cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Binomial sequential sampling plans for cereal aphids (Homoptera: Aphididae) in spring wheat

Binomial sequential sampling plans usually are more efficient than sampling plans based on counting the number of insects per sample. Our objective was to develop robust binomial sequential sampling plans based on a range of action thresholds for 3 species of cereal aphids, Rhopalosiphum padi (L), Sitobion avenae (F.), and Schizaphis graminum (Rondani). Aphid population data were collected from 45 eastern North Dakota spring wheat fields during 1993-1995. The proportion of infested stems (P T ) with more than T (tally threshold) aphids was related to mean aphid density (m) with the empirical model ln[-ln(1 - P T )] = a + bln(m). The P T -m relationship fit the data well for T values of 0-4, with T = 3 having the best fit. Binomial sequential sampling plans were developed using a Monte-Carlo computer program based on the empirical model. Tally thresholds were evaluated with operating characteristic and average sample number functions. Increasing the tally threshold from 0 to 3 improved the accuracy of the sampling plans but also increased the average sample number required to make a decision. Sampling stop lines for binomial sequential sampling plans with tally thresholds of and 3 and action thresholds of 9 and 13 aphids per stem, and with a tally threshold of 3 and an action threshold of 17 aphids per stem, are provided for use in spring wheat. Sampling plans should be useful tools for spring wheat growers and crop consultants in the northern Great Plains and be applicable over a range of crop values and management costs.
Unique Variance in Job and Life Satisfaction Associated with Work-Related and Extra-Workplace Variables

Multiple regression procedures were used to assess the unique and incremental variance in job satisfaction and life satisfaction that could be accounted for by different sets of variables. A probability survey of 1041 adults indicated that work-related variables influence general life satisfaction and that extra-workplace variables influence job satisfaction.
Ultra low-k dielectric mechanical property characterization

To meet electrical performance requirements, the industry is implementing ultra-low dielectric constant (ULK) materials in the back end of line interconnect structure. ULK dielectrics are inherently weak compared to traditional dielectrics and pose significant challenges to electronic packaging processes and reliability. Accurate mechanical properties are a prerequisite for upfront risk assessments associated with low-k integration using numerical simulations. In this paper, techniques used to characterize ULK dielectric elastic modulus and in-plane/out-of-plane coefficient of thermal expansion will be presented and the data for a candidate ULK dielectric will be summarized. Nanoindentation of ULK films on substrate was used to determine the plane strain modulus. In the direction normal to the film, the temperature gradient of the thermal expansion strain along the film thickness was measured by X-ray reflectivity. In the plane of the film, the temperature gradient of the biaxial thermal stress was obtained by the substrate curvature measurements. A method to deduce Poisson's ratio of the thin ULK film is proposed using the data from the afore-mentioned characterization techniques.
A very personal journey

The College has recently approved a two-part film entitled, The Journey about the safety of patients in the operating theatre. It is designed to provoke discussion and has certainly ensured a widespread and at times heated response from surgeons. The film's subject is not the technical but the non-technical skills required to work with others in a safe team. Such factors are now known to be the original cause of about three quarters of surgical 'accidents'.
Further insights into the phylogeny of Arabidopsis (Brassicaceae) from nuclear Atmyb2 flanking sequence.

Abstract Arabidopsis thaliana is the preeminent plant model organism. However, significant advances in evolution and ecology are being made by expanding the scope of research beyond this single species into the broader genus Arabidopsis . Surprisingly, few studies have rigorously investigated phylogenetic relationships between the nine Arabidopsis species, and this study evaluates both these and hypotheses related to two instances of intra-generic hybridization. DNA sequences from the 5′ flanking region of the nuclear Atmyb2 gene from 12 of the 14 Arabidopsis taxa were used to reconstruct the generic phylogeny. The strict consensus tree was highly concordant with previous studies, identifying lineages corresponding to widespread species but exhibiting a large basal polytomy. Our data indicates that the paternal parent of the allopolyploid A. suecica is A. neglecta rather than A. arenosa s.l., although the need for a detailed phylogeographical study of these three species is noted. Finally, our data provided additional phylogenetic evidence of hybridization between Arabidopsis lyrata s.l. and A. halleri s.l. Taken together, the well-defined lineages within the genus and the potential for hybridization between them highlight Arabidopsis as a promising group for comparative and experimental studies of hybridization.
Classical Conditioning in a Nonclinical Obsessive-Compulsive Population

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an intrusive and debilitating condition in which the individual experiences uncontrollable thoughts, compulsions, and urges. Successful treatments for OCD are based on Mowrer's theory of fear and avoidance behavior, which predicts that OCD subjects should show accelerated associative conditioning. This prediction was tested in two experiments that compared the classical eyeblink conditioning of OCD-like and control college students. OCD and control subjects learned normally and similarly when the conditioning procedure was accompanied by an active visual search background task (Experiment 1). However, when the background task was changed so that subjects passively viewed neutral pictures, OCD subjects conditioned significantly faster than control subjects (Experiment 2). Overall, the performance of all subjects in Experiment 1 was superior to the performance of subjects in Experiment 2.
Pediatric Health Care Provider Perceptions of Weight Loss Surgery in Adolescents

This study explored pediatric health care providers’ obesity treatment practices and perceptions about adolescent weight loss surgery (WLS). Surveys were e-mailed to pediatric listservs. After descriptive analyses, correlations, chi-squares, and one-way analyses of variance compared responses by provider characteristics. Surveys were completed by 109 providers. Almost half do not routinely measure body mass index. Providers typically counsel patients about lifestyle change, with limited perceived benefit; <10% have ever referred patients for WLS, citing cost (20%), risk (49%), or “not indicated in pediatrics” (17%) as reasons. However, when presented with patient scenarios of different ages and comorbidities, likeliness to refer for WLS increased substantially. Surgeons, younger providers and those with fewer years of experience were more likely to refer for WLS (P < .05). Despite expert consensus recommendations supporting WLS as part of a comprehensive obesity treatment plan, significant pediatric provi...
Prospects in the Total Synthesis of Protein Therapeutics

Protein therapeutics are gaining headway in the treatment and prevention of a variety of maladies. Critical to the success and growing use of biologic-level pharmaceuticals is the development of methods for their precise synthesis. This review highlights the emerging techniques for the total synthesis of proteins, with a special focus on the possibility of accessing therapeutic targets through chemoselective peptide ligations.
Relationship Between Medical Well Baby Visits and First Dental Examinations for Young Children in Medicaid

Objectives. We examined the relationship between preventive well baby visits (WBVs) and the timing of first dental examinations for young Medicaid-enrolled children.Methods. The study focused on children born in 2000 and enrolled continuously in the Iowa Medicaid Program from birth to age 41 months (n = 6322). The main predictor variables were number and timing of WBVs. The outcome variable was timing of first dental examination. We used survival analysis to evaluate these relationships.Results. Children with more WBVs between ages 1 and 2 years and ages 2 and 3 years were 2.96 and 1.25 times as likely, respectively, to have earlier first dental examinations as children with fewer WBVs. The number of WBVs before age 1 year and the timing of the WBVs were not significantly related to the outcome.Conclusions. The number of WBVs from ages 1 to 3 years was significantly related to earlier first dental examinations, whereas the number of WBVs before age 1 year and the timing of WBVs were not. Future interventi...
Review: Des Facteurs Physiologiques Determinant Les Migrations Reproductrices Des Cyclostomes et Poissons Potamotoques

Abstract by Maurice Fontaine Bulletin de l'Institut Oceanographique, No. 848, 8 pp. Monaco, 1943
Paving the Way? Penalty and Atonement in Thomas Aquinas's Soteriology

This article explores the soteriology of Thomas Aquinas. In particular, it considers recent debates over whether Thomas altered Anselm's satisfaction theory in a way which opened the door to the later theory of penal substitution. The article argues that Thomas did indeed alter Anselm's atonement theory in this way insofar as he incorporates punishment within his concept of satisfaction; however, it further contends that his use of ‘placation’ or ‘appeasement’ language does not contribute to such an alteration.
Neuron-specific expression of the rat gonadotropin-releasing hormone gene is conferred by interactions of a defined promoter element with the enhancer in GT1-7 cells.

Neuroendocrine control of the reproductive cascade is mediated by GnRH, which in mammals is produced by a subset of neurons scattered throughout the hypothalamus and forebrain. Utilizing a cultured cell model of GnRH neurons (GT1–7 cells), two regulatory regions in the rat GnRH 5′ flanking DNA were identified as essential for cell-type specificity: a 300-bp enhancer and a 173-bp conserved proximal promoter. Using transient transfections to compare expression in GT1–7 cells to a non-GnRH-expressing cell type (NIH 3T3), we show that the GnRH enhancer and the proximal promoter each play roles in conferring this specificity. Deletion of footprint 2 (FP2; −26 to −76) from the promoter when coupled to the GnRH enhancer diminishes reporter activity in GT1–7 cells more strongly than in NIH 3T3 cells. Furthermore, deletion of FP2 from the promoter when coupled to the heterologous Rous sarcoma virus 5′-long terminal repeat promoter abolishes the difference in reporter activity between GT1–7 and NIH 3T3 cells, sugge...
Identification of the rph (RNase PH) gene of Bacillus subtilis: evidence for suppression of cold-sensitive mutations in Escherichia coli.

A shotgun cloning of Bacillus subtilis DNA into pBR322 yielded a 2-kb fragment that suppresses the cold-sensitive defect of the nusA10(Cs) Escherichia coli mutant. The responsible gene encodes an open reading frame that is greater than 50% identical at the amino acid level to the E. coli rph gene, which was formerly called orfE. This B. subtilis gene is located at 251 degrees adjacent to the gerM gene on the B. subtilis genetic map. It has been named rph because, like its E. coli analog, it encodes a phosphate-dependent exoribonuclease activity, RNase PH, that removes the 39 nucleotides from precursor tRNAs. The cloned B. subtilis rph gene also suppresses the cold-sensitive phenotype of other unrelated cold-sensitive mutants of E. coli, but not the temperature-sensitive phenotype of three temperature-sensitive mutants, including the nusA11(Ts) mutant, that were tested. Images
Evolutionary Automata

Expressiveness and convergence of evolutionary computation (EC) is studied using the evolutionary automata model. It turns out that all standard classes of evolutionary automata are equally expressive when they operate in the terminal mode, i.e. in the terminal mode, evolutionary finite automata (EFA) are as expressive as evolutionary pushdown automata, evolutionary linearly bounded automata, evolutionary Turing machines or evolutionary inductive Turing machines. For example, the simplest class of evolutionary automata, EFA, can accept all recursively enumerable languages (i.e. EFA have power of Turing machines) and even more—they can accept languages that are not recursively enumerable. Due to utilization of evolutionary automata, we obtain also very simple sufficient conditions for convergence of EC.
Culture of chicken embryos in surrogate eggshells

Abstract The chick embryo is a classical model to study embryonic development. However, most researchers have not studied the effect of embryonic manipulation on chick hatchability. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of egg orientation and type of sealing film on the hatchability of cultured embryos. Windows were made in the small end of recipient surrogate chicken eggshells, and donor embryos were placed into the recipient eggshell for the first 3 d of incubation. Survival over the first 3 d was maximized (P 0.05) different from the hatchability of eggs sealed with Handi Wrap, which suggested that Handi Wrap was an excellent sealant for chick embryos cultured after 3 d of incubation.
Cyclic AMP Stimulates Fructose Transport in Neonatal Rat Small Intestine

Intestinal fructose transporter (GLUT5) expression normally increases significantly after completion of weaning in neonatal rats. Increases in GLUT5 mRNA, protein, and activity can be induced in early weaning pups by precocious consumption of dietary fructose or by perfusion of the small intestine with fructose solutions. Little is known about the signal transduction pathway of the dietary fructose-mediated increase in GLUT5 expression during early intestinal development. Recent microarray results indicate that key gluconeogenic enzymes modulated by cAMP are markedly upregulated by fructose perfusion; hence, we tested the hypothesis that cAMP plays an important role in regulating intestinal fructose absorption by simultaneously perfusing adenylyl cyclase, phosphodiesterase, or protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitors along with fructose. Intestinal fructose uptake rates increased by 100% in rat pups perfused with 8-bromo-cAMP. Simultaneous fructose and dideoxyadenosine (DDA; inhibitor of adenylyl cyclase) perfusion completely inhibited increases in fructose uptake rate induced by perfusion with fructose alone. Fructose perfusion increased intestinal mucosal cAMP concentrations by 27%, but simultaneous perfusion of fructose and DDA inhibited the fructose-induced increase in cAMP. However, GLUT5 and sodium-glucose cotransporter (SGLT1) mRNA abundance and glucose transport rates were each not significantly affected by 8-bromo-cAMP and DDA. Moreover, simultaneous perfusion of the small intestine with fructose and PKA inhibitor or N-[2-(p-bromocinnamylamino)ethyl]-5-isoquinolinesulfonamid. 2HCl, both inhibitors of PKA, did not prevent the fructose-induced increases in GLUT5 mRNA abundance and fructose uptake rate. Cyclic AMP appears to modulate fructose transport without affecting GLUT5 mRNA abundance, and without involving PKA.
MZDASoft: a software architecture that enables large-scale comparison of protein expression levels over multiple samples based on liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry.

Rationale Without accurate peak linking/alignment, only the expression levels of a small percentage of proteins can be compared across multiple samples in Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry/Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) due to the selective nature of tandem MS peptide identification. This greatly hampers biomedical research that aims at finding biomarkers for disease diagnosis, treatment, and the understanding of disease mechanisms. A recent algorithm, PeakLink, has allowed the accurate linking of LC/MS peaks without tandem MS identifications to their corresponding ones with identifications across multiple samples collected from different instruments, tissues and labs, which greatly enhanced the ability of comparing proteins. However, PeakLink cannot be implemented practically for large numbers of samples based on existing software architectures, because it requires access to peak elution profiles from multiple LC/MS/MS samples simultaneously. Methods We propose a new architecture based on parallel processing, which extracts LC/MS peak features, and saves them in database files to enable the implementation of PeakLink for multiple samples. The software has been deployed in High-Performance Computing (HPC) environments. The core part of the software, MZDASoft Parallel Peak Extractor (PPE), can be downloaded with a user and developer's guide, and it can be run on HPC centers directly. The quantification applications, MZDASoft TandemQuant and MZDASoft PeakLink, are written in Matlab, which are compiled with a Matlab runtime compiler. A sample script that incorporates all necessary processing steps of MZDASoft for LC/MS/MS quantification in a parallel processing environment is available. The project webpage is http://compgenomics.utsa.edu/zgroup/MZDASoft. Results The proposed architecture enables the implementation of PeakLink for multiple samples. Significantly more (100%–500%) proteins can be compared over multiple samples with better quantification accuracy in test cases. Conclusion MZDASoft enables large-scale comparison of protein expression levels over multiple samples with much larger protein comparison coverage and better quantification accuracy. It is an efficient implementation based on parallel processing which can be used to process large amounts of data. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthetic methodology towards novel polyphenylated naphthalocyanines

Phenylated phthalocyanines and naphthalocyanines have rarely been explored, due to their low solubilities and high aggregation tendencies. We describe here a novel route for the synthesis of a polyphenylated (sixteen phenyl groups) naphthalocyanine via a Diels-Alder reaction. The phenyl substituents, which are orthogonal to the macrocyclic plane, lead to improved solubility and minimal intermolecular aggregation.
Conformal Geometry and Its Applications on 3D Shape Matching, Recognition, and Stitching

Three-dimensional shape matching is a fundamental issue in computer vision with many applications such as shape registration, 3D object recognition, and classification. However, shape matching with noise, occlusion, and clutter is a challenging problem. In this paper, we analyze a family of quasi-conformal maps including harmonic maps, conformal maps, and least-squares conformal maps with regards to 3D shape matching. As a result, we propose a novel and computationally efficient shape matching framework by using least-squares conformal maps. According to conformal geometry theory, each 3D surface with disk topology can be mapped to a 2D domain through a global optimization and the resulting map is a diffeomorphism, i.e., one-to-one and onto. This allows us to simplify the 3D shape-matching problem to a 2D image-matching problem, by comparing the resulting 2D parametric maps, which are stable, insensitive to resolution changes and robust to occlusion, and noise. Therefore, highly accurate and efficient 3D shape matching algorithms can be achieved by using the above three parametric maps. Finally, the robustness of least-squares conformal maps is evaluated and analyzed comprehensively in 3D shape matching with occlusion, noise, and resolution variation. In order to further demonstrate the performance of our proposed method, we also conduct a series of experiments on two computer vision applications, i.e., 3D face recognition and 3D nonrigid surface alignment and stitching.
Pole-Zero, Zero-Pole Canceling Input Shapers

This paper presents the development of an input-shaper/time-delay filter, which exploits knowledge of the zeros of a minimum-phase transfer function to reduce the output-transition time for a rest-to-rest maneuver problem, compared to the traditional zero vibration (ZV) input shaper. The maneuver time of the robust input shaper presented in this work will correspondingly have a smaller maneuver time compared to the zero vibration derivative (ZVD) input-shaper. The shaped profile is changing with time even after the completion of the maneuver similar to postactuation controllers. All the traditional technique for addressing multiple modes and desensitizing the filter over a specified domain of uncertainties are applicable to the technique presented in this paper.
Observations, models, and mechanisms of failure of surface rocks surrounding planetary surface loads

Geophysical models of flexural stresses in an elastic lithosphere due to an axisymmetric surface load typically predict a transition with increased distance from the center of the load of radial thrust faults to strike-slip faults to concentric normal faults. These model predictions are in conflict with the absence of annular zones of strike-slip faults around prominent loads such as lunar maria, Martian volcanoes, and the Martian Tharsis rise. We suggest that this paradox arises from difficulties in relating failure criteria for brittle rocks to the stress models. Indications that model stresses are inappropriate for use in fault-type prediction include (1) tensile principal stresses larger than realistic values of rock tensile strength, and/or (2) stress differences significantly larger than those allowed by rock-strength criteria. Predictions of surface faulting that are consistent with observations can be obtained instead by using tensile and shear failure criteria, along with calculated stress differences and trajectories, with model stress states not greatly in excess of the maximum allowed by rock fracture criteria.
Plain X-Rays for Penetrating Trauma

With the advent of new and sophisticated imaging technology, one may rightfully question whether there is still a role for conventional radiography in penetrating injuries. Though there is no question that advanced imaging provides superior resolution and diagnostic capability, there is still great utility in using plain x-rays for rapid assessment of penetrating injuries. Despite the limitations of x-rays, they can provide a wealth of rapid information to those experienced in their interpretation. We have presented several scenarios in which plain film imaging can be used for the initial evaluation in the patient sustaining penetrating trauma. In conjunction with physical examination, conventional radiography allows for more judicious use of adjunctive imaging studies, which in turn can reduce health care costs and resource utilization.
The Impact of Process Structure on Novice, Internet-Based, Asynchronous-Distributed Collaborative Writing Teams

Asynchronous-distributed (AD) collaborative writing (CW) is an important form of the growing trend of distributed work. However, AD CW typically results in multiple process losses. We argue that using advanced writing technologies designed for AD work alone is not sufficient by itself to overcome these losses. Instead, adopting high levels of process structure delivered in the form of explicitly written procedural scripts can improve the results of AD CW groups. We performed an experiment with over 500 subjects working in groups supported by advanced CW technologies that were designed for AD work. Subjects were given six weeks to conduct their work. We found that high levels of process structure in novice AD CW groups that worked on a moderately complex task created significantly better outcomes than did groups using low levels of process structure. Groups with high levels of process structure had better results in terms of production, document quality, satisfaction, relationships, and communication. In no case did low-structure groups outperform high-structure groups. This research supports our hypothesis that increased process structure delivered in the form of a repeatable process script can decrease process losses and increase process gains in novice AD CW groups. We conclude that it is not sufficient to give novice AD writing groups CW technology and time to conduct their tasks; these groups also need appropriate procedural support, which can be provided effectively through written scripts.
Pattern formation in thin polymer films: A new morphology

Researchers have shown that thin, nonwetting, liquid homopolymer films dewet substrates, forming patterns that reflect fluctuations in the local film thickness. These patterns have been shown to be either discrete cylindrical holes or bicontinuous “spinodal-like” patterns. In this paper we show the existence of a new morphology. During the early stage of dewetting, discrete highly asymmetric holes appear spontaneously throughout the film. The nucleation rate of these holes is faster than their growth rate. The morphology of the late stage of evolution, after 18 days, is characterized by a bicontinuous pattern, distinct form conventional spinodal dewetting patterns. This morphology has been observed for a range of film thicknesses between 7.5 and 21nm. The structural evolution of this intermediate morphology is discussed.
Future trends and directions

Abstract This book summarizes some of the latest mainstream efforts toward the application of nanotechnology for the development of advanced materials for civil, construction, and structural engineering. A large body of work presented is aimed at incorporating nanomaterials, such as nanotubes, nanofibers, and nanoparticles, during the casting and construction of infrastructure materials. Despite the various types of innovative new material systems discussed in this book, several grand challenges (ie, the scalability, multifunctionality, and constructability of these new engineered materials) need to be solved before they can be adopted for practice. Continued research in nanotechnology for civil, construction, and structural engineering is direly needed.
COMPUTER AIDED STUDIES OF BIOMOLECULAR STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

Abstract This study focuses on the methodology and computational strategies for the determination of molecular structure of biological molecules, of central interest is how to treat intermolecular interactions in large systems. To this end a review of recent results from our laboratory and others will be discussed with the following topics analysized: A.) Effect and quality of wavefunctions. B.) Use of multi-pole expansion technique for calculating intermolecular interactions and electrostatic potentials in large systems. C.) Comparison of supermolecule ab initio and Intermolecular Interaction approaches to the computation of chemical systems.
Troponin elevations in patients with chronic cardiovascular disease: An analysis of current evidence and significance

Serum troponin elevation above the 99th percentile of the upper reference limit in healthy subjects (<0.01 ng/ml measured using currently available high-sensitivity cardiac troponin laboratory assays) is required to establish the diagnosis the diagnosis of myocardial necrosis in acute cardiovascular syndromes, as well as guide prognosis and therapy. In the perioperative period, for patients with cardiac disease undergoing noncardiac surgery, it is a particularly critical biomarker universally used to assess the myocardial damage. The value of troponin testing and elevation (as well as its significance) in patients with chronic cardiac valvular, vascular, and renal disease is relatively less well understood. This evidence-based review seeks to examine the currently available data assessing the significance of troponin elevation in certain chronic valvular and other disease states.
MULTIDIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS OF GEOGRAPHIC GENETIC STRUCTURE

Multilocus data are an important source of information on genetic variation within and among natural populations. Hierarchical techniques are used widely for examining multilo- cus data. However, the limitations of hierarchical (phenetic or phylogenetic) algorithms to depict geographic genetic structure, particularly within species, have long been recognized. Multidi- mensional scaling of genetic distances is herein examined as a useful technique for exploratory analysis of geographic genetic structure. The advantages and limitations of multidimensional scaling are discussed and illustrated with reanalyses of two case studies: pocket gophers (Tho- momys bottae) of the central California "genetic group" and a hybrid zone of two chromosomal forms of the tent-making bat (Uroderma bilobatum). Multidimensional scaling does recover hi- erarchical patterns when present and is especially useful to uncover nonhierarchical patterns of variation. The finding that reticular and clinal patterns of variation may be examined via multidimensional scaling even in the absence of fixed genetic differences between hybridizing taxa opens new possibilities for studying geographic genetic divergence and speciation. (Geo- graphic structure; multidimensional scaling; genetic variation; hybrid zones; Thomomys; Uro- derma.) The analysis of geographic genetic struc- ture of natural populations is of paramount importance for understanding the patterns and processes of differentiation and spe- ciation. Much of our knowledge of genetic variation stems from numerous electro- phoretic surveys carried out over the last two decades. A variety of techniques, in- cluding phenetic and cladistic hierarchical algorithms, may be used in the search for overall patterns on the basis of multilocus data such as those obtained by electropho- resis. Barring reticular evolution (itself not a trivial issue), a hierarchical approach is fully justified in interspecific assessments.
Life history of Ixodes (Ixodes) jellisoni (Acari: Ixodidae) and its vector competence for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato.

Ixodes (Ixodes) jellisoni Cooley & Kohls, a nonhuman biting and little known tick, is one of 4 members of the I. ricinus complex in the United States. A localized population of I. jellisoni inhabiting a grassland biotope in Mendocino County, CA, was studied from 1993 to 1997. Rodent trapping in all seasons revealed that the only host of both immature and adult I. jellisoni was the heteromyid rodent Dipodomys californicus Merriam. Field investigations suggested that I. jellisoni is nidicolous in habit, and laboratory findings demonstrated that it reproduces parthenogenetically. Known parthenogenetic females (n = 4) produced an average of 530 eggs of which 74% hatched, which was comparable to the fecundity and fertility of wild-caught females (n = 8). After the transstadial molt, 57 F1 or F2 nymphs derived from 2 wild-caught or 4 laboratory-reared, unmated females produced only females. Ixodes jellisoni males were not found on 112 wild-caught D. californicus individuals that were captured an average of 2 times. Collectively, these findings suggest that I. jellisoni may be obligatorily parthenogenetic. Borrelial isolates were obtained from 85% of 58 D. californicus and 33% of 21 I. jellisoni females removed from this rodent. None of the 7 infected female ticks passed borreliae ovarially to its F1 larval progeny. Eight D. californicus and 5 I. jellisoni-derived isolates that were genetically characterized belonged to 2 restriction pattern groups of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. Neither restriction pattern group has been assigned to a particular genospecies yet. After placement on naturally infected D. californicus, noninfected larval ticks acquired and transstadially passed spirochetes as efficiently as (group 1 borreliae) or 6 times more efficiently (group 2 borreliae) than Ixodes pacificus Cooley & Kohls. As few as 1-4 infected I. jellisoni nymphs were capable of transmitting group 1 or group 2 borreliae to naive D. californicus. We conclude that I. jellisoni is a competent vector of both restriction fragment groups when D. californicus is used as the animal model.
The Potential That Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems Can be a Disruptive Technology: Results From a National Survey

Introduction: This study evaluates the reasons for use and acceptance of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) among current and former cigarette smokers to assess if ENDS may become a satisfying alternative to cigarettes. Methods: Data are from a national probability sample of 5717 US adults, surveyed June–November 2014. The survey contained questions on awareness, usage, and reasons for use of traditional and novel tobacco products. The analytic sample was current and former smokers who ever used ENDS (n = 729) and was divided into four mutually exclusive categories. Among the 585 current smokers, 337 were no longer using ENDS (“E-Cig Rejecters”), and 248 were continuing to use both ENDS and cigarettes (“E-Cig Dual Users”). Among 144 former cigarette smokers, 101 were non-recent users of ENDS (“Quit All Products”), and 43 were continuing to use ENDS exclusively (“Switchers”). Results: Former smokers (the “Switchers”) report finding ENDS a satisfying alternative to regular cigarettes, with only 15.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.4–27.1) rating ENDS as less enjoyable than regular cigarettes. However, greater than fivefold more current smokers did not find them satisfying and stopped using them (77.3%; 95% CI 72.1–82.4 of “E-Cig Rejecters” rated ENDS as less enjoyable). Being less harmful was the most highly rated reason for continuing to use ENDS among “Switchers.” Most (80.9%) “Switchers” reported that ENDS helped them quit cigarettes. Conclusion: Since many current smokers who have tried ENDS reject them as a satisfying alternative to regular cigarettes, ENDS will not replace regular cigarettes unless they improve. Implications: Since about one-half of recent former smokers are trying ENDS with about onefourth continuing to use them, and many reporting that these products have helped them quit regular cigarettes, the potential impact of ENDS on population quit rates deserves continued surveillance. However, since most current smokers who have tried ENDS reject them as a satisfying alternative to regular cigarettes, the potential of ENDS becoming a disruptive technology replacing regular cigarettes remains uncertain. ENDS need to improve as a satisfying alternative or the attractiveness and appeal of the regular cigarette must be degraded to increase the potential of ENDS replacing regular cigarettes.
The Exploration of Teaching Reform in Chinese Rice Wine Brewing Technology

Based on the characteristics and practice of Rice Wine Brewing Technology,the specific measures for teaching content reform of Rice Wine Brewing Technology were discussed from several aspects,such as making curriculum standard to stand out vocational ability culture,selecting teaching content,reforming teaching method and curriculum assessment and evaluation,so as to improve the teaching quality and teaching effectiveness.
Expression of microRNA-34a in Alzheimer's disease brain targets genes linked to synaptic plasticity, energy metabolism, and resting state network activity

Polygenetic risk factors and reduced expression of many genes in late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) impedes identification of a target(s) for disease-modifying therapies. We identified a single microRNA, miR-34a that is over expressed in specific brain regions of AD patients as well as in the 3xTg-AD mouse model. Specifically, increased miR-34a expression in the temporal cortex region compared to age matched healthy control correlates with severity of AD pathology. miR-34a over expression in patient's tissue and forced expression in primary neuronal culture correlates with concurrent repression of its target genes involved in synaptic plasticity, oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis. The repression of oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis related proteins correlates with reduced ATP production and glycolytic capacity, respectively. We also found that miR-34a overexpressed neurons secrete miR-34a containing exosomes that are taken up by neighboring neurons. Furthermore, miR-34a targets dozens of genes whose expressions are known to be correlated with synchronous activity in resting state functional networks. Our analysis of human genomic sequences from the tentative promoter of miR-34a gene shows the presence of NFκB, STAT1, c-Fos, CREB and p53 response elements. Together, our results raise the possibilities that pathophysiology-induced activation of specific transcription factor may lead to increased expression of miR-34a gene and miR-34a mediated concurrent repression of its target genes in neural networks may result in dysfunction of synaptic plasticity, energy metabolism, and resting state network activity. Thus, our results provide insights into polygenetic AD mechanisms and disclose miR-34a as a potential therapeutic target for AD.
Disorders of Sexual Differentiation and Development: Psychological Aspects

Children with abnormalities in sexual differentiation and development can have a smooth course of psychosocial development in spite of the significant risks and challenges they face. Chances for a positive emotional outcome are made more likely by the careful handling of these patients at the time of first presentation. Parents' unambiguous acceptance of the child's sex of rearing and early surgical intervention to normalize the child's external genital appearance are critical elements in a positive outcome. Further, the patterns of behavior documented in the materials reviewed in this article suggest difficulties of immaturity and social development rather than significant psychopathology. Parent-child interactions were repeatedly found to be central to the child's emotional well-being, underscoring the need to provide parents with adequate counsel and support. These patterns, however, represent findings across groups of patients and cannot predict the emotional, social, or academic functioning of any individual. Within all these clinical syndromes there is great individual variation in social, emotional, and physical presentation. Finally, rather than minimizing problems, physicians need to educate parents so they can be active advocates for their children in the educational and social arenas.
Measurement of mouth occlusion pressure as an index of respiratory centre output in man.

1. Simultaneous measurements of mouth pressure at the end of the first 0·1 s of inspiratory occlusion (P0·1) at functional residual capacity and the maximum rate of rise of this pressure (dP/dt max.) were made repeatedly in five normal subjects during resting respiration; the coefficient of variation of dP/dt max. was 36·2%, compared with 50·6% for P0·1. 2. During both isocapnic hypoxia and hyperoxic hypercapnia in five normal subjects there was a close correlation between ventilation (VE) and both P0·1 and dP/dt max., and between end-tidal Pco2 or Po2 and P0·1 and dP/dt max.; during both procedures there was a close correlation between P0·1 and dP/dt max. 3. The time at which dP/dt max. occurred (Tmax.) was not correlated with changes of dP/dt max. in either procedure. Tmax. was greater than 0·12 s in most studies. 4. The regression coefficients of P0·1 and dP/dt max. on VE were significantly different in hypoxia as compared with hypercapnia in four out of the five subjects; on repeated hypercapnic stimulation in two out of three subjects these regression coefficients again varied significantly. Changes in lung volume or inspiratory volume-timing relationship were not responsible for these differences. These results suggest that mouth occlusion pressure, as reflected by P0·1 or dP/dt max., is a complex variable, reflecting the motor output of the respiratory centre, but also affected by random variations in the measurements and probably by changes in lung volume.
Hyaluronic Acid Capsule Modulates Interactions of Group A Streptococci with Human Epidermal Keratinocytes

Group A Streptococcus (GAS) remains an important cause of human diseases ranging from mild pharyngitis and pyoderma to life-threatening, invasive soft tissue and systemic infections. The streptococcal and host factors that determine the pathogenesis of the wide variety of clinical manifestations remain incompletely understood. GAS infection begins at one of two anatomic sites: in the pharynx or in the external skin, often in association with a break in the skin from a surgical or traumatic wound, varicella infection, or a trivial injury such as an insect bite. Development of clinical pharyngitis or skin infection requires that the organisms attach to the epithelium, then breach the epithelial barrier to establish a nidus of infection within the tissue. Some investigators have found that streptococci enter human cells in vitro and have suggested that entry may represent an early step in the development of invasive infection.2, 5 Entry and proliferation within host cells by intracellular bacteria such as Listeria monocytogenes is necessary for avoidance of host defenses (e.g., opsonins and phagocytes) and for development of disease. By contrast, GAS proliferates not in the intracellular environment, but rather in the extracellular domain causing local suppuration and sometimes spreading to deeper tissues and the blood stream. Therefore, the significance of entry into host cells for GAS is less clear than for obligate intracellular pathogens.
Nanoscience — Potential and Threats

As the world’s population continues to expand, scientists are working to address the energy needs and challenges that accompany growth with environmentally responsible approaches. Nanoscience is helping to provide solutions to energy and environmental concerns in a number of ways.
Accurate analytical structural stress and stress intensity factor solutions for similar and dissimilar spot welds in lap-shear specimens

Abstract New analytical closed-form structural stress solutions for a rigid inclusion in a finite square thin plate under counter bending, central bending, in-plane shear and tension are developed. The new solutions are used to derive new analytical structural stress and stress intensity factor solutions for similar and dissimilar spot welds in lap-shear specimens. The new analytical solutions can predict the stress intensity factor solutions for similar and dissimilar magnesium/steel spot welds in lap-shear specimens of equal thickness under pinned loading conditions with less than 6% differences when compared with the results of three-dimensional finite element analyses.
Epitaxial Fe Thin Films on {100} Y 2 Ti 2 O 7 : Model Interfaces for Nano-Oxide Dispersion Strengthened Steels

Nanostructured Ferritic Alloys, a variant of oxide dispersion strengthened steels, contain a high density of ≈2.5 nm Y-Ti-O nano-oxides (NOs) that provide remarkable irradiation tolerance, enhance recombination of vacancies and self-interstitial irradiation defects, and trap He in fine-scale bubbles at their interfaces. To complement studies of embedded NOs, mesoscopic-scale metal-oxide interfaces were fabricated by electron beam deposition of Fe films on {100} Y2Ti2O7 (YTO) bulk single-crystal substrates. We report, for the first time, the dominant epitaxial orientation relationship (OR) for the polycrystalline Fe film: {110}Fe\\{100}YTO and 〈111〉Fe\\〈110〉YTO. Further, one large grain region had an OR that is also found in embedded NOs: {100}Fe\\{100}YTO and 〈100〉Fe\\〈110〉YTO. HRTEM studies show clean, semicoherent interfaces with misfit dislocation spacings of 0.7 and 1.4 nm, respectively. These observations are important for the development of first principles models of metal-oxide interfaces, and the bilayers themselves will be used to observe the He partitioning between the Fe, YTO, and the corresponding interface.
Repeated Dietary Exposure to Low Levels of Domoic Acid and Problems with Everyday Memory: Research to Public Health Outreach

Domoic Acid (DA) is a marine-based neurotoxin. Dietary exposure to high levels of DA via shellfish consumption has been associated with Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning, with milder memory decrements found in Native Americans (NAs) with repetitive, lower level exposures. Despite its importance for protective action, the clinical relevance of these milder memory problems remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine whether repeated, lower-level exposures to DA impact everyday memory (EM), i.e., the frequency of memory failures in everyday life. A cross-sectional sample of 60 NA men and women from the Pacific NW was studied with measures of dietary exposure to DA via razor clam (RC) consumption and EM. Findings indicated an association between problems with EM and elevated consumption of RCs with low levels of DA throughout the previous week and past year after controlling for age, sex, and education. NAs who eat a lot of RCs with presumably safe levels of DA are at risk for clinically significant memory problems. Public health outreach to minimize repetitive exposures are now in place and were facilitated by the use of community-based participatory research methods, with active involvement of state regulatory agencies, tribe leaders, and local physicians.
Evaluation of interval regression analysis for uncertain resistance spot welding quality data

This article presents an interval regression analysis method to model uncertain resistance spot welding (RSW) quality data. The goal of this approach is to support making decisions using the RSW qu...
Consistent pollen nutritional intake drives bumble bee (Bombus impatiens) colony growth and reproduction across different habitats.

Foraging behavior is a critical adaptation by insects to obtain appropriate nutrients from the environment for development and fitness. Bumble bees (Bombus spp.) form annual colonies which must rapidly increase their worker populations to support rearing reproductive individuals before the end of the season. Therefore, colony growth and reproduction should be dependent on the quality and quantity of pollen resources in the surrounding landscape. Our previous research found that B. impatiens foraging preferences to different plant species were shaped by pollen protein:lipid nutritional ratios (P:L), with foragers preferring pollen species with a ~5:1 P:L ratio. In this study, we placed B. impatiens colonies in three different habitats (forest, forest edge, and valley) to determine whether pollen nutritional quality collected by the colonies differed between areas that may differ in resource abundance and diversity. We found that habitat did not influence the collected pollen nutritional quality, with colonies in all three habitats collecting pollen averaging a 4:1 P:L ratio. Furthermore, there was no difference in the nutritional quality of the pollen collected by colonies that successfully reared reproductives and those that did not. We found however, that "nutritional intake," calculated as the colony-level intake rate of nutrient quantities (protein, lipid, and sugar), was strongly related to colony growth and reproductive output. Therefore, we conclude that B. impatiens colony performance is a function of the abundance of nutritionally appropriate floral resources in the surrounding landscape. Because we did not comprehensively evaluate the nutrition provided by the plant communities in each habitat, it remains to be determined how B. impatiens polylectic foraging strategies helps them select among the available pollen nutritional landscape in a variety of plant communities to obtain a balance of key macronutrients.