cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIPS IN THE FRESHWATER FAMILY HYDRODICTYACEAE (SPHAEROPLEALES, CHLOROPHYCEAE), WITH AN EMPHASIS ON PEDIASTRUM DUPLEX(1).

The freshwater green algal family Hydrodictyaceae (Sphaeropleales, Chlorophyta) has traditionally consisted of four coenobial genera, Pediastrum Meyen 1829, Hydrodictyon Roth 1797, Sorastrum Kutzing 1845, and Euastropsis Lagerheim1894. Two recent molecular phylogenetic studies demonstrated the need for reevaluation of the generic and species boundaries in this morphology-rich family. This study expands the previous work to include phylogenetic analyses of 103 ingroup isolates representing North America, Europe, and Australia, with an emphasis on the common and geographically widespread species Pediastrum duplex. Nucleotide sequence data were collected from the nuclear LSU (26S rDNA) and the chloroplast RUBISCO LSU (rbcL) genes, totaling >3,000 aligned characters. The 26S and rbcL data sets were analyzed using maximum-likelihood (ML) and Bayesian phylogenetic methods. In addition, SEM was used to examine the wall morphology of a majority of the isolates. The results supported previous indications that the P. duplex Meyen 1829 morphotype is nonmonophyletic and resolved some previously ambiguous relationships recovered in earlier phylogenetic estimations using fewer isolates. These new data allowed testing of the recent taxonomic revisions of the family that split Pediastrum into five genera. Some of the previous revisions by Buchheim et al. (2005) were well supported (erection of Stauridium and Monactinus), while others were not (Pediastrum, Pseudopediastrum, Parapediastrum).
Parathyroid hormone: A novel tool for treating bone marrow depletion in cancer patients caused by chemotherapeutic drugs and ionizing radiation

Between 1958 and the late 1970s it was learned that PTH (the parathyroid hormone) could directly stimulate the initiation of DNA replication by murine CFU-S (colony-forming unit-spleen) cells via cyclic AMP, stimulate the proliferation of normal and X-irradiated murine and rat bone marrow cells, control hematopoiesis, and increase the survival of X-irradiated mice and rats when injected any time between 18h before and 3h after X-irradiation. Since then, it has been shown that the hematopoietic stem cell niche consists of PTH receptor-bearing, osteoblastic trabecular bone-lining cells that maintain the stem cells' (HSCs') proliferatively quiescent 'stemness' by various gene up-regulating and down-regulating signals caused by the tight adhesion of the HSCs to the osteoblastic niche-lining cells. Stimulating the osteoblastic lining cells with recombinant human PTH-(1-34) (Forteo) causes a cyclic AMP-mediated enlargement of the HSC pool and promotes bone marrow transplant engraftment and growth and the survival of lethally irradiated mice. But this is only the beginning of the exploitation of the PTHs for marrow engraftment. It must now be determined whether the marrow engraftment-enhancing action of this potent bone growth-stimulating PTH can be extended from mice to rats and monkeys. It must be determined whether two other PTH peptides, rhPTH-(1-84) [Preos]and [Leu(27)]cyclo(Glu(22)-Lys(26))hPTH-(1-31)NH(2) [Ostabolin-C]) are as effective as or better than rhPTH-(1-34)(Forteo). Since, all three peptides are on the market, or nearing the market, for safely and strongly stimulating bone growth and treating osteoporosis one or all of them may become valuable tools for safely promoting the engraftment of peripherally harvested HSCs in cancer patients whose bone marrows have been 'emptied' by chemotherapeutic drugs or ionizing radiation.
Concealing and confounding adverse signals: insider wealth-maximizing behavior in the IPO process

We study a known negative signal, the sale of insider shares in an IPO and find that insiders adopt two concealment strategies consistent with wealth-maximizing behavior. First, insiders underreport the number of personally owned shares in the prominent original prospectus and use an obscure amendment to communicate the true higher level of shares to be offered. Second, when insiders increase shares in a later amendment, they tend to either increase secondary shares disproportional to primary share increases, or to reduce primary shares to wholly or partly conceal the increase in secondary shares offered. Insiders confound the negative secondary share signal by simultaneously sending a positive lockup signal. r 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
A scalable architecture for modular multiplication based on Montgomery's algorithm

This paper presents a scalable architecture for the computation of modular multiplication, based on the Montgomery multiplication (MM) algorithm. A word-based version of MM is presented and used to explain the main concepts in the hardware design. The proposed multiplier is able to work with any precision of the input operands, limited only by memory or control constraints. Its architecture gives enough freedom to select the word size and the degree of parallelism to be used, according to the available area and/or desired performance. Design trade offs are analyzed in order to identify adequate hardware configurations for a given area or bandwidth requirement.
Beyond the quantum formalism: consequences of a neural-oscillator model to quantum cognition

In this paper we present a neural oscillator model of stimulus response theory that exhibits quantum-like behavior. We then show that without adding any additional assumptions, a quantum model constructed to fit observable pairwise correlations has no predictive power over the unknown triple moment, obtainable through the activation of multiple oscillators. We compare this with the results obtained in reference (de Barros, J.A.: Decision making for inconsistent expert judgments using negative probabilities. In: Quantum Interaction, Lecture Notes in Computer Science. Springer Verlag, Berlin (2014)), where a criteria of rationality gives optimal ranges for the triple moment.
Improved rapid identification of mycobacteria by combining solid-phase extraction with high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of BACTEC cultures.

Identification of mycobacteria from BACTEC 12B cultures is achieved in 7 to 21 days by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using a UV spectrophotometer to detect nonpolar p-bromophenylacyl mycolic acid derivatives. However, cultures grown in BACTEC and other liquid media seldom contain sufficient mycolic acids to permit reliable identification under usual HPLC assay conditions, so the sample size must be increased. Unfortunately, samples prepared from cultures in liquid media such as BACTEC cultures also contain large amounts of extraneous polar and strongly nonpolar contaminants that interfere with the analysis and hasten deterioration of the HPLC column. The contaminants were removed from 10 samples simultaneously by solid-phase extraction (SPE), i.e., by passing the crude suspension containing the mycolic acid derivatives into disposable 500-mg tC18 SPE columns in place of the usual final filtration step used to prepare specimens for HPLC. Fifteen milliliters of 20% (vol/vol) dichloromethane in methanol was passed through the columns ( or = 25 absorbance milliunits with SPE, sufficient for reliable interpretation by visual inspection of chromatograms obtained with a UV detector. Also, removal of the contaminants improved column longevity.
Cognitive Theory and the Design of Multimedia Instruction: An Example of the Two‐Way Street Between Cognition and Instruction

It is not possible to understand cognition fully without understanding how it works in realistic settings, and it is not possible to reform education appropriately without understanding how people learn and think.
Hypermedia and the Facilitation of Native American Language Learning: Preserving a Heritage through the Use of Technology

The problem of Native American language loss can be addressed through the use of computer-assisted technology to teach indigenous languages to Native American learners. Hypermedia technology may provide a mechanism for the development of curriculum materials which reflect appropriate instructional techniques. Whole language methods advocated in second language instruction incorporate observational learning strategies—strategies which are inherent in many Native American homes, but often ignored in school. Hypermedia holds promise as an effective development tool for the creation of Native American language instruction.
COMPOSITIONAL AFFECT IN OPHULS

In his celebrated handbook The American Cinema: Directors and Directions, 1929–1968, Andrew Sarris offers the following assessment of German emigre Max Ophuls: ‘The cinema of Max Ophuls translates tracking into walking [...] and if all the dollies and cranes in the world snap to attention when his name is mentioned, it is because he gave camera movement its finest hours in the history of the cinema’. Such mastery found early confirmation in Ophuls’s 1934 Italian feature, La signora di tutti; the film was awarded a prize in Venice that year for technical brilliance — ‘il film italiano tecnicamente migliore’ — and it includes a number of bravura tracks, tilts, pans, and wipes. The film’s narrative, too, tacks backward and forward, and this gives rise to a series of disorienting vocal overlaps and irregular dissolves. Yet precisely as the film outplays the codes of continuity editing at every turn (and so disputes the concept of continuity more broadly), it marks decisive moments in its plot with compositions set in extraordinary depth — a technique long associated with duration, realism, and spatial integrity. In what follows, I want to give a somewhat different account of the work deep space can do: for not only have its critical fortunes turned on a selective reading of Andre Bazin, its development in Ophuls suggests that a richer dialectic is at work between motion and arrest, the animate and inanimate, and the real and its reproductions. By way of introduction, then, I would like to sketch in the range of Bazin’s arguments in favour of deep space composition (and its corollary, deep focus photography), as his work has become a touchstone in critical discussions of screen space. As Daniel Morgan has observed:
Draft Genome Sequence for Ralstonia sp. Strain OR214, a Bacterium with Potential for Bioremediation

Ralstonia sp. strain OR214 belongs to the class Betaproteobacteria and was isolated from subsurface sediments in Oak Ridge, TN. A member of this genus has been described as a potential bioremediation agent. Strain OR214 is tolerant to various heavy metals, such as uranium, nickel, cobalt, and cadmium. We present its draft genome sequence here.
Secular trends in Acinetobacter baumannii resistance in respiratory and blood stream specimens in the United States, 2003 to 2012: A survey study

BACKGROUND Acinetobacter baumannii (AB) has evolved a variety of resistance mechanisms and exhibits unpredictable susceptibility patterns, making it difficult to select empiric therapy. OBJECTIVE To examine US secular trends in the resistance of AB in respiratory infections and blood stream infections (BSI) to antimicrobial agents whose effectiveness is supported in the literature DESIGN Survey. METHODS We analyzed 3 time periods (2003–2005, 2006–2008, 2009–2012) in Eurofins' The Surveillance Network for resistance of AB to the following antimicrobials: carbapenems (imipenem, meropenem, doripenem), aminoglycosides (tobramycin, amikacin), tetracyclines (minocycline, doxycycline), polymyxins (colistin, polymyxin B), ampicillin-sulbactam, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Resistance to ≥3 drug classes defined multidrug resistance (MDR). RESULTS We identified 39,320 AB specimens (81.1% respiratory, 18.9% BSI). The highest prevalence of resistance was to doripenem (90.3%) followed by trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (55.3%), and the lowest to colistin (5.3%). Resistance to carbapenems (21.0% in 2003–2005 and 47.9% in 2009–2012) and colistin (2.8% in 2006–2008 to 6.9% in 2009–2012) more than doubled. Prevalence of MDR AB rose from 21.4% in 2003 to 2005 to 33.7% in 2006 to 2008, and remained stable at 35.2% in 2009 to 2012. In contrast, resistance to minocycline diminished from 56.5% (2003–2005) to 30.5% (2009–2012). MDR organisms were most frequent in nursing homes (46.5%), followed by general ward (29.2%), intensive care unit (28.7%), and outpatient setting (26.2%). CONCLUSIONS Resistance rates among AB to such last-resort antimicrobials as carbapenems and colistin are on the rise, whereas that to minocycline has declined. Nursing homes are a reservoir of resistant AB. These trends should inform not only empiric treatment of serious infections, but also approaches to infection control. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2015. © 2015 Society of Hospital Medicine.
Quantum mechanical origin of the plasmon: from molecular systems to nanoparticles

The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of noble metal nanoparticles is reviewed in terms of both classical and quantum mechanical approaches. The collective oscillation of the free electrons responsible for the plasmon is well described using classical electromagnetic theory for large systems (from about 10 to 100 nm). In cases where quantum effects are important, this theory fails and first principle approaches like time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) must be used. In this paper, we give an account of the current understanding of the quantum mechanical origin of plasmon resonances. We provide some insight into how the discrete absorption spectrum of small noble metal clusters evolves into a strong plasmon peak with increasing particle size. The collective character of the plasmon is described in terms of the constructive addition of single-particle excitations. As the system size increases, the number of single-particle excitations increases as well. A configuration interaction (CI) approach can be applied to describe the optical properties of particles of all shapes and sizes, providing a consistent definition of plasmon resonances. Finally, we expand our analysis to thiolate-protected nanoparticles and analyze the effects of ligands on the plasmon.
Formation of Stable Chlorinated Hydrocarbons in Weathering Plant Material

Though several chlorinated organic compounds produced by humans are carcinogenic and toxic, some are also produced by the biotic and abiotic processes in the environment. In situ x-ray spectroscopy data indicate that natural organic matter in soils, sediments, and natural waters contain stable, less volatile organic compounds with chlorinated phenolic and aliphatic groups as the principal Cl forms. These compounds are formed at rapid rates from the transformation of inorganic Cl during humification of plant material and, thus, play a critical role in the cycling of Cl and of several major and trace elements in the environment and may influence human health.
Hybrid atomistic simulation of fluid uptake in a deformable solid.

Fluid imbibition via diffusion in a deformable solid results in solid stresses that may, in turn, alter subsequent fluid uptake. To examine this interplay between diffusional and elastic fields, we employed a hybrid Monte Carlo--molecular dynamics scheme to model the coupling of a fluid reservoir to a deformable solid, and then simulated the resulting fluid permeation into the solid. By monitoring the instantaneous structure factor and solid dimensions, we were able to determine the compositional strain associated with imbibition, and the diffusion coefficient in the Fickian regime was obtained from the time dependence of the fluid uptake. Finally, for large, mobile fluid atoms, a non-Fickian regime was highlighted and possible mechanisms for this behavior were identified.
Comparison of Porous Silicon Etched Gently and Under Illumination

Porous silicon samples prepared in the dark under “gentle” etching conditions clearly demonstrate effects of quantum confinement, such as a correlation of the photoluminescence peak energy with the downshift of the Raman line from 521 cm−1 for bulk silicon, and a blue shift in the remaining weak photoluminescence after thermal annealing. On the other hand, samples prepared under illumination as well as those heavily etched in the dark, though luminesce brightly, show no significant effects of quantum confinement, suggesting a different dominant mechanism for the observed luminescence.
Design optimization of an artificial lateral line system incorporating flow and sensor uncertainties

ABSTRACTAn artificial lateral line (ALL) system consists of a set of flow sensors around a fish-like body. An ALL system aims to identify surrounding moving objects, a common example of which is a vibrating sphere, called a dipole. Accurate identification of a vibrating dipole is a challenging task because of the presence of different types of uncertainty in measurements or in the underlying flow model. Proper selection of design parameters of the ALL system, including the shape, size, number and location of the sensors, can highly influence the identification accuracy. This study aims to find such an optimum design by developing a specialized bi-level optimization methodology. It identifies and simulates different sources of uncertainty in the problem formulation. A parametric fitness function addresses computational and practical goals and encompasses the effect of different sources of uncertainty. It can also analyse the trade-off between localization accuracy and the number of sensors. Comparison of t...
Hospital Ethics Committees, Consultants, and Courts

Hospital ethics committees originated with concerns about legal liability, but today they educate, develop and implement policies, and review cases.
Study of Persistent Ectopic Pregnancy after Laparoscopic Conservative Surgery in Patients with Tubal Pregnancy

Objective To discuss the clinical risk factors of persistent ectopic pregnancy(PEP).Methods In 796 tubal pregnancy patients treated by laparoscopic conservative surgery,24 cases who had PEP were distributed into study group and other 772 cases were distributed into control group.The clinical basic information and surgical data of all the patients were retrospectively compared and analyzed.Results The PEP incidence with menopause time less than 40 days 5.42% was significantly higher than that more than 41 days 1.98%(χ2=6.27,P0.05).The treatment rate with embryo extrusion/suction technique 18% was significantly higher than that with tubal incision technique 2.01% in PEP(χ2=21.32,P0.01).Treatment rate with MTX 0.95% was significantly lower than without MTX 7.04% in PEP(χ2=8.29,P0.05).Conclusion Patients of short menopause time,treated by embryo extrusion/suction technique,and treated without MTX had a higher PEP incidence.
Dust Hazards Status and Its Protecting Countermeasures in A Large Coal Washing Plant

[Objective] To investigate the dust hazards status and its protecting countermeasures in a large coal washing plant.[Methods]Dust hazard and dust control measures of the plant were investigated;detection of dust concentration was performed on workplace with dust hazard and workers of different types of work with dust exposure.The dust control status of this plant was analyzed and evaluated according to the investigation and test results.[Results]The content of free silica in dust ranged between 1.10%~25.12% in this plant.Dust short-term exposure limit(STEL)was tested in 134 workplaces,the dust concentration of 66 workplaces exceeded at least 2 times of STEL;the overall qualified rate of dust in workplace was 50.75% based on the STEL calculation;time-weighted average(TWA)concentration was tested in 79 jobs of 17 types,TWA of 43 jobs exceeded the national occupational exposure limits,qualified rate of dust was 45.75% by TWA calculation.Dust control measures in the workplace and individual dustproof articles were both inadequate.[Conclusion]The main reasons for dust over standard in coal washing plant are lack of dust control measures,unperfect management system.It is necessary to implement dust control well to prevent the occurrence of pneumoconiosis from the aspects of dustproof facilities,personal dustproof,dust management,government supervision
Weight change associated with third-generation adjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients.

Background Studies have shown that breast cancer treatment can cause an increase in weight. Weight gain during chemotherapy is usually significant and may be associated with poor survival. However, the role of third- generation chemotherapy regimens and weight gain is not well reviewed. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the mean percentage weight change during the first year after breast cancer diagnosis in 246 patients at West Virginia University during September 2007 and October 2010. Kruskal-Wallis test and post hoc pairwise comparisons were used to assess the influence of age, histology, stage, ER/PR/HER2/neu status, menopausal status, and types of therapeutic modalities received on the percentage weight change. Kaplan-Meier method with log-rank test was used to evaluate recurrence-free survival (RFS). Local or distant recurrence and disease progression were events for RFS analysis and disease-free patients were censored at last follow-up. Results Mean weight gain was 0.39% (SD, 0.40) of baseline body weight, 1 year after diagnosis of breast cancer. Premenopausal status was the only factor associated with significant weight gain (+1.67% vs -0.10% for postmenopausal patients; P = .02). Stages ≥ III was associated with significant weight loss (-1.64% for stages III, IV vs +0.85% for stages 0, I, II; P = .02) and a lower RFS at 3 years and 5 years (P 90th percentile) did not have any significant impact on RFS (0.84 vs 0.91; P = .19). There was no significant change in weight relative to other factors. Conclusions Our study in patients receiving third-generation adjuvant chemotherapy regimens did not show any significant change in percentage weight with chemotherapy. Premenopausal status was the only significant factor associated with weight gain. As expected, stage III or higher disease was associated with significant weight loss and lower RFS.
MOOCs for Research: The Case of the Indiana University Plagiarism Tutorials and Tests

We illustrate a very recent research study that demonstrates the value of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) as vehicles for research. We describe the development of the Indiana University Plagiarism Tutorials and Tests (IPTAT). Our new design has been guided by First Principles of Instruction: authentic problems, activation, demonstration, application, and integration. We further discuss our data collection mechanisms and early usage of this new mini-MOOC. In the first study, we investigated a built-in assessment feature for students to evaluate instructional quality and user experience. To do this, we adapted scales from the Teaching and Learning Quality instrument. As a follow-up study, we plan to further investigate patterns of usage of the IPTAT by students through creation of individual temporal maps. We plan to use Analysis of Patterns in Time, a method that provides learning analytics.
Lysosome disruption associated with hypersensitive reaction in the potato-Phytophthora infestans host-parasite interaction

Abstract Disruption of plasma and lysosome membranes in cells of potato leaves inoculated with Phytophthora infestans was investigated in relation to compatible and incompatible [hypersensitive reaction (HR)] interactions of host and pathogen. Reaction products of acid phosphatase, represented by electron-dense deposits, were mostly compartmentalized within lysosomes in both the compatible host and healthy noninoculated leaf tissues. The reaction products were also associated with the host plasma membrane of the healthy controls. In HR, electron-dense deposits were evident in the lysosomes as well as in the host cell cytoplasm where they appeared free; in the cytoplasm, the presence of reaction products of acid phosphatase was considerably greater than those in the compatible interaction or in healthy noninoculated controls where they were usually sparse or absent. The electron-dense deposits were especially and heavily concentrated in infected (HR) cells and were also closely associated with fungal hyphae. Generation of hydroxyl free radicals and superoxide anions was significantly greater in the compatible interaction than in HR and healthy noninoculated controls. Superoxide dismutase added to the medium significantly suppressed production of superoxide anions and significantly increased generation of hydroxyl free radicals in both the incompatible and compatible interactions and also in the healthy noninoculated controls. Our results suggest that generation of free oxygen radicals is a function mainly associated with the aggressiveness of the pathogen. Moreover, disruption of lysosomes is closely associated with HR but the role of oxygen radicals in HR is still unclear.
Development of a precise experimental burn model

Abstract Background Porcine wounds closely mimic human wounds and are often used experimentally in burn studies. Multiple burn devices have been reported but they rarely described precise amount of heat transfer and the burn devices generally have low and varying heat capacity resulting in significant and varying temperature drop. Methods The authors developed a customized aluminum burn device with cork insulation and high heat capacity. A thermistor probe was embedded in the device to accurately measure the temperature of the aluminum. The burn injury was inflicted by preheating the burn device to 100 °C and pressing on the dorsum of pig skin for different time points ranging from 5 to 30 s using standardized force of 10 N on the device. With the knowledge of the heat capacity of the aluminum block and the temperature drop, the amount of heat transferred can be calculated. Result The temperature drop was 0 °C, 1 °C, 2 °C, 3 °C and 5 °C for a wound-device contact time of 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 s, respectively. The depths of injury at 72 h after burn were 0.46 mm, 0.82 mm, 1.21 mm, 1.61 mm and 1.91 mm at 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 s respectively. 3.1 mm represented a full thickness burn. The depth of the burn wounds significantly correlated with the heat transferred per cm2 (correlation coefficient = 0.96, p-value = 0.03). Conclusion The authors describe a simple, standardized and reproducible animal burn model using a customized burn device. The high heat capacity ensures minimal temperature drop which minimizes the variability of heat transferred with a large temperature drop. The correlation between the heat transfer and the depth of injury can facilitate standardization of burn depths in future studies.
Imperial German Precedents, 1890–1918

The invention and development of the rigid airship in Germany, from its inception to the end of World War I, occurred in a context of unique circumstances which spanned a gamut of intensifying political repercussions. These derived from arguments about weapons development, various bureaucratic interpositions, a widening psychological impact of the airship on the German public, and initial commercial ventures. By the outbreak of World War I there had emerged a technological instrument of great potential military threat and of remarkable national propaganda. Herewith also developed different kinds of political manipulation about the new technology. Initially, these efforts played in the confines of closed politics, where negative committee and hierarchical actions vied with Count Zeppelin’s advocacy of his airship by way of court politics. Open politics gradually came into play as the Aeronaut’s technological efforts became increasingly successful and soon spectacularly visible. Their culmination could be seen in nationwide public enthusiasm and the unique donation of 1908 that confirmed the Count’s rise to heroic proportions and established his independence in airship construction and flight. Between 1908 and 1914 airship successes and accidents were constantly in the public eye to influence further development of the technology. By sharp contrast, the succeeding war years would see largely negative military decisions about airships concealed by censorship, while legends of airship wonder continued to command the popular imagination. This wartime disparity between airship reality and myth lived on into the postwar decade with significant psychological persuasion.
The Night Airglow Or Nightglow

Our wandering planet is sheathed in a nocturnal glow that usually goes unnoticed. The glow is due to a variety of physical causes and, although it is often referred to as the night airglow or nightglow, it is probably better to speak of a number of night-glows, not only because of their numerous physical origins but also because of the multiplicity of their temporal and geographical changes.
A Systematic Review of the Respiratory Effects of Inhalational Marijuana

This systematic review focuses on respiratory effects of inhalational marijuana. The systematic review of the literature was conducted using a comparative method between 2 researchers. Abstracts were reviewed for inclusion of respiratory effects related to inhalational marijuana. Relevant abstracts were collected, and full text articles were retrieved for review. Articles were removed if they did not contain burning marijuana; were animal studies; or were editorials, systematic reviews, commentaries, non-English language, or non-respiratory-related articles. Forty-eight articles were collected and categorized by respiratory effects. In particular, lung cancer, bullous emphysema/COPD, and other respiratory symptoms were the primary categories. Articles were noted by study population country, sample size, age distribution, and findings that were pertinent to respiratory health. The research indicates that there is a risk of lung cancer from inhalational marijuana as well as an association between inhalational marijuana and spontaneous pneumothorax, bullous emphysema, or COPD. A variety of symptoms have been reported by inhalational marijuana smokers, including wheezing, shortness of breath, altered pulmonary function tests, cough, phlegm production, bronchodilation, and other symptoms. It is important to stay current with research findings to educate patients on this smoking behavior.
Effects of Walnut Consumption on Mood in Young Adults—A Randomized Controlled Trial

Walnuts contain a number of potentially neuroprotective compounds like vitamin E, folate, melatonin, several antioxidative polyphenols and significant amounts of ω-3 fatty acids. The present study sought to determine the effect of walnuts on mood in healthy volunteers. Sixty-four college students were randomly assigned to two treatment sequences in a crossover fashion: walnut-placebo or placebo-walnut. At baseline mood was assessed using Profiles of Mood States (POMS). Data was collected again after eight weeks of intervention. After six-weeks of washout, the intervention groups followed the diets in reverse order. Data was collected once more at the end of the eight-week intervention period. No significant changes in mood were observed in the analyses with both genders combined and in females. However, we have observed a significant medium effect size improvement in the Total Mood Disturbance score (-27.49%, p = 0.043, Cohen's d = 0.708) in males. In non-depressed healthy young males, walnuts seem to have the ability to improve mood.
Signal adaptive control architecture for modulator design

A signal adaptive control architecture for a second-order /spl Delta//spl Sigma/ modulator design is presented. This architecture effectively reduces the power dissipation and the distortion of the first stage in the modulator. The function of this architecture is to switch off the DAC feedback signal to the first stage during some iterations, and to compensate the signal at the second stage, in an adaptive manner.
Total red meat intake of ≥0.5 servings/d does not negatively influence cardiovascular disease risk factors: a systemically searched meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background Observational associations between red meat intake and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are inconsistent. There are limited comprehensive analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigate the effects of red meat consumption on CVD risk factors. Objective The purpose of this systematically searched meta-analysis was to assess the effects of consuming ≥0.5 or Design Two researchers independently screened 945 studies from PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Scopus databases and extracted data from 24 qualified RCTs. Inclusion criteria were 1) RCT, 2) subjects aged ≥19 y, 3) consumption of ≥0.5 or Results Red meat intake did not affect lipid-lipoprotein profiles or blood pressure values postintervention (P > 0.05) or changes over time [weighted mean difference (95% CI): -0.01 mmol/L (-0.08, 0.06 mmol/L), 0.02 mmol/L (-0.05, 0.08 mmol/L), 0.03 mmol/L (-0.01, 0.07 mmol/L), and 0.04 mmol/L (-0.02, 0.10 mmol/L); -0.08 mm Hg (-0.26, 0.11 mm Hg); and -1.0 mm Hg (-2.4, 0.78 mm Hg) and 0.1 mm Hg (-1.2, 1.5 mm Hg) for TC, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, TC:HDL cholesterol, SBP, and DBP, respectively]. Among all subjects, TC, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, TC:HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and DBP, but not SBP, decreased over time (P Conclusions The results from this systematically searched meta-analysis of RCTs support the idea that the consumption of ≥0.5 servings of total red meat/d does not influence blood lipids and lipoproteins or blood pressures.
An approach on defining competency in evidence‐based dentistry

INTRODUCTION Assessment of evidence-based dentistry (EBD) knowledge and behaviour is hampered by lack of explicit competency criteria. This void impedes instructional design and assessment of student growth during the educational process. METHODS Knowledge and cognitive domains supporting educational objectives in a pre-doctoral dental programme were identified for each level of the EBD five-step process. We articulated educational objectives with behavioural expectations for each level of skill acquisition at each step of the EBD process. Outcome evaluation criteria identify students' progressive level of skill acquisition from novice to expert. RESULTS The educational objectives, type of knowledge, and nature of the cognitive process supporting these objectives are presented for each step of the EBD process. For example, educational objectives of the "Ask" step include (i) to construct a question from the patient presentation and knowledge limitations that addresses the clinical problem and (ii) to articulate the Problem, Intervention/Exposure, Comparison, Outcome (PICO) components. Achievement of these objectives requires both factual information regarding the PICO format and the cognitive process of understanding. Educational outcome criteria consistent with a competent clinician include clear articulation of the PICO with identifiable pieces that relate to the clinical situation. DISCUSSION Assessment strategies for progression towards EBD competency are limited due to the complexity associated with evaluating EBD knowledge and behaviours. To evaluate performance, the EBD academic community must define competency expectations for entry into unsupervised general dental practice. CONCLUSION This framework offers measurable outcome evaluation criteria to initiate a conversation with academic peers regarding current gaps in EBD assessment.
First Report of Goss's Bacterial Wilt and Leaf Blight on Corn Caused by Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. nebraskensis in Indiana

In August of 2008, leaves of hybrid corn (Zea mays L.) and popcorn from Pulaski and Jasper counties in northwest Indiana were submitted to the Purdue Plant and Pest Diagnostic Lab with symptoms characteristic of a bacterial disease. Symptomatic leaves had large, tan-to-gray necrotic lesions with dark freckling present within the lesions. Shiny bacterial exudate was present on the surface of many of the lesions. Microscopic observation revealed no fungal structures within the lesions, and bacterial streaming was observed from the cut edge of symptomatic tissue under ×100 magnification with phase contrast. A commercially available ELISA test (Agdia Inc., Elkhart, IN) determined that samples were negative for Pantoea stewartii, the causal agent of Stewart's bacterial leaf blight and wilt. A bacterial suspension was prepared from symptomatic tissue and streaked onto King's B medium and subcultured on semiselective CNS medium (1,2). Axenic, peach-colored colonies present on the CNS medium tested gram positive with a KOH test. Analysis of fatty acid methyl esters (MIDI Inc, Newark, DE) indicated that the strain was very similar (0.611) to Clavibacter michiganensis. Amplification of the 500-bp 16S rRNA region of the bacterial gene and subsequent BLAST alignments of the resulting sequence indicated a 99% match for C. michiganensis subsp. nebraskensis (GenBank Accession Nos. AM410697 and U09763; D16S2 gene bacterial library, version 2.10; MIDI Inc,). Koch's postulates were used to confirm pathogenicity of the isolated bacteria on corn inbred B73. Eighteen plants were mechanically inoculated at growth stage V1 to V2 with a bacterial suspension of approximately 1 × 108 CFU/ml prepared from cultures grown on CNS for 10 days at 28°C (2). Inoculum was rubbed onto leaves dusted with Carborundum and 0.1 ml of the bacterial suspension was injected into stems with a hypodermic needle. Nine control plants were inoculated with sterile water. Plants were kept at greenhouse conditions (24°C) with supplemental 400W high-pressure sodium light. Within 5 to 8 days, leaves and stems of all 18 inoculated plants developed water-soaked, necrotic lesions. No symptoms were observed in control plants. Bacteria were reisolated from symptomatic plants on CNS medium as described above, and gram-positive colonies were obtained. Reisolated strains were identical to C. michiganensis subsp. nebraskensis by D16S2 DNA sequence analysis, confirming the causal agent of the disease. Disease incidence in affected fields ranged from 20 to 60% and significant yield loss was reported. This confirmation is of regulatory importance because of potential export restrictions of Indiana-grown seed corn and popcorn to select countries. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Goss's bacterial wilt and leaf blight on corn in Indiana. References: (1) D. C. Gross and A. K. Vidaver. Phytopathology 69:82, 1979. (2) L. M. Shepherd. M.S. thesis. Iowa State University. Ames, 1999.
Biophysical and Computational Studies of the vCCI:vMIP-II Complex

Certain viruses have the ability to subvert the mammalian immune response, including interference in the chemokine system. Poxviruses produce the chemokine binding protein vCCI (viral CC chemokine inhibitor; also called 35K), which tightly binds to CC chemokines. To facilitate the study of vCCI, we first provide a protocol to produce folded vCCI from Escherichia coli (E. coli.) It is shown here that vCCI binds with unusually high affinity to viral Macrophage Inflammatory Protein-II (vMIP-II), a chemokine analog produced by the virus, human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8). Fluorescence anisotropy was used to investigate the vCCI:vMIP-II complex and shows that vCCI binds to vMIP-II with a higher affinity than most other chemokines, having a Kd of 0.06 ± 0.006 nM. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) chemical shift perturbation experiments indicate that key amino acids used for binding in the complex are similar to those found in previous work. Molecular dynamics were then used to compare the vCCI:vMIP-II complex with the known vCCI:Macrophage Inflammatory Protein-1β/CC-Chemokine Ligand 4 (MIP-1β/CCL4) complex. The simulations show key interactions, such as those between E143 and D75 in vCCI/35K and R18 in vMIP-II. Further, in a comparison of 1 μs molecular dynamics (MD) trajectories, vMIP-II shows more overall surface binding to vCCI than does the chemokine MIP-1β. vMIP-II maintains unique contacts at its N-terminus to vCCI that are not made by MIP-1β, and vMIP-II also makes more contacts with the vCCI flexible acidic loop (located between the second and third beta strands) than does MIP-1β. These studies provide evidence for the basis of the tight vCCI:vMIP-II interaction while elucidating the vCCI:MIP-1β interaction, and allow insight into the structure of proteins that are capable of broadly subverting the mammalian immune system.
Comparison of a medication adherence simulation in professional pharmacy students versus undergraduate students.

Abstract Background and purpose Previous research at colleges and schools of pharmacy showed that simulation learning is an effective method to teach pharmacy students about the issues patients face when prescribed complicated medication regimens. The purpose of this analysis was to compare reported medication adherence rates, perceived barriers, and methods used to increase adherence between undergraduate students and pharmacy students based on a medication-taking simulation course activity. Educational activity and setting In spring semesters 2014 and 2015, students in both a pharmacy course and an undergraduate seminar course participated in a short simulation involving a complicated medication regimen. Within one week of participating in the simulation activity, the students answered survey questions about the assignment through an online course sharing platform. Findings Almost all students enrolled in the courses (237/246 pharmacy students and 34/36 undergraduate students) completed the assignment (> 96% response rate). A large percentage of each group reported some non-adherence; 95% (225/237) of first-year pharmacy students and 82% (28/34) of undergraduate students. The top two barriers reported were 1) simply forgetting and 2) difficulty following the food- and/or alcohol-related restrictions associated with some of the simulated medications. The top two methods used to increase adherence were phone/electronic reminders and paper/spreadsheet reminders. Discussion A limitation to this study was the small sample size of undergraduate students. Even though the response rate was over 96%, the course was a small seminar-type course. Although it might be expected that pharmacy students would be more adherent since they may have had experience with non-adherence issues while working in a pharmacy, opposite results were found. Since the students were relatively young, most had not personally dealt with a complicated medication regimen. Summary Pharmacy students reported lower adherence to a complicated medication regimen than undergraduate students. The most common reasons for non-adherence and most common methods used to increase adherence were similar between the two cohorts. The use of electronic reminders was common for both groups of students, and should be included in discussions about methods to improve adherence rates.
A Case for Case Studies

Abstract Case studies have a long and significant history of contributing to medical knowledge and medical education. More recently they have declined in popularity given a focus on larger data sets and statistical power. We discuss the history and value of clinical case reports and place this discussion in the context of prevailing trends. In addition, we note a strong role for nonclinical case studies such as those reporting insights and experiences in the realm of medical leadership. We discuss the many benefits of medical students engaging in case reports on leadership topics, and we offer a nonclinical case study in medical student leadership.
Development of a pigeon shaped MAV for surveillance

Security and surveillance in complicated and difficult terrain, in case of any natural disaster emergency situation is a need of the day. Low cost, light weight and energy efficient micro air vehicles have appeared as vital tool to cope with such challenges. In this research, a design of such a low cost, light weight miniature size air vehicle is presented which could be used to explore D3 (Dull, Dirty, Dangerous) environments. As a first phase, a theoretical and mathematical framework was developed to apply multi-disciplinary design optimization (MDO) to the suggested micro air vehicle concept to achieve an optimized design. CFD (Computational Fluid dynamics) analysis and wind tunnel testing was then performed to analyze the aerodynamic performance and characteristics of the MAV design. Subsequent phases of development, implementation and detailed testing of the proposed conceptual design have been presented. The proposed design is a pigeon shaped air vehicle with a wing span of 0.3 meters and a flight range of 2 km with a minimum endurance of 30 minutes in both indoor and outdoor environments. Test benches and measurement mechanisms were developed for measurements of electrical and physical specifications. Bench testing was followed by ground testing in order to analyze the stability of the desired MAV in indoor environments. Finally, optimized weight distribution was calculated and a number of flight tests were performed which have fully proved practical validity of the proposed model. The significance of this research lies in need for battlefield reconnaissance, damage assessment, and visual surveillance. The primary aim of this research was to develop such a low cost search and survey aerial vehicle which could be used not only for search and surveillance during close combats and anti-terrorist operations but also for general civilians' security purposes. Recent security conditions around the world has created an immediate need for development of such low cost, light weight and easily portable miniature air vehicle. As a result of this research, a micro air vehicle has been successfully developed for the purpose.
Conservation laws for three-phase partially saturated granular media

We review the governing conservation laws for three-phase partially saturated media using mixture theory including finite deformation effects and kinetic energy production. Under the assumption of barotropic flows we derive the mass balance equations in their most general form, including the compressibilities of the constituent phases. We then derive the momentum balance equations including the rates of change of linear momentum in Eulerian and Lagrangian descriptions. Next we write the balance of energy equation and illustrate the conjugate relationship of the partial stress tensor with the rate of deformation of the corresponding constituent phase. Using balance of mass and balance of momentum, we rewrite the balance of energy equation once again in an equivalent form showing the conjugate relationship of an effective constitutive stress with the rate of deformation of the solid matrix. This effective constitutive stress is analogous to Bishop’s effective stress for partially saturated soils, and to Terzaghi’s effective stress for fully saturated soils.