cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Why do placentas evolve? An evaluation of the life‐history facilitation hypothesis in the fish genus Poeciliopsis

Summary 1. The Northern Clade of the fish genus Poeciliopsis includes six closely related species, three of which lack placentas and three that have placentas but vary in the extent of post-fertilization provisioning. 2. We used this diversity to evaluate a series of hypotheses proposed in earlier publications concerning why the placenta has evolved. All hypotheses share the attribute of arguing that the placenta evolved to enhance the evolution of some other life-history trait, such as to reduce the age at maturation or to increase offspring size. We refer to these hypotheses collectively as ‘life-history facilitation hypotheses’. 3. A general way to evaluate the plausibility of such proposals is to ask whether the evolution of the placenta is predictably associated with the evolution of other components of the life history. 4. We evaluated such associations in two ways. First, we performed a multivariate analysis of life-history data for fish collected and preserved in nature. This analysis included 16 populations across all six species. Secondly, we performed a more complete quantification of the life histories of the laboratory descendents from five populations representing four species, then performed a similar multivariate analysis. The laboratory study added information about the timing of reproduction (age at maturity, frequency of reproduction). 5. Both analyses yielded similar results, which were that the evolution of increased placentation is correlated with the evolution of a smaller size at first reproduction, the production of fewer and smaller offspring per litter, but an increase in the number of litters that were developing simultaneously in the ovary (superfetation). Increased placentation is associated with progressively earlier ages at maturation and shorter intervals between the birth of successive litters of offspring. Overall, increased placentation was associated with an increase in the rate of production of offspring early in life. A peculiar attribute of placentation is that this increase in the rate of offspring production can be attained despite a simultaneous reduction in the proportional quantity of resources devoted to reproduction. 6. These trends support one of the life history facilitation hypotheses, which is that placentation facilitates earlier maturity and a higher rate of reproduction early in life. They also suggest a possible connection between the evolution of the placenta and the well-established theory of life-history evolution, since these same life history attributes are predicted to evolve in response to exposure to high extrinsic rates of adult mortality.
Jet-Surface Interaction Test: Flow Measurements Results

Modern aircraft design often puts the engine exhaust in close proximity to the airframe surfaces. Aircraft noise prediction tools must continue to develop in order to meet the challenges these aircraft present. The Jet-Surface Interaction Tests have been conducted to provide a comprehensive quality set of experimental data suitable for development and validation of these exhaust noise prediction methods. Flow measurements have been acquired using streamwise and cross-stream particle image velocimetry (PIV) and fluctuating surface pressure data acquired using flush mounted pressure transducers near the surface trailing edge. These data combined with previously reported far-field and phased array noise measurements represent the first step toward the experimental data base. These flow data are particularly applicable to development of noise prediction methods which rely on computational fluid dynamics to uncover the flow physics. A representative sample of the large flow data set acquired is presented here to show how a surface near a jet affects the turbulent kinetic energy in the plume, the spatial relationship between the jet plume and surface needed to generate surface trailing-edge noise, and differences between heated and unheated jet flows with respect to surfaces.
Design Optimization for Integrated Neural Recording Systems

Power and chip area are the most important parameters in designing a neural recording system in vivo. This paper reports a design methodology for an optimized integrated neural recording system. Electrode noise is considered in determining the ADC's resolution to prevent over-design of the ADC, which leads to unnecessary power consumption and chip area. The optimal transconductance and gain of the pre-amplifiers, which minimizes the power-area product of the amplifier, are mathematically derived. A numerical example using actual circuit parameters is shown to demonstrate the design methodology. A tradeoff between the power consumption of the system and the chip area in terms of the multiplexing ratio is investigated and the optimal number of channels per ADC is selected to achieve the minimum power-area product for the entire system. Following the proposed design methodology, a chip has been designed in 0.35 mum CMOS process, with the multiplexing ratio of 16:1, resulting in total chip area of 2.5 mm times 2.0 mm and power consumption of 5.3 mW from plusmn1.65 V.
Diffusion of small molecular weight drugs in radiation-crosslinked poly(ethylene oxide) hydrogels

Abstract Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) hydrogels were formed by crosslinking of aqueous PEO solutions of M n = 35 000 , 900 000 and 5 000 000 in concentrations of 5–50% using γ-irradiation with 3–10 Mrad. The hydrogels were characterized by equilibrium swelling experiments. The average interjunction molecular weight, M c, varied from 3500 to 32 000, whereas the mesh size, ξ, varied from 120 to 550 A. The mesh size decreased with increased polymer molecular weight and solution concentration. Theophylline diffusion studies were performed through membranes equilibrium swollen in water at 37 ± 1°C using a side-by-side diffusion cell apparatus. The effective diffusion and partition coefficients of each membrane were determined. The partition coefficients decreased with increasing concentration of PEO. The effective diffusion coefficients of small molecular weight solutes did not depend on mesh size as the Lustig-Peppas theory would predict indicating that in PEO hydrogels, small molecular weight solute transport is not affected by the degree of crosslinking, but rather by the equilibrium swelling ratio.
A homogeneity correction method for magnetic resonance imaging with time-varying gradients

When time-varying gradients are used for imaging, the off-resonance behavior does not just cause geometric distortion as is the case with spin-warp imaging, but changes the shape of the impulse response and causes blurring. This effect is well known for projection reconstruction and spiral k-space scanning sequences. The authors introduce a reconstruction and homogeneity correction method to correct for the zeroth order effects of inhomogeneity using prior knowledge of the inhomogeneity. In this method, the data are segmented according to collection time, reconstructed using some fast, linear algorithm, correlated for inhomogeneity, and then superimposed to yield a homogeneity corrected image. This segmented method is compared to a conjugate phase reconstruction in terms of degree of correction and execution time. The authors apply this method to in vivo images using projection-reconstruction and spiral-scan sequences. >
What is wrong with teaching to the test: Uncertainty techniques help in understanding (and hopefully resolving) the controversy

In the USA, in the last decade, standards have been adapted for each grade level. These standards are annually checked by state-wide tests. The results of these tests often determine the school's funding and even the school's future existence. Due to this importance, a large amount of time is spent on teaching to the tests. Most teachers believe that this testing approach is detrimental to student education. This belief seems to be empirically supported by the fact that so far, the testing approach has not led to spectacular improvements promised by its proponents. While this empirical evidence is reasonably convincing, the teacher community has not yet fully succeeded in clearly explaining their position to the general public — because the opposing argument (of the need for accountability) also seems to be reasonably convincing. In this paper, we show that the situation becomes much clearer if we take uncertainty into account — and that, hopefully, a proper use of uncertainty can help in resolving this situation.
The Effect of Donor/Acceptor Nature of Interface Traps on Ge MOSFET Characteristics

In this paper, the acceptor and donor nature of interface traps are investigated using conductance and interface trap time constant measurements on Ge n- and p-type metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (N-and PMOSFETs). The presence of acceptor-type interface trap states in the valence-band side of Ge band gap is confirmed by these measurements. Electron trapping by the acceptor-type interface states and their effect on Ge N- and PMOS performance are discussed. The high density of the acceptor-type interface traps found to be degrading Ge NMOSFET performance, while it is not a concern for Ge PMOSFETs because of the position of charge neutrality level in Ge. Trapped charge calculations show that reducing the interface trap density by the ozone oxidation mitigates the electron trapping by the acceptor-type traps, which otherwise degrade Ge NMOSFET performance. By engineering the gate dielectric interface of Ge NMOSFETs, 40% improvement in inversion electron mobility is reported. Improvement of 2.5× over universal hole mobility is achieved for Ge PMOSFETs.
Efficient epidemic-style protocols for reliable and scalable multicast

Epidemic-style (gossip-based) techniques have recently emerged as a scalable class of protocols for peer-to-peer reliable multicast dissemination in large process groups. These protocols provide probabilistic guarantees on reliability and scalability. However, popular implementations of epidemic-style dissemination are reputed to suffer from two major drawbacks: (a) (Network Overhead) when deployed on a WAN-wide or VPN-wide scale they generate a large number of packets that transit across the boundaries of multiple network domains (e.g., LANs, subnets, ASs), causing an overload on core network elements such as bridges, routers, and associated links; (b) (Lack of Adaptivity) they impose the same load on process group members and the network even under reduced failure rates (viz., packet losses, process failures). lit this paper we report on the (first) comprehensive set of solutions to these problems. The solution is comprised of two protocols: (1) a hierarchical gossiping protocol, and (2) an adaptive multicast dissemination framework that allows use of any gossiping primitive within it. These protocols work within a virtual peer-to-peer hierarchy called the Leaf Box hierarchy. Processes can be allocated in a topologically aware manner to the leaf boxes of this structure, so that (1) and (2) produce low traffic across domain boundaries in the network. In the interests of space, this paper focuses on a detailed discussion and evaluation (through simulations) of only the hierarchical gossiping protocol. We present an overview of the adaptive dissemination protocol and its properties.
Reconstruction of the Penis

A 15-year-old boy was involved in a motor vehicle accident which threw him from the car. The car partially rolled onto the victim, bringing the hot muffler to rest against the waist and thighs of the young man. As a result, the patient suffered full-thickness burns to the genital region, abdomen, and anterior thighs. There were no significant visceral or bony injuries.
Mitochondrial Signaling: Forwards, Backwards, and In Between

Mitochondria are semiautonomous organelles that are a defining characteristic of almost all eukaryotic cells. They are vital for energy production, but increasing evidence shows that they play important roles in a wide range of cellular signaling and homeostasis. Our understanding of nuclear control of mitochondrial function has expanded over the past half century with the discovery of multiple transcription factors and cofactors governing mitochondrial biogenesis. More recently, nuclear changes in response to mitochondrial messaging have led to characterization of retrograde mitochondrial signaling, in which mitochondria have the ability to alter nuclear gene expression. Mitochondria are also integral to other components of stress response or quality control including ROS signaling, unfolded protein response, mitochondrial autophagy, and biogenesis. These avenues of mitochondrial signaling are discussed in this review.
A hierarchical pipelining architecture and FPGA implementation for lifting-based 2-D DWT

Numerous VLSI architectures for 2-D discrete wavelet transform (DWT) have been brought forward. While most of the designs displayed good performance through parallel processing, few of them addressed thoroughly how to sustain such high throughput computing which is crucial in real-time applications. Although the affordable data transfer bandwidth has been increased tremendously during the past decade, the pressure on data communication has not yet been relieved from stream-intensive applications. The design of 2-D DWT belongs to such cases. In this paper, we expose the performance gap between the computing core and the entire system, distinguishing them by quantitative approach with metrics of peak performance and mean-time performance. In order to narrow down the discrepancy without degrading either of the two criteria, on the one hand, we introduce a software-pipelining lifting-based computing kernel to remove data dependence for peak performance, on the other hand, we apply loop fusing technique and a hierarchical pipelining method to enhance data locality and boost the mean-time performance. The architecture has been implemented in Xilinx Virtex-II FPGA, taking advantage of Virtex-II’s embedded multipliers and block RAMs. We use Daubechies (9, 7) and LeGall (5, 3) filters (the default lossy and lossless filters in JPEG2000) for illustration whereas it is a general method for other DWT filters. The post-place and routing operation frequency for Daubechies (9, 7) is 138 MHz. Notably, the mean-time performance parameterized by image size and decomposition level achieves closely to peak performance.
Dendritic hold and read: a gated mechanism for short term information storage and retrieval.

Two contrasting theories have been proposed to explain the mechanistic basis of short term memory. One theory posits that short term memory is represented by persistent neural activity supported by reverberating feedback networks. An alternate, more recent theory posits that short term memory can be supported by feedforward networks. While feedback driven memory can be implemented by well described mechanisms of synaptic plasticity, little is known of possible molecular and cellular mechanisms that can implement feedforward driven memory. Here we report such a mechanism in which the memory trace exists in the form of glutamate-bound but Mg2+-blocked NMDA receptors on the thin terminal dendrites of CA1 pyramidal neurons. Because glutamate dissociates from subsets of NMDA receptors very slowly, excitatory synaptic transmission can leave a silent residual trace that outlasts the electrical activity by hundreds of milliseconds. Read-out of the memory trace is possible if a critical level of these bound-but-blocked receptors accumulates on a dendritic branch that will allow these quasi-stable receptors to sustain a regenerative depolarization when triggered by an independent gating signal. This process is referred to here as dendritic hold and read (DHR). Because the read-out of the input is not dependent on repetition of the input and information flows in a single-pass manner, DHR can potentially support a feedforward memory architecture.
Impact Testing of Stainless Steel Materials

Stainless steels are used for the construction of numerous spent nuclear fuel or radioactive material containers that may be subjected to high strains and moderate strain rates (10 to 200 per second) during accidental drop events. Mechanical characteristics of these materials under dynamic (impact) loads in the strain rate range of concern are not well documented. The goal of the work presented in this paper was to improve understanding of moderate strain rate phenomena on these materials. Utilizing a drop-weight impact test machine and relatively large test specimens (1/2-inch thick), initial test efforts focused on the tensile behavior of specific stainless steel materials during impact loading. Impact tests of 304L and 316L stainless steel test specimens at two different strain rates, 25 per second (304L and 316L material) and 50 per second (304L material) were performed for comparison to their quasi-static tensile test properties. Elevated strain rate stress-strain curves for the two materials were determined using the impact test machine and a “total impact energy” approach. This approach considered the deformation energy required to strain the specimens at a given strain rate. The material data developed was then utilized in analytical simulations to validate the final elevated stress-strain curves. The procedures used during testing and the results obtained are described in this paper.
A review of targeted ultraviolet B phototherapy for psoriasis

Targeted ultraviolet (UV) B phototherapy devices provide a practical means to treat localized psoriasis while sparing harmful effects to unaffected skin. The objective of this study was to characterize the efficacy and safety of targeted phototherapy devices for psoriasis. We conducted a PubMed search for broadband UVB, narrowband UVB, and localized phototherapy, and a Google search for handheld phototherapy. The most common targeted phototherapy devices were characterized as 308-nm excimer laser, 308-nm excimer nonlaser, or nonexcimer light subtypes. Nine clinical trials met inclusion criteria and all found targeted phototherapy efficacious. In a nonexcimer light study, high doses cleared the most plaques. The 308-nm excimer laser had long-term clearance in 13 of 26 patients. The mean number of UVB treatments in all 9 studies and highest cumulative dose was less than those same parameters in nontargeted phototherapies. Common adverse effects included erythema, blisters, hyperpigmentation, erosion, mild burning, and itching. The predominant setting for excimer units is the office; however, the majority of nonexcimer light devices can also be used at home. Targeted phototherapy should be considered among the treatment options for localized variants of psoriasis.
Ecosystem services: Challenges and opportunities for hydrologic modeling to support decision making

Ecosystem characteristics and processes provide significant value to human health and well-being, and there is growing interest in quantifying those values. Of particular interest are water-related ecosystem services and the incorporation of their value into local and regional decision making. This presents multiple challenges and opportunities to the hydrologic-modeling community. To motivate advances in water-resources research, we first present three common decision contexts that draw upon an ecosystem-service framework: scenario analysis, payments for watershed services, and spatial planning. Within these contexts, we highlight the particular challenges to hydrologic modeling, and then present a set of opportunities that arise from ecosystem-service decisions. The paper concludes with a set of recommendations regarding how we can prioritize our work to support decisions based on ecosystem-service valuation.
Co-inheritance of the polymorphic metabolism of encainide and debrisoquin

O-demethylation of the investigational antiarrhythmic encainide was found to be correlated with the genetically determined hydroxylation of debrisoquin in 20 randomly selected and unrelated subjects and in five members of one family. Extensive metabolizers of debrisoquin had a mean (+/- SD) encainide elimination t1/2 of 1.19 +/- 0.98 hours (range 0.25 to 3.4 hours). Poor metabolizers of debrisoquin (two normal subjects and three family members) had a mean t1/2 of 13.2 +/- 0.73 hours (range 7.8 to 22.4 hours). The elimination rate constant of encainide and the fractional excretion of O-desmethyl encainide in urine were linearly related to the fractional urinary excretion of 4-hydroxy-debrisoquin. Poor metabolizers could be identified after a 50 mg dose of encainide by the fractional excretion of O-desmethyl encainide in urine or the absence of (1) measurable ECG changes or (2) O-desmethyl encainide in plasma. The correlation between excretion of O-desmethyl encainide and 4-hydroxy-debrisoquin suggests that significant numbers of the caucasian population (7% to 9%) are likely to be poor metabolizers of encainide and to have markedly different pharmacokinetics and plasma concentration-response relationships than extensive metabolizers.
Food choice from endemic North Carolina tree species by captive prosimians (Lemur fulvus).

Seven captive-born lemurs (Lemur fulvus) at the Duke University Primate Center were presented with leaves of different maturity from five species of North Carolina trees. The animals demonstrated three distinct behaviors toward the novel plant material. They sniffed, tasted, and/or ingested it. New leaves were sniffed, but little tasting and ingestion was observed. Intermediate pine needles were sniffed and ingested but little tasted. Mature leaves were sniffed equally, but the mature leaves of tulip trees and honeysuckle were tasted significantly more than pine, sweetgum, and red maple. Pine, sweetgum, and red maple were ingested significantly more than tulip trees and honeysuckle. Male lemurs ate significantly more mature pine needles and new sweetgum leaves than did the females. Chemical analysis of these plant materials indicated that the new and mature leaves of tulip tree and honeysuckle contained alkaloids. Captive-born lemurs apparently use their sense of smell and taste in choosing what to eat and seem just as capable as free-ranging animals in finding food when faced with the chemical defenses that protect trees from insect predation.
Moss tasiRNAs Make the Auxin Network Robust

The TAS3 tasiRNA pathway has been coopted to regulate diverse developmental processes in plants. In this issue of Developmental Cell, Plavskin et al. (2016) explore the role of the pathway in the moss Physcomitrella patens. Their results suggest that frequent cooption may be related to unique qualities of tasiRNA-mediated regulation.
Supracondylar osteotomy for the treatment of cubitus varus in children: a systematic review.

Cubitus varus is the most frequent complication following the treatment of supracondylar humeral fractures in children. We investigated data from publications reporting on the surgical management of cubitus varus found in electronic searches of Ovid/MEDLINE and Cochrane Library databases. In 894 children from 40 included studies, the mean age at initial injury was 5.7 years (3 to 8.6) and 9.8 years (4 to 15.7) at the time of secondary correction. The four osteotomy techniques were classified as lateral closing wedge, dome, complex (multiplanar) and distraction osteogenesis. A mean angular correction of 27.6o (18.5° to 37.0°) was achieved across all classes of osteotomy. The meta-analytical summary estimate for overall rate of good to excellent results was 87.8% (95% CI 84.4 to 91.2). No technique was shown to significantly affect the surgical outcome, and the risk of complications across all osteotomy classes was 14.5% (95% CI 10.6 to 18.5). Nerve palsies occurred in 2.53% of cases (95% CI 1.4 to 3.6), although 78.4% were transient. No one technique was found to be statistically safer or more effective than any other. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014;96-B:691–700.
Gazella granti (Grant’s gazelle)

Skin biopsies of the male were donated by Mr. Dennis Meritt, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, Illinois, USA, and that of the female, from the San Diego Zoo, San Diego, California, USA. The male karyotype is prepared with G-banding. All chromosomes are readily distinguishable. One acrocentric autosome is fused to one arm of the X. In another nomenclature system this autosome would be referred to as Y1 and the Y as Y2.
Transocular ultrasound measurement of the optic nerve sheath diameter can identify elevated intracranial pressure in trauma patients

BackgroundPrompt identification of elevated intracranial pressure (eICP) is life-saving. Physical exam alone often fails to identify this problem and invasive monitoring is not always utilized appr...
Cyclic nucleotides, adenylate cyclase, and cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase in mammary glands from pregnant and lactating mice.

Levels of cyclic AMP were determined in mammary gland tissue from pregnant and lactating mice. Levels of cyclic AMP increased during pregnancy and then dropped sharply following parturition. Conversely cyclic GMP fell during pregnancy and then increased rapidly during the 1st few days of lactation. The activities of adenylate cyclase and cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase were elevated during pregnancy and lactation.
The Longitudinal Impact of Parent Distress and Behavior on Functional Outcomes Among Youth With Chronic Pain.

Abstract Accumulating evidence supports the concurrent association between parent distress and behavior and child functioning in the context of chronic pain, with existing longitudinal studies limited to a pediatric surgical context that identify parent catastrophizing as influential. In this study, we examined how parent factors assessed at a multidisciplinary pediatric pain clinic evaluation affect child psychological and functional outcomes over time. A cohort of 195 patients with chronic pain (ages 8–17 years) and their parents who presented for a multidisciplinary evaluation completed measures at baseline and at 4-month follow-up. Patients completed measures of pain catastrophizing, pain-related fear and avoidance, generalized anxiety, depressive symptoms, and functional disability. Parents completed measures of pain catastrophizing, pain-related fear and avoidance, and protective responses to child pain. Parent-reported child school functioning was also collected. Parent distress and behavior was concurrently associated with child distress and functioning at evaluation. After controlling for baseline child functioning, baseline parent avoidance and protective behavior emerged as significant predictors of child functioning at 4-month follow-up. Parent distress and behavior influence child distress and functioning over time and these findings identify key parent domains to target in the context of a child's pain treatment. Perspective Parent behavior, specifically avoidance and protective responses, influence child distress and functioning over time. Child pain treatment interventions should include influential parent factors to ensure successful outcomes.
Alfalfa Harvest Strategy Effect on Lygus Bug (Hemiptera: Miridae) and Insect Predator Population Density: Implications for Use as Trap Crop in Cotton

Lygus bug, Lygus hesperus Knight, and beneficial insect populations ( Orius sp., Geocoris spp., and Nabis spp.) were quantified in alfalfa strips, which were interplanted within cotton fields. The propensity of alfalfa strips to retain lygus bugs, thereby keeping them out of cotton, and the utility of alfalfa strips as a reservoir for beneficial insects were evaluated from May to August in 1990 and 1991. The following three alfalfa cutting strategies were examined: (1) uncut alfalfa, (2) a 28-d strip-cut treatment, and (3) a 35-d strip-cut treatment. Insect populations were quantified in both the newer alfalfa growth and the older alfalfa growth of the strip-cut treatments. Lygus bug densities were significantly higher in the uncut treatment than in the other treatments, peaking at 520 per 1.9 m2 in 1990 and 350 per 1.9 m2 in 1991. Lygus bug levels in the strip-cut treatments were low in the newer alfalfa growth (averaging 41.8 per 1.9 m2) and only slightly higher in the older alfalfa growth of the 28-d strip-cut treatment (averaging 65.3 per 1.9 m2). Populations were relatively constant within these three treatments throughout the season. However, in the older growth of the 35-d cutting regime, Lygus bug populations averaged 103 per 1.9 m2. Densities of beneficial insects were also higher in the uncut than the strip-cut treatments, but the higher predator densities apparently did not offset the high Lygus bug population increase. The uncut treatment also lacked Lygus bug egg and nymphal mortality from the alfalfa cutting as compared with the strip-cut treatments. The less frequent cutting, in the 35-d compared with the 28-d treatment, probably also allowed for a buildup of the Lygus bug population. Lygus bug instar distribution, sex, and predator species were also examined in these treatments. It appears that to optimize Lygus bug management, while still producing high densities of predacious insects, strip-cut alfalfa should be used and cut on a 28-d schedule.
Exposing Turkeys by Various Routes to an Avirulent and Virulent Strains of Pasteurella multocida

Abstract In three separate experiments, an avirulent Pasteurella multocida vaccine was administered to separate groups of turkeys by the following routes: ocular (conjunctival sac), nostril, palatine cleft, oral, drinking water, cloacal, intradermal, feather follicle and wing web. All groups were challenged with a virulent P-1059 P. multocida strain 2 to 5 weeks post vaccination. Under the conditions of these experiments, the results suggest that a favorable immunogenic response of some kind occurred in all groups except those vaccinated by the nostril and cloacal routes. In the latter two groups there was little or no evidence of a favorable response. Turkeys vaccinated by the stick-wing-web method exhibited an excellent immunogenic response, but a large cheesy mass at the site of vaccination would probably result in condemnation of the vaccinated wing areas of some turkeys at the time of slaughter. This method uses little vaccine, is accurate, easy and rapid and, presumably, may have an application in nations where edible food of any kind is a primary objective. In a fourth experiment, the virulent P-1059 challenge strain mentioned above was used as the vaccinating agent and was administered to separate groups of turkeys by the same various routes mentioned in the foregoing. One hundred percent of the turkeys exposed by the feather follicle route were dead within 48 hours and 90% to 100% of the groups exposed by the ocular, palatine cleft, intradermal and stick-wing-web routes were dead by the fourth day. The lowest mortality during a given number of days was in the groups exposed by the nostril and cloacal routes. Under the conditions of the fourth experiment, the results suggest that the eye is a possible route of infection under natural conditions, and that scratches and puncture wounds to the skin and crushed feather follicles, when accompanied by virulent P. multocida containing material, may possibly serve as portals of entry.
Topology Optimization for Smart Stiffening of Thermally Constrained Structures

Thermo-elastic shells have long played an important role in high temperature structural applications. For example, high temperatures are generated on the outer-mold line (OML) of high speed aircraft due to aerodynamic heating effects as well as engine exhaust impingement. The OML is typically comprised of thin, plane-stress shells which transmit structural load to the substructure. Depending on the geometry of the structure, the supporting substructure (e.g., spars and ribs) can provide resistance to thermal expansion thereby inducing large thermal stresses in the skin. If the model representations of the boundary stiffnesses are underestimated in the original design, the response of the panel can produce large tensile stresses as out-of-plane deformation results. The inhibition of the thermal expansion also results in potentially damaging loads into suband surrounding structure. This paper details the care that must be taken by a structural analyst that is familiar with stiffening (or stress-reduction) methods for mechanical loadings. These “standard” procedures can result in accelerated damage and decreased life. Since this problem attempts to balance life enhancement of a particular region of a structure with increased load transfer to surrounding structure, optimization techniques are, in many cases, necessary to determine the feasible region. In this work, topology optimization is used to construct a multiply-connected region which is ideal for stiffening in a thermal environment. Multiply connected structures permit thermal expansion to take place internal to the structure as opposed to being reacted at model boundaries.
Inmate access to elective abortion: social policy, medicine and the law.

This article discusses the prevention of obtaining lawful abortions by women who are incarcerated in jails and prisons in the United States and covers the following subject matters:| Explanation of fetal development pregnancy stages and abortion as a medical procedure| Discussion of abortion rights common law precedent prisons abortion policies and the current circuit split on the acceptable rules for inmate access to abortion| Detail of the two major arguments in the inmate access to abortion debate| Exploration of the social policy arguments behind altering prisons abortion policies| Suggestion of an improved abortion prison policy
Preliminary Evaluation of Urinary Polyamines in the Diagnosis of Genitourinary Tract Malignancy

Normal ranges for urinary polyamines have been obtained. Non-malignant genitourinary tract disease is not associated with elevated urinary polyamines. A high correlation exists between the presence of active urologic cancer and elevated urinary excretion of polyamines. Post-treatment polyamines correlate with the continued presence or absence of genitourinary tract malignancy.
A Comparison of Online and Face-to-Face Approaches to Teaching Introduction to American Government.

ABSTRACTThis article reports results from a large study comparing four different approaches to teaching Introduction to American Government: (1) traditional, a paper textbook with 100% face-to-face lecture-style teaching; (2) breakout, a paper textbook with 50% face-to-face lecture-style teaching and 50% face-to-face small-group breakout discussion sections moderated by graduate students; (3) blended, an interactive online textbook with face-to-face full-class meetings taught with a blend of lecture, discussions, and in-class activities; and (4) online only, an interactive online textbook with (almost) no face-to-face class meetings. We find that the mode of course delivery is significantly related to student academic engagement and performance as well as civic educational outcomes. Although drop rates were higher in the online only condition, students who successfully completed the online course were significantly more likely to express interest in discussing and participating in politics. Furthermore, s...
Zeppelins in International Politics, 1919–21

Six years elapsed between the final costly zeppelin raid on London in 1918 and the triumphant transatlantic zeppelin flight of 1924. The victorious Allies moved promptly to eliminate German military airships and to prevent Germany from gaining any commercial benefit from their undeniable technical expertise and wartime operational experience. Britain and America sought to command German airship advantages for their own use. London soon abandoned rigid airships in naval use and sought to develop them for Empire-wide commerce. Washington alone developed naval airships as scouts for its battle fleet. Paris and Rome hovered briefly at the edge of airship development, receiving allocated zeppelins and losing them in operational accidents. While German power languished in defeat, the Zeppelin Company privately activated commercial airship building and operation. This venture was fraught with Allied interdiction, but finally it culminated in the construction of a zeppelin for the American Navy, a project that became a masterstroke of technical and international political acclaim – an opening chord in renewed international skyward airship rivalry.
Model Transition Planning in Participatory Sensing Cold Start

"Cold Start" in participatory sensing applications refers to the initial stage in service deployment, during which service adoption remains sparse and, hence, the collected data does not offer adequate coverage. Predictive models, learned from data, offer a way to generalize from sparse observations, but the models themselves need to be statistically reliable to offer a reliable service. To achieve service reliability, this paper offers a modeling approach, where simpler models are used initially, gradually transitioning to more elaborate models, when enough data is collected. A key challenge and contributionof the work is to time model transitions correctly to provide theoretical guarantees on modeling error. Our technique takes a holistic approach in bounding modeling error as opposed to prior statistical approaches that bound the error of a single model component at a time. This technique is tested in the context of a vehicular participatory sensing application.
Performance Evaluation of Two New Disk Scheduling Algorithms for Real-Time Systems

In this paper, we present two new disk scheduling algorithms for real-time systems. The two algorithms, called SSEDO (for Shortest Seek and Earliest Deadline by Ordering) and SSEDV (for Shortest Seek and Earliest Deadline by Value), combine deadline information and disk service time information in different ways. The basic idea behind these new algorithms is to give the disk I/O request with the earliest deadline a high priority, but if a request with a larger deadline is "very" close to the current disk arm position, then it may be assigned the highest priority. The performance of SSEDO and SSEDV algorithms is compared with three other proposed real-time disk scheduling algorithms ED, P-SCAN, and FD-SCAN, as well as four conventional algorithms SSTF, SCAN, C-SCAN, and FCFS. An important aspect of the performance study is that the evaluation is not done in isolation with respect to the disk, but as part of an integrated collection of protocols necessary to support a real-time transaction system. The transaction system model is validated on an actual real-time transaction system testbed, called RT-CARAT. The performance results show that SSEDV outperforms SSEDO; that both of these new algorithms can improve performance of up to 38% over previously-known real-time disk scheduling algorithms; and that all of these real-time scheduling algorithms are significantly better than non-real-time algorithms in the sense of minimizing the transaction loss ratio.
Mitochondrial dynamics in neuronal injury, development and plasticity

Mitochondria fulfill numerous cellular functions including ATP production, Ca2+ buffering, neurotransmitter synthesis and degradation, ROS production and sequestration, apoptosis and intermediate metabolism. Mitochondrial dynamics, a collective term for the processes of mitochondrial fission, fusion and transport, governs mitochondrial function and localization within the cell. Correct balance of mitochondrial dynamics is especially important in neurons as mutations in fission and fusion enzymes cause peripheral neuropathies and impaired development of the nervous system in humans. Regulation of mitochondrial dynamics is partly accomplished through post-translational modification of mitochondrial fission and fusion enzymes, in turn influencing mitochondrial bioenergetics and transport. The importance of post-translational regulation is highlighted by numerous neurodegenerative disorders associated with post-translational modification of the mitochondrial fission enzyme Drp1. Not surprisingly, mitochondrial dynamics also play an important physiological role in the development of the nervous system and synaptic plasticity. Here, we highlight recent findings underlying the mechanisms and regulation of mitochondrial dynamics in relation to neurological disease, as well as the development and plasticity of the nervous system.
Clinician-Performed Bedside Ultrasound in Improving Diagnostic Accuracy in Patients Presenting to the ED with Acute Dyspnea.

Diagnosing acute dyspnea is a critical action performed by Emergency Department (ED) physicians. It has been shown that ultrasound (US) can be incorporated into the work-up of the dyspneic patient; but there is little data demonstrating its effect on decision-making. Objectives: 1) To examine the impact of a bedside, clinician-performed cardiopulmonary US protocol on the clinical impression of ED physicians evaluating dyspneic patients; and 2) to measure the change in probability of the leading diagnosis before and after US. Methods: Prospective observational study of ED physicians treating adult patients with undifferentiated dyspnea in an urban academic center. Exclusion: known cause of dyspnea after evaluation. Outcomes: 1) percentage of post-US diagnosis matching final diagnosis; 2) percentage of time US changed providers’ leading diagnosis; and 3) change in providers’ confidence with the leading diagnosis before and after US. An US protocol was developed and standardized prior to the study. Providers (senior residents, fellows, attendings) were trained on US (didactics, hands-on) prior to enrollment, and were supervised by an US faculty member. After patient evaluation, providers listed likely diagnoses, documenting the probability of their leading diagnosis (scale of 1-10). After US, providers revised their lists and probabilities. Proportions are reported as percentages with 95%CI and continuous variables as medians with quartiles. The Wilcoxon rank-signed test and Cohen’s Kappa statistics were used to analyze data. Results: 115 patients were enrolled (median age: 61 [51, 73], 59% female). The most common diagnosis before US was CHF (41%, 95%CI, 32-50%), followed by COPD and asthma. CHF remained the most common diagnosis after US (46%, 95%CI, 38-55); COPD became less common (pre-US, 22%, 95%CI, 15-30%; post-US, 17%, 95%CI, 11-24%). Post-US clinical diagnosis matched the final diagnosis 63% of the time (95%CI, 53-70%), compared to 69% pre-US (95%CI, 60-76%). Fifty percent of providers changed their leading diagnosis after US (95%CI, 41-59%). Overall confidence of providers’ leading diagnosis increased after US (7 [6, 8]) vs. 9 [8, 9], p: 0.001). Conclusions: Bedside US did not improve the diagnostic accuracy in physicians treating ED patients presenting with acute undifferentiated dyspnea. US, however, did improve providers’ confidence with their leading diagnosis.
A scalable, highly-multiplexed delta-encoded digital feedback ECoG recording amplifier with common and differential-mode artifact suppression

We present a scalable, highly multiplexed CMOS electro-cortocography (ECoG) recording front-end capable of differential-mode and common-mode artifact suppression. The front-end digitally delta-encodes 8-bit data converters to achieve 14-bit resolution. A single, shared mixed-signal front-end is time-division multiplexed to 64 differential input channels; this reduces channel area by 10x compared to the state-of-the-art. A return-to-zero scheme effectively eliminates channel crosstalk. We present performance and in-vivo measurement results of a 65nm CMOS test-chip implementation of the proposed architecture.
Medication contaminants as a potential cause of anaphylaxis to vincristine

Vincristine (VCR) is a vinca alkaloid and common chemotherapeutic that is used to treat multiple pediatric and adult malignancies. Despite its common use, cases of anaphylaxis to VCR are rare and typically isolated to a single individual. We report a series of eight patients with adverse reactions to VCR over the course of 11 months at a single institution, four of which progressed to anaphylaxis and one of which resulted in cardiac arrest. Mass spectrometry analysis of medication lots was performed to test for possible contaminant(s). Our findings highlight the risk of anaphylaxis during therapy with VCR.
Audition and Language Comprehension in Adult Aging: Stability in the Face of Change

Older adults are the fastest-growing segment of the US population, with the number of adults age 65 or older expected to grow to 70.3 million in 2030. Among this group, hearing loss is the third most prevalent chronic medical condition, exceeded only by arthritis and hypertension. Although hearing loss is a common accompaniment of adult aging, it has historically been considered as an independent issue in aging research. We now know, however, that there are effects of hearing loss beyond simply missing or misidentifying individual words in a spoken message. That is, even with milder hearing losses the perceptual effort required for successful speech recognition may draw on cognitive resources that would otherwise be available for downstream comprehension operations or encoding what has been heard in memory. When combined with age-related declines in working memory, processing speed, and executive function, comprehension of everyday speech can represent a significant challenge at both the perceptual and cognitive levels.
Comparison of Numerical Simulations with Experiments of Blast-Induced Pressure Wave Impact on a Surrogate Head Model

There is an urgent need to protect the warfighter from blast-induced injuries such as traumatic brain injury and its subsequent cascading effects. To that end the current research has adopted a systematic numerical approach to investigate the intracranial pressure loading on a surrogate brain model impacted by pressure waves from an RDX explosive. A tetrahedron meshed model of a human head form filled with representative brain simulant material was placed in an Eulerian air domain and subjected to simulated blast waves. The numerical results were compared against experiments using 1.7 grams of RDX explosive placed 180 mm from a surrogate head form filled with brain simulant. Both the experimental and simulated results revealed dominant compressive pressure loading and volumetric tensions in the anterior regions of the brain simulant. Further, calculated and experimental results also revealed focal regions of elevated pressure loading in the posterior region resulting from reflected waves from the back of the skull. This study was performed as a basis for understanding the internal wave mechanics and their impacts on the brain simulant subjected to real blast effects and to serve as a genesis to improve protective head equipment for the warfighter.
The Name and The Nation: Banal Nationalism and Name Change Practices in the Context of Co-ethnic Migration to Germany

The chapter examines name change as an exceptional practice through which the pervasive power of banal nationalism becomes apparent. The administrative procedure to ‘Germanise’ formerly ‘Russian’ names of ethnic immigrants at the moment of their admission is considered as a powerful instrument of ‘national normalisation’ aiming to make the newcomers blend into mainstream conceptions of ‘Germanness’. At the same time, the analysis of the use of names in everyday life contexts shows how renamed individuals pragmatically deal with these normalising constraints. By hiding or revealing their potentially stigmatising migration background according to the contingencies of their everyday experiences, they engage in ‘identity management’ practices. Overall, the empirical focus on this specific case allows to examine the subtle interplay between dominant conceptions of nationhood and individual agency.
Water splitting: Passing the acid test

Water-oxidation catalysts that are fast and efficient in strong acid are rare even though there are several benefits for systems working at low pH. Such catalysts usually feature expensive noble metals such as ruthenium and iridum; however, an electrocatalytic system that is exceptionally efficient and based on cobalt has now been developed.