cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Induction of class II major histocompatibility complex antigens on a population of astrocytes from a mouse strain (BALB/c) resistant to experimental allergic encephalomyelitis

Abstract We have investigated the capacity of the lymphokine γ-interferon (IFN-γ) to induce class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens on astrocytes cultured from BALB/c mice. This is a mouse strain resistant to experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), and in a recent report Massa et al. (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 84 (1987) 4219–4223) indicated that BALB/c astrocytes in vitro were not susceptible to class II MHC antigen induction by IFN-γ. We observed, in agreement with this previous report, that when primary cultures of astrocytes from neonatal BALB/c mice were just at confluence (7–10 days in vitro), IFN-γ did not stimulate expression of class II MHC antigens. However, after 14–16 days in vitro, a population of astrocytes emerged in the cultures on which class II MHC antigens could be induced. These cells expressed the astrocyte marker glial fibrillary acidic protein, and were found in close association to small round superficial cells (multipotential precursor cells), and to microglia. These results indicate that the ability of astrocytes to respond to lymphokine stimulation is not completely correlated with susceptibility to EAE, and further suggest the importance of central mechanisms in the development of inflammatory brain disease.
Heel reconstruction with the deep circumflex iliac artery osteocutaneous flap

A patient with extensive loss of bone and soft tissue from the right heel is presented. The defect was reconstructed using an osteocutaneous flap based on the deep circumflex iliac vessels. Indications for this procedure include extensive loss of bone and soft tissue precluding the use of local flaps. A 30-month period has elapsed since her reconstruction. A single ulcer developed 13 months postoperatively that healed after flap revision. We feel that tailoring the flap to minimize redundancy at the initial operation, subsequent tissue excision if necessary, and reinnervation augment durability of the flap.
Process-Independent Resistor Temperature-Coefficients using Series/Parallel and Parallel/Series Composite Resistors

This paper introduces series/parallel and parallel/series composite resistor topologies. These topologies allow one to design a temperature coefficient that is insensitive to process variations, unlike the traditional simple series and simple parallel composite resistors. Formulas and normalized circuits are provided. Four zero-temperature coefficient resistors are simulated, and methods for picking the best topology are discussed.
Automatic parallelization of discrete event simulation programs

Developing parallel discrete event simulation code is currently very time-consuming and requires a high level of expertise. Few tools, if any, exist to aid conversion of existing sequential simulation programs to efficient parallel code. Traditional approaches to automatic parallelization, as used in many parallelizing compilers, are not well-suited for this application because of the irregular, data dependent nature of discrete event simulation computations. In this paper, we present an approach for automatically parallelizing sequential discrete event simulation (DES) programs. A framework for parallel execution is developed into which sequential DES languages are mapped. Using a Time Warp like execution mechanism, we demonstrate that it is possible to automatically translate DES programs into equivalent parallel programs. A case study of the SIMSCRIPT II.5 language is conducted, and preliminary performance data based on a prototype parallelizing SIMSCRIPT compiler and run-time system are presented.
Joint source-filter modeling using flexible basis functions

Improving on recent work on joint source-filter analysis of speech waveforms, we explore improvements to an autoregressive model with exogenous inputs represented by flexible basis functions. Following a brief review of the maximum likelihood estimators of the model parameters, the Cramer-Rao bounds are derived to provide evidence for the challenging nature of estimating source and filter characteristics with overlapping spectra. Wavelet expansion of the exogenous inputs is employed, and the selection of an appropriate subset of wavelets is described as an online, signal-adaptive approach. Results from synthesized and real vowel analysis illustrate the promise of iterative wavelet shrinkage using soft and hard thresholding and an alternative regularization method.
Resource-Task Assignment Process with Rejections and Reassignments

We present a simple model for the resource-task assignment process with rejections and reassignments, where the assignment rejection probabilities are considered explicitly. Particularly, we assume that each resource can serve at most one task, and provide several approaches for solving the problem. For many application fields, the assignment rejection probabilities can be obtained from the historical data, the model and solution approaches provided in this paper may help to make better assignment decisions.
Enhanced multistatic radar resolution via STC

MIMO radar can improve on conventional target detection, parameter identification, and target classification performance via diversity of, among other things, its simultaneously-transmitted waveforms. However, the mutual interference among the waveforms may lead to considerable performance degradation in suppressing clutter near targets. In this paper, we consider the use of space time coding (STC) to mitigate waveform cross-correlation effects in MIMO radar. First, it turns out that a joint waveform optimization problem can be decoupled into a set of individual waveform design problems. Second, a number of monostatic waveforms can be directly used in a MIMO radar system, which offers flexibility in waveform selection. Numerical results demonstrate the effectiveness of STC in MIMO radar for waveform decorrelation.
Response to Letter Regarding Article “Large Animal Models of Heart Failure: A Critical Link in the Translation of Basic Science to Clinical Practice”

To the Editor: We thank Schmitto et al for the insightful response to our review “Large Animal Models of Heart Failure: A Critical Link in the Translation of Basic Science to Clinical Practice.”1 The thrust of this commentary was that the use of large animal models of microembolization to produce a chronic myocardial …
Brassicaceae phylogeny inferred from phytochrome A and ndhF sequence data: tribes and trichomes revisited

The family Brassicaceae comprises 3710 species in 338 genera, 25 recently delimited tribes, and three major lineages based on phylogenetic results from the chloroplast gene ndhF. To assess the credibility of the lineages and newly delimited tribes, we sequenced an approximately 1.8-kb region of the nuclear phytochrome A (PHYA) gene for taxa previously sampled for the chloroplast gene ndhF. Using parsimony, likelihood, and Bayesian methods, we reconstructed the phylogeny of the gene and used the approximately unbiased (AU) test to compare phylogenetic results from PHYA with findings from ndhF. We also combined ndhF and PHYA data and used a Bayesian mixed model approach to infer phylogeny. PHYA and combined analyses recovered the same three large lineages as those recovered in ndhF trees, increasing confidence in these lineages. The combined tree confirms the monophyly of most of the recently delimited tribes (only Alysseae, Anchonieae, and Descurainieae are not monophyletic), while 13 of the 23 sampled tribes are monophyletic in PHYA trees. In addition to phylogenetic results, we documented the trichome branching morphology of species across the phylogeny and explored the evolution of different trichome morphologies using the AU test. Our results indicate that dendritic, medifixed, and stellate trichomes likely evolved independently several times in the Brassicaceae.
Fresh and globular amyloid β protein (1–42) induces rapid cellular degeneration: evidence for AβP channel-mediated cellular toxicity

Amyloid beta peptides (AbetaP) deposit as plaques in vascular and parenchymal areas of Alzheimer's disease (AD) tissues and Down's syndrome patients. Although neuronal toxicity is a feature of late stages of AD, vascular pathology appears to be a feature of all stages of AD. Globular and nonfibrillar AbetaPs are continuously released during normal cellular metabolism, form calcium-permeable channels, and alter cellular calcium level. We used atomic force microscopy, laser confocal microscopy, and calcium imaging to examine the real-time and acute effects of fresh and globular AbetaP(1-42), AbetaP(1-40), and AbetaP(25-35) on cultured endothelial cells. AbetaPs induced morphological changes that were observed within minutes after AbetaP treatment and led to eventual cellular degeneration. Cellular morphological changes were most sensitive to AbetaP(1-42). AbetaP(1-42)-induced morphological changes were observed at nanomolar concentrations and were accompanied by an elevated cellular calcium level. Morphological changes were prevented by anti-AbetaP antibody, AbetaP-channel antagonist zinc, and the removal of extracellular calcium, but not by tachykinin neuropeptide, voltage-sensitive calcium channel blocker cadmium, or antioxidants DTT and Trolox. Thus, nanomolar fresh and globular AbetaP(1-42) induces rapid cellular degeneration by elevating intracellular calcium, most likely via calcium-permeable AbetaP channels and not by its interaction with membrane receptors or by activating oxidative pathways. Such rapid degeneration also suggests that the plaques, and especially fibrillar AbetaPs, may not have a direct causative role in AD pathogenic cascades.
More Light Bulb Statistics

Gnedenko (1, p. 77, exercises 14 and 15) presents 2 elementary problems in geometric probability. These read: 1. "Three points are selected at random on the interval (0, a). Find the probability that three line-segments of length equal to the distances from the point 0 to each of the three points chosen can form a triangle." 2. "A rod of length 1 is broken at two points chosen at random. What is the probability that a triangle can be formed from the segments obtained?" These 2 problems may be generalized to ones of finding the probability that a polygon of the appropriate number of sides can be formed when more points are selected so that, in general, n > 3 segments or line-segments are formed. The basic condition which permits formation of a polygon is that no one of the possible sides of the polygon exceed in length the sum of the remaining sides. These general problems will be solved here taking advantage of a well-known result cited by Mantel and Pasternack (2) under which effectively, insofar as ratios are concerned, the joint distribution of any n segments into which inde. pendent uniformly distributed, 0-1, variables divide the interval is identical with that of n independent exponential waiting times or n independent chi squares each with 2 degrees of freedom. Since we will be concerning ourselves only with ratios here, the terms V!waiting time" and "2 d.f. chi square" will be used interchangeably. As in Mantel and Pasternack, we will employ the concept of the idealized light bulb, one not subject to decay while in use, but subject rather to a constant probability of failure. The distribution of time to failure, when the expected lifetime is unity, is then the exponential or waiting time distribution
Thrombolysis for Acute Ischemic Stroke : Future Directions

Intravenous tissue plasminogen activator remains the standard for treating acute ischemic stroke. Citicoline, dizocilpine, nimodipine, tirilizad, and other agents have been tested with thrombolytics in preclinical trials with mixed but encouraging results. Lessons from prior failed attempts to develop neuroprotectives as monotherapies should be applied to the development of combination therapies. In the future, there will be efforts to improve reperfusion rates without increasing intracranial hemorrhage rates. In addition to studying intra-arterial thrombolysis, there is a need for further testing of newer fibrinolytics and combination antithrombotics. Advancements in neuroimaging also will allow more tailored use of thrombolytic therapy.
SALSA: Strategyproof Online Spectrum Admissions for Wireless Networks

It is imperative to design efficient and effective online spectrum allocation methods since requests for spectrums often come in an online fashion. In this paper, we propose SALSA, strategyproof online spectrum admission for wireless networks. We assume that the requests arrival follows the Poisson distribution. Upon receiving an online spectrum request, our protocol will decide immediately whether to grant its exclusive usage or not, and how much the request should pay. Preempting existing spectrum usage is not allowed. We proposed two protocols that have guaranteed performances for two different scenarios: 1) random-arrival case: the bid values and requested time durations follow some distributions that can be learned, or 2) semi-arbitrary-arrival case: the bid values could be arbitrary, but the request arrival sequence is random. We analytically prove that our protocols are strategyproof, and are both approximately social efficient and revenue efficient. Our extensive simulation results show that they perform almost optimum. Our method for semi-arbitrary-arrival model achieves social efficiency and revenue efficiency almost 20-30 percent of the optimum, while it has been proven that no mechanism can achieve social efficiency ratio better than 1/e \simeq 37 \rm percent. Our protocol for the random-arrival case even achieves social efficiency and revenue efficiency two-six times the expected performances by the celebrated VCG mechanism.
Methanol Oxidation Induction Times Using the Rate-Controlled Constrained-Equilibrium Method

Methanol oxidation has been modeled using the Rate-Controlled Constrained-Equilibrium method (RCCE). In this method, composition of the system is determined by constraints rather than by species. Since the number of constraints can be much smaller than the number of species present, the number of rate equations required to describe the time evolution of the system can be considerably reduced. In the present paper, C1 chemistry with 29 species and 140 reactions has been used to investigate the oxidation of stoichiometric methanol/oxygen mixture at constant energy and volume. Three fixed elemental constraints: elemental carbon, elemental oxygen and elemental hydrogen and from one to nine variable constraints: moles of fuel, total number of moles, moles of free oxygen, moles of free valence, moles of fuel radical, moles of formaldehyde H2CO, moles of HCO, moles of CO and moles of CH3O were used. The four to twelve rate equations for the constraint potentials (LaGrange multipliers conjugate to the constraints) were integrated for a wide range of initial temperatures and pressures. As expected, the RCCE calculations gave correct equilibrium values in all cases. Only 8 constraints were required to give reasonable agreement with detailed calculations. Results of using 9 constraints showed compared very
Nature, economics, property and commons. Subversive notes inspired by Elinor Ostrom

Nature-economy relations also are the result of economics’ concepts, ideas and paradigms. Heterodox economic views and paradigms are urgently needed to foster shifts towards the planet’s future sustainability paths. Elinor Ostrom, 2009 Nobel economics laureate, stands as one of the authors whose long neglected views are most inspiring in subverting mainstream paradigms on property regimes and natural resource management. Challenging the tragedy of the commons orthodoxy, she shows humans are able to escape the prisoner’s dilemma , as well as the public vs private property, and state vs market modern dichotomy in natural resources’ management models, by recognizing common property as a third option, and re-inventing the commons as indeed diverse and resilient institutions to foster more sustainable economy-nature relations. Brazil’s indigenous territories are cited as a living example of commons’ sustainability, although increasingly threatened by economic growth.
THE EFFECTS OF ACCULTURATION ON SECOND LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY IN A COMMUNITY WITH A TWO-WAY BILINGUAL PROGRAM

Abstract This is a study of why native Spanish speakers (NSSs) in a small town in northern Mexico with a sizable English-speaking minority population and a two-way bilingual program in the schools are developing native-like proficiency in English. A 9% sample of native Spanish-speaking households in the town were selected and members of each household were asked a series of questions relating to Schumann’s acculturation variables. Each subject was also given an oral proficiency interview (OPI) in English. Results indicate that in spite of the favorable conditions for English language acquisition among NSSs on all variables except enclosure, the only NSSs acquiring much English are those attending the bilingual schools. It was concluded that the native-like proficiency being attained by the NSSs attending the bilingual schools was likely due to their favorable attitudes toward the English-speaking community and the fact that they developed close friendships with native English-speaking peers.
Applying Millimeter-Wave Correlation Radiometry to the Detection of Self-Luminous Objects at Close Range

The novel application of correlation radiometer theory to the detection of self-luminous objects at close range is presented in the context of human presence detection. Modifications and additions to techniques developed in radio astronomy and remote sensing for close-range terrestrial situations are developed and discussed. To demonstrate the new techniques, a Ka-band correlation radiometer is presented, which detects the presence of a stationary human in an outdoor environment. The correlation radiometer fringe frequency is analyzed in the context of the scanning beam detection system and is estimated using MUSIC and ESPRIT. The visibility, sensitivity, spatial resolution, and dwell time of the system are analyzed. Finally, the correlation response is included in a statistical classifier in conjunction with responses from total power radiometers. Experimental results show improved detection capability over using the total power sensors alone.
Quality bottleneck transitions in flexible manufacturing systems

In this paper, we introduce a Markov chain model to evaluate the quality performance in flexible manufacturing systems with batch productions. In such a model, the product quality is a function of the transition probabilities characterizing the changes among good and defective states (where good quality or defective parts are produced during a cycle, respectively). A transition that has the largest impact on quality, i.e., whose improvement will lead to the largest improvement in quality, is defined as the quality bottleneck transition (BN-t). Analytical expressions of sensitivity of quality with respect to transition probabilities are derived. Indicators to identify bottleneck transitions based on the data collected on the factory floor are developed. Numerical experiments show that such indicators have high accuracy in identifying the correct bottlenecks and can be used as an effective tool for quality improvement effort. Finally, a case study at an automotive paint shop to improve quality through quality bottleneck transition identification is introduced.
Investigation of nonlinear models to describe long-term egg production in Japanese quail

In this study, long-term egg production was monitored in a Japanese quail flock, which had not undergone any genetic improvement, for 52 wk as of the age of sexual maturity. The study aimed to detect some traits with respect to egg production, to determine the cumulative hen-housed egg numbers, and to compare goodness of fit of different nonlinear models for the percentage of hen-day egg production. The mean age at first egg was 38.9 d and the age at 50% egg production was 45.3 d. The quail reached peak production at 15 wk of age (wk 9 of egg production period) when the percentage of hen-day egg production was found to be 94%. The cumulative hen-housed egg number for 52 wk as of the age of sexual maturity was 253.08. The monomolecular function, a nonsigmoid model, was used in the nonlinear regression analysis of the cumulative egg numbers. Parameters a, b, and c of the monomolecular model were estimated to be 461.70, 473.31, and 0.065, respectively. Gamma, McNally, Adams-Bell, and modified compartmental models, widely used in hens previously, were used in the nonlinear regression analysis of the percentages of hen-day egg production. The goodness of fit for these models was compared using the values of pseudo-R², Akaike's information criterion, and Bayesian information criterion. It was determined that all the models are adequate but that the Adams-Bell model displayed a slightly better fit for the percentage of hen-day egg production in Japanese quail than others.
Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, tolerability, and safety of a novel sorbitol dehydrogenase inhibitor in healthy participants

Increased glucose flux through the polyol pathway and the resultant oxidative stress is thought to be a major mechanistic contributor to microvascular diabetic complications. Inhibition of flux through this pathway can be blocked through inhibition of either of 2 enzymes, aldose reductase (AR) or sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH). This report describes the pharmacokinetics, biomarker pharmacodynamics, and safety of CP-642,931, a potent and specific sorbitol dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDI). CP-642,931 was administered for 7 days to 57 healthy volunteers in doses ranging from 1 to 35 mg daily. After the 35-mg dose, CP-642,931 showed a t((1/2)) of 20.1 hours and t(max) at 0.5 to 1.25 hours. After a 35-mg dose, maximum inhibition of SDH was 91% (on days 1 and 7), and maximum serum sorbitol increase was 152-fold on day 7 compared to control. Five participants discontinued the study due to adverse events, including myalgia, muscle spasm, and muscle fatigue. All symptoms resolved in all but 1 participant, who continued to report intermittent muscle fasciculations upon follow-up. In conclusion, CP-642,931 is a potent and specific SDI that is rapidly absorbed through the oral route and effectively inhibits SDH. However, the drug is not well tolerated due to adverse neuromuscular effects.
Waist-hip ratio and cognitive ability: Is gluteofemoral fat a privileged store of neurodevelopmental resources?

Upper-body fat has negative effects and lower-body fat has positive effects on the supply of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids that are essential for neurodevelopment. Thus, waist-hip ratio (WHR), a useful proxy for the ratio of upper-body fat to lower-body fat, should predict cognitive ability in women and their offspring. Moreover, because teenage mothers and their children compete for these resources, their cognitive development should be compromised, but less so for mothers with lower WHRs. These predictions are supported by data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Controlling for other correlates of cognitive ability, women with lower WHRs and their children have significantly higher cognitive test scores, and teenage mothers with lower WHRs and their children are protected from cognitive decrements associated with teen births. These findings support the idea that WHR reflects the availability of neurodevelopmental resources and thus offer a new explanation for men's preference for low WHR.
Working with an intelligent assistant: experiments with a symbiotic DSS for production planning and scheduling

An intelligent assistant (LA) has been built to provide assistance to production schedulers doing production planning and scheduling in a steel mill. This system is designed as a symbiotic DSS (S/DSS), in which the core analysis tool is a commercially-developed production planning and scheduling system using a variety of heuristics and optimization routines. The IA observes the user's use of the scheduling system and makes inferences about the user's use. Using these inferences and the results of its own explorations utilizing a second copy of the scheduling system, the S/DSS provides advice to the user. The intelligent assistant is operational. Results of initial experiments with the system are described. >
Monitoring and prevalence rates of metabolic syndrome in military veterans with serious mental illness

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality among patients with serious mental illness (SMI) and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome—a constellation of cardiovascular risk factors—is significantly higher in these patients than in the general population. Metabolic monitoring among patients using second generation antipsychotics (SGAs)—a risk factor for metabolic syndrome—has been shown to be inadequate despite the release of several guidelines. However, patients with SMI have several factors independent of medication use that predispose them to a higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Our study therefore examines monitoring and prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with SMI, including those not using SGAs. Methods and Findings: We retrospectively identified all patients treated at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center with diagnoses of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder or bipolar disorder during 2005–2006 and obtained demographic and clinical data. Incomplete monitoring of metabolic syndrome was defined as being unable to determine the status of at least one of the syndrome components. Of the 1,401 patients included (bipolar disorder: 822; schizophrenia: 222; and schizoaffective disorder: 357), 21.4% were incompletely monitored. Only 54.8% of patients who were not prescribed SGAs and did not have previous diagnoses of hypertension or hypercholesterolemia were monitored for all metabolic syndrome components compared to 92.4% of patients who had all three of these characteristics. Among patients monitored for metabolic syndrome completely, age-adjusted prevalence of the syndrome was 48.4%, with no significant difference between the three psychiatric groups. Conclusions: Only one half of patients with SMI not using SGAs or previously diagnosed with hypertension and hypercholesterolemia were completely monitored for metabolic syndrome components compared to greater than 90% of those with these characteristics. With the high prevalence of metabolic syndrome seen in this population, there appears to be a need to intensify efforts to reduce this monitoring gap.
Utilization review: a house divided.

Utilization review in mental health takes a number of forms; its most controversial incarnation is the review by professionals in the employ of insurance companies to determine whether or not claims will be honored. In a short time, utilization review has grown into a powerful force in determining how-and whether-psychiatric care will be delivered. Disagreements over coyerage ofpatients have pitted treating professional against reviewing professional. In the absence of standards for review, these disagreements have often resulted in charges that the reviewer has been co-opted by the insurance company and in countercharges that unnecessary treatment is being administered. A recent case, Hughes z’. Blue Cross of Northern California (1), highlights some of the issues courts might consider important in resolving such disputes. In psychiatry, utilization review on behalfofthird-party payers began in the 1970s when the Civilian Health and Medical Programs of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS), which insures dependents of military service personnel, was faced with widespread abuses of psychiatric benefits. Fraudulent claims and unscrupulous provision of unnecessary
Footloose Financial Flows in the 1990s: Where, What, Why, and How to Tame Them?

The Geography of Money, Benjamin J. Cohen (Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press, 1998). 272 pp., cloth (ISBN: 0-8014-3513-7), $25.00. Capital Flows and Financial Crises, Miles Kahler, ed., Council on Foreign Relations Book. (Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press, 1998). 288 pp., paper (ISBN: 0-8014-8562-2), $19.95. Books reviewed: The Geography of Money , Benjamin J. Cohen Capital Flows and Financial Crises , Miles Kahler, ed.
Effects of Days on Concentrate Feed and Postmortem Aging on Carcass and Palatability Characteristics of Selected Muscles from Cull Beef Cows1

Twenty-four beef cows were selected to examine the effects of concentrate feeding on performance and to examine the effects of concentrate feeding and postmortem aging (10 or 20 d) on the triceps brachii lateral and long heads, infraspinatus, longissimus lumborum, psoas major, gluteus medius, tensor fascia latae, rectus femoris, and vastus lateralis. Cows were randomly assigned to a concentrate diet for 0, 42, or 84 d. Carcass characteristics were measured and Warner-Bratzler shear force, sensory evaluation, and collagen analyses were performed on selected muscles. Cow BW, ADG, and BCS increased (P 0.05) sensory off-flavor detection. Concentrate feeding of cull cows for 84 d improved carcass characteristics and the tenderness of several muscles. These muscles may be aged for 20 d postmortem to achieve maximal tenderness without detrimental off-flavor production.
Effects of ovariectomy and orchiectomy on lead-induced mortality in rats

Young adult rats were administered a single injection of lead acetate. For each group the median-effective dose (LD/sub 50/) was determined on the 2nd, 4th, and 8th day following treatment. Female rats demonstrated greater LD/sub 50/ values than comparably treated males of the same age. Rats that were ovariectomized 1 week prior to the lead insult appear to be more vulnerable to lead toxicity than their sham-operated controls. For the male groups, however, there were no apparent differences in mortality responses to lead acetate injection between orchiectomized and sham-operated rodents.
Using Disjunctive Kriging as a Quantitative Approach to Manage Soil Salinity and Crop Yield

Disjunctive kriging (DK) is a nonlinear geostatistical model that provides unbiased estimates of the conditional probability (CP) that the true value of the property of interest does not exceed a defined threshold. It has important implications in aiding management decisions by providing growers with a quantitative input that can be used for evaluating the variability of the crop productivity at different zones in fields. The objectives of this study are (1) to identify the yield potential percentage (YP%) for several crops at different zones in fields under multiple soil salinity thresholds; (2) to evaluate the YP% of whole fields for several crops under multiple soil salinity thresholds; and (3) to provide guidelines to help growers decide which crops to grow. To achieve these objectives, the DK technique was applied to data from a project conducted in the southeastern part of the Arkansas River Basin in Colorado to generate CP maps. Two data sets of soil salinity (316 and 136 points) that were collecte...
Application of a fluidized bed reactor charged with aragonite for control of alkalinity, pH and carbon dioxide in marine recirculating aquaculture systems

Abstract Control of alkalinity, dissolved carbon dioxide (dCO 2 ), and pH are critical in marine recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) in order to maintain health and maximize growth. A small-scale prototype aragonite sand filled fluidized bed reactor was tested under varying conditions of alkalinity and dCO 2 to develop and model the response of dCO 2 across the reactor. A large-scale reactor was then incorporated into an operating marine recirculating aquaculture system to observe the reactor as the system moved toward equilibrium. The relationship between alkalinity dCO 2 , and pH across the reactor are described by multiple regression equations. The change in dCO 2 across the small-scale reactor indicated a strong likelihood that an equilibrium alkalinity would be maintained by using a fluidized bed aragonite reactor. The large-scale reactor verified this observation and established equilibrium at an alkalinity of approximately 135 mg/L as CaCO 3 , dCO 2 of 9 mg/L, and a pH of 7.0 within 4 days that was stable during a 14 day test period. The fluidized bed aragonite reactor has the potential to simplify alkalinity and pH control, and aid in dCO 2 control in RAS design and operation. Aragonite sand, purchased in bulk, is less expensive than sodium bicarbonate and could reduce overall operating production costs.
Initial Results of a Mesoscale Short-Range Ensemble Forecasting System over the Pacific Northwest

Abstract Motivated by the promising results of global-scale ensemble forecasting, a number of groups have attempted mesoscale, short-range ensemble forecasting (SREF), focusing mainly over the eastern half of the United States. To evaluate the performance of mesoscale SREF over the Pacific Northwest and to test the value of using different initial analyses as a means of ensemble forecast generation, a five-member mesoscale SREF system was constructed in which the Pennsylvania State University–National Center for Atmospheric Research fifth-generation Mesoscale Model (MM5) was run with initializations and forecast boundary conditions from major operational centers. The ensemble system was evaluated over the Pacific Northwest from January to June 2000. The model verification presented in this study considers only near-surface weather variables, especially the observed 10-m wind direction. The ensemble mean forecast displays lower mean absolute wind direction errors than the component ensemble members when av...
On economics and the Canadian bishops

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (Episcopal Commission for Social Affairs) is to be congratulated for its recent report, Ethical Reflections on the Economic Crisis.
Carotid Endarterectomy With Primary Closure: Analysis of Outcomes and Review of the Literature

Background Despite abundant published support of patch angioplasty during carotid endarterectomy (CEA), primary closure is still widely used. The reasons underlying the persistence of primary closure are not quite evident in the literature. Objective To present our experience with primary closure in CEA, and provide a rationale for its persistent wide use. Methods Medical records of all patients undergoing CEA by the senior author (R.F.) were retrospectively reviewed. Follow-up was supplemented with a telephone interview and completion of a structured questionnaire. A review of the current literature was performed. Results From 1998 to 2010, the senior author performed 111 CEAs. Average cross-clamp time was 33 ± 11 minutes. Postoperative complications included 1 non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction and 2 strokes. No deaths, cranial-nerve deficits, or acute reocclusions were observed. After a mean follow-up of 64.6 months (7170.6 case-months), there were 3 contralateral strokes and 7 deaths. There were no ipsilateral strokes or restenoses >50%. Follow-up medication compliance was 94.6% for antiplatelet agents and 91.9% for statins. The outcomes of the current study were comparable to those of the available trials comparing patch angioplasty with primary closure. A careful evaluation of the literature revealed a number of reasons potentially explaining the persistent use of patch angioplasty. Conclusion In conjunction with contemporary medical management, primary closure during CEA may yield results comparable or superior to patch angioplasty. Advantages of primary closure include shorter cross-clamp times and elimination of graft-specific complications.
High performance bianisotropic metasurfaces: asymmetric transmission of light.

It is experimentally shown that bianisotropic metasurfaces allow for extreme polarization control of light with high performance. A metasurface providing asymmetric transmission (i.e., polarization conversion) of circularly polarized light is reported at a wavelength of $1.5\text{ }\text{ }\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$. The experimental transmittance and extinction ratio are 50% and $20:1$, which represents an order of magnitude improvement over previous optical structures exhibiting asymmetric transmission. The metasurface consists of patterned gold sheets that are spaced at a subwavelength distance from each other. The same design and fabrication processes can be used in the future to completely control the phase, amplitude, and polarization of light.
Nurse Practitioner Autonomy and Relationships with Leadership Affect Teamwork in Primary Care Practices: a Cross-Sectional Survey.

BACKGROUND The Nurse Practitioner (NP) workforce represents a substantial supply of primary care providers able to contribute to meeting a growing demand for care. However, controversy exists regarding the expanding role of NPs in primary care in terms of challenging the teamwork between NPs and physicians. To date, no empirical evidence exists regarding how to promote teamwork in primary care between NPs and physicians.
Abstract LB-C08: Exploring glycan markers for immunotyping and precision-targeting of breast circulating tumor cells (CTCs)

Recognition of abnormal glycosylation in virtually every cancer type has raised great interest in exploration of the tumor glycome for biomarker discovery. Identifying glycan markers of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) represents a new development in tumor biomarker discovery. The aim of this study was to establish an experimental approach to enable rapid screening of CTCs for glycan marker identification and characterization. We applied carbohydrate microarrays and a high-speed fiber-optic array scanning technology (FASTcell) to explore potential glycan markers of breast CTCs (bCTCs) and targeting antibodies. An anti-tumor monoclonal antibody, HAE3-C1 (C1), was identified as a key immunological probe in this study. In our carbohydrate microarray analysis, C1 was found to be highly specific for an O-glycan cryptic epitope, gpC1. Using FASTcell technology, we established a procedure to quantify expression levels of gpC1 in tumor cells. In blood samples from five Stage IV metastatic breast cancer patients, the gpC1 positive CTCs were detected in all subjects; approximately 40% of bCTCs were strongly gpC1 positive. Interestingly, the CTCs from a triple-negative breast cancer patient with multiple sites of metastasis were predominantly gpC1 positive (92.5%, 37/40 CTCs). Taken together, we present here a practical approach to examine rare cell expression of glycan markers. Using this approach, we identified an O-core glyco-determinant gpC1 as a potential immunological target of bCTCs. Given its bCTC-expression profile, this target warrants an extended investigation in a larger cohort of breast cancer patients. Citation Format: Lidia C. Sambucetti, Xiaohe Liu, Ben Hsieh, Richard Bruce, George Somlo, Jiaoti Huang, Denong Wang. Exploring glycan markers for immunotyping and precision-targeting of breast circulating tumor cells (CTCs). [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2015 Nov 5-9; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2015;14(12 Suppl 2):Abstract nr LB-C08.
Characteristic rules and its calculation of exergy transfer unit

Exergy transfer unit is the basic cell of exergy transfer model.Nine characteristic rules of three kinds for exergy transfer unit were put forward in this paper.The characteristic rules for eight typical exergy transfer units of three kinds of exergy transfer including heat transfer,energy conversion and mass transfer were studied and the relative calculating formula or expression were presented.These may provide a basis for standardizing the construction of elementary engineering exergy transfer model and simplifying the engineering exergy transfer analysis of the complicated systems.
Determinate Growth and Reproductive Lifespan in the American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis): Evidence from Long-term Recaptures

The perception that crocodilians exhibit indeterminate growth is common in the general reptilian literature. However, this assumption is frequently based on observations of immature and young adult animals and therefore lacks a complete understanding of adult growth patterns. Long-term mark-recapture studies appear to be the most certain method of determining growth patterns of adult crocodilians. From 1979–2015, we conducted a mark-recapture study of an American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) population on the Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center (YWC) in coastal South Carolina to examine long-term growth patterns and the influence of age on multiple reproductive parameters. We found no discernible linear growth in 19 of 31 adult female and 7 of 19 adult male alligators over periods of 5–33 years. The mean maximum reproductive lifespan for female alligators on the study site was 46 years, and females continued to reproduce for an extended period of time after reaching maximum size. The Schnute growth model...
The Early Caregiving Environment

The study of the effects of nonparental care—especially care in orphanages, institutions, and foster care—has been affected profoundly by residential care practices for infants and young children, and by changing conceptualizations of what comprises an optimal early caregiving environment. Dramatic descriptions of child maltreatment in orphanages, from Dickens’s David Copperfield and Oliver Twist in mid-nineteenth century England to Gray’s “Little Orphan Annie” in the 1920s, captured vividly the plight of many children who were once placed in the care of strangers. The reasons for seeking out-of-home care for very young children relate strongly to economic, political, and health conditions of the times. Those who bear the responsibility for direct care of children in group settings have been portrayed alternatively as highly opportunistic and nonnurturing or angelic, heroic, and totally devoted. The latter, however, were by far the rarer set of attributes ascribed to caregivers in institutional settings. Typically, nonparental caregivers have had opportunities for monetary gain and for deriving perverse pleasures from abusing children outside the purview of the conventional world.
Keywords of Mobility: Critical Engagements, by Noel B. Salazar and Kiran Jayaram (Eds.)

Book review: Keywords of Mobility: Critical Engagements Edited by Noel B. Salazar and Kiran Jayaram New York: Berghahn Books, 2016, 188 pp.
Stereotypes and Shifting Standards: Forming, Communicating, and Translating Person Impressions

Abstract Stereotypes may function as standards against which we judge individual members of stereotyped groups. This is the basic premise of the shifting standards model ( Biernat, Manis, & Nelson, 1991 ), from which a complex set of predictions is derived: Members of negatively stereotyped groups may be judged, communicated about, and treated more or less positively than members of contrasting social groups, depending on the judgment or decision at hand. The chapter reviews research documenting a “signature” shifting standards effect, whereby judgments of targets on common-rule scales assimilate to stereotypes but show null or contrastive effects in subjective language. This idea is elaborated in the context of communication, whereby members of negatively stereotyped groups may be described relatively favorably in subjective language (because of lower standards), at the same time that both “interpreters” and communicators leave the communicative exchange with stereotype-consistent views. Standards themselves may also have different implications—either leniency or stringency for members of negatively stereotyped groups—depending on whether they reference minimum expectations or confirmatory requirements. Despite the apparent positivity that results when targets are evaluated against low standards, the use of shifting standards may contribute to the maintenance of stereotypes over time and to confusion and inconsistency in the feedback targets receive. The chapter concludes with a consideration of the role of motivation in moderating shifting standards effects, and possible means of reducing the tendency to shift standards.
91 Saferteens 2.0: translation and implementation of a violence prevention intervention into emergency department standard care

Statement of Purpose There is a tremendous need within public health to translate efficacious interventions into sustainable programs. Violent behaviours have enormous impacts on morbidity and mortality among adolescents residing in urban communities. This study aims to implement an evidence-based violence prevention intervention (SafERteens) into Emergency Department (ED) standard care. Methods/Approach Using the Replicating Effective Programs model, this study will create an implementation package to facilitate delivery. The SafERteens BI is a 30 min single therapy session that occurs one-on-one with a patient (age 14–18) during the ED visit. The BI uses motivational interviewing techniques to increase motivation and tools for change. Using a hybrid effectiveness-implementation design, we will test this implementation package during effectiveness and implementation phases. Results Our team worked with staff at Hurley Medical Centre’s (HMC) ED (in Flint, MI) to create a program package (www.SafERteens.org), which includes training videos, resource brochures, online implementation support (e.g., screening questions, therapy decision support tools for on-site and remote staff), and text message boosters. Our team trained and conducted fidelity checks with 19 HMC staff who will deliver the SafERteens BI. Currently, we are conducting the effectiveness phase, which involves a pilot randomised controlled trial comparing three conditions (usual care, onsite BI, and remote BI) with youth outcomes assessed at 3 months; this will be followed by the implementation phase. Conclusions Our web-based implementation package harnesses technology to facilitate delivery of the SafERteens BI with attention to seamless integration into clinical care, standardisation of the BI, and sustainability. Future papers will examine outcomes using the RE-AIM framework: reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance. Significance and Contributions to Injury and Violence Prevention Science SafERteens 2.0 will fill a gap between science and practice by providing a system to integrate an evidence-based, low-cost violence prevention intervention as part of standard care.