cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Library Student Liaison Program at Eastern Washington University: A Model for Student Engagement

In 2006, Eastern Washington University (EWU) Libraries implemented a library student liaison program to enhance library efforts at student engagement. Reporting to the associate dean of libraries, the library student liaison is an undergraduate hired on a part-time basis to represent students within the library organization and to represent the library among the student body. The three goals of the program are (1) to enhance communications between EWU Libraries and the student body, (2) to articulate student perspectives on library services and help determine priorities for meeting student information needs, and (3) to increase student participation in library programs and activities. The student liaison develops an annual action plan to support these goals. Activities have included developing and maintaining the library's social networking sites, conducting student surveys, and implementing library events for students. Entering its fourth year, the student liaison program has been very effective in meeti...
An Improved Procedure for the Synthesis of Ethyl Glycidate

Abstract Ethylglycidate (1), is a useful intermediate which can be used in several reactions involving epoxide ring opening with the introduction of an ester function and in co-polymer chemistry (1,2). Emmons and Pagano (3) described the preparation of I by epoxidation of ethyl acrylate with peroxytrifluoroacetic acid in 54% yield.
Women's conditions occurring in men: breast cancer, osteoporosis, male menopause, and eating disorders

Disorders commonly thought to occur in women are being diagnosed in men more frequently. Although the percentage of men afflicted with breast cancer, osteoporosis, male menopause, and eating disorders, are far fewer than those found in women, these conditions play a significant role in the morbidity and mortality of men. Women have been the focus of research for most of these conditions for decades, with a paucity of attention to the significance, prevention, and treatment of these conditions in men [1,2]. With an aging population and an increase in obesity within the United States, problems associated with these disorders frequently appear in the clinical and hospital setting. This article addresses the role of nursing in the early recognition and treatment of these conditions. The topics presented focus on nursing interventions to prevent functional decline, improve quality of life, and provide patient education to improve knowledge and self-care for the management of these conditions.
Antigenic relationships in a group of three viruses of salmonid fish by cross neutralization.

SummaryThree viruses of salmonid fish, the Oregon sockeye salmon virus (OSV), the Sacramento River chinook salmon virus (SRCV), and the infectious hematopoietic virus of sockeye salmon and rainbow trout (IHN), have been studied by means of the plaque neutralization technique, with both homologous and heterologous antisera. The OSV and IHN agents were indistinguishable by this method. The SRCV was closely related to the other 2 antigenically, but the results of the cross neutralization assays indicated a significant difference between this virus and the others.
Direct evidentials, case, tense and aspect in Tibetan: evidence for a general theory of the semantics of evidential

Tibetan has three different morphemes expressing direct evidentiality. Only two of the three have been described in any detail, and the distinctions among these morphemes are described in quite different ways by different authors. We argue that careful study of these morphemes reveals that evidentials do not encode evidence type per se. Instead, they encode a relation between the situation being reported by the speaker and the situation within which evidence was acquired. This approach turns out not only to provide an accurate and systematic characterization of the different Tibetan direct evidentials, but also to predict a number of seemingly unrelated restrictions on their syntactic distribution. The distribution of these direct evidentials hence provides strong support for the proposal of Speas (2010) that evidentials of all categories encode relations among situations. Since Tibetan evidentials operate at the illocutionary level, our analysis further suggests that illocutionary force is best modeled not as a feature of situations per se, but rather as a relation between relevant situations.
Stable and Efficient Spectral Methods in Unbounded Domains Using Laguerre Functions

Stable and efficient spectral methods using Laguerre functions are proposed and analyzed for model elliptic equations on regular unbounded domains. It is shown that spectral-Galerkin approximations based on Laguerre functions are stable and convergent with spectral accuracy in the usual (not weighted) Sobolev spaces. Efficient, accurate, and well-conditioned algorithms using Laguerre functions are developed and implemented. Numerical results indicating the spectral convergence rate and effectiveness of these algorithms are presented.
Spectra of frequency counting digitization errors

Abstract The digitization error for averaging by frequency counting is analyzed for the case in which successive recording intervals are not separated in time. It is shown that the power density of the noise spectrum is given by G k = δ α 2 3 (1-cos 2φ δv where Δ is the length of the recording interval, α is the conversion factor from signal to counts defined by N = X/α where N is counts, X is signal, and v is frequency. This result is in contrast to the white noise that results from digitization error when the recording intervals are well separated in time.
Control of Electromagnetic Satellite Formations in Near-Earth Orbits

Electromagnetic formation flying is a novel concept of controlling the relative degrees of freedom of a satellite formation without the expenditure of fuel by using high-temperature superconducting wires to create magnetic electromagnetic formation flying. Because of inherent nonlinearities and couplings, the dynamics and control problem associated with electromagnetic formation flying are difficult, especially for near-Earth operations. This paper presents the application of nonlinear adaptive control laws that enable formation maintenance and reconfiguration. An approach to control allocation as the solution of an optimization problem is also proposed. The accumulation of angular momentum in the presence of Earth's magnetic field is an issue with electromagnetic formation flying and ways of managing it by exploiting the nonlinearity of magnetic dipoles using polarity switching are presented as a solution. Closed-loop nonlinear simulation results are also presented to demonstrate the feasibility and importance of the control scheme described for electromagnetic formation flying for near-Earth operations.
Thermomechanical property of diffusion barrier layer and its effect on the stress characteristics of copper submicron interconnect structures

Abstract Thermal stresses of thin titanium nitride (TiN) films on Si and Ge substrates have been measured by the bending beam method. The biaxial modulus and coefficient of thermal expansion of TiN thin film were deduced from the thermal stress data and found to be 355 GPa and 7.4 ppm/°C, respectively. Finite element analysis was used to study the effect of TiN diffusion barrier on the stress state of Cu lines in submicron damascene interconnects. The diffusion barrier was found to have a significant effect on the stress state of the Cu lines, especially for those embedded in interlevel dielectrics of low dielectric constant (k) materials. For the Cu/oxide interconnect structure, the metal lines with diffusion barrier were found to have a high near-hydrostatic triaxial stress state as expected. For the Cu/low k interconnect structure, a near-hydrostatic stress state was found to exist in the presence of the diffusion barrier; without the diffusion barrier, the stress state was not near-hydrostatic, instead it was dominated by a shear behavior. The implication of the diffusion barrier effect on the thermomechanical reliability of Cu interconnects is discussed.
THE ANALYTIC HIERARCHY PROCESS IN CONFLICT MANAGEMENT

The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is a theory of measurement. When applied in decision‐making, it assists one to describe the general decision operation by decomposing a complex problem into a multi‐level hierarchic structure of objectives, criteria, subcriteria and alternatives. The AHP provides a fundamental scale of absolute magnitudes to represent judgments in the form of paired comparisons. A ratio scale of relative magnitudes expressed in priority units is then derived from each set of comparisons. An overall ratio scale of priorities is synthesized to obtain ranking of the alternatives. What is illustrated here is an application of the AHP to a retributive ongoing conflict in which the parties maximize both their benefits from and costs to the opponent. Using the AHP, benefit and cost hierarchies are constructed for the parties, four for each, involving actual and perceived benefits and costs of concessions. Similarly, a mediator must construct his own hierarchies to evaluate and propose changes in judgments and new concessions to improve an impasse in negotiation.
Boom to Bust or Bust to Boom? Following the Effects of Weed and Seed Zoning in New Britain, Connecticut, from 1995 to 2000

This article addresses the effects of weed and seed zoning operations on arrests and calls for assistance in New Britain, Connecticut, during the 24-month before and 36-month after the inception of operations. Data are taken from New Britain police dispatch statistics and applied to a study of arrests and citizen calls for assistance across 738 U.S. Census block collection units (BCUs). The article employs tests of significance to assess the overall effects of zoning on these police activities across pre- and post-intervention periods and uses both weighted displacement quotient (WDQ) and exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) models to test for possible displacement associated with zoning. Results indicate that weed and seed zoning was significantly associated with displacement of arrest activity in pre- and post-intervention time periods but displayed no relationship with displacement of calls for assistance (CFAs). Though WDQ analyses do not indicate proximity effects, local indicators of spatial association (LISA) maps show noteworthy changes in the spatial clustering of arrest activity over time. Of principal concern here is the idea that weed and seed may prompt changes in the geography of crime without actually reducing crime rates. An ancillary concern is whether significantly higher arrest rates within weed and seed zones represent advances in community policing.
Dichotic listening tests in the assessment of auditory processing disorders

In the clinical audiological application of dichotic listening tests to assess interaural asymmetry, does mode of administration influence results and their interpretation? This paper reviews the various ways in which dichotic listening tests have been administered, considers the possible extra-auditory confounds that may influence each one, then presents data on 172 elderly persons to whom the Dichotic Sentence Identification (DSI) Test was administered in both divided and directed-attention modes. There were three outcome patterns. In 19% of the total cohort, DSI scores were within normal limits on both ears under both modes of administration (Pattern I). In 58% of participants the DSI score was abnormal on one ear (almost always the left ear) in the divided-attention mode but no abnormality on either ear in the directed attention mode (Pattern II). In 23% of the cohort there was an equivalent unilateral deficit under both modes of administration (Pattern III). Pattern II suggests a primarily cognitive ...
Evolutionary, biosocial, and cross-cultural perspectives on the variability in human biological aging.

Because of our traditional emphasis on evolutionary processes and the causes of variability, human biologists have contributed to the understanding of variability in human biological aging. The shared interests of human characterized by increased phenotypic variation in later stages of life and by reduced adaptive capacity. The papers in this issue illustrate the unique blend of evolutionary, biosocial, and cross-cultural perspectives used by human biologists to study the variation in biological aging. The papers present examples of common methodological paradigms such as theoretical/mathematical models, epidemiological studies, natural experiments, and studies of isolated foci of diseases. The principles of human adaptability and the premises of the life-course perspective may provide the foundation for a conceptual framework that integrates the study of biological, behavioral, and social aspects of human aging. Human biologists can play an important role in refining the theoretical and methodological tools that will be needed to understand the variability in human aging in populations throughout the world.
Genetic Characteristics of Borrelia coriaceae Isolates from the Soft Tick Ornithodoros coriaceus (Acari: Argasidae)

Two Borrelia isolates (CA434 and CA435) cultured from the soft tick Ornithodoros coriaceus were analyzed by contour-clamped homogeneous electric field gel electrophoresis of unrestricted and ApaI-restricted DNA, standard electrophoresis of BamHI- and HindIII-restricted DNA, Southern hybridization, restriction fragment length polymorphism and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, and amplification of the 5S-23S intergenic spacer region. These isolates were compared with Borrelia coriaceae type strain Co53, B. burgdorferi sensu stricto strain CA4, and the relapsing-fever spirochete B. parkeri (undesignated). The 16S rRNA region of CA434 and CA435 differed from that of B. coriaceae type strain Co53 by the presence of 1 base (C) at position 367 (GenBank accession no. U42286). The linear plasmid profile of CA434 was similar to that of Co53, and the ApaI, BamHI, and HindIII restriction fingerprints of the total cellular DNA of CA434 and Co53 were similar. In contrast, CA435 differed somewhat from CA434 and Co53, which demonstrates that B. coriaceae is genetically diverse. Southern hybridization showed that the DNAs of CA434 and CA435 hybridized strongly with the digoxigenin-labeled DNA of Co53. Low homology was found between the DNA of Co53 and that of B. parkeri. The 16S rRNA sequence of B. parkeri was identical to previously published results for B. parkeri strain M3001 (GenBank accession number U42296). CA434 and CA435 represent only the second and third isolates of B. coriaceae obtained from any source since its initial isolation from an O. coriaceus tick in 1985. All three B. coriaceae isolates were derived from adult ticks collected from the same locality in northwestern California. Difficulties encountered in detecting B. coriaceae in, and isolating this spirochete from, the tissues of O. coriaceus are discussed. The lack of concordance between different detection or isolation methods suggests that reliance upon a single technique may grossly underestimate the true prevalence of spirochetal infection in wild-caught O. coriaceus ticks.
The Conductivity of a Sheet Containing a Few Polygonal Holes and/or Superconducting Inclusions

I use conformal mapping techniques to determine the change in the conductivity of a sheet containing a few well-separated holes. The hole shapes studied are the equilateral triangle, square, pentagon and regular n-gons. I show that the conductivity can be written as $\sigma $/$\sigma \_{0}$ = 1-$\alpha \_{n}$f + o(f$^{2}$), where f is the area fraction of the inclusions and the coefficient $\alpha \_{n}$ = $\frac{\tan \, (\pi /n)}{2\pi n}\Gamma ^{4}\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)$/$\Gamma ^{2}\left(\frac{2}{n}\right)$, which is 2.5811, 2.1884, 2.0878 for triangles, squares and pentagons, and tends to the circle limit of 2 as n $\rightarrow \infty $. The coefficient $\alpha \_{n}$ is proportional to the induced dipole moment around the polygonal hole which can be found using an appropriate conformal mapping. I have also examined and compared the results for long thin needle-like holes in the shape of diamonds, rectangles and ellipses. In all cases the conductivity parallel to the needles has the limiting form $\sigma $/$\sigma \_{0}$ = 1 - f, while for the perpendicular conductivity, I find that $\sigma $/$\sigma \_{0}$ = 1 - n$\pi $a$^{2}$, where 2a is the length of the needle, and n is the number of needles per unit area. For thicker needles, the shape becomes important and I compare the results with recent analog experiments and computer simulations. Because of the reciprocity theorem, all the results found here apply equally well to superconducting inclusions.
The Developmental Timing Regulator hbl-1 Modulates the Dauer Formation Decision in Caenorhabditis elegans

Animals developing in the wild encounter a range of environmental conditions, and so developmental mechanisms have evolved that can accommodate different environmental contingencies. Harsh environmental conditions cause Caenorhabditis elegans larvae to arrest as stress-resistant “dauer” larvae after the second larval stage (L2), thereby indefinitely postponing L3 cell fates. HBL-1 is a key transcriptional regulator of L2 vs. L3 cell fate. Through the analysis of genetic interactions between mutations of hbl-1 and of genes encoding regulators of dauer larva formation, we find that hbl-1 can also modulate the dauer formation decision in a complex manner. We propose that dynamic interactions between genes that regulate stage-specific cell fate decisions and those that regulate dauer formation promote the robustness of developmental outcomes to changing environmental conditions.
Thermal constraints to population growth of bacterial-feeding nematodes

Bacterial-feeding nematodes are important participants in decomposition pathways and nutrient cycles in soils. The contribution of each species to component processes depends upon the physiology of individuals and the dynamics of populations. Having determined the effects of temperature on metabolic rates of several species of bacterial-feeding nematodes, we now present the effects of temperature on population growth rates and relate those data to observed field dynamics. Of nine species of bacterial-feeding nematodes screened for reproductive performance at 20°C, finite rates of population increase ranged from 4.833 d−1 for Caenorhabditis elegans Dougherty to 1.160 d−1 for Panagrolaimus detritophagus Fuchs. Species in the family Rhabditidae generally reproduced more rapidly than those in the Cephalobidae. From the nine species, finite rates of population increase and instantaneous population growth rates were measured at temperatures between 10 and 35°C for Acrobeloides bodenheimeri Thorne, A. buetschlii Steiner and Buhrer, Bursilla labiata Andrassy. Caenorhabditis elegans, Cephalobus persegnis Bastian, and Rhabditis cucumeris Andrassy. Caenorhabditis elegans at 20°C had the maximum finite rate of population increase while R. cucumeris at 35°C had the minimum rate (4.540 × 10−25 d−1). We utilize the geometric mean of the finite rates of population increase (d−1) as an integral measure of the innate capacity of a species to maintain reproduction across temperatures. The geometric mean varied from 1.03 × 10−4 for R. cucumeris to 1.45 for Cephalobus persegnis. In the field, temperatures exceeded the upper thermal threshold of R. cucumeris for a significant portion of the 1993 growing season. Population dynamics of this nematode closely matched predicted trajectories. Differences in population growth rates may partially explain the amount of N mineralized by each species.
Effects of mineral trioxide aggregate on human dental pulp cells after pulp-capping procedures.

Abstract Introduction Pulp-capping procedures are routinely performed. The control of infection and biocompatibility of the pulp-capping materials are important factors in determining the treatment outcome. Calcium hydroxide has been considered the gold standard for this procedure. However, previous reports have reported the causes of failures with the use of calcium hydroxide. Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) has proved to be effective in the process of pulp capping. Methods Human dental pulp stromal cells (DPSCs) were cultured on gray MTA, and the levels of gene expression, secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor, and the surface morphology were analyzed. Results MTA promoted cell survival and proliferation, which was significantly different from the controls in human DPSCs. MTA up-regulated the expression of transcription factors like Runx2 and genes like osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase, and dentin sialoprotein, which are important odontoblastic genes, thereby showing the ability to promote differentiation of the pulpal cells into odontoblast-like cells, which, in turn, are responsible for dentin bridge formation. MTA approximately induced a 1.7-fold increase in the secretion of angiogenic factors like vascular endothelial growth factor, which is important in the process of tissue healing and regeneration. The differences between the control and the MTA groups were statistically significant. Scanning electron microscopic studies revealed the differences in the surface morphologies between the control and the MTA groups. Conclusion Overall, this study supports the biocompatible nature of MTA and the possible mechanism of dentin bridge formation along with tissue repair, all of which contribute to a successful treatment outcome.
Factor V Leiden (resistance to activated protein C) increases the risk of myocardial infarction in young women

Factor V Leiden (factor V Arg506Gln), the genetic defect underlying resistance to activated protein C, is the most common risk factor for venous thrombosis. The relationship between this genetic abnormality and arterial disease is still unresolved. To assess whether factor V Leiden increases the risk of myocardial infarction (MI), we conducted a population-based case-control study among women 18 to 44 years of age in western Washington state. We included 84 women with first MI and 388 control women, ie, women residing in the same area in the same age range without MI (n = 388). The control women were contacted by random digit dialing. Data on risk factor status were collected via personal interview, and data on the factor V genotype via polymerase chain reaction techniques. The factor V Leiden mutation was found more often in women with MI (10%) than among controls (4%). The odds ratio for MI was 2.4 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0 to 5.9]. The risk was increased fourfold (CIgs 1.2 to 12.1) when adjusted for major cardiovascular risk factors. Among nonsmokers the factor V Leiden mutation had little effect (odds ratio 1.1, CI95 0.1 to 8.5), whereas it had a large effect among smokers (odds ratio 3.6, CI95 0.9 to 14.4), which, because smoking was itself a strong risk factor for MI, led to an odds ratio for smoking carriers of the mutation that was 32-fold increased compared with nonsmoking noncarriers. We conclude that factor V Leiden increases the risk of MI in young women. This effect seems to be confined largely to current smokers.
A Comparison of Group Processes, Performance, and Satisfaction in Face‐to‐Face Versus Computer‐Mediated Engineering Student Design Teams

Industry often requires engineers to work in teams. Therefore, many university engineering courses require students to work in groups to complete a design project. Due to the increasingly global nature of engineering, opportunities for students to navigate the issues of distance, time, culture, language, and multiple perspectives associated with virtual teams are becoming particularly desirable. To understand students’ experience with virtual teams in a graduate course on principles of lean manufacturing, a group of researchers at a midwestern university compared the project performance, selected group processes, and satisfaction of students randomly assigned to face-to-face and computer-mediated communication design teams. Students in both the face-to-face and computer-mediated communication design teams performed equally well on the final project, and reported similar patterns in group processes with a few exceptions. Students in faceto-face design teams were more satisfied with the group experience than those in the computer-mediated communication design teams; however, all reported an overall positive experience.
Cell adhesion protein expression in melanocytic matricoma

Melanocytic matricoma is a rare neoplasm thought to recapitulate the hair follicle in anagen. The tumor forms a nodule in the dermis containing basaloid, intermediate and shadow cells admixed with pigmented melanocytes dispersed as single dendritic cells. Because cadherins and catenins are crucial in the development of hair tumors, we examined the expression of E(epithelial)-, P(placental)-, N(nerve)-cadherin and beta-catenin in a melanocytic matricoma. A 66-year-old Caucasian woman with a history of breast cancer presented with a pigmented nodule on the shoulder. Pathology revealed a melanocytic matricoma with S-100 and HMB45-positive melanocytes. E- and P-cadherin were localized at the cell membrane of basaloid and differentiating keratinocytes, and in melanocytes, recapitulating the anagen hair. Both cadherins were absent in shadow cells. N-cadherin was not expressed. Beta-catenin had a differential distribution, in the nucleus and cytoplasm of basaloid cells, but at the cell membrane in differentiating cells and negative in shadow cells, paralleling the expression of E- and P-cadherin. Our results support the previously hypothesized resemblance of the tumor to the hair bulb in anagen and suggest a transcriptional role of beta-catenin in the development of this rare neoplasm.
Procainamide-Induced Psychosis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

OBJECTIVE:To describe a case of procainamide-induced psychosis in an adult treated for atrial fibrillation.CASE SUMMARY:A 45-year-old Native American woman developed acute psychosis within 72 hours of initiating procainamide for atrial fibrillation. Symptoms abated within 24 hours of discontinuing procainamide. Serum procainamide/N-acetylprocainamide concentrations were therapeutic throughout treatment. Sotalol was started without recurrence of symptoms.DISCUSSION:Psychosis is a rare complication of treatment with procainamide, but the exact mechanism for this adverse event is not fully understood. Seven cases implicating procainamide as the cause of acute psychosis are reported in the literature. Cases of psychosis involving other antiarrhythmic agents have also been reported.CONCLUSIONS:Healthcare personnel should be aware of this adverse event related to procainamide and other antiarrhythmic agents.
On SNR as a measure of performance for narrowband interference rejection in direct sequence spread spectrum systems

We simulate a nonlinearized Kalman, Kalman and a modified Kalman (linear) filter for suppressing a narrowband Gaussian interference in direct sequence spread spectrum receiver and examine the suitability of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the test statistic as a measure of performance of the receiver. We consider Gaussian autoregressive interference with a peaked spectrum and the three cases: small processing gain (PG) and short pseudonoise (PN) sequence, small PG and long PN sequence, and moderate PG and PN sequence. Based on the simulations, we conclude that for the two cases corresponding to small processing gain, if the thermal noise variance is small and the interference is strong, the Gaussian approximation to the test statistic does not yield the correct BER for any of the receivers. For small PG and short PN sequence, even though the SNR corresponding to nonlinear filter is significantly higher than the SNR's of the two linear filters, the BER of the non-linear is higher than that of the linear receivers. SNR is not a useful measure in these situations. >
Competing activation in bilingual language processing: Within- and between-language competition.

Two eye-tracking experiments examined spoken language processing in Russian-English bilinguals. The proportion of looks to objects whose names were phonologically similar to the name of a target object in either the same language (within-language competition), the other language (between-language competition), or both languages at the same time (simultaneous competition) was compared to the proportion of looks in a control condition in which no objects overlapped phonologically with the target. Results support previous findings of parallel activation of lexical items within and between languages, but suggest that the magnitude of the between-language competition effect may vary across first and second languages and may be mediated by a number of factors such as stimuli, language background, and language mode.
Object allocation and memory contention study of Java multithreaded applications

Java has become a popular programming language used on different platforms, ranging from embedded systems to powerful servers. Since the memory management is one of the most time-consuming parts within Java virtual machine (JVM), various techniques have been developed to boost its performance. However, the JVM memory management still does not scale very well, especially for multithreaded server applications. In this paper, we study different aspects of JVM object allocation from thread's perspective, using the trace data we collected from Sun JDK 1.3.1. Additionally, we construct a heap simulator to study the potential memory contentions among different threads. The simulation results show that dividing heap into different subheaps is very effective in alleviating the memory contentions. The results imply the potential benefits of using subheaps in improving the Java memory management performance.
Planar space robots with coupled joints: differentially flat designs

The motion of free-floating space robots is characterized by nonholonomic, i.e., non-integrable rate constraint equations. These constraints originate from principles of conservation of linear and angular momentum. Trajectory planning of these systems is extremely challenging and computation intensive since the motion must satisfy differential constraints. However, under certain conditions, these drift-less control systems can be shown to be differentially flat. The property of flatness allows a computationally inexpensive way to plan trajectories for the dynamic system between two configurations as well as develop feedback controllers. In this paper, nonholonomic rate constraints for free-floating planar open-chain robots are studied together with auxiliary joint variable constraints to determine design conditions under which the system exhibits differential flatness. Sufficient conditions are derived for existence of flatness and are illustrated by examples.
ESTIMATION OF MICROBIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF EGG USING CHROMOGENIC LIMULUS AMOEBOCYTE LYSATE ENDPOINT ASSAY

Gram-negative microorganisms, including Pseudomonas and Aeromonas, are widely implicated in the spoilage of liquid egg products. The ratio of gram-negative to gram-positive organisms in egg is essentially constant, and the aerobic plate count (APC) gives a good indication of the overall microbiological quality of egg. However, this method requires 5 days to complete, which limits its practical application. Our objective was to determine whether the rapid chromogenic Limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL) assay could be applied to assess the microbiological quality of eggs. A modified LAL (BioWhittaker, Inc., Walkersville, MD) procedure was compared with the APC. LAL values were plotted against conventional plate counts, and a strong correlation (R2 = 0.93; n = 40) was observed. Subsequent experiments showed that LAL values allow an accurate prediction of APC (R2 = 0.81; n = 50). These results indicate that the LAL assay is a viable alternative to APC for the estimation of the microbial load in egg, requiring just 16 min to complete.
An Energy-Based Model of Longitudinal Splitting in Unidirectional Fiber-Reinforced Composites

Unidirectional fiber-reinforced composites are often observed to fail in a longitudinal splitting mode in the fiber direction under far-field compressive loading with weak lateral confinement. An energy-based model is developed based on the principle of minimum potential energy and the evaluation of effective properties to obtain an analytical approximation to the critical stress for longitudinal splitting. The analytic estimate for the compressive strength is used to illustrate its dependence on material properties, surface energy, fiber volume fraction, fiber diameter, and lateral confining pressure. The predictions of the model show good agreement with available experimental data.
Renal stones on portal venous phase contrast-enhanced CT: does intravenous contrast interfere with detection?

Purpose To determine the sensitivity of portal venous phase contrast-enhanced CT for the detection of renal stones.
Lipschitz maps and nets in Euclidean space

for x 6= x′. A set Y ⊂ Rn is a net if there is an R such that d(x, Y ) 0 such that |y − y′| > ǫ > 0 for every pair y 6= y′ in Y . History. In 1965, J. Moser showed that any two positive, C∞ volume forms on a compact manifold with the same total mass are related by a diffeomorphism [Mos]. Extensions of this result to other smoothness classes such as Ck,α were given in [Rei1] and [DM]; see also [RY1], [RY2], and [Ye].
INTEGRATED NITROGEN AND BORON FERTILIZATION IMPROVES THE PRODUCTIVITY AND OIL QUALITY OF SUNFLOWER GROWN IN A CALCAREOUS SOIL

Among biotic and abiotic factors, imbalanced plant nutrition is more indispensable for low sunflower productivity. To assess the interaction behavior of nitrogen with boron on sunflower growth, yield and its oil quality in alkaline-calcareous soils, a field experiment was conducted for two consecutive growing seasons of 2011 and 2012. Sunflower hybrid (Helianthus annuus ‘Hysun-33’) was grown on sandy clay loam soil that was amended with diverse boron rates of 0, 2, 4, and 6 kg ha-1 under variable nitrogen levels of 50% RN, 75% RN, and 100% RN ‘recommended nitrogen’. Extended duration of phenophases like 50% inflorescence emergence, 50% flowering and 50% maturity stages of sunflower was observed with nitrogen and boron application. Plant height, stem and head diameters were increased significantly through individual use of nitrogen and boron nutrients. Concerning sunflower yield and yield related attributes as number of achenes/head, 1000-achene weight and achene yield were significantly improved with 2.0 kg ha-1 boron rate with 100% RN. Application of nitrogen and boron considerably declined the achene oil contents. Achene protein contents were found maximum with boron rate of 2.0 kg ha-1 under 100% RN nutrition. Significant decline in stearic acid and oleic acid contents while considerable increase in palmitic acid and linoleic acid contents was recorded by individual use of nitrogen and boron supplements. However, boron application in combination with nitrogen could play a vital role to improve the productivity and economic performance of sunflower in calcareous soils. Keywords:Sunflower, growth, nitrogen-boron, oil contents, calcareous soil
Don't try this at home

The methods of science have descended from the ivory tower, says Howard Wainer. Drawing on his new book, Truth or Truthiness, he shares three examples of how to think like a data scientist
Active modes of the Pacific ITCZ

ITCZ intensity across the Pacific for the 1975-1976 season is studied. Analysis of the data reveal: zonal bands of convective development; isolated patches of stronger convection; and several zonal bands which merge as tropical intraseasonal oscillations. The ITCZ intensity at 160 deg W is compared with the intensity averaged all the way across the Pacific. Composite outgoing longwave radiation anomaly maps for 22 days of local active ITCZ at 160 deg W, 26 days of zonally averaged active ITCZ, and 16 days of both local and zonal active ITCZ are presented and examined. It is noted that: systematic, yet different, patterns, movement, and temporal behavior correspond to local and zonally extensive convection; intensifying zonal convection moves southward; local convection occurs at two preferential latitudes; and local convection does not mean there is a generally active ITCZ.
Chapter 8 Mobile Ad Hoc and Cellular Networks

The impact of multiple-access interference in mobile ad hoc and cellular networks with DS-CDMA and FH-CDMA systems is analyzed in this chapter. Phenomena and issues that become prominent in mobile networks using spread spectrum include exclusion zones, guard zones, power control, rate control, network policies, sectorization, and the selection of various spread-spectrum parameters. The outage probability, which is the fundamental network performance metric, is derived for both ad hoc and cellular networks and both DS-CDMA and FH-CDMA systems. Acquisition and synchronization methods that are needed within a cellular DS-CDMA network are addressed.
Research on Mechanism Innovation of Project and Disciplinary Management in Modern Agricultural Research Institutes—— Taking Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences as an Example

Mechanism innovation of personnel and team management is the important part of modern agricultural research institutes sci-technology innovation mechanism.This paper takes Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences as an example to analyze its problem on personnel resource and team construction,and puts forward the countermeasures of mechanism innovation of personnel management and team management.
Enhance the Intercultural Communicative Competence by Original Films

The original film plays an irreplaceable role in developing the intercultural communicative competence.The essay ana-lyzes the advantages and the application status of the original film and discusses the strategy of selection,design,instruction and prac-tice,and assessment as well.
Vitaxin applied molecular evolution.

Vitaxin is a humanized version of LM-609 (an mAb licensed from the Scripps Research Institute and Dr David Cheresh in May 1994, which blocks the integrin receptor, alpha v beta 3) [172038]. It is in phase II trials for the potential treatment of leiomyosarcoma [316471] and is also being studied in phase I trials as an anti-inflammatory and potential rheumatoid arthritis therapy [364031,313665]. Vitaxin and non-peptides are under evaluation for use in the treatment of other diseases in which vitronectin is reputed to play a role, e.g., arthritis, psoriasis and other inflammatory diseases. Patent positions are being established on these and other applications, as well as on the structure and use of the non-RGD proteins [182507].
Enzyme analysis : cathepsin d as an example.

In enzyme analysis, capillary electrophoresis (CE) offers the ease of product separation from the substrate, with the ability to use expensive reagents in microvolumes. In CE, enzymes can be measured either as mass (when they are present in high concentration) by direct light absorbency, or by catalytic activity. For example, the protease enzyme, savinase, which is used as an ingredient in washing powder, was determined directly by its absorbency at 200 nm (1). For catalytic activity measurements, the substrate, the product, or both can be measured in CE without the need for coupling reactions. Because of the increased sensitivity, most CE methods measure enzymes by their catalytic activity on a substrate. To accomplish this by CE, several approaches have been used.
Seeing is believing: Tissue clearing makes see-through rodents

Tissue clearing technologies have advanced dramatically in the past several years, enabling researchers to see deep within tissues. These tools have been particularly powerful in neuroscience, enabling tracking and tracing of neurons to map neuronal connectivity. Clearing applications for peripheral nerves, skin, and other organs have provided researchers the ability to carry out subcellular level imaging at a few hundreds of nanometers resolution throughout cubic centimeters of tissue to map cells, structures, and cellular processes. Now, Pan et al. have pushed tissue clearing even further with a technique called ultimate DISCO (uDISCO) that clears and shrinks entire organisms for microscale imaging across even greater size scales. The same team had previously developed a method called 3DISCO, which enabled tissue clearing but resulted in a rapid loss of endogenous fluorescence. Interestingly, however, they noticed that the method caused shrinkage of tissues, which is highly advantageous for microscopy applications in which scanning over large volumes can be time consuming. The team performed a screen for organic compounds and discovered that including diphenyl ether in a mixture of solvents and antioxidants could preserve the fluorescence of green fluorescent protein (GFP) many weeks longer and at the same time induce a 65% shrinkage in tissue. The authors demonstrated their technique by clearing entire bodies of GFP transgenic mice, enabling the cellular-level visualization of structures, including the spinal cord, optic nerve, and sciatic nerve in situ . Rats perfused with dextran-conjugated fluorophores were cleared to reveal the animals’ entire vascular networks. Importantly, the authors also verified that the uDISCO technique is compatible with both virus labeling and immunostaining, which means that the current arsenal of biological labeling tools can likely be applied alongside this tissue clearing method. C. Pan et al. , Shrinkage-mediated imaging of entire organs and organisms using uDISCO. Nat. Methods 10.1038/nmeth.3964 (2016). [[Abstract]][1] [1]: http://www.nature.com/nmeth/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/nmeth.3964.html
Improving police interventions during mental health-related encounters: past, present and future

There are calls across America for police to re-imagine themselves as "guardians" rather than "warriors" in the performance of their innumerable duties. The contentious history of police attitudes and practices surrounding encounters with people affected by mental illnesses can be understood through the lens of this wider push toward guardianship. At least as far back as the de-institutionalization of mental health care and the profound lack of community-based resources to fill service deficits, the role of police as mental health interventionists has been controversial and complex. This paper reviews the first wave of reform efforts designed to re-shape police sensibilities and practices in the handling of mental health-related encounters. We argue that such efforts, centred on specialized training and cooperative agreements with the health care sector, have advanced a guardian mindset through improved knowledge and attitudes about mental health vulnerabilities and needs. Building on the progress made, we suggest there are critical opportunities for a new wave of efforts that can further advance the guardianship agenda. We highlight three such opportunities: (1) Enhancing experiences of procedural justice during mental health-related encounters; (2) Building the evidence base through integrated data sets; and (3) Balancing a "case-based" focus with a "place-based" focus.
Synergistic Toxic Interactions Between CYP2E1, LPS/TNFα, and JNK/p38 MAP Kinase and Their Implications in Alcohol-Induced Liver Injury

The mechanisms by which alcohol causes cell injury are not clear. Many pathways have been suggested to play a role in how alcohol induces oxidative stress. Considerable attention has been given to alcohol-elevated production of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and TNFα and to alcohol induction of CYP2E1. These two pathways are not exclusive of each other; however, associations and interactions between them, especially in vivo, have not been extensively evaluated. We have shown that increased oxidative stress from induction of CYP2E1 in vivo sensitizes hepatocytes to LPS and TNFα toxicity and that oxidative stress, activation of p38 and JNK MAP kinases, and mitochondrial dysfunction are downstream mediators of this CYP2E1-LPS/TNFα potentiated hepatotoxicity. This Review will summarize studies showing potentiated interactions between these two risk factors in promoting liver injury and the mechanisms involved including activation of the mitogen-activated kinase kinase kinase ASK-1 as a result of CYP2E1-derived reactive oxygen intermediates promoting dissociation of the inhibitory thioredoxin from ASK-1. This activation of ASK-1 is followed by activation of the mitogen-activated kinase kinases MKK3/MKK6 and MKK4/MMK7 and subsequently p38 and JNK MAP kinases. Synergistic toxicity occurs between CYP2E1 and the JNK1 but not the JNK2 isoform as JNK1 knockout mice are completely protected against CYP2E1 plus TNFα toxicity, elevated oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction. We hypothesize that similar interactions occur as a result of ethanol induction of CYP2E1 and TNFα.
Evaluation of the behavioral characteristics of the mdx mouse model of duchenne muscular dystrophy through operant conditioning procedures

The mdx mouse is an important nonhuman model for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) research. Characterizing the behavioral traits of the strain relative to congenic wild-type (WT) mice may enhance our understanding of the cognitive deficits observed in some humans with DMD and contribute to treatment development and evaluation. In this paper we report the results of a number of experiments comparing the behavior of mdx to WT mice in operant conditioning procedures designed to assess learning and memory. We found that mdx outperformed WT in all learning and memory tasks involving food reinforcement, and this appeared to be related to the differential effects of the food deprivation motivating operation on mdx mice. Conversely, WT outperformed mdx in an escape/avoidance learning task. These results suggest motivational differences between the strains and demonstrate the potential utility of operant conditioning procedures in the assessment of the behavioral characteristics of the mdx mouse.
Structure of adamantan-1-ammonium 1-adamantanecarboxylate

Adamantan-1-ammonium 1-adamantanecarboxylate, C21H33NO2 (I) is a novel dispiro-type compound. Aminoadamantane derivatives, in which the spiro carbon atoms are part of heterocyclic rings, are of potential interest as biological active substances and antiviral agents. Complex (I) crystallizes in the centrosymmetric space group C2/c (No. 15) with eight molecules in the unit cell with a = 25.227(4), b = 6.527(1), c = 22.489(4) A, and β = 90.75(1)°. The two spiro units are a 1-adamantylammonium cation and a 1-adamantane carbonyloxy anion. The complex units are stabilized by a network of intermolecular carbonyloxy-to-amine hydrogen bonding and van der Waals cohesive forces. Germane bond lengths are: C—N = 1.479(9) and C—O (mean) = 1.25(2) A.
Global injustice and crime control

Wendy Laverick’s book addresses a fundamental topic to which all students should be exposed. The issues of cross-border, cross-national, and international crime are separate concepts, often confuse...