cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of below‐ground herbivory by Diabrotica virgifera virgifera (Col., Chrysomelidea) and soil moisture on leaf gas exchange of maize

: Information on the physiological responses of plants to below-ground herbivory is sparse. Effects of root herbivory by Diabrotica virgifera Leconte and the interactions of herbivory and soil moisture on photosynthesis and water relations of maize (Zea mays) were examined in a greenhouse. Plants were infested with 0, 50 and 100 larvae of D. v. virgifera at the six-leaf stage of development and water stress induced to half of the plants in each treatment. The 100-larvae treatment removed 67% of the roots and the 50-larvae treatment removed 19.6% of the roots, as compared to uninfested controls. Fifty-five days after infestation, damaged plants had recovered as there were no significant differences in root volumes among the infestation levels. Measurements of photosynthesis, stomatal conductance and leaf relative water content were not significantly different among larval treatments at 7, 13, 24 and 30 days after infestation. When soil moisture was withheld, however, photosynthesis and stomatal conductance were significantly reduced. On day 24, water stressed plants infested with 100 larvae had a 23% decrease in photosynthesis as compared to well-watered plants that were uninfested. These results indicate the potential that maize plants have to tolerate root herbivory by D. v. virgifera and that the effects were greater when soil moisture was reduced.
Further displacement of condylar process fractures after closed treatment.

Abstract Purpose: This study examined the changes in the position of the fractured condylar process immediately before and immediately after application of arch bars and at 6 weeks after surgery in a group of patients who underwent closed treatment. Patients and Methods: Sixty-five patients over the age of 16 years underwent closed treatment of unilateral mandibular condylar process fractures. Coronal and sagittal displacement of the condylar process was examined using Towne's and panoramic radiographs before treatment, immediately after placement of arch bars, and at 6 weeks. The change in position of the condylar process from one time to the next was analyzed statistically. Results: There was a statistically significant difference (mean, −5.5 °) in the coronal position of the condylar processes from immediately after injury to immediately after placement of arch bars. There was great variability, with some segments becoming more medially displaced and some more laterally displaced. In contrast, mean change in the sagittal position of the condylar process was not statistically significant, although some became more anteriorly and others became more posteriorly displaced. Similarly, from immediately after placement of arch bars to 6 weeks, there was great variability in position of the condylar process, but the overall change was not statistically significant. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that position of the condylar process is not static in patients treated for condylar process fractures by closed means. These results suggest that care must be taken in basing treatment decisions on the degree of displacement or dislocation of the condylar process in presurgical radiographs.
Receiving mixed signals: uncoupling oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelination

The development and maturation of an oligodendroglial cell is comprised of three intimately related processes that include proliferation, differentiation, and myelination. Here we review how proliferation and differentiation are controlled by distinct molecular mechanisms and discuss whether differentiation is merely a default of inhibited proliferation. We then address whether differentiation and myelination can be uncoupled in a similar manner. This task is particularly challenging because an oligodendrocyte cannot myelinate without first differentiating, and these processes are therefore not mutually exclusive. Is it solely the presence of the axon that distinguishes a differentiated oligodendrocyte from a myelinating one? Uncoupling these two processes requires identifying specific signals that regulate myelination without affecting the differentiation process. We will review current understanding of the relationship between differentiation and myelination and discuss whether these two processes can truly be uncoupled.
The US left since 1968: Decline or growth?

Abstract Current prospects for the US Left may be illuminated through a comparison with conditions prevailing in 1968. This requires going beyond the spectacular manifestations of that year to examine changes in (1) capitalism's global strength, (2) the legitimacy of dominant political forces, (3) the conditions and make‐up of the Left's popular constituency, (4) the orientation of pertinent social movements and grassroots organizations, and (5) the impact of explicitly progressive political formations. Consideration of all these dimensions suggests that the relatively limited scope of the Left's current public presence may mask a stronger potential for sustained growth than existed in the earlier period.
Ferromagnetism and structure of epitaxial Cr-doped anatase TiO 2 thin films

The materials and magnetic properties of Cr-doped anatase ${\mathrm{TiO}}_{2}$ thin films deposited on ${\mathrm{LaAlO}}_{3}(001)$ and ${\mathrm{SrTiO}}_{3}(001)$ substrates by oxygen-plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy have been studied in detail to elucidate the origin of ferromagnetic ordering. Cr substitution for Ti in the anatase lattice, with no evidence of Cr interstitials, segregation, or secondary phases, was independently confirmed by transmission electron microscopy with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, extended x-ray absorption fine structure, and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry in the channeling geometry. Epitaxial films deposited at $\ensuremath{\sim}0.1\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{\AA{}}∕\mathrm{s}$ were found to have a highly defected crystalline structure, as quantified by high-resolution x-ray diffraction (XRD). These films were also ferromagnetic at room temperature with a moment of $\ensuremath{\sim}0.5{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{B}∕\mathrm{Cr}$, Curie temperatures in the range of $400\text{--}700\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}\mathrm{C}$, and exhibited shape and in-plane magnetocrystalline anisotropy. However, no free carrier spin polarization was observed by Hall effect measurements, raising questions about the mechanism of magnetism. Films deposited slowly $(\ensuremath{\sim}0.015\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{\AA{}}∕\mathrm{s})$ possessed a nearly perfect crystalline structure as characterized by XRD. Contrary to expectations, these films exhibited negligible ferromagnetism at all Cr concentrations. Annealing in vacuum to generate additional oxygen defects and free carrier electrons did not significantly increase the ferromagnetic ordering in either fast- or slow-grown films. These results contradict both oxygen-vacancy-derived free-carrier-mediated exchange and F-center-mediated bound magnetic polaron exchange mechanisms, and instead indicate the primary role of extended structural defects in mediating the ferromagnetic ordering in doped anatase films.
EEG discriminators of delayed matching to sample performance in Macaca nemestrina

Abstract Eight Macaca nemestrina monkeys chronically implanted with cortical, limbic and diencephalic EEG electrodes were tested on a delayed matching-to-sample task. EEGs recorded during task periods were analyzed for coherence values as consistent concomitants of performance. The coherence values associated with correct responses were generally higher than those for incorrect responses in the frequency bands 1–3, 3–4, 5–7 and 8–13 Hz. It is suggested that higher coherences occur throughout critical trial epochs associated with successful or rewarded behavioral responding and that the occurrence of these elevated coherences may be necessary for optimal or rewarded performance.
Prasugrel: A New Antiplatelet for the Management of Acute Coronary Syndrome:

Based on recommendations from the Renal and Cardiovascular Advisory Committee, the Food and Drug Administration approved prasugrel (Effient) for the treatment of patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in July of this year.1 Dual antiplatelet therapy with clopidogrel and aspirin is currently the standard of care for these patients. Similar to clopidogrel, prasugrel is a thienopyridine that inhibits the adenosine diphosphate P2Y12 receptor in platelets, preventing aggregation, which may trigger subsequent thrombus formation.2 The FDA approval of prasugrel followed an extensive 18-month review. Numerous issues have been raised concerning the comparative efficacy and safety of this agent and whether it offers any significant clinical advantage over clopidogrel. This article will discuss these issues and the likely role of prasugrel in clinical practice.
Language Development Subcontexts in Head Start Classrooms: Distinctive Patterns of Teacher Talk During Free Play, Mealtime, and Book Reading

Research findings. Language development subcontexts within 20 Head Start classrooms were studied by observing teachers' child-directed talk during free play, mealtime, and book reading. In each context, observers coded all child-directed statements, directives, and questions, noted instances of pretend talk and decontextualized talk, and rated the richness and sensitivity-responsiveness of teachers' talk. Rates of child-directed talk were similar across contexts, but the challenging features of teachers' talk varied substantially across contexts: pretend talk occurred almost exclusively during free play, decontextualized talk was most common during mealtime, and ratings of richness were greatest during book reading. Higher rates of pretend talk and decontextualized talk and higher ratings of richness were associated with higher ratings of sensitivity-responsiveness. Rates of child-directed talk did not differ reliably for Lead Teachers and Assistant Teachers. Implications for practice. Professional develo...
Limits to adaptive plasticity: temperature and photoperiod influence shade-avoidance responses.

In plants, the ratio of red to far-red wavelengths (R:FR) reliably indicates neighbor proximity and influences stem elongation. Enhanced elongation increases light interception and fitness under crowded conditions. However, many environmental factors vary simultaneously such that responses to R:FR may be affected by abiotic conditions or maternal environmental conditions. This study examines the effects of temperature, photoperiod, and maternal environment on stem-elongation responses to R:FR. Four populations of Abutilon theophrasti (two from disturbed, weedy areas and two from cornfields) were used in factorial common-garden experiments of temperature 3 R:FR 3 population and photoperiod 3 R:FR 3 population. Seedling growth of greenhouse- and field-derived seed was compared to evaluate maternal effects. Maternal environment did not alter seedling elongation. Higher temperatures resulted in both a twofold increase in average elongation and increased responsiveness to R:FR. Significant three-way interactions in both experiments demonstrate that population responses to R:FR differ depending on temperature and photoperiod conditions. These results indicate that elongation responses to R:FR are more variable than previously realized. The observed variability in elongation also suggests that the outcome of competitive interactions in the natural environment will depend on ambient temperature, photoperiod length, and population origin.
Are multiple objective measures of student performance necessary

Abstract Background: This study examines the effect of using multiple modalities to evaluate medical students. Methods: Thirty-four students were evaluated by a complex model utilizing National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) shelf examination, Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), Computer Patient Simulation (CPS), faculty and peer evaluation. Results were compared with a traditional model based on NBME and faculty evaluation alone. Results: Reliability (coefficient α) of the complex and traditional models were 0.72 and 0.47, respectively. Item correlations suggested that NBME was most discriminating ( r = 0.75), followed by OSCE ( r = 0.52), peer evaluation ( r = 0.43), CPS ( r = 0.39), and faculty evaluation ( r = 0.32). Rank order correlation (Spearman's ρ) between scores calculated using each model was 0.87. Conclusions: Although the complex model has improved reliability, both models rank students similarly. However, neither model fully captures and reflects the information provided by each of the specific evaluation methods.
Cryptoendolithic algal communities of the Colorado Plateau

Eighteen taxa, including representatives of both eukaryotic and prokaryotic genera, were isolated from below the surface of eight sandstones in four semi-desert and cold temperate biomes of northern Arizona, southern Utah and Western New Mexico. The algae occurred as uniform well defined bands in light-colored sandstones and also as scattered patches in dark sandstones. The algal communities varied in generic composition, chlorophyll a content, and location within the different sandstones. Biomass, estimated by chlorophyll a content, was approximately two to twenty-fold greater than reported for cryptoendolithic algal bands in a cold desert habitat. The widespread distribution of certain algae in endolithic habitats of the Colorado Plateau and their presence in rocks at quite distant locations suggests that the endolithic habitat may he utilized by algae whenever it provides more favorable conditions than the surrounding surfaces.
The Politics of Consumer Education Materials Used in Adult Literacy Classrooms

This study examined the consumer education texts used in adult literacy programs to determine how they portray adult literacy learners as consumers and how they depict the consumer market in which learners operate. It was concluded that the hidden curriculum of the texts promotes several ideologies that are disrespectful of adult learners and that work to maintain or reproduce current class inequalities through placing blame for financial failure on learners and ignoring larger social, political, and economic contexts.
Structure of Fermion Nodes and Nodal Cells

We study nodes of fermionic ground state wave functions. For two dimensions and higher we prove that spin-polarized, noninteracting fermions in a harmonic well have two nodal cells for arbitrary system size. The result extends to noninteracting or mean-field models in other geometries and to Hartree-Fock atomic states. Spin-unpolarized noninteracting states have multiple nodal cells; however, interactions and many-body correlations generally relax the multiple cells to the minimal number of two. With some conditions, this is proved for interacting two and higher dimensions harmonic fermion systems of arbitrary size using the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer variational wave function.
A Blessing or a Curse? State Support for Terrorist Groups

Little existing work has systematically examined the factors that help terrorist groups survive or contribute to their failure. State support for terrorist groups is commonly thought to be a factor that helps groups to survive. I demonstrate with newly collected data that state sponsorship is not always helpful to terrorist groups. The resources provided by sponsors increase a group's ability to maintain itself internally. However, when a group has a sponsor that provides it with safe haven, the risk of the group being forcefully eliminated by the target increases. I argue that sponsors that provide safe haven can have incentives to provide information to the target about the groups to avoid potential costs from target military operations within their territory. The key empirical findings suggest that state sponsorship is a less serious problem for target states than many previously thought.
Pricing and Delivery-Time Performance in a Competitive Environment

We present a model of market competition in which customer preferences are over not only price and quality but also delivery speed. This allows a study of market demand and firms' decisions on price, quality, technology and responsiveness in a competitive environment. When demand arises, a customer chooses the firm that maximizes its expected utility of price, quality and response time. The demand function for each firm is derived by analyzing a queueing system with competing servers. We then study price competition among firms with differentiated processing rates. In the equilibrium, the firm with a higher processing rate always enjoys a price premium, and, further, enjoys a larger market share when its opponent also has adequate processing rate to serve all the customers alone.
The dynamin middle domain is critical for tetramerization and higher-order self-assembly

The large multidomain GTPase dynamin self‐assembles around the necks of deeply invaginated coated pits at the plasma membrane and catalyzes vesicle scission by mechanisms that are not yet completely understood. Although a structural role for the ‘middle’ domain in dynamin function has been suggested, it has not been experimentally established. Furthermore, it is not clear whether this putative function pertains to dynamin structure in the unassembled state or to its higher‐order self‐assembly or both. Here, we demonstrate that two mutations in this domain, R361S and R399A, disrupt the tetrameric structure of dynamin in the unassembled state and impair its ability to stably bind to and nucleate higher‐order self‐assembly on membranes. Consequently, these mutations also impair dynamin9s assembly‐dependent stimulated GTPase activity.
Non-linear analysis of traffic flow

Traffic flow prediction is an important application of the ITS technology. In this paper, we applied nonlinear time-series modeling techniques to analyze a traffic data. Our objective is to investigate the deterministic properties of traffic flow using a nonlinear time series analysis technique. The experiment is performed for inductance loop data collected from the San Antonio freeway system. Our study concludes that the traffic data exhibits chaotic properties and techniques based on phase space dynamics can be used to analyze and predict the traffic flow.
Predicting impacts of future human population growth and development on occupancy rates of forest-dependent birds

Forest loss and fragmentation are among the largest threats to forest-dwelling wildlife species today, and projected increases in human population growth are expected to increase these threats in the next century. We combined spatially-explicit growth models with wildlife distribution models to predict the effects of human development on 5 forest-dependent bird species in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, USA. We used single-species occupancy models to derive the probability of occupancy for each species across the study area in the years 2000 and 2050. Over half a million new housing units were predicted to be added to the landscape. The maximum change in housing density was nearly 30 houses per hectare; however, 30% of the towns in the study area were projected to add less than 1 housing unit per hectare. In the face of predicted human growth, the overall occupancy of each species decreased by as much as 38% (ranging from 19% to 38% declines in the worst-case scenario) in the year 2050. These declines were greater outside of protected areas than within protected lands. Ninety-seven percent of towns experienced some decline in species occupancy within their borders, highlighting the value of spatially-explicit models. The mean decrease in occupancy probability within towns ranged from 3% for hairy woodpecker to 8% for ovenbird and hermit thrush. Reductions in occupancy probability occurred on the perimeters of cities and towns where exurban development is predicted to increase in the study area. This spatial approach to wildlife planning provides data to evaluate trade-offs between development scenarios and forest-dependent wildlife species.
Piecewise-affine state feedback for piecewise-affine slab systems using convex optimization

Abstract This paper shows that Lyapunov-based state feedback controller synthesis for piecewise-affine (PWA) slab systems can be cast as an optimization problem subject to a set of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) analytically parameterized by a vector. Furthermore, it is shown that continuity of the control inputs at the switchings can be guaranteed by adding equality constraints to the problem without affecting its parameterization structure. Finally, it is shown that piecewise-affine state feedback controller synthesis for piecewise-affine slab systems to maximize the decay rate of a quadratic control Lyapunov function can be cast as a set of quasi-concave optimization problems analytically parameterized by a vector. Before casting the synthesis in the format presented in this paper, Lyapunov-based piecewise-affine state feedback controller synthesis could only be formulated as a bi-convex optimization program, which is very expensive to solve globally. Thus, the fundamental importance of the contributions of the paper relies on the fact that, for the first time, the piecewise-affine state feedback synthesis problem has been formulated as a convex problem with a parameterized set of LMIs that can be relaxed to a finite set of LMIs and solved efficiently to a point near the global optimum using available software. Furthermore, it is shown for the first time that, in some situations, the global can be exactly found by solving only one concave problem.
Epidemiology of Measles in the United States, 1997-2001

Of the 540 measles cases (annual incidence, less than 1/million population) reported during 1997-2001 in the United States, 362 (67%) were associated with international importation: 196 imported cases, 138 cases epidemiologically linked to imported cases, and 28 cases associated with an imported measles virus genotype. The remaining 178 (33%) "unknown-source" cases were analyzed as potential evidence of endemic measles transmission. A total of 83 counties (2.6% of the 3140 US counties) in 27 states reported unknown-source cases; 49 counties reported only 1 unknown-source case, and the maximum reported by any county was 10. Nationally, unknown-source cases were reported in 103 of the 260 weeks. The largest unknown-source outbreak included 13 cases and lasted 5 weeks. The rarity of unknown-source cases, wide gaps in geographic and temporal distribution, and the short duration of the longest unknown-source outbreak indicate that endemic transmission of measles was not sustained in the United States during this period.
Comparison of fluconazole and amphotericin B for prevention and treatment of experimental Candida endocarditis.

Fluconazole and amphotericin B were compared in the prophylaxis and treatment of Candida albicans aortic endocarditis in a rabbit model. In the prophylaxis study, catheterized rabbits received, prior to intravenous (i.v.) challenge with C. albicans (2 x 10(7) blastospores), either no therapy, single-dose i.v. amphotericin B (1 mg/kg of body weight), single-dose fluconazole (50 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg i.v. or intraperitoneally [i.p.]), or fluconazole (50 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg i.v. or i.p.) with a second dose 24 h after inoculation. A single dose of amphotericin B was significantly more effective than either the one- or two-dose regimens of fluconazole at both 50 mg/kg (P less than 0.001 and P less than 0.03, respectively) and 100 mg/kg (P less than 0.01 and P less than 0.001, respectively) in the prevention of C. albicans endocarditis. In parallel treatment studies of established C. albicans endocarditis, i.v. amphotericin B (1 mg/kg) or i.p. fluconazole (50 mg/kg) was begun 24 or 60 h postinfection and continued daily for 9 or 12 days. At these dose regimens, amphotericin B was consistently more effective than fluconazole in reducing fungal vegetation densities, regardless of the timing of initiation of therapy. We also examined the efficacy of fluconazole at a daily dose of 100 mg/kg i.p. administered for 21 days in the treatment of established C. albicans endocarditis. When therapy was continued for 2 weeks or longer, fluconazole was more effective than no drug and approximately twice as effective as 12 days of amphotericin B in reducing intravegetation fungal densities. Our results suggest that amphotericin B is superior to fluconazole in both the prophylaxis and treatment of C. albicans endocarditis in the rabbit model. These findings may relate to the predominantly fungistatic activity of fluconazole against C. albicans in vitro.
PSAB-OFP, a selective α7 nicotinic receptor agonist, is also a potent agonist of the 5-HT3 receptor

Abstract 5-Hydroxytryptamine 3 (5-HT 3 ) and α7 nicotinic receptors share high sequence homology and pharmacological cross-reactivity. An assessment of the potential role of α7 receptors in many neurophysiological processes, and hence their therapeutic value, requires the development of selective α7 receptor agonists. We used a recently reported selective α7 receptor agonist, ( R )-(−)-5′Phenylspiro[1-azabicyclo[2.2.2] octane-3,2′-(3′ H )furo[2,3- b ]pyridine (PSAB-OFP) and confirmed its activity on human recombinant α7 receptors. However, PSAB-OFP also displayed high affinity binding to 5-HT 3 receptors. To assess the functional activity of PSAB-OFP on 5-HT 3 receptors we studied recombinant human 5-HT 3 receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes, as well as native mouse 5-HT 3 receptors expressed in N1E-115 neuroblastoma cells, using whole-cell patch clamp and Ca 2+ imaging. Our results show that PSAB-OFP is an equipotent, partial agonist of both α7 and 5-HT 3 receptors. We conclude that it will be necessary to identify the determinant of this overlapping pharmacology in order to develop more selective α7 receptor ligands.
CONSTITUENTS OF ELEMENTARY BODIES OF VACCINIA IV. DEMONSTRATION OF COPPER IN THE PURIFIED VIRUS

A search by means of spectroscopic and enzymatic techniques has failed to demonstrate either cytochrome or cytochrome oxidase in purified elementary bodies of vaccinia. A constituent of the virus which catalyzes the oxidation of cystein has been found and identified as copper in a concentration amounting to 0.05 per cent of the dry weight of the virus. The copper constituent was not removed by repeated washing, ultrafiltration, dialysis against 0.1 molar potassium cyanide, or by electrodialysis over a pH range which did not inactivate the virus. During the process of purification of the virus a 25-fold increase of the copper constituent was observed. Emission spectra obtained from the dry virus also revealed copper but no significant traces of other metallic substances. No biological role can yet be ascribed to the copper component of virus.
Delivery type not associated with global methylation at birth

Background: Birth by cesarean delivery (CD) as opposed to vaginal delivery (VD) is associated with altered health outcomes later in life, including respiratory disorders, allergies and risk of developing type I diabetes. Epigenetic gene regulation is a proposed mechanism by which early life exposures affect later health outcomes. Previously, type of delivery has been found to be associated with differences in global methylation levels, but the sample sizes have been small. We measured global methylation in a large birth cohort to identify whether type of delivery is associated with epigenetic changes. Methods: DNA was isolated from cord blood collected from the University of Michigan Women’s & Children Hospital and bisulfite-converted. The Luminometric Methylation Assay (LUMA) and LINE-1 methylation assay were run on all samples in duplicate. Results: Global methylation data at CCGG sites throughout the genome, as measured by LUMA, were available from 392 births (52% male; 65% CD), and quantitative methylation levels at LINE-1 repetitive elements were available for 407 births (52% male; 64% CD). LUMA and LINE-1 methylation measurements were negatively correlated in this population (Spearman’ sr =�0.13, p =0.01). LUMA measurements were significantly lower for total CD and planned CD, but not emergency CD when compared to VD (median VD=74.8, median total CD=74.4, p=0.03; median planned CD=74.2, p=0.02; median emergency CD=75.3, p=0.39). However, this association did not persist when adjusting for maternal age, maternal smoking and infant gender. Furthermore, total CD deliveries, planned CD and emergency CD deliveries were not associated with LINE-1 measurements as compared to VD (median VD=82.2, median total CD=81.9, p=0.19; median planned CD=81.9, p=0.19; median emergency CD=82.1, p=0.52). This lack of association held when adjusting for maternal age, maternal smoking and infant gender in a multivariable model. Conclusions: Type of delivery was not associated with global methylation in our population, even after adjustment for maternal age, maternal smoking, and infant gender. While type of birth may be associated with later health outcomes, our data suggest that it does not do so through changes in global genomic methylation.
The unique association of iris heterochromia with Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome

Melanin biosynthesis is reduced in oculocutaneous albinism, an autosomal recessive disorder. Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome is associated with oculocutaneous albinism but also has systemic complications. The ocular and systemic phenotypes vary, depending, in part, on the genetic mutations. This report presents a case of a patient with Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome and the unique association of iris heterochromia.
3-phase 3-level single-stage ac-to-dc series resonant converter

This paper presents a new three-phase, 3-level, pulse width modulated (PWM), boost-integrated ac-to-dc series resonant converter (SRC) with high frequency transformer isolation. This converter uses a new gating scheme suitable for integrating a boost converter with a PWM 3-level dc-to-dc SRC converter with above resonance operation. Principle of operation of this converter along with its different operating modes is presented with analysis. Based on the analysis design example of a 1 kW, 48 V, 50 kHz ac-to-dc series resonant converter is presented to explain design procedure. PSPICE simulation results of the designed converter are presented for different loads. Results show soft-switching operation, low switch voltage and low total harmonic distortion of this converter for a reasonably wide range of loads.
Underrepresented Minority Dental Student Recruitment and Enrollment Programs: An Overview from the Dental Pipeline Program

By now, all dental schools should understand the need to increase the enrollment of underrepresented minority (URM) students. While there has been a major increase in the number of Hispanic/Latino, African American/Black, and Native American applicants to dental schools over the past decade, there has not been a major percent increase in the enrollment of URM students except in the schools participating in the Pipeline, Profession, and Practice: Community-Based Dental Education program, which have far exceeded the percent increase in enrollment of URM students in other U.S. dental schools during Phase I of the program (2002–07). Assuming that all dental schools wish to improve the diversity of their student bodies, chapters 9–12 of this report—for which this chapter serves as an introduction—provide strategies learned from the Pipeline schools to increase the applications and enrollment of URM students. Some of the changes that the Pipeline schools put into place were the result of two focus group studies of college and dental students of color. These studies provided guidance on some of the barriers and challenges students of color face when considering dentistry as a career. New accreditation standards make it clear that the field of dentistry expects dental schools to re-energize their commitment to diversity.
Absolute bounds on set intersection and union sizes from distribution information

A catalog of quick closed-form bounds on set intersection and union sizes is presented; they can be expressed as rules, and managed by a rule-based system architecture. These methods use a variety of statistics precomputed on the data, and exploit homomorphisms (onto mappings) of the data items onto distributions that can be more easily analyzed. The methods can be used anytime, but tend to work best when there are strong or complex correlations in the data. This circumstance is poorly handled by the standard independence-assumption and distributional-assumption estimates. >
Impact of the Pla Protease Substrate α2-Antiplasmin on the Progression of Primary Pneumonic Plague

Many pathogens usurp the host hemostatic system during infection to promote pathogenesis. Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague, expresses the plasminogen activator protease Pla, which has been shown in vitro to target and cleave multiple proteins within the fibrinolytic pathway, including the plasmin inhibitor α2-antiplasmin (A2AP). It is not known, however, if Pla inactivates A2AP in vivo; the role of A2AP during respiratory Y. pestis infection is not known either. Here, we show that Y. pestis does not appreciably cleave A2AP in a Pla-dependent manner in the lungs during experimental pneumonic plague. Furthermore, following intranasal infection with Y. pestis, A2AP-deficient mice exhibit no difference in survival time, bacterial burden in the lungs, or dissemination from wild-type mice. Instead, we found that in the absence of Pla, A2AP contributes to the control of the pulmonary inflammatory response during infection by reducing neutrophil recruitment and cytokine production, resulting in altered immunopathology of the lungs compared to A2AP-deficient mice. Thus, our data demonstrate that A2AP is not significantly affected by the Pla protease during pneumonic plague, and although A2AP participates in immune modulation in the lungs, it has limited impact on the course or ultimate outcome of the infection.
Do Surgeons’ Perceptions of Treatment Risks and Benefits Influence Their Decision to Operate?

METHODS: Criteria were elicited from an institution’s surgical faculty when making discharge decisions, using a survey instrument. Patient data from these surgical services were then analyzed using a time-to-event model to identify criteria that explain the timing of discharges. The data were then used to develop a timevarying prediction model of unplanned readmissions. The readmissions model was validated via a series of inand out-of-sample tests using bootstrapped, partitioned patients. All 3 sources of discharge practices were then compared.
Interannual to multidecadal climate forcings on groundwater resources of the U.S. West Coast

Abstract Study region The U.S. West Coast, including the Pacific Northwest and California Coastal Basins aquifer systems. Study focus Groundwater response to interannual to multidecadal climate variability has important implications for security within the water–energy–food nexus. Here we use Singular Spectrum Analysis to quantify the teleconnections between AMO, PDO, ENSO, and PNA and precipitation and groundwater level fluctuations. The computer program DAMP was used to provide insight on the influence of soil texture, depth to water, and mean and period of a surface infiltration flux on the damping of climate signals in the vadose zone. New hydrological insights for the region We find that PDO, ENSO, and PNA have significant influence on precipitation and groundwater fluctuations across a north-south gradient of the West Coast, but the lower frequency climate modes (PDO) have a greater influence on hydrologic patterns than higher frequency climate modes (ENSO and PNA). Low frequency signals tend to be preserved better in groundwater fluctuations than high frequency signals, which is a function of the degree of damping of surface variable fluxes related to soil texture, depth to water, mean and period of the infiltration flux. The teleconnection patterns that exist in surface hydrologic processes are not necessarily the same as those preserved in subsurface processes, which are affected by damping of some climate variability signals within infiltrating water.
Acceptability of Bush Meat as a Source of Animal Protein in Delta State, Nigeria: Implication for Extension Services

Abstract The study examined the acceptability of bush meat to Deltans. The specific objectives were to ascertain the consumption pattern of bush meat; identify the major types of bush meat consumed in the area; determine the likely constraints to bush meat consumption; and stipulate the extension implication of the findings. A systematic sampling technique was used to compose a sample size of 410 respondents. Data used for this study were collected using well structured interview schedule and data were analyzed using descriptive statistical techniques such as tables, percentages, means and standard deviation, and inferential statistics (linear regression model). The result of the study indicated that almost all the respondents (402) representing about 98% was formally consuming bush meat. The findings also revealed that as many as 323 individuals, representing 78.8% of the respondents did not consume bush meat currently. Only about 12.7% and 8.5% occasionally and regularly consumed bush meat respectively. It was therefore very obvious that people no longer consumed bush meat in Delta state as before. The results further indicated that the predominant bush meat consumed in the area were cane rat (97.70%) and the African giant snails (Achatina and Archachatina) (94.25%). The result of the multiple regression analyses indicated that the coefficient for education (X3), income (X5), Ebola (X6) and availability of game (X7) were significant at 5%, indicating that these variables were important factors influencing the consumption of bush meat in the study area. However, the coefficients of education level and Ebola factor were negative and significant, suggesting respondents with higher education and aware of Ebola disease were not likely to consume bush meat. As the result, it was concluded that bush meat was now almost unacceptable due to several factors like dread of Ebola disease, unavailability of game, educational level and income, which significantly affected the consumption of bush meat. It was therefore recommended among others that extension delivery services on how to domesticate game species should be available to farmers.
Work of adhesion/separation between soft elastomers of different mixing ratios

Adhesion between soft matter is a universal mechanical problem in bio-engineering and bio-integration. The Johnson–Kendall–Roberts (JKR) method is widely used to measure the work of adhesion and work of separation between soft materials. In this study, the JKR theory is recaptured and three complementary dimensionless parameters are summarized to help design adhesion measurement experiments compatible with the JKR theory. The work of adhesion/separation between two commonly used soft elastomers, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS, Sylgard® 184) and Ecoflex® 0300, is measured by the JKR method using a dynamical mechanical analyzer. Effects of base polymer to curing agent mixing ratio and solvent extraction are examined. A unified adhesion mechanism is proposed to explain the different adhesion behaviors. It is concluded that chain–matrix interaction is the most effective adhesion mechanism compared with chain–chain or matrix–matrix interactions. Chain–chain interaction obstructs chain–matrix interaction as it either blocks or entangles with surface chains which could have interacted with the matrix.
A novel approach to signal classification with an application to identifying the alcoholic brain

Graphical abstractDisplay Omitted HighlightsEvolving temporal pattern detectors for signal classification.We make no assumptions regarding the spectral characteristics of the data.The classification accuracies are comparable to the conventional techniques.Located EEG-sensors that showed abnormal electrical behavior for the alcoholics.Evolutionary learning paradigm unified feature extraction and classification steps. We introduce a novel approach to signal classification based on evolving temporal pattern detectors (TPDs) that can find the occurrences of embedded temporal structures in discrete time signals and illustrate its application to characterizing the alcoholic brain using visually evoked response potentials. In contrast to conventional techniques used for most signal classification tasks, this approach unifies the feature extraction and classification steps. It makes no prior assumptions regarding the spectral characteristics of the data; it merely assumes that some temporal patterns exist that distinguish two classes of signals and therefore could be applied to new signal classification tasks where a body of prior work identifying important features does not exist. Evolutionary computation (EC) discovers a classifier by simply learning from the time series samples.The alcoholic classification (AC) problem consists of 2 sub-tasks, one spatial and one temporal: choosing a subset of electroencephalogram leads used to create a composite signal (the spatial task), and detecting temporal patterns in this signal that are more prevalent in the alcoholics than the controls (the temporal task). To accomplish this, a novel representation and crossover operator were devised that enable multiple feature subset tasks to be solved concurrently. Three TPD techniques are presented that differ in the mechanism by which partial credit is assigned to temporal patterns that deviate from the specified pattern. An EC approach is used for evolving a subset of sensors and the TPD specifications. We found evidence that partial credit does help evolutionary discovery. Regions on the skull of an alcoholic subject that produced abnormal electrical activity compared to the controls were located. These regions were consistent with prior findings in the literature. The classification accuracy was measured as the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC); the ROC area for the training set varied from 90.32% to 98.83% and for the testing set it varied from 87.17% to 95.9%.
Interaction between Salmonella enteritidis and Candida albicans.

SummaryInjection of Candida albicans ic facilitated establishment of disease as evidenced from the LD50 studies. The LD50 at 14 days for mice injected ic with C. albicans was log 5.2 ± 0.5 cells and log 7.2 ± 0.5 cells when injected ip. The LD50 at 14 days for Salmonella enteritidis injected ic was log 6.6 ± 0.5. Interaction between mixed cultures of C. albicans and S. enteritidis was studied under various environmental conditions. Retardation of growth of C. albicans was noted in broth in presence of actively growing S. enteritidis. Cell-free culture filtrates of S. enteritidis or of C. albicans failed to inhibit proliferating cells of competing organisms. Also, test cultures grew commensally on all plates incubated aerobically as well as under anaerobic or microaerophilic conditions.Proliferation of S. enteritidis in the spleen, ceca, kidneys, and liver depended upon number of cells injected. Several organ tissues showed the presence of large populations of S. enteritidis when infected ip with log 6.0 o...
Stream sediment geochemistry of the upper Cheyenne River watershed within the abandoned uranium mining region of the southern Black Hills, South Dakota, USA

Abandoned uranium (U) mine workings and tailings deposits are found throughout the southern Black Hills of South Dakota. The close proximity of the mine sites to the Cheyenne River (CR) appears to promote elevated metal and radionuclide transport within the watershed, however, the extent of their contribution is unknown. Sixty sediment and soil samples were collected from potentially impacted locations within the watershed to elucidate contaminant occurrence and transport mechanisms. The degree of sediment contaminant impacts were assessed by establishing enrichment factors (EF) and pollution load indices (PLI) criterion as compared to non-mining impacted reference sites. Herron classifications suggest that the sediments collected from the southern Black Hills are immature, consistent with the presence of detrital feldspar. Generally, sediment Sr content were found depleted and intermittently enriched in Rb/Sr ratios compared to upper continental crust concentrations, suggesting physical weathering mechanisms predominate within the CR catchment up gradient of the Angostura Reservoir. Increasing EF and PLI indices coupled with low strontium (Sr) values suggest sediment contamination found along the CR and Angostura Reservoir delta appear attributed to anthropogenic activities and not natural weathering processes.
DPSCs from Inflamed Pulp Modulate Macrophage Function via the TNF-α/IDO Axis

Human dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) can be isolated from inflamed pulp derived from carious teeth with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis (I-DPSCs), which possess stemness and multidifferentiation potentials similar to DPSCs from healthy pulp. Since macrophages-essential cell players of the pulpal innate immunity-can regulate pulpal inflammation and repair, the authors investigated the immunomodulatory effects of DPSCs/I-DPSCs on macrophage functions and their underlying mechanisms. Similar to DPSCs, I-DPSCs were capable of colony-forming efficiency and adipogenic and osteo/dentinogenic differentiation under in vitro induction conditions. I-DPSCs also expressed a similar phenotypic profile of mesenchymal stem cell markers, except a relatively higher level of CD146 as compared with DPSCs. Coculture of DPSCs or I-DPSCs with differentiated THP-1 cells, the human monocyte cell line, markedly suppressed tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) secretion in response to stimulation with lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and/or nigericin. However, unlike TNF-α, the secreted level of interleukin 1β was not affected by coculture with DPSCs or I-DPSCs. Furthermore, DPSC/I-DPSC-mediated inhibition of TNF-α secretion by macrophages was abolished by pretreatment with 1-methyl-D-tryptophan, a specific inhibitor of indoleamine-pyrrole 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), but not by NSC-398, a specific inhibitor of COX-2, suggesting IDO as a mediator. Interestingly, IDO expression was significantly augmented in macrophages and mesenchymal stromal cells in inflamed human pulp tissues. Collectively, these findings show that I-DPSCs, similar to DPSCs, possess stem cell properties and suppress macrophage functions via the TNF-α/IDO axis, thereby providing a physiologically relevant context for their innate immunomodulatory activity in the dental pulp and their capability for pulp repair.