cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
THE EFFECTS OF PREGNENINOLONE AND RELATED STEROIDS ON SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT IN FISH (Lebistes reticulatus)

THE AVAILABILITY of steroid substances in crystalline form, similar or identical to those produced in the gonads and adrenal cortex, has given great impetus to investigations of their possible roles in vertebrate sexual determination and differentiation. The effects of crystalline sex hormones, in fish, on secondary sex characters and gonads have been studied by several investigators (1–8) but effects of substances chemically related to these hormones have not been investigated except in the case of ovipositor-lengthening in the bitter ling (9, 10). Pregneninolone,1 a synthetic steroid prepared and described by Inhoffen and associates (11, 11a) possesses progestational activity per os in mammals. It also has the properties of an estrogen and is weakly androgenic in birds (12). This compound, as far as we are aware, has not previously been administered to any vertebrates lower than birds.
Glycomics: building upon proteomics to advance glycosciences

Glycans are among the building blocks of the four major biomolecules of life—carbohydrates, nucleic acids, lipids, and proteins. Intriguingly, the other three major biomolecules of life either contain (ribo- or deoxyribonucleic acids) or can be modified with (glycolipids and glycoproteins) carbohydrates. To quote one of the leaders in the field of glycobiology, Ajit Varki of the University of California at San Diego, “Despite more than 3 billion years since the origin of life on earth, the powerful forces of biological evolution seem to have failed to generate any living cell that is devoid of a dense and complex array of cell surface glycans” (1). Given the importance of glycans and/or glycoconjugates to all fields of life science and their involvement in virtually every pathophysiological condition affecting mankind, the detection and analysis of these biomolecules is fundamental to understanding life. A recent National Academies of Science report (2) concludes that although a better understanding of glycoscience is required in order to advance improvements in human health and sustainability, efforts and investments in these biomolecules have lagged considerably behind expenditures in other areas of bioscience. This report further suggests that robust glycomic data analysis platforms and rigorously annotated glycan/glycoconjugate databases are needed to move the field forward.
A model for energetics and bioaccumulation in marine mammals with applications to the right whale

We present a dynamic energy budget (DEB) model for marine mammals, coupled with a pharmacokinetic model of a lipophilic persistent toxicant. Inputs to the model are energy availability and lipid-normalized toxicant concentration in the environment. The model predicts individual growth, reproduction, bioaccumulation, and transfer of energy and toxicant from mothers to their young. We estimated all model parameters for the right whale; with these parameters, reduction in energy availability increases the age at first parturition, increases intervals between reproductive events, reduces the organisms' ability to buffer seasonal fluctuations, and increases its susceptibility to temporal shifts in the seasonal peak of energy availability. Reduction in energy intake increases bioaccumulation and the amount of toxicant transferred from mother to each offspring. With high energy availability, the toxicant load of offspring decreases with birth order. Contrary to expectations, this ordering may be reversed with lower energy availability. Although demonstrated with parameters for the right whale, these relationships between energy intake and energetics and pharmacokinetics of organisms are likely to be much more general. Results specific to right whales include energy assimilation estimates for the North Atlantic and southern right whale, influences of history of energy availability on reproduction, and a relationship between ages at first parturition and calving intervals. Our model provides a platform for further analyses of both individual and population responses of marine mammals to pollution, and to changes in energy availability, including those likely to arise through climate change.
Free amino acid profiles from ‘Pinot noir’ grapes are influenced by vine N-status and sample preparation method

This study examined the impact of extraction method on ammonia, free amino acids, and yeast assimilable nitrogen (YAN) concentrations in ‘Pinot noir’ berries obtained from a vine nutrition study (altered supply of N, P, or K). Berries were either juiced or exhaustively extracted as whole berries prior to analysis. Extracts, compared to juice samples, had a significantly higher level of ammonia–N, assimilable amino acid–N, and YAN. For example, juice YAN values were approximately 50% of extract YAN values, when both were expressed in the same units. Free amino acid profiles and relative concentrations of individual amino acids were different in juice versus extracts, depending on how well the skin fraction was extracted prior to analysis. Lowering N supply reduced free amino acids, with arginine being reduced more than the other 20 free amino acids identified in ‘Pinot noir’ berries. This was true in both juice and extracts. Since berry skin contributed to actual YAN, wineries that determine YAN from mainly the pulp fraction (juice) may underestimate YAN and as a result add more (artificial) N supplement than is required for the healthy fermentation of red winemaking (whole berry fermentations). Extraction procedure should be taken into consideration when comparing grape YAN. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
A redetermination of the value of the faraday with the iodine coulometer

I t is certainly not necessary to remind an audience of physicists t ha t the faraday is a very impor tan t physical constant. In physical chemistry it occurs in most expressions related to the interpretat ion of the results of measurements on galvanic cells, which include pH, oxidation-reduction potentials, etc. In the domain of physics the faraday has become increasingly impor tan t since the most precise method for obtaining the charge on the electron e is obtained from the relation
Measurement of gas-phase ammonia and amines in air by collection onto an ion exchange resin and analysis by ion chromatography

Abstract. Ammonia and amines are common trace gases in the atmosphere and have a variety of both biogenic and anthropogenic sources, with a major contribution coming from agricultural sites. In addition to their malodorous nature, both ammonia and amines have been shown to enhance particle formation from acids such as nitric, sulfuric and methanesulfonic acids, which has implications for visibility, human health and climate. A key component of quantifying the effects of these species on particle formation is accurate gas-phase measurements in both laboratory and field studies. However, these species are notoriously difficult to measure as they are readily taken up on surfaces, including onto glass surfaces from aqueous solution as established in the present studies. We describe here a novel technique for measuring gas-phase ammonia and amines that involves uptake onto a weak cation exchange resin followed by extraction and analysis using ion chromatography. Two variants – one for parts per billion concentrations in air and the second with lower (parts per trillion) detection limits – are described. The latter involves the use of a custom-designed high-pressure cartridge to hold the resin for in-line extraction. These methods avoid the use of sampling lines, which can lead to significant inlet losses of these compounds. They also have the advantages of being relatively simple and inexpensive. The applicability of this technique to ambient air is demonstrated in measurements made near a cattle farm in Chino, CA.
Hetero-Domain Interactions as a Mechanism for the Regulation of Connexin Channels

Previous studies have shown that chemical regulation of connexin43 (Cx43) depends on the presence of the carboxyl terminal (CT) domain. A particle-receptor (or "ball-and-chain") model has been proposed to explain the mechanism of gating. We tested whether the CT region behaved as a functional domain for other members of the connexin family. The pH sensitivity of wild-type and Ct-truncated connexins was quantified by use of electrophysiological and optical techniques and the Xenopus oocyte system. The CT domain of Cx45 had no role in pH regulation, although a partial role was shown for Cx37 and Cx50. A prominent effect was observed for Cx40 and Cx43. In addition, we found that the CT domain of Cx40 that was expressed as a separate fragment rescued the pH sensitivity of the truncated Cx40 (Cx40tr), which was in agreement with a particle-receptor model. Because Cx40 and Cx43 often colocalize and possibly heteromerize, we tested the pH sensitivity of Cx40tr when coexpressed with the CT domain of Cx43 (hetero-domain interactions). We found that the CT domain of Cx43 enhanced the pH sensitivity of Cx40tr; similarly, the CT domain of Cx40 restored the pH sensitivity of the truncated Cx43. In addition, the CT domain of Cx43 granted insulin sensitivity to the otherwise insulin-insensitive Cx26 or Cx32 channels. These data show that the particle-receptor model is preserved in Cx40 and the regulatory domain of one connexin can specifically interact with a channel formed by another connexin. Hetero-domain interactions could be critical for the regulation of heteromeric channels.
Microscale Synthetic Schlieren

We develop the axisymmetric Synthetic Schlieren technique to study the wake of a microscale sphere settling through a density stratification. A video-microscope was used to magnify and image apparent displacements of a micron-sized random-dot pattern. Due to the nature of the wake, density gradient perturbations in the horizontal greatly exceed those in the vertical, requiring modification of previously developed axisymmetric techniques. We present results for 780 and 383 μm spheres, and describe the limiting role of noise in the system for a 157 μm sphere. This technique can be instrumental in understanding a range of ecological and environmental oceanic processes on the microscale.
The Down Syndrome Advantage: Fact or Fiction?

Abstract The “Down syndrome advantage” is the popular conception that children with Down syndrome are easier to rear than children with other developmental disabilities. We assessed whether mothers...
ANOMALOUS ENERGY EFFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PRESENCE OF AZA NITROGENS AND NITRO SUBSTITUENTS IN SOME STRAINED SYSTEMS

We have used an ab initio SCF molecular orbital approach in conjunction with the isodesmic reaction procedure to investigate anomalous energy effects in strained aza systems and some of their nitro derivatives. The introduction of nitrogens into strained molecular frameworks is found to confer added degrees of stability. In general this increases with the number of nitrogens in a series of similar molecules. Further stabilization results from N-nitro substitution and the mononitration of secondary carbons; however the polynitration of systems containing highly strained tertiary carbons has a marked destabilizing effect.
Using accelerated testing to predict module reliability

Long-term reliability is critical to the cost effectiveness and commercial success of photovoltaic (PV) products. Today most PV modules are warranted for 25 years, but there is no accepted test protocol to validate a 25-year lifetime. The qualification tests do an excellent job of identifying design, materials, and process flaws that are likely to lead to premature failure (infant mortality), but they are not designed to test for wear-out mechanisms that limit lifetime. This paper presents a method for evaluating the ability of a new PV module technology to survive long-term exposure to specific stresses. The authors propose the use of baseline technologies with proven long-term field performance as controls in the accelerated stress tests. The performance of new-technology modules can then be evaluated versus that of proven-technology modules. If the new-technology demonstrates equivalent or superior performance to the proven one, there is a high likelihood that they will survive versus the tested stress in the real world.
Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Exposure in Early Adolescent and Adult Male Rats: Effects on Tolerance, Social Behavior, and Ethanol Intake

Background—Given the prevalence of alcohol use in adolescence, it is important to understand the consequences of chronic ethanol exposure during this critical period in development. The purpose of the present study was to assess possible age-related differences in susceptibility to tolerance development to ethanol-induced sedation and withdrawal-related anxiety, as well as voluntary ethanol intake after chronic exposure to relatively high doses of ethanol during adolescence or adulthood. Methods—Adolescent and adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to one of five 10 day exposure conditions: chronic ethanol (4 g/kg every 48 hours), chronic saline (equivalent volume every 24 hours), chronic saline/acutely challenged with ethanol (4 g/kg on day 10), nonmanipulated/acutely challenged with ethanol (4 g/kg on day 10) or non-manipulated. For assessment of tolerance development, loss of righting reflex was tested on the first and last ethanol exposure days in the chronic ethanol group, with both saline and non-manipulated animals likewise challenged on the last exposure day. Withdrawal-induced anxiety was indexed in a social interaction test 24 hrs after the last ethanol exposure, with ethanol-naive chronic saline and nonmanipulated animals serving as controls. Voluntary intake was assessed 48 hours after the chronic exposure period in chronic ethanol, chronic saline and non-manipulated animals using an 8 day 2 bottle choice, limited access ethanol intake procedure. Results—Adolescents were less sensitive to the sedative effects of ethanol than adults. Adults, but not adolescents, developed chronic tolerance to the sedative effects of ethanol, tolerance that appeared to be metabolic in nature. Social deficits were observed after chronic ethanol in both adolescents and adults. Adolescents drank significantly more ethanol than adults on a g/kg basis, with intake uninfluenced by prior ethanol exposure at both ages. Conclusion—Adolescents and adults may differ in their ability and/or propensity to adapt to chronic ethanol exposure, with adults, but not adolescents, developing chronic metabolic tolerance. However, this chronic exposure regimen was sufficient to disrupt baseline levels of social behavior at both ages. Taken together, these results suggest that, despite the age-related differences in tolerance development, adolescents are as susceptible as adults to consequences of chronic ethanol exposure, particularly in terms of disruptions in social behavior. Whether these effects would last into adulthood remains to be determined.
Residual Activity of Thermally Denatured Transforming Deoxyribonucleic Acid from Haemophilus influenzae

Barnhart, Benjamin J. (Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, Md.). Residual activity of thermally denatured transforming deoxyribonucleic acid from Haemophilus influenzae. J. Bacteriol. 89:1271-1279. 1965.-The level of residual transforming activity of heated deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) (i.e., 1 to a few per cent of native DNA-transforming activity) was found to be independent of the heating and quenching temperatures and less susceptible than native or renatured DNA to heat inactivation upon prolonged heating above or below the critical melting temperature. Similar dose-response curves were obtained for inactivation by formamide of native and renatured DNA, but the residual-active material was much more resistant. Heating DNA above the T(m) in the presence of 1% formaldehyde resulted in a level of residual activity 4 logs lower than that obtained without formaldehyde. Residual-active material was not inactivated by Escherichia coli phosphodiesterase, but it was susceptible to snake venom phosphodiesterase. A new genetic marker was induced in heated-quenched DNA but not in purified residual-active material following nitrous acid treatment. Residual activity was found to be less susceptible to ultraviolet inactivation and to band at a higher density region in CsCl than native DNA. In conclusion, it is suggested that the residual-active material is a structure formed by intrastrand hydrogen bonding of the separated units of heated-quenched DNA. Such a configuration would result in at least a partially double-stranded structure, which is probably the essential characteristic of the residual-active material endowing it with biological activity.
Pitch pine (Pinus rigida Mill.) invasion of Cape Cod pond shores alters abiotic environment and inhibits indigenous herbaceous species

Invasion by pitch pine (Pinus rigida Mill.) on coastal plain pond shores may have direct impacts on the herbaceous community, or may merely indicate changes in hydroperiod, which are the actual cause of community change. We compared abiotic conditions and community composition of sites that had been invaded by P. rigida and those that had not on two Cape Cod ponds. Soil under living pines had lower pH and water content, reduced net nitrification, and increased rates of ammonification. Dense stands of pine saplings reduced PAR penetrance by 94% and excluded virtually all herbaceous species. To determine if pines alone can change community composition, we imposed artificial shade and added pine needle litter to experimental plots. In the course of one growing season, both litter and shade significantly reduced the frequency of herbs in the herbaceous zone of the pond shore. Litter had the greater effect (significant for six of seven taxa), while shade reduced the frequencies of three taxa significantly.
The homeoprotein DLX4 controls inducible nitric oxide synthase-mediated angiogenesis in ovarian cancer

Homeobox genes encode transcription factors that control patterning of virtually all organ systems including the vasculature. Tumor angiogenesis is stimulated by several homeobox genes that are overexpressed in tumor cells, but the mechanisms of these genes are poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms by which DLX4, a homeobox gene that is associated with increased tumor microvessel density, stimulates ovarian tumor angiogenesis. Expression of DLX4 and nitric oxide synthases was analyzed in publicly available transcriptional profiles of ovarian cancer clinical specimens. Levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were evaluated by quantitative RT-PCR, flow cytometry and nitric oxide assays using ovarian cancer cell lines in which DLX4 was overexpressed or knocked down. Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 1 (STAT1) expression and activity were evaluated by luciferase reporter assays, immunofluorescence staining, Western blot and immunoprecipitation. Endothelial cell growth and tumor angiogenesis were evaluated in in vitro assays and xenograft models. We identified that DLX4 induces expression of iNOS, an enzyme that stimulates angiogenesis by generating nitric oxide. Analysis of datasets of two independent patient cohorts revealed that high DLX4 expression in ovarian cancer is strongly associated with elevated expression of iNOS but not of other nitric oxide synthases. Studies using STAT1-expressing and STAT1-deficient cells revealed that DLX4 interacts with STAT1 and induces iNOS expression in part by stimulating STAT1 activity. Expression of DLX4 in ovarian cancer cells stimulated endothelial cell growth in vitro and increased microvessel density in xenograft models, and these stimulatory effects of DLX4 were abrogated when its induction of iNOS was inhibited. These findings indicate that DLX4 promotes ovarian tumor angiogenesis in part by stimulating iNOS expression.
Attributes Sampling under Classification Error

Inspection, particularly acceptance sampling, is an important aspect of quality control. An acceptance sampling plan is one in which a specified number of units is sampled from each lot, with the lot being accepted if fewer than a fixed number of nonconforming items are found in the sample. However, inspection errors are inevitable. Inspection procedures may commit two types of errors. Items that are classified as nonconforming may be conforming (false positive) and conforming items may be classified as nonconforming (false negative). These errors affect the number of nonconforming items that are identified as well as the outgoing quality obtained from acceptance sampling plans. Keywords: acceptance sampling; inspection error; misclassification; single sampling; multiple sampling; group testing; rectification
Advances in biophotonics detection of field carcinogenesis for colon cancer risk stratification.

The process of neoplastic transformation of the colon involves a progression through hyperproliferative epithelium through the aberrant crypt foci→small adenoma→large adenoma→invasive cancer→metastatic disease. These are orchestrated by sequential genetic and epigenetic events which provide the underpinnings of cellular alterations such as early induction in proliferation/suppression of apoptosis, along with the late stage increase in invasiveness. Colorectal cancer (CRC) averages 49-111 mutations per tumor encompassing 10-15 critical signaling pathways[1]. Accumulating such a high number of mutations requires a fertile mutational field, which is the hallmark of colon carcinogenesis. While genetic susceptibility to colorectal cancer is well-known, at least half of the risk is believed to be due to exogeneous factors (e.g., obesity, diet, exercise). Understanding these risk factors represents a promising mode of tailoring screening modality and intensity. However, previous attempts using these factors (i.e., NCI risk calculator) have only been modestly successful with an area under receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve (AUC) of just 0.61. One of the most important concepts is that risk is the interaction between these genetic and environmental components and is driven by the variety of polymorphisms. Thus, predicting risk is difficult given the complexity. On the other hand, the colonic mucosa represents the end product of the complex interplay between these multiple factors. The power of field carcinogenesis is that it reflects this interplay between genetics and environment.
The mobile web is structurally different

One of the premier applications on the global Internet is browsing the World Wide Web. The advent of advanced browser-enabled cell phones, high-speed wireless networks, and "unlimited-data" pricing plans is fueling the demand for Web access on mobile devices. Further, there is an increasing amount of content in the mobile Web, the set of web pages written in markup languages (CHTML, XHTML, and WML) designed specifically for consumption on mobile wireless devices. Understanding the structural properties of the WWW can be very helpful in a variety of applications, such as crawling the Web more efficiently, or performing better search results ranking. So far, however, this line of investigation has been limited to the Web consisting of HTML pages. In this study we examine the structural properties of the mobile Web graph inferred from a crawl of mobile markup pages. We find that the mobile Web graph differs in general from the fixed web in several important ways. Its connectivity is sparser than the fixed Web and its node degree distributions fall off much more rapidly. We further analyze the Web graph in terms of its bow-tie structure, which has been studied previously for the fixed web. The properties of the bow-tie structure for mobile Web are quite different from those of the fixed Web, such as having a smaller central core strongly connected component (SCC) and more disconnectedness. We also find the CHTML and XHTML/WML subgraphs of the mobile Web subgraph differ significantly, indicating the influence of different usage and maturity of the mobile Web in Japan compared to other countries. We also consider the domain-level graphs, where all nodes of a domain are collapsed into a single node and all inter- domain edges are hidden, and find notable differences between the fixed and mobile graphs. To our knowledge this is the first study of the structural properties of the web graph. We briefly comment on the potential implications of the findings, focusing on crawl as an example application.
A pneumatically powered knee-ankle-foot orthosis (KAFO) with myoelectric activation and inhibition

The goal of this study was to test the mechanical performance of a prototype knee-ankle-foot orthosis (KAFO) powered by artificial pneumatic muscles during human walking. We had previously built a powered ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) and used it effectively in studies on human motor adaptation, locomotion energetics, and gait rehabilitation. Extending the previous AFO to a KAFO presented additional challenges related to the force-length properties of the artificial pneumatic muscles and the presence of multiple antagonistic artificial pneumatic muscle pairs. Three healthy males were fitted with custom KAFOs equipped with artificial pneumatic muscles to power ankle plantar flexion/dorsiflexion and knee extension/flexion. Subjects walked over ground at 1.25 m/s under four conditions without extensive practice: 1) without wearing the orthosis, 2) wearing the orthosis with artificial muscles turned off, 3) wearing the orthosis activated under direct proportional myoelectric control, and 4) wearing the orthosis activated under proportional myoelectric control with flexor inhibition produced by leg extensor muscle activation. We collected joint kinematics, ground reaction forces, electromyography, and orthosis kinetics. The KAFO produced ~22%–33% of the peak knee flexor moment, ~15%–33% of the peak extensor moment, ~42%–46% of the peak plantar flexor moment, and ~83%–129% of the peak dorsiflexor moment during normal walking. With flexor inhibition produced by leg extensor muscle activation, ankle (Pearson r-value = 0.74 ± 0.04) and knee ( r = 0.95 ± 0.04) joint kinematic profiles were more similar to the without orthosis condition compared to when there was no flexor inhibition (r = 0.49 ± 0.13 for ankle, p = 0.05, and r = 0.90 ± 0.03 for knee, p = 0.17). The proportional myoelectric control with flexor inhibition allowed for a more normal gait than direct proportional myoelectric control. The current orthosis design provided knee torques smaller than the ankle torques due to the trade-off in torque and range of motion that occurs with artificial pneumatic muscles. Future KAFO designs could incorporate cams, gears, or different actuators to transmit greater torque to the knee.
MARSUPIAL DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES IN AMERICAMYSIS BAHIA (MYSIDA: MYSIDAE)

Abstract The marsupial development of a population of Americamysis (= Mysidopsis) bahia from the Gulf of Mexico was examined at 16°C, 20°C, and 29°C from oviposition to the juvenile stage. Three phases of development, divided into five stages, occurred during in vitro culture of larvae. The embryonic phase (Stage 1) is spherical and surrounded by the egg membrane. The nauplioid phase begins with hatching from the egg membrane and consists of an early (Stage 2) and late (Stage 3) stage. The early nauplioid stage, which is divided into three substages, elongates into a comma-shaped larva and ends with the appearance of thoracic chromatophores. Stage 3 begins with the formation of eye pigment and ends with the shedding of the naupliar cuticle. The subsequent postnauplioid phase has two stages. Stage 4 is characterized by the formation of a yolk protuberance anterodorsal to the carapace. Stage 5 begins with enclosure of the yolk in the carapace and ends with release of the larvae from the marsupium and a molt...
Boundary Detection for Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor networks have a variety of applications, such as environment monitoring, structural monitoring, remote exploration, condition-based maintenance, commercial surveillance, and national asset protection. These applications require the network to monitor a certain type of non-local spatiotemporal phenomenon, collaboratively process gathered information, and respond to external events or report results. There are different types of phenomenon that can be observed by a network of sensors. For some phenomena such as fire, gas leak, chemical attack and biological attack, it is critical to track the boundary of the affected area. An example scenario is illustrated in Figure 1. When a battle field is attacked by chemical or biological weapons, it is desirable to know which areas are covered by the toxic plumes so that effective decisions for evacuation and rescue operations can be made in real time. To do that, UAVs may be directed to the battle field to spread chemical sensors over the air. As soon as sensors land in the field, they self-organize into an ad-hoc network and start sensing, gathering requested information and sending them back to the sink for decision making. To determine an event region, it suffices to detect the sensor nodes near or right on the boundary of the event. These edge sensor nodes, if not faulty, usually have abrupt changes in readings compared to other sensors not in the region. Thus, the problem of boundary detection for sensor networks is to find the location of these edge sensors. The boundary detection algorithms for sensor networks can be categorized into four classes:
Design optimization of geometric boundaries in electromagnetic devices by artificial neural networks

A method for the optimal design of electromagnetic devices is presented. The method uses artificial neural networks (ANNs) in a design environment which encompasses numerical computations and an expert's input for generating a variety of ANN training data. Results of two implementation examples are provided. The optimal design is obtained quickly (in a matter of milliseconds) once the ANNs are trained with a variety of geometrical topologies. The procedure explained here can be used to provide good initial designs for use with iterative search techniques to reduce searching time. This aspect is highly desirable for increasing the effectiveness of the optimal design procedure. >
Abstract W MP64: Evaluation of Deep Venous Thrombosis in Cryptogenic Stroke and Patent Foramen Ovale

Background and Purpose: In cryptogenic stroke (CS), paradoxical embolus has been suggested as a stroke mechanism. A prior study found a significant rate of pelvic deep venous thrombosis (DVT) using magnetic resonance venography (MRV). We sought to evaluate the yield of diagnostic tests for lower extremity (LE) and pelvic DVT in stroke patients with patent foramen ovale (PFO) and in the subset with CS. Methods: A single center retrospective study was performed to identify consecutive ischemic stroke or TIA patients with PFO who underwent contrast-enhanced 3D pelvic MRV imaging (Ablavar, Lantheus Medical Imaging, N. Billerica, MA) between 2009 and 2013 as part of an inpatient diagnostic evaluation. Results of pelvic MRV, LE Doppler ultrasound (US) as well as clinical data were abstracted. Ischemic subtype was retrospectively assigned using the Causative Classification System (CCS). Patients with possible cardio-aortic embolism and undetermined cause by CCS were classified as CS. We estimated point estimates...
Consumption and the Ecological Crisis: Historical Roots

This paper demonstrates that the historical roots of the ecological crisis can be traced back to Enlightenment science and liberalism within which attitudes toward nature and the accumulation of material wealth (consumption) were formed. This developed into the dominant social paradigm still operational today. Within this paradigm, environmentalism is extolled as a solution. It is further demonstrated that this view is not shared by those within ecologism, a construct predicated on non-anthropocentrism and holism. Environmentalism and ecologism are shown to be virtual antitheses, and the difference between them motivates and directs our perceptions of the role of consumption in the ecological crisis.
State-Scale Immigration Enforcement and Latino Interstate Migration in the United States.

In the late 2000s, several U.S. states and local governments enacted legislation to make work and life difficult for unauthorized immigrants within their jurisdictions. We investigate how these devolved immigration enforcement laws affected the migration of Latinos to these states. We find that after these hostile policies came into effect, noncitizen and naturalized Latinos from states without such policies were much less likely to move to states with them than in the 1990s. U.S.-born Latinos exhibit migration aversion to hostile states, albeit at a weaker level. Fear of discrimination and the blending of Latinos with different legal status within families might account for this broad Latino group migration response. Hostile policies produced no significant change in the interstate migration patterns of a control group of U.S.-born whites. A counterfactual analysis indicates that absent these enforcement regimes, the migratory redistribution of Latinos to hostile states from other states in the late 2000...
International Olympiad XXI

(1980). International Olympiad XXI. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 87, No. 2, pp. 112-115.
VC Interlocks and Alliance Formation of Entrepreneurial Startups: A Longitudinal Cross-Level Study

Despite the beneficial effects of alliances in facilitating survival, growth and performance of entrepreneurial startups, it is in general difficult for entrepreneurial startups to form alliances d...
Intraoperative Load-Sensing Variability During Cemented, Posterior-Stabilized Total Knee Arthroplasty

Abstract Background Load-sensing technology during total knee arthroplasty (TKA) provides objective measurements of ligamentous balance. The purpose of this study is to assess its intraoperative validity and reliability during TKA. Methods Fifty-four patients underwent TKA using the OrthoSensor VERASENSE tibial insert to assist with ligament balance. The transepicondylar axis (TEA) was used to determine femoral component rotation, and the posterior condylar angle (PCA) was measured. Load measurements were documented at 10°, 45°, and 90° of flexion with the trial (TRIAL) components and with the definitive (FINAL) cemented implants. Adequate balance was defined as a load differential ≤15 pounds between compartments. Results Adequate balanced with TRIAL and FINAL implants was observed in 89% TKAs. There was a significant linear correlation of the TRIAL and FINAL loads in the medial compartment throughout range of motion. No correlation between the TRIAL and FINAL loads was identified in the lateral compartment. There was no relationship between an increasing PCA and medial compartment loads at 45° (R 2 = 0.0006, Y = −0.10X + 7.3 ± 2.3; P = .86) and 90° (R 2 = 0.004, Y = −0.25X + 6.3 ± 2.1; P = .62) of flexion, suggesting that the compartment loads were not significantly altered with femoral rotation parallel to the TEA. A similar finding was observed in the lateral compartment at all poses. Conclusion Variability between the TRIAL and FINAL implant measurements was higher in the lateral compartment as compared to the medial compartment. Using the TEA and not the posterior condylar line as a landmark to guide femoral component rotation, the flexion gap is frequently balanced without the need for additional ligament releases.
Oracle Constructions and Forcing

We have seen in Chapter 5 how Post tried to solve Post's Problem 5.1.1 by defining c.e. sets A with ever thinner complements. Post himself did not live to see the refutation of this approach by [Friedberg 1958], who constructed a maximal set with the thinnest complement of all, and the construction of a complete maximal set by Yates, which refuted Post's approach. Post moved on to understand full Turing reducibility in [Post 1944]. He gave an excellent intuitive description of one set being Turing reducible to another.
Transnational Education and Internationalization of Education as Tools for Higher Education Transformation and Economic Development in Emerging Economies

Higher education in most developing countries, especially in Africa, has been undergoing significant transformation over the past few decades. This is due to a number of factors, including attempts to align education systems to national development goals, reduced funding to universities and contraction of many economies (Castells, 1993; Cloete & Maasen, 2015).
Constructing human activity spaces: A new approach incorporating complex urban activity-travel

Activity space represents an important concept for understanding human activity-travel. The existing activity space delineation approaches are limited in fully characterizing real-world travel behaviors. To address the issue, this research proposes a new time geography based approach to more accurately portray activity spaces of urban travelers. The proposed approach takes into account the full complexity of real-world travel and underlying urban structures. Results of an empirical study are presented based on the 2008 Add-on National Household Travel Survey conducted in Tucson, Arizona. Activity spaces of 1164 sample travelers are delineated and analyzed. Results show the effectiveness of the new approach in more realistically depicting urban activity-travel.
The GamerGate controversy and journalistic paradigm maintenance

GamerGate is a viral campaign that became an occasion, particularly from August 2014 to January 2015, to both question journalistic ethics and badger women involved in game development and gaming criticism. Gaming journalists thus found themselves managing a debate on two fronts: defending the probity of gaming journalism and remediating attacks on women. This study explores how gaming journalists undertook paradigm maintenance in the midst of the controversy. This was analyzed through interviews with gaming journalists as well as a discourse analysis of the texts responding to GamerGate that were produced by their publications. Although gaming journalists operate within a form of lifestyle journalism, the journalists repaired their paradigm by linking their work to traditional journalism and emphasizing a paternal role.
Hybrid MAS Fault Location, Isolation, and Restoration for smart distribution system with Microgrids

A hybrid Multi Agent System (MAS) Fault Location, Isolation, and Restoration (FLIR) solution has been proposed in this paper that uses both centralized and decentralized concepts to accomplish FLIR on distribution feeders with Microgrids. The main objective of the MAS is to locate and isolate the fault and then automatically reenergize un-faulted portions of feeders while maintaining system constraints like voltage limits and loading levels. The proposed MAS architecture exploits key features of agent technology where the fault detection is accomplished autonomously by agents and fault restoration is achieved by coordinated agent communications. The proposed MAS concept is designed to be implemented on few circuits in the territory of local utility, Mon Power, under the efforts of a Department of Energy (DOE) demonstration project named West Virginia Super Circuit (WVSC). The real distribution network is simulated in CYMDIST and Matlab/Simpower whereas the MAS is modeled using Matlab S-functions.
Why do preterm infants wheeze? Clues from epidemiology

In this chapter, we discuss respiratory outcomes of preterm infants and the impact later in life of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). After the neonatal period, the major respiratory problems of preterm-born infants (with or without BPD) that require hospitalization are respiratory exacerbations caused by infections, particularly viral infections. In older children who were born prematurely, the most common symptoms are coughing, wheezing, and/or other asthma-like symptoms. Overall, in comparison to full-term born children, the risk of preterm-born children developing asthma or a wheezing disorder during childhood is almost twice as high. Patients are, however, often labeled asthmatic even though the underlying mechanisms are likely to be very different. There is no evidence of the widespread use of bronchodilators or inhaled corticosteroids, although a component of variable airflow obstruction may be present. To achieve optimal treatment, additional evidence is required. In order to prevent either over- or undertreatment, it is important to characterize diseases of the airways in the survivors of preterm birth. This is done in terms of the extent and nature of airflow obstruction, the pattern of any inflammation, and the presence of airway reactivity. Symptoms become milder as children grow older. Nevertheless, a group of adolescents and adults remains, who still present with chronic airway obstruction defined by recurrent episodes of wheezing and decreased lung function tests, that is, decreased forced expiratory volume. The risk of wheezing disorders increases as the degree of prematurity increases. Putative mechanisms for wheezing may include early lung injury or maldevelopment during infancy, respiratory infections during the first year of life, and structural changes of the lung parenchyma.
Individual Voices: 1993–2011

The four families illustrate the migration of the younger Brahmin generation to urban areas for education and employment. Some immigrate to other countries for education, employment, and marriage where they may reside permanently or return with graduate degrees and work experience. For some, the return coincides with the start of their children’s education. In distant places, they are self-sufficient in nuclear families while retaining close contact with their Totagadde households.
Urban Resilience and Planning Support Systems: The Need for Sentience

ABSTRACTDeveloping resilience in built human environments is a complex undertaking. It requires decision support tools that can convey complexities in meaningful and understandable ways. Building smart cities and generating big data, however, is not enough. In order to improve decision-making and ultimately inform resilient communities we need to be able to translate big data at scales and in ways that are useful and approachable. In this paper we argue that creating more resilient communities calls for planning support systems (PSSs) that go beyond the ones we have today. We call for PSSs that possess a greater degree of sentience—that (a) possess a greater awareness of application context and user needs; (b) are capable of iterative learning; (c) are capable of spatial and temporal reasoning; (d) understand rules; and (e) are accessible and interactive. We consider the questions: How might intelligent or sentient information delivery systems allow for more strategic, context-aware, resilient, and ultima...
Changes in flow of Crosson and Dotson ice shelves, West Antarctica, in response to elevated melt

Abstract. Crosson and Dotson ice shelves are two of the most rapidly changing outlets in West Antarctica, displaying both significant thinning and grounding-line retreat in recent decades. We used remotely sensed measurements of velocity and ice geometry to investigate the processes controlling their changes in speed and grounding-line position over the past 20 years. We combined these observations with inverse modeling of the viscosity of the ice shelves to understand how weakening of the shelves affected this speedup. These ice shelves have lost mass continuously since the 1990s, and we find that this loss results from increasing melt beneath both shelves and the increasing speed of Crosson. High melt rates persisted over the period covered by our observations (1996–2014), with the highest rates beneath areas that ungrounded during this time. Grounding-line flux exceeded basin-wide accumulation by about a factor of 2 throughout the study period, consistent with earlier studies, resulting in significant loss of grounded as well as floating ice. The near doubling of Crosson's speed in some areas during this time is likely the result of weakening of its margins and retreat of its grounding line. This speedup contrasts with Dotson, which has maintained its speed despite increasingly high melt rates near its grounding line, likely a result of the sustained competency of the shelf. Our results indicate that changes to melt rates began before 1996 and suggest that observed increases in melt in the 2000s compounded an ongoing retreat of this system. Advection of a channel along Dotson, as well as the grounding-line position of Kohler Glacier, suggests that Dotson experienced a change in flow around the 1970s, which may be the initial cause of its continuing retreat.
Mechanism of Primary Charge Separation in Photosynthetic Reaction Centers

This chapter presents a review of primary charge separation processes in various photosynthetic reaction centers. Common motif of the known reaction centers is briefly discussed, followed by a comprehensive overview of the charge separation mechanisms in three major reaction center complexes for which crystal structures have been determined: bacterial reaction center, photosystem II, and photosystem I.
Structure and Formation of Antibodies

It has been known since the end of the 19th century that antibodies are found in the globulin fraction of the immune sera1. Their nature remained unknown and their action, like that of the enzymes, was attributed to contaminants of the isolated globulins. Quantitative analyses of antigen-antibody precipitates revealed, however, that the precipitating action of the antibodies paralleled the amount of globuline in the antigen-antibody precipitate. Analyses of this type were first carried out by Wu et al.2 and by Heidelberger and Kendall3, both groups of investigators making use of chemically determinable protein antigens such as iodoproteins, azoproteins or hemoglobin. At the same time Breinl and I4 analyzing the non-antigen part of hemoglobin-antihemoglobin precipitates found that its amino acid composition was similar to that of the normal serum globulins. We suggested therefore that the antibodies were indeed serum globulins which were in some manner complementarily adjusted to the determinant groups of the antigen. Similar views were advanced by S. Mudd5 and J. Alexander6. We further supported this view by the observation that the amount of serum globulin bound to an azo- protein antigen increased when we made the antigen multivalent by introducing into it an increasing number of determinant azophenylarsonate groups7.
Pathology of the Peripheral Nervous System

While pathology of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) is not usually considered to be within the province of the neuropsychologist, such pathology may complicate, or confuse, an attempt to evaluate a dysfunction of the central nervous system (CNS). Many PNS disorders, or neuropathies, often go unrecognized since they produce symptoms similar to other functional and organic disorders that the neuropsychologist frequently encounters. In addition, the types of processes that result in CNS dysfunction also are capable of affecting the PNS, including trauma (e.g., compression or entrapment injuries), toxins, infectious diseases, malnutrition, alcoholism, and genetic disorders. Not being aware of some of the more common disorders involving the PNS can lead to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment for the patient thought to have a CNS disorder. As with any medical disorder, precise evaluation and treatment of neuropathies should be done by a practitioner competent to do so. However, a familiarity with the general features of peripheral neuropathies is essential for the neuropsychologist to identify the presence of these disorders, distinguish between peripheral and central symptoms and signs, and at the same time, recognize potential limitations imposed by a peripheral disorder on procedures used to assess CNS functions. The intent of this chapter is to provide information that can help neuropsychologists address these issues.