cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A HCO3−-dependent mechanism involving soluble adenylyl cyclase for the activation of Ca2+ currents in locus coeruleus neurons

Hypercapnic acidosis activates Ca²⁺ channels and increases intracellular Ca²⁺ levels in neurons of the locus coeruleus, a known chemosensitive region involved in respiratory control. We have also shown that large conductance Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channels, in conjunction with this pathway, limits the hypercapnic-induced increase in firing rate in locus coeruleus neurons. Here, we present evidence that the Ca²⁺ current is activated by a HCO(3)(-)-sensitive pathway. The increase in HCO(3)(-) associated with hypercapnia activates HCO(3)(-)-sensitive adenylyl cyclase (soluble adenylyl cyclase). This results in an increase in cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels and activation of Ca²⁺ channels via cyclic adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase A. We also show the presence of soluble adenylyl cyclase in the cytoplasm of locus coeruleus neurons, and that the cyclic adenosine monophosphate analogue db-cyclic adenosine monophosphate increases Ca²⁺i. Disrupting this pathway by decreasing HCO(3)(-) levels during acidification or inhibiting either soluble adenylyl cyclase or protein kinase A, but not transmembrane adenylyl cyclase, can increase the magnitude of the firing rate response to hypercapnia in locus coeruleus neurons from older neonates to the same extent as inhibition of K⁺ channels. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: The role of soluble adenylyl cyclase in health and disease.
Monitoring cellular accumulation of 3'-deoxy-3'-fluorothymidine (FLT) and its monophosphate metabolite (FLT-MP) by LC-MS/MS as a measure of cell proliferation in vitro.

Abstract Accurate measurement of in vitro cell growth is critical for oncology drug development, but cell counting and the most accurate indirect proliferation assays are impractical. Here, we describe a robust alternative method that monitors proliferating cell thymidine kinase 1 (TK1) activity via LC–MS/MS quantification of 3′-deoxy-3′-fluorothymidine (FLT) and its monophosphate metabolite FLT-MP. LNCaP prostate cancer cells were cultured at four densities (20,000; 10,000; 5000; and 500 cells/well) and incubated with 2000 ng/mL FLT in multi-well plates. Internal standards were FLT-d3 for FLT and d4-thymidine for FLT-MP. In culture medium, peak area ratios of FLT to FLT-d3 and FLT-MP to d4-thymidine were linear over the range 0.25–100 ng/mL ( r 2 ≥ 0.998). Accuracy for quality controls was between −7.3% and 6.3% for FLT, and from −3.3% to 1.7% for FLT-MP. Quality control precision was from 2.4% to 5.7% for FLT and 3.2% to 7.5% for FLT-MP. The limit of quantification was 0.25 ng/mL, with good control results (precision of 9.6% for FLT and 14.8% for FLT-MP). FLT-MP formation was linearly proportional to cell number from 500 to 20,000 cells/well 1 h after FLT addition. FLT-MP and ATP generation were comparable in LNCaP cells exposed to cell cycle inhibitor drugs (Spearman r = 0.925, p in vitro – in vivo relationships in animal models of cancer.
The Effect of Horizon Length on The-Assignment Property of Receding-Horizon Controllers

The purpose of this paper is to bring out a relationship between the choice of the horizon length in receding horizon controllers and the average stability degree of the resulting closed loop poles.
Analysis of Charge-Transfer Complex Absorption Spectra and the Applicability of the Mulliken two-State Model

Abstract Complete absorption spectra, free from interference due to an unbound acceptor and donor, of several charge-transfer complexes have been examined. These spectra serve as a significant test to the applicability of the Mulliken two-state model for this series of complexes. the appearance of multiple new absorption bands and the trend in the observed oscillator strength of the CT transitions and the localized excitation within the complex spectrum require significant expansions of Mulliken's simple two-state model. Multiple new CT absorption bands are frequently encountered and their appearance has been explained in terms of multiple ion-pair states participating in CT interactions. the relative positions of these bands are predicted based on the gas-phase ionization potentials of the donors and the electron affinity of the acceptor in excellent agreement with the observed spectra achieved. the integrated absorption intensities of the localized bands within each CT complex spectrum have been measure...
The Production of Mesons by Photons

The general features of the process of photo-meson production are discussed on a semiclassical basis and also on the basis of perturbation theory in the weak coupling approximation applied to scalar, pseudoscalar, vector, and pseudovector meson theory. These calculations are carried out with the Feynman-Dyson methods to give covariant expressions for the cross sections. The corrections of next higher order in the meson-nucleon coupling are calculated for pseudoscalar mesons and are shown to give large contributions. Comparison of the conclusions of the theory with the experimental results seems to indicate that the meson is of spin zero and is closely bound to the nucleons as is characteristic of pseudoscalar theory.
Famous Presidents Savings: Client Acceptance and Retention

The decisions to accept and retain clients are critical in the practice of public accounting. Firms must have clients to be profitable. Yet the revenue obtained from some engagements may not fairly compensate the firm for the additional risk assumed. Client acceptance and retention are therefore subjective decisions requiring good judgment on the part of the auditor. Thus, many of the questions posed in this case do not have one clear answer and require professional judgment. By completing the requirements of this case, students will make a judgment regarding client acceptance under conditions of uncertainty, defend their decision to their peers, and document their reasoning in a professional memo. This case has been developed from an actual client engagement and contains factual circumstances and difficulties faced by the auditor. The names have been changed to obscure the identities of the actual individuals and entities involved.
Performance impact of virtual machine placement in a datacenter

In virtualized systems, several Virtual Machines (VM) running on a single hardware platform share and compete for the hardware resources such as memory, disk and network IO to meet a certain Quality of Service (QoS) requirements. It is critical to characterize and understand how the different workloads running in the VMs interact and share such resources to be able to map them efficiently onto processor cores and server hosts for optimal performance. This is especially important for resources such as memory controllers or the on-chip or inter-socket networks for which there is currently no software control. In this paper, we present a measurement-based performance analysis of server virtualization workloads from a real system using virtual machines that are part of the popular industry standard VMmark benchmark, a server consolidation benchmark. First, we characterize the relative resource contention and interference impact of VMs when multiple virtual workloads are run together. Second, we study the effects of co-locating different types of VMs under various VM to core placement schemes and discover the best placement for performance. We observe performance variations from 25–65% for Database servers and from 7–40% for File servers when compared to standalone VM depending on the placement of these VMs onto cores and the degree of sharing of resources. Finally, we propose an interference metric and regression model for the worst set of co-located VMs in our study. Based on different VM placement schemes we show that the overall server consolidation performance in a virtualized host can be improved by 8% when the VMs are placed effectively.
Latin America: a film review

(1985). Latin America: a film review. Journal of Geography in Higher Education: Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 85-99.
Initial Characterization of the Photosynthetic Apparatus of “Candidatus Chlorothrix halophila,” a Filamentous, Anoxygenic Photoautotroph

"Candidatus Chlorothrix halophila" is a recently described halophilic, filamentous, anoxygenic photoautotroph (J. A. Klappenbach and B. K. Pierson, Arch. Microbiol. 181:17-25, 2004) that was enriched from the hypersaline microbial mats at Guerrero Negro, Mexico. Analysis of the photosynthetic apparatus by negative staining, spectroscopy, and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated that the photosynthetic apparatus in this organism has similarities to the photosynthetic apparatus in both the Chloroflexi and Chlorobi phyla of green photosynthetic bacteria. The chlorosomes were found to be ellipsoidal and of various sizes, characteristics that are comparable to characteristics of chlorosomes in other species of green photosynthetic bacteria. The absorption spectrum of whole cells was dominated by the chlorosome bacteriochlorophyll c (BChl c) peak at 759 nm, with fluorescence emission at 760 nm. A second fluorescence emission band was observed at 870 nm and was tentatively attributed to a membrane-bound antenna complex. Fluorescence emission spectra obtained at 77 K revealed another complex that fluoresced at 820 nm, which probably resulted from the chlorosome baseplate complex. All of these results suggest that BChl c is present in the chlorosomes of "Ca. Chlorothrix halophila," that BChl a is present in the baseplate, and that there is a membrane-bound antenna complex. Analysis of the proteins in the chlorosomes revealed an approximately 6-kDa band, which was found to be related to the BChl c binding protein CsmA found in other green bacteria. Overall, the absorbance and fluorescence spectra of "Ca. Chlorothrix halophila" revealed an interesting mixture of photosynthetic characteristics that seemed to have properties similar to properties of both phyla of green bacteria when they were compared to the photosynthetic characteristics of Chlorobium tepidum and Chloroflexus aurantiacus.
Television and Election Campaigns in Contemporary Argentina

This article discusses the coming of television to Argentine electoral politics during the last decade. It reviews how political parties and candidates have used television for campaigning. A dynamic and rapidly changing polity chiefly accounts for the fact that television has become a central forum for politicians to go public. The difficulties faced by parties in establishing solid communication channels, the breakdown of partisan identities, and the significant rise of swing votes have all fueled the centrality of television for electioneering. However, Argentine politics cannot be understood as a “televisual democracy.” The structure of political parties and the recent history of the mass media explain why, despite television's growing importance, Argentine politics are not “television centered.”
A CASE OF NEAR-FATAL FLECAINIDE OVERDOSE IN A NEONATE SUCCESSFULLY TREATED WITH SODIUM BICARBONATE

Abstract Background Flecainide is a class IC antidysrhythmic primarily indicated for ventricular dysrhythmias and supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). Class IC antidysrhythmic overdose has a reported mortality of 22%, and death results from dysrhythmias and cardiovascular collapse. We report a near-fatal flecainide overdose in an 18-day-old treated successfully with sodium bicarbonate. Case Report An 18-day-old, 2 weeks premature, 4-kg boy developed persistently high heart rates (220–240 beats/min) and electrocardiographic changes consistent with SVT. There was minimal response to vagal maneuvers, adenosine, and esmolol, and a transthoracic echocardiogram showed no underlying structural abnormality. The patient was then started on flecainide 4 mg orally every 8 h (Q8h). After the fourth dose he developed lethargy, cold clammy skin, and a heart rate of 40 beats/min with no palpable pulse. The patient was given 0.1 mg of atropine intravenously, with an increase of the heart rate to 160 beats/min. The child’s cardiac monitor revealed a wide-complex tachycardia with left bundle branch morphology, with associated pallor and poor capillary refill. Sodium bicarbonate was administered intravenously due to suspected flecainide toxicity. Approximately 5 min after intravenous administration of 10 mEq of 8.4% sodium bicarbonate twice, his rhythm converted to a narrow-complex tachycardia. A serum flecainide concentration was 1360 μg/L (therapeutic, 200–1000 μg/L) drawn 1 h before the cardiac arrest. It was later discovered that a twofold dosing error occurred: the patient received 8 mg Q8h instead of 4 mg Q8h for four doses. Conclusion Flecainide toxicity in children is rare, especially in neonates. It is important for clinicians to be able to identify and treat this uncommon poisoning.
The diagnosis of schistosomiasis in Southern rhodesia by the rectal biopsy technique

Abstract 1. 1. The rectal biopsy technique was employed in the diagnosis of schistosomiasis. 2. 2. Of 38 patients passing ova of S. mansoni in the stool but with no ova of S. haematobium in the urine, 32 showed ova in the rectal snippings. Of these, 17 showed ova of S. mansoni alone, eight of S. mansoni and S. haematobium together (double infection), and seven of S. haematobium alone. 3. 3. Of 15 patients passing ova of S. haematobium in the urine but no S. mansoni in the stool, seven showed ova in the snippings. All seven showed ova of S. haematobium , whilst two of them contained ova of S. mansoni as well. 4. 4. Of 18 patients, in whom ova were found in neither the urine nor the stool, seven showed ova in the snippings, and of these, five showed ova of S. haematobium and two of S. mansoni . 5. 5. This method is of value not only in the recognition of S. mansoni but, in areas such as Rhodesia where S. haematobium is also endemic, it has an added advantage.
Altering steady-state probabilities in probabilistic Boolean networks

External control of a genetic regulatory network is used for the purpose of avoiding undesirable states, such as those associated with disease. Heretofore, intervention has focused on finite-horizon control, i.e., control over a small number of stages. This paper considers the design of optimal infinite-horizon control for probabilistic Boolean networks (PBNs). The stationary policy obtained is independent of time and dependent on the current state. The average-cost-per-stage problem formulation is used to generate the stationary policy for a PBN constructed from melanoma gene-expression data. The results show that the stationary policiy obtained is capable of shifting the probability mass of the stationary distribution from undesirable states to desirable ones.
A Multimethod Approach to Identifying Norms and Normative Expectations Within a Corporate Hierarchy: Evidence from the Financial Services Industry

We use an incentive-compatible economic experiment and surveys in the field at a large financial services firm to identify the norms for on-the-job behavior among financial advisers and their leaders, and the normative expectations each group has of the other. We examine whistle-blowing on a peer, an incentive clash between serving the client and earning commissions, and a dilemma about fiduciary responsibility to a client. We find patterns of agreement among advisers, among leaders, and between the two groups, that are consistent with company guidelines identified ex ante. However, we also find measurable differences between what leaders expect and the actual norms of advisers. When there is such a mismatch we are able to distinguish miscommunication from ethical disagreement between leaders and advisers. Finally, we show that when advisers' personal ethical opinions do not match group norms, this mismatch is correlated with job dissatisfaction and lying for money in a second experiment. This paper was accepted by Brad Barber, Teck Ho, and Terrance Odean, special issue editors.
Darsie Latimer’s “Little Solidity,” or the Case for Homosexuality in Scott’s Redgauntlet

By the early 1820s Walter Scott had been sharply criticized for conjuring up conspicuously passive heroes for his tales, but that criticism did not prevent him from presenting his reading public with his most singularly submissive character, Darsie Latimer, in 1824’s Redgauntlet. In fact, Scott devotes considerable energy in the novel to the delineation of a particular breed of unmanliness, linking Darsie’s inertia with his unusually strong emotional attachment to a schoolmate, his peculiar fascination with strong men, and his marked awkwardness around eligible women his own age. I argue that the coalescing of such features in one character warrants consideration of Darsie as a type of homosexual—that is, a character marked not only by an orientation of desire toward one’s own sex but also by a litany of character traits (among them, in this case, self-doubt, self-consciousness, and irresolution) which were typically associated with this non-normative desire. After considering evidence from this novel as well as from diary entries that reveal Scott’s views on sodomy and on wayward passions, I re-examine the Foucaultian contention that the homosexual was a late-nineteenth-century invention which transformed the sodomite into a species. Scott’s Redgauntlet gives us reason to believe that the conception of such a species was in place by the late Romantic period and that it was possible to consider this character type as distinct from the sodomite insofar as the former designated a disposition rather than the implication of sexual indulgence.
Protecting The Supply Chain: Differentiating Large And Small Suppliers

This paper recounts the history of early warning failure models and then adds to that literature by evaluating the proposition that all suppliers can be treated similarly when evaluating failure tendencies. The work is performed for the automobile supplier industry because that industry has a long and complex supply chain structure and because we have a history of working with major automotive OEMs to protect their supply chain. The project benefited from the support and cooperation of BBK Ltd. the largest turnaround firm worldwide engaged by the automobile sector. In contrast to previous work which utilized a single predictive model to indicate the likelihood that a supplier company was in distress, our effort tested the idea that large and small automobile suppliers face different exigencies and therefore require separate predictive models. The paper concludes by identifying the key factors to consider when reviewing the health of automobile suppliers.
Pneumoperitoneum as a result of a ruptured splenic abscess

We encountered a case of ruptured splenic abscess presenting as peritonitis and pneumoperitoneum. Our patient did not have an underlying neoplasm nor was she immunosuppressed. In our case, splenectomy was the treatment of choice in combination with antibiotics, which proved to be a good outcome for the patient. Work-up for the cause of the abscess was negative, although bacteria predominately found in the oral flora were isolated from the abscess. We strongly encourage that splenic abscess be considered on the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with pneumoperitoneum and peritonitis, although a clinical rarity.
Effect of microinjection and two types of electrical stimuli on bovine sperm-hamster egg penetration.

These experiments were designed to test the effects of an electrofusion and an electroporation pulse on bovine sperm-hamster egg development. In experiment 1, single motile sperm were injected into the perivitelline space of each egg. A 4,500 V/cm, 30 μsec fusion pulse (FP) was applied while sperm-egg membrane contact was maintained. It was observed that single motile sperm were rendered immotile immediately after FP application whereas nonpulsed single motile sperm remained motile for up to 36 h postinjection. In addition, both motile and sanicated spermatozoa were injected directly into the ooplasm prior to receiving an FP to determine whether the FP was detrimental to sperm viability. In experiment 2, to induce the acrosome reaction, an 1,150 V/cm electroporation pulse was applied to washed bovine sperm suspended in TALP medium containing 5 mM Ca2+. Treated and nontreated sperm were coincubated with zona-free hamster ova, and sperm-penetrating ability was measured. Results from experiment 1 indicate that FP failed to induce sperm-egg fusion (0/69). FP did not, however, inhibit decondensation or pronuclear formation of sperm injected into hamster egg ooplasm. Single motile sperm injected into the ooplasm resulted in development of both pulsed (19/28) and nonpulsed (21/28) groups. Sonicated tail-free sperm heads injected into the ooplasm resulted in no detectable difference between treated (18/30) and nontreated (19/30) groups. In experiment 2, treatment of sperm with electroporation pulse +5 mM Ca2+ increased zona-free hamster ova penetration scores over nontreated sperm within bulls (P < .05). These results indicate that an electroporation pulse in conjunction with high Ca2+ rather than an electrofusion pulse facilitates sperm penetration and early development.
Increasing Minority Enrollment Onto Clinical Trials: Practical Strategies and Challenges Emerge From the NRG Oncology Accrual Workshop

Racial and ethnic diversity has historically been difficult to achieve in National Cancer Institute-sponsored clinical trials, even while as many as 80% of those trials have faced difficulty in meeting overall recruitment targets. In an attempt to address these issues, NRG Oncology recently convened a comprehensive workshop titled "Clinical Trials Enrollment: Challenges and Opportunities." Discussants at the workshop included representatives of the three legacy groups of the NRG (ie, Gynecologic Oncology Group, National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Program, and Radiation Therapy Oncology Group), a minority-based community clinical oncology program, a large integrated health care system, the leadership of the National Cancer Institute, and a large patient advocacy group. This article summarizes the concepts discussed at the workshop, which included: needs assessments, infrastructural support, training of investigators and research staff, specific clinical trial recruitment strategies (both system and community based), and development and mentoring of young investigators. Many new, more specific tactics, including use of diverse cancer care settings, direct-to-consumer communication, and the need for centralized information technology such as the use of software to match trials to special populations, are presented. It was concluded that new, innovative trial designs and the realities of limited funding would require the adoption of effective and efficient recruiting strategies, specialized training, and stakeholder engagement. US clinical research programs must generate and embrace new ideas and pilot test novel recruitment strategies if they are to maintain their historic role as world leaders in cancer care innovation and delivery.
Marital status, social support, and depressive symptoms among lesbian and heterosexual women

The current study investigated social support and relationship status (single, dating-but-not-cohabiting, cohabiting, domestic partnership/civil union, married) as predictors of depressive symptoms among lesbian and heterosexual women. The study aimed to determine whether the documented higher rates of depressive symptoms among lesbians compared to heterosexual women could be accounted for by lesbians' reduced access to, or in many cases exclusion from, legalized relationship statuses. The effect of social support from family and social support from friends on depressive symptoms also was examined. Contrary to expectations, results indicated no difference in levels of depressive symptoms among lesbian compared to heterosexual women in this sample. However, regardless of sexual orientation, married women had lower levels of depressive symptoms than unmarried women. Thus, marriage seems to be associated with less depression in lesbian and heterosexual women alike. The interaction of social support and relationship status added to the prediction of depressive symptoms over and above the predictive power of either variable alone, although this effect was small and should be interpreted with caution.
"Virtual rat": a tool for understanding hormonal regulation of gastrointestinal function.

This manuscript describes a "dry laboratory" using the "virtual rat" to help students understand the hormonal regulation of gastrointestinal function. The laboratory was modeled after a recent exercise that used the virtual rat to teach basic endocrine physiology. The virtual rat concept avoids the many obstacles associated with animal experimentation (for example, lack of adequate animal facilities, expense, equipment, and limited teacher experience). Our goal was to create a fun and educational experience while avoiding the complications associated with laboratory experimentation. No additional materials are required to complete this exercise. After finishing this laboratory, the students should have a greater understanding and appreciation for experimental design and the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data.
Integrating the arm-based Raspberry Pi into an architecture course

The complex strategies being incorporated into modern processors to improve performance and security have forced computer architecture instruction to become largely theoretical. With the advent in 2011 of the ARM-based Raspberry Pi, computer architecture students could once again get hands-on experience using a single-board computer. Resources within the ARM processor and on the Raspberry PI allow students to practice almost all of the objectives of the ACM/IEEE computer architecture curriculum. This paper discusses how the Raspberry Pi was incorporated into a computer architecture course along with a description of the laboratory setup and examples of student assignments.
Determining the Transmembrane Topology of the Presenilins

Mutations in two related genes, PS1 (1) and PS2 (2,3) located on chromosomes 14 and 1, respectively, account for the majority of early onset cases of familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD). PS1 and PS2 are predominantly localized in the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi (4-7). PS1 is a 467 amino acid peptide predicted to contain between seven and nine transmembrane helices based on hydrophobicity profiles (1,8). The protein topology of PS1 and its C. elegans homologues, SEL-12 and HOP-1, have been examined by several investigators (7,9-13). This chapter describes two approaches we utilized to determine the topological orientation of the PS1 N-terminal, and C-terminal domains, and a hydrophilic "loop" region encompassing amino acids 263-407. The first approach is based on the proteolytic sensitivity of amyloid precursor protein (APP) protein chimeras to endoproteolytic cleavage by β-secretase in the lumen of the Golgi. The second approach is based on selective permeabilization of the plasma membrane using a bacterial pore-forming toxin, streptolysin-O (SLO), and subsequent immunocytochemical probing for cytosolic epitopes using specific antibodies. Both of these methods can be easily adapted to determine the topology of other membrane proteins.
The Thermal Conductivity of Simple Dense Fluid Mixtures

Many of the advances in recent years in the theory of the equilibrium properties of dense fluids have stemmed from initial work on systems of hard spheres, which provide the first approximation to the results for real systems. In the case of transport properties, examination of the theory for dense hard sphere systems has likewise led to very useful results which have only become possible because of the advances in the equilibrium theory.
Engineering of an environmentally responsive beta roll peptide for use as a calcium-dependent cross-linking domain for peptide hydrogel formation.

We have created a set of rationally designed peptides that form calcium-dependent hydrogels based on the beta roll peptide domain. In the absence of calcium, the beta roll domain is intrinsically disordered. Upon the addition of calcium, the peptide forms a beta helix secondary structure. We have designed two variations of our beta roll domain. First, we have mutated one face of the beta roll domain to contain leucine residues so that the calcium-dependent structural formation leads to dimerization through hydrophobic interactions. Second, an α-helical leucine zipper domain is appended to the engineered beta roll domain as an additional means of forming intermolecular cross-links. This full peptide construct forms a hydrogel only in calcium-rich environments. The resulting structural and mechanical properties of the supramolecular assemblies are compared with the wild-type domain using several biophysical techniques including circular dichroism, FRET, bis-ANS binding and microrheology. The calcium respons...
ON THE NATURE AND CONSEQUENCES OF EARLY LOSS

Objective To describe how an animal model system can be used to explore basic questions about the nature of loss and the effects of early loss on later vulnerability to disease. Method The physiological and behavioral responses of infant rats to separation from their mothers are first described and then analyzed experimentally into component mechanisms. Results These studies have revealed an extensive layer of processes underlying the psychological constructs generally used to understand the response to loss. Hidden within the observable interactions of parent and offspring, we found a number of discrete sensorimotor, thermal, and nutrient-based events that have unexpected long-term regulatory effects on specific components of infant physiology and behavior. Release from all of these inhibitory and excitatory regulators together during maternal separation constitutes a novel mechanism by which the experience of loss can be translated into a complex patterned response. Evidence for early regulatory processes has also been found in monkey and human mother-infant interactions. Here they may well constitute the building blocks from which attachment and object representations develop. We and others have found long-term effects of loss, and of selective replacement of regulators, on behavioral development and on later vulnerability to disease. Conclusions The results give us a new understanding of early attachment as a developmental force and of human grief as a risk to health.
Effectiveness of chlorpyrifos, fenthion, malathion, and propoxur as screen treatments for control of Culicoides mississippiensis.

Chlorpyrifos, fenthion, malathion, and propoxur were tested at 1, 3, 5, and 8% (wt/vol) in evaluations of their effectiveness as residual screen treatments to retard or prevent entry of Culicoides mississippiensis Hoffman adults into screened areas. These insecticides were evaluated on the basis of knockdown capability and the effect of weathering on their residual action. Propoxur at 8% was the most effective, with 73 to 92% quick (30 min) knockdown for 35 days and 97 to 100% overall mortality. Chlorpyrifos (8%) gave 97 to 100% overall mortality for 35 days but was inadequate in terms of quick knockdown. Malathion (8%) was effective only 14 days, and fenthion was ineffective at any of the concentrations tested.
A Study of Fuzzy PID Control Algorithm for High Speed Train's Electric-Hydraulic Braking System

Braking technology is crucial for high speed train to guarantee a safe operation.As one of the most important braking devices,foundation braking system serves as the last safety step when other braking steps fail in working.High speed train's foundation braking system transmits braking torque by the friction between brake caliper and brake disc.Pressure in the brake cylinder affects the magnitude of braking torque.It establishes electric-hydraulic braking system model and designs fuzzy PID controller which is simulated by MATLAB/Simulink.The effect of simulation turns out good.This paper laid a theoretical foundation for a practical use of fuzzy PID controller in the coming days.
Aspects of physical medicine and rehabilitation in the treatment of deconditioned patients in the acute care setting: the role of skeletal muscle

Skeletal muscles are essential for movement as well as for survival. Knowledge about the organ skeletal muscle is underrepresented. Ageing and multiple chronic diseases are accompanied by loss of muscle mass, termed "muscle wasting". Nevertheless, muscles are one of the target organs within the rehabilitation process. This review highlights the role of skeletal muscles from various aspects, diagnostic procedures to quantify muscle mass and strength and, most importantly, lists countermeasures to muscle wasting. Although structured and progressive strength training is the cornerstone in the treatment of muscle wasting, several other methods exist to slow down or reverse the process of muscle wasting. Among them are neuromuscular electrical stimulation and alternative exercise modes, positioning, stretching and, as an emerging field, drug therapy.
Persistence With Conventional Triple Therapy Versus a Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitor and Methotrexate in US Veterans With Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objective To compare persistence and adherence to triple therapy with the nonbiologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) methotrexate (MTX), hydroxychloroquine, and sulfasalazine, versus a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) plus MTX in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods Administrative and laboratory data were analyzed for US Veterans with RA initiating triple therapy or TNFi + MTX between January 2006 and December 2012. Treatment persistence 365 days postindex was calculated using 3 definitions. Definition 1 required no gap in therapy of ≥90 days for any drug in the original combination. Definition 2 required no added or switched DMARD, no decrease to nonbiologic DMARD monotherapy, and no termination of all DMARD therapies. Definition 3 was similar to definition 2 but allowed a switch to another drug within the same class. Adherence used a proportion of days covered of ≥80%. Propensity-weighted analysis with matched weights was used to balance covariates. Results The analysis included 4,364 RA patients (TNFi + MTX, n = 3,204; triple therapy, n = 1,160). In propensity-weighted analysis, patients in the TNFi + MTX group were significantly more likely than patients in the triple therapy group to satisfy all persistence criteria in definition 1 (risk difference [RD] 13.1% [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 9.2–17.0]), definition 2 (RD 6.4% [95% CI 2.3–10.5]), and definition 3 (RD 9.5% [95% CI 5.5–13.6]). Patients in the TNFi + MTX group also exhibited higher adherence during the first year (RD 7.2% [95% CI 3.8–10.5]). Conclusion US Veterans with RA were significantly more likely to be persistent and adherent to combination therapy with TNFi + MTX than triple therapy with nonbiologic DMARDs.
The structural response of gadolinium phosphate to pressure

In this study, accurate elastic constants for gadolinium phosphate (GdPO4) have been measured by single-crystal high-pressure diffraction methods. The bulk modulus of GdPO4 determined under hydrostatic conditions, 128.1(8) GPa (K'=5.8(2)), is markedly different from that obtained with GdPO4 under non-hydrostatic conditions (160(2) GPa), which indicates the importance of shear stresses on the elastic response of this phosphate. Finally, high pressure Raman and diffraction analysis indicate that the PO4 tetrahedra behave as rigid units in response to pressure and that contraction of the GdPO4 structure is facilitated by bending/twisting of the Gd–O–P links that result in increased distortion in the GdO9 polyhedra.
Using a Two-Step Transformation to Address Non-Normality from a Business Value of Information Technology Perspective

ABSTRACT Accounting information systems (AIS) research data may suffer from severe non-normality, which, if not handled properly, may lead to incorrect statistical inferences. To address this problem, we empirically evaluate the relative merits of a Two-Step normality transformation proposed by Templeton (2011) compared to four alternative distributions available to researchers (random-normal, original, natural log transformed, and winsorization transformed). Using 45 corporate financial performance ratios (CFP), we investigated three perspectives on measurement validity: construct validity, reliability, and difference testing. We then examined the efficacy of the Two-Step method in the context of business value of IT research—we regressed four IT investment and three control variables on 31 of theoretically relevant CFP indicators. The preponderance of our evidence shows that the Two-Step method consistently outperforms the prominently used alternatives in achieving statistical normality, retaining origi...
Cross-species transmission potential between wild pigs, livestock, poultry, wildlife, and humans: implications for disease risk management in North America

Cross-species disease transmission between wildlife, domestic animals and humans is an increasing threat to public and veterinary health. Wild pigs are increasingly a potential veterinary and public health threat. Here we investigate 84 pathogens and the host species most at risk for transmission with wild pigs using a network approach. We assess the risk to agricultural and human health by evaluating the status of these pathogens and the co-occurrence of wild pigs, agriculture and humans. We identified 34 (87%) OIE listed swine pathogens that cause clinical disease in livestock, poultry, wildlife, and humans. On average 73% of bacterial, 39% of viral, and 63% of parasitic pathogens caused clinical disease in other species. Non-porcine livestock in the family Bovidae shared the most pathogens with swine (82%). Only 49% of currently listed OIE domestic swine diseases had published wild pig surveillance studies. The co-occurrence of wild pigs and farms increased annually at a rate of 1.2% with as much as 57% of all farms and 77% of all agricultural animals co-occurring with wild pigs. The increasing co-occurrence of wild pigs with livestock and humans along with the large number of pathogens shared is a growing risk for cross-species transmission.
Attitudes of Undergraduate Students Toward Persons With Disabilities: Exploring Effects of Contact Experience on Social Distance Across Ten Disability Types:

Attitudes toward individuals with disabilities have been one of the most important and focal topics in disability studies. However, most studies have either treated disability in a broad sense with...
Translation of an evidence-based therapeutic exercise program for patients with peripheral artery disease

The purpose of this study was to implement and evaluate quality outcomes including referral, enrollment, and completion rates of a new peripheral artery disease (PAD)–specific supervised exercise therapy (SET) program within a preexisting clinical exercise wellness program and to evaluate the clinical effectiveness and patient-centered outcomes derived from 12 weeks of PAD-specific SET. Recruited participants completed an individualized, minimally supervised, PAD-specific SET program based on the AHA-ACC guidelines. Exercise workloads (metabolic equivalents of task [METs]) were tracked and evaluated throughout the program. Short Physical Performance Battery, 6-minute walk test (6MWT) Walking Impairment Questionnaire, Short-Form 36 (SF-36), and Peripheral Artery Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire (PADQOL) were assessed before and after the program. Paired t-tests were used to examine differences between baseline and follow-up outcome variables. On average, participants (n = 46) attended 23 (standard deviation [SD] 12.9) out of the possible 36 training sessions, for a 64% attendance rate. Among participants who used treadmill walking as the primary mode of exercise (n = 40), the overall mean MET level just prior to program completion was 3.79 (SD 1.49), which represented an increase of 0.92 (34%) METs compared to baseline ( P P = .011), which is considered a clinically meaningful improvement. Significant improvements were noted in the PADQOL: symptoms and limitations in physical functioning ( P = .007). This study demonstrates that a minimally staffed PAD-specific SET program can improve functional performance in patients with claudication due to PAD and serves as a foundation to help build a clinically effective, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid reimbursed PAD-specific rehabilitation program.
Opening the Front Door: Designing A Usable Library Web Site

SUMMARY The library Web site is a significant access point to a library's collections, resources, and services. A Web site can and should provide information about the library in a way that can be efficiently navigated and used by all library patrons. The usability of a library Web site can be improved through changes in organization and design informed by the experiences of real users. User expectations should be primary in determining the content, purpose, organization, and design of the site.
Error-related brain activity and anxiety symptoms in youth with autism spectrum disorder.

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often experience symptoms associated with generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and social anxiety disorder. In other populations, these same symptoms are associated with a larger error-related negativity (ERN), an event-related potential that reflects endogenous threat sensitivity. As such, it is possible that the ERN may relate to the clinical presentation of anxiety in ASD. However, studies examining these associations in youth with ASD have yielded mixed results. The present study aimed to clarify this relationship by examining the ERN in relation to these specific anxiety symptoms in ASD, and by accounting for typical covariates (e.g., age, verbal abilities, depression, ASD symptoms) of the ERN. Fifty-one youth, ages 8-17, with ASD and intact cognitive ability completed a modified Flanker task, from which the ERN component was obtained. Measures of anxiety, verbal abilities, depression, and ASD symptoms were collected from participants and parents. Results revealed that greater self-reported social anxiety symptoms, specifically performance fears but not humiliation/rejection fears, were associated with an increased neural response to errors, as measured by the ERN. This relationship remained after controlling for other anxiety symptoms, as well as age, verbal IQ, depression symptoms, and ASD symptoms. Findings suggest that heightened threat sensitivity may be characteristic of individuals with ASD who exhibit social fearfulness. Autism Res 2018, 11: 342-354. © 2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Lay summary The error-related negativity (ERN) is a physiological measure of the brain's response to errors which is thought to reflect threat sensitivity and has been implicated in anxiety disorders in individuals without autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The present study revealed that the ERN is related to social anxiety symptoms, specifically performance fears, in a sample of youth with ASD. Findings suggest that heightened threat sensitivity may be characteristic of individuals with ASD who exhibit social fearfulness.
Impact of End User Computing on is Development: A Study of it Usage in an Engineering Organization

How much end user computing is too much? This paper reports on a study of the engineering organizations within an electric utility undergoing deregulation and change. The study was initiated when management perceived that too much engineering time was spent doing IS functions. The study found that there was significant effort being expended on system development, support, and ad hoc use. Several issues were identified affecting system development, use of programming standards, documentation, infrastructure integration, and system support. These issues cannot easily be resolved. The paper ends with recommendations for this situation that may be applicable to other organizations.
Mechanisms of Development of αβ T Cell Antigen Receptor-Bearing Cells in γδ T Cell Antigen Receptor Transgenic Mice

Our lab has generated transgenic mice that carry the genes encoding a γδ T cell antigen receptor (γδ TCR) from a γδ T cell clone with known specificity. This γδ T cell clone, G8, was derived from a BALB/c nu/nu mouse by alloantigen stimulation (Matis et al. (1987)). G8 is specific for an MHC class-Mike gene that maps to the TL region of the H-2 locus (Bluestone et al. (1988)). G8 is typical of γδ T cells that derive from the adult thymus or spleen in that it is negative for the CD4 and CD8 T cell markers, and uses a Vγ2-Jγ1-Cγ1- encoded γ chain for its TCR. Recently (Dent et al. (1990)), we have used these γδ TCR transgenic mice to study whether self-reactive γδ T cells are tolerized in a similar way as T cells that bear the αβ T cell antigen receptor (αβ T cells). In transgenic mice that did not bear the TL-encoded ligand (H-2d/d) , CD4/CD8 negative γδ T cells bearing the G8 specificity were found in the lymph nodes and spleen. In transgenic mice that expressed the TL-encoded ligand (H-2b/d) , transgenic γδ T cells were eliminated from the peripheral lymphoid organs, although Vγ2-positive cells persisted in the thymus. This phenotype would imply that a deletion process is occuring similar to that shown for self-reactive αβ T cells.
Physical Activity and Sociodemographic Correlates of Adolescent Exergamers

Abstract Purpose Exergame use (or active video games that promote physical activity [PA]) has the potential to increase PA in youth, but there is a scarcity of information about PA of youth who are current exergamers. The current study examined PA behaviors in exergamers versus nonexergamers. Methods Adolescents (N = 2,793; mean age = 14.4 ± 2.0 years) participating in EAT 2010 (Eating and Activity in Teens) self-reported sociodemographic characteristics and exergaming and PA behavior. Height and weight were measured. Results Both male and female exergamers tended to be younger and black compared with nonexergamers (p Conclusions PA behavior in exergamers is similar to PA behavior in nonexergamers. However, when targeting vigorous PA, exergaming may be an innovative and appealing intervention strategy for adolescent girls.
Exploring cannabis use reasons and experiences among mobile cannabis delivery patients

Background: Although there are an increasing number of states exploring the legalization of medical and/or recreational cannabis, little research has explored whether and how people are medically u...
DIRECT AND MODULATING SECRETORY EFFECTS OF SUBSTANCE P ON RAT SUBMANDIBULAR GLAND

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the direct effect of substance P on fluid and electrolyte secretion from the rat submandibular gland and its influence on the secretion elicited from this gland by autonomic agents. The chapter presents an experiment in which adult male rats of the Sprague–Dawley strain were used. The animals weighed between 200 and 250 gm and were fed a standard pelleted diet and water ad libitum. Saliva samples were also collected during this period, and the gland was then removed and weighed. The collection tubes were reweighed to obtain a gravimetric estimate of the volume of saliva, capped and kept at 4°C, until analyses were performed. Intravenous administration of substance P produced a rapid secretory response from the rat submandibular gland. Flow of saliva started one or two minutes after the infusion was begun, and flow rates of 250 mg/min gm wet weight or more were frequently obtained in the first few minutes of the response. This response was, however, a transientone in such a way that salivary flows became essentially negligible after approximately 20 minutes of peptide infusion.
Penicillium Oxalicum and Secalonic Acid D in Fresh Corn

Secalonic acid D (SAD) is a mycotoxin produced in laboratory cultures by Penicillium oxalicum. Reports have indicated that P. oxalicurn frequently contaminated freshly harvested corn (Mislivec and Tuite, 1970), but none have reported any natural contamination of corn with SAD.