cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biomarkers for human radiation exposure

There is a concern over the potential use of radioactive isotopes as a weapon of terror. The detonation of a radiation dispersal device, the so-called "dirty bomb" can lead to public panic. In order to estimate risks associated with radiation exposure, it is important to understand the biological effects of radiation exposure. Based on this knowledge, biomarkers to monitor potentially exposed populations after a radiological accident can be developed and would be extremely valuable for emergency response. While the traditional radiation exposure biomarkers based on cytogenetic assays serve as standard, the development of rapid and noninvasive tests for radiation exposure is needed. The genomics based knowledge is providing new avenues for investigation. The examination of gene expression after ionizing radiation exposure could serve as a potential molecular marker for biodosimetry. Microarray based studies are identifying new radiation responsive genes that could potentially be used as biomarkers of human exposure to radiation after an accident.
Characterization of equilibria for the degraded Gaussian broadcast and sum power MAC channels

The behavior of selfish players over a degraded Gaussian broadcast channel (BC) and a multiple access channel (MAC) with sum power constraints (sum power MAC) is investigated using non-cooperative game theory. By modeling the signaling scenarios as a generalized Nash equilibrium problem (GNEP) with jointly convex coupled constraints, this paper characterizes the existence and uniqueness of equilibrium points for both the degraded Gaussian BC and the sum power MAC. A relationship between Pareto-optimal boundary points and equilibrium rates is derived and it is shown that every point on the boundary is a equilibrium point for the degraded BC and sum power MAC, enabling the development of decentralized algorithms to enforce Pareto-optimal equilibria.
Novel treatment modalities for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease in the Western world. It can lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellular cancer, and is independently associated with an increased risk of death due to cardiovascular and liver diseases. Over the past 5 years, numerous advances in understanding its pathogenesis have been made, providing a rationale for translation of this information into clinical trials. Although the optimum therapy is still awaited, there is strong evidence to support the use of vitamin E in selected subjects. Many other potential therapeutic options are now available. In this paper, we review the status of both current and emerging therapeutic strategies for patients with NASH.
Ventricular Habronemiasis in Aviary Passerines

A variety of Habronematidae parasites (order Spirurida) have been described as occasional parasites of avian species; however, reports on passerines are relatively uncommon. From 2007 to 2008, 11 passerine deaths at The North Carolina Zoological Park in Asheboro, NC, USA, were associated with ventricular habronemiasis, which was determined to be the cause of death or a major contributing factor in 10 of the 11 individuals. The number and species affected were 5 Red-billed Leiothrix (Leiothrix lutea), 2 Japanese White-eye (Zosterops japonicus), 2 Golden-headed Manakin (Pipra erythrocephala), 1 Blue-grey Tanager (Thraupis episcopus), and 1 Emerald Starling (Coccycolius iris). Affected animals displayed nonspecific clinical signs or were found dead. The ventricular nematodes were consistent in morphology with Procyrnea sp. Koilin fragmentation with secondary bacterial and fungal infections was the most frequently observed pathologic lesion. Secondary visceral amyloidosis, attributed to chronic inflammation associated with nematodiasis, was present in 4 individuals. An insect intermediate host is suspected but was not identified. Native passerine species within or around the aviary may be serving as sylvatic hosts.
Winners and Losers during the Great Recession: The Positive Impact of Marketing Expenditures

One of the factors that separated winning hotels from losers in the recession was the hotels’ management of marketing expenses. By matching a group of 100 winners to 106 losers, based on high or lo...
A Contextual Account of Character Traits

Character traits have several vital functions. They should enable us to assess others morally, inform us of others’ behavioral tendencies, and accurately explain and predict others’ behavior. But traits of character, as they have traditionally been understood, cannot adequately serve these purposes. For character traits are traditionally thought to be context-insensitive. The Contextual Account of Character Traits, which I here develop and defend, posits traits that are context-sensitive. Context-sensitive character traits are more receptive to the complexity of human psychology and behavior and, hence, they not only adequately, but excellently, satisfy their theoretic and pragmatic functions.
The pharmacokinetic properties of yohimbine in the conscious rat.

We used high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection to measure the concentration of yohimbine in serum and brain of conscious Sprague-Dawley rats at various times after the i.v. injection of 1 mg/kg of yohimbine. The serum concentration-time profile of yohimbine was biphasic with a rapid distribution phase (t1/2 alpha = 0.048 h) followed by a very slow elimination phase t1/2 beta = 16.3 h). The clearance of yohimbine was 11 ml/h.kg-1, and the volume of distribution was 259 ml/kg. Increasing doses (0.3, 1 and 3 mg/kg, i.v.) of yohimbine produced non-linear increases in serum yohimbine concentration. Yohimbine entered the brain rapidly (5,000 ng/g at 5 min after 1 mg/kg, i.v.) and disappeared from brain with a t1/2 beta of 7.7 h. In contrast to serum yohimbine concentration, increasing doses of yohimbine (0.3, 1 and 3 mg/kg) produced linear increases in brain yohimbine concentration, a phenomenon which is consistent with concentration-dependent binding of yohimbine to plasma proteins. The rapid entry of yohimbine into the brain, the slow rate of elimination of yohimbine from serum and brain and the linear relationship of brain yohimbine concentration as a function of dose should be taken into consideration whenever yohimbine is to be used as a probe of alpha 2-adrenoceptor function in vivo.
Theory of transient self-focusing

ABSTRACTBy using the hydrodynamic symmetric description [1 ,2], the quasi-static model of self-focusingprocesses has been extended to include the transient effect of nonlinear medium response. This paper presents a new operator method to study the transient nonlinear refractive index and two-photon absorp- tion processes in which the laser pulse-width is assumed to be much shorter than or comparable to the response time of nonlinear medium. The numerical computation uses a finite-difference implementation ofa characteristic method. The asymmetrical focusing structure in full spatial and temporal coordinates areobtained. The pulse-width self-compression and the peak shifting of the wave field envelope, correspond-ing to the asymmetrical and anomalous broadening of the spectrum, are verified in the transient case. Theinfluence on self-focusing process of various parameters, including the saturation effect, are discussed. 1. INTRODUCTIONIn the process of self-focusing, the time dependence of n must be considered if the laser pulse-width is shorter than or comparable to the response time of nonlinear medium. In many cases, the time
Observations of Iceberg Rafting in Glacier Bay, Alaska, and the Identification of Ancient Ice-Rafted Deposits

Observations of icebergs in a modern glacial marine environment indicate that ancient rocks that received iceberg-rafted material should contain: (1) local concentrations of stones that originated when icebergs overturned, and (2) small pellets of till that were originally sediment filling the spaces between clear ice crystals. The till pellets are especially significant in identifying an ancient glacial setting because they originate through a process unique to glaciers—the flow-and recrystallization-induced segregation of originally disseminated fine sediment. Thus when freed by melting and deposited by iceberg rafting, the pellets would reliably indicate the presence of glacial ice in an ancient environment. In the Gowganda Formation, a Precambrian glacial deposit, strata that contain outsized, presumably iceberg-rafted stones also contain abundant small flattened clasts of unsorted graywacke interpreted as the lithified counterparts of the till pellets observed on modern icebergs.
Multivariate signaling regulation by SHP2 differentially controls proliferation and therapeutic response in glioma cells

Information from multiple signaling axes is integrated in the determination of cellular phenotypes. Here, we demonstrate this aspect of cellular decision making in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells by investigating the multivariate signaling regulatory functions of the protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP2 (also known as PTPN11). Specifically, we demonstrate that the ability of SHP2 to simultaneously drive ERK1/2 and antagonize STAT3 pathway activities produces qualitatively different effects on the phenotypes of proliferation and resistance to EGFR and c-MET co-inhibition. Whereas the ERK1/2 and STAT3 pathways independently promote proliferation and resistance to EGFR and c-MET co-inhibition, SHP2-driven ERK1/2 activity is dominant in driving cellular proliferation and SHP2-mediated antagonism of STAT3 phosphorylation prevails in the promotion of GBM cell death in response to EGFR and c-MET co-inhibition. Interestingly, the extent of these SHP2 signaling regulatory functions is diminished in glioblastoma cells that express sufficiently high levels of the EGFR variant III (EGFRvIII) mutant, which is commonly expressed in GBM. In cells and tumors that express EGFRvIII, SHP2 also antagonizes the phosphorylation of EGFRvIII and c-MET and drives expression of HIF-1α and HIF-2α, adding complexity to the evolving understanding of the regulatory functions of SHP2 in GBM.
Adaptive parameterized improving hit-and-run for global optimization

We build on improving hit-and-run's (IHR) prior success as a Monte Carlo random search algorithm for global optimization by generalizing the algorithm's sampling distribution. Specifically, in place of the uniform step-size distribution in IHR, we employ a family of parameterized step-size distributions to sample candidate points. The IHR step-size distribution is a special instance within this family. This parameterization is motivated by recent results on efficient decentralized search in the so-called Small World problems. To improve the performance of the algorithm, we adaptively tune the parameter based on the success rate of obtaining improving points. We present analytical and numerical results on simple spherical programmes to illustrate the key ideas of the relationship between the parametrization and algorithm performance. These results are then extended to global optimization problems with Lipschitz continuous objective functions. Our preliminary numerical results demonstrate the potential benefit of considering parameterized versions of IHR.
Studies on the mechanism of membrane fusion. Role of head-group composition in calcium- and magnesium-induced fusion of mixed phospholipid vesicles

We have investigated the contribution of various phospholipids to membrane fusion induced by divalent cations. Fusion was followed by means of a new fluorescence assay monitoring the mixing of internal aqueous contents of large (0.1 micrometer diameter) unilamellar liposomes. The rate and extent of fusion induced by Ca2+ in mixed phosphatidylserine/phosphatidylcholine vesicles were lower compared to those in pure phosphatidylserine vesicles. The presence of 50% phosphatidylcholine completely inhibited fusion, although the vesicles aggregated upon Ca2+ addition. When phosphatidylserine was mixed with phosphatidylethanolamine, however, rapid fusion could be induced by Ca2+ even in mixtures that contained only 25% phosphatidylserine. Phosphatidylethanolamine also facilitated fusion by Mg2+ which could not fuse pure phosphatidylserine vesicles. In phosphatidylserine/phosphatidylethanolamine/phosphatidylcholine mixtures, in which the phosphatidylcholine content was kept at 25%, phosphatidylethanolamine could not substitute for phosphatidylserine, and the fusogenic capacity of Mg2+ was abolished by the presence of merely 10% phosphatidylcholine. The initial rate of release of vesicle contents was slower than the rate of fusion in all the mixtures used. The presence of phosphate effected a considerable decrease in the threshold concentration of Ca2+ and also enhanced the rate and extent of fusion. Mg2+ had a synergistic effect on Ca2+-induced fusion of phosphatidylserine/phosphatidylethanolamine vesicles. We suggest that the role of phospholipids in membrane fusion is related to their ability to form dehydrated intermembrane complexes with divalent cations.
The rise of an administrative elite in medieval Bologna: notaries and popular government, 1282–1292

Abstract The impact of popular movements on medieval Italian towns from c. 1200 to c. 1500 remains open for debate. Scholars taking a broad perspective on Italian city-states conclude that progress occurred chiefly within the aristocratic sphere. Others have instead singled out Florence as a model for Italian popular movements, and consider the popular regimes of 1293–95, 1343–48 and 1378–82. Bologna’s guild-based popular government of the 1280s has been largely overlooked. Rolandino Passaggeri, renowned Bolognese master of notarial arts, authored the Sacred Ordinances, launching the popular government, and reorganised the notaries’ guild as part of the reform initiative. He provided the guild with a strong leadership hierarchy, advanced professionalism in notarial practice, and institutionalised checks on the loyalty of the members of the notaries’ guild to the popular government. As a result of Rolandino’s efforts in the 1280s, an administrative elite emerged within the popular coalition that had been previously dominated by an elite of wealthy merchants and bankers.
Nitrogen adsorption in compliant materials

The adsorption of nitrogen at 77.4 K, a standard tool for the characterization of porous materials, has been carefully reexamined for compliant mesoporous materials. Simultaneous measurements of nitrogen sorption and linear length change of silica aerogels with bulk moduli between 1.8 and 16 MPa reveal a characteristic shape of the isotherm that is due to contraction and reexpansion of the sample in different phases of adsorption and desorption. The capillary pressure upon filling and emptying of mesopores results in a volumetric contraction of up to 50%. Once the mesopores in the bulk of the contracted porous backbone are completely filled, the capillary pressure is released and the material slowly reexpands, accompanied by further adsorption until the sample is fully relaxed. This is the first time that the reexpansion close to saturation has been observed. The lack of this feature in previous experiments is due to insufficient equilibration of the sample upon adsorption. Analysis of the isotherm indicates that, even for compliant samples, a breakthrough radius can be extracted that is in excellent agreement with values derived from other methods. In addition, the isotherm of compliant samples allows for a calculation of bulk modulus.
A Qualitative Descriptive Study of Perceived Sexual Effects of Club Drug Use in Gay and Bisexual Men.

Club drug use is often associated with unsafe sexual practices, and use remains prevalent among gay and bisexual men. Although epidemiological studies commonly report the risk of engaging in unsafe sex due to the effects of particular club drugs, there remain gaps in the literature regarding the specific sexual effects of such substances and the context of their use in this population. We examined secondary data derived from interviews with 198 club drug-using gay and bisexual males in New York City and qualitatively describe subjective sexual effects of five drugs: ecstasy, gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), ketamine, powder cocaine and methamphetamine. Differences and commonalities across the five drugs were examined. Results suggest that each drug tends to provide (1) unique sexual effects, (2) its own form of disinhibition and (3) atypical sexual choices, often described as ‘lower sexual standards’. Differences across drugs emerged with regard to social, sensual and sexual enhancement, sexual interest and i...
The significantly lower risk of cervical cancer at and after the recommended age to begin and end screening compared to breast and colorectal cancer.

Objective We compare risk of cervical, colorectal, and breast cancer (and two pre-cancers: cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 2–3 and colorectal adenomas) at and after the recommended ages to begin and end screening in the United States.
Detecting the onset of infection for secure hosts

Software flaws in applications such as a browser may be exploited by attackers to launch drive-by-download (DBD), which has become the major vector of malware infection. We describe a host-based detection approach against DBDs by correlating the behaviors of human-user related to file systems. Our approach involves capturing keyboard and mouse inputs of a user, and correlating these input events to file-downloading events. We describe a real-time monitoring system called DeWare that is capable of accurately detecting the onset of malware infection by identifying the illegal download-and-execute patterns.
Pinhole treatment of a CdTe photovoltaic device by electrochemical polymerization technique

Abstract An electrochemical treatment was developed to passivate pinhole defects in photovoltaic devices consisting of the device stack: glass substrate/SnO2:F/CdS/CdTe/Cu/Au (metal/back contact). Samples were carefully examined and only those possessing a high density of pinholes through the CdS and CdTe layers were chosen for this study. The presence of a pinhole defect through these layers would lead to the formation of a wire-like connection through the photovoltaic device (shunt), which would seriously degrade the overall performance of the photovoltaic device, on deposition of the metal back contact. We report a solution to this problem wherein the pinhole defects are selectively filled with a resistive material such as polyaniline, using an electrochemical polymerization of the aniline monomer. After the polymer film deposition, this new layer acts as an insulator plug, and prevents the metallic back contact (Cu–Au) from making electrical contact with the transparent conductive oxide (SnO2:F) layer, thus avoiding shunting of the photovoltaic device. Characterization techniques employed in this study are current–voltage measurements to measure the photovoltaic performance of treated and untreated devices and SEM–EDS microscopy and Grazing Angle X-ray diffraction to study the CdTe surface chemistry.
Increased bleeding risk associated with the use of recombinant human activated protein C in patients with advanced liver disease.

Advanced liver disease (ALD) was an exclusion criteria from enrollment in the major clinical trials of recombinant human activated protein C (APC), but is listed on the package insert as a relative contraindication rather than an absolute contra-indication to APC administration [1]. There are recent reports of elevated rates of bleeding due to APC in clinical practice, particularly in patients with relative contraindications to the drug [2,3]. Since many patients who develop septic shock at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, New York have ALD, we decided to evaluate whether such patients have an increased risk for bleeding during APC administration. We retrospectively reviewed a database of all adult patients who have received APC at Montefiore Medical Center since the drug's approval. All patients at Montefiore Medical Center with severe sepsis at high risk for death and without absolute contraindications are considered eligible for APC at the discretion of the attending intensivist. Overall, 41 patients received APC at our hospital, seven of whom were not evaluable because of death soon after initiation of APC. Of the 34 remaining patients, nine had major bleeding episodes. The clinical characteristics of these 34 patients are presented in Table ​Table1.1. Five out of 10 patients (50%) with ALD had major bleeding episodes, as opposed to four out of 24 patients without episodes (16.7%) (P = 0.04). The bleeding events experienced by the patients with ALD included two gastrointestinal hemorrhages, one intracranial hemorrhage, one major vaginal bleed, and one massive epistaxis. In a multivariate regression model that included race, sex, and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, cirrhosis remained independently associated with the risk of a bleeding event (P = 0.02, odds ratio = 23.5, 95% confidence interval = 1.75–315). Of the five patients with ALD who had bleeding episodes, four died within 28 days of drug administration. Interestingly, only one out of 12 patients who had undergone major surgery during their hospitalization experienced a bleeding episode (this patient did not have ALD). Table 1 Patient characteristics and outcomes Patients with ALD are at increased risk both for severe sepsis and for bleeding. These data suggest that they may be at greatly increased risk for bleeding while receiving APC. Because such patients were excluded from the major clinical trials of APC, it may be prudent to withhold therapy with APC from all patients with ALD until data from trials that include these patients, or further postmarketing data, are available.
Price, Performance, and the FDA Approval Process: The Example of Home HIV Testing:

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering approval of an over-the-counter, rapid HIV test for home use. To support its decision, the FDA seeks evidence of the test’s performance. It has...
Supervised vs Unsupervised Learning for Operator State Modeling in Unmanned Vehicle Settings

In this paper, we model operator states using hidden Markov models applied to human supervisory control behaviors. More specifically, we model the behavior of an operator of multiple heterogeneous unmanned vehicle systems. The hidden Markov model framework allows the inference of higher operator states from observable operator interaction with a computer interface. For example, a sequence of operator actions can be used to compute a probability distribution of possible operator states. Such models are capable of detecting deviationsfromexpectedoperatorbehavioraslearnedbythemodel.Thedifficultywithparametric inference models such as hidden Markov models is that a large number of parameters must either be specified by hand or learned from example data. We compare the behavioral models obtained with two different supervised learning techniques and an unsupervised hidden Markov model training technique. The results suggest that the best models of human supervisory control behavior are obtained through unsupervised learning. We conclude by presenting further extensions to this work.
Bioactive IL7-diphtheria fusion toxin secreted by mammalian cells.

A number of targeted cytotoxic agents have been developed that selectively kill malignant or otherwise pathological cells. These engineered proteins consist of a potent cytotoxic element connected to a ligand domain that binds to specific molecules on the surface of the target cell. Several of these agents have shown promise in clinical trials and one is currently administered to patients. A significant technical obstacle that has impeded the development of some of these toxins is the difficulty of preparing certain recombinant proteins in properly folded forms. These fusion proteins have generally been produced in bacteria requiring them to be denatured and renatured in vitro. For some proteins this is an efficient process whereas for others it is not. We describe here a system to produce fusion toxins rapidly and efficiently by engineering mammalian cells to secrete them as properly folded molecules which can be purified in native form from cell culture medium. We have used this system to produce highly active preparations of DAB 3 8 9 -IL7, a molecule consisting of the catalytic and transmembrane domains of diphtheria toxin fused to interleukin 7. This system is generalizable and can be used to produce and evaluate rapidly fusion toxins incorporating novel or uncharacterized ligands.
Population Growth of Aphis gossypii and Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in the Presence of Linepithema humile and Tapinoma sessile (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Invasive ant species can have dramatic impacts on native ants, through direct predation and by usurping common resources. Most invasive ants and many native ants use honeydew, produced by phloem-sucking hemipterans. Because colonies of invasive ants can become very large after establishment, these ants may facilitate greater hemipteran trophobiont population growth compared with their sympatric native ant counterparts. We examined the population growth of an aphid mutualist, Aphis gossypii, and a nonmutualist, Myzus persicae, exposed to two Dolichoderine ants, Linepithema humile, a globally widespread invasive species, and Tapinoma sessile, a widespread co-occurring native ant, in North America in an enemy-free laboratory study. L. humile worker foraging activity was at least twice that of T. sessile, and populations of the myrmecophile, A. gossypii, were greater when exposed to L. humile than T. sessile, possibly caused, in part, by more frequent encounters with L. humile. L. humile ignored M. persicae when A. gossypii was absent, whereas T. sessile preyed on it. Both ant species preyed on M. persicae when A. gossypii was also present. This suggested that both ants may assess nutritional gains from aphid species (i.e., honeydew versus body tissue), eliminating less productive aphids competing for host plant space. Through their impact on populations of hemipteran mutualists, we suggest that colonies of L. humile and perhaps other invasive ants may acquire more honeydew than native ants, thereby fueling colony growth that leads to numerical dominance and widespread success in introduced environments.
A New Clone Sweeps Clean: the Enigmatic Emergence of Escherichia coli Sequence Type 131

Escherichia coli sequence type 131 (ST131) is an extensively antimicrobial-resistant E. coli clonal group that has spread explosively throughout the world. Recent molecular epidemiologic and whole-genome phylogenetic studies have elucidated the fine clonal structure of ST131, which comprises multiple ST131 subclones with distinctive resistance profiles, including the (nested) H30, H30-R, and H30-Rx subclones. The most prevalent ST131 subclone, H30, arose from a single common fluoroquinolone (FQ)-susceptible ancestor containing allele 30 of fimH (type 1 fimbrial adhesin gene). An early H30 subclone member acquired FQ resistance and launched the rapid expansion of the resulting FQ-resistant subclone, H30-R. Subsequently, a member of H30-R acquired the CTX-M-15 extended-spectrum beta-lactamase and launched the rapid expansion of the CTX-M-15-containing subclone within H30-R, H30-Rx. Clonal expansion clearly is now the dominant mechanism for the rising prevalence of both FQ resistance and CTX-M-15 production in ST131 and in E. coli generally. Reasons for the successful dissemination and expansion of the key ST131 subclones remain undefined but may include increased transmissibility, greater ability to colonize and/or persist in the intestine or urinary tract, enhanced virulence, and more-extensive antimicrobial resistance compared to other E. coli. Here we discuss the epidemiology and molecular phylogeny of ST131 and its key subclones, possible mechanisms for their ecological success, implications of their widespread dissemination, and future research needs.
Distortion Cancellation in Time-Stretch Analog-to-Digital Converter

We show that the symmetry properties of the two outputs from a push-pull Mach-Zehnder modulator can be exploited to reject dispersion-induced second-order distortions in the time-stretch analog-to-digital converter (TS-ADC). Using differential operation and signal processing in the digital domain, we experimentally demonstrate suppression of the signal harmonics generated due to system nonlinearities. Simulations predict that distortion-limited dynamic range improves from 34 to 57 dB. In addition, differential signaling improves the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) by 3 dB and rejects an even-order nonlinear distortion added by an electronic digitizer in the TS-ADC. It is also shown that this approach is robust even in the presence of mismatches in the differential signal paths. In general, the approach can also be applied to any ultrawideband (multioctave) optical link to obtain a high dynamic-range system.
On the distribution of the largest characteristic root of a matrix in multivariate analysis

The cumulative distribution function (C.D.F.) of the largest characteristic root of a matrix in multivariate analysis has been studied by Pillai (1954, 1956a, 1957, 1960 and 1964) with a view to obtaining an approximation to this C.D.F. useful for computing the upper percentage points. The approach, so far, has been to approximate the C.D.F. of the largest root for each value of the number, s, of non-null roots from two to seven. In this paper, general expressions are given for the first time, approximating at the upper end the C.D.F. of the largest of s non-null characteristic roots. Further, these expressions are used to compute the upper 5 and 1 % points of the largest root for s = 8, 9 and 10. It may be pointed out that Roy (1945, 1953, 1957) has shown that tests of certain hypotheses in multivariate analysis and associated confidence interval estimation can be based on the extreme characteristic roots. The monotonic character of the power functions of two multivariate tests using the largest characteristic root has been demonstrated by several authors (Roy & Mikhail, 1961; Das Gupta, Anderson & Mudholkar, 1964; Anderson & Das Gupta, 1964).
Bioaccumulation of Selenium in Aquatic Ecosystems

ABSTRACT Elevated levels of selenium have resulted in the degradation of several ecosystems and have been linked to reproductive impairment in important fish and waterfowl populations in several lakes and reservoirs, indicating the need for a better understanding of the bioaccumulation of selenium by aquatic organisms. Because space limitations prevent an exhaustive review, this paper focuses on the processes and mechanisms of bioconcentration and biomagnification. Comparative uptake and accumulation of selenite, selenate, and selenomethionine are examined, as well as the relative importance of waterborne and foodborne exposure. The observed toxicity of selenium in lakes and reservoirs is briefly discussed. Finally, this information is summarized, pointing out key trends in the uptake and accumulation of selenium. Perhaps the most important information generated by this review involves comparative metabolism of selenite and selenate; selenite is readily reduced and metabolized, while reduction and metabol...
ORDOVICIAN “SPHINCTOZOAN” SPONGES FROM PRINCE OF WALES ISLAND, SOUTHEASTERN ALASKA

Abstract A faunule of silicified hypercalcified “sphinctozoan” sponges has been recovered from a clast of Upper Ordovician limestone out of the Early Devonian Karheen Formation on Prince of Wales Island in southeastern Alaska. Included in the faunule are abundant examples of the new genus Girtyocoeliana, represented by Girtyocoeliana epiporata (Rigby and Potter), and Corymbospongia adnata Rigby and Potter, along with rare Corymbospongia amplia n. sp., and Girtyocoelia(?) sp., plus common Amblysiphonella sp. 1 and rare Amblysiphonella(?) sp. 2. The assemblage is similar to that from Ordovician clasts from the eastern Klamath Mountains of northern California. This indicates that the Alexander terrane of southeastern Alaska is related paleogeographically to the lithologically and paleontologically similar terrane of the eastern Klamath Mountains. This lithology and fossil assemblage of the clast cannot be tied to any currently known local rock units on Prince of Wales Island. Other clasts in the conglomerate...
The road to drink is paved with high intentions: Expectancies, refusal self-efficacy, and intentions among heavy drinking college students

The present study examined the effects of drinking intentions (DI) on alcohol expectancies (AE) and drink refusal self-efficacy (DRSE) in regard to alcohol consumption among heavy drinking undergraduates. Research shows that DRSE buffers against drinking (Young, Hasking, Oei, & Loveday, 2007) and interacts with AE to predict alcohol consumption (Oei & Burrow, 2000). Studies further show that DI is predicted by DRSE (Norman, 2011) and AE (Fleming, Thorson, & Atkin, 2004). However, additional research is needed to understand DI's influence on both DRSE and AE among heavy college drinkers. This research included 344 heavy drinking college students (mean age = 23.06 years, SD = 5.61, 74.71% female) from a large southern university who completed study material as part of a larger intervention. Findings showed that DI, DRSE, and AE interacted with respect to heavy drinking such that DRSE was negatively associated with alcohol consumption, particularly among those low in positive AE and high in negative AE. This relationship was stronger among individuals low in DI relative to those high in DI. DI seems to be an important factor influencing heavy drinking among undergraduate students. Present findings further support DI's associations with heavy drinking, regardless of an individual's DRSE or AE. Implications of this research suggest that it may be beneficial for interventions to target specific aspects of AE, including anxious drinking.
Optimal Activated Sludge Design under Uncertainty

A mathematical model of the liquid process train (primary settler, aeration basin, final settler, chlorination) of the activated sludge process was developed and used to obtain the optimum design required to meet specified criteria for effluent soluble organics and suspended solids concentrations with a desired degree of confidence. Provisions were made for incorporating the uncertainty associated with experimentally determined parameters. The final settler model included both clarification and thickening functions and it was found that the clarification term exerted a strong effect upon the final design. Liquid-solid separation parameters were found to be as important as biological kinetic parameters in determining the optimum design. Treatment cost was found to be relatively insensitive to the mean cell residence time or the suspended solids removal efficiency, although those items exerted significant effects upon the sizes of the individual unit operations. Considerable conservatism could be incorporated into optimum designs with relatively small cost penalties.
Evaluating the Impact of a Pharmacist-Led Antiretroviral Stewardship Program on Reducing Drug Interactions in HIV-Infected Patients

PURPOSE: To compare the number of antiretroviral-related clinically significant drug-drug interactions (CSDDIs) occurring in hospitalized patients that were intervened upon before and after Antiretroviral Stewardship Program (ARVSP) expansion and to classify the interventions made to prevent errors. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of adult patients treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART) and who were hospitalized from September 2012 to February 2013. A CSDDI was defined as requiring an alternative therapy dose adjustment or schedule modification. Findings were compared to a prior study. RESULTS: A total of 185 admissions were included and 76 CSDDIs were identified 19 (25%) occurred after ART approval. The percentages of CSDDIs that occurred after ART approval and were intervened upon before and after ARVSP expansion were 43% and 95% respectively (P<.001). An additional 80 other interventions were made by the ARVSP. CONCLUSION: An ARVSP is critical in the prevention of CSDDIs and errors to improve safety in HIV-infected patients. (c) The Author(s) 2015.
Japan: The Race between Food and Population

R ECENT events in the Far East have once again brought the occupation of Japan to the attention of the American public. The imminent conquest of the Asiatic mainland by China's Communists has compelled observers of Far Eastern affairs to ponder the significance of the swift turn of events in China upon the Allied occupation of Japan. The general elections held in Japan in January of this year have attracted considerable attention because of the surprising strength shown by the Japanese Communists. While Communist domination of certain strategic labor unions has been an acknowledged fact, the Communist party had been regarded as a negligible force in the general political arena. Their capture of over 10 percent of the popular vote is reported to have surprised even the Communist leaders, and the significance of that spurt of popularity should not be overlooked. The recent visit to Japan by ex-Secretary of the Army Royall has also tended to focus attention upon problems of occupation policy in the Pacific. In particular, statements alleged to have been made by him in his "secret" press conference in Tokyo seem to suggest uncertainty in United States policy toward Japan. Despite exSecretary Royall's disclaimer, the press dispatches were consistent in reporting that he raised the question whether the United States would attempt to defend Japan and utilize it as a base in the event of war with Russia. His reported comments seem to indicate that he is inclined to regard Japan as a potential military liability, and the defense of Japan as a responsibility which the United States should not undertake. He appeared to be particularly concerned about the problems of feeding Japan's 80 million people and maintaining a flow of raw materials for her factories under wartime conditions-problems which would be of decisive importance if Japan were to be utilized as a strategic base.1
Fifty Years in Surveying - Mapping - and the Future

The tools and techniques of surveying and mapping have undergone revolutionary changes during the last 50 years. Automatic levels and electronic distance-measuring instruments have simplified and speeded field survey work. Survey computations and adjustments that were executed by laborious, time-consuming methods are now carried out rapidly by means of electronic computers. Geodetic surveys of greatly increased accuracy can now be made with the aid of active and passive earth satellites. Photogrammetric procedures, which became the standard means for producing maps after World War II, are being further improved by the use of radar, infrared, color, and other remote-sensor techniques. Map-drafting methods using pen-and-ink drafting and copperplate engraving have been replaced by more efficient scribing procedures. Great strides have been made in the automation of various phases of cartography. New methods of map presentation, such as the orthophotomap, offer an improvement over conventional line maps in some instances.
Alteration of intestinal tight junction structure and permeability by cytoskeletal contraction

Permeabilized intestinal absorptive cell brush borders contain a perijunctional ring of actin and myosin (PAMR) that can be induced to contract. Recently, morphological changes suggestive of PAMR contraction were shown to occur in absorptive cells of ileal epithelium after exposure to cytochalasin D (CD) (J. Cell Biol. 102: 2125-2136, 1986). With this response, altered tight junction structure and enhanced tight junction permeability also occur. To further assess the relationship between PAMR contraction and enhanced tight junction permeability, we examined the effect of the uncoupler 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) on this CD response. Progressive depletion of functionally defined intraepithelial energy stores occurred with DNP concentrations of 0.1-1 mM. Such DNP concentrations did not independently impair tight junction barrier function. Depletion of energy stores before CD exposure ablated the ability of CD to induce abnormalities of tight junction permeability. Similarly, PAMR condensation and alterations in tight junction structure could be dissociated from CD exposure by prior depletion of functional energy reserves. These data tie CD elicited alterations in tight junction structure and permeability to an energy dependent event that appears to be PAMR contraction. We speculate that tensile forces within the PAMR regulate tight junction structure and function.
Heterogeneous Ice Nucleation on Simulated Sea-Spray Aerosol Using Raman Microscopy

The deliquescence and heterogeneous ice nucleation behavior of simulated sea-spray aerosol was probed from 215 to 235 K using Raman microscopy coupled to an environmental cell. Water uptake prior to deliquescence was also probed on sea-salt particles along deliquescence/ice nucleation experimental trajectories. Synthetic sea-salt particles were generated from solutions of aquarium salt, which emulates all major and minor ions that are found in saltwater. Our results indicate that, under cirrus cloud conditions, sea-salt particles will be in an internally mixed liquid–solid phase, with a brine layer surrounding a crystalline core. Above 230 K, the core of the internally mixed liquid–solid particle fully deliquesces prior to ice nucleation. Below 225 K, however, the crystalline core can act as an efficient immersion-mode ice nuclei prior to full liquefaction. To simulate the presence of carbohydrate-like organics in sea-spray aerosol, sea-salt particles were mixed with the disaccharide sucrose 1:1 by mass. ...
Cultivation of epithelial cells from the prostate

We have (a) examined culture conditions for prostatic cells, (b) devised a procedure for the selective enrichment of epithelial cells, and (c) developed a way to identify prostatic epithelial cells by immunologic methods.
PKC regulation of organic anion secretion in perfused S2 segments of rabbit proximal tubules

To examine the role of protein kinase C (PKC) in organic anion (OA) secretion, we used epifluorescence microscopy to study steady-state transepithelial secretion of 1 μM fluorescein (FL) by isolate...
Eating Disorders in the Primary Care Setting

Eating disorders are a complex set of illnesses most commonly affecting white adolescent girls and young women. The most common eating disorders seen in the primary care setting are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. Treatment in the primary care environment ideally involves a physician, therapist, and nutritionist, although complex cases may require psychiatric and other specialist care. Early diagnosis and treatment are associated with improved outcomes, whereas the consequences of untreated eating disorders, particularly anorexia nervosa, can be devastating, including death.
Civil Disobedience, Alienation, Political Rupture

In the last decades of the twentieth century there was a marked change in interpreting and understanding the significance of ‘the revolutionary tradition.’ As the authors of a recent collection of essays on the subject note, this new interpretation of history, and consequently ‘the present day’, corresponded to events of global significance and a conceptual shift in understanding the meaning of revolution (Haynes and Wolfreys, 2007). With the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the project of socialism lost its coherence as an alternative project for western democracies. Scholars such as Anthony Giddens (1998) and Francis Fukuyama (1992) pointed to what they saw as a fundamental connection between market capitalism and liberal democracy. And while these thinkers declared the end of history and the beginning of a Third Way, the practice of politics itself reflected a return to the golden age of market capitalism. The power of the markets was regarded as the only true model for society at precisely the same moment when national markets were deregulated permitting the free flow of capital around the world. In short, the economy was superior to democracy.
Sampling Variability Effects in Drop‐Resolving Disdrometer Observations

Rain events are often studied with raindrop disdrometers – instruments designed to measure and record individual drop properties. Data from these instruments reveal that the instantaneous raindrop arrival rate is highly variable, with drop counts in consecutive time intervals occasionally changing by an order of magnitude or more. These drop count fluctuations result from some unknown combination of real physical changes in the underlying rainfall in conjunction with statistical fluctuations due to instrumental imperfections, limited sampling area, and the correlated nature of drop arrivals. Here, empirical observations are used to drive a simulation that explores the degree to which observed variability in bulk rainfall observations might be produced by statistical fluctuations. It is shown that meaningful conclusions about true underlying rain properties require more drops than previously thought. Revisions to the interpretation of disdrometer data are discussed.
Immunosuppression Minimization and Avoidance Protocols: When Less Is Not More

Kidney transplantation is well established as the best treatment option for end-stage kidney disease. It confers not only a better quality of life but also a significant survival advantage compared to dialysis. However, despite significant improvement in short-term kidney transplant graft survival over the past three decades, long-term graft survival remains suboptimal. Concerns about the possible contribution of chronic calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) nephrotoxicity to late allograft failure and other serious adverse effects of currently used immunosuppressive agents (especially corticosteroids) have led to increasing interest in developing regimens which may better preserve kidney allograft function and minimize other immunosuppression-related problems without increasing the risk of rejection. The availability of newer immunosuppressive agents has provided the opportunity to formulate such regimens. Approaches to this end include minimization, withdrawal, or avoidance of corticosteroids and CNIs. Currently, replacement of a CNI with a mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor while continuing mycophenolate and discontinuation of corticosteroids within the first post-transplant week is being increasingly utilized. Belatacept-based, CNI-free immunosuppression is an emerging alternative approach to avoiding CNI-mediated nephrotoxicity. We also discuss the evolution, results, and pros and cons of corticosteroid- and CNI minimization protocols. Recent studies suggest that chronic alloimmune damage rather than chronic CNI nephrotoxicity is the major contributor to late kidney allograft failure. The implications of this finding for the use of CNI minimization protocols are also discussed.
Investigation of the Microbial Ecology of Commercial Grapefruit Sections1

Commercially prepared grapefruit sections were qualitatively surveyed for microorganisms prior to heat processing. The micro flora included 7 genera of yeasts ( Candida , Cryptococcus , Hansenula , Rhodotorula , Saccharomyces , Torulaspora , Trichosporon , Zygosaccharomyces ), 12 genera of molds ( Aspergillus , Aureobasidium pullulans , Byssochlamys , Cladosporium , Fonseceae , Fusarium , Geotrichum , Mucor , Penicillium , Rhizopus , Trichoderma , Trichophyton ), and 2 of bacteria ( Lactobacillus and Leuconostoc ). A quantitative analysis of the native microflora indicated that the overall microbial population was capable of significant growth (p ≥ 0.05) at 25°C within 2 to 4 h in the unprocessed product.
Astronomy Magazine Fellowship

The Astronomy Magazine Fellowship, funded by the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium, was an opportunity to work with Astronomy Magazine at Kalmbach Publishing in Waukesha, Wisconsin for 10 weeks in the summer of 2016 as the first student science writer.