cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optical Propagations with Arbitrary Sample Spacing

We present an overview of computationally efficient alternatives to the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) that allow arbitrary sample spacing, and their application to research in the field of wavefront sensing by phase retrieval.
The effects of relationship stress and unmitigated communion on physical and mental health outcomes

This study investigated the interactive effects of relationship stress and ‘unmitigated communion’ (UC) when predicting health outcomes among college students (n = 97). It was hypothesized that those participants who scored high on a scale of ‘UC’ (the tendency to focus on relationships rather than on one's own needs or desires) would be more negatively affected by interpersonal stress than those participants who scored lower on this scale. Paper-and-pencil measures of ‘UC’, perceived interpersonal stress, vitality, mental health, anxiety, depression, and positive and negative affect were completed. The results of the study strongly supported the hypothesis on both the physical and psychological levels. Gender was investigated as a potential moderating factor. While there was no evidence that this was the case, the results do provide limited evidence that men may be more prone to the negative effects of relationship stress than women (when controlling for ‘UC’). Implications for counselling are such that a participant's standing on ‘UC’ should be addressed during therapy. Failure to do so may result in inappropriate, or even harmful, treatment. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Friction Studies in Sheet Metal Forming Based on a Unique Die Shoulder Force Transducer

Abstract A transducer developed for measuring tension in metal strip as it moves over the die shoulder was used to conduct friction studies. The portion of the transducer simulating the die shoulder is cylindric and mounts in the body on a pair of bearings. Incorporated into the design is a means to selectively lock the die shoulder. Strip tension measurements from tests with the die shoulder locked and unlocked are necessary before friction information is extracted. The transducer is used in a forming die simulator with a controlled drawbead to evaluate how drawbead penetration speed influences die shoulder friction.
Is God Really Watching You? A Response to Shariff and Norenzayan

Shariff and Norenzayan (2007) recently reported in the journal Psychological Science that covertly priming participants with “God concepts” increased prosocial behavior regardless of self-reported ...
Sensing Tip Morphology In Scanning Optical Microscopes

The lateral spatial resolution of a collection-mode scanning optical microscope is discussed in terms of the electromagnetic mode solutions of the probe tip. Analysis of glass rheology during tip fabrication suggests a region in experimental parameter space which optimizes tip structure.
Purchase of Foreign Securities in the Interwar Period

THnS DISCUSSION is concerned with an historical survey of the flow of security movements to the United States and an analysis of the relationships between security movements and th~e American balance of payments and between security movements and the fluctuations of security prices on American exchanges. The conclusions presented are of particular importance because the period discussed covers the non-war years from which many aspects of international lending were learned by Americans. One important conclusion arrived at in the discussion is that the difficulties which many American lenders found themselves in through the Nineteen Thirties resulted largely from American, not foreign, financial malpractices and economic errors. The lessons of these years are especially important because the United States is passing again through a postwar period in which every attempt should be made to avoid the errors of the past.
Autonomic WWW server management with distributed resources

If many people access a Web server at one time, the server might not be able to respond within an acceptable time or even provide the service. Therefore, enough servers should be assigned to a service to guarantee quality of service. But reserving a lot of resources for peak access is not cost effective, because these resources are idle most of the time.In order to solve this problem, technologies called utility computing or autonomic computing have been proposed and are under development. However, these technologies utilize resources only within one organization.In this paper, we present an autonomic system architecture that uses distributed resources leveraged by Grid technology. In our architecture, computing resources are rented from different organizations. Our architecture supports J2EE systems; hence, existing Web applications can be used without any modification. In addition, our architecture considers the location of the resources when redirecting a request to a server and allocating a new server, thereby leading to better performance. We adopted WS-Agreement as an interface for negotiating service level agreements.We have implemented and evaluated this system and confirmed the effectiveness of this architecture.
Identification of Mutant Versions of the Spt16 Histone Chaperone That Are Defective for Transcription-Coupled Nucleosome Occupancy in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The highly conserved FACT (Facilitates Chromatin Transactions) complex performs essential functions in eukaryotic cells through the reorganization of nucleosomes. During transcription, FACT reorganizes nucleosomes to allow passage of RNA Polymerase II and then assists in restoring these nucleosomes after RNA Polymerase II has passed. We have previously shown, consistent with this function, that Spt16 facilitates repression of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae SER3 gene by maintaining nucleosome occupancy over the promoter of this gene as a consequence of intergenic transcription of SRG1 noncoding DNA. In this study, we report the results of a genetic screen to identify mutations in SPT16 that derepress SER3. Twenty-five spt16 mutant alleles were found to derepress SER3 without causing significant reductions in either SRG1 RNA levels or Spt16 protein levels. Additional phenotypic assays indicate that these mutants have general transcription defects related to altered chromatin structure. Our analyses of a subset of these spt16 mutants reveal defects in SRG1 transcription-coupled nucleosome occupancy over the SER3 promoter. We provide evidence that these mutants broadly impair transcription-coupled nucleosome occupancy at highly transcribed genes but not at lowly transcribed genes. Finally, we show that one consequence shared by these mutations is the reduced binding of mutant Spt16 proteins across SRG1 and other highly transcribed genes. Taken together, our results highlight an important role for Spt16 in orchestrating transcription-coupled nucleosome assembly at highly transcribed regions of the genome, possibly by facilitating the association of Spt16 during this process.
New Insights into the Regulation of Methyl Group and Homocysteine Metabolism

Hepatic folate, methyl group, and homocysteine metabolism are interrelated pathways that when disrupted are associated with numerous pathologies. Maintenance of normal methyl group and homocysteine homeostasis is dependent on the balance between: S-adenosylmethionine (SAM)-dependent transmethylation, which utilizes methyl groups and produces homocysteine; remethylation of homocysteine back to methionine by folate-dependent and -independent mechanisms; and homocysteine catabolism via the transsulfuration pathway. Recent studies have demonstrated that hormonal imbalance is a factor in the control of key proteins that regulate these pathways. A diabetic state is characterized by increased expression of specific methyltransferases that utilize SAM-derived methyl groups and produce homocysteine. Although the supply of methyl groups from the folate-dependent 1-carbon pool appears to be diminished under diabetic conditions, the increased production of homocysteine is compensated for by stimulation of folate-independent remethylation and catabolism by transsulfuration, resulting in hypohomocysteinemia. Similar changes have been observed with glucocorticoid administration and in a growth hormone-deficient model, which can be prevented by insulin and growth hormone treatment, respectively. Taken together, these reports clearly indicate that hormonal regulation is a major factor in the metabolic control of folate, methyl groups, and homocysteine, thereby providing a potential link between the pathologies associated with these pathways and hormonal imbalance.
UNUSUAL EARTHQUAKES IN THE GULF OF ALASKA AND FRAGMENTATION OF THE PACIFIC PLATE

Two recent Ms 7.6 strike-slip earthquakes in the northern Gulf of Alaska ruptured a composite 250-km-long north-striking zone in the Pacific plate. These shocks are attributed to a combination of enhanced tensional stress in the Pacific plate seaward of and following the great (Mw 9.2) Alaska earthquake of 1964, and compressional stress resulting from collision of the Yakutat terrane with North America. The occurrence of these shocks reflects fragmentation of the northeast corner of the Pacific plate, possibly the initial step in establishing a new plate boundary seaward of the current boundary.
A Pragmatic PHY Abstraction Technique for Link Adaptation and MIMO Switching

MIMO (multiple input multiple output) techniques are widely employed to improve the performance of wireless systems. These techniques are used to overcome multipath fading and/or improve the peak throughput of wireless systems. It is well known that there is a fundamental tradeoff between diversity gain and multiplexing gain [1]. Orthogonal space time codes such as the Alamouti code (also known as space time block codes (STBC)) exploit multiple antennas as a diversity source, and thus improve packet error rate (PER) and the average throughput. However, space time block codes are not designed to increase the peak data rate of the system. On the other hand, spatial multiplexing (SM) techniques offer higher peak throughput by transmitting parallel streams of data from different antennas. In order to successfully decode the parallel streams, the channel must exhibit a small eigenvalue spread. Otherwise, the streams will interfere with one another and it is difficult to decode the information data. The performance improvement from SM is therefore highly dependent on the channel characteristics. It is possible to use multiple encoders and rate control per layer to improve the SM performance. However, there are instances of channel where STBC is more beneficial than SM with a single encoder. In order to resolve the shortcomings of STBC and SM, a hybrid technique can be applied where depending on the instantaneous channel conditions either STBC or SM is selected. This technique is commonly referred to as adaptive MIMO switching (AMS) [5]-[11]. One important aspect of the technique is the switching criteria, namely the PHY abstraction method which estimates a packet error event as a function of the instantaneous channel condition, transmission profiles, and receiver characteristics. We show that the proposed algorithm outperforms other techniques such as determinant and Demmel condition number based techniques in flat fading channel. In selective fading channels where a codeword sees a finite number of multiple channel qualities, estimating the resulting PER is very challenging. Existing techniques rely on an estimate of the average of the channel qualities seen by each codeword. In this paper, we propose a PHY abstraction and switching algorithm hereby referred to by weighted sum of instantaneous qualities (WSIQ) whereby the channel qualities are ordered in order to reduce the variance of channel qualities and then a weighted sum of the qualities is applied. The weighting vector is chosen to minimize the variance of the linear sum. We have provided simulations to show the superiority of WSIQ even when channel statistics are unknown. In addition, computationally efficient techniques suited for practical implementation are proposed.
Knots which Behave Like the Prime Numbers

This paper establishes a version of the Chebotarev density theorem in which number fields are replaced by 3-manifolds.
Nanoscale impedance and complex properties in energy-related systems

Atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based impedance spectroscopy provides localized impedance information of materials and interfaces at the nanoscale by utilizing the conductive AFM tip as a moving electrode to detect current response as a function of time and frequency under controlled environments. This capability enables AFM-based nanoscale impedance measurements to play a unique role in enhancing our understanding of many electronic and electrochemical devices. This article introduces the central concepts of AFM-based impedance measurement and reviews recent examples applying this technique to a variety of functional materials systems, in particular focusing on fuel cells, lithium-ion batteries, photoactive biomembranes, as well as other application examples.
Collocation and Integration of Back-End Fuel Cycle Facilities with the Repository: Implications for Waste Forms

The organization of the fuel cycle is a legacy of World War II and the cold war. Fuel cycle facilities were developed and deployed without consideration of the waste management implications. This led to the fuel cycle model of an isolated single-purpose geological repository for disposal of wastes shipped from distant processing facilities. There is an alternative: collocation and integration of reprocessing and other backend facilities with the repository. Such an option alters waste form functional requirements by reducing storage and transport requirements. This, in turn, broadens the choice of waste forms by relaxing the incentives to minimize waste volumes. Waste forms can be chosen primarily on meeting two goals: repository performance and minimizing costs. Less restrictive waste volume constraints enable termination of safeguards on all wastes, enable use of solubility-limited waste forms, and reduce radiation damage as a waste form limitation. The implications of such changes in waste form requirements are discussed.
Diagnostic value of vena contracta area in the quantification of mitral regurgitation severity by color Doppler 3D echocardiography.

Background— Accurate quantification of mitral regurgitation (MR) is important for patient treatment and prognosis. Three-dimensional echocardiography allows for the direct measure of the regurgitant orifice area (ROA) by 3D-guided planimetry of the vena contracta area (VCA). We aimed to (1) establish 3D VCA ranges and cutoff values for MR grading, using the American Society of Echocardiography–recommended 2D integrative method as a reference, and (2) compare 2D and 3D methods of ROA to establish a common calibration for MR grading. Methods and Results— Eighty-three patients with at least mild MR underwent 2D and 3D echocardiography. Direct planimetry of VCA was performed by 3D echocardiography. Two-dimensional quantification of MR included 2D ROA by proximal isovelocity surface area (PISA) method, vena contracta width, and ratio of jet area to left atrial area. There were significant differences in 3D VCA among patients with different MR grades. As assessed by receiver operating characteristic analysis, 3D VCA at a best cutoff value of 0.41 cm2 yielded 97% of sensitivity and 82% of specificity to differentiate moderate from severe MR. There was significant difference between 2D ROA and 3D VCA in patients with functional MR, resulting in an underestimation of ROA by 2D PISA method by 27% as compared with 3D VCA. Multivariable regression analysis showed functional MR as etiology was the only predictor of underestimation of ROA by the 2D PISA method. Conclusions— Three-dimensional VCA provides a single, directly visualized, and reliable measurement of ROA, which classifies MR severity comparable to current clinical practice using the American Society of Echocardiography–recommended 2D integrative method. The 3D VCA method improves accuracy of MR grading compared with the 2D PISA method by eliminating geometric and flow assumptions, allowing for uniform clinical grading cutoffs and ranges that apply regardless of etiology and orifice shape.
Protective Effect of Methylcellulose and Other Polymers on Insect Cells Subjected to Laminar Shear Stress

The relative sensitivity of two insect cell lines to laminar shear stress was determined, and the protective effect of polymers added to the growth media of two insect cell lines, Trichoplusia ni (TN-368) and Spodoptera frugiperda (SF-9), was evaluated. TN-368 and SF-9 cells were found to be equally sensitive to laminar shear stress. Methylcellulose [0.5% (w/v) Dow E4M Methocel] and dextran [4.5% (w/v)] increased the resistance of suspended cells to lysis due to laminar shear stress by factors of up to 76 and 28, respectively, compared to cells in media without additives. It was observed that the protective effect of Pluronic F-68 was concentration-dependent: 0.2% and 0.3% (w/v) F-68 increased the resistance of SF-9 cells to shear stress by factors of 15 and 42, respectively. However, increasing the concentration to 0.5% did not significantly increase the cells' resistance compared to 0.3% (w/v). F-68 at 0.2% only increased the resistance of TN-368 cells by a factor of 6. It is believed that the protection is a result of the polymer adsorbing to the cell membrane. None of the polymer additives tested had a significant effect on SF-9 or TN-368 growth rate.
Peer influence and adolescent nonsuicidal self-injury: A theoretical review of mechanisms and moderators

Abstract Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is an increasingly prevalent health risk behavior among adolescents and represents a significant public health concern. Although researchers have identified numerous antecedents or risk factors that precede engagement in NSSI behaviors, few studies have examined the role of peer influence processes. Yet, recent research suggests that adolescents may be more likely to engage in NSSI when close friends or other peers engage in similar behaviors. The following paper reviews past research on peer influence effects, including potential mechanisms and moderating variables. Methodological considerations for future research on peer influence and NSSI are discussed.
DSP Based Implementation of Multi Fault Signature Monitoring

The reference frame theory constitutes an essential aspect of electric machine analysis and control. In this study, apart from the conventional applications, it is reported that the reference frame theory approach (RFTA) can successfully be applied to real time fault diagnosis of electric machinery systems as a powerful tool to find the magnitude and phase quantities of fault signatures with good precision. Although it is possible to run RFTA for each fault signature consecutively, orthogonal PN (Pseudo Noise) code is proposed as an alternative method to detect more than one fault simultaneously. As the physical facts explaining the incipient fault mechanisms are studied for a long time, the motor fault signature frequencies and fault models are very well-known. Therefore, ignoring all other components, the proposed method focuses only on certain fault signatures in the current spectrum depending on the examined motor fault. Broken rotor bar and eccentricity faults are experimentally tested employing the TMS320F2812 digital signal processor (DSP) to prove the effectiveness of the proposed method. In this application, only the readily available drive hardware is used without employing additional components such as analog filters, signal conditioning board, external sensors, etc. The motor drive on-board DSP is utilized both for motor control and fault detection purposes providing instantaneous fault information. Being a model independent fault analyzer, this method can be applied to all multi-phase and single phase motors.
Young Offenders: Early Intervention For Students With Behavioral And Emotional Disorders

The value of early intervention programs for children with delays and/or disabilities has been well accepted in the research. Providing appropriate special education services at an early age of detecting academic and behavioral/social problems has proven to be effective at eliminating or decreasing special services at a later age. This presentation will discuss the types of educational services provided to young offenders who are now incarcerated at a state prison. A description of 30 male inmates’ academic history will be provided and patterns regarding the history will be discussed.
Performance of differential modulation with wireless relays in Rayleigh fading channels

We propose a new amplify-and-forward scheme amenable to differential modulation for cooperative systems with wireless relays. We derive closed-form expressions of the probability density function (PDF) of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and average bit-error rate (BER) for the proposed scheme and the analytical results are confirmed with numerical simulations. An asymptotic analysis reveals that the proposed cooperative scheme with one relay offers a diversity order approaching two in Rayleigh fading channels as the average SNR increases.
Relating reactive solute transport to hierarchical and multiscale sedimentary architecture in a Lagrangian-based transport model: 1. Time-dependent effective retardation factor

This series of papers addresses the transport of reactive solutes in groundwater. In part 1, the time-dependent effective retardation factor, R∼eff(t), of reactive solutes undergoing equilibrium sorption is linked to hierarchical stratal architecture using a Lagrangian-based transport model. The model is based on hierarchical expressions of the spatial covariance of the log distribution coefficient, Ξ=ln⁡(Kd), and the spatial cross covariance between Ξ and the log permeability, Y=ln⁡(k). The spatial correlation structure in these covariance expressions is the probability of transitioning across strata types of different scales, and they are parameterized by independent and quantifiable physical attributes of sedimentary architecture including univariate statistics for Y, Ξ, and the proportions and lengths of facies. Nothing is assumed about Y- Ξ point correlation; it is allowed to differ by facies type. The duration of the time-dependent change in R∼eff(t) is a function of the effective ranges of the cross-transition probability structures (i.e., the ranges of indicator correlation structures) for each scale of stratal architecture. The plume velocity and the effective retardation stabilize at a large-time limit after the plume centroid has traveled a distance that encompasses the effective ranges of these cross-transition probability structures. The well-documented perchloroethene (PCE) tracer test at the Borden research site is used to illustrate the model. The model gives a viable explanation for the observed PCE plume deceleration, and thus the observed R∼eff(t) can be explained by the process of linear equilibrium sorption and the heterogeneity in k and Kd. In part 2 [Soltanian et al., 2015a], reactive plume dispersion, as quantified by the particle displacement variance is linked to stratal architecture using a Lagrangian-based transport model.
Regulatory T Cells Control Autoimmunity In Vivo by Inducing Apoptotic Depletion of Activated Pathogenic Lymphocytes

Clinical autoimmunity requires both activation of self-reactive T cells as well as a failure of peripheral tolerance mechanisms. We previously identified one such mechanism that involves regulatory T cells recognizing TCR Vβ8.2 chain-derived peptides in the context of MHC. How this regulation affects the fate of target Vβ8.2+ T lymphocytes in vivo that mediate experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis has remained unknown. The present study using immunoscope and CFSE-labeling analysis demonstrates that the expansion of regulatory CD4 and CD8 T cells in vivo results in apoptotic depletion of the dominant, myelin basic protein-reactive Vβ8.2+ T cells, but not subdominant Vβ13+ T cells. The elimination of only activated T cells by this negative feedback mechanism preserves the remainder of the naive Vβ8.2+ T cell repertoire and at the same time results in protection from disease. These studies are the first in clearly elucidating the fate of myelin basic protein-specific encephalitogenic T cells in vivo following regulation.
Vav2 Activates Rac1, Cdc42, and RhoA Downstream from Growth Factor Receptors but Not β1 Integrins

The Rho family of GTPases plays a major role in the organization of the actin cytoskeleton. These G proteins are activated by guanine nucleotide exchange factors that stimulate the exchange of bound GDP for GTP. In their GTP-bound state, these G proteins interact with downstream effectors. Vav2 is an exchange factor for Rho family GTPases. It is a ubiquitously expressed homologue of Vav1, and like Vav1, it has previously been shown to be activated by tyrosine phosphorylation. Because Vav1 becomes tyrosine phosphorylated and activated following integrin engagement in hematopoietic cells, we investigated the tyrosine phosphorylation of Vav2 in response to integrin-mediated adhesion in fibroblasts and epithelial cells. However, no tyrosine phosphorylation of Vav2 was detected in response to integrin engagement. In contrast, treating cells with either epidermal growth factor or platelet-derived growth factor stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of Vav2. We have examined the effects of overexpressing either wild-type or amino-terminally truncated (constitutively active) forms of Vav2 as fusion proteins with green fluorescent protein. Overexpression of either wild-type or constitutively active Vav2 resulted in prominent membrane ruffles and enhanced stress fibers. These cells revealed elevated rates of cell migration that were inhibited by expression of dominant negative forms of Rac1 and Cdc42. Using a binding assay to measure the activity of Rac1, Cdc42, and RhoA, we found that overexpression of Vav2 resulted in increased activity of each of these G proteins. Expression of a carboxy-terminal fragment of Vav2 decreased the elevation of Rac1 activity induced by epidermal growth factor, consistent with Vav2 mediating activation of Rac1 downstream from growth factor receptors.
Language Education Policy in Soviet Successor States

As early as 1989, even prior to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Soviet Republic states individually instituted language laws which legislated the official status of their titular languages. These laws provided the basis for their language policy in the time of their subsequent succession from the USSR and establishment as independent states. Although they differ in their particulars, each aims to develop and strengthen the use of the titular language in all forms of administration, government, and education. Most define Russian as a language of interethnic communication and regulate its position vis-a-vis the titular language.
Platelet — Vessel Wall Interactions in Individuals who Smoke Cigarettes

Sudden cardiac death is the most frequent cause of mortality in industrialized societies accounting for the majority of the over 325,000 smoking-related deaths each year in the United States1. The strong link between cigarette smoking and the platelet-modulated syndrome of sudden cardiac death2,3 implicates smoking as a cause of platelet activation. Consistent with this hypothesis of a direct activation of platelets is that platelet turnover appears to be accelerated in apparently healthy smokers4,5. However, an enhanced turnover of platelets may be the result of their increased clearance following membrane alterations after interaction with a damaged vasculature and conversely, thrombosis has been shown to occur in vivo without evidence of increased turnover6–8. Thus, an enhanced platelet turnover in smokers may not necessarily reflect a direct activation of platelets in vivo. In fact, ex vivo aggregation has been found to be either increased9,10, unchanged4,12–14 or significantly decreased15,16 in chronic smokers.
Model Reduction Techniques in Flexible Multibody Dynamics

In most applications of multibody dynamics, it is desirable to reduce the number of equations of motion in order to improve computational efficiency. This issue becomes even more important when the model contains deformable bodies. Therefore it would be desirable to reduce the number of the deformable body degrees-of-freedom without too much loss in the accuracy of the results. In this paper we present the equations of motion for a simple but general rigid-flexible multibody system. The equations are presented in a semi-abstract form in order to keep our focus on reduction techniques. We first discuss three different methods to attach a body frame to a moving deformable body. Then several model reduction techniques are reviewed and the advantages and disadvantages of each technique are briefly discussed.
Comparison of Reading and Spelling Strategies in Normal and Reading Disabled Children

This paper presents evidence concerning the strategies used in reading and spelling by normal and reading disabled children. In two previous studies, the authors have proposed a developmental theory of the changes in strategies in reading and spelling (Marsh, Friedman, Welch and Desberg, in press a and b). In these studies, the development of strategies of children who were reading and spelling at grade level were compared with strategies of children who were reading disabled. However, the comparisons were done on different subjects (second grade, fifth grade and college) in two separate studies using different materials. Evidence was obtained concerning the developmental sequence of reading and spelling strategies shown in Table 1.
Why it is crucial to analyze non clonal chromosome aberrations or NCCAs

Current cytogenetics has largely focused its efforts on the identification of recurrent karyotypic alterations, also known as clonal chromosomal aberrations (CCAs). The rationale of doing so seems simple: recurrent genetic changes are relevant for diseases or specific physiological conditions, while non clonal chromosome aberrations (NCCAs) are insignificant genetic background or noise. However, in reality, the vast majority of chromosomal alterations are NCCAs, and it is challenging to identify commonly shared CCAs in most solid tumors. Furthermore, the karyotype, rather than genes, represents the system inheritance, or blueprint, and each NCCA represents an altered genome system. These realizations underscore the importance of the re-evaluation of NCCAs in cytogenetic analyses. In this concept article, we briefly review the definition of NCCAs, some historical misconceptions about them, and why NCCAs are not insignificant “noise,” but rather a highly significant feature of the cellular population for providing genome heterogeneity and complexity, representing one important form of fuzzy inheritance. The frequencies of NCCAs also represent an index to measure both internally- and environmentally-induced genome instability. Additionally, the NCCA/CCA cycle is associated with macro- and micro-cellular evolution. Lastly, elevated NCCAs are observed in many disease/illness conditions. Considering all of these factors, we call for the immediate action of studying and reporting NCCAs. Specifically, effort is needed to characterize and compare different types of NCCAs, to define their baseline in various tissues, to develop methods to access mitotic cells, to re-examine/interpret the NCCAs data, and to develop an NCCA database.
Standard methods for wax moth research

SummaryGreater (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae, Galleria mellonella) and Lesser (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae, Achroia grisella) wax moths are ubiquitous pests of honey bee colonies globally. The economic importance of wax moths has led to a number of investigations on wax moth life history, biology, behaviour, ecology, molecular biology, physiology, and control. Despite the importance of wax moths to the apicultural industry, they are investigated considerably more as a model organism for studies in insect physiology, genomics, proteomics, etc. Those studying wax moths from an apicultural perspective typically use only a small number of the total available research methods outlined in the literature. Herein, we describe methods associated with wax moth research that we feel are important from an apicultural research perspective. Ultimately, we hope that this paper will revitalize research on wax moths, since they remain both an important honey bee colony pest and an interesting colony symbiont.
A Hadamard Transform Approach Towards Robust Fluorescence Molecular Tomography

Inspired by Hadamard multiplexing technique, a method is proposed to improve noise robustness and minimize estimation error in fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT). Theoretical results are validated by numerical studies of 2-D simulated FMT data.
A Survey of Accounting Majors: Attitudes and Opinions

A survey of 100 advanced accounting students was conducted to determine the opinions of accounting majors regarding such areas as why students choose accounting as a major, courses students felt were important and unimportant, and expectations regarding work and salary. The Key findings include: (1) A significant proportion of students decide on accounting as a major while still in high school; (2) Accounting is selected as a major because students feel that it will lead to a job with good income potential; and (3) Only 32% of accounting majors definitely expect to be working in accounting ten years after they graduate.
Preservation Effects of Coating on Green Pepper at Room Temperature

Konjac glucomannan and chitosan were compounded to make a preservative coating agent for green pepper based on the fact that a film can be formed from them under proper conditions. The preservation effects of proportions of chitosan and konjac glucomannan, amount of added calcium and other factors on fresh green peppers were investigated by single-factor experiments and orthogonal array design. The optimal formula of the coating agent consisted of chitosan 1.5%, konjac glucomannan 0.4%, calcium chloride 2.0%, and glycerin 1% at pH 5.4. When compared with the control samples, the weight loss rate of coated green peppers declined significantly during storage at room temperature, and the hardness and the contents of chlorophyll, soluble solid, organic acid and vitamin C went up, indicating that the coating agent was conducive to prolonging the preservation period of green peppers.
Density-Dependent Interaction–Diffusion Systems

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on density-dependent interaction-diffusion systems and discusses some consequences of nonlinearity in the diffusion process. The equation governing gas flow in a porous medium is a nonlinear diffusion equation without any reaction terms. Gurtin–MacCamy population model combines the porous medium flow mechanism with various nonlinear growth terms. In porous medium flow, there is a finite speed of propagation of disturbances from rest. In the predator–prey interaction system, the tendency of each species to migrate can depend on the local densities of both species. Density-dependent migration behavior can be seen in spatially distributed predator–prey interactions, for example, some insect predators can tend to stay in the vicinity of their last meal, at least for some time.
Effect of Localized and Resonant Modes on Energy-Gap Function and Transition Temperature of Isotropic Superconductors

In the contemporary theory of superconductivity two important parameters, namely the pair-breaking energy Δ and the transition temperature Tc depend on the electron-phonon interaction α2(ω)g(ω).(1) The function g(ω) is the phonon density of states and α2(ω) is the interaction parameter depending on the energy ω of a phonon participating in an el-ph interaction. Furthermore, the energy gap function Δ(ω) and Tc depend on the direct Coulomb interaction between two electrons. The question arises: “How do light or heavy impurity atoms, giving rise to localized or resonant modes,(2) respectively, affect Δ(ω) and Tc of an isotropic superconductor?” Whereas impurities affect the shape of Δ(ω) according to the modified phonon density of states and the electron-impurity mode interaction, the effect on Tc is gross property of the impure superconductor depending on a well-defined frequency average over the gap function of the host lattice and the frequency dependent electron-impurity mode interaction. The change of Δ(ω) and Tc caused by this interaction and by the modification of the electronic structure, is denoted as valence effect. It is linear in the impurity concentration and has its origin in a small but basic change of the electronic and dynamic properties of the lattice. The mean-free-path effect, arising from elastic impurity scattering, will not be considered here.(3) It has been shown by Tsuneto(4) that elastic impurity scattering initself does not affect the energy-gap function found from the Eliashberg gap-equation for an isotropic superconductor.
Photorefractive Optical Interconnects

A wide range of optical interconnection schemes using photorefractive holograms has been proposed and demonstrated worldwide. This chapter provides an overview of this new technology and discusses some of the highlights achieved and the technical challenges ahead. Optical interconnection can be classified in a variety of ways based on their functionality, architecture, network topology, or other features. The interconnection network can be either fixed or reconfigurable. The transmission medium can be either free-space or guided structures, such as optical fibers or waveguides. The distance involved can range from a few microns for intra-chip gate-to-gate interconnection to several kilometers for machine-to-machine interconnection, and thousands of kilometers in telecommunications. The interconnection can be either one-to-one or one-to-many. The latter can be further classified into nonselective broadcasting, in which the signal from one source is broadcast to all the receivers without any discrimination, versus selective broadcasting, in which the signal from each source is distributed to a few selected receivers. The chapter discusses the properties of photorefractive two-wave mixing, optical phase conjugation in photorefractive materials and interconnections based on passive holographic storage in photorefractive media.
Lateral drift of reinforced concrete structures subjected to strong ground motion

A simplified method is described for estimating lateral drift of reinforced concrete structures subjected to strong earthquake motion. The method is modeled after spectral-response analysis with simplifications based on observed characteristics of nonlinear dynamic response of reinforced concrete structures. Its application is limited to the types of structures and ground motions considered in its development. However, the method can be readily calibrated for other types of structures or modified for different foundation conditions.
Role of Scavenger Receptors in Immune Recognition and Targeting of Nanoparticles

With the recent rapid advances in nanotechnology, nanomedicine has become an emerging field that aims to utilize various nanoparticles (NPs) with unique properties to improve disease diagnostics and drug delivery. Notwithstanding the advances made in NP engineering, most of the currently available NPs are not ready for clinical trials. The first major barrier that NPs encounter after entering the body is the innate immune system. Before reaching the target sites, NPs are readily cleared by macrophages in the liver and spleen. To overcome the rapid body clearance and minimize the immune recognition of NPs using different chemical or physical surface modifications, the mechanisms of NP interaction with the immune system must be understood. In this chapter, an overview and discussion are provided of the role of scavenger receptors (SRs) as an important part of the innate immune response. The use of SRs as markers for selective targeting to various cells is also discussed. A better understanding of the innate immunity response and immune recognition will be crucial for improving NP design for medical applications. Keywords: nanotechnology; nanomedicine; nanoparticles; scavenger receptors; clearance; macrophages
Abstract 11616: Effect of a Lifestyle Weight Loss Intervention on Visceral Fat and Glycemic Control Among Individuals With and Without Type 2 Diabetes

Background: Though a high amount of visceral fat is associated with insulin resistance, which can lead to type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), less is known about whether lifes...
Ischemic Monomelic Neuropathy

This chapter discusses a diabetic female patient who had a left brachial-cephalic arteriovenous fistula (AVF) created. Immediately after surgery, the patient experienced severe hand and partial paralysis of the intrinsic muscles of her hand. She has continued to have this disability and is now being considered for a new access.
High-Level Disinfection of Otorhinolaryngology Clinical Instruments: An Evaluation of the Efficacy and Cost-effectiveness of Instrument Storage.

Objectives Despite increasing interest in individual instrument storage, risk of bacterial cross-contamination of otorhinolaryngology clinic instruments has not been assessed. This study is the first to determine the clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness of standard high-level disinfection and clinic instrument storage. Methods To assess for cross-contamination, surveillance cultures of otorhinolaryngology clinic instruments subject to standard high-level disinfection and storage were obtained at the start and end of the outpatient clinical workday. Rate of microorganism recovery was compared with cultures of instruments stored in individual peel packs and control cultures of contaminated instruments. Based on historical clinic data, the direct allocation method of cost accounting was used to determine aggregate raw material cost and additional labor hours required to process and restock peel-packed instruments. Results Among 150 cultures of standard high-level disinfected and co-located clinic instruments, 3 positive bacterial cultures occurred; 100% of control cultures were positive for bacterial species ( P 200 otorhinolaryngology clinic instruments, this study demonstrates that standard high-level disinfection and storage are equally efficacious to more time-consuming and expensive individual instrument storage protocols, such as peel packing, with regard to bacterial contamination. Implications for Practice Standard high-level disinfection and storage are equally effective to labor-intensive and costly individual instrument storage protocols.
Quantitation of N-acetyl-S-(9,10-dihydro-9-hydroxy-10-phenanthry)-L-cysteine (Phe-epoxide-NAC) in human urine: comparison with glutathione-S-transferase genotypes.

5666 Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are likely to play a major role in cancer induction in smokers and certain occupationally exposed groups. Humans vary widely in their abilities to metabolically activate or detoxify PAH, and these variations may be related to cancer risk. Many studies have examined the possible relationship between variants in genotypes of carcinogen metabolizing enzymes such as glutathione- S -transferases and cancer risk. Phenotyping may be a better way to determine inter-individual differences in PAH metabolism. Our laboratory has developed methods for analysis of phenanthrene metabolites in urine, as an approach to PAH metabolite phenotyping. Methods to measure metabolic activation by the diol epoxide pathway and detoxification by phenol formation have already been published. In this study, we developed a method to quantify Phe-epoxide-NAC, the urinary meracapturic acid end-product of glutathione conjugation of phenanthrene-9,10-epoxide, and compared levels of this metabolite to variants in glutathione- S -transferase genotypes. [D 10 ]Phe-epoxide-NAC was used as internal standard. Urine samples were purified by passage through cation exchange, anion exchange, and reverse phase solid phase extraction cartridges. Analysis and quantitation was achieved using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry with selected reaction monitoring, in the negative ion chemical ionization mode. The transition m/z 356 (M − 1) − → m/z 209 [M − (H 2 O+ CH 2 CH(COOH)NHCOCH 3 )] was monitored. Clean peaks corresponding to two diastereomers of Phe-epoxide-NAC were observed in 15 urine samples while none were detected in another 17. Levels of this metabolite varied from not detected ( GSTM1 present than in GSTM1 null individuals (15.8 ± 30.1, N = 22). Levels of this metabolite were also higher in individuals with both GSTM1 and GSTT1 present than in those with both GSTM1 and GSTT1 null. These results suggest that GSTM1 and GSTT1 presence or absence do affect levels of PAH detoxification through the mercapturic acid pathway. This is the first report of quantitation of a PAH mercapturic acid in human urine thus allowing a phenotype-genotype comparison for this important carcinogen detoxification pathway.
Abstract P322: Vasopressin Release is Enhanced Before the Development of Preeclampsia in Humans Despite Exaggerated Suppression of Plasma Osmolality

Plasma osmolality (Osm) suppression is of critical importance to maintain appropriate blood volume to perfuse the uterus during pregnancy. Osm is reduced starting at the fifth week of gestation via increased arginine vasopressin (AVP) secretion. This increased secretion is maintained via a decrease in the AVP/osmotic release threshold. We previously demonstrated that pregnant women who develop preeclampsia (PreE) exhibit exaggerated AVP secretion as early as the 6th week of gestation via measurement of copeptin, the stable C-terminal fragment of AVP. It is unclear whether AVP secretion is elevated before the onset of PreE due to osmotic or non-osmotic stimuli. We tested the hypothesis that elevated AVP secretion before PreE may be associated with elevated Osm (a strong stimulant of AVP secretion). Plasma and clinical data from pregnant women were obtained from the University of Iowa Maternal-Fetal Tissue Bank (IRB#200910784). Osm was measured using the freezing-point suppression technique. Osm was assessed in non-pregnant women (n=109), pregnant women who later developed PreE (n=12 for 7-12 weeks, n=9 for 16-24 weeks), and maternal and gestational age matched controls (n=25 for 6-13 weeks, n=15 for 14-27 weeks). As expected, Osm was decreased in control pregnancies (non-pregnant 291±1 vs pregnant 286±1 mOsm/kg, p nd trimester: PreE 277±4 vs control 285±3 mOsm/kg; effect of PreE p
Fifteen-Year Trends in Pediatric Liver Transplants: Split, Whole Deceased, and Living Donor Grafts.

Objective To evaluate changes in patient and graft survival for pediatric liver transplant recipients since 2002, and to determine if these outcomes vary by graft type (whole liver transplant, split liver transplant [SLT], and living donor liver transplant [LDLT]). Study design We evaluated patient and graft survival among pediatric liver-only transplant recipients the PELD/MELD system was implemented using the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients. Results From 2002-2009 to 2010-2015, survival for SLT at 30 days improved (94% vs 98%; P Conclusions In recent years, outcomes after the use of technical variant grafts are comparable with whole grafts, and may be superior for LDLT. Greater use of technical variant grafts might provide an opportunity to increase organ supply without compromising post-transplant outcomes.
Mechanical and Oral Antibiotic Bowel Preparation in the Era of Minimally Invasive Surgery and Enhanced Recovery.

Abstract Introduction: In the modern era of minimally invasive colorectal surgery and enhanced recovery pathways, the value of preoperative bowel preparation remains debated. In this review, we eva...