cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nocturnal Response of Heliothis virescens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to Artificial Light and Sex Pheromones

Virgin females (VF), Heliothis virescens (F.), attracted 68 to 75% fewer males to grid traps when exposed to 7-W BLB or incandescent lamp radiation. Exposure of VF in sticky-type traps to a 15-W blacklight located 3.0, 9.1, 18.3, 36.6, and 73.2 m away reduced the male catch by 84, 85, 57, 6, and 0%, respectively. Sexual response of males appeared unaffected by the radiation. The time of sexual activity for either sex was shifted by exposing adults to darkness before or after ambient darkness.
Phase separation and superparamagnetism in the martensitic phase of N i 50 -x C o x M n 40 S n 10

$\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{i}}_{50\text{\ensuremath{-}}x}\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{o}}_{x}\mathrm{M}{\mathrm{n}}_{40}\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{n}}_{10}$ shape memory alloys in the approximate range $5\ensuremath{\le}x\ensuremath{\le}8$ display desirable properties for applications as well as intriguing magnetism. These off-stoichiometric Heusler alloys undergo a martensitic phase transformation at a temperature ${T}_{M}$ of 300--400 K, from ferromagnetic (FM) to nonferromagnetic, with unusually low thermal hysteresis and a large change in magnetization. The low temperature magnetic structures in the martensitic phase of such alloys, which are distinctly inhomogeneous, are of great interest but are not well understood. Our present use of spin echo nuclear magnetic resonance in the large hyperfine fields at $^{55}\mathrm{Mn}$ sites provides compelling evidence that nanoscale magnetic phase separation into FM and antiferromagnetic (AFM) regions occurs below ${T}_{M}$ in alloys with $x$ in the range 0 to 7. At finite Co substitution, the FM regions are found to be of two distinct types, corresponding to high and low local concentrations of Co on Ni sites. Estimates of the size distributions of both the FM and AFM nanoregions have been made. At $x=7$, the AFM component is not long-range ordered, even below 4 K, and is quite different from the AFM component found at $x=0$; by $x=14$, the FM phase is completely dominant. Of particular interest, we find for $x=7$ that field cooling leads to dramatic changes in the AFM regions. These findings provide insight into the origins of magnetic phase separation and superparamagnetism in these complex alloys, particularly their intrinsic exchange bias, which is of considerable current interest.
The Systematization of the hospital digitization

Hospital digitization is a systematic process and has to be accomplished by stages. This paper discusses the key points of all stages of hospital digitization to enhance the control level of hospital.
Identifying families’ shared disease experiences through a qualitative analysis of online twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome stories

Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) affects 10–20 % of monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) births and accounts for 50 % of fetal loss in MCDA pregnancies. This exploratory qualitative study identified shared experiences, including potential emotional and psychosocial impacts, of this serious disease. Forty-five publicly accessible, online stories posted by families who experienced TTTS were analyzed using grounded theory. Shared TTTS experiences included a common trajectory: early pregnancy experiences, diagnostic experiences, making decisions, interventions and variable outcomes. Families vacillated between emotional highs such as joy, excitement and relief, and lows including depression, anxiety, anger and grief. TTTS disease experience can be considered an “emotional roller coaster” exacerbated by TTTS’s unpredictable and quickly changing nature with the potential for emotional and psychosocial effects. Increased TTTS awareness and research about its corresponding impacts can ensure appropriate patient and family support at all phases of the TTTS experience.
Animal pain scales in public policy.

Pain scales classify the severity of pain inflicted on laboratory animals from little or none up to severe. A pain scale as part of public policy serves beneficial purposes that promote animal welf...
Constructions License Verb Frames

Where does a verb’s frame come from? The obvious answer is the verb itself, and this is the answer that syntacticians have traditionally provided, whether they describe predicator-argument relations as syntactic sisterhood relations or as lexical properties (the predicator’s combinatoric potential, or valence). Thus, Haegeman, in her introduction to Government and Binding theory, states, “the thematic structure of a predicate, encoded in the theta grid, will determine the minimal components of the sentence” (Haegeman 1994: 55). Similarly, Bresnan, in her introduction to Lexical Functional Grammar (LFG), states, “[o]n the semantic side, argument structure represents the core participants and events (states, processes) designated by a single predicator. […] On the syntactic side, argument structure represents the minimal information needed to characterize the syntactic dependents of an argument-taking head” (Bresnan 2001: 304). In lexicalist theories like LFG, whenever the arguments of a verb can have more than one set of syntactic realizations, each distinct realization pattern corresponds to a different mapping from semantic roles to grammatical functions, as expressed in a unique lexical entry, and lexical entries, or classes of lexical entries, are related by lexical rules (Neidle 1994).
Systemic RNAi in western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, does not involve transitive pathways

Western corn rootworm (WCR, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte) is highly sensitive to orally delivered double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). RNAi in WCR is systemic and spreads throughout the insect body. This raises the question whether transitive RNAi is a mechanism that functions in WCR to amplify the RNAi response via production of secondary siRNA. Secondary siRNA production is achieved through RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) activity in other eukaryotic organisms, but RdRP has not been identified in WCR and any other insects. This study visualized the spread of the RNAi-mediated knockdown of Dv v-ATPase C mRNA throughout the WCR gut and other tissues using high-sensitivity branched DNA in situ hybridization. Furthermore, we did not detect either secondary siRNA production or transitive RNAi in WCR through siRNA sequence profile analysis. Nucleotide mismatched sequences introduced into either the sense or antisense strand of v-ATPase C dsRNAs were maintained in siRNAs derived from WCR fed with the mismatched dsRNAs in a strand specific manner. The distribution of all siRNAs was restricted to within the original target sequence regions, which may indicate the lack of new dsRNA synthesis leading to production of secondary siRNA. Thus, the systemic spread of RNAi in WCR may be derived from the original dsRNA molecules taken up from the gut lumen. These results indicate that the initial dsRNA dose is important for a lethal systemic RNAi response in WCR and have implications in developing effective dsRNA traits to control WCR and in resistance management to prolong the durability of RNAi trait technology.
Exploiting agonist biased signaling of chemokines to target cancer

As knowledge of growth-independent functions of cancer cells is expanding, exploration into the role of chemokines in modulating cancer pathogenesis, particularly metastasis, continues to develop. However, more study into the mechanisms whereby chemokines direct the migration of cancer cells is needed before specific therapies can be generated to target metastasis. Herein, we draw attention to the longstanding conundrum in the field of chemokine biology that chemokines stimulate migration in a biphasic manner; and explore this phenomenon's impact on chemokine function in the context of cancer. Typically, low concentrations of chemokines lead to chemotactic migration and higher concentrations halt migration. The signaling mechanisms that govern this phenomenon remain unclear. Over the last decade, we have defined a novel signaling mechanism for regulation of chemokine migration through ligand oligomerization and biased agonist signaling. We provide insight into this new paradigm for chemokine signaling and discuss how it will impact future exploration into chemokine function and biology. In the pursuit of producing more novel cancer therapies, we suggest a framework for pharmaceutical application of the principles of chemokine oligomerization and biased agonist signaling in cancer. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A comparison of radio capture models and their effect on wireless LAN protocols

Examines the effect of radio capture on the performance of radio frequency wireless local area networks (LANs). In many wireless LANs, multiple remote stations may simultaneously attempt to transmit data packets. Due to the capture effect, differences in received power levels can result in the successful reception of a packet in the presence of contending transmissions. The authors compare several types of radio capture models and investigate their effects on the slotted Aloha protocol, which is a component protocol of more complex multiple access protocols that are used in wireless LANs. Specifically, they analyse a vulnerability circle capture model as well as a more detailed model that includes the cumulative effect of the interference power generated by multiple contending remote stations. The effects of Rayleigh fading, shadowing, and different spatial distributions of remote stations are also considered. >
On Preparing Moral Educators: A Reply to Commentators.

We are grateful for the careful attention that was afforded our target article by the distinguished commentators and for the present opportunity to advance further the conversation on how best to p...
Perspective on Calculations of Binding Free Energies

Reliable calculations of ligand binding present a crucial challenge in the attempts to quantify drug design. Advancing this aim can open the way for exploiting the enormous progress in structural information in quantitative assessment of the effectiveness of different drugs. Unfortunately, we still have not reached the reasonable level of accuracy in predicting the free energy of protein–ligand interactions to within 1 kcal/mol. In this review, we consider the advances in different strategies, starting with microscopic free-energy perturbation (FEP) approaches that should give, in principle, quantitative results but, because of convergence problems, still do not work in a satisfactory way. We then consider semimacroscopic models focusing on the semimacroscopic version of the protein dipole Langavin dipoles model with the linear response approximation (PDLD/S-LRA) model but also commenting on the fundamental problems of the molecular mechanics Poisson Boltzmann surface area (MM/PBSA) model and related approaches. We also discuss the importance of considering different water configurations and describe our water flooding approach. Furthermore, we consider calculations of protein–protein interactions and studies of drug resistance.
Testimonio y materialidad: el encuentro con el espacio y el lugar / Testimonio and Materiality. The Encounter With Space and Place

Este trabajo explora la dimension individual del encuentro con los sitios de memoria en la postdictadura del Cono Sur. Revela la existencia de un deseo testimonial en conexion con los ex centros clandestinos de tortura, detencion y exterminio (CCDTyEs) en Argentina y Chile y propone que este deseo produce un encuentro frustrado con el material en el momento en que llega el/la visitante al sitio de memoria. Argumenta que este pacto “no cumplido” con el testimonio que nos da el espacio es una de las experiencias mas productivas que el espacio puede producir en el visitante, al poner al visitante en una situacion paralela a la que vive el/la sobreviviente de la violencia, una situacion en que uno desea dejar testimonio pero se enfrenta con la crisis de la representacion de la violencia, donde se lucha por encontrar una forma adecuada para hacer que el otro entienda la magnitud del horror vivido. Palabras Clave: Testimonio, Sitios de Memoria, Post-dictadura, Chile, Argentina, Memoria intergeneracional, Londres 38, Villa Grimaldi. T his essay explores the individual dimension of the encounter with sites of memory in the Southern Cone post-dictatorship. It reveals the existence of a testimonial desire in connection with the former clandestine centers of detention, torture, and extermination in Argentina and Chile and proposes that this desire produces a frustrated encounter with the material in the moment in which the visitor arrives to the site of memory. It argues that this “incomplete” nature of the testimonial pact we have with the space is one of the most productive experiences the space could provide to the visitor because it puts the visitor in a situation that runs parallel to that of the survivor of violence who struggles to find an adequate form through which to make the “other” understand the magnitude of the violence of their story. Key Words: Testimonio, Sites of Memory, Post-dictatorship, Chile, Argentina, Intergenerational Memory, Londres 38, Villa Grimaldi.
Multifunctional metal oxide nanoparticle decorated polypropylene knitted swatches

Two methods of fabricating metal oxide nanoparticle-functionalized knitted “swatches” from melt-extruded bi-component sheath/core polypropylene (PP) fibers are described, and their possible applications for photocatalysis and gas sensing are investigated. The first method consists of melt extruding a blend of metal oxide nanoparticles and PP into fibers that are subsequently knitted into swatch materials. This method was evaluated for ZnO nanospheres and nanorods. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electron microscopy showed that the nanoparticles were in the near-surface region as well as in the bulk of the fibers. However, the particles were shown to be photocatalytically inactive, likely due to site blocking by PP or processing additives, such as fiber lubricants. The second method consists of plasma-treating virgin PP swatches in air, immersing them in metal oxide colloidal suspensions, ultra-sonicating them to remove loose nanoparticles and drying the swatches. XPS confirmed that plasma treatment forms carboxylate groups on the surface that bond the metal oxide nanoparticles to the swatch. This method was used to functionalize swatches with ZnO and TiO2 nanospheres and ZnO nanorods. Metal oxide functionalization was found to induce dramatic changes in the thermal decomposition temperature of the PP swatch and in the water contact angle, rendering the swatch hydrophobic and producing photocatalytically active PP fabrics. Photoluminescence of the ZnO nanoparticle swatches was measured and shown to change upon exposure to sulfur dioxide. Furthermore, the demonstration of metal oxide-functionalized swatches as a potential gas-sensing platform is discussed.
Toward a detailed model of processing for language describing the physical world

This paper explores the problem of judging whether or not an English sentence could correspond to a real world situation or event which is literally, physically plausible, and the related problem of representing the different possible physical situations. The judgement of plausibility can be made at a high level by checking semantic marker restrictions on verb case frame constituents. Often, however, plausibility judgement can only be based on the results of an attempt to construct (imagine) a scene that corresponds to the sentence, and which does not violate "common sense" (i.e. relevant physical laws and expected, stereotyped behavior). Methods are presented for constructing representations for different scenes which could correspond to a sentence. These methods incorporate (1) "subscripts" (sequences of scenes which comprise an event, with attached preconditions and postconditions) to express different verb senses, (2) object representations which express properties such as shape, size, weight, strength, and behavior under common conditions; (5) physical laws, encoded as constraints on behavior; (4) representation of context; and (5) robot problem solving-like methods to fit all this material together.
CNS Tumors in Children

Pediatric CNS malignancies represent 20% of all pediatric malignancies, and approximately 3,000 cases occur in the United States annually. CNS malignancies are the most frequent tumors in childhood after hematological malignancies and require a multidisciplinary management. Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy play a prominent role in the management of nearly all pediatric CNS malignancies; however, the selection of treatment is based on the pathology as well as the extent of the disease.
Maintaining control of a robot's limbs using the bakery algorithm

This paper discusses a technique for maintaining control of robotic equipment given a single control line for both actuator control and limb position sensing. In particular, the bakery algorithm is used for preventing the problem of command/response packet collisions. These techniques can benefit any robot builder using a servo controller/IO board linked to a command and control computer via single control channel where there is a chance of collisions.
"But I Learn More Bad Grammars When I Write to My Classmates": Acquiring Academic Literacies in a Multicultural Writing Class.

This qualitative case study sought to understand the experiences of international college students who were involved in the acquisition of academic literacies (via an English-as-a-Second-Language writing class). Data sources included observation field notes; messages posted in an online discussion forum; transcripts of interviews with five focal students and their instructor; and student-level reflective journal entries. Findings were validated via the triangulation of multiple data sources. Several themes emerged from the analyses that are associated with academic adjustment and intercultural communication, including an energetic class that highly valued participation, conflicting student views on participation, and unvalued collaboration. Implications included the provision of instructionrelated opportunities that enable students to explore the cultures and culturally diverse communication styles of their academic peers
Exploring I-poems to Explore the Identity of Underrepresented Engineering Student Makers

This Work in Progress Paper presents an NSF-funded study focused on understanding the role that makerspaces play in the identity development of engineering students from underrepresented groups (URGs). In recent years, makerspaces have become a popular addition to universities, with an implicit assumption that makerspaces will increase students choosing to major in STEM disciplines. The research question that guided this work is the following: How well do I-poems and thematic analysis help us uncover complex and nuanced understandings of the identities of engineering students and makers who are from URGs? For this paper, we share a passage from an interview and conduct an analysis of that passage using the I-poem analytic strategy and thematic analysis. In particular, we explore the possibilities inherent in using these analytic approaches to understand identity development. We discuss how the I-poem was effective in developing a more complex and nuanced understanding of the identity development of engineering student makers. Further implications of this novel approach are that I-poems show promise to resonate better with the reader and position the researcher and reader as ‘standing alongside’ the participant, instead of a more traditional approach of ‘gazing at’ our participants.
A numerical scheme for a singular control problem: Investment–consumption under proportional transaction costs

Abstract This paper concerns the numerical solution of a fully nonlinear parabolic double obstacle problem arising from a finite portfolio selection with proportional transaction costs. We consider optimal allocation of wealth among multiple stocks and a bank account in order to maximize the finite horizon discounted utility of consumption. The problem is mainly governed by a time-dependent Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman equation with gradient constraints. We propose a numerical method which is composed of Monte Carlo simulation to take advantage of the high-dimensional properties and finite difference method to approximate the gradients of the value function. Numerical results illustrate behaviors of the optimal trading strategies and also satisfy all qualitative properties proved in Dai et al. (2009) and Chen and Dai (2013).
Biomimetic electrospun nanocomposite fibers from recycled polystyrene foams exhibiting superhydrophobicity

The production of various plastic wastes is increasing day by day and has become a growing concern to the serious environmental challenges. This type of waste is rarely resolved by microorganisms; hence, the recycling to the value-added materials is essential. In recent years, superhydrophobic surfaces have gained increasing attention in both fundamental research and practical applications due to multi-functionalities. Recycling the polymer wastes for the fabrication of superhydrophobic nanofibers could be a partial solution to environmental issues. The superhydrophobic surfaces can be fabricated by controlling the chemical composition and topological structure using various methods. In this work, recycled expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam with various proportions of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) and aluminum microparticles (Al µPs) was spun into superhydrophobic nanocomposite fibers using the facile electrospinning technique. The morphology, surface hydrophobicity, and thermal properties of the nanocomposite fibers were investigated. Test results showed that the as-prepared nanocomposite fibers exhibit superhydrophobic characteristics with a water contact angle of 152°. Also, the effect of heat treatment on the surface hydrophobicity of the nanocomposite fibers was analyzed. The electrospun superhydrophobic nanocomposite fibers from recycled EPS foam have various industrial applications, including water collection, water filtration, tissue engineering, and composites.
Transition from asymmetric to symmetric fission in the 235 U ( n , f ) reaction

Prompt $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays from the neutron-induced fission of ${}^{235}\mathrm{U}$ have been studied using the GEANIE spectrometer situated at the LANSCE/WNR ``white'' neutron facility. Transitions characteristic of specific fission fragments were identified using a combination of single-fold and coincidence $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray analysis. Gamma-ray production cross sections were obtained as a function of incident neutron energy using the time-of-flight technique. Yields were extracted for 206 $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays produced by 56 distinct fission fragments for $1l~{E}_{n}(\mathrm{MeV})l~250.$ Fission-channel cross sections were deduced for a subset of 22 even-even fragments, where the measured $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray yields represent a large fraction of the full de-excitation strength of the fragment. Independent yields were deduced from these cross sections and fitted with standard formulations of the fragment charge and mass distributions. The results were used to study the transition from asymmetric to symmetric fission as a function of internal excitation energy of the fissioning system. This transition is interpreted in the context of the disappearance of shell structure at high excitation energies.
Chapter 8 – Random Variables

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on random variables. It occurs frequently that the outcome of a trial or experiment is represented by one or more numbers. The number of spots on the dice, the number of particles at a given energy level, the amount of rainfall in a given period, the number of printing errors in one hundred pages of text, the age at death of an insurance policy holder, the test score of a college applicant on a standardized test—these can be taken as typical examples of numerical outcomes of a trial. Even if the observed characteristics are not essentially numerical, a numerical representation may be useful. In a coin-flipping game, “tail” and “head” may be represented by 0 and 1, respectively. In recording census data, various characteristics, for example, male or female, may be assigned numbers. In an experiment to which probability may be applied, the value of the number associated with the outcome is not predictable. Its value is “random” in the sense that if the trial were repeated, another value might be observed.
Analysis of laboratory indexes and ultrasonic features of patients with Kawasaki disease shock syndrome

Objective To retrospectively analyze the laboratory findings and ultrasonographic features in acute phase of children suffering from Kawasaki disease (KD) with stable hemodynamics and Kawasaki disease shock syndrome (KDSS), so as to provide the evidence for early diagnosis, timely treatment and improvement of prognosis of KDSS. Methods Four hundred and eighteen patients with KD diagnosed at Shenzhen Children′s Hospital from November 2016 to May 2018 were selected, including 23 KDSS patients(KDSS group) and 395 cases with stable hemodynamic(KD without shock group). The clinical characteristics, laboratory index and ultrasonic examination data of the 2 groups were collected and compared for statistical conclusion. Results (1)The level of C-reaction protein(CRP)[166.20 mg/L (74.40 mg/L)], γ-glutamyl transpeptidase(γ-GT)[88.00 IU/L (126.00 IU/L)], creatine kinase isoenzyme(CKI)[1.78 μg/L (5.17 μg/L)], troponin(TP)[0.01 μg/L (0.39 μg/L)] in the KDSS group in acute phase were all higher than those in the KD without shock group[70.50 mg/L (54.30 mg/L), 40.00 IU/L (89.00 IU/L), 1.20 μg/L (0.85 μg/L), 0.01 μg/L (0.01 μg/L)], hemoglobin(Hb)[90.00 g/L (15.00 g/L)], ablumin [24.20 g/L (4.30 g/L)], serum sodium[130.90 mmol/L (5.60 mmol/L)] levels in the KDSS group were lower than those in the KD without shock group[107.00 g/L (14.00 g/L), 33.40 g/L (4.08 g/L), 136.10 mmol/L (3.25 mmol/L)], and the differences were statistically significant (all P 2.5: 6 cases (26.09%) vs.35 cases (8.86%)]and valvular regurgitation[tricuspid regurgitation(TR)≥moderate: 3 cases (13.03%) vs.5 cases (1.26%)]in the KDSS group were higher than those in the KD without shock group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). (3)Among acute phase in KDSS group, 9 cases (39.13%) had liver enlargement, 9 cases (39.13%) had peritoneal effusion, 3 cases (13.04%) had diffuse renal lesions, 3 cases (13.04%) had joint effusion (2 cases of knee joint effusion, 1 case of hip joint effusion), and 2 cases (8.70%) had enteritis.In the KD without shock group, only 3 cases (0.76%) had hepatomegaly and 2 cases (0.51%) had a small amount of knee effusion. Conclusions Laboratory findings of KDSS group showed higher level of CRP, CKI, TP as well as γ-GT than those in KD without shock group, who are more prone to suffer from hypohemoglobin, hyponatremia and hypoalbuminemia.Ultrasound examination showed that KDSS children were more prone to have heart or multiple-organ damage.Clinicians should raise their awareness to provide comprehensive assessment as well as timely and effective treatment. Key words: Kawasaki disease; Shock; Child; Ultrasound
Modeling and optimization of batch production based on layout and cutting problems under uncertainty

This paper presents modeling and optimization of batch production based on layout, cutting and project scheduling problems by considering scenario planning. In order to solve the model, a novel genetic algorithm with an improvement procedure based on variable neighborhood search (VNS) is presented. Initially, the model is solved in small sizes using Lingo software and the combined (proposed) genetic algorithm; then the results are compared. Afterwards, the model is solved in large sizes by utilizing the proposed algorithm and simple genetic algorithm. The main findings of this paper show: (1) The suggested algorithm is valid and able to achieve optimal and near-optimal solutions. This conclusion was made after proving the validity of the proposed method by solving a case study by employing the classical method (employing Lingo 11). And when the results were compared with the ones obtained by the proposed algorithm, they were found to be the same in both cases. (2) The combined genetic algorithm is more effective in obtaining optimal boundaries and the solutions close to them in all cases compared to the classical (simple) genetic algorithm. In other words, the main finding of this paper is a combined genetic algorithm to optimize batch production modeling problems, which is more efficient than the methods provided in the literature.
Thermal Properties of Graphene, Carbon Nanotubes and Nanostructured Carbon Materials

Recent years witnessed a rapid growth of interest of scientific and engineering communities to thermal properties of materials. Carbon allotropes and derivatives occupy a unique place in terms of their ability to conduct heat. The room-temperature thermal conductivity of carbon materials span an extraordinary large range – of over five orders of magnitude – from the lowest in amorphous carbons to the highest in graphene and carbon nanotubes. I review thermal and thermoelectric properties of carbon materials focusing on recent results for graphene, carbon nanotubes and nanostructured carbon materials with different degrees of disorder. A special attention is given to the unusual size dependence of heat conduction in two-dimensional crystals and, specifically, in graphene. I also describe prospects of applications of graphene and carbon materials for thermal management of electronics.
Improving Oral Health in Infants in the Outpatient Setting

Background: Early dental caries is the most common chronic childhood disease, yet this problem is often unaddressed. Most children will not be seen by a dentist until they are three years old, but statistics show that more than 30 percent of children already have caries by that time. The overall purpose of this study is to understand how to better promote oral health for six and nine-month-old infants in the outpatient setting. Methodology: Two separate procedures were used to determine if the addition of oral health questions to the well …
Precipitation in nanostructured alloys: A brief review

Precipitates have been utilized to strengthen various alloys since early last century. Nanostructured (NS) or ultrafine grain (UFG) structured alloys were extensively developed in recent decades, facing a common challenge of limited ductility. While introducing precipitates emerged as an effective strategy to solve the strength-ductility tradeoff issue, the precipitation behavior in NS or UFG alloys differs from that in conventional coarse-grained counterparts. This article provides a review on the scientific discovery of precipitation in NS or UFG alloys in the past 20 years, including the formation mechanism and growth of precipitates, the interplay between precipitates and solid solutes, dislocations, or grain boundaries, as well as the consequent mechanical behavior. Specifically, this article covers Al alloys, Mg alloys, Ti alloys, and high-entropy alloys. Modern research trends in this field are highlighted.
The Alien Seas of Earth: Astrobiological Implications

Liquid water is the quintessential ecological requirement for all life on Earth. All organisms require liquid water to grow or reproduce. It is not surprising, then, that the search for life beyond the Earth is often characterized by a “follow the water” strategy. NASA/Ames’ astrobiologist Chris McKay takes a look at Earth’s exotic life, and how it might shed light on the possibilities of life in distant oceans.
Exploring "The Ripple in the Pond"- A Correlational Study of the Relationships between Demographic Variables and the Teacher Change Agent Scale

As a result of the proliferation of standardized testing and academic standards, there are new expectations for teachers and the role(s) they play in improving student learning and achievement (Cochran-Smith & Lytle, 1999; Garet et al., 2001). However, little is known about teachers who initiate positive changes outside of their own classrooms and even less about what they “look like.” As such, this study was designed to determine whether there was a relationship between the demographic variables of age, gender, years of teaching experience, grade level taught, and primary teaching responsibility and scores on the Teacher Change Agent Scale (TCAS), its subscales, and individual items. Bivariate correlations and means comparison (ANOVA) were used to analyze the responses of 652 teachers. Results indicate that: a teacher’s age is negatively correlated with teacher change agency and membership in a professional community, grade level influences a teacher’s overall mean score, and teachers of all ages need support in working effectively with their colleagues. Given that teachers are being charged with making schools “work” for all students, these findings represent a meaningful contribution to the teacher change agency research.
Predictors of pathological complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in stage II and III breast cancer: The impact of chemotherapeutic regimen

In this study, we sought to determine the predictors of pathological complete response (pCR) and compare the chemotherapeutic regimens administered to breast cancer patients with and those without pCR. We retrospectively reviewed the data of 879 patients treated at the Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center between 2006 and 2010, to identify patients who were diagnosed with primary stage II or III breast cancer and received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Patients who received only neoadjuvant endocrine therapy were considered to be ineligible. Patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics, including type of chemotherapy, were compared between patients who did and those who did not achieve pCR using Chi-square or Fishers exact tests and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Two-sided P-values of <0.05 were considered significant. Of the 333 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 61 (18.3%) had documented pCR. Compared with patients not achieving pCR, a greater proportion of patients with pCR had stage II disease (80.3 vs. 68%, P=0.057), had poorly differentiated (grade 3) tumors (82 vs. 59.2%, P<0.001), had negative lymph node involvement (41 vs. 34%, P=0.0004) and had tumors that were HER2-amplified (41 vs. 23.5%, P=0.0054). A greater proportion of patients with pCR received taxane-based chemotherapy (23 vs. 12.5%, P=0.016) or trastuzumab in conjunction with chemotherapy (41.0 vs. 16.9%, P<0.001). No patients receiving solely anthracycline-based therapy achieved pCR in our study. Our study demonstrated that, for stage II and III breast cancer, lower stage, negative lymph node involvement and HER2 receptor amplification were each associated with pCR. Taxane therapy and the concurrent use of trastuzumab were also associated with a higher likelihood of pCR.
SU-E-T-757: TMRs Calculated From PDDs Versus the Direct Measurements for Small Field SRS Cones

Purpose: To investigate the variation of TMR for SRS cones obtained by TMR scanning, calculation from PDDs, and point measurements. The obtained TMRs were also compared to the representative data from the vendor. Methods: TMRs for conical cones of 4, 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5, 15, and 17.5 mm diameter (jaws set to 5×5 cm) were obtained for 6X FFF and 10X FFF energies on a Varian Edge linac. TMR scanning was performed with a Sun Nuclear 3D scanner and Edge detector at 100 cm SDD. TMR point measurements were measured with a Wellhofer tank and Edge detector, at multiple depths from 0.5 to 20 cm and 100 cm SDD. PDDs for converting to TMR were scanned with a Wellhofer system and SFD detector. The formalism of converting PDD to TMR, given in Khan’s book (4th Edition, p.161) was applied. Sp values at dmax were obtained by measuring Scp and Sc of the cones (jaws set to 5×5 cm) using the Edge detector, and normalized to the 10×10 cm field. Results: Along the central axis beyond dmax, the RMS and maximum percent difference of TMRs obtained with different methods were as follows: (a) 1.3% (max=3.5%) for the calculated TMRs from PDDs versus direct scanning; (b) 1.2% (max=3.3%) for direct scanning versus point measurement; (c) 1.8% (max=5.1%) for the calculated versus point measurements; (d) 1.0% (max=3.6%) for direct scanning versus vendor data; (e) 1.6% (max=7.2%) for the calculated versus vendor data. Conclusion: The overall accuracy of TMRs calculated from PDDs was comparable with that of direct scanning. However, the uncertainty at depths greater than 20 cm, increased up to 5% when compared to point measurements. This issue must be considered when developing a beam model for small field SRS planning using cones.
Characterization of an adult muscle acetylcholine receptor subunit by expression in fibroblasts.

Abstract To study the functional and structural roles of the epsilon subunit in adult muscle acetylcholine receptor (AChR), we have co-expressed the alpha and epsilon subunits of the mouse receptor in transfected fibroblasts. Ligand binding studies suggest that association of epsilon with alpha subunit results in a lower association rate constant for 125I-labeled alpha-bungarotoxin binding than that of the unassembled alpha subunit, approaching that for toxin binding to the AChR. Furthermore, alpha epsilon complexes contain high affinity binding sites for competitive antagonists and agonists not present in the unassembled alpha subunit, but similar to one of the two nonequivalent binding sites in the adult AChR. Structural analysis of alpha epsilon complexes by sucrose gradient velocity centrifugation suggests that some of the complexes formed are trimers or tetramers of alpha and epsilon subunits. Comparison of these data with those previously obtained for alpha gamma complexes suggests that gamma and epsilon have homologous functional roles and identical structural positions in the fetal and adult AChRs, respectively.
Palmitoylethanolamide Increases after Focal Cerebral Ischemia and Potentiates Microglial Cell Motility

Focal cerebral ischemia (FCI) induces rapid neuronal death in the ischemic core, which gradually expands toward the penumbra, partly as the result of a neuroinflammatory response. It is known that propagation of neuroinflammation involves microglial cells, the resident macrophages of the brain, which are highly motile when activated by specific signals. However, the signals that increase microglial cell motility in response to FCI remain mostly elusive. Here, we tested the hypothesis that endocannabinoids mediate neuroinflammation propagation by increasing microglial cell motility. We found that, in mouse cerebral cortex, FCI greatly increases palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), only moderately increases anandamide [arachidonylethanolamide (AEA)], and does not affect 2-arachidonoylglycerol levels. We also found that PEA potentiates AEA-induced microglial cell migration, without affecting other steps of microglial activation, such as proliferation, particle engulfment, and nitric oxide production. This potentiation of microglial cell migration by PEA involves reduction in cAMP levels. In line with this, we provide evidence that PEA acts through Gi/o-coupled receptors. Interestingly, these receptors engaged by PEA are pharmacologically distinct from CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors, as well as from the WIN and abn-CBD (abnormal-cannabidiol) receptors, two recently identified cannabinoid receptors. Our results show that PEA and AEA increase after FCI and synergistically enhance microglial cell motility. Because such a response could participate in the propagation of the FCI-induced neuroinflammation within the CNS, and because PEA is likely to act through its own receptor, a better understanding of the receptor engaged by PEA may help guide the search for improved therapies against neuroinflammation.
Motility Patterns in the Terminal Ileum: Studies on Two Patients with Ulcerative Colitis and Ileac Stomas

Summary 1.The motor activity of the lower segments of the ileum of two patients with ulcerative colitis and ileac stomas has been studied repeatedly over a period of 1 year. Motility was followed by means of two small balloons placed in the ileum in tandem fashion through the abdominal stoma and connected to two glass-spoon manometers, the excursions of which were recorded photokymographically. 2.A wave which we have not recognized before in motility recordings of the small bowel was encountered. It has been designated "type IV" because of its close resemblance to type IV waves in the colon. It is apparently often caused by the simultaneous contraction of a number of adjacent segments of the lower ileum. The contraction is propulsive in action. When these contractions are in rhythmic sequence, the terminal ileum assumes the function of a rhythmically acting pump, which clears the lower small bowel of its contents by expelling them distally. 3.During the 28 1/2 and 19 hours of recordings obtained from the 2 patients after an overnight fast, motor activity was present in the terminal ileum about 90 per cent of the time. Type I waves were present most of the time, type III waves about one-third to one-half of the time, while type IV waves were uncommon. Basic rhythm (type I waves in rhythmic sequence) occupied 1.2 per cent of the fasting records of one patient and 8.3 per cent of the fasting records of the other patient. 4.When a hearty breakfast was ingested, the pattern changed. Nonrhythmic type I activity declined, type I waves in rhythmic sequence (basic rhythm) disappeared, while type IV activity greatly increased. These changes were almost identical to those seen following administration of neostigmine. 5.Administration of cholinergic blocking agents usually reduced all types of motor activity in the terminal ileum. 6.Following the administration of morphine, the pattern was changed, although the total activity—that is, the percentage of time during which activity was present—was unaltered. The propulsive type IV waves were reduced or eliminated. The incidence of rhythmic type I waves was greatly increased. The duration of type III waves (tone waves of base-line pressure changes) may have been prolonged. 7.The rate of occurrence of type I waves in the terminal ileum, that is, its basic rhythm, was exceedingly constant in all of the tests. In the records made during fasting the rate was 8.6 ± 0.1 per minute in one patient and 8.1 ± 0.1 per minute in the other. This is significantly slower than the rate of the basic rhythm in the upper small bowel reported by others. The finding indicates that there is a gradient in the rate of the basic rhythm from upper to lower small bowel in human beings.
Coping Mediates the Association of Mindfulness with Psychological Stress, Affect, and Depression Among Smokers Preparing to Quit.

It is not surprising that smoking abstinence rates are low given that smoking cessation is associated with increases in negative affect and stress that can persist for months. Mindfulness is one factor that has been broadly linked with enhanced emotional regulation. This study examined baseline associations of self-reported trait mindfulness with psychological stress, negative affect, positive affect, and depression among 158 smokers enrolled in a smoking cessation treatment trial. Several coping dimensions were evaluated as potential mediators of these associations. Results indicated that mindfulness was negatively associated with psychological stress, negative affect, and depression and positively associated with positive affect. Furthermore, the use of relaxation as a coping strategy independently mediated the association of mindfulness with psychological stress, positive affect, and depression. The robust and consistent pattern that emerged suggests that greater mindfulness may facilitate cessation and attenuate vulnerability to relapse among smokers preparing for cessation. Furthermore, relaxation appears to be a key mechanism underlying these associations. The ClinicalTrials.gov identifier is NCT00297479.
Pluripotency genes overexpressed in primate embryonic stem cells are localized on homologues of human chromosomes 16, 17, 19, and X

While human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are predisposed toward chromosomal aneploidities on 12, 17, 20, and X, rendering them susceptible to transformation, the specific genes expressed are not yet known. Here, by identifying the genes overexpressed in pluripotent rhesus ESCs (nhpESCs) and comparing them both to their genetically identical differentiated progeny (teratoma fibroblasts) and to genetically related differentiated parental cells (parental skin fibroblasts from whom gametes were used for ESC derivation), we find that some of those overexpressed genes in nhpESCs cluster preferentially on rhesus chromosomes 16, 19, 20, and X, homologues of human chromosomes 17, 19, 16, and X, respectively. Differentiated parental skin fibroblasts display gene expression profiles closer to nhpESC profiles than to teratoma cells, which are genetically identical to the pluripotent nhpESCs. Twenty over- and underexpressed pluripotency modulators, some implicated in neurogenesis, have been identified. The overexpression of some of these genes discovered using pedigreed nhpESCs derived from prime embryos generated by fertile primates, which is impossible to perform with the anonymously donated clinically discarded embryos from which hESCs are derived, independently confirms the importance of chromosome 17 and X regions in pluripotency and suggests specific candidates for targeting differentiation and transformation decisions.
Colonial science and ecological change: Tanzania's Mlalo Basin, 1888-1946.

East Africa's coastal mountains, island massifs jutting up out of the surrounding savannas, have a thirty-million-year natural history as biological refuges. Their slopes have been watered for millennia by the Indian Ocean monsoons and have fostered the evolution of a broad diversity of flora and fauna.1 African farmers have long sought out these climatic and botanical havens and developed around their water sources a sophisticated agricultural production system designed to mitigate the severe droughts which periodically plague eastern Africa. Although long-term settlement in the mountains caused environmental change, its character and scope has yet to be adequately explained. Nonetheless, over the past seventy years, colonial and postcolonial governments have moved to ameliorate what they have perceived as human-induced ecological stress. This article examines the early phase of the colonial debates over environmental degradation and its remedies in the Mlalo basin, an upland region in the West Usambara mountains of Tanzania. The policy discussions regarding Mlalo occurred in the context of a general crisis in colonial society between 1929 and 1940, during which colonial perceptions of agroecological decline and the economic pressures of depression challenged European colonial governments in Africa and Asia. In terms of ecological issues, worldwide concern over erosion in the American Dust Bowl resonated across East Africa, resulting in an official preoccupation with soil conservation. Tanganyika Territory's Mlalo basin came to be cited in the 1930S as one of several particularly striking manifestations of soil degradation and agroecological decline.2 When a food shortage known as njaa ya Chankola (Chankola's famine) struck between 1941 and 1946, the specter of human and environmental catastrophe justified colonial degradation scenarios, which in turn guided the colonial government's attempt between 1946 and 1949 to "modernize" husbandry via the Mlalo Basin Rehabilitation Scheme.3 Recent scholarship in the social sciences has raised a number of questions regarding the course and interpretation of environmental degradation in Africa and Latin America. Many of these studies cite the historical tendency of Western (or