cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Crying Wolf? A Spatial Analysis of Wolf Location and Depredations on Calf Weight

Combining a novel panel dataset of 18 Montana ranches with spatial data on known wolf pack locations and satellite‐generated climatological data from 1995‐2010, we estimate the spatial impact of changing wolf pack locations and confirmed wolf depredations on the weight of beef calves. We find no evidence that wolf packs with home ranges that overlap ranches have any detrimental effects on calf weights. Other non‐wolf factors, notably climate and individual ranch‐specific husbandry practices, explained the majority of the variation in the weight of calves. However, ranches that experienced a confirmed cattle depredation by wolves had a negative and statistically significant impact of approximately 22 pounds on the average calf weight across their herd, possibly due to inefficient foraging behavior or stress to mother cows. For ranches experiencing confirmed depredation, the costs of these indirect weight losses are shown to potentially be greater than the costs of direct depredation losses that have, in the past, been the only form of compensation for ranchers who have suffered wolf depredations. These results demonstrate a potentially important and understudied aspect of economic conflict arising from the protection and funding of endangered species recovery programs.
Selective Attention Warps Spatial Representation Parallel but Opposing Effects on Attended Versus Inhibited Objects

Selective attention not only influences which objects in a display are perceived, but also directly changes the character of how they are perceived--for example, making attended objects appear larger or sharper. In studies of multiple-object tracking and probe detection, we explored the influence of sustained selective attention on where objects are seen to be in relation to each other in dynamic multi-object displays. Surprisingly, we found that sustained attention can warp the representation of space in a way that is object-specific: In immediate recall of the positions of objects that have just disappeared, space between targets is compressed, whereas space between distractors is expanded. These effects suggest that sustained attention can warp spatial representation in unexpected ways.
Radiation induces an antitumour immune response to mouse melanoma.

Purpose: Irradiation of cancer cells can cause immunogenic death. We used mouse models to determine whether irradiation of melanoma can enhance the host antitumour immune response and function as an effective vaccination strategy, and investigated the molecular mechanisms involved in this radiation-induced response.Materials and methods: For in vivo studies, C57BL6/J mice and the B16F0 melanoma cell line were used in a lung metastasis model, intratumoural host immune activation assays, and tumour growth delay studies. In vitro studies included a dendritic cell (DC) phagocytosis assay, detection of cell surface exposure of the protein calreticulin (CRT), and small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated depletion of CRT cellular levels.Results: Irradiation of cutaneous melanomas prior to their resection resulted in more than 20-fold reduction in lung metastases after systemic challenge with untreated melanoma cells. A syngeneic vaccine derived from irradiated melanoma cells also induced adaptive immune response m...
INTRACLUTCH EGG-SIZE VARIATION IN MAGELLANIC PENGUINS

Abstract We investigated patterns and consequences of intraclutch egg-size variation in Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus). First-laid eggs were significantly larger than second-laid eggs, although the mean difference represented only 2% of an average egg's volume. The degree of intraclutch egg-size variation was similar among years and females of different ages. Intraclutch egg-size variation did not affect intraclutch differences in chick hatching weights or fledging success. We found no selective advantage for laying eggs of different sizes. Because both eggs have an equal probability of being lost, chance favors equal provisioning of eggs. Egg volume explained 35% of the variation in hatching weight but did not determine fledging success. Laying order, year, and female age were better predictors of fledging success than egg size. Factors such as laying and hatching order, parental quality, oceanographic conditions, fights, and predation are more important in determining chick survival than ...
RELATIONSHIP OF MYCOSIDE CONTENT AND COLONY MORPHOLOGY FOR GROUP II AND GROUP III UNCLASSIFIED MYCOBACTERIA

Navalkar R. G. (University of Wisconsin, Madison), E. H. Wiegeshaus, and D. W. Smith. Relationship of mycoside content and colony morphology for group II and group III unclassfied mycobacteria. J. Bacteriol. 88:255-259. 1964.-The relationship between colony morphology and mycoside content previously reported for Mycobacterium kansasii and M. fortuitum does not extend to group II and group III unclassified mycobacteria. Mycoside distribution studies permit a division of group II cultures into three subgroups: mycoside D group, mycoside Cm group, and a group containing no mycoside. The colony form of group II and group III isolates is more definitive on oleic acid-albumin-agar than on Corn Meal Agar. Attention is called to the differences in colony form and mycoside content for subcultures of M. marianum obtained from two sources.
POPULATION GENETICS AND COLONY STRUCTURE OF THE ARGENTINE ANT (LINEPITHEMA HUMILE) IN ITS NATIVE AND INTRODUCED RANGES

Introduced species often possess low levels of genetic diversity relative to source populations as a con- sequence of the small population sizes associated with founder events. Additionally, native and introduced populations of the same species can possess divergent genetic structuring at both large and small geographic scales. Thus, genetic systems that have evolved in the context of high diversity may function quite differently in genetically homogeneous introduced populations. Here we conduct a genetic analysis of native and introduced populations of the Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) in which we show that the population-level changes that have occurred during introduction have produced marked changes in the social structure of this species. Native populations of the Argentine ant are char- acterized by a pattern of genetic isolation by distance, whereas this pattern is absent in introduced populations. These differences appear to arise both from the effects of recent range expansion in the introduced range as well as from differences in gene flow within each range. Relatedness within nests and colonies is lower in the introduced range than in the native range as a consequence of the widespread genetic similarity that typifies introduced populations. In contrast, nestmates and colony-mates in the native range are more closely related, and local genetic differentiation is evident. Our results shed light on the problem posed for kin selection theory by the low levels of relatedness that are characteristic of many unicolonial species and suggest that the loss of genetic variation may be a common mechanism for the transition to a unicolonial colony structure.
Brain estrogen production and the encoding of recent experience.

The vertebrate central nervous system integrates cognition and behavior, and it also acts as both a source and target for steroid hormones like estrogens. Recent exploration of brain estrogen production in the context of learning and memory has revealed several common themes. First, across vertebrates, the enzyme that synthesizes estrogens is expressed in brain regions that are characterized by elevated neural plasticity and are also integral to the acquisition, consolidation, and retrieval of recent experiences. Second, measurement and manipulation of estrogens reveal that the period following recent sensory experience is linked to estrogenic signaling in brain circuits underlying both spatial and vocal learning. Local brain estrogen production within cognitive circuits may therefore be important for the acquisition and/or consolidation of memories, and new directions testing these ideas will be discussed.
Early Loss of Immediate Reperfusion While Stent Retriever in Place Predicts Successful Final Reperfusion in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients.

Background and Purpose— Degree of stent retriever engagement with target thrombi may be reflected by (1) immediate reperfusion (IR) on first deployment, indicating displacement of clot toward the vessel wall, and (2) by early loss of IR (ELOIR), indicating penetration of retriever struts through the thrombus. The relation of these early findings to final reperfusion and clinical outcomes has not been well delineated. Methods— We investigated IR and ELOIR in patients undergoing stent retriever mechanical thrombectomy at an academic medical center between March 2012 and June 2014. Results— Among 56 patients, IR itself was not associated with final successful reperfusion, which occurred in 66.7% of IR patients and 71.4% of non-IR patients ( P =0.999). However, ELOIR was associated with a higher rate of final successful reperfusion (92% versus 44%; P =0.046). Patients with ELOIR had a higher nominal rate of final favorable outcome (42% versus 22%; P =0.64). Conclusions— ELOIR during the embedding period after deployment of stent retrievers is associated with successful final reperfusion, likely because of greater thrombus engagement with the stent retriever. ELOIR may be a useful finding to guide duration of embedding time in clinical practice and design of novel stent retrievers.
High Temperature Oxidation of Ni3Al Composites

As part of an effort to develop oxidation-resistant metal matrix composites, the influence of reinforcement materials on the oxidation of Ni3Al was studied. Thermogravimetric measurements and microstructural analyses were used to determine the 800°C oxidation behavior of Ni3Al and composites based on this material. The presence of fiber (Al2O3)- or particle (TiN or TiC)- reinforcement material in the Ni3Al increased susceptibility to oxidation as measured by the amount of reacted material, rate constants, and/or extent of internal attack. The orientation of fibers with respect to the free surfaces was found to affect the oxidation behavior by providing, in certain cases, reactive paths along the fiber-matrix interface that led to significant internal penetration. The results suggest that the choice of reinforcement material and the method of materials processing will be important considerations in the design of oxidation-resistant Ni3Al composites. However, ways to minimize the detrimental influence of the reinforcement material on oxidation resistance often conflict with requirements for obtaining attractive mechanical and physical properties of the composite.
In Vitro Production of Pectolytic and Cellulolytic Enzymes by Fusarium Tricinctum

The ability of Fusarium tricinctum to produce polygalacturonase, pectin methylesterase, pectin trans-eliminase and carboxymethylcellulase in vitro was investigated. The optimum temperature and pH for polygalacturonase activity was 35-40 C and 4.0, respectively. The absorption maximum for pectin trans-eliminase reaction products was approximately 550 nm. The activity of all the pectic enzymes investigated increased with culture age. The degradation of carboxymethylcellulose was also demonstrated.
GENETIC COVARIANCE BETWEEN OVIPOSITION PREFERENCE AND LARVAL PERFORMANCE IN AN INSECT HERBIVORE.

An experimental study determined that females of the herbivorous fly species Liriomyza sativae (Diptera: Agromyzidae) preferentially oviposit on the plant species on which their female progeny attain the greatest pupal weight. A modified parent/offspring regression was used to quantify this relationship as an additive genetic covariance between host-plant preference and relative performance of female larvae on different plant species. The implications of a genetic covariance between preference and performance on the course of evolution in herbivores are discussed. Several females from one population refused to oviposit on one of the plant species; this population also suffered the only significant larval mortality on this plant. These results corroborate the avoidance of unsuitable host plants seen in the genetic analyses of individuals, but relative to the genetic data, such population-level data are of limited usefulness in the study of evolutionary mechanisms by which insect populations become adapted to their host plants.
Compensating For Time Stepping Errors Locally In the Pseudo-analytical Method Using Normalized Pseudo Laplacian

The pseudo-analytical method relies on pseudo-Laplacians to compensate for time stepping errors caused by the secondorder time stepping scheme. Pseudo-Laplacian slowly varies with the compensation velocity which makes it well suited for models with mild velocity variations. For models with high velocity variations, the pseudo-analytical method becomes difficult because high compensation velocities cause over-compensations to wavefields in low velocity areas which can bring significant artifacts into the simulation results. To tackle this problem, I propose to use spatially varying normalized pseudo-Laplacians, which are determined by actual velocity variations in space, to locally compensate for time stepping errors. This new implementation of the pseudoanalytical method involves two steps. The first step applies local compensations using adaptive normalized pseudoLaplacians, computed either in wavenumber domain or in space domain. The second step carries out the second-order time marching computations, which can be realized by any numerical schemes and not limited to the wavenumber domain method. I use numerical experiments to demonstrate that the proposed method can produce highly accurate results with relaxed stability conditions compared to the conventional pseudospectral method.
Abstract 879: Mitochondrial DNA content and its association with lung cancer risk and clinical outcomes

Mitochondrion is an essential cellular organelle generating energy, and also plays a key role in the initiation and regulation of apoptosis. Impaired mitochondria function may inhibit apoptosis; enhance reactive oxygen species and generate cancer related proteins. The difference in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content (also termed mtDNA copy number) may contribute to cancer predisposition as well as variations in clinical outcomes. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a large-scale case-control study to investigate the role of mtDNA content in lung cancer etiology and clinical outcomes. MtDNA content in 2,442 newly diagnosed lung cancer patients and 2,417 matched controls were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Clinical outcome data were collected for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients (2,020 subjects). We analyzed the association of MtDNA copy number with the risk of developing lung cancer and also the clinical outcomes in NSCLC patients. MtDNA content was significantly lower in patients than controls (mean=1.17 vs. 1.23, P=4.28×10−4). Compared to higher mtDNA content (above the median value in the controls), lower mtDNA content was associated with a significantly increased risk for lung cancer (OR=1.25, 95%CI=1.11-1.41, P=1.52×10−4). In the trend analysis, we detected a significant dose-response relationship between mtDNA content and risk, as lower mtDNA content was associated with a progressively increased risk for lung cancer (P-trend=1.40×10−4). In the analysis of clinical outcomes, a significant difference in mtDNA content was observed between death and survival groups (mean=1.12 vs. 1.27, P=6.62×10−4) in early stage (stage I and II) NSCLC patients. Compared to those who have higher mtDNA content, patients who have lower mtDNA content had a 45% higher risk for death (HR=1.34, 95%CI=1.05-1.71, P=0.019), and a dramatically shorter survival time (58 months vs. 96 months, log-rank P=5.68×10−4). A dose-response effect of increased risk for death was found with decreased mtDNA content (P-trend=0.048) in this group of patients. No significant results were found in advance stage (stage III and IV) patients. To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the association of MtDNA copy number with lung cancer risk and clinical outcomes. Our results suggested that lower mtDNA content is associated with increased lung cancer risk and poor prognosis in early stage NSCLC patients. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 879.
Economic Profitability of Growing Lettuce and Tomato in Western Washington under High Tunnel and Open-field Production Systems

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) are popular fresh market vegetable crops. In western Washington, there is interest in growing them in high tunnel production systems because of the region’s mild, coastal climate. The objectives of this study were to contrast the economic potential of growing lettuce and tomato under high tunnel and open-field production systems, and identify the main factors affecting profitability within each production system. Economic data for this study were collected by interviewing experienced lettuce and tomato growers in western Washington during focus group sessions. Costs of production varied by crop and production system, and findings indicated that it was five times more costly to grow lettuce and eight times more costly to grow tomato in a high tunnel than in the open field in western Washington. For lettuce, the labor cost per square foot of growing area was found to be 6 times greater in a high tunnel than in the open field; and for tomato, labor costs were 10 times greater in a high tunnel than in the open field. Total labor cost comprised more than 50% of the total production costs of lettuce and tomato in both the high tunnel and open-field systems. The percentage of total labor cost was similar in both the high tunnel and open-field production for lettuce, but was higher in high tunnel tomato production than in the open field. Tunnel-grown lettuce and tomato had three and four times greater marketable yield compared with field-grown, respectively. Given the base crop yield and average price, it was 43% more profitable to grow lettuce in the open field than in the high tunnel, while in contrast, high tunnel-grown tomato was three times more profitable than open-field tomato production.
Comparing practice differences of residency graduates: implications for curricular change.

OBJECTIVE To document and assess differences in the practice experiences and practice patterns of graduates from two similar sized but regionally separated community-based internal medicine residency programs. RESULTS Sixty percent responded to the survey. Responses from graduates practicing general internal medicine were used in the analyses (Wichita n = 20; Baystate n = 23). Only graduates from Wichita were in solo practice (15%). Baystate graduates had a significantly higher percentage of HMO patients (32% vs. 17%, p < .05). A higher percentage of Kansas respondents worked in a community with a population of less than 50,000 (55% vs. 26%, p = .052). Of 28 components of a residency curriculum, 7 were considered significantly more important to daily practice by Kansas respondents than by Baystate respondents: Critical Care, Dermatology, Gastroenterology, Nephrology, Neurology, Occupational Medicine, and Rheumatology. Kansas respondents performed on average significantly more procedures than Massachusetts respondents in the last year in 6 of 16 procedures: bone marrow biopsy, exercise stress tests, flexible sigmoidoscopy, liquid nitrogen, skin biopsy, and thoracentesis. The procedures of skin biopsy, stress testing, and the curricula of dermatology, nephrology, neurology and rheumatology remained significantly different when controlled for the size of the community population (<50,000). Wichita graduates scored higher on the practice intensity measure than Baystate graduates. CONCLUSIONS We have documented differences in the importance of particular curricula, procedures, and practice intensity likely related to the community population in which residency graduates practice. Understanding the needs of graduates and incorporating this information into existing rotations or new initiatives is integral to the ongoing development of residency curricula.
Coreidae (Insecta: Hemiptera) Limb Loss and Autotomy

Autotomy, induced limb loss, is a trait that is effectively used throughout the animal kingdom to avoid predation and entrapment, and has independently evolved multiple times. Within the insect clade, species have been observed autotomizing legs, antennae, cerci, and caudal filaments. However, our knowledge of which species autotomize and the frequency of limb loss in natural populations is quite limited. Understanding autotomy’s diversity can provide key insights into how this extreme trait has evolved and is a first step in understanding the costs and benefits of this behavior. Here, we quantify the frequency of leg loss and investigate the ability to autotomize in nine coreid (Insecta: Hemiptera: Coreidae) species ( Euthochtha galeator F., Anasa andresii Guerin-Meneville, Anasa tristis DeGeer, Narnia femorata Stal, Chelinidea vittiger McAtee, Leptoglossus phyllopus L., Acanthocephala declivis Say, Acanthocephala terminalis Dallas, and Acanthocephala femorata F.), across five tribes. In wild populations of these species, limb absence ranged from 7.9 to 21.5%. In the lab, all nine species investigated were able to autotomize. These discoveries are particularly interesting because some coreids use their hind legs in intrasexual competitions for access to females; therefore, autotomy in coreids can mean permanently losing a sexually selected weapon. These observations provide a more complete understanding of autotomy’s diversity while also developing new hypotheses regarding the interaction between autotomy, sexual selection, and natural selection.
Excited-State Absorption Measurements of Sm2+ in CaF2, SrFi2 and SrC12

We measured the pump-probe spectrum of the Sm2+ ion in three materials: CaF2, SrP2, and SrCl2. The onset of the observed prominent excited-state absorption band is consistent with an electrostatic model for impurity levels in a solid-state material.
A sloped piecemeal Gaussian model for characterising foveal pit shape.

Purpose High-quality optical coherence tomography (OCT) macular scans make it possible to distinguish a range of normal and diseased states by characterising foveal pit shape. Existing mathematical models lack the flexibility to capture all known pit variations and thus characterise the pit with limited accuracy. This study aimed to develop a new model that provides a more robust characterisation of individual foveal pit variations. Methods A Sloped Piecemeal Gaussian (SPG) model, consisting of a linear combination of a tilted line and a piecemeal Gaussian function (two halves of a Gaussian connected by a separate straight line), was developed to fit retinal thickness data with the flexibility to characterise different degrees of pit asymmetry and pit bottom flatness. It fitted the raw pit data between the two rims of the fovea to improve accuracy. The model was tested on 3488 macular scans from both eyes of 581 young adults (376 myopes and 206 non-myopes, mean (S.D.) age 21.9 (1.4) years). Estimates for retinal thickness, wall height and slope, pit depth and width were derived from the best-fitting model curve. Ten variations of Gaussian and Difference of Gaussian models were fitted to the same scans and compared with the SPG model for goodness of fit (by Root mean square error, RMSE), model complexity (by the Bayesian Information Criteria) and model fidelity. Results The SPG model produced excellent goodness of fit (mean RMSE = 4.25 and 3.89 μm; 95% CI: 4.20, 4.30 and 3.86, 3.93 for fitting horizontal and vertical profiles respectively). The SPG model showed pit asymmetry, with average nasal walls 17.6 (11.6) μm higher and 0.96 (0.61)° steeper than temporal walls and average superior walls 7.0 (12.2) μm higher and 0.41 (0.65)° steeper than the inferior walls. The SPG model also revealed a continuum of human foveal shapes, from round bottoms to extended flat bottoms (up to 563 μm). 49.1% of foveal profiles were best fitted with a flat bottom >30 μm wide. Compared with the other tested models, the SPG was the preferred model overall based on the Bayesian Information Criteria. Conclusions The SPG is a new parsimonious mathematical model that improves upon other models by accounting for wall asymmetry and flat pit bottoms, providing an excellent fit and more faithful characterisation of typical foveal pit shapes and their known variations. This new model may be helpful in distinguishing normal foveal shape variations by refractive status as well by other characteristics such as sex, ethnicity and age.
Parallelizing maximum likelihood classification on computer cluster and graphics processing unit for supervised image classification

Supervised image classification has been widely utilized in a variety of remote sensing applications. When large volume of satellite imagery data and aerial photos are increasingly available, high-...
U.S. Military Spending: A Look at Some Statistics

This paper examines U.S. military spending from 2000-2015 in an attempt to determine whether cuts in military spending have decimated the U.S. military, as some political leaders suggest, and whether a large increase in military spending can be justified.
Respiratory complications, management and treatments for neuromuscular disease in children.

Purpose of reviewTo summarize current literature describing the respiratory complications of neuromuscular disease (NMD) and the effect of respiratory interventions and to explore new gene therapies for patients with NMD.Recent findingsMeasurements of respiratory function focus on vital capacity and
Effect of stress on melting of rhombohedral bismuth

Pressure-induced melting of rhombohedral bismuth (Bi-I) has been investigated in the solid pressure medium of NaCl and the hydrostatic medium of neon at high temperatures by in-situ synchrotron x-ray diffraction. Upon compression from ∼0.7 GPa to 3.2 GPa at (or below) 489 K, Bi-I melts into a liquid between ∼1.2 and 1.6 GPa in the solid pressure medium and then crystallizes into Bi-IV at ∼2.9 GPa. However, at the same temperature of 489 K, Bi-I transforms to a crystalline phase (Bi-II′ or Bi-II) at ∼1.8 GPa under hydrostatic conditions, followed by a transformation to Bi-IV at 2.5 GPa. Our x-ray diffraction results indicate that the melting of Bi-I at (or below) 489 K is due to the stress. There is a stress effect on the structural deformation of Bi-I when the solid pressure medium is used, viz., pressure-dependent c/a for Bi-I in the solid pressure medium is larger or smaller than that under hydrostatic conditions. According to the classical nucleation theory, the stress provides an additional driving fo...
Three Approaches to Designing Games for Learners

This chapter explores three main approaches related to the instructional design of learning games. We first examine the common method of taking an existing, non-educational game and wrapping educational activities around it, followed by another technique that takes boring content and wraps a game narrative around it. We conclude with the authors’ own method of building learning games using a bottom-up approach that blends instructional design and merges it with media, learning, and the motivational commonly found in games.
Tax Rulings as State Aid — Part 4: Whose Arm's-Length Standard?

In this fourth part in a series of reports on state aid, Mason focuses on the element of “advantage” in EU state aid law, and she criticizes the European Commission’s doctrinal approach to identifying advantages for state aid purposes. In particular, this article addresses the divergence between the EC’s and OECD’s conceptions of the arm’s-length principle.
On the Modulations of Thylakoid Structure and Function upon Adaptation to Prolonged Nitrogen-Deficiency

How photosynthetic organisms adapt to long-term nitrogen-deficiency conditions is poorly understood even though limitation of this agronomically essential nutrient most commonly and severely restricts plant growth and development. To identify the physiological and molecular bases for the ability of plants to contend with N deprivation, we employ the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii as a model. With steady-state chemostat cultures, the effects of defined concentrations of nitrogen and the effects of its deficiency can be studied. N-limited (NL) cells exhibit the classical symptoms of N deficiency, chlorosis and slow growth rates. Cells respond to N provision by rapid greening, providing a superb system for dissection of molecular and metabolic changes that ensue during the nutrient response [1,2]. Chlorosis overlies modifications of principle metabolic pathways that result when protein and pigment synthesis is restricted. With mutants that are phenocopies of NL cells, we address effects of N-limitation and its recovery on thylakoid biogenesis and activities. A stringent requirement for N availability in the transcription of nuclear genes for light-harvesting complexes (LHCs) coincides with similar control of expression of genes encoding chlorophyll biosynthesis enzymes. Synthesis of most plastid-encoded proteins is regulated at the translational level [2]. Finally, non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) mechanisms, dependent on mitochondrial activities, are also striking features of NL cells.
Pectate lyases of Erwinia chrysanthemi: Pel E-like polypeptides and pelE homologous sequences in strains isolated from different plants☆☆☆

Pel E, one of the four major pectate lyases produced by Erwinia chrysanthemi (Echr) strain EC16, was purified to homogeneity and was found to have an apparent molecular weight of 47 500 and a pI of 10. Antibodies produced against this preparation inhibited Pel E activity, but did not affect Pel A, Pel B or Pel C activities. Immunotitration revealed that Pel E accounted for a major fraction of the total extracellular Pel activity ranging from 40–60% in culture and potato tuber tissue. Isoelectric focusing of the extracellular Pels produced by various Echr strains indicated that while the Pel profiles of strains isolated from various hosts were different, the profiles of strains isolated from the same host were very similar. A significant proportion (ranging from 39 to 74%) of the Pel activity of these strains was inhibited by the anti-Pel E antibodies. DNA hybridization under stringent conditions indicated the presence of pelE homologous sequences in the genomes of E. chrysanthemi strains. We conclude that a Pel E-like enzyme occurs in all E. chrysanthemi strains examined.
Interdisciplinary Approach to the Development of Accessible Computer-Administered Measurement Instruments

Abstract Principles of fairness in testing require that all test takers, including people with disabilities, have an equal opportunity to demonstrate their capacity on the construct being measured. Measurement design features and assessment protocols can pose barriers for people with disabilities. Fairness in testing is a fundamental validity issue at all phases in the design, administration, and interpretation of measurement instruments in clinical practice and research. There is limited guidance for instrument developers on how to develop and evaluate the accessibility and usability of measurement instruments. This article describes a 6-stage iterative process for developing accessible computer-administered measurement instruments grounded in the procedures implemented across several major measurement initiatives. A key component of this process is interdisciplinary teams of accessibility experts, content and measurement experts, information technology experts, and people with disabilities working together to ensure that measurement instruments are accessible and usable by a wide range of users. The development of accessible measurement instruments is not only an ethical requirement, it also ensures better science by minimizing measurement bias, missing data, and attrition due to mismatches between the target population and test administration platform and protocols.
Open Reduction of DDH (Medial Approach)

The patient was brought to the operating room and positioned supine on the table. After general anesthetic, prepping and draping of the involved lower extremity and the flank were performed in the usual fashion. IV antibiotics were administered.
Perioperative Management of Autoimmune Myasthenia Gravis in Patients Undergoing Thymectomy (P1.121)

Objective: To describe in large series of patients with autoimmune myasthenia gravis (MG) predictors of perioperative complications in those patients undergoing thymectomy. Background: Autoimmune MG is a rare disorder for which thymectomy was recently confirmed to improve clinical outcomes in patients with non-thymomatous disease. For MG patients undergoing thymectomy, optimal perioperative management is unclear. Design/Methods: A retrospective review was performed for autoimmune MG patients undergoing thymectomy at Mayo Clinic between 1998 and 2013. All relevant clinical variables were extracted. Group comparisons were performed with Fisher’s exact test. Low event rates precluded multivariate regression analysis. Results: A total of 183 patients satisfied the case definition and were reviewed. The mean age was 40.5 years (range 4–80) and 72 (39%) were men. The mean modified Osserman classification was 1.92 (median of 2, present in 123 patients [67%]). Preoperative IVIg or plasma exchange was used in 52 (30%) patients. The mean preoperative daily prednisone-equivalent corticosteroid dose was 8.0mg (range 0–70mg). Two patients (1.1%) experienced postoperative wound infections, neither of which occurred in the 42 (23%) patients taking >10mg prednisone-equivalents daily. Three patients (1.6%) experienced postoperative respiratory failure, all of whom were treated with non-invasive ventilation (BiPAP). There was no perioperative mortality. Conclusions: In this series the rate of perioperative complication in MG patients undergoing thymectomy was very low. Perioperative complications including wound infection and ventilatory failure were not associated with preoperative steroid treatment or dosage. There was also no association between complications and pretreatment with IVIg or plasma exchange, however preoperative improvement in clinical status related to these treatments was not assessed. Thymectomy was safe in patients with active disease, particularly with clinically mild generalized disease corresponding to modified Osserman classification 2 or lower. Disclosure: Dr. Huttinger has nothing to disclose. Dr. Jones has nothing to disclose.
A first-principles and experimental study of helium diffusion in periclase MgO

The distribution of He isotopes is used to trace heterogeneities in the Earth’s mantle, and is particularly useful for constraining the length scale of heterogeneity due to the generally rapid diffusivity of helium. However, such an analysis is challenging because He diffusivities are largely unknown in lower mantle phases, which can influence the He profiles in regions that cycle through the lower mantle. With this motivation, we have used first-principles simulations based on density functional theory to study He diffusion in MgO, an important lower mantle phase. We first studied the case of interstitial helium diffusion in perfect MgO and found a migration barrier of 0.73 eV at zero pressure. Then we used the kinetic Monte Carlo method to study the case of substitutional He diffusion in MgO, where we assumed that He diffuses on the cation sublattice through cation vacancies. We also performed experiments on He diffusion at atmospheric pressure using ion implantation and nuclear reaction analysis in both as-received and Ga-doped samples. A comparison between the experimental and simulation results are shown. This work provides a foundation for further studies at high-pressure.
Strain sensing rosettes using passive patch antennas

Passive wireless patch antenna sensors have been developed in recent years to provide convenient and low-cost strain sensing for structural health monitoring (SHM). Current studies mainly focus on strain measurement in one direction, which is not sufficient for quantifying arbitrary strain field in many applications. This paper presents strain sensor rosettes made of two types of antenna sensors, folded patch antenna sensor and slotted patch antenna sensor, for measuring an arbitrary surface strain field. The transverse strain effect in both types of antenna sensors has been discussed. Mechanicselectromagnetics coupled simulation is conducted to validate the strain sensing performance of the strain rosettes made of antenna sensors. Numerical results show that both types of strain sensing rosettes can measure an arbitrary surface strain field with acceptable accuracy.
Prematurity and The Family

Advances in the medical care of prematurely born infants have improved the survival of these children (Hack, 1979). Twenty years ago, the 2.1 kilogram son of a United States president died because of progressive respiratory distress syndrome and prematurity despite the efforts of specialized physicians and utilization of the most complex medical care available. Today, infants the same size have a greater than 90% chance of survival with normal development occurring in the majority (Hack, 1979). Relatively small infants weighing 1000 to 1250 grams or less have been noted to have survival rates of 80–85% (Rothberg et al., 1981). Very low weight (800 grams or more) infants are noted to have 50–70% survival. Bennett et al. (1983) reported an improved outcome for even smaller children (less than 800 grams) in 20% of surviving patients.
Introduction to Sexual Harassment

Fitzgerald, Swan and Magley (1997) discuss two major types of sexual harassment. First, quid pro quo harassment includes advancement, hiring or compensatory gain provisional on sexual interactions. It can also include demotion, firing or financial loss provisional on withholding of sexual interactions. The second and more common form of sexual harassment involves the creation of sexually hostile environment. Conte (1997) provides these examples of hostile environment harassment: offensive or explicit signs, calendars, literature, photographs, graffiti and verbal conduct. Thus, an offensive environment can be created by verbal or non-verbal behaviors.
Macroprolactinoma: Alternatives to Dopamine Agonist Therapy for Treatment of Macroprolactinomas in Patients Who Present with Psychotic Symptoms

In patients with newly discovered macroprolactinomas, dopamine agonists are the treatment of choice to reduce prolactin levels and lactotroph hyperplasia. Cabergoline is an ergot derivative which demonstrates good efficacy for treatment of prolactinomas and is generally well tolerated by patients. Surgical intervention with a transsphenoidal resection performed by even the most experienced neurosurgeon is less likely to result in long-term biochemical remission and control of tumor growth when compared to medical therapy for prolactin-secreting tumors. An important consideration with use of dopamine agonists for prolactinomas is the development of psychotic symptoms. It is prudent to ascertain the patient’s past psychiatric history to determine whether dopamine agonists can be safely prescribed. If dopamine agonist therapy is initiated in the absence of any known prior psychosis, new signs and symptoms of psychosis should also be carefully monitored for the duration of therapy. In the case that discontinuation of dopamine agonist therapy is clinically warranted due to psychotic decompensation, secondary approaches for management include surgical intervention or radiation therapy for the prolactinoma and treatment of any underlying metabolic dysfunction due to hyperprolactinemia.
Upregulation of Chitinase 1 in Alveolar Macrophages of HIV-Infected Smokers

Recent studies suggest that HIV infection is an independent risk factor for the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We hypothesized that HIV infection and cigarette smoking synergize to alter the function of alveolar macrophages (AMs). To test this hypothesis, global transcriptome analysis was performed on purified AMs from 20 individuals split evenly between HIV-uninfected nonsmokers and smokers and untreated HIV-infected nonsmokers and smokers. Differential expression analysis identified 143 genes significantly altered by the combination of HIV infection and smoking. Of the differentially expressed genes, chitinase 1 (CHIT1) and cytochrome P450 family 1 subfamily B member 1 (CYP1B1), both previously associated with COPD, were among the most upregulated genes (5- and 26-fold, respectively) in the untreated HIV-infected smoker cohort compared with HIV-uninfected nonsmokers. Expression of CHIT1 and CYP1B1 correlated with the expression of genes involved in extracellular matrix organization, oxidative stress, immune response, and cell death. Using time-of-flight mass cytometry to characterize AMs, a significantly decreased expression of CD163, an M2 marker, was seen in HIV-infected subjects, and CD163 inversely correlated with CYP1B1 expression in AMs. CHIT1 protein levels were significantly upregulated in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from HIV-infected smokers, and increased CHIT1 levels negatively correlated with lung function measurements. Overall, these findings raise the possibility that elevated CHIT1 and CYP1B1 are early indicators of COPD development in HIV-infected smokers that may serve as biomarkers for determining this risk.
Mitigating energy loss in a robot hopping on a physically emulated dissipative substrate

We work with geoscientists studying erosion and desertification to improve the spatial and temporal resolution of their data collection over long transects in difficult realworld environments such as deserts [1]. The Minitaur [2] robot, which can run quickly over uneven terrain and use a single leg to measure relevant ground properties such as stiffness [3], is an attractive scout robot candidate for inclusion in a heterogeneous team in collaboration with a heavily geared, sensor-laden RHex [4]. However, Minitaur is challenged by long-distance locomotion on sand dunes. Previous simulation results [5] suggested that the energetic cost of transport can be mitigated by programming a virtual damping force to slow the intrusion of a Minitaur foot into simulated granular media following a bulk-behavior force law [6]. In this paper, we present a ground emulator that can be used to test such locomotion hypotheses with a physical single-legged hopper jumping on emulated ground programmed to exhibit any compliance and damping characteristics of interest. The new emulator allows us to corroborate the conclusions of our previous simulation with physical hopping experiments. Programming the substrate emulator to exhibit the mechanics of a simplified bulk-behavior model of granular media characterized by linear stiffness and quadratic damping, we achieve a consistent energy savings of 20% in comparison with a nominal controller, with savings of up to 50% under specific conditions.
Return to Theories of Cooperation

Cooperation after the Cold War seems to be restricted, contentious and elusive, not exactly replaced by unilateralism but still exhibiting a pervasive tendency to grasp for policies that depend on one or few actors. Of course, before the Trump era, the second Bush administration is often cited as the prime example, although in reality its single-shooting was more a matter of aggressive packaging during its first term than effective unilateral action. Nonetheless, it had a real predilection for small groups, such as the Quartet on Israel or the G4+1 on Iran or the 6-Power Talks on Korea. But other leading states in the early 21st century have also followed a policy of limited cooperation or minilateralism. Russia has embarked on a single-handed revival of Cold War attitudes, with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) as a supportive claque but not a multilateral cooperative group and Cooperation, if at all, based on the business of selling oil and gas. The major powers of Asia—China, Japan, and India—focus on their own positions and policies rather than on broad cooperative ventures. Iran and North Korea too have sought security in unilateral nuclear action; and Venezuela embarked on an attitude of sticking it to its Big Brother in the Hemisphere, picking up a few friends along the way, until its economy imploded. Europe in its Union suit has adopted an official policy of cooperation, scarcely containing a boisterous rise of “My Country First” parties. The major multilateralist cooperative ventures such as the Doha Round of trade talks or the post-Kyoto plans on climate change have been neither efficient nor effective and the two achievements––Paris Climate Agreement of 2015 and the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) with Iran of 2016––remain under attack. The 21st century has not opened up as an era of cooperation, and has not brought much support to the theory that cooperation is innate, reciprocated and future-shadowed.
Social Media-Based Health Interventions: Where Are We Now?

The unprecedented growth in the use of modern technology and social media has revolutionized how health information is disseminated and shared among people. Social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter have been increasingly used for health promotion and other public health efforts. In this chapter, we aim to describe the state-of-the-art for health interventions that use social media by reviewing relevant systematic literature review papers. The chapter has three objectives: (1) to identify health interventions that included social media as an intervention component, (2) to evaluate how social media is being used in these interventions, and (3) to provide an update on the effectiveness of these interventions.
The making of a Pastorian empire: tuberculosis and bacteriological technopolitics in French colonialism and international science, 1890–1940

In the early twentieth century, scientists at the Pasteur Institute and its colonial affiliates developed a historically specific form of bacteriological technoscience, which abstracted the human–microbe relationship from its environmental and social context, and created a model for public health governance that operated at the scale of the empire, rather than at the level of individual colonies or regions. Using a case study of tuberculosis management, this article argues that the success of the Pastorian model relied on its technopolitical vision of a universal model of managing human–microbe relations, while, in reality, exploiting precisely those fissures created by the uneven political and scientific landscape of the colonial and scientific world in which it operated. Pastorian bacteriology helped imperial administrators to imagine a globe-spanning, standardized empire, while restricting public health governance to technological innovations, rather than a proposal for social hygiene that would have expanded labour and associational rights for subject populations.