cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A2B Adenosine Receptor Induces Protective Antihelminth Type 2 Immune Responses

The type 2 immune response evoked by intestinal nematode parasites contributes to worm expulsion and tolerance to associated tissue damage. We investigated whether this host response is affected by blocking signaling by the putative endogenous danger signal adenosine, which can be released during inflammation and host cell damage. Specific blockade of the A2B adenosine receptor (A2BAR) inhibited worm elimination and the development of innate and adaptive components of the type 2 primary and memory response. Infected mice lacking A2BAR exhibited decreased M2 macrophage and eosinophil recruitment and reduced IL-4 and IL-13 cytokine production. Additionally, shortly after infection, upregulation of the alarmin IL-33, which drives type 2 immunity, and activation of innate lymphoid type 2 (ILC2) cells was inhibited, while exogenous IL-33 restored ILC2 cell activation and type 2 cytokine expression. Thus, adenosine acts as a danger-associated molecular pattern (DAMP) that initiates helminth-induced type 2 immune responses through A2BAR.
TOPEX/Poseidon microwave radiometer (TMR). III. Wet troposphere range correction algorithm and pre-launch error budget

For pt.II see ibid., vol.33, no.1, p.138-46 (1995). The sole mission function of the TOPEX/Poseidon microwave radiometer (TMR) is to provide corrections for the altimeter range errors induced by the highly variable atmospheric water vapor content. The three TMR frequencies are shown to be near-optimum for measuring the vapor-induced path delay within an environment of variable cloud cover and variable sea surface flux background. After a review of the underlying physics relevant to the prediction of 5-40 GHz nadir-viewing microwave brightness temperatures, the authors describe the development of the statistical, two-step algorithm used for the TMR retrieval of path delay. Test simulations are presented which demonstrate the uniformity of algorithm performance over a range of cloud liquid and sea surface wind speed conditions. The results indicate that the inherent algorithm error (assuming noise free measurements and an exact physical model) is less than 0.4 cm of retrieved path delay for a global representation of atmospheric conditions. An algorithm error budget is developed which predicts an overall algorithm accuracy of 0.9 cm when modeling uncertainties are included. When combined with expected TMR antenna and brightness temperature accuracies, an overall measurement accuracy of 1.2 cm for the wet troposphere range correction is predicted. >
Inhibition of Shigella sonnei and Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli by Volatile Fatty Acids in Mice

The role of volatile fatty acids (VFA) in resistance against the colonisation of the intestinal tract ofmice with two enteric pathogens, Shigella sonnei 3SR and enterotoxigenic E. coli 2SR (ETEC 2SR) was determined. The implantation dose 50 (ID50) of S. sonnei 3SR strain for untreated mice was greater than 5.0 x 10 9 viable cells and was 1.8 x 10 6 viable cells for ETEC 2SR. Administration of streptomycin to the mice prior to challenge lowered the ID50 to fewer than one viable cell for both organisms. The antibiotic caused an increase in the pH of caecal contents from 6.66 in untreated animals to 6.94 in treated animals and a decrease in total VFA concentrations from 109.11 microequivalent per ml in untreated animals to 78.31 microequivalent per ml in treated animals. The discontinuation of streptomycin treatment resulted in a gradual restoration of colonisation resistance accompanied by an increase in total VFA concentration and a decrease in pH of caecal contents. These values returned to pre-treatment levels by day 7. VFA were added to nutrient broth in concentrations present in the caeca of either untreated or streptomycin treated mice and the pH levels were adjusted accordingly. S. sonnei 3SR multiplied in broth adjusted to simulate conditions present in the caeca of treated mice but failed to multiply in broth adjusted to simulate conditions present in the caeca of untreated mice. ETEC 2SR, on the other hand, multiplied in both types of broth but its total populations after 24 h incubation were significantly smaller in broth adjusted to simulate conditions present in the caeca of untreated mice. The results demonstrate that the multiplication of both pathogens is inhibited by the presence of VFA. They indicate that VFA operating at the pH level present in the intestinal tract of conventional mice represent important factors responsible for resistance against colonisation with S. sonnei and ETEC. Keywords: Shigella sonnei ; Enterotoxigenic E. coli ; Volatile fatty acids; Mice.
The VEGF -634G>C promoter polymorphism is associated with risk of gastric cancer.

Both TGF-β1 and VEGF play a critic role in the multiple-step process of tumorgenesis of gastric cancer. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the TGFB1 and VEGF genes have been associated with risk and progression of many cancers. In this study, we investigated the association between potentially functional SNPs of these two genes and risk of gastric cancer in a US population.
A generalized-α method for integrating the filtered Navier–Stokes equations with a stabilized finite element method

Abstract A generalized-α method is developed and analyzed for linear, first-order systems. The method is then extended to the filtered Navier–Stokes equations within the context of a stabilized finite element method. The formulation is studied through the application to laminar flow past a circular cylinder and turbulent flow past a long, transverse groove. The method is formulated to obtain a second-order accurate family of time integrators whose high frequency amplification factor is the sole free parameter. Such an approach allows the replication of midpoint rule (zero damping), Gear's method (maximal damping), or anything in between.
Obesity Risk in Children: The Role of Acculturation in the Feeding Practices and Styles of Low-Income Hispanic Families.

Abstract Background: Parent feeding has been associated with child overweight/obesity in low-income families. Because acculturation to the United States has been associated with increased adult obesity, our study aim was to determine whether acculturation was associated with feeding in these populations. Methods: Low-income Hispanic mothers of preschoolers were recruited to participate in a longitudinal study examining child eating behaviors. At baseline, mothers completed questionnaires on feeding styles, feeding practices, and acculturation. Regression analyses compared feeding styles and food parenting practices of first-generation, immigrant mothers born outside the United States (n = 138) and mothers born in the United States (n = 31). The correlates of acculturation with these same constructs were also examined. Results: Immigrant mothers reported using highly directive food parenting practices more often than mothers born in the United States, including pressuring their child to consume more food, ...
The role of metabolic acidosis in chronic kidney diseases

Background and objectives: This review focuses on three areas, basic acid-base physiology especially concerning hydrogen ion balance, development of acidosis in chronic kidney disease (CKD), and the consequences of acidosis. We highlight what is well established, what is less certain, and what is unknown. Method and results: The literature on acidosis in CKD were searched from 2004 to 2010 utilizing PubMed, Google Scholar, and Ovid to augment the classic work on acid base physiology over the past three decades. The original research in endogenous acid production and net acid excretion were reviewed. Touching upon the development of metabolic acidosis in CKD, we focused on the consequences of chronic metabolic acidosis on growth and other important variables. Finally, we recognize the significant issue of patients’ medical non-compliance and presented treatment strategy to counter this problem. Conclusion: The correction of acidosis in chronic kidney disease needs no advocacy. The case is made conclusively. Patient non-compliance because of the medication that needs to be taken several times a day is a problem, requiring due diligence.
Human Pathogen–Plant Interactions: Concerns for Food Safety

Abstract The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate the incidence of foodborne illness attributed to fruit and vegetable consumption at three million cases in the United States annually. The means by which food crops become contaminated with foodborne pathogens as well as how these organisms persist within the phyllosphere and rhizosphere of these plants is an extremely complex issue. Outbreaks associated with food crops continue to occur, and it is clear that different approaches are critical to enhance the safety of these foods. Within the last few years, the fields of food safety and plant science have begun to merge to more efficiently address some of the knowledge gaps involving the mechanisms by which human pathogens contaminate plants. We currently know a great deal about the mechanisms by which plant pathogens are able to cause disease in plant crops as well as the immune response of these plants to these pathogens. By studying the relationships between plant pathogens and the plant immune response, scientists have been able to successfully develop biocontrol strategies to reduce crop damage attributed to plant disease. Potential control strategies for human pathogens on plants in the preharvest environment include the use of plant growth promoting bacteria and N-acyl-homoserine lactone-producing bacteria. By studying comparable relationships between foodborne pathogens and plants, we may be able to develop similar strategies to reduce the number of foodborne illnesses associated with fresh produce.
IL-1 beta stimulates superoxide and delayed peroxynitrite production by pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cells

Our previous studies have shown that rat pulmonary microvascular smooth muscle cells (RPMSMC) upregulate inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and produce nitric oxide (NO) when treated with interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta). We now report that an additional effect of IL-1 beta stimulation in RPMSMC is an increase in production of superoxide (O2-) that results in the formation of peroxynitrite (ONOO-). IL-1 beta produced a rapid (within 1 h) concentration-dependent increase in O2-, as detected by ferricytochrome c reduction and lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence. O2- production was sensitive to quinacrine and diphenyliodinium, suggesting that NADH and NADPH oxidoreductases were responsible. After induction of iNOS and production of iNOS-derived NO, ONOO- was detected by luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence and was found to cause lipid peroxidation and to form nitrotyrosine in the cytoskeleton, detected by immunostaining. Cell viability, however, appeared to be unaffected. IL-1 beta-mediated induction of RPMSMC-derived ONOO- may have significant effects on pulmonary vascular function in sepsis and inflammatory states.
Pushing Up on the Glass Ceiling of Female Muscularity: Women’s Bodybuilding as Edgework

AbstractWomen bodybuilders exemplify gendered deviance and risk a social stigma on top of the physical risk of partaking in this demanding sport. In the current study, we utilize Stephen Lyng’s (1990, 2005) theoretical concept of “edgework” to understand what motivates women bodybuilders to engage in this high-risk behavior. Our qualitative analysis of 29 women bodybuilders' responses to open-ended survey questions reveals that the three components of edgework (activity, skill, and sensation) are evident in their training and dietary regimens. Overall, this study offers an important theoretical contribution to the study of women’s bodybuilding while also extending Lyng’s edgework model to this understudied phenomenon.
Nasal associated lymphoid tissue & M cells, a window to persistent streptococcal infections

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES Intranasal infection of mice has been used as a model of streptococcal pharyngitis, as nasal associated lymphoid tissue (NALT) in this animal is structurally and functionally analogous to human tonsils. The present study was carried out to determine whether group A streptococci preferentially colonized or invaded NALT. METHODS Lux(+) strain Sp3 was created and exponential phase bacteria were introduced intranasally into BALB/C female mice, total photon emission from selected areas was quantified, sections of NALT tissues were used for immunofluorescent staining and M cell staining. RESULTS Intranasal infection of mice with bioluminescent group A streptococci or unlabeled streptococci demonstrated that NALT was a primary target of this pathogen. Streptococci readily gained access to the blood stream from this site of infection. Immunofluorescence microscopy studies showed that M cells, dispersed along the mucosal epithelium adjacent to NALT, were preferentially infected and likely to provide the window through which streptococci reached the underlying tissue. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION The present study suggests that this upper respiratory Gram positive pathogen uses a mechanism similar to that of enteric pathogens in the intestine to gain access to underlying tissue, lymphatics and blood.
Exploring Diverse Mental Illness Attributions in a Multinational Sample: A Mixed-Methods Survey of Scholars in International Psychology

Attributions, or beliefs about the causes of mental illness, have been associated with thoughts, emotions, and actions related to mental health problems and treatment. Research has shown that peopl...
Advantages of tidal peritoneal dialysis

Tidal peritoneal dialysis (TPD) was introduced in 1990 in the hopes of improving dialysis efficiency. Studies comparing low dialysate flow rates show that tidal peritoneal dialysis has no clearance...
Excimer Laser-Assisted Movpe of Cdte on Gaas (100): Crystal Growth and Mechanisms

Excimer laser-assisted MOVPE has been used to deposit thin films of CdTe (111) on GaAs (100) substrates. Auger spectroscopy indicates that the films are stoichiometric and that carbon and oxygen contamination are below the levels of detectability. Good crystalline quality of the layers is confirmed by x-ray diffractometry. Growth rates up to 2 /μm/hr have been recorded in real time using time-resolved reflectivity. The CdTe growth rate is found to have a linear dependence on reactant partial pressure and laser average power, but was independent of substrate temperature in the range of 150° C to 300* C. Laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy has been used to determine that photolysis of diethyltellurium at 248 nm is a one photon process which produces ground state Te atoms. The flux of reactive species to the substrate surface has been probed by mass spectrometry. Evidence for the generation of monoethyltelluride, either by recombination or direct photolysis, is presented.
CoSi2 Formation Through Co/Ti Multilayer Reacting with Si-(100) Substrate

In this work, Co/Ti multilayers were deposited on Si-(100) substrates by dual source thermal evaporation. Oxygen was found to be selectively incorporated into the Ti layers during the deposition. The samples were then treated by a two step annealing process. A −6nm Co2Si + CoSi2 layer was formed at the original Ti/Si interface after a 550°C, 2hr. annealing. The Ti(O) layers acted as selective diffusion membrane for Co and Si during this interaction. The morphology of the suicide layer was dependent on the thickness of the Ti(O) barrier layer. Selective removal via wet etching of the upper layers and a 750°C annealing produced stoichiometric and uniform epitaxial cobalt disilicide with a reduced film resistivity. A very flat top surface with no sign of groving or agglomeration and a much improved interface with the Si substrates were obtained.
Numerical Investigation of Engineering Systems: Analysis of Accuracy Reduction Due to Model Oversimplification

AbstractWhen faced with the mathematical modeling of any engineering system, whether for design, performance assessment, optimization, or control, the engineer has to determine the level of accuracy versus the simplicity of the mathematical formulation. Although it is universally accepted that the more complex the formulation, the more accurate the results will be, these usually come at the expense of larger CPU times, a substantial amount of computer resources, and are generally limited by the capacity of computers and computing power, which most times precludes their use in favor of simpler models. Many times, however, engineers do not realize the potential risk that oversimplification of a problem generates in terms of accuracy of the results; that is, the model solution does not resemble the system behavior. Through a demonstrative example, the present study addresses the issue of oversimplification of the resulting mathematical model and the corresponding accuracy of its solution. After constructing ...
The future Aral Sea: hope and despair

The Aral Sea in 1960 was a huge brackish water lake (4th in the world in surface area) lying amidst the deserts of Central Asia. The sea supported a major fishery and functioned as a key regional transportation route. Since 1960, the Aral has undergone rapid desiccation and salinization, overwhelmingly the result of unsustainable expansion of irrigation that dried up its two tributary rivers the Amu Darya and Syr Darya and severely damaged their deltas. The desiccation of the Aral Sea has had severe negative impacts, including, among others, the demise of commercial fishing, devastation of the floral and faunal biodiversity of the native ecosystems of the Syr and Amu deltas, and increased frequency and strength of salt/dust storms. However, efforts have been and are being made to partially restore the sea’s hydrology along with its biodiversity, and economic value. The northern part of the Aral has been separated from the southern part by a dike and dam, leading to a level rise and lower salinity. This allowed native fishes to return from the rivers and revitalized the fishing industry. Partial preservation of the Western Basin of the southern Aral Sea may be possible, but these plans need much further environmental and economic analysis. This paper, mainly utilizing hydrologic and other data as input to spreadsheet (Microsoft Excel)-based hydrologic and salinity models, examines the current efforts to restore the Aral and looks at several future scenarios of the Sea. It also delineates the most important lessons of the Aral Sea’s drying.
328 SUN PROTECTION EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN TARGETING AGRICULTURAL FAMILIES IN LEWISTOWN, MONTANA.

Purpose of Study Sun damage must be confronted every day in the primary care offices in Lewistown, MT. To address this health threat appropriately, a sun education campaign was designed after careful conversations with community health providers. Methods Discussions with the clinical staff in the Lewistown Medical Management Office revealed that very little patient literature was available to assist patients in selecting proper sun protection. These conversations also revealed that local farming and ranching families probably face the most daily sun exposure. Results An inventory of all available sunscreens, their prices, and SPFs was taken and then discussed with the visiting dermatologist to determine which products he felt were most effective and the best tolerated by patients. This list and recommendations were given to local primary care providers. To educate the public, 30 posters on sun protection were produced and posted in businesses that cater to agricultural families. The educational poster focuses on avoiding sun exposure, selecting and applying sunscreen appropriately, and seeking professional help to address previous sun damage. An informational handout based on the poster was created for patients of the Lewistown Medical Management Office. Conclusion Small-scale educational campaigns can be effectively carried out in locations outside the traditional clinic after careful discussion with local care providers and appropriate literature review.
An Analysis and Counter-measure of Our Ecological Tax

Today,the tax system for protecting ecological environment has been set up yet,such as lack of the main tax of protecting ecological environment,low legislation of the current system,lack of consideration of the environmental factors when categories of taxes are designed,a single form of preference,ect.So ecological environment tax should be levied,relative taxes should be changed,and environmental tax as a core and the relative ecological tax and the measures of ecological tax preference as a supplement should be set up
Do mate preferences influence actual mating decisions? Evidence from computer simulations and three studies of mated couples.

Evolutionary research continues to discover new features of human mate preferences, but the downstream consequences of these preferences for mate selection have been insufficiently explored. Some have inferred that stated preferences have few behavioral consequences given seemingly weak effects of preferences in predicting mating outcomes. Here we test this inference with data from simulated mating markets as well as from real-world couples. We generate a series of agent-based models in which preferences either do or do not drive mate selection. We compare these simulations with 3 empirical studies of real-world couples (Study 1, n = 214; Study 2, n = 259; Study 3, n = 294). Preference-driven agent based models produce several effects that emerge in real couples, but not within random simulations. These include low-magnitude correlations between stated preferences and the individual traits of chosen partners; the novel finding that people with high mate value leverage that value into securing partners with more desirable traits; and the finding that couples assort based on overall mate value. Moreover, real-world mate choices correspond strongly with preference-driven simulations, but not to simulations in which mate selection is random with respect to preferences. Finally, we provide evidence that these effects are due to the causal role of stated preferences, and are not better explained by people updating their mate preferences to match chosen mates. These results provide new evidence that stated mate preferences guide actual mate selections under real mating-market constraints. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)
Bioengineering Resistance to Sedentary Endoparasitic Nematodes

Bioengineering host resistance to 01ant parasitic nematodes is still a mostly speculative topic. There have been very few examples of plants engineered to have reduced susceptibility to any species of nematode. This, in part, is due to the lack of key information regarding host-parasite relationships. It is difficult to design strategies to engineer resistance when there is not a readily identifiable molecular mechanism to target. There are now many labs actively pursuing molecular aspects of nematode-host interactions, but the practical applications of this work may still be several years off. Other chapters in this book describe in detail studies on nematode feeding site formation, resistance mechanisms, host responses, and nematode stylet secretions. We will use some of this information to set the stage for potential approaches to bioengineered resistance to plant parasitic nematodes.
TH-CD-209-10: Scanning Proton Arc Therapy (SPArc) - The First Robust and Delivery-Efficient Spot Scanning Proton Arc Therapy

Purpose: To develop a delivery-efficient proton spot-scanning arc therapy technique with robust plan quality. Methods: We developed a Scanning Proton Arc(SPArc) optimization algorithm integrated with (1)Control point re-sampling by splitting control point into adjacent sub-control points; (2)Energy layer re-distribution by assigning the original energy layers to the new sub-control points; (3)Energy layer filtration by deleting low MU weighting energy layers; (4)Energy layer re-sampling by sampling additional layers to ensure the optimal solution. A bilateral head and neck oropharynx case and a non-mobile lung target case were tested. Plan quality and total estimated delivery time were compared to original robust optimized multi-field step-and-shoot arc plan without SPArc optimization (Arcmulti-field) and standard robust optimized Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy(IMPT) plans. Dose-Volume-Histograms (DVH) of target and Organ-at-Risks (OARs) were analyzed along with all worst case scenarios. Total delivery time was calculated based on the assumption of a 360 degree gantry room with 1 RPM rotation speed, 2ms spot switching time, beam current 1nA, minimum spot weighting 0.01 MU, energy-layer-switching-time (ELST) from 0.5 to 4s. Results: Compared to IMPT, SPArc delivered less integral dose(−14% lung and −8% oropharynx). For lung case, SPArc reduced 60% of skin max dose, 35% of rib max dose and 15% of lung mean dose. Conformity Index is improved from 7.6(IMPT) to 4.0(SPArc). Compared to Arcmulti-field, SPArc reduced number of energy layers by 61%(276 layers in lung) and 80%(1008 layers in oropharynx) while kept the same robust plan quality. With ELST from 0.5s to 4s, it reduced 55%–60% of Arcmulti-field delivery time for the lung case and 56%–67% for the oropharynx case. Conclusion: SPArc is the first robust and delivery-efficient proton spot-scanning arc therapy technique which could be implemented in routine clinic. For modern proton machine with ELST close to 0.5s, SPArc would be a popular treatment option for both single and multi-room center.
Seizures and EEG Findings in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurobiological developmental symptom complex characterized by early onset of deficits in verbal and nonverbal communication skills, socio-communicative function, and repetitive behaviors. The well-documented increased frequency of seizures and abnormal electroencephalographic (EEG) findings in ASD support the concept that the central nervous system dysfunction has a neurobiological basis. We review the prevalence of seizures and EEG abnormalities in children with ASD and explore the possible clinical significance of this correlation.
Field Experiments in Developing Country Agriculture

Abstract This chapter provides a review of the role of field experiments (FEs) in answering research questions in agriculture that ultimately let us better understand how policy can improve productivity and farmer welfare in developing economies. We first review recent FEs in agriculture, highlighting the contributions they have already made to this area of research. We then outline areas where experiments can further fill existing gaps in our knowledge on agriculture and how future experiments can address the specific complexities in agriculture.
Dense Carbon Monoxide to 160 GPa: Stepwise Polymerization to Two-Dimensional Layered Solid.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is the first molecular system found to transform into a nonmolecular “polymeric” solid above 5.5 GPa, yet been studied beyond 10 GPa. Here, we show a series of pressure-induced phase transformations in CO to 160 GPa: from a molecular solid to a highly colored, low-density polymeric phase I to translucent, high-density phase II to transparent, layered phase III. The properties of these phases are consistent with those expected from recently predicted 1D P21/m, 3D I212121, and 2D Cmcm structures, respectively. Thus, the present results advocate a stepwise polymerization of CO triple bonds to ultimately a 2D singly bonded layer structure with an enhanced ionic character.
Phase II trial of homoharringtonine with imatinib in chronic, accelerated, and blast phase chronic myeloid leukemia.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) are standard agents for first and subsequent therapy of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). With TKIs, most patients will have an excellent response and n...
Corporate Governance According to Charles T. Munger

Berkshire Hathaway Vice Chairman Charlie Munger is well known as the partner of CEO Warren Buffett and also for his advocacy of “multi-disciplinary thinking” — the application of fundamental concepts from across various academic disciplines to solve complex real-world problems. One problem that Munger has addressed over the years is the optimal system of corporate governance. Munger advocates that corporate governance systems become more simple, rather than more complex, and rely on trust rather than compliance to instill ethical behavior in employees and executives. He advocates giving more power to a highly capable and ethical CEO, and taking several steps to improve the culture of the organization to reduce the risk of self-interested behavior.We examine Munger’s solution in detail. We ask:• Would the trust-based system that Munger advocates work in the average corporation?• What governance practices today are “necessary” and which are “excessive”?• How can a company ensure that its culture will continue following a CEO succession?Topics, Issues and Controversies in Corporate Governance. The Closer Look series is a collection of short case studies through which we explore topics, issues, and controversies in corporate governance. In each study, we take a targeted look at a specific issue that is relevant to the current debate on governance and explain why it is so important. Larcker and Tayan are co-authors of the books Corporate Governance Matters and A Real Look at Real World Corporate Governance.
Managing nutrients across regions of the United States

Nutrient balance in the ecosystem involves profitability of the agricultural enterprise and commitments to resource management to maintain quality of air, water, and land resources. Phosphorus and N are the two nutrients of major concern, and they behave differently in soils. Most P adheres strongly to soil particles and moves laterally with the soil during erosion processes, but with high concentrations more P remains in soluble forms and moves in the water fraction. Most N is soluble and moves laterally or downward with soil water. Soil scientists and agronomists have researched soil processes, plant nutrition, cropping systems, and water quality issues mainly on a field and farm level, but now the movement is to management and regulation of nonpoint problems on a watershed basis as proposed in the Clean Water Action Plan. The plan recognizes the vast diversity of soil parent materials and climates among geographic areas, even among and within watersheds, that determine crop adaptation and cropping systems, the role of states in regulatory processes, and the need for local citizens to have operational involvement. This process insures that nutrient management guidelines will be more site-specific and solutions can be focused on the direct problem. Directed efforts will be needed to educate local citizens, landowners, and caretakers of agricultural enterprises, and regulatory agencies. Several factors, including economic and social incentives for implementation must be considered along with the technologies available. The solutions are multidisciplinary, will require long-term research to accommodate climate variation, and should be associated with a strong commitment to education. Public funding will be needed to support the effort.
Beyond P vs. NP: Quadratic-Time Hardness for Big Data Problems

The theory of NP-hardness has been very successful in identifying problems that are unlikely to be solvable in polynomial time. However, many other important problems do have polynomial time algorithms, but large exponents in their time bounds can make them run for days, weeks or more. For example, quadratic time algorithms, although practical on moderately sized inputs, can become inefficient on big data problems that involve gigabytes or more of data. Although for many problems no sub-quadratic time algorithms are known, any evidence of quadratic-time hardness has remained elusive. In this talk I will give an overview of recent research that aims to remedy this situation. In particular, I will describe hardness results for problems in string processing (e.g., edit distance computation or regular expression matching) and machine learning (e.g., Support Vector Machines or gradient computation in neural networks). All of them have polynomial time algorithms, but despite extensive amount of research, no near-linear time algorithms have been found for many variants of these problems. I will show that, under a natural complexity-theoretic conjecture, such algorithms do not exist. I will also describe how this framework has led to the development of new algorithms.
Science and Technology: Who Gets a Say?

In recent years historians of technology have increasingly agreed on one major question about the relationship of science and technology. Technology’s intellectual character cannot be reduced to “the application of science,” as if science created real knowledge and technology then applied it to solve problems. Technological cognition, its own unique form of knowledge, takes shape in a tension between generalizable knowledge (called “theory” these days and “know-how” in an earlier era) and the technical practitioner’s capacity for pragmatic judgments. These one-of-a-kind decisions are based on intimate knowledge of the immediate situation (often called “skill” or simply “experience”).1
Ask Not What Your Mentor Can Do for You…: The Role of Reciprocal Exchange in Maintaining Student–Teacher Mentorships

Mentoring relationships between adolescents and adults are an important source of social capital that facilitates young people's academic and social development. Studies show that close relationships with teachers especially benefit socioeconomically disadvantaged adolescents, yet little is known about teacher-mentors’ perspectives on mentorship. This study draws on in-depth interviews with teachers in low-income high schools and ethnographic observations to examine the dynamics that sustain student–teacher mentoring relationships. I engage social exchange frameworks to show that reciprocal exchanges that generated intangible rewards for teachers, such as gratitude and purpose, helped maintain mentorships. I find that teachers’ motivations to invest in students were contingent on the strength of the relationship. Teachers withdrew assistance when they perceived that relationships became nonreciprocal. The context in which teachers interacted with mentees and the form of support they had given also influenced their evaluations of reciprocity. These findings contribute to a growing body of literature on relationships that challenge strict divisions between the function of strong and weak ties. Further, these findings contribute to social capital literature by showing that once accessed, social capital does not lie latent as network ties maintain the same willingness to help. In actuality, resourceful ties must be maintained.
Economic Impact of Frozen Section for Thyroid Nodules with "Suspicious for Malignancy" Cytology.

ObjectiveTo perform a cost analysis of the routine use of intraoperative frozen section (iFS) among patients undergoing a thyroid lobectomy with “suspicious for malignancy” (SUSP) cytology in the c...
2D Particles at Fluid-Fluid Interfaces: Assembly and Templating of Hybrid Structures for Advanced Applications.

Fluid–fluid interfaces have widespread applications in personal care products, the food industry, oil recovery, mineral processes, etc. and are also important and versatile platforms for generating advanced materials. In Pickering emulsions, particles stabilize the fluid–fluid interface, and their presence reduces the interfacial energy between the two fluids. To date, most Pickering emulsions stabilized by 2D particles make use of clay platelets or GO nanosheets. These systems have been used to template higher order hybrid, functional materials, most commonly, armored polymer particles, capsules, and Janus nanosheets. This review discusses the experimental and computational study of the assembly of sheet-like 2D particles at fluid–fluid interfaces, with an emphasis on the impact of chemical composition, and the use of these assemblies to prepare composite structures of dissimilar materials. The review culminates in a perspective on the future of Pickering emulsions using 2D particle surfactants, includin...
Getting serious about parsing plans: a grammatical analysis of plan recognition

This paper is concerned with making precise the notion that recognizing plans is much like parsing text. To this end, it establishes a correspondence between Kautz' plan recognition formalism and existing grammatical frameworks. This mapping helps isolate subsets of Kautz' formalism in which plan recognition can be efficiently performed by parsing.
Diet and Provisioning in the High Andes: A Spanish Colonial Settlement on the Outskirts of Potosi, Bolivia

Once silver was discovered in the mountain of Cerro Rico, the large urban center of Potosi, Bolivia flourished. Situated at almost 4000 m (13,000 ft) above sea level in the eastern cordillera of the Andes mountains, provisioning the region was very challenging. A study of zooarchaeological remains associated with elite Spanish colonial residents living on the outskirts of Potosi in Tarapaya indicates that wealthy inhabitants were able to procure meat sources that strongly reflect Iberian rather than Andean food habits while material culture strongly reflects local influence. Provisioning the mining community with food overcame obstacles of distance, elevation, and spoilage.
Respiratory dysfunction following initiation of mirabegron: A case report.

Abstract Background: Mirabegron, a β3 adrenergic receptor agonist, is FDA approved for treatment of overactive bladder. Approved in 2012 in the US, there have been no reports of any effects of mirabegron on pulmonary function. Case presentation: We report the case of a 65 year old male with a history of Parkinson's disease, OSA, and aspiration pneumonia presenting with subacute worsening dyspnea and found to have worsening restrictive ventilatory defect with a pattern consistent with neuromuscular weakness. After recalling that initiation of mirabegron correlated with onset of his worsening symptoms, the patient decided to perform a trial period off the drug. He subsequently reported prompt improvement in his respiratory symptoms, which was confirmed objectively by pulmonary function tests. In this case, mirabegron was temporally associated with subacute worsening of the patient's pulmonary restrictive physiology, with subsequent resolution after discontinuation of the medication. Conclusions: The mechanism of this adverse effect is unknown, but we speculate that this effect may be potentially mediated by the effect of β3 adrenergic receptor agonism on skeletal muscle, in this case in a patient with pre-existing neuromuscular disease. Careful assessment of patients who develop shortness of breath while on mirabegron should include an assessment for restrictive lung disease secondary neuromuscular dysfunction. Additional study is needed of the effects of β3 agonism on skeletal muscle.
Legal Applications of Terror Management Theory.

Abstract In this chapter, we explore the application of terror management theory (TMT) to criminal justice issues. We begin with a discussion of the relationship between morality and legality, and examine the ways in which laws regulate moral behavior. We then examine the connection between the accessibility of death-relevant cognitions, or mortality salience (MS), and the commission, prosecution, and punishment of offenders. In some cases, MS may drive criminal activities, stemming from an individual’s desire to enhance self-esteem or to engage in cultural worldview defense. Such moral, and, ultimately, legal transgressions, may lead both lay people and actual judges to seek greater punishment for offenders under MS conditions. However, the relationship between MS and legal judgments is complex, and may be affected by the specific motivations of offenders, the attitudes of legal decision makers, and fair process concerns, which appear to be an important component of cultural worldviews. We discuss how attorneys might reduce or capitalize on MS effects during a trial. We then examine how aspects of a trial may produce MS and review research that has focused on legal judgments within death penalty trials. Finally, we examine the application of TMT to several criminal justice issues of major national importance—illegal immigration and police use of force resulting in the deaths of unarmed civilians. We explore the latter topic from the perspectives of both police officers and civilians, helping, in part, to understand the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement. We conclude with a discussion of avenues that may lead to a reduction of violent behavior, and an increase in pro-social actions, along with greater justice within the legal system. Rodney King, O.J. Simpson, the September 11th attacks, Ferguson, and the Trump administration’s desire to curtail illegal immigration all reflect crime-related incidents that have had a profound impact on culture in the United States. Over the past three decades, media outlets have spent many months covering each of these news stories, and these events have served to shape society and have impacted the interaction between different cultural subgroups. All of these news stories are instances where moral standards were violated in some way and highlight the important relationship between morality and legality. In this chapter, we examine that relationship through the lens of TMT. We apply TMT to the commission, prosecution, and punishment of crimes. We also use TMT to better understand psychological factors at the heart of several of the most dominant crime and justice topics that currently exist in the United States: terrorism, illegal immigration, and the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Effect of water velocity and temperature on energy use, behaviour and mortality of pallid sturgeon Scaphirhynchus albus larvae

Natural reproduction of pallid sturgeon Scaphirhynchus albus has been limited for decades and a recruitment bottleneck is hypothesized to occur during the larval stage of development. In this study, we evaluated the effects of water velocity and temperature on the swimming activity, energy use, settling behaviour and mortality of endogenously feeding larvae. The swimming activity of drifting sturgeon larvae (i.e., fish exhibiting negative rheotaxis) increased at low water velocity. In subsequent experiments, we observed greater energy depletion and resultant mortality of larvae in no-flow environments (0 cm s-1 ) compared to tanks with water velocity ranging from 3.5 to 8.3 cm s-1 . The growth rate of drifting larvae was positively related to water temperature (18.7-23.3°C), but reduced growth rate at low water temperature (18.7°C) resulted in protracted development that extended average drift duration by ~4 days compared to larvae reared at 23.3°C. This study provides evidence that cooler summer water temperatures, characteristic of present-day conditions in the upper Missouri River, can reduce larval development and extend both the drift duration and distance requirements of S. albus. Moreover, if dispersed into low velocity environments, such as in reservoir headwaters, larvae may experience increased mortality owing to a mismatch between early life stage drift requirements and habitat conditions in the river. Manipulation of water releases to increase seasonal water temperature below dams may aid survival of S. albus larvae by shortening the time and distance spent drifting.
Performance of InBios ZIKV Detect™ 2.0 IgM Capture ELISA in two reference laboratories compared to the original ZIKV Detect™ IgM Capture ELISA

ZIKV Detect™ 2.0 IgM Capture ELISA (InBios International, Seattle, WA) recently replaced the ZIKV Detect™ IgM Capture ELISA and a number of significant changes have been made to the original version. This study compares data generated from the ZIKV Detect™ 2.0 IgM Capture ELISA, to data generated using the original version of the kit. The same sample sets were used in this comparison, and reference test results for these samples were used to assess sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and concordance of results across two laboratories. Average sensitivity increased from 90.4% to 92.5% with the updated kit where the increase was not statistically different, and specificity increased from 79.5% to 97.4%, a statistically-significant difference. Accuracy of the ZIKV Detect™ 2.0 IgM Capture ELISA was 89% compared to 63.9% for the original version of the kit, and agreement across the laboratories increased from 79.5% to 97.4%. With secondary dengue virus infections, specificity increased from 9.3% to 82.6% with the updated kit, primarily due to the change in interpretation criteria that no longer includes "Possible Zika positive."
The Psychology of Terror, American Exceptionalism, and the Greek God Pan

This study strives to contribute to a better understanding of contemporary anxieties in American culture by applying meanings derived from mythology to panic inducing cultural phenomena. It asks if the Greek god Pan and his retinue ofnymphs metaphorically exemplify an archetypal core within an American cultural anxiety complex. The principal technical device used is Jung’s method of amplification, rendering cultural material at a more psychologically substantial level.This hermeneutic research views primary sources for and commentaries on the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and the American reactions that followed. A faulty belief in American exceptionalism is examined for its contribution to thereactions by the American government and its citizens. Some consequences of American exceptionalism, as seen in reactions to 9/11, are clarified through a correlation with a metaphoric reading of Pan, the Greek nature god. Pan’s compulsion into life is considered to be a symbolic expression of an archetype that was once alive in the bold spirit of America, but has rusted into paralysis due to a lack of initiative towards contemporary problems. It was as if the government of the Unites States, starting at the top, had decided that the terrorist outrages of September 11, 2001, meant that law, custom and decency had all been suspended sine die. (Hodgson, 2009, p. 127) History …is a nightmare from which I am trying to awaken. (Joyce, 1961, p. 34)
Non-operative Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

To determine the current evidence for various non-operative therapies in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome Multiple non-operative treatment modalities exist in the treatment of mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome. While certain modalities such as splinting and corticosteroid injections have moderate- to high-quality evidence to support use, other less commonly used treatments have fewer therapeutic indications in the current literature. Healthcare providers should be able to initiate the appropriate diagnostic evaluation and assess the utility of non-operative therapies in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. Moreover, healthcare providers should also be able to understand the evidence behind each treatment and the indications for surgical intervention.