cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inducible satellite cell depletion attenuates skeletal muscle regrowth following a scald-burn injury

Key points Severe burns result in significant skeletal muscle cachexia that impedes recovery. Activity of satellite cells, skeletal muscle stem cells, is altered following a burn injury and likely hinders regrowth of muscle. Severe burn injury induces satellite cell proliferation and fusion into myofibres with greater activity in muscles proximal to the injury site. Conditional depletion of satellite cells attenuates recovery of myofibre area and volume following a scald burn injury in mice. Skeletal muscle regrowth following a burn injury requires satellite cell activity, underscoring the therapeutic potential of satellite cells in the prevention of prolonged frailty in burn survivors. Abstract Severe burns result in profound skeletal muscle atrophy; persistent muscle atrophy and weakness are major complications that hamper recovery from burn injury. Many factors contribute to the erosion of muscle mass following burn trauma, and we have previously shown concurrent activation and apoptosis of muscle satellite cells following a burn injury in paediatric patients. To determine the necessity of satellite cells during muscle recovery following a burn injury, we utilized a genetically modified mouse model (Pax7CreER-DTA) that allows for the conditional depletion of satellite cells in skeletal muscle. Additionally, mice were provided 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine to determine satellite cell proliferation, activation and fusion. Juvenile satellite cell-wild-type (SC-WT) and satellite cell-depleted (SC-Dep) mice (8 weeks of age) were randomized to sham or burn injury consisting of a dorsal scald burn injury covering 30% of total body surface area. Both hindlimb and dorsal muscles were studied at 7, 14 and 21 days post-burn. SC-Dep mice had >93% depletion of satellite cells compared to SC-WT (P < 0.05). Burn injury induced robust atrophy in muscles located both proximal and distal to the injury site (∼30% decrease in fibre cross-sectional area, P < 0.05). Additionally, burn injury induced skeletal muscle regeneration, satellite cell proliferation and fusion. Depletion of satellite cells impaired post-burn recovery of both muscle fibre cross-sectional area and volume (P < 0.05). These findings support an integral role for satellite cells in the aetiology of lean tissue recovery following a severe burn injury.
Investigation of Various Pressure Transient Techniques on Permeability Measurement of Unconventional Gas Reservoirs

An evaluation of fluid flow behavior in porous media is necessary considering its widespread applications in geo-engineering projects, such as reservoir productivity and hydraulic fracturing. In order to improve the understanding of gas flow characteristics in porous media, particularly permeability estimation of unconventional gas reservoirs, various pressure transient measurement techniques were numerically evaluated in this study based on the established mathematical models, closely representing each experimental design of these transient techniques. Given that both compressive storage and sorption capacity of unconventional reservoirs vary at different pressures, the practicability of the conventional pulse decay method (PDM), initially adopted by Brace et al. (J Geophys Res 73(6):2225–2236, 1968), was examined. The results showed that compressive storage and sorption effect are the limiting factors in the application of the conventional PDM for permeability measurement of sorptive rocks. Meanwhile, the degree to which these factors affect the accuracy of pressure response and permeability were investigated quantitatively. It was found that pulse size, rock porosity, gas compressibility and reservoir volumes are the main parameters influencing compressive storage and sorption effect, and thus the application of the conventional PDM. A comprehensive numerical investigation was also conducted on Metwally and Sondergeld’s technique, a modified PDM, initially proposed for measuring low permeabilities of gas sands and shales. Considering limitations in the derived permeabilities of sorptive rocks when using the conventional PDM techniques and Metwally and Sondergeld’s technique, an optimized PDM was then proposed by creating dual-pressure pulses to avoid the pressure disturbance due to compressive storage, and ad-/de- sorption during the course of measurement. To verify the feasibility of the optimized PDM, a suite of numerical investigation was carried out for various PDM techniques, and the pressure responses were also compared with calculated data obtained from the mathematical model and experimental results. Both numerically calculated and experimental results exhibit the practicality of the optimized PDM, providing a fast, accurate and reliable approach for permeability measurement of sorptive rocks.
A Meta-Analysis on the Relationship Between Character Education and Student Achievement and Behavioral Outcomes:

An extensive meta-analysis, including 52 studies, was undertaken on the relationship between character education and student achievement and behavioral outcomes. Additional analyses were done to de...
Does intrauterine insemination offer an advantage to cervical cap insemination in a donor insemination program

Objective To compare pregnancy outcome after IUI versus cervical cap insemination in a donor insemination program. Design A randomized prospective clinical trial in which patients were alternately inseminated with cryopreserved human semen using either IUI or cervical cap insemination methods. Setting The donor insemination program at Washington University School of Medicine. Patients Forty-two women with either isolated male factor or male factor plus corrected ovulatory dysfunction using clomiphene citrate underwent 141 cycles of donor insemination. Main Outcome Measures Clinical pregnancy rates (PRs) defined as a viable intrauterine gestation > 12 weeks or delivered were compared between groups using the χ 2 test. Results Clinical PRs were significantly higher in the IUI group (16.4%) compared with the cervical cap insemination group (5.9%). The spontaneous abortion rates were similar between the IUI (1.4%) and cervical cap insemination groups (4.4%). Conclusions These findings suggest an advantage to IUI over cervical cap insemination in a donor insemination program.
Stage 5 Retinopathy of Prematurity: Prognostic Value of Morphologic Findings

Anterior and posterior segment findings were evaluated in 184 consecutive cases of stage 5 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) (368 eyes). One hundred seventy patients had one or more examinations under anesthesia and 150 had open-sky vitrectomy (260 eyes) with or without additional surgery. Ocular findings were inspected and special attention was given to verify the morphology of the retinal detachment (RD) as predicted by ultrasonography. Immature iris and/or pupil, posteriorly or totally closed detachment funnels, vascularized epiretinal membranes, retinal folds, tractional retinoschisis, persistent hyaloid system, and subretinal blood and/or organization were the most significant indicators of bad prognosis. Evaluating stage 5 ROP eyes with these variables in mind is therefore essential.
Multi-agent Simulation-based Decision Support System and Application in Networked Manufacturing Enterprises

The recent financial crisis has had a major negative impact on the global economy, and particularly had a significant impact on the global manufacturing industry due to the ever-decreasing customer demand. For manufacturing enterprises, especially those who run businesses in multiple countries, it is now a good time to operate in a smarter way and lead the new era that is taking shape underneath the present crisis. We introduce a multi-agent-based simulation tool in this chapter, with a description of the overall architecture, modelling elements, operational policies, etc. The tool has been used in a commercial project with a leading high-tech manufacturer. The complex relationships between service levels, inventory cost, transportation cost, and forecasting accuracy were well studied. The project results show that networked enterprises can really get better insight from such a quantitative analysis and would be able to identify solid opportunities for cost saving and performance improvement.
Do I really belong?: Impact of employment status on information security policy compliance

Abstract With recent incidents of temporary employees such as seasonal employees, contractors, and subcontractors engaging in information security violations, once again the focus lies on motivating the people within the “organization's wall” to comply with information security. This research paper studies the impact of employment status on organizational commitment and perceived organizational support of employees and how those will affect behavioral intention to comply with Information Security Policies (ISP). Employment status, specifically permanent versus temporary status, can result in different levels of organizational commitment and perceived organizational support. The result of the study supports the notion that the effect of organizational commitment and perceived organizational support on behavioral intention to use ISP will be stronger among permanent employees. The research also found that perceived response cost of performing a behavior would negatively impact intention to comply with ISP.
The Role of Government Support in SMEs’ Adoption of Sustainability

In the existing literature on small and medium-sized enterprises' (SMEs’) sustainability adoption, research focused on the US has been limited compared to Europe. Investigating the role of government as a major driver and/or barrier to SMEs’ engagement in sustainable practices, our study uncovers findings from interviews with 75 NY State SMEs, representing a broad cross section of industries and geographical spreads across communities of various sizes. The most common sustainable solutions implemented included recycling/waste reduction, use of renewable/efficient energy, adoption of reusable materials, sourcing from local suppliers/supporting local economy, and utilizing third-party sustainability audits or achieving sustainability-related accreditations. While municipalities, states, and federal government offer incentives and impose regulations to motivate and shape SMEs’ adoption of sustainable strategies, our results indicate limited impact of such interventions. Although SMEs are adopting sustainable solutions and believe that their efforts are paying off, they also indicate that lack of guidance from government has prevented them from improving the scope of their sustainability programs. Promotion of sustainable practices by SMEs in the US, we believe, needs more deliberate and focused strategies. As self-motivated, passionate and driven as many of the owners/managers we interviewed are in adopting sustainable practices, public agencies should play a leading role in informing SME practitioners on the incentives available and how to access them as well as other types of targeted educational and consulting services. Industry associations could also help by offering similar informational and training programs.
Surface tracking of diffusion bonding void closure and its application to titanium alloys

Diffusion bonding is a process by which two flat, usually metallic, surfaces are welded together at a high temperature and moderate pressure. Bonding occurs due to a combination of diffusion and power law creep that close the voids formed by microscopic differences between the mating surfaces. While the different process parameters are well understood the effects of surface condition and void shapes during bonding has not been thoroughly researched. In this paper we use measured surface profiles, discretize them, and apply the diffusion and creep equations numerically to the profiles in order to provide insight into the effects of surface geometry on bonding. Using this method the voids can interact with each other and the effects of nearby voids can be computed. Experimental tests are performed to confirm the model and theoretical tests were created to determine what the effects of different surface geometries are on bonding performance. While in most cases the bonding was dominated by power law creep the most optimal void shape was one where the voids had completed the creep stage and were controlled by diffusive processes. It was also found that concentrating the overlap area also increases bonding performance.
Determinants of Compensation Disclosure: Evidence From Reg. S-K 402(b):

This study investigates the determinants of compensation disclosure transparency in the context of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) compensation regulation of 2006. Specifically, it foc...
The Interlanguage Pragmatics of Greetings

The present study centers on interlanguage and cross-cultural pragmatics. It investigates semantic formulas in the speech act of greeting performed by Russian EFL learners. In particular, it compares the non-native speakers’ (NNS) and native speakers’ (NS) production of semantic formulas in terms of number, frequency, and content. A Free Discourse Completion Test (FDCT) containing 16 situational prompts elicited greetings by the English NNSs and NSs. The results show that the NNSs significantly deviate from the NSs in terms of number, frequency, and content of greetings strategies, namely, greetings proper, phatic questions and phrases, address terms, and situational greetings. The differences result from negative pragmalinguistic and sociopragmatic transfer, lack of appropriate linguistic means, or not fully developed pragmatic competence. Important pedagogical implications regarding pragmatic instruction are discussed. The results contribute to a better understanding of how EFL learners greet and respond to greetings. They also shed light on the discussion of L2 learners’ pragmatic competence and appropriateness.
Combining physical and chemical decontamination interventions for meat.

Publisher Summary Outbreaks of foodborne illness due to consumption of meat products contaminated with bacterial pathogens, especially with Escherichia coli O157:H7, have been highly publicized. In view of this, the United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) has declared E. coli O157:H7 as an “adulterant” in non-intact fresh beef products and has enforced regulatory requirements designed to reduce the incidence and numbers of food-borne pathogens associated with meat products. One of these requirements is compliance with the “zero-tolerance” policy, where knife-trimming or steam-vacuuming is to be used for removal of all visible physical contaminants, including feces and ingesta, from beef carcasses prior to washing and chilling. Furthermore, in 1996, the USDA-FSIS published new meat and poultry inspection regulations that require all meat and poultry processing facilities to: (i) establish sanitation standard operating procedures; (ii) operate under the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) system; (iii) establish microbiological performance criteria and standards for E. coli biotype I and Salmonella as a means for verification of HACCP; and (iv) perform microbial testing for verification of the establishment's process controls for the prevention and removal of fecal contamination and associated microorganisms. To comply with these requirements, the US meat industry is implementing physical and/or chemical decontamination intervention systems, including animal cleaning and chemical dehairing, spot-cleaning by knife-trimming or steam-vacuuming, carcass washing/rinsing/spraying with hot or cold water and/or chemical solutions (for example, chlorine, organic acids), steam pasteurization, and carcass chilling. This chapter focuses on how these decontamination intervention systems have been combined according to the hurdle technology concept and are currently used by the US meat industry in their efforts to produce a microbiologically cleaner and safer product for the consumer.
Differential polynomial rings in several variables over locally nilpotent rings

We show that a differential polynomial ring over a locally nilpotent ring in several commuting variables is Behrens radical, extending a result by Chebotar.
Is Usable Security an Oxymoron

Current multipronged cybersecurity measures require the active support and participation of users for their successful deployment. Although no formal definition of usable security exists, it is time to make it a reality for users.
Brain-Controlled Drone Racing Game: A Qualitative Analysis.

Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) provides a direct path of communication between the human brain and electronic systems. With the evolution of BCI hardware and software, the realm of BCI applications is expanding. An emerging field is the integration of BCI and video-games. In addition to providing a new user experience, brain-controlled games also allow users with physical disabilities to join the gaming community and compete at the same level as all players. Recently, drone racing has emerged as a popular sport, and analogously to car racing, it is natural that drone racing games will also rise in popularity. This paper presents a brain-controlled drone racing video game where users can control a racing drone using a non-invasive BCI headset by performing a motor imagery task. Additionally, it presents a qualitative analysis of a user study performed with 54 participants to understand users’ perceptions towards brain-controlled games and gain insight on the future of brain-controlled games from the users’ perspective. Results from this study indicate a high level of excitement from players regarding brain-controlled drone games. This paper also provides suggestions for genres of BCI games as well as a discussion of possible future directions for research in this field.
Distilling Multiple Domains for Neural Machine Translation

Neural machine translation achieves impressive results in high-resource conditions, but performance often suffers when the input domain is low-resource. The standard practice of adapting a separate model for each domain of interest does not scale well in practice from both a quality perspective (brittleness under domain shift) as well as a cost perspective (added maintenance and inference complexity). In this paper, we propose a framework for training a single multi-domain neural machine translation model that is able to translate several domains without increasing inference time or memory usage. We show that this model can improve translation on both high- and low-resource domains over strong multi-domain baselines. In addition, our proposed model is effective when domain labels are unknown during training, as well as robust under noisy data conditions.
Discussion of aviation software oversight improvement

The paper describes and critiques the certification of U.S. aviation software. Flight-critical software certification and regulation need external academic review and intervention. Industry is driven to generate profits over prioritizing public safety concerns and has failed to develop adequately proven methods of certifying that flight-critical software is safe to deploy. The opinions expressed in this paper are the views of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of any agency of the U.S. government.
The Angiotensin-(1–12)/Chymase axis as an alternate component of the tissue renin angiotensin system

The identification of an alternate extended form of angiotensin I composed of the first twelve amino acids at the N-terminal of angiotensinogen has generated new knowledge of the importance of noncanonical mechanisms for renin independent generation of angiotensins. The human sequence of the dodecapeptide angiotensin-(1-12) [N-Asp1-Arg2-Val3-Tyr4-Ile5-His6-Pro7-Phe8-His9-Leu10-Val1-Ile12-COOH] is an endogenous substrate that in the rat has been documented to be present in multiple organs including the heart, brain, kidney, gut, adrenal gland, and the bone marrow. Newer studies have confirmed the existence of Ang-(1-12) as an Ang II-forming substrate in the blood and heart of normal and diseased patients. Studies to-date document that angiotensin II generation from angiotensin-(1-12) does not require renin participation while chymase rather than angiotensin converting enzyme shows high catalytic activity in converting this tissue substrate into angiotensin II directly.
Developing a Deep Learning-enabled Guide for the Visually Impaired

With visual impairment being a major detriment to quality of life, It is worth exploring options available to them to improve that quality. In this paper we propose using deep learning, real-time object recognition, and text-to-speech capabilities to develop an application to aid the visually impaired. Learning was implemented on the Convolutional Neural Network AlexNet, using two different types of image datasets to recognize both objects and buildings. We integrate a video webcam with our trained model to recognize objects in real-time so the visually impaired will be able to perceive their environment. Finally, using text-to-speech, our application audibly speaks what our trained model recognizes so they will know what's around them. After obtaining initial results from retrained AlexNet, we attempted two modifications of the original architecture to improve its performance for our application for image recognition for the visually impaired, the first change being to the fully connected layers and the second change being to the convolutional layers. Our results show recognition of 92% for internal object data and 88% for external object data. This will go a long way to achieve UN SDG3 goals for good health and well-being for a large percentage of visually impaired people worldwide.
Type I Interferon Signaling Is a Common Factor Driving Streptococcus pneumoniae and Influenza A Virus Shedding and Transmission.

ABSTRACT The dynamics underlying respiratory contagion (the transmission of infectious agents from the airways) are poorly understood. We investigated host factors involved in the transmission of the leading respiratory pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae. Using an infant mouse model, we examined whether S. pneumoniae triggers inflammatory pathways shared by influenza A virus (IAV) to promote nasal secretions and shedding from the upper respiratory tract to facilitate transit to new hosts. Here, we show that amplification of the type I interferon (IFN-I) response is a critical host factor in this process, as shedding and transmission by both IAV and S. pneumoniae were decreased in pups lacking the common IFN-I receptor (Ifnar1−/− mice). Additionally, providing exogenous recombinant IFN-I to S. pneumoniae-infected pups was sufficient to increase bacterial shedding. The expression of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) was upregulated in S. pneumoniae-infected wild-type (WT) but not Ifnar1−/− mice, including genes involved in mucin type O-glycan biosynthesis; this correlated with an increase in secretions in S. pneumoniae- and IAV-infected WT compared to Ifnar1−/− pups. S. pneumoniae stimulation of ISGs was largely dependent on its pore-forming toxin, pneumolysin, and coinfection with IAV and S. pneumoniae resulted in synergistic increases in ISG expression. We conclude that the induction of IFN-I signaling appears to be a common factor driving viral and bacterial respiratory contagion. IMPORTANCE Respiratory tract infections are a leading cause of childhood mortality and, globally, Streptococcus pneumoniae is the leading cause of mortality due to pneumonia. Transmission of S. pneumoniae primarily occurs through direct contact with respiratory secretions, although the host and bacterial factors underlying transmission are poorly understood. We examined transmission dynamics of S. pneumoniae in an infant mouse model and here show that S. pneumoniae colonization of the upper respiratory tract stimulates host inflammatory pathways commonly associated with viral infections. Amplification of this response was shown to be a critical host factor driving shedding and transmission of both S. pneumoniae and influenza A virus, with infection stimulating expression of a wide variety of genes, including those involved in the biosynthesis of mucin, a major component of respiratory secretions. Our findings suggest a mechanism facilitating S. pneumoniae contagion that is shared by viral infection.
Recent developments on 2D magnetic materials: challenges and opportunities

The emergence of two-dimensional (2D) magnetic materials exhibiting strong magnetization at ultrathin limits above room temperature is promising for miniaturization of devices beyond Moore’s law for future energy efficient nanoelectronic devices. Here, the current status, different mechanisms for the existence of magnetism, spin current injection, and other magnetic properties of monolayer to few layers of various 2D magnetic materials are reviewed. Some of the promising applications of these materials are spintronics devices such as spin valves, spin tunnel field-effect transistors, and spin-filtering magnetic tunnel junctions. Due to the tunable electronic properties of these 2D materials, it is quite interesting to inject the spin current with suitable ferromagnetic contacts. For instance, black phosphorus is a layered material with a small Schottky barrier height capable of injecting spin current. This review includes many recently explored 2D magnetic materials ranging from exfoliated 2D crystals to CVD grown materials from single to several layers, demonstrating tunable layer-dependent magnetic properties. We also explore some of the promising theoretical study based on 2D magnetic compounds such as 2D alkali-based chromium chalcogenides, which shows ferromagnetic as well as semiconducting behavior. The layer-dependent magnetic ordering has been observed in layered compounds like 1T-CrTe2, VSe2, CrI3, and Fe3GeTe2, which have great potential for the future applications in magnetic-based electronic devices. Finally, we emphasize the challenges, opportunities, and future directions of the 2D magnetic materials, where new discoveries might have outstanding impact in transformational scientific breakthroughs towards memory, spintronics, optoelectronics, and other multifunctional device applications.
Simultaneous Optimization of Radiation-Imaging Coincidence for a Multi-Energy Linac.

Introduction: Medical physics guidelines stress the importance of radiation-imaging coincidence, especially for stereotactic treatments. However, multi-energy linear accelerators may only allow a single imaging isocenter. A procedure was developed to simultaneously optimize radiation-imaging isocenter coincidence for all linac photon energies on a Versa HD. Materials and Methods: First, the radiation beam center of each energy was adjusted to match the collimator rotation axis using a novel method that combined ion chamber measurements with a modified Winston-Lutz (WL) test using images only at gantry, couch, and collimator angles of 0°. With all energies properly steered, an 8-field WL test was performed to determine average linac isocenter position across all energies, gantry, and collimator angles. Lasers and the kV imaging isocenter were calibrated to the average linac isocenter of all photon energies. Finally, A 12-field WL test consisting of gantry, couch, and collimator rotations was used to adjust the couch rotation axis to the average linac isocenter, thereby minimizing overall radiation-imaging isocentricity of the system. Results: Using this method, the beam centers were calibrated within 0.10 mm of collimator rotation axis, and linac isocenter coincidence was within 0.20 mm for all energies. Couch isocenter coincidence was adjusted within 0.20 mm of average linac isocenter. Average radiation-imaging isocentricity for all energies was 0.89 mm (0.80–0.98 mm) for a single imaging isocenter. Conclusion: This work provides a method to adjust radiation-imaging coincidence within 1.0 mm for all energies on Elekta's Versa HD.
Exacerbation of pigment epithelial detachment following aflibercept: A case of bevacizumab rescue.

Abstract Purpose We describe a 61-year-old female patient with a retinal pigment epithelial detachment (PED) of the left eye in the setting of neovascular aged-macular degeneration (nAMD) with unanticipated responses to aflibercept and bevacizumab. Observations A reduction of PED size from 423 μm to 309 μm and vision improvement (20/150- to 20/40) were observed after five consecutive monthly injections of bevacizumab. A switch to aflibercept for the following two consecutive months showed an unanticipated incremental decline in vision (20/80- at month 1, 20/150- at month 2), increased PED size (749 μm), and the development of subretinal fluid (SRF). After a switch back to bevacizumab, the subretinal fluid resolved. After nine consecutive monthly injections of bevacizumab, final vision in the left eye was 20/25, and final PED height was 84 μm. Conclusions Different anti-VEGFs may induce varied and unpredictable responses among the most recalcitrant cases of nAMD. Unpredictably, PED size in our patient worsened with aflibercept treatment. Importance Treatment for nAMD with large PEDs has poor level 1 evidence for guidance, and customized treatment should be considered.
Distributionally Robust Classifiers in Sentiment Analysis.

In this paper, we propose sentiment classification models based on BERT integrated with DRO (Distributionally Robust Classifiers) to improve model performance on datasets with distributional shifts. We added 2-Layer Bi-LSTM, projection layer (onto simplex or Lp ball), and linear layer on top of BERT to achieve distributionally robustness. We considered one form of distributional shift (from IMDb dataset to Rotten Tomatoes dataset). We have confirmed through experiments that our DRO model does improve performance on our test set with distributional shift from the training set.
EXTENSION OF MICROWAVE DETECTION AND FREQUENCY MEASURING TECHNIQUES INTO THE OPTICAL REGION

Precise frequency measurements in the far-infrared and infrared have made possible highly accurate spectroscopic observations in these regions. This article gives a review of the general properties of the high-speed diode element used in the frequency measurements. Other future applications are discussed in the concluding section.
A Theory of Statistical Evidence

There are at least two ways in which the impact of evidence on a proposition may vary. On the one hand, there are various possible degrees to which the evidence may support the proposition: taken as a whole, it may support it strongly, just a little, or not at all. On the other hand, there are various possible degrees to which the evidence may cast doubt on the proposition: taken as a whole, it may cast serious doubt on it, thus rendering it extremely doubtful or implausible; it may cast only moderate doubt on it, thus leaving it moderately plausible; or it may cast hardly any doubt on it, thus leaving it entirely plausible.
Tracking performance of a high-gain observer in the presence of measurement noise

Unlike previous work in the area of high-gain observers, the focus of this paper is the effect measurement noise has on the tracking error, not the estimation error. Although a tradeoff exists between the speed of state reconstruction and the bound on the steady-state estimation error, such a compromise is not evident in the tracking error of the first state. The purpose of this work is to provide the reader with the relationship between the high-gain observer parameter and the tracking error and its subsequent derivatives. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
THERMOSENSITIVITY OF POLIOVIRUS

Wallis, Craig (Baylor University College of Medicine, Houston, Tex.) and Joseph L. Melnick. Thermosensitivity of poliovirus. J. Bacteriol. 86:499-504. 1963.-Polioviruses are thermosensitive agents, although thermoresistant strains have been obtained and reported in the literature. Such resistant strains can be developed by exposure of the virus to cystine during multiple-cycle yields. Thermoresistant strains can be converted to the thermosensitive state by passing the virus in cells maintained in a cystine-free medium, or by reducing the virus with glutathione. The thermoresistant variants seem to result from the conditions under which virus is grown and harvested. Consequently, many such thermostable polioviruses actually represent phenotypic rather than genotypic variation.
Dental wear among cercopithecid monkeys of the Taï forest, Côte d'Ivoire

Studies of dental macrowear can be useful for understanding masticatory and ingestive behavior, life history, and for inferring dietary information from the skeletal material of extinct and extant primates. Such studies to date have tended to focus on one or two teeth, potentially missing information that can be garnered through examination of wear patterns across the tooth row. Our study measured macrowear in the postcanine teeth of three sympatric cercopithecid species from the Tai Forest, Cote d'Ivoire (Cercocebus atys, Procolobus badius, and Colobus polykomos), whose diets have been well-described. Inter-specific analyses suggest that different diets and ingestive behaviors are characterized by different patterns of wear across the molar row, with Cercocebus atys emphasizing tooth use near P4 -M1 , P. badius emphasizing a large amount of tooth use near M2 -M3 , and Colobus polykomos exhibiting wear more evenly across the postcanine teeth. Information regarding differential tooth use across the molar row may be more informative than macrowear analysis of isolated teeth for making inferences about primate feeding behavior.
Conceptualizing Self-Evaluation of Clinical Practice

clients "to provide direct, diagnostic, preventive, and treatment services to Individuals, families, and groups where functioning Is threatened or affected by social and psychological stress."1 It addresses Itself to "the Internal life of the client, seeking to modify maladaptive defenses and in crease ego strengths ..." and in cludes concern with "the client's In teractions and transactions within
A non‐profit accountability framework

Abstract: A non-profit accountability framework is developed from the broader academic literature, both within non-profit studies and beyond. The framework includes a comprehensive set of stakeholders that non-profits need to be accountable to, as well as resources to be accountable for. These stakeholders and resources are then contrasted on a matrix. Sommaire : Un cadre d'imputabilite pour le secteur a but non lucratif est elaborea partir de la documentation. Le cadre inclut un ensemble exhaustif de parties prenantes auxquelles le secteur a but non lucratif doit rendre des comptes, ainsi que des ressources pour lesquelles il est imputable. Ces parties prenantes et les ressources sont alors mises en contraste sur un tableau.
A Framework for Making Quantitative Educational Research Articles More Reader-Friendly for Practitioners

The purpose of the present article is to demonstrate how quantitative research articles can be made much more reader-friendly. In particular, we illustrate how statistical language and research terminology can be simplified in reports. Moreover, using a published article, we demonstrate how quantitative reports could be re-structured to make them more reader-friendly, without sacrificing any important statistical information. We contend that by restructuring these reports, practitioners and stakeholders would be in a much better position to read quantitative research articles, whose findings could then be utilized to improve the quality of education. As such, not only would the divide between researchers and practitioners be reduced, but also educational research studies would have a much bigger impact on schools.
Three-dimensional selective amplitude histograms: A statistical approach to EEG-single neuron relationships

Abstract A statistical method for analyzing relationships between EEG activity (or membrane potential fluctuations) and neuronal spike discharges is described. A three-dimensional selective amplitude histogram is produced which shows the frequency of occurrence of EEG amplitudes as a function of neuronal discharge time. This graph and related statistical derivations permit detection and quantification of non-random EEG-single unit correlations.
Impact of preoperative serum PSA level from 0 to 10 ng/ml on pathological findings and disease-free survival after radical prostatectomy.

Background To determine the impact of various preoperative serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels in the range from 0.1 to 10 ng/ml on pathological stage and disease-free survival after radical prostatectomy. Methods We selected a cohort of 585 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy between 1991–1996 for clinically localized prostate cancer and presented with preoperative serum PSA levels from 0.1 to 10 ng/ml. Results Pathological organ-confined disease was present in 57.6% of patients. The rate of organ-confined disease decreased from an average of 85% for patients with a PSA value 7 ng/ml. We found statistically significant correlations between preoperative serum PSA level and overall pathological stage (P = 0.001), pathologically organ-confined disease (P = 0.001), margin positive rates (P = 0.001), extra prostatic extension (P = 0.001), and seminal vesicle invasion (P = 0.001). The overall disease-free survival rate was 87%, with a median follow up of 42.4 months. Disease free survival was significantly better for patients with PSA up to 4 ng/ml (P = 0.005). Conclusions Our data suggests that PSA detection programs should strive to detect prostate cancer in men before the PSA level rises above 7 ng/ml. In addition, since patients with a PSA level < 4 ng/ml had better disease-free survival rates than those with a PSA level between 4.1–10 ng/ml, eliminating an arbitrary cutoff of 4 ng/ml, may lead to improved disease-free survival. Prostate 48:136–143, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
VEGF induces expression of Bcl-2 and multiple signaling factors in microvascular endothelial cells in a prostate cancer model

Purpose We have previously demonstrated that prostate tumors that highly express Bcl-2 are not only more tumorigenic, but also more angiogenic than low Bcl-2 expressing tumors. Observed increased rates of angiogenesis are likely due to the secretion of multiple factors from the tumor cells.
Electroconvulsive therapy and the diencephalon: A preliminary report

Abstract In a double-blind controlled study of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), 30 patients with endogenous depression were randomly assigned to receive one of three treatment methods: two nondominant unilateral ECT's each session; one nondominant followed by one dominant unilateral ECT each session; one conventional bilateral ECT each session. No differences in therapeutic effect were found among the three treatment methods as measured by depression rating scores obtained before ECT and after the fourth treatment session, or by the rater's global estimate of treatment response. The possible roles of temporal-lobe and diencephalic stimulation for the depression-relieving effects of ECT are discussed, and the suggestion is made that direct stimulation of the diencephalon is a critical variable for the fully developed therapeutic effect of ECT.
Laptop computers in industrial sales

Abstract This article examines the concept of the laptop/portable computer in the industrial sales world. This study questioned sales managers from 201 different sales organizations classified in SICs 20–39. Sales managers were asked to describe current usage of laptop/portable computers by their salespeople and the importance of the computers in performing daily sales activities. The sales managers were also asked to describe the impact of the laptop on factors such as profits, administrative tasks, sales calls, expenses, productivity, and others. Lastly, this study examined the satisfaction levels of laptop/portable usage by sales management, sales personnel, and customers.
Evolution of insect-plant relationships: chemical constraints, coadaptation, and concordance of insect/plant traits

Co-adaptations, co-evolution, and co-speciation between herbivores and their host plants have been topics of interest for several decades. Difficulties in deciphering these relationships as well as physiological, biochemical, and ecological adaptations of herbivorous insects themselves are discussed here in relation to biotic and abiotic environmental factors that create temporal as well as spatial mosaics of genetic variation. Hybridization was shown in swallowtail butterflies (Papilio) (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) to produce some trait concordance, but mostly independent geographic trait clines (physiological, biochemical, and morphological). Strong and extensive genetic introgression of Liriodendron tulipifera detoxification abilities was documented northward across the hybrid zone, presumably as a result of regional climate warming only during the last 3–4 years. These and other genetic novelties produced by hybridization may be important in speciation processes, and they also emphasize the difficulties identifying appropriate taxonomic classifications for discussing any species concept. Host plant detoxification abilities (as ‘key innovations’) are shown capable of rapid movement between different polyphagous herbivore species independently of the host plant availability and well beyond the insect species geographical range distribution. Part of the difficulty associated with ecologically categorizing herbivore species and identifying affiliated adaptations for host plant use may be related to independent movement of various ‘species-diagnostic’ traits. Climate-driven local selection regimes could help generate the dynamic variation observed for co-adapted, co-evolved, or non-adapted genotypes, and may produce the confusing and changing patterns of geographic mosaics seen within and among closely related herbivores. Experimental analyses of several factors that could explain the asymmetrical shapes of trait clines across the hybrid zone for tiger swallowtail butterflies are discussed.
The preparation and some properties of a low molecular weight ribonucleic acid from baker's yeast.

Abstract A low molecular weight RNA has been extracted from whole baker's yeast cells with phenol and compared with yeast S-RNA. Several properties which have been investigated are very similar for both products. Among these properties are the sedimentation constants, the chromatographic behavior on DEAE-cellulose columns, the formation of dinitrophenylhydrazones, the base composition, and the valine and adenylate accepting activity. The extraction procedure is adaptable to large scale preparations.
Transforming growth factor β1‐mediated inhibition of smooth muscle cell proliferation is associated with a late G1 cell cycle arrest

The effect of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF beta 1) on the proliferative response of aortic smooth muscle cells (SMC) in vitro was investigated. TGF beta 1 substantially inhibited the growth of human and bovine SMC. Rapidly growing SMC and quiescent serum-stimulated SMC were inhibited by TGF beta 1 with an ID50 of approximately 0.5 ng/ml and maximal inhibition was observed at 10 ng/ml TGF beta 1. In the presence of TGF beta 1, quiescent serum-stimulated SMC progress into the G1 phase of the cell cycle, but become reversibly arrested at a point temporally located 1-2 hours from S phase. Release from this late G1 TGF beta 1 arrest point results in S phase entry within 2 hours. Associated with this inhibitory effect is a decrease in the histone H1 kinase activity of p34cdc2 protein kinase while TGF beta 1 has no effect on the transcription or translation of p34cdc2. Under these growth inhibitory conditions, TGF beta 1 is still capable of upregulating the expression of fibronectin mRNA. These results suggest that TGF beta 1 growth inhibition in SMC is associated with the regulation of p34cdc2 activity in late G1.
Critical Regimes of Coal Ignition

In a normal operation of the coal fired power plant, critical regimes exist where the particles cannot be ignited either in the gas mode or in the heterogeneous mode due to excessive heat loss. Following thermal theories of ignition, sufficient conditions for the extinction sizes for quenching gas phase combustion are presented along with critical limits for the gas phase and heterogeneous ignition of coal particles. Universal plots are given to present the critical parameters of both modes of ignition in terms of known physico-chemical data of any coal/char particle. Quantitative results for the critical size and oxygen concentration of brown coal particles estimated from the plots are found to check with the iterative numerical results carried out elsewhere. Such sizes and oxygen concentrations may serve as ignitability indices of different coal particles.
Borehole seismic-source radiation in layered isotropic and anisotropic media; boundary element modeling

In modeling waves radiated from a borehole seismic source in layered isotropic or anisotropic media, the commonly used numerical methods (e.g., finite difference and finite element) encounter difficulties because of the large scale difference between the borehole diameter and the formation extent. To get around this problem, we apply the indirect boundary element method to establish a general algorithm for modeling source radiation from open and cased boreholes in layered transversely isotropic (TI) media. The essence of the algorithm is to use discrete secondary sources (unknowns) on both sides of the borehole wall (formation/cement interface) to represent the influence of the interface on wave scattering, so that wave propagation inside and outside the borehole can be carried out by Green's functions. The discrete distribution of the secondary sources is determined by matching boundary conditions on the borehole wall. Comparison with the discrete wavenumber method validates the implementation. Applications to fluid-filled open and cased boreholes in three-layer media demonstrate the creation of guided modes in low velocity layers. Presence of anisotropy complicates the guided modes as a result of dispersion and P- and SV-waves coupling in homogeneous TI media. Presence of casing and cement enhances the visibility of the guided modes.
The effect of seed treatments with phorate and other systemic insecticides on the germination of wheat.

Studies were conducted in the greenhouse to determine the relative effect of phorate, Di-Syston® ( O,O -diethyl S-2-(ethylthio)ethyl phosphorodithioate), and SB-3562 (dimethyl 1-(dimethylcarbamoyl)-l-propen-2-yl phosphate) on the germination of wheat when applied as a seed treatment. Extensive testing of phorate was carried out in a factorial experiment using rates from 0.18 to 1.5 pounds of active toxicant per 100 pounds of seed, with six fungicides and five stickers. Both phorate and SD-3562 were seriously toxic to wheat seed, with the latter being most toxic under the test conditions. Di-Syston did not significantly reduce seed viability with rates as high as 1.5 pounds per 100 pounds of seed. The data suggest interactions between certain stickers and fungicides to reduce phytotoxicity of phorate. Another interaction between phorate and a sticker composed of 3 parts dextrin, 1.5 parts sorbitol, and 0.5 part water to lessen the toxic effect of the insecticide to the seed was apparent. Phytotoxic effects of phorate on seed viability increased as the interval between treatment and seeding was prolonged. However, data indicate that this was largely due to the sticker used to apply the phorate. This effect was slight with the sticker mentioned above, but very severe with another sticker Posed of 1.4 parts rice oil, 2 parts sorbitol, and 0.6 part dextrin. Phytotoxic effects are apparently reduced by the interaction of phorate with the fungicide and sticker. The adverse effects of phorate when applied as a seed treatment to wheat at the rates most likely to be used in the field, and with the use of a suitable sticker and fungicide, should be greatly reduced.