interventions developed from BEA data, research on BEA is in its infancy. The current article suggests that BEA is consistent with the principles of ABA described by Baer et al. (J Appl Behav Anal 37:111–114, 1968) and describes the special series. The special series includes five studies and one commentary that further the evolution of BEA research.
Craniocervical junction fusions in patients with hindbrain herniation and syringohydromyelia

Object Patients with hindbrain herniation or the so-called Chiari malformation Type I (CM-I) and/or syringohydromyelia are treated with dorsal decompression alone; however, a small percentage of patients with other associated abnormalities require concomitant dorsal craniocervical junction (CCJ) fusion. The authors surveyed the indications for CCJ fusions in this population. Methods A retrospective review of University of Iowa medical records and radiographs obtained between 1996 and 2005 was performed. Inclusion criteria encompassed patients with diagnoses of CM-I and/or syringohydromyelia requiring dorsal CCJ fusions, and others with CCJ abnormalities who had CM-I and/or syringohydromyelia. Results Two hundred thirty-four patients were identified, all of whom were symptomatic at presentation. Their ages ranged from 2.5 to 86 years; 33% of the patients were 1 category: Group I, congenital or acquired CCJ abnormalities ...
Work in Progress: An Engineering Student Leadership Program for the Future

The College of Engineering at Iowa State University has partnered with 3M to launch a new leadership program that will prepare students for life-long leadership roles in industry as well as public service. The program will complement the engineering skills and knowledge students acquire during their academic careers to better prepare them for leadership and collaborative roles in their professional careers. Program development began in Spring 2006, focusing on student development, leadership development, and community development. The program is part of a larger engineering policy and leadership initiative with a goal to create an environment that encourages technically minded students, faculty, and staff to develop and improve their leadership skills and become engaged in the development of public policies related to technology. This is a Work In Progress, and program and curricular developments are highlighted.
Examining Perceptions of School Safety Strategies, School Climate, and Violence:

The two main aims of the research were to (a) examine any differences in perceptions of school climate and safety practices between students and teachers and (b) investigate whether school climate and major safety variables predict the perceived importance of safety strategies. Using 184 student reports and 32 teacher reports, results revealed teachers’ perceptions of the connection/climate items were significantly higher than students’ perceptions. Students’ feelings of school climate and violence were associated with ratings on the importance of safety strategies, such that higher ratings on the connection/climate and incivility and disruption scales significantly predicted the perceived importance of rule enforcement strategies.
Estimating Layers Deliverability in Multi-Layered Gas Reservoirs Using Artificial Intelligence

In this paper, an artificial intelligence (AI) model has been created to estimate the production rate of each layer in a multilayered gas reservoir using static properties (such as those obtained from well logging)and dynamic properties (such as pressure). This helps in several reservoir engineering applications, such as understanding depletion in layers, or targeting specific layers for workover. It could also be used for PLT analysis where the measured PLT values are compared to the expected values and a variance analysis could be performed.
Probability-based predictive self-healing reconfiguration for shipboard power systems

The electric power systems in US Navy ships supply energy to sophisticated systems for weapons, communications, navigation and operation. During battle, various weapons may attack a ship causing severe damage to the electrical system on the ship. This damage can lead to de-energisation of critical loads which can eventually decrease a ship's survivability. It is very important therefore to maintain the availability of power to the loads that keep the power system operational. There exists technology for ships that can detect incoming weapons. This knowledge can be used to determine reconfiguration actions which can be taken before the actual hit to reduce the damage to the electrical system when the weapon hits. Then reconfiguration for restoration can be performed after the hit to reconfigure loads de-energised by the damage from the hit. A new automated probabilistic predictive self-healing methodology to determine such reconfiguration control actions is presented. Implementation of these actions will lead to less damage caused by a weapon hit and can considerably improve a ship's chances of surviving an attack. This probabilistic approach entails three major functions: weapon damage assessment, pre-hit reconfiguration before a weapon hit for damage reduction and reconfiguration for restoration after a weapon hit to restore de-energised loads. A case study is presented to illustrate the new methodology.
New Developments With Pertussis Vaccines

In the Commentary entitled "New Developments With Pertussis Vaccines" by Neal A. Halsey ( Pediatrics , 1995;96:970-971), a correction is needed. On page 970, second column, line 13, the sentence should be reworded so that it now reads as follows: In the European trials, no fourth dose was administered at 12 to 18 months of age as is the recommendation in the United States.
(Re)Reading and (Re)Writing Disruption through Gratitude: Personal Narrative as a Method of Inquiry and Discovery

ABSTRACTThrough a phenomenological, hermeneutic lens, this autoethnography examines natural disaster as a meaningful rupture in the often taken-for-granted surface ‘texts’ inscribing everyday experience. Such ruptures elicit a call to the human conscience to acknowledge and render through writing life's embedded riches—to encounter, embody and express meanings of gratitude. Summoning gratitude through narrating first-person accounts of a derecho storm, I demonstrate how reflexive, hermeneutic practices shape the ontology of a grateful disposition. I then explore how such practices, particularly in highly uncertain circumstances, create opportunities for resilience by probing life's qualitative depths and values.
Traffic light mapping, localization, and state detection for autonomous vehicles

Detection of traffic light state is essential for autonomous driving in cities. Currently, the only reliable systems for determining traffic light state information are non-passive proofs of concept, requiring explicit communication between a traffic signal and vehicle. Here, we present a passive camera-based pipeline for traffic light state detection, using (imperfect) vehicle localization and assuming prior knowledge of traffic light location. First, we introduce a convenient technique for mapping traffic light locations from recorded video data using tracking, back-projection, and triangulation. In order to achieve robust real-time detection results in a variety of lighting conditions, we combine several probabilistic stages that explicitly account for the corresponding sources of sensor and data uncertainty. In addition, our approach is the first to account for multiple lights per intersection, which yields superior results by probabilistically combining evidence from all available lights. To evaluate the performance of our method, we present several results across a variety of lighting conditions in a real-world environment. The techniques described here have for the first time enabled our autonomous research vehicle to successfully navigate through traffic-light-controlled intersections in real traffic.
Evaluation of Hard Red Spring Wheat Mill Stream Fractions Using Solvent Retention Capacity Test

Quality and functionality of flour is dependent on chemical components, including protein, gluten, starch and arabinoxylans. The suitability of solvent retention capacity (SRC) for assessment of hard red spring (HRS) wheat quality was evaluated for mill stream flour samples. The HRS wheat sample was milled using a Buhler mill to produce six different flour streams. Flour samples were analyzed using AACC-I approved methods. The farinograph stability had very highly significant (P < 0.001) correlations with the water SRC (−0.96) and the gluten performance index (GPI) (0.93). There was very highly significant (P < 0.001) correlation between wet gluten content and GPI (0.89). The starch damage showed very highly significant (P < 0.001) correlation with water, sodium carbonate, and sucrose SRCs and GPI. Bread loaf volume had very highly significant (P < 0.001) correlations with GPI (0.83). The results of this study show that SRC may be useful for evaluation of mill streams for their use in targeted end product applications. Practical Applications Solvent retention capacity (SRC) has been implemented as a quality test for soft wheat flour used for making cookies and pastries. The SRC profiles for soft wheat applications have been well established; however, hard red spring (HRS) wheat has unique applications and characteristics. A few studies have been conducted on SRC for hard wheat flour, which have determined that SRC and gluten performance index (GPI) may also be implemented as a quality test for hard wheat flour. More investigation is needed to link appropriate SRC profiles and GPI with HRS wheat end product requirements. Further development of the SRC method would be beneficial to the milling and baking industries for hard wheat flour. The following study is important for determining the usage of the SRC method as a quality assurance measure for millers, specifically to determine quality characteristics of mill stream fractions when blending flour for specific end product applications.
Plenary lecture 1: turbulence and quantum mechanics from cosmic to planck scales

A scale invariant model of statistical mechanics was recently applied to describe a modified statistical theory of turbulence and its quantum mechanical foundation. In the present study the implications of the results to a unified statistical theory of fields with applications to diverse physical systems in the fields of galacto-dynamics (cosmology), hydrodynamics, molecular-dynamics, electrodynamics, and quantum optics (dry-hydrodynamics) will be discussed. The comparisons between the predictions of the model and some of the available experimental observations over the entire range of spatial scales from cosmic to Planck will be examined. The connection between the cosmological constant and the vacuum energy and the concept of negative pressure will be discussed. In the field of optics, the implications of the important and central question: "Must the photon mass be zero?" asked by Bass and Schrodinger [Proc. Royal Soc. A 232, pp: 1-6 (1955)] will be further examined. Also, the implications of the invariant model of statistical mechanics to the classical theory of electrodynamics of Maxwell and Lorentz will be explored when the compressible nature of physical space, in accordance with Planck's compressible ether, is taken into account. In particular, the existence of longitudinal electromagnetic waves, L-waves, and their impact on the gravitational mass of photon will be discussed. Finally, the physical and quantum nature of time will be described and a scale-invariant definition of time will be presented and its physical significance to various systems as well as its relativistic behavior will be addressed.
Internet Jurisdiction for E-commerce

ABSTRACTInternet jurisdiction is an area of increasing concern to e-commerce because of the growth in cross-border e-tailing, both within the United States and globally. Therefore, the need for a global solution is also increasing. In response, this article first defines Internet jurisdiction, also known as cyber jurisdiction, and discusses the risks of Internet jurisdiction for retailers and consumers. Drawing from legal research, the authors examine the legal theories for jurisdiction and the application to e-commerce. Their focus is on United States law because both US and foreign businesses must understand US jurisdictional law due to increased globalization from expanding international trade and more frequent contact with US companies and markets brought about by the Internet. Since standards and case law are still developing worldwide, the authors conclude by providing managerial recommendations to reduce the uncertainty of jurisdiction, should legal action be initiated.
Academic Civic Mindedness and Model Citizenship in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

ABSTRACTThis study uses interview and survey methods to describe the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme's (DP) development of students' “academic civic mindedness” and “model citizenship” at four public schools in California. Results indicate that the DP pedagogy enables students to develop many of the skills that are necessary for civic advocacy and that the DP places a strong emphasis on students' knowledge of issues related to public policy. The DP develops students' citizenship through promoting their awareness of political and social issues and required active engagement with a local or global issue. Most IB students and teachers feel that the DP develops students' academic civic mindedness and model citizenship to a considerably greater extent than other curricular alternatives. Finally, teachers feel that the strongest limitation to their prioritization of students' citizenship development is their lack of clarity on how to frame the civic implications of what they teach.
Some Properties of Cross Reacting Antibody of the ABO Blood Group System

An account is given of an experiment in which the use of a "blocking" procedure has enabled the site of action of the cross reacting antibody in group O serum to be shown to be homologous with the A and B antigens of the red cell. In another experiment cross reacting antibody was shown to behave asymmetrically. In both these experiments use was made of the mixed agglutination technic for directly demonstrating the adherence of two cells of differing specificity by cross reacting antibody. The significance of the results of these experiments is discussed in the light of observations by other workers.
Multiplexed Metagenomic Deep Sequencing To Analyze the Composition of High-Priority Pathogen Reagents

Laboratories studying high-priority pathogens need comprehensive methods to confirm microbial species and strains while also detecting contamination. Metagenomic deep sequencing (MDS) inventories nucleic acids present in laboratory stocks, providing an unbiased assessment of pathogen identity, the extent of genomic variation, and the presence of contaminants. Double-stranded cDNA MDS libraries were constructed from RNA extracted from in vitro-passaged stocks of six viruses (La Crosse virus, Ebola virus, canine distemper virus, measles virus, human respiratory syncytial virus, and vesicular stomatitis virus). Each library was dual indexed and pooled for sequencing. A custom bioinformatics pipeline determined the organisms present in each sample in a blinded fashion. Single nucleotide variant (SNV) analysis identified viral isolates. We confirmed that (i) each sample contained the expected microbe, (ii) dual indexing of the samples minimized false assignments of individual sequences, (iii) multiple viral and bacterial contaminants were present, and (iv) SNV analysis of the viral genomes allowed precise identification of the viral isolates. MDS can be multiplexed to allow simultaneous and unbiased interrogation of mixed microbial cultures and (i) confirm pathogen identity, (ii) characterize the extent of genomic variation, (iii) confirm the cell line used for virus propagation, and (iv) assess for contaminating microbes. These assessments ensure the true composition of these high-priority reagents and generate a comprehensive database of microbial genomes studied in each facility. MDS can serve as an integral part of a pathogen-tracking program which in turn will enhance sample security and increase experimental rigor and precision. IMPORTANCE Both the integrity and reproducibility of experiments using select agents depend in large part on unbiased validation to ensure the correct identity and purity of the species in question. Metagenomic deep sequencing (MDS) provides the required level of validation by allowing for an unbiased and comprehensive assessment of all the microbes in a laboratory stock.
Hydrolytic Degradation and Its Effect on Mechanical Properties of HFPE-II-52 Polyimide: Preliminary Results

Polyimides and fiber reinforced polyimide matrix composites are used in demanding applications requiring mechanical performance at high temperatures (300 + °C). When exposed to moisture and elevated temperature for extended periods of time polyimides may undergo hydrolytic degradation in which bonds are broken at a rate dependent on the temperature and moisture absorbed into the material. These broken bonds will be reflected in reductions in mechanical properties such as moduli, glass transition temperature and flow strength. In this project the polyimide HFPE-II-52 is aged under fully moisture saturated conditions at temperatures up to 250 °C. Following the temperature and moisture exposure, cube shaped samples are tested in compression at room and elevated temperatures to measure the reductions in stiffness and yield stress. This research is aimed at providing a means for monitoring and predicting hydrolytic degradation and its effect on mechanical performance.
The Next Generation of Synthetic Biology Chassis: Moving Synthetic Biology from the Laboratory to the Field

Escherichia coli (E. coli) has played a pivotal role in the development of genetics and molecular biology as scientific fields. It is therefore not surprising that synthetic biology (SB) was built upon E. coli and continues to dominate the field. However, scientific capabilities have advanced from simple gene mutations to the insertion of rationally designed, complex synthetic circuits and creation of entirely synthetic genomes. The point is rapidly approaching where E. coli is no longer an adequate host for the increasingly sophisticated genetic designs of SB. It is time to develop the next generation of SB chassis; robust organisms that can provide the advanced physiology novel synthetic circuits will require to move SB from the laboratory into fieldable technologies. This can be accomplished by developing chassis-specific genetic toolkits that are as extensive as those for E. coli. However, the holy grail of SB would be the development of a universal toolkit that can be ported into any chassis. This vi...
The Challenge of Forecasting Significant Tornadoes from June to October Using Convective Parameters

AbstractThis study is an application of the Statistical Severe Convective Risk Assessment Model (SSCRAM), which objectively assesses conditional severe thunderstorm probabilities based on archived hourly mesoscale data across the United States collected from 2006 to 2014. In the present study, SSCRAM is used to assess the utility of severe thunderstorm parameters commonly employed by forecasters in anticipating thunderstorms that produce significant tornadoes (i.e., causing F2/EF2 or greater damage) from June through October. The utility during June–October is compared to that during other months. Previous studies have identified some aspects of the summertime challenge in severe storm forecasting, and this study provides an in-depth quantification of the within-year variability of severe storms predictability. Conditional probabilities of significant tornadoes downstream of lightning occurrence using common parameter values, such as the effective-layer significant tornado parameter, convective available ...
Identifying Unbiased Items for Screening Preschoolers for Disruptive Behavior Problems.

Objective Efficient identification and referral to behavioral services are crucial in addressing early-onset disruptive behavior problems. Existing screening instruments for preschoolers are not ideal for pediatric primary care settings serving diverse populations. Eighteen candidate items for a new brief screening instrument were examined to identify those exhibiting measurement bias (i.e., differential item functioning, DIF) by child characteristics. Method Parents/guardians of preschool-aged children ( N = 900) from four primary care settings completed two full-length behavioral rating scales. Items measuring disruptive behavior problems were tested for DIF by child race, sex, and socioeconomic status using two approaches: item response theory-based likelihood ratio tests and ordinal logistic regression. Results Of 18 items, eight were identified with statistically significant DIF by at least one method. Conclusions The bias observed in 8 of 18 items made them undesirable for screening diverse populations of children. These items were excluded from the new brief screening tool.
Diluted magnetic semiconductors formed by ion implantation and pulsed-laser melting

Abstract Using ion implantation followed by pulsed-laser melting (PLM), we have synthesized ferromagnetic films of Ga 1− x Mn x As. Ion-channeling experiments reveal that these films are single crystalline and have high Mn substitutionality while variable temperature resistivity measurements reveal the strong Mn-hole interactions characteristic of carrier-mediated ferromagnetism in homogeneous Diluted magnetic semiconductors. We have observed Curie temperatures ( T C s) of approximately 80 K for films with substitutional Mn concentrations of x =0.04. The use of n-type counter doping as a means of increasing Mn substitutionality and T C is explored by co-implantation of Mn and Te into GaAs . In Ga 1− x Mn x P samples synthesized using our technique, the implanted layer regrows as an epitaxial single crystal capped by a highly defective surface layer. These samples display ferromagnetism with T C ≈23 K.
Setting Educational Goals and Formative Assessment

This chapter begins the discussion of the educational aspects of small spacecraft programs (which continues in Chaps. 9 and 10). In this chapter, educational goals and formative assessment are discussed. Chapter 9 focuses on summative assessment, and Chap. 10 discusses the results of prior work.
Plasma carotenoids and the risk of premalignant breast disease in women aged 50 and younger: a nested case-control study.

To examine the association of plasma carotenoids, micronutrients in fruits, and vegetables, with risk of premalignant breast disease (PBD) in younger women. Blood samples were collected at the Siteman Cancer Center between 2008 and 2012 from 3537 women aged 50 or younger with no history of cancer or PBD. The analysis included 147 participants diagnosed with benign breast disease or breast carcinoma in situ during a 27-month follow-up and 293 controls. Cases and controls were matched on age, race/ethnicity, and date of and fasting status at blood draw. Plasma carotenoids were quantified. We used logistic regression to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and linear regression to assess racial differences in plasma carotenoids. The risk reduction between the highest and lowest tertiles varied by carotenoid, with β-cryptoxanthin having the greatest reduction (OR 0.62; 95% CI, 0.62–1.09; P trend = 0.056) and total carotenoids the least (OR 0.83; 95% CI, 0.48–1.44; P trend = 0.12). We observed an inverse association between plasma carotenoids and risk of PBD in obese women (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2; 61 cases and 115 controls) but not lean women (BMI < 25 kg/m2; 54 cases and 79 controls), although the interaction was not statistically significant. Compared to white women, black women had lower levels of α and β-carotene and higher levels of β-cryptoxanthin and lutein/zeaxanthin. We observed suggestive inverse associations between plasma carotenoids and risk of PBD in younger women, consistent with inverse associations reported for invasive breast cancer. Carotenoids may play a role early in breast cancer development.
Within-Plant Distribution and Dynamics of Thrips Species (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Cotton.

A 2-yr study in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) was conducted to determine the abundance and species composition of thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on different plant parts throughout the season in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. Plant parts sampled included seedlings, terminals with two expanded leaves, leaves from the upper, middle, and lower sections of the canopy, white flowers, and medium-sized bolls. Adult thrips were significantly more abundant on seedlings and flowers in 2014, and on flowers followed by seedlings and leaves from the middle canopy in 2015. Immature thrips were significantly more abundant on seedlings, followed by flowers in 2014, and on seedlings followed by leaves from the lower canopy and flowers in 2015. Across locations and plant parts, thrips consisted of Frankliniella tritici (Fitch) (46.8%), Frankliniella fusca Hinds (23.5%), Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (17.1%), Neohydatothrips variabilis (Beach) (7.4%), Thrips tabaci (Lindeman) (1.8%), and other species (3.4%). Frankliniella fusca represented 86.7% of all thrips on seedlings, while F. tritici was more abundant on terminals (51.6%), squares (57.5%), and flowers (75.1%). Across all leaf positions, F. fusca was the most abundant species (28.8%), followed by F. tritici (19.2%), N. variabilis (18.8%), F. occidentalis (12.9%), and T. tabaci (5.2%), as well as other species (15.0%). As neonicotinoid insecticides remain a primary tool to manage seedling infestations of F. fusca, our data indicate that mid- to late-season applications of neonicotinoid insecticides targeting other insect pests will intensify selection pressure for resistance on F. fusca, the primary pest of seedling cotton.
Tumor Associated Myeloid Cells and their Contribution to Tumor Outcome

My laboratory studies the mechanisms that control the development, homeostasis and function of tissue resident myeloid cells, which mostly consists of macrophages and dendritic cells (DC). Macrophages are hematopoietic cells that perform tissue-specific functions critical for regulating and maintaining organ homeostasis. In contrast to most other hematopoietic cells, macrophages that reside in quiescent tissues originate from early hematopoietic precursors that take residence in tissues prior to birth. In this presentation, I will discuss how tissue cues control macrophage functional diversity to ensure tissue integrity. I will also discuss recent data from our laboratory showing that developmental diversity contributes to shaping macrophage functional specialization and that ontogenically distinct macrophages differently regulate tumor response to radiation therapy. In contrast to macrophages, DC are constantly repopulated by DC restricted precursors that are recruited from the blood circulation. Our laboratory has contributed to the mapping of the regulatory network of DCs, and the identification of a lineage of DC, the CD103+ DC, which are specialized in the induction of CD8+ T-cell immunity. Here I will discuss recent data from the laboratory that revealed the critical role for tumor-associated CD103+ DC in tumor response to checkpoint blockade and argue for the need to study human CD103+ DC equivalent in clinical cancer immunotherapy. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Nanophotonics for information systems

The field of photonics finds applications in information technology, health care, lighting, and sensing. This paper explores the role of nanotechnology with focus on nanophotonics in dielectric and inhomogeneous metamaterials for optical communications, information and signal processing in data centers.
Virus-like particles that display Zika virus envelope protein domain III induce potent neutralizing immune responses in mice.

Several Zika virus (ZIKV) vaccine candidates have recently been described which use inactivated whole virus, DNA or RNA that express the virus’ Envelope (E) glycoprotein as the antigen. These were successful in stimulating production of virus-targeted antibodies that protected animals against ZIKV challenges, but their use potentially will predispose vaccinated individuals to infection by the related Dengue virus (DENV). We have devised a virus like particle (VLP) carrier based on the hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) that displays the ZIKV E protein domain III (zDIII), and shown that it can be produced quickly and easily purified in large quantities from Nicotiana benthamiana plants. HBcAg-zDIII VLPs are shown to be highly immunogenic, as two doses elicited potent humoral and cellular responses in mice that exceed the threshold correlated with protective immunity against multiple strains of Zika virus. Notably, HBcAg-zDIII VLPs-elicited antibodies did not enhance the infection of DENV in Fc gamma receptor-expressing cells, offsetting the concern of ZIKV vaccines inducing cross-reactive antibodies and sensitizing people to subsequent DENV infection. Thus, our zDIII-based vaccine offers improved safety and lower cost production than other current alternatives, with equivalent effectiveness.
Current Status of Radiology Training in Otolaryngology Residency Programs.

Importance Otolaryngologists use head and neck imaging on a daily basis. However, little is known about the training residents receive on the subject. Understanding the current training environment is important to identify areas of improvement for resident education. Objective To assess the current state of radiology training in otolaryngology residency programs. Design, Setting, and Participants This was a cross-sectional survey of 106 otolaryngology residency program directors involving multiple academic institutions. Main Outcomes and Measures The main outcome of this study is the number of US otolaryngology residency programs that have a radiology curriculum. Measured outcomes were obtained from an anonymous online survey and reported as a percent of total respondents. Results Program directors from 39 of 106 (37%) US otolaryngology residency training programs responded to the survey. Twenty-eight of 39 (71%) have a focused radiology curriculum; 18 of 28 (64%) conduct sessions on a monthly basis, 8 of 28 (29%) on a quarterly basis, and 2 of 28 (7%) on a weekly basis. The predominant format (20 of 27 programs [74%]) is a mix of case-based review of inpatient studies and standard lectures. The largest proportion of sessions were run by radiologists (13 of 28 [46%]), with a mix of radiology and otolaryngologists close behind (11 of 28 [39%]). Twenty-two of 39 residency programs (56%) have a dedicated radiology rotation within their educational curriculum, of which 17 of 22 (77%) occur in postgraduate year 1 (PGY-1) of training, 3 of 22 (14%) in PGY-3, and 2 of 22 (9%) in PGY-4. Rotation lengths range from 1 week to 3 months, with most running 1 to 4 weeks. Thirty-two of 38 of US program directors (84%) believe that a formal radiology curriculum would benefit their residents. Thirty-five of 39 believe that this should be a case-based review of images. Twenty-four of 38 believe this should be done on a monthly basis. Fifteen of 39 responding program directors (39%) believe the optimal time is during the PGY-3 of training, 36% (14 of 38) favor the PGY-2, and 23% (9 of 38) in PGY-1. Conclusions and Relevance Despite no standardized requirements from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), 71% of US otolaryngology residency program directors who responded to our survey have a radiology curriculum. Most run didactics sessions at the desired frequency, setting, and format preferred by responding program directors. More than half of programs provide a dedicated radiology rotation, mostly during PGY-1, while identifying PGY-2 and PGY-3 as the optimal time for such an experience. These results highlight the need for a more thorough review of radiology education requirements from the ACGME to improve the training of otolaryngology residents across the country.
Long-term assessment of ichthyoplankton in a large North American river system reveals changes in fish community dynamics

Larval fishes are sensitive to abiotic conditions and provide a direct measure of spawning success. The St. Clair – Detroit River System, a Laurentian Great Lakes connecting channel with a history ...