cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fruit damage by stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in bush-type tomatoes

Adult stink bugs were introduced onto caged, bush-type tomatoes to establish the amount of fruit damage resulting from different durations of infestation (up to 20 d), densities (1, 3, 5, and 10 bugs per 2 m of row), species ( Euschistus conspersus Uhler and Chlorochroa uhleri (Stal)) and reduced fruit abundance (75,50, and 0% reduction). Factors that significantly influenced the percentage of tomato fruit damaged were stink bug density and reduced fruit density at constant stink bug densities. Stink bug density affected the number of damaged areas per fruit in 1 of the 2 years of the study. Stink bug species and the number of days of stink bug infestation did not affect the percentage of damaged fruit or the number of damaged areas per fruit. Implications for stink bug management in tomatoes grown in California are discussed.
Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis is Not Rare: With a Note on Preparation of Antigen for Immunologic Tests

This syndrome consists of asthma, recurrent pneumonia often with central bronchiectasis, eosinophilia, Aspergillus in the sputum, serum precipitins and positive skin tests both at 15 minutes and six hours. The clinical features of 14 patients are described. Antigens were prepared to 15 strains of A fumigatus. Different antigen preparations reacted differently in the precipitin test with different sera. No single preparation reacted with all patients with aspergillosis. Many commercially purchased antigens failed to react with sera containing small amounts of antibody or to elicit the six hour skin test reaction in some patients. To assure maximum sensitivity, tests for aspergillosis should include potent antigens from several strains of the organisms. Positive precipitin tests occurred in all six patients with invasive aspergillosis complicating malignant diseases and were occasionally found in patients with chronic obstructive lung disease and other inflammatory diseases as well as in a few normal subjects. Dual positive skin test reactions were found in all 18 patients with aspergillomas and in 4 percent of healthy adults.
Tissue distribution, ontogeny and induction of the transporters Multidrug and toxin extrusion (MATE) 1 and MATE2 mRNA expression levels in mice

Transporters are expressed in a wide variety of tissues where they perform the critical function of enabling anionic and cationic chemicals of exogenous and endogenous origin to cross otherwise impermeable cell membranes. The Multidrug and toxin extrusion (MATE) transporters mediate cellular efflux of a variety of organic cations, including many drugs. The purpose of the current study was to determine (1) constitutive expression levels of MATE mRNA in various tissues, (2) whether there are gender differences in the expression of MATEs, (3) the ontogenic expression pattern of MATE1 in kidney and (4) whether MATEs are pharmacologically-inducible in liver via activation of known transcription factors. In both male and female mice, MATE1 mRNA levels were highest in the kidney, where male expression was higher than female. MATE2 mRNA expression levels were the highest in the testis, where high expression was localized to Sertoli cells, a critical cell type of the blood testis barrier. In female mice, MATE2 mRNA levels were expressed most highly in the colon. The ontogenic pattern of expression of MATE1 mRNA in the kidneys of both males and females was gradual, with levels increasing steadily from prenatal day -2 to 45 days of age, and a gender difference appearing at day 30. Of the transcription factor activators examined (AhR, CAR, Nrf2, PPARα and PXR), none were capable of altering MATE1 or MATE2. The current findings support a potential role for MATE1 and MATE2 in a wide range of tissues and, notably, a unique role for MATE2 in the blood-testis barrier.
A generic automated/semiautomated digital multi-electrode instrument for field resistivity measurements

The objective of this work is to design and test a digital multi-electrode acquisition system for use in geophysical investigations utilizing direct current electrical (geoelectric) methods. The system is a 64-electrode modular system, which utilizes field electrodes with individual wires that lead back to a digital switch box and then to a data acquisition instrument (Iris Syscal R2). The electronic design allows for different arrays or geometrical switching configurations of the field electrodes in order to allow for rapid data reading and yield essentially real-time results. Additionally, the electronic switch box has the capability to be connected in series to similar switch boxes and, therefore, has the ability to switch between an unlimited number of electrodes. The acquisition control software, developed as an interface for the hardware, controls operation of both the digital switch box and the resistivity acquisition instrument.
Models for insulation aging under electrical and thermal multistress

A review of the methods and models used in lifetime studies of solid insulators under single- and multiple-stress conditions is presented. The statistical methods used with this type of data are described briefly, including the two-parameter Weibull distribution and the log-normal distribution, which are the two distributions most frequently used in aging studies. Lifetime models under multiple stresses are discussed. In particular, several models under combined electrical and thermal stresses are presented and their applicability is analyzed and discussed. These include multistress models proposed by L. Simoni (1981, 1984) and T.S. Ramu (1985, 1987), both employing the inverse power law for electrical aging, the exponential model by B. Fallou (1979), the probabilistic model by G.C. Montanari (1989), and the physical model by J.-P. Crine (1989). Trends in the development of these models are discussed. >
Biomarkers of dairy intake and the risk of heart disease.

Abstract Background and aims Despite their relatively high content of saturated fat, studies of dairy product intake and the risk of cardiovascular disease have often yielded null or inverse results. The use of fatty acid biomarkers to reflect dairy intake could elucidate this association. This study aims to evaluate the association between dairy intake, assessed by adipose pentadecanoic (15:0) and heptadecanoic (17:0) fatty acids and food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and the risk of nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), in a matched case-control study of Costa Rican adults ( n = 3630). Methods and results The association was examined using conditional logistic regression, adjusted for potential confounders. The associations of adipose tissue 15:0 and 17:0 with the risk of MI were not statistically significant (for 15:0: multivariate-adjusted OR for 5th quintile vs. 1st = 1.14 (95% CI = 0.85, 1.53), p -value for linear trend = 0.77; for 17:0: multivariate-adjusted OR for 5th quintile vs. 1st = 1.15 (95% CI = 0.88, 1.51), p -value for linear trend = 0.18). The association between the FFQ measure of dairy intake and MI showed evidence of a possible threshold effect, with a protective association observed for all but the top quintile of the exposure distribution. Conclusion Dairy product intake as assessed by adipose tissue 15:0, 17:0, and by FFQ is not associated with a linear increase in the risk of MI in the study population. It is possible that the adverse effect of saturated fat in dairy products on cardiovascular health is offset by presence of beneficial nutrients.
Treating Fatigue in Cancer Patients

Possible causes of cancer-related fatigue include depression, pain, sleep problems, anemia, deconditioning, metabolic abnormalities, infection, dietary problems, hypoxia, and side effects of medication. Although treatments are available for each of these conditions, there are no generally accepted treatments available for the whole fatigue syndrome. There are also very few studies on the treatment of cancer-related fatigue-only 10 randomized controlled trials. Health care providers have begun to understand that, just as the treatment of pain requires attention to imbalances in mind, body, and spirit, the treatment of fatigue will require such an approach.
Intrusive fathering, children's self-regulation and social skills: a mediation analysis.

Background Fathers have unique influences on children's development, and particularly in the development of social skills. Although father–child relationship influences on children's social competence have received increased attention in general, research on fathering in families of children with developmental delays (DD) is scant. This study examined the pathway of influence among paternal intrusive behaviour, child social skills and child self-regulatory ability, testing a model whereby child regulatory behaviour mediates relations between fathering and child social skills. Methods Participants were 97 families of children with early identified DD enrolled in an extensive longitudinal study. Father and mother child-directed intrusiveness was coded live in naturalistic home observations at child age 4.5, child behaviour dysregulation was coded from a video-taped laboratory problem-solving task at child age 5, and child social skills were measured using independent teacher reports at child age 6. Analyses tested for mediation of the relationship between fathers' intrusiveness and child social skills by child behaviour dysregulation. Results Fathers' intrusiveness, controlling for mothers' intrusiveness and child behaviour problems, was related to later child decreased social skills and this relationship was mediated by child behaviour dysregulation. Conclusions Intrusive fathering appears to carry unique risk for the development of social skills in children with DD. Findings are discussed as they related to theories of fatherhood and parenting in children with DD, as well as implications for intervention and future research.
Estimation of mass transfer and kinetics in operating trickle‐bed bioreactors for removal of VOCS

Long-term, stable operation of trickle-bed bioreactors remains desirable but is difficult to achieve for industrial processes, which generate continuous streams of dilute gaseous hydrocarbons. Mass transfer and kinetics parameters are difficult to measure, complicating predictive estimates. Two methods are presented which were used to predict the importance of mass transfer versus kinetics limitations in operating trickle-bed biofilters. Both methods altered the overall activity of the biofilter and estimated the effective mass transfer coefficient (K L a) by varying the VOC (volatile organic contaminant) loading rate and concentration. The first method altered the total bed temperature of a well-established biofilter to effect a change. The second method, used with developing biofilters possessing low biomass, involved addition of cultured biomass to the recirculating liquid to effect an overall change in VOC removal capacity. Results and modeling from these experiments are presented for a mixed culture trickle-bed bioreactor that is capable of consuming sparingly soluble alkanes, such as pentane and isobutane. Methods to control overgrowth are discussed which were used to operate one reactor continuously for over 24 months with sustained degradation of volatile alkanes with a rate of 50 g/h.m 3 .
White matter integrity and cognition in chronic traumatic brain injury: a diffusion tensor imaging study

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious public health problem. Even injuries classified as mild, the most common, can result in persistent neurobehavioural impairment. Diffuse axonal injury is a common finding after TBI, and is presumed to contribute to outcomes, but may not always be apparent using standard neuroimaging. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a more recent method of assessing axonal integrity in vivo. The primary objective of the current investigation was to characterize white matter integrity utilizing DTI across the spectrum of chronic TBI of all severities. A secondary objective was to examine the relationship between white matter integrity and cognition. Twenty mild, 17 moderate to severe TBI and 18 controls underwent DTI and neuropsychological testing. Fractional anisotropy, axial diffusivity and radial diffusivity were calculated from the DTI data. Fractional anisotropy was the primary measure of white matter integrity. Region of interest analysis included anterior and posterior corona radiata, cortico-spinal tracts, cingulum fibre bundles, external capsule, forceps minor and major, genu, body and splenium of the corpus callosum, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, superior longitudinal fasciculus and sagittal stratum. Cognitive domain scores were calculated from executive, attention and memory testing. Decreased fractional anisotropy was found in all 13 regions of interest for the moderate to severe TBI group, but only in the cortico-spinal tract, sagittal stratum and superior longitudinal fasciculus for the mild TBI group. White Matter Load (a measure of the total number of regions with reduced FA) was negatively correlated with all cognitive domains. Analysis of radial and axial diffusivity values suggested that all severities of TBI can result in a degree of axonal damage, while irreversible myelin damage was only apparent for moderate to severe TBI. The present data emphasize that white matter changes exist on a spectrum, including mild TBI. An index of global white matter neuropathology (White Matter Load) was related to cognitive function, such that greater white matter pathology predicted greater cognitive deficits. Mechanistically, mild TBI white matter changes may be primarily due to axonal damage as opposed to myelin damage. The more severe injuries impact both. DTI provides an objective means for determining the relationship of cognitive deficits to TBI, even in cases where the injury was sustained years prior to the evaluation.
Issues of software reliability in medical systems

It is shown that the traditional methods of ensuring quality (i.e. those that focus on testing) do not necessarily yield software of prescribed quality. Similarly, more advanced methods, such as those that advocate mathematical verification during development and the use of fault-tolerant structures at execution time, are also not able to assure dependable performance. It is shown that, for safety-critical medical systems that are required to achieve very high quality levels, post-development assurance of a specific level of quality is infeasible. It is concluded that safety-critical systems that depend on computers should be deployed only with the greatest of care. >
Proper environment and the SEP account of biological function

The survival enhancing propensity (SEP) account has a crucial role to play in the analysis of proper function. However, a central feature of the account, its specification of the proper environment to which functions are relativized, is seriously underdeveloped. In this paper, I argue that existent accounts of proper environment fail because they either allow too many or too few characters to count as proper functions. While SEP accounts retain their promise, they are unworkable because of their inability to specify this important feature. However, I suggest that this problem can be overcome by the application of a new strategy for specifying proper environment that is grounded in the operation of natural selection and I conclude by offering a first approximation of such an account.
Experiments with mobile computing middleware for deploying appliance UIs

An important component of the vision of ubiquitous computing is universal appliance-interaction-the ability to use mobile and wearable computers such as cell phones and palmtops to interact with arbitrary devices and appliances distributed over a network. This raises the user interface (UI) deployment issue, which involves implementing middleware for deploying compatible UIs of arbitrary appliances on different kinds of mobile computers. In this paper, we provide a preliminary evaluation of different approaches to implementing such middleware consisting of experimental results and a qualitative analysis. In this evaluation, we compare (a) generating vs. installing predefined UIs, (b) installing local vs. remote predefined UIs, (c) deployment of speech vs. graphical UIs, (d) deployment of UIs of simple vs. complex appliances, (e) deployment over a wireless and wired network, and (f) deployment on laptop and palmtop computers. We consider storage costs, deployment times, and operation invocation times in our experiments.
Hantavirus nucleocapsid protein has distinct m7G cap- and RNA-binding sites.

Hantaviruses, members of the Bunyaviridae family, are emerging category A pathogens that carry three negative stranded RNA molecules as their genome. Hantavirus nucleocapsid protein (N) is encoded by the smallest S segment genomic RNA (viral RNA). N specifically binds mRNA caps and requires four nucleotides adjacent to the cap for high affinity binding. We show that the N peptide has distinct cap- and RNA-binding sites that independently interact with mRNA cap and viral genomic RNA, respectively. In addition, N can simultaneously bind with both mRNA cap and vRNA. N undergoes distinct conformational changes after binding with either mRNA cap or vRNA or both mRNA cap and vRNA simultaneously. Hantavirus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) uses a capped RNA primer for transcription initiation. The capped RNA primer is generated from host cell mRNA by the cap-snatching mechanism and is supposed to anneal with the 3′ terminus of vRNA template during transcription initiation by single G-C base pairing. We show that the capped RNA primer binds at the cap-binding site and induces a conformational change in N. The conformationally altered N with a capped primer loaded at the cap-binding site specifically binds the conserved 3′ nine nucleotides of vRNA and assists the bound primer to anneal at the 3′ terminus. We suggest that the cap-binding site of N, in conjunction with RdRp, plays a key role during the transcription and replication initiation of vRNA genome.
Gas chromatographic analysis of metaldehyde in urine and plasma.

A gas chromatographic assay specific for the direct analysis of metaldehyde in plasma and urine is reported. This assay takes less than 30 min to perform, has good reproducibility, requires only routine equipment, and has a sensitivity of 1 ng//~L for urine and 2 ng//~L for plasma.
New uniplanar transitions for circuit and antenna applications

New uniplanar microstrip-to-slotline, microstrip-to-coplanar strips (PS) and microstrip-to-coplanar waveguide (CPW) transitions for MIC/MMIC and slotline antennas for phased array applications are described. Such transitions are compact and suitable to be used in an open environment inside a package or a multichip module. The transitions share the concept of using a balun which consists of two microstrip lines connected to a slotline through a pair of coupled microstrips. In this paper, the transitions are studied theoretically using the Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) technique and measured experimentally using an HP8510C Network Analyzer. For a back-to-back microstrip-to-slotline transition, an insertion loss of less than 1.3 dB per transition is achieved over a 49% bandwidth with a minimum of 0.6 dB around the design frequency.
Delineation of somatosensory finger areas using vibrotactile stimulation, an ECoG study

Background In surgical planning for epileptic focus resection, functional mapping of eloquent cortex is attained through direct electrical stimulation of the brain. This procedure is uncomfortable, can trigger seizures or nausea, and relies on subjective evaluation. We hypothesize that a method combining vibrotactile stimulation and statistical clustering may provide improved somatosensory mapping. Methods Seven pediatric candidates for surgical resection underwent a task in which their fingers were independently stimulated using a custom designed finger pad, during electrocorticographic monitoring. A cluster-based statistical analysis was then performed to localize the elicited activity on the recording grids. Results Mid-Gamma clusters (65–115 Hz) arose in areas consistent with anatomical predictions as well as clinical findings, with five subjects presenting a somatotopic organization of the fingers. This process allowed us to delineate finger representation even in patients who were sleeping, with strong interictal activity, or when electrical stimulation did not successfully locate eloquent areas. Conclusions We suggest that this scheme, relying on the endogenous neural response rather than exogenous electrical activation, could eventually be extended to map other sensory areas and provide a faster and more objective map to better anticipate outcomes of surgical resection.
Time domain calculations of electromagnetic wave propagation and scattering using finite volumes and triangular meshes

A simple scheme which is free of the decoupling problem is used with unstructured grids to calculate scattering off airfoils. Standard numerical techniques with equal order interpolation and no staggering for both the electric and the magnetic field are employed, and some preliminary results are presented. Scattering of plane waves off cylinders and airfoils was simulated. Contours, current density, and radar cross section were generated after 7.96 cycles. >
In Search of the Person: Philosophical Explorations in Cognitive Science

For twenty-five years Michael Arbib has been studying the workings of the human brain and developing new approaches to the design of intelligent machines. These concerns have often led him to ponder philosophical questions about the nature of mind and knowledge. In this book, Arbib offers a stimulating, speculative discussion of cognitive science and its relation to larger philosophical and social issues. Arbib proposes a theory of mental schemas to explain how the individual brain represents the world around it. He builds on Piaget's studies of how children learn and on his own work in brain theory and artificial intelligence to show how the concept of schemas an be used to link cognitive science to the study of persons in society. He then employs this "schema theory" as a way of looking at various constructions of reality, including those of Chomsky, Freud, Marx, and Habermas. In the final chapter, he addresses the question of human freedom and suggests a means of avoiding the apparent limitations of mechanistic explanations for human mental processes.
163 College curricula valued by equine-assisted activity and therapy centers

s / Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 35 (2015) 446e458 453 163 College curricula valued by equine-assisted activity and therapy centers S.V. Burk*, and C.E. Gramlich 2 Otterbein University, Westerville, OH, USA; 2 Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, PA, USA With recent growth in the equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAAT) field, an increasing number of colleges and universities are considering the addition of EAAT curriculum. However, there is a paucity of information available on knowledge and skills valued by those making hiring decisions at EAAT centers. The objective of this study was to determine which topics Professional Association for Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) International centers value within higher education curricula. A survey was emailed to 801 centers within the United States. Staff members involved in center hiring procedures were encouraged to complete the survey. Surveys were obtained from 133 centers, for a response rate of 16.6%, although complete data for analyses were available from 109 centers. Respondents were asked to rate 37 topics or skills based on importance for inclusion in bachelor’s level EAAT curriculum. Topics were rated on a 4-point scale from unimportant (0 points), neutral (1 point), important (2 points), to very important (3 points). Chi-squared tests of independence or Fisher’s exact tests (SAS v. 9.3) were conducted to compare topic ratings from accredited and non-accredited PATH International centers. The most highly rated items (median 1⁄4 3) included equine behavior, safety, selection, training, conformation, anatomy, physiology, health, stable management, grooming/tacking, and basic English and western riding skills. Other topics that were rated equally high (median 1⁄4 3) included adaptive tack/equipment, lesson planning, teaching methods, disabilities, human anatomy and physiology, PATH International standards, therapeutic riding methods, equine-assisted psychotherapy methods, leadership, and internship experience. Centers rated businessrelated topics lower (median 1⁄4 2). These included accounting, non-profit management, general business management, marketing, and grant writing. The lowest rated item (median 1⁄4 1) was intermediate hunt seat skill. Accredited centers were more likely to rate knowledge of PATH International standards (P 1⁄4 0.010), human anatomy and physiology (P 1⁄4 0.015), liability and insurance (P 1⁄4 0.039), and non-profit management (P 1⁄4 0.017) as “very important” when compared with non-accredited centers. An open-ended question about the biggest challenges faced by centers when hiring new employees indicated that 51% of respondents experienced financial difficulties or had trouble attracting high quality employees due to low wages. Although centers appear to place the most emphasis on equine, disability, and teaching knowledge, a focus on business-related topics may help address financial issues at centers.
Bhopal (B): Recipe for a Toxic Mist

The B case details the causes of the tragic toxic leak at the Bhopal plant and the dilemmas faced by the plant managers as they coped with the aftermath. See also the A case (UVA-E-0159).
Constitutive and Nodule-Specific Overexpression of Cytosolic Glutamine Synthetase (GS1) Genes in Alfalfa

Glutamine synthetase (GS) catalyzes the first and key reaction in the assimilation of ammonia. Gene constructs consisting of the CaMV 35S promoter driving either a soybean GS1, or an alfalfa GS1, gene have been introduced into alfalfa. Northern analysis of RNA isolated from leaves and nodules of nodulated N2-fixing plants showed significant accumulation of the transcript for the GS1, transgene only in the leaves but not in the nodules. However, significant amount of GUS activity could be detected in nodules of plants containing the CaMV 35S promoter-GUS fusion construct. This would suggest that the transcript for the GS1, transgene is not stable in the nitrogen fixing root nodules. Transformed nonnodulated alfalfa plants when grown in the presence of KNO3, showed a significant decrease in the level of the transcript for the trans-gene when compared to the N-fed plants. The results suggest that a product of GS activity might have a role in destabilizing GS transcript level.
Comparison of iNOS Inhibition by Antisense and Pharmacological Inhibitors after Spinal Cord Injury

Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is a key mediator of inflammation during pathological conditions. We examined, through the use of selective iNOS inhibitors, the role of iNOS in specific pathophysiological processes after spinal cord injury (SCI), including astrogliosis, blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB) permeability, polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration, and neuronal cell death. Administration of iNOS antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) (intraspinally at 3 h) or the pharmacological inhibitors, N-[3(Aminomethyl) benzyl] acetamidine (1400 W) (i.v./i.p. 3 and 9 h) or aminoguanidine (i.p. at 3 and 9 h) after moderate contusive injury decreased the number of iNOS immunoreactive cells at the injury site by 65.6% (iNOS ASOs), 62.1% (1400 W), or 59% (aminoguanidine) 24 h postinjury. iNOS activity was reduced 81.8% (iNOS ASOs), 56.7% (1400 W), or 67.9% (aminoguanidine) at this time. All iNOS inhibitors reduced the degree of BSCB disruption (plasma leakage of rat immunoglobulins), with iNOS ASO inhibition being more effective (reduced by 58%). Neutrophil accumulation within the injury site was significantly reduced by iNOS ASOs and 1400 W by 78.8% and 20.9%, respectively. Increased astrogliosis was diminished with iNOS ASOs but enhanced following aminoguanidine. Detection of necrotic and apoptotic neuronal cell death by propidium iodide and an FITC-conjugated Annexin V antibody showed that iNOS inhibition could significantly retard neuronal cell death rostral and caudal to the injury site. These novel findings indicate that acute inhibition of iNOS is beneficial in reducing several pathophysiological processes after SCI. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the antisense inhibition of iNOS is more efficacious than currently available pharmacological agents.
Association of retirement age with mortality: a population-based longitudinal study among older adults in the USA

Background Retirement is an important transitional process in later life. Despite a large body of research examining the impacts of health on retirement, questions still remain regarding the association of retirement age with survival. We aimed to examine the association between retirement age and mortality among healthy and unhealthy retirees and to investigate whether sociodemographic factors modified this association. Methods On the basis of the Health and Retirement Study, 2956 participants who were working at baseline (1992) and completely retired during the follow-up period from 1992 to 2010 were included. Healthy retirees (n=1934) were defined as individuals who self-reported health was not an important reason to retire. The association of retirement age with all-cause mortality was analysed using the Cox model. Sociodemographic effect modifiers of the relation were examined. Results Over the study period, 234 healthy and 262 unhealthy retirees died. Among healthy retirees, a 1-year older age at retirement was associated with an 11% lower risk of all-cause mortality (95% CI 8% to 15%), independent of a wide range of sociodemographic, lifestyle and health confounders. Similarly, unhealthy retirees (n=1022) had a lower all-cause mortality risk when retiring later (HR 0.91, 95% CI 0.88 to 0.94). None of the sociodemographic factors were found to modify the association of retirement age with all-cause mortality. Conclusions Early retirement may be a risk factor for mortality and prolonged working life may provide survival benefits among US adults.
A New Species of Loomisia (Acari: Trombiculidae) from a Peruvian Bat

Loomisia peruviensis , n. sp., is described from specimens taken from the bat Tomopeas ravus collected in the Department of Lambayeque, Peru.
Fabrication of Hybrid Bionanodevices Based on Coupled Protein Functionality

Block copolymer-based membrane technology represents a versatile class of nanoscale materials in which biomolecules, such as membrane proteins, can be reconstituted. Among its many advantages over conventional lipid-based membrane systems, block copolymers can mimic natural cell biomembrane environments in a single chain, enabling large-area membrane fabrication using methods like Langmuir-Blodgett deposition, or spontaneous protein-functionalized nanovesicle formation. Based on this unique membrane property, a wide variety of membrane proteins possessing unique functionalities including pH/voltage gatable porosity, photon-activated proton pumping, and gradient-dependent production of electricity have been successfully inserted into these biomimetic systems.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Current Supervision Scholarship in Psychology: A Five Year Review

This paper reviewed five years of supervision-related articles that had been published in psychology journals. Almost one-fourth of the articles were published in Professional Psychology: Research & Practice. The other journals most frequently represented in this review were the Journal of Counseling Psychology, Journal of Clinical Psychology, and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training. The largest single category of articles during this five-year period concerned supervision that in some way was harmful. Surprisingly few articles, though, concerned issues of race or culture. The most frequent type of article was theoretical or conceptual in nature. However, when the various categories of article that were in one way or another research-based were combined, this comprised the largest overall category.
Is Impulse Purchasing Really a Useful Concept for Marketing Decisions

Impulse purchasing is an important aspect of customer in-store behavior as discussed in the previous article. The authors of this paper indicate that the concept, as presently employed, has limited...
Effects of excess nitrogen on biogeochemistry of a temperate hardwood forest: Evidence of nutrient redistribution by a forest understory species

Abstract Excess nitrogen (N) in terrestrial ecosystems can arise from anthropogenically-increased atmospheric N deposition, a phenomenon common in eastern US forests. In spite of decreased N emissions over recent years, atmospheric concentrations of reactive N remain high in areas within this region. Excess N in forests has been shown to alter biogeochemical cycling of essential plant nutrients primarily via enhanced production and leaching of nitrate, which leads to loss of base cations from the soil. The purpose of our study was to investigate this phenomenon using a multifaceted approach to examine foliar nutrients of two herbaceous layer species in one N-treated watershed (WS3—receiving aerial applications of 35 kg N/ha/yr as ammonium sulfate, from 1989 to the present) and two untreated reference watersheds at the Fernow Experimental Forest, WV, USA. In 1993, we analyzed foliar tissue of Viola rotundifolia, a dominant herb layer species and prominent on all seven sample plots in each watershed. In 2013 and 2014, we used foliar tissue from Rubus allegheniensis, which had become the predominant species on WS3 and had increased, though to a lesser extent, in cover on both reference watersheds. Foliar N and potassium (K) were higher and foliar calcium (Ca) was lower on WS3 than on the reference watersheds for both species. Magnesium (Mg) was lower on WS3 for Viola, but was not different among watersheds for Rubus. Results support the stream chemistry-based observation that excess N lowers plant-available Ca and, to a lesser degree, Mg, but not of K. Foliar manganese (Mn) of Rubus averaged >4 times that of Viola, and was >50% higher on WS3 than on the reference watersheds. A Mn-based mechanism is proposed for the N-meditated increase in Rubus on WS3. Data suggest that excess N deposition not only alters herb community composition and biogeochemical cycling of forest ecosystems, but can do so simultaneously and interactively.
Replantation proximal to the wrist

Technical aspects of importance in replantation proximal to the wrist are somewhat different from those involved with digital replantation. Re-establishing blood flow rapidly by insertion of an arterial shunt, meticulous debridement, stable internal fixation of fractures, fasciotomy, and re-examination of the tissue 48 to 72 hours after replantation are discussed. Indications and contraindications for replantation in addition to maximizing use of "spare parts" are illustrated.
An Integrated Spatial Model of Population Change in South Carolina Counties

Existing studies of population change have grown to consider spatial dependence. The current literature highlights the importance of location when modeling population change. The evidence clearly suggests that population change in one area is dependent on population change in neighboring areas. What is missing in the existing literature is an analysis of which specific features in surrounding areas impact the local area. We employ a model using spatially lagged explanatory variables (SLX) to model population change in South Carolina. In addition to the normal impacts of the explanatory variables in a standard OLS regression, the SLX model measures the impact of the independent variables in contiguous areas. It also allows for separation of spillovers from rural counties versus those from urban counties. We find that the impact of neighboring counties is distinctly different for rural versus urban counties. Local urban population growth is influenced by neighboring counties, both urban and rural. However, local rural population growth is influenced only by neighboring rural counties. For rural counties, the share of retirees and recreational activities in surrounding rural counties are significant in explaining population change. For urban population growth, birth rates, income, and single female pregnancy rates in neighboring urban counties are significant. Retiree share and single female pregnancy rates in neighboring rural counties are also significant in explaining urban population change.
"We Are No Grumblers": Negotiating State and Federal Military Service in the Pennsylvania Reserve Division

For Sergeant John I. Faller, Company A, Seventh Pennsylvania Reserve Infantry, the month of April 1864 passed splendidly. The twenty-three-year-old Philadelphia machinist began serving out the final weeks of his three-year term of service inside the defenses of Washington. In March, he wrote to his sister that he liked his duty “very well,” and he assured her that, “I am well over from head to feet and from the right hand to the left.” Because he chose not to re-enlist in December, Faller looked forward to returning to his parents’ house in Carlisle and instructed his sister “to have a room fixed up for me when I get home next summer.” As spring began, two important items escaped Sergeant Faller’s attention. First, he made no mention of Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant’s April 17 order to suspend prisoner exchanges. A few days earlier, at Fort Pillow, Tennessee, Confederate troops had refused to accept the surrender of defeated African American soldiers, killing or massacring 231 officers and men. Grant reasoned that if Confederate troops would not offer quarters to surrendering black soldiers, then it was the Union army’s obligation to hold Confederates taken in battle indefinitely to ensure the safety of African American prisoners of war. Second, Faller failed to detect the uproar in his regiment’s parent unit—the Pennsylvania Reserve Division—regarding the War Department’s proposal to extend its term of service beyond three years. While in winter encampment at Brandy Station, Virginia, the other regiments of the Pennsylvania Reserve Division had staged a near mutiny, protesting a War Department directive that proposed to retain the Keystone soldiers two to three months beyond their expected muster-out date. Perhaps Faller disregarded this disturbance simply because it did not matter to him whether he mustered out in May—the month designated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania—or July—the month designated by the War Department. As long as Faller remained in Washington, he could avoid the enemy’s bullets and merely count down the days until he went home. However, on April 18, orders came from Major General George G. Meade directing Faller’s regiment, the Seventh Reserves, and another regiment, the Eighth Reserves, to join the Army of the Potomac at Brandy Station. Fourteen days later, Faller found himself marching into the Wilderness as part of Grant’s historic—and costly—Overland Campaign....
The Nature of Harm and Drug Policy

This paper will examine the nature of harm, various definitions of harm, and how such definitions apply to drug policy. This paper will examine the role of “harm reduction” in attitudes toward drug use. The first section will examine the classical liberal definition of harm (i.e. J.S. Mill and F.A. Hayek). The second section will examine the theoretical underpinnings of “harm reduction” approaches to drug use and see its connections with individual harm and autonomy. The third section will explore drug use as a moral harm and its relationship with autonomy. The fourth section will then examine drug prohibition as a policy and its failure to achieve its stated goals. The fifth section will then examine alternative cases in Portugal and then will be followed by a brief closing.
TriboWalk: Triboelectric dual functional wireless system for gait monitoring and energy harvesting

In this paper, we report the design and validation of a novel wearable wireless system, TriboWalk, for gait monitoring and motion energy harvesting based on triboelectrification. Gait analysis is an important diagnostic method for medical rehabilitation. The TriboWalk system is capable of gait monitoring and analysis by capturing gait timing parameters and ground contact force (GCF) pattern based on four tribo-elements on each shoe sole. The tribo-elements are removable and easily placed on different shoes. A visualization tool is also developed for data analysis. The tribo-elements can generate high output voltage over 20 V during random and low frequency motion, acting as good motion energy harvesters. The experiments were conducted with normal and fast walking speed. The results showed that the TriboWalk system can provide dual functions of gait monitoring and energy harvesting, enabling remote monitoring of patients in daily life at very low cost.
Sentence context influences the subjective perception of foreign accents.

Abstract We examined whether sentence context (the predictability of the final word) influences listeners' ratings of foreign-accented words. Previous work has demonstrated that accent manipulations affect listeners' processing of spoken language. We examined the converse of this relationship; whether context manipulations affect listeners' perceptions of accents. If there is a bidirectional relationship, listeners should be more likely to rate an accent as strong when the accented word is not predicted by the sentence. In Experiment 1, the results revealed that participants were significantly more likely to rate words spoken by foreign-accented speakers as “Strong Accent” in the unpredictable sentences when compared to the predictable sentences. Moreover, in Experiment 2, this effect was replicated and extended to a native speaker. These results support the idea that there is a bidirectional relationship between language processing and perceptions of accents. We discuss the practical implications for foreign-accented speakers.
EXAMPLES RELEVANT TO THE ROBUSTNESS OF APPLIED INFERENCES

Publisher Summary This chapter presents some elementary examples of a kind of theoretical study. The chapter focuses on the simulation of processes of inference as applied directly to data, where the data set is the unit of study. It also explores the variation in inferences implied by differing methods and models. The chapter describes three basic types of activity that applied statisticians engage in while interacting with data. These modes exclude major parts of statistical practice—for example, issues related to the quality of data or to the design of studies—but they are intended to cover the main processes of statistical inference in everyday use. The chapter discusses four families of parametric models. Prior distributions for the parameters are not formally introduced as the absence of background information renders the intelligent choice of priors meaningless and as the objective is primarily to study the effects of varying traditional specifications of sampling models.
Abstract 1104: Novel specific RTK targeting of EGFR/FAK axis in glioblastoma invasion

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive primary brain tumor with a median survival rate of 14.6 months. Currently, the first-line treatment includes surgical resection, chemoradiation, and adjuvant chemotherapy with temozolomide. However, GBM recurs most often within 6.9 months. Receptor tyrosine kinases are dysregulated in GBM, with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) representing 57.4% of the deleted/mutated GBM. In addition, 30 - 40% of GBM patients with EGFR amplification carry an oncogenic gene rearrangement EGFR variant III (EGFRvIII) which is constitutively active. Yet most EGFR inhibitors have shown very little clinical efficacy in GBM. Methods: Afatinib, blood-brain barrier penetrant pan-EGFR inhibitor, covalently binds and irreversibly inhibits signaling from EGFR. Afatinib also persistently inhibits ErbB homo and hetero-dimers. Using GBM cell lines U87MG and U87MG transfected with wild type EGFR, EGFRvIII and EGFRvIII with dead kinase domain, we evaluated the efficacy of afatinib alone and in combination with temozolomide. Results: Afatinib treatment resulted in a dose dependent decrease in the proliferation of U87MG cells transfected with EGFRvIII. The IC50 value for this cell line is 2µM (afatinib). 50µM temozolomide inhibited cell proliferation by 50%. We evaluated the combinational efficacy of IC25 of both. Afatinib effectively blocked EGFR signaling even 72 hours after treatment in the U87MG cell line transfected with either wild type EGFR or EGFRvIII. This was evidenced by decreased phosphorylation of EGFR (Tyr 1068) and its downstream signaling. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signaling in EGFRvIII expressing cells, largely responsible for the invasiveness of GBM, was abolished by afatinib. Furthermore, treatment with afatinib and temozolomide significantly decreased the in vitro tumorigenicity (anchorage dependent growth - colony formation assay as well as anchorage independent growth - soft agar assay) of EGFRvIII expressing GBM cells. Conclusion: Altogether, these results support synergistic efficacy of afatinib and temozolomide in EGFRvIII expressing GBM. Citation Format: Raghupathy Vengoji, Satyanarayana Rachagani, Suprit Gupta, Kavita Mallya, Maneesh Jain, Moorthy Ponnusamy, Surinder Batra, Nicole Shonka. Novel specific RTK targeting of EGFR/FAK axis in glioblastoma invasion [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1104. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-1104
Functional chararacterization of the enzymes TabB and TabD involved in tabtoxin biosynthesis by Pseudomonas syringae.

Abstract Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci ATCC 11528 produces tabtoxin, a β-lactam-containing dipeptide phytotoxin. Tabtoxinine-β-lactam (TβL), one of tabtoxin's constituent amino acids, structurally mimics lysine, and many of the proteins encoded by the tabtoxin biosynthetic gene cluster are homologs of lysine biosynthetic enzymes, suggesting that the tabtoxin and lysine biosynthetic routes parallel one another. We cloned and expressed TabB and TabD, predicted homologs of tetrahydrodipicolinate (THDPA)-N-acyltransferase and N-acyl-THDPA aminotransferase, respectively, to determine their activities in vitro. We confirmed that TabB succinylates THDPA and that TabD is a PLP-dependent aminotransferase that utilizes glutamate as an amine donor. Surprisingly, we also found that though TabD could utilize the TabB product N-succinyl-THDPA as a substrate, THDPA itself was also recognized. These observations reveal that TabB functionally duplicates DapD, the THDPA-N-succinyltransferase involved in lysine biosynthesis, and reinforce the close relationship between the metabolic logics underpinning the respective biosynthetic pathways.
Harry Markowitz and the Early History of Quadratic Programming

Despite his fame as the father of modern portfolio selection theory, Harry Markowitz’s pioneering efforts in the methodology of quadratic programming are surprisingly obscure. This article is primarily about Markowitz’s critical line algorithm as a contribution to the early history of quadratic programming (as distinct from the more specialized portfolio selection problem). After documenting our claim that the critical line algorithm received scant attention around the time of its introduction, we discuss some factors that may have led to this state of affairs. We then elaborate an argument for the repeatedly made assertion that Markowitz’s critical line algorithm and Philip Wolfe’s simplex method for quadratic programming are equivalent. We do this by relating both of them to the parametric principal pivoting method of quadratic programming and linear complementarity theory.