cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
STATUS POLITICS AND THE POLITICAL AGENDA OF THE CHRISTIAN RIGHT

Status politics has been used by scholars to explain social protest movements, particularly those that have been right-wing in orientation. In recent years, some scholars have placed the Christian Right within the context of status politics, while others have suggested it is erroneous to do so. This article examines the applicability of status politics to the Chrisitan Right from the perspective of the political agenda the movement has pushed in the Congress. The argument is that status politics fails to explain adequately the moral, nonsymbolic, and “offensive” dimensions of the Christian Right.
Matrix metalloproteinases and tumor invasion: from correlation and causality to the clinic

Tumor cell invasion is now viewed as dysregulated physiologic invasion. Investigators have started to define the molecular events that are involved in this process. We find that there are many functional similarities with molecular events involved in physiologic process such as angiogenesis and wound healing. Matrix metalloproteinase activity is a common denominator in these pathologic conditions and in normal responses. Studies using endogenous metalloproteinase inhibitors suggest that targeting matrix metalloproteinase activity may prevent tumor cell dissemination. The development and pre-clinical testing of novel, low molecular weight matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors support this concept and suggest that an exciting new era of cancer therapy is on the horizon.
Functions of the Periplasmic Loop of the Porin MspA from Mycobacterium smegmatis

MspA is the major porin of Mycobacterium smegmatis and mediates diffusion of small and hydrophilic solutes across the outer membrane. The octameric structure of MspA, its sharply defined constriction zone, and a large periplasmic loop L6 represent novel structural features. L6 consists of 13 amino acids and is directly adjacent to the constriction zone. Deletion of 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 amino acids of the L6 loop resulted in functional pores that restored glucose uptake and growth of a porin mutant of M. smegmatis. Lipid bilayer experiments revealed that all mutant channels were noisier than wild type (wt) MspA, indicating that L6 is required for pore stability in vitro. Voltage gating of the Escherichia coli porin OmpF was attributed to loops that collapse into the channel in response to a strong electrical field. Here, we show that deletion mutants Δ7, Δ9, and Δ11 had critical voltages similar to wt MspA. This demonstrated that the L6 loop is not the primary voltage-dependent gating mechanism of MspA. Surprisingly, large deletions in L6 resulted in 3-6-fold less extractable pores, whereas small deletions did not alter expression levels of MspA. Pores with large deletions in L6 were more permissive for glucose than smaller deletion mutants, whereas their single channel conductance was similar to that of wt MspA. These results indicate that translocation of ions through the MspA pore is governed by different mechanisms than that of neutral solutes. This is the first study identifying a molecular determinant of solute translocation in a mycobacterial porin.
A test methodology for determining space-readiness of Xilinx SRAM-based FPGA designs

Using reconfigurable, static random-access memory (SRAM) based field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) for space-based computation has been an very active area of research for the past decade. Since both the circuit and the circuitpsilas state are stored in radiation-tolerant memory, both could be altered by the harsh space radiation environment. Both the circuit and the circuitpsilas state can be protected by triple-modular redundancy (TMR), but applying TMR to FPGA user designs is often an error-prone process. Faulty application of TMR could cause the FPGA user circuit to output incorrect data. This paper will describe a three-tiered methodology for testing FPGA user designs for space-readiness. We will describe the standard approach to testing FPGA user designs using a particle accelerator, as well as two methods using fault injection and modeling. While accelerator testing is the current ldquogold standardrdquo for pre-launch testing, we believe the use of fault injection and modeling tools allows for easy, cheap and uniform access for discovering errors earlier in the design process.
Effect of a nonsteroidal antiandrogen, flutamide on intraluminal acidification in rat testis and epididymis.

Summary. Flutamide, a pure antiandrogen was administered to intact adult male rats to study the effect of altered availability of hormones on in situ pH, PCO2 and bicarbonate concentration ([HCO−3]) of seminiferous tubules, proximal caput, middle caput, middle corpus, and proximal cauda epididymidis. The weights of the epididymis and ventral prostate as well as the plasma testosterone level showed antiandrogenic effects of flutamide. Relative to controls, flutamide elevated significantly in situ pH in proximal caput, middle caput, middle corpus and proximal cauda epididymidis but not in seminiferous tubules. In situ PCO2 values in the above segments, after flutamide, were indistinguishable from controls and from each other but all values remained significantly higher than systemic arterial blood PCO2. Flutamide treatment did not change the [HCO−3] in systemic arterial blood or seminiferous tubules but increased markedly the values in proximal caput and middle caput. The results of the present studies support the view that luminal acidification in the rat epididymis is under androgen control and may be important for sperm maturation and storage.
Combining miR-10b–Targeted Nanotherapy with Low-Dose Doxorubicin Elicits Durable Regressions of Metastatic Breast Cancer

The therapeutic promise of microRNA (miRNA) in cancer has yet to be realized. In this study, we identified and therapeutically exploited a new role for miR-10b at the metastatic site, which links its overexpression to tumor cell viability and proliferation. In the protocol developed, we combined a miR-10b-inhibitory nanodrug with low-dose anthracycline to achieve complete durable regressions of metastatic disease in a murine model of metastatic breast cancer. Mechanistic investigations suggested a potent antiproliferative, proapoptotic effect of the nanodrug in the metastatic cells, potentiated by a cell-cycle arrest produced by administration of the low-dose anthracycline. miR-10b was overexpressed specifically in cells with high metastatic potential, suggesting a role for this miRNA as a metastasis-specific therapeutic target. Taken together, our results implied the existence of pathways that regulate the viability and proliferation of tumor cells only after they have acquired the ability to grow at distant metastatic sites. As illustrated by miR-10b targeting, such metastasis-dependent apoptotic pathways would offer attractive targets for further therapeutic exploration.
Zuloagaea, a New Genus of Neotropical Grass Within the “Bristle Clade” (Poaceae: Paniceae)

Recent molecular data indicate that ''Panicum'' section Bulbosa does not belong in the genus Panicum. Previously published phylogenies strongly support its inclusion in the ''bristle clade,'' a monophyletic group in the Paniceae that includes the genera Setaria, Cenchrus ,a ndPennisetum, among others. The morphological synapomorphy for the clade is the presence of bristles (sterile branchlets) in the inflorescence, but Panicum bulbosum has no bristle-like structures at any stage of development, and is otherwise morphologically quite distinct from any of its close relatives. We have evaluated several possible taxonomic placements for section Bulbosa, reflecting the need to remove it from Panicum. Our conclusion, based on previously published molecular and current morphological data, is to erect a new genus, Zuloagaea, to accommodate section Bulbosa. We have also evaluated whether there are one, two, or three taxa within sect. Bulbosa. We have used principal components analysis of 33 morphological characters and find no distinct morphological groups within the section, and hence conclude that the group represents a single species.
Expected external profile of PATRICIA tries

We consider PATRICIA tries on n random binary strings generated by a memoryless source with parameter p ≥ 1/2. For both the symmetric (p = 1/2) and asymmetric cases, we analyze asymptotics of the expected value of the external profile at level k = k(n), defined to be the number of leaves at level k. We study three natural ranges of k with respect to n. For k bounded, the mean profile decays exponentially with respect to n. For k growing logarithmically with n, the parameter exhibits polynomial growth in n, with some periodic fluctuations. Finally, for k = Θ(n), we see super-exponential decay, again with periodic fluctuations. Our derivations rely on analytic techniques, including Mellin transforms, analytic depoissonization, and the saddle point method. To cover wider ranges of k and n and provide more intuitive insights, we also use methods of applied mathematics, including asymptotic matching and linearization.
Effects of Thiouracil on the Mammary Gland.

ConclusionThiouracil administered to normal or castrated male and female rats failed to induce an alteration of the mammary glands similar to that obtained following thyroidectomy. The mammary glands of rats treated with thiouracil and with estrogen for the last 10 days of the experimental period possessed well developed lobules and alveoli whereas the control glands showed end bud growth and duct extension. When thyroxin was given along with thiouracil and estrogen, the mammary glands resembled those from rats receiving estrogen alone and no precocious lobule-alveolar growth was noted.
Relation of Semen Volume to Success in Artificial Insemination of Queen Honey Bees

Queens were inseminated with amounts of semen ranging from 2 to 36 μl and oviposition performance and number of sperm in the spermatheca evaluated. As amount of semen was increased, the number of sperm reaching the spermatheca increased, but the percentage decreased. After single inseminations of up to 18 μl, survival and oviposition were normal; but with higher amounts (20-36 μl) the death rate increased. At 28 to 36 μl oviposition was sometimes much reduced. with the same total amount of semen 2 inseminations were more effective than 1 and the minimum spermathecal sperm count was higher, but the second insemination contributed less than the first and this contribution deereased as the dose increased. In single inseminations 16 μl of semen was required to place an average of 5 million and a minimum of 3 million sperm in the spermatheca. Although this average was not quite reached with 2 inseminations of up to 6 μl each, a minimum of 3 million was attained with 2 inseminations of 3 μl each.
Analysis of measles antibody levels among healthy population in Ankang 2011

Objective To know the measles antibody levels among healthy population in Ankang and provide the basis for the development of scientific preventive measures.Methods 2 107 healthy people were randomly sampled as investigation object and monitored measles IgG antibody levels by the method of capture ELISA in the10 districts of city.Results 1 791 people were antibody-positive in 2 107 healthy people,and the positive rate was 85.00%.Conclusion The measles antibody level among healthy population in Ankang city maintains at a high level.It's suggested that certain age group of immunization work should be strengthened because there is statistic difference between age groups and regions.
LASIK risk score: an easy method to predict postoperative outcome.

Purpose To present a simple model for assessing the risk score of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). Methods The LASIK surgery risk score is a number attributed to every LASIK procedure and depends on the presence of individual variables that might add difficulty and increase the risk of the surgical procedure. Results The score can vary from 1 to 14 with values between 1 and 4 considered low risk for complications, values between 5 and 9 moderate risk, and values above 10 high risk. Conclusions This scale gives a gross estimate of the surgical risk of the LASIK procedure and adds valuable information to the preoperative assessment.
Understanding the Mechanism of Action of Atypical Antipsychotic Drugs: A Review of Compounds in Use and Development

The thrust of development of new antipsychotic drugs has been to identify new compounds that have enhanced antipsychotic efficacy and have lesser side-effects than standard neuroleptic compounds. Drug development strategies no longer concentrate on D2 receptor antagonism but aim to produce novel compounds. The following have been pursued: (a) selective dopamine receptor antagonists; (b) serotonin receptor agonists and antagonists (5-HT1a,e, 5-HT2, 5-HT3) or mixed 5-HT2 - D2 receptor antagonist; (c) selective dopamine agonists or partial agonists; and (d) sigma-site and excitatory amino-acid antagonists. Such compounds are at various stages of development. The only drug which has truly distinguished itself as ‘atypical’ is clozapine. Its mechanism of action is unknown and the search for it, in large part, has been the impetus for development of the compounds listed above.
THE NEW PHILOSOPHICAL HISTORY: Voltaire

[Voltaire (1694–1778) rightly thought himself a pioneer of a new type of history. Rebelling against the prevailing ideals and forms of historiography—against supernatural history, narrow political or biographical chronicles, and the uncritical acceptance of ancient historians—he proposed and produced a secular and naturalistic history which would depict the life and spirit of peoples, their art, science and politics. His two masterpieces, The Age of Louis XIV (1752)1 and the Essay on the Manners and Customs of Nations (1757), deal in a philosophical, interpretative manner with universal history, including not only some of the previously neglected aspects of western society but the progress of non-European peoples as well.
Ketogenic Diet Complications

Serious adverse events are reported in five (10%) of 52 children, aged 1.5-16 years, treated with the ketogenic diet (4:1 ratio/fat: carbohydrate) over a 22-month period at the Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY.
Methodology for Real-Time Monitoring of Construction Operations Using Finite State Machines and Discrete-Event Operation Models

AbstractEnabling real-time and remote monitoring of construction operations is currently a very difficult task given the spread of the construction worksite and the complexity and diversity of processes involved. This situation persists despite the growing availability of instrumentation on construction equipment and other sensors on the construction worksite that can provide real-time but isolated information about the operation. This paper provides a methodology that enables the real-time monitoring of construction operations by synthesizing sensor data through the consideration of resources as finite-state machines that provide real-time input to a context-rich operation model that codifies the construction process. The framework extends the utility of simulation modeling and analysis from the planning to the construction phase by enabling the model to be advanced by the entities that perform work on the construction site, thereby making the model accurately reflect the latest state of the operation in...
Reconfigurability issues in metro DWDM networks

With increasing packet-based traffic in metro networks, fast reconfigurability is becoming a requirement for optical networks. Since manual reconfiguration could take weeks, carriers are upgrading their SONET/SDH infrastructures with reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexers (ROADMs) and tunable optical filters. This paper looks at the issue of the impact of reconfigurability on a network's performance.
A Sense Oligonucleotide Specifically Reverses the Prothrombin Depletion and Anticoagulation Caused by ISIS 401025, an Antisense Oligonucleotide Targeting Prothrombin RNA in Mice.

The ability to safely and effectively neutralize anticoagulant activity is of particular importance in the case of long acting drugs. While antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) benefit from their slow clearance rate from liver (t 1/2 approx 10 days in mice) which permits infrequent dosing, the potential necessity to reverse ASO drug activity presents a challenge. ISIS 401025 is a second generation ASO targeting prothrombin RNA that has previously been shown to reduce thrombin generation and prolong PT and aPTT as a result of depleting prothrombin mRNA levels in mice. To explore the possibility of developing an “antidote” strategy for ASO-mediated anticoagulation, we designed a sense oligonucleotide, ISIS 405277, complementary to the ISIS 401025 sequence and examined its ability to reverse the effects of prior treatment with ISIS 401025 in mice. A PT-INR of 3.0 was established after 3 weeks of treatment with ISIS 401025 at a weekly dose of 60 mg/kg, corresponding to a reduction of prothrombin mRNA transcript levels of 96%. A single injection of the sense oligonucleotide, ISIS 405277, resulted in a dose-dependent reversal of INR to 1.6, 1.1, and 0.9 three days after injection of 30, 60, and 90 mg/kg, respectively. Corresponding prothrombin transcript levels in liver tissue were returned to 18.4%, 27.8%, and 38.9% of normal levels, respectively. Results from a study designed to determine the kinetics of reversal of anticoagulation indicated that a 50% reduction of PT-INR 4.3, established following 3 weeks of treatment with ISIS 401025, required 11 days in the absence of subsequent treatment, while the reduction was achieved in 2.2 days following a single administration of 90 mg/kg of sense oligonucleotide. When mice were pretreated with an ASO targeting prothrombin that was not complementary to the sense oligonucleotide (ISIS 40527), sense oligonucleotide treatment was unable to reverse either target depletion or anticoagulation, indicating a sequence-specific antidote effect. These results demonstrate for the first time that subsequent administration of a sense strand oligonucleotide can neutralize ASO mediated target RNA degradation in animals, and demonstrates its potential utility in reversing ASO-based activity for anticoagulation.
Alcohol Use and Strenuous Physical Activity in College Students: A Longitudinal Test of 2 Explanatory Models of Health Behavior

ABSTRACTObjective: To help clarify the effect of gender on the bidirectional relationship between alcohol use and strenuous physical activity in college students. Participants: Five hundred twenty-four (52% female) college students recruited in August 2008 and 2009 and followed up in April 2009 and April 2011, respectively. Methods: Participants reported their alcohol use and strenuous physical activity on 2 occasions (baseline and follow-up) spaced approximately 1 or 2 years apart. Results: For females, alcohol use quantity at baseline was associated with increased strenuous physical activity at 1- and 2-year follow-ups, and alcohol use frequency at baseline was associated with decreased strenuous physical activity at 2-year follow-up. For males, alcohol use frequency at baseline predicted decreased strenuous physical activity at 1-year follow-up. Conclusions: Gender differences may be explained from an eating disorders perspective such that women use physical activity as a compensatory strategy to comba...
PCSM-10THE END OF LIFE PHASE IN HIGH GRADE GLIOMA - A PROSPECTIVE ASSESSMENT OF SYMPTOMS

BACKGROUND: End-of-life (EoL) symptoms of patients have not been prospectively assessed in patients with high grade glioma (HGG). The aim of this study was to understand symptom progression and to define the EoL trajectory in HGG to make recommendations on palliative care or hospice involvement. METHODS: Prospective single-center study assessing symptoms and quality of life of HGG patients failing therapy with bevacizumab, showing clinical and radiological progression, and with a Karnofsky Performance Status score(KPS) <60. Patients and caregivers were enrolled. MD Anderson Symptom Inventory Brain Tumor Module (MDASI-BT) and symptoms assessment was performed upon enrollment and bi-weekly thereafter by phone call. Follow-up continued until death. RESULTS: Data from 28 patient-caregiver dyads was available for interpretation. Fatigue, drowsiness, and concentration progressed significantly 12-14 weeks prior to death along with loss of appetite, change in bowel habits, and appearance. Seizures were rare but had severe impact if present. Remembering things, speaking and weakness was moderate at baseline and without significant progression. Loss of consciousness was reported in 19 patients with a median of 4 days (range 1-7) prior to death. Pain was mild throughout the disease course. Significant progressive interference in enjoyment of life, relationships, and work was observed. Hospice was initially contacted at a median of 3.5 weeks prior to death and enrollment took place within 1 week after initial contact in all but one patient. No patient received palliative care. All patients died under hospice care. DISCUSSION: This is the first prospective study of symptoms and quality of life in HGG patients. Our findings suggest that patients with HGG suffer from high morbidity in the EoL phase mainly due to fatigue, drowsiness, and concentration. Patients failing bevacizumab and presenting with a KPS ≤60 should be counselled about the possibility of hospice to assure proper symptom management and EoL decision making.
Developing a Peer Mentorship Program to Increase Competence in Clinical Supervision in Clinical Psychology Doctoral Training Programs

Supervision has recently been recognized as a core competency for clinical psychologists. This recognition of supervision as a distinct competency has evolved in the context of an overall focus on competency-based education and training in health service psychology, and has recently gained momentum. Few clinical psychology doctoral programs offer formal training experiences in providing supervision. A pilot peer mentorship program (PMP) where graduate students were trained in the knowledge and practice of supervision was developed. The focus of the PMP was to develop basic supervision skills in advanced clinical psychology graduate students, as well as to train junior doctoral students in fundamental clinical and practical skills. Advanced doctoral students were matched to junior doctoral students to gain experience in and increase knowledge base in best practices of supervision skills. The 9-month program consisted of monthly mentorship meetings and three training sessions. The results suggested that mentors reported a 30% or more shift from the category of not competent to needs improvement or competent, in the following supervision competencies: theories of supervision, improved skill in supervision modalities, acquired knowledge in supervision, and supervision experience. Furthermore, 50% of the mentors reported that they were not competent in supervision experience at baseline and only 10% reported that they were not competent at the end of the program. Satisfaction data suggested that satisfaction with the program was high, with 75% of participants indicating increased knowledge base in supervision, and 90% indicating that it was a positive addition to their training program. This program was feasible and acceptable and appears to have had a positive impact on the graduate students who participated. Students reported both high satisfaction with the program as well as an increase in knowledge base and experience in supervision skills.
Electrical Stimulation of the Rabbit’s Aortic Nerve and the Dog’s Carotid Sinus Nerve: A Parameter Study

Much of the present clinical work using stimulation of the carotid sinus nerve (CSN) to lower arterial blood pressure is based on studies of the dog (1). Stimulus parameters have varied, but the nerve has usually been treated as a homogeneous structure. However, Douglas et al (2) have found that a large part of the depressor response to electrical stimulation of the buffer nerves in cats and rabbits is due to small unmyelinated nerve fibers. If distinct nerve fiber populations also exist in the dog, then any variation in stimulus parameters could have important implications.
A place to call home?: A qualitative exploration of public librarians' response to homelessness

Labeled “third-sector” community organizations, public libraries serve homeless individuals by default. Using focus group interview data with library personnel, this qualitative study explored how ...
The anti-wear efficiency of boron succinimide on engine cylinder liner and piston ring surfaces

Anti-wear additives are important components of the lubricating oils which protect the sliding surfaces from wear. Researches on developing the non-phosphorus catalysis-friendly anti-wear additive still continue due to government’s regulations. One way to provide non-phosphorus anti-wear additive is boron and sulfur addition to succinimides. In this study, boron succinimide used as an anti-wear additive is compared with ZDDPs in a real engine environment by the engine bench tests. Anti-wear performances were evaluated by microscopic and spectroscopic surface analyses on engine cylinder liner and piston rings after 100-h engine running periods for each anti-wear additive. SEM/EDX and XPS analyses were used to evaluate the tribochemical analyses of tribofilms. SEM and AFM were used to evaluate wear mechanisms on cylinder liner and piston ring surfaces. Results showed that boron succinimide can be an alternative anti-wear additive of ZDDPs from the perspective of anti-wear efficiency.
Clinical and molecular characterization of early-onset colorectal cancer patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

689Background: Recent reports suggest colorectal cancer incidence is steadily increasing in adults < 50 years old. This population has a number of unique pre-disposing conditions, such as inflammat...
Dynamical Spin Susceptibility in the t–J Model in the Superconducting Phase

Dynamical spin susceptibility is calculated for the t–J model in the superconducting phase using the memory function method in terms of the Hubbard operators. The self-consistent system of equations for the memory function is obtained within the mode-coupling approximation. Both itinerant hole excitations and localized spin fluctuations contribute to the memory function. Moreover, the itinerant contribution itself consists of two parts, i.e., the contribution of Bogoliubov quasiparticles and that of Cooper pairs. The spin dynamics is diffusive in the hydrodynamic limit, but the itinerant part does not contribute to the spin diffusion. In the high frequency region, spin–wave-like excitations continue to exist. We discuss our analytic results in the light of neutron scattering experiments performed on the cuprate superconductors.
Two-Way Analysis of Variance

In Chapter 6 we consider situations where a response variable is measured on groups of observations classified by a single factor and look at ways to compare the changes in the mean of the response variable attributable to the various levels of this factor. Here we extend this to situations where there are two factors. In Chapters 13 and 14 we will discuss instances where there are more than two factors.
Artifacts of Encounter: Cook’s Voyages, Colonial Collecting and Museum Histories, edited by Nicholas Thomas, Julie Adams, Billie Lythberg, Maia Nuku and Amiria Salmond

In my view, the postcolonial, ethnographic museum has become an event space for a Bakhtinian forum. Here, multiple voices coalesce around objects, multiple voices whose defining features consist in...
Spatial, temporal and taxonomic scaling of richness in an eastern African large mammal community

AIM: Ecological patterns and process change across spatial, temporal and taxonomic scales. This confounds comparisons between modern and fossil communities, which are sampled across very different scales, especially temporal ones. We use a recent bone dataset (i.e., “death assemblages”) from a modern ecosystem to explore spatial, temporal and taxonomic scaling in biodiversity assessments. Our ultimate goal is to create a model based on these scaling relationships to facilitate meaningful comparisons between modern and fossil communities. LOCATION: Amboseli National Park, southern Kenya. TIME PERIOD: Mid‐1960 s to present day. MAJOR TAXA STUDIED: Large mammals (>1 kg). METHODS: We implemented a random placement null model and used model selection methods to investigate how species richness at Amboseli scales as a function of time and area [i.e., the species–time–area relationship (STAR) model]. We then analysed how the model coefficients change at different taxonomic scales (i.e., genus, family, order). RESULTS: In agreement with previous studies, we find species richness scales positively with time and area but with a negative interaction between the two. Rates of richness turnover decrease as taxonomic scale increases. MAIN CONCLUSIONS: We hypothesize that decreasing rates of turnover with increasing spatial and/or temporal scale are caused by taking progressively larger samples from a species pool that is changing at a slower rate relative to turnover at the scale of sampling. Because increasing area and time are simply alternative ways of uncovering the species pool, increased time‐averaging of communities results in a more spatially averaged ecological signal. Increasing taxonomic scale causes turnover rates to decrease because of how lower‐level taxa are aggregated into coarser, higher‐level ones. The STAR model presents a framework for extrapolating and comparing richness between small‐scale modern and large‐scale fossil communities, as well as a means to understand the general processes involved with changing scale.
Look who is warning: individual differences in motivation activation influence behaviors during disasters

This study investigated individual differences in responses to disasters based on participants’ motivational reactivity and ethical ideology. Motivational reactivity was measured using the motivati...
The role of plant-mycorrhizal mutualisms in deterring plant invasions: Insights from an individual-based model.

Understanding the factors that determine invasion success for non-native plants is crucial for maintaining global biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. One hypothesized mechanism by which many exotic plants can become invasive is through the disruption of key plant-mycorrhizal mutualisms, yet few studies have investigated how these disruptions can lead to invader success. We present an individual-based model to examine how mutualism strengths between a native plant (Impatiens capensis) and mycorrhizal fungus can influence invasion success for a widespread plant invader, Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard). Two questions were investigated as follows: (a) How does the strength of the mutualism between the native I. capensis and a mycorrhizal fungus affect resistance (i.e., native plant maintaining >60% of final equilibrium plant density) to garlic mustard invasion? (b) Is there a non-linear relationship between initial garlic mustard density and invasiveness (i.e., garlic mustard representing >60% of final equilibrium plant density)? Our findings indicate that either low (i.e., facultative) or high (i.e., obligate) mutualism strengths between the native plant and mycorrhizal fungus were more likely to lead to garlic mustard invasiveness than intermediate levels, which resulted in higher resistance to garlic mustard invasion. Intermediate mutualism strengths allowed I. capensis to take advantage of increased fitness when the fungus was present but remained competitive enough to sustain high numbers without the fungus. Though strong mutualisms had the highest fitness without the invader, they proved most susceptible to invasion because the loss of the mycorrhizal fungus resulted in a reproductive output too low to compete with garlic mustard. Weak mutualisms were more competitive than strong mutualisms but still led to garlic mustard invasion. Furthermore, we found that under intermediate mutualism strengths, the initial density of garlic mustard (as a proxy for different levels of plant invasion) did not influence its invasion success, as high initial densities of garlic mustard did not lead to it becoming dominant. Our results indicate that plants that form weak or strong mutualisms with mycorrhizal fungi are most vulnerable to invasion, whereas intermediate mutualisms provide the highest resistance to an allelopathic invader.
Crossover Assessment of Intraoral and Cuffed Ventilation by Emergency Responders.

OBJECTIVES A cuffed bag valve mask (BVM) is the most common device used by emergency medical responders to ventilate patients. The BVM can be difficult for users to seal around the patient's mouth and nose. An intraoral mask (IOM) with snorkel-like design may facilitate quicker and better ventilation particularly under austere conditions. METHODS Both a BVM and IOM were utilized by 27 trained emergency medical technicians and paramedics to ventilate a lightly embalmed cadaver. Ventilation efficacy, workload, and usability were assessed for both devices across four study conditions. RESULTS The IOM was superior to the BVM in delivered tidal volume ratio (measure of leak, p < 0.03) and minute ventilation (p < 0.0001). Workload, ergonomic and usability assessments indicated that the IOM facilitated gripping through the reduced hand interface size (p < 0.01), decreased user effort (p < 0.001), and reduced upper limb workload (p = 0.0088). CONCLUSIONS In the assessed model, the IOM represented a better choice for airway management than the standard cuffed BVM. An emergency medical device that is intuitive, efficacious and less demanding has the potential to reduce responder stress and improve resuscitation efforts, especially during austere rescue and patient transport.
Enhancing Resiliency and Delivery of Bridge Elements using Ultra-High Performance Concrete as Formwork:

A feasibility study of the use of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) shell as a formwork is presented. The core concept of the research, developed by the first author, is prefabrication of UHPC...
Cover crop seed preference of four common weed seed predators

Invertebrate seed predators (ISPs) are an important component of agroecosystems that help regulate weed populations. Previous research has shown that ISPs' seed preference depends on the plant and ISP species. Although numerous studies have quantified weed seed losses from ISPs, limited research has been conducted on the potential for ISPs to consume cover crop seeds. Cover crops are sometimes broadcast seeded, and because seeds are left on the soil surface, they are susceptible to ISPs. We hypothesized that (1) ISPs will consume cover crop seeds to the same extent as weed seeds, (2) seed preference will vary by plant and ISP species, and (3) seed consumption will be influenced by seed morphology and nutritional characteristics. We conducted seed preference trials with four common ISPs [Pennsylvania dingy ground beetle (Harpalus pensylvanicus), common black ground beetle (Pterostichus melanarius), Allard's ground cricket (Allonemobius allardi) and fall field cricket (Gryllus pennsylvanicus)] in laboratory no choice and choice feeding assays. We compared seed predation of ten commonly used cover crop species [barley (Hordeum vulgare), annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), forage radish (Raphanus sativus), cereal rye (Secale cereale), white mustard (Sinapis alba), crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum), red clover (Trifolium pratense), triticale (×Triticosecale) and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa)] and three weed species [velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti), common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) and giant foxtail (Setaria faberi)]. All four ISPs readily consumed cover crop seeds (P < 0.05), but cover crops with hard seed coats and seed hulls such as hairy vetch and barley were less preferred. Our results suggest that farmers should select cover crop species that are avoided by ISPs if they plan on broadcasting the seed, such as with aerial interseeding.
Development of a high-performance ultrasonic flow system for cell transformation

Cell transformation is an important process utilized in a wide variety of research and medical applications. Current methods for cell transformation generally depend on viral delivery or other methods which are often limited by inefficiency and/or toxicity. An alternative approach known as sonoporation may avoid these issues. Sonoporation can occur when ultrasound pulses induce microbubble oscillation near cellular membranes causing formation of transient pores. Sonoporation has been shown to enhance molecular delivery to cells. To improve the efficiency and consistency of molecular delivery via sonoporation, we have developed a high-performance ultrasonic flow system which integrates ultrasound and microfluidic technology. One particular application of interest involves loading red blood cells (RBCs) with trehalose for dry preservation. Storage of RBCs is limited by a short shelf-life of 42 days when refrigerated, and frozen storage is limited by the complex process that is required which involves adding and removing glycerol from RBCs before and after freezing them for storage at -80 oC. A technology that enables dry storage of blood at ambient temperature would have significant global impact. A potential solution to achieve this goal is to load RBCs with trehalose which can form a protective barrier around cell membranes during freezing and drying. Trehalose is a sugar molecule found in many organisms that survive freezing and desiccation, but mammalian cells are impermeable to trehalose. Therefore, trehalose must be actively loaded into human cells. In this study we have evaluated the performance of our ultrasonic flow system to load trehalose into RBCs. In addition, this platform technology can potentially be utilized to transform other cell types for a variety of different applications.
Reversible Control of the Mn Oxidation State in SrTiO3 Bulk Powders

We demonstrate a low-temperature reduction method for exhibiting fine control over the oxidation state of substitutional Mn ions in strontium titanate (SrTiO3) bulk powder. We employ NaBH4 as the chemical reductant that causes significant changes in the oxidation state and oxygen vacancy complexation with Mn2+ dopants at temperatures less than 350 °C where lattice reduction is negligible. At higher reduction temperatures, we also observe the formation of Ti3+ in the lattice by diffuse-reflectance and low-temperature electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. In addition to Mn2+, Mn4+, and the Mn2+ complex with an oxygen vacancy, we also observe a sharp resonance in the EPR spectrum of heavily reduced Mn-doped SrTiO3. This sharp signal is tentatively assigned to surface superoxide ion that is formed by the surface electron transfer reaction between Ti3+ and O2. The ability to control the relative amounts of various paramagnetic defects in SrTiO3 provides many possibilities to study in a model system the impact of tunable dopant-defect interactions for spin-based electronic applications or visible-light photocatalysis.
Inflation and rupture of vaginal tissue.

Around 80% of women experience vaginal tears during labour when the diameter of the vagina must increase to allow the passage of a full-term baby. Current techniques for evaluating vaginal tears ar...
Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the Melanocortin His-Phe-Arg-Trp Sequences Decrease Tetrapeptide Potency and Efficacy.

The melanocortin receptors are stimulated by agonists (α-MSH, β-MSH, γ-MSH, and ACTH) processed from the proopiomelanocortin (POMC) gene transcript and possess a common His-Phe-Arg-Trp tetrapeptide...
Surgical Management of Life-Threatening Aspiration

Intractable aspiration as a result of glottal insufficiency is a life-threatening medical condition. The choice of therapy is dictated by the level and severity of pathology resulting in aspiration and the likelihood of patient recovery. However, many dysphagia-associated disease conditions are not amenable to conservative treatment, and will lead to intractable aspiration and life-threatening pneumonia. Total laryngectomy and laryngotracheal separation are the two surgical options with optimal results, and decisions should be carefully weighed for each individual patient in making the appropriate selection.
KCNMA1-linked channelopathy.

KCNMA1 encodes the pore-forming α subunit of the “Big K+” (BK) large conductance calcium and voltage-activated K+ channel. BK channels are widely distributed across tissues, including both excitable and nonexcitable cells. Expression levels are highest in brain and muscle, where BK channels are critical regulators of neuronal excitability and muscle contractility. A global deletion in mouse (KCNMA1−/−) is viable but exhibits pathophysiology in many organ systems. Yet despite the important roles in animal models, the consequences of dysfunctional BK channels in humans are not well characterized. Here, we summarize 16 rare KCNMA1 mutations identified in 37 patients dating back to 2005, with an array of clinically defined pathological phenotypes collectively referred to as “KCNMA1-linked channelopathy.” These mutations encompass gain-of-function (GOF) and loss-of-function (LOF) alterations in BK channel activity, as well as several variants of unknown significance (VUS). Human KCNMA1 mutations are primarily associated with neurological conditions, including seizures, movement disorders, developmental delay, and intellectual disability. Due to the recent identification of additional patients, the spectrum of symptoms associated with KCNMA1 mutations has expanded but remains primarily defined by brain and muscle dysfunction. Emerging evidence suggests the functional BK channel alterations produced by different KCNMA1 alleles may associate with semi-distinct patient symptoms, such as paroxysmal nonkinesigenic dyskinesia (PNKD) with GOF and ataxia with LOF. However, due to the de novo origins for the majority of KCNMA1 mutations identified to date and the phenotypic variability exhibited by patients, additional evidence is required to establish causality in most cases. The symptomatic picture developing from patients with KCNMA1-linked channelopathy highlights the importance of better understanding the roles BK channels play in regulating cell excitability. Establishing causality between KCNMA1-linked BK channel dysfunction and specific patient symptoms may reveal new treatment approaches with the potential to increase therapeutic efficacy over current standard regimens.
Functional Status Examination Yields Higher Measurement Precision of Functional Limitations after Traumatic Injury than the Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended: A Preliminary Study

The Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended (GOSE) is one of the most widely used measures of functional limitations after traumatic brain injury (TBI), and is the primary outcome measure used in clinical t...
Pott’s Puffy Tumor: “I’m Not a Klingon, It’s an Abscess!”

From the founder of Pott’s Disease of the spine comes Pott’s Puffy Tumor (PPT), a rare but serious type of headache. PPT is a rare variant of osteomyelitis occurring in the frontal bone and can lead to deadly CNS infections given the unique anatomy of the sinuses. It is a disease that can strike children and adults alike and is associated with head trauma and sinusitis. This chapter describes the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and management of PPT.
Analysis of tow architecture variability in biaxially braided composite tubes

Abstract Spatial deviations in composite braid unit cell dimensions limit mechanical performance and are challenging to model. Full-field measurements of the irregular tow placement in biaxially braided composite tubes were obtained by digital image correlation. Analysis of the reconstructed tow paths showed long-range defects along the hoop direction with short-range defects dominating the biased tow direction. A route toward numerical simulation of the composite response is established by developing a 3D model of the composite using the measured tow trajectories. Finally, a comparison to previously-published triaxial braid results indicates axial tows work to constrain unit cells dimensions along the hoop direction.
Eye movements during music reading: Toward a unified understanding of visual expertise

Abstract Eye tracking methodology has been extensively used to document the remarkable perceptual skill of experts in many different domains, including chess, medicine, and face perception. To facilitate an integrative understanding of visual expertise and eye movements, our chapter provides a selective review of the music reading and eye tracking literature. We specifically focus on exploring the extent to which music reading experts use parafoveal processing to a greater extent than novices. Theoretical perspectives in the chess literature, including chunking (Chase & Simon, 1973a, 1973b) and template theories (Gobet & Simon, 1996, 2000), assume that experts learn to process domain-specific visual features as larger patterns, which implies that experts should engage in more parafoveal and/or peripheral visual processing to integrate information across larger regions of the image. In line with this prediction, we conclude here that music reading experts appear to also engage in more parafoveal processing than novices, as indicated by a variety of eye tracking measures, including eye-hand span (EHS) and perceptual span (i.e., visual span) measurements. We also illustrate how variations in task demands, including tempo and complexity, can impact the nature of the link between expertise and parafoveal processing. We conclude that music reading and eye tracking paradigms could be further utilized to study the generalizability of key findings in the visual expertise literature, and we identify some potentially promising directions for future work.
Digitally Assisted mm-wave FMCW Radar for High Performance

This paper presents digital techniques to improve performance parameters of an mm-wave Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) radar front end. It proposes calibration techniques to: a) reduce a complex (IQ) baseband receiver’s (RX) quadrature mismatch (IQMM) and a beamforming transmitter’s (TX) phase shifter inaccuracies, b) reduce RX analog baseband mismatches, and c) reduce effect of multiplicative noise arising from strong TX-RX external coupling / reflections from radar-casing. Benefits are demonstrated with measurements from a 45nm CMOS 77GHz band radar SoC.