cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interactions between bluefish and striped bass: Behavior of bluefish under size- and number-impaired conditions and overlap in resource use

Abstract A decline in bluefish ( Pomatomus saltatrix L.) recreational landings during the 1990s and the early 2000s led to multiple theories on the ultimate cause. One theory was that a large portion of the bluefish population moved offshore and was unavailable to nearshore recreational fishers; one reason given for the movement offshore was increased competition with striped bass ( Morone saxatilis W.). We conducted laboratory experiments (feeding and non-feeding) to examine behavioral interactions between adult bluefish and sub-adult striped bass in a large (121,000 L) research aquarium. Additionally, we examined diet and habitat overlap of bluefish and striped bass from the fall and spring bottom trawl surveys conducted by the National Marine Fisheries Service. Observations of feeding trials for the following treatments were made: non-impaired (i.e., same number and size of bluefish and striped bass), size-impaired (i.e., large striped bass/small bluefish), number-impaired (i.e.,10 striped bass/3bluefish), and single-species controls. Within a species, there was no difference in a variety of behavioral measures (e.g., attack rate, capture success, ingestion rate, and activity) between mixed- and control treatments under non-impaired or size-impaired conditions. However, behavior of number-impaired bluefish differed from control and size-impaired fish suggesting that striped bass may have a negative influence on bluefish foraging when bluefish are “out-numbered”. Feeding had a strong effect on swimming speeds for both species. Diet and habitat overlap between bluefish and striped bass in continental shelf waters was low. Overall, foraging behavior in mixed-species treatments and field observations suggest no competitive interactions between adult bluefish and sub-adult striped bass.
Theoretical Pluralism and Historical Complexity in the Development and Maintenance of Socially Imposed Monogamy: A Comment on Kanazawa and Still

In their article "Why monogamy?" Kanazawa and Still (1999) misrepresent my theory of monogamy as based on egalitarianism among males. I find that a variety of different interests at play in the development of mating systems and that monogamy is a complex, historically conditioned outcome of these differing interests. Because there are no powerful, theoretically-based reasons that specify the conditions under which monogamy is expected to occur, we must examine the detailed historical record for each documented case. I have found that egalitarian striving among males is only one mechanism in the development of monogamy in Western Europe. Other mechanisms include the efforts of some classes of women and a top-down mechanism in which the Catholic Church played a central role in the development of monogamy in the late Middle Ages.
Global Low-Thrust Trajectory Optimization through Hybridization of a Genetic Algorithm and a Direct Method

To expand mission capabilities needed for explorati on of the Solar System, optimal lowthrust trajectories must be found. However, low-thr ust, multiple gravity-assist trajectories pose significant optimization challenges because of their expansive, multimodal design space. Here, a novel technique is developed for global, lo w-thrust, interplanetary trajectory optimization through the hybridization of a genetic algorithm and a gradient-based direct method (GALLOP). The hybrid algorithm combines the effective global search capabilities of a genetic algorithm with the robust convergence and constraint handling of the local, calculus-based direct method. The automated approach alleviates the difficulty and biases of initial guess generation and provides near globally optimal solutions. The technique is applied to several complex low-thrust, gravity-assi st trajectory scenarios, generating previously unpublished optimums. Nomenclature ck = Chebyshev series coefficient bi = bit sting length of i th design variable f(x) = objective function gj(x) = inequality constraint function hk(x) = equality constraint function mf = final spacecraft mass, kg pm = mutation percentage Pa
Abstract 3466: Increased steady-state levels of microtubules in aberrant distributions in Ni+2ion-/MCA-transformed C3H/10T1/2 mouse embryo cell lines

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC We previously found amplification of the Ect-2 proto-oncogene, and higher steady-state levels of ect-2 mRNA and protein, in Ni+2 ion- and MCA-transformed C3H/10T1/2 (10T1/2) mouse embryo fibroblast cell lines. Here, we tested the hypotheses that there were 1) increased steady-state levels of microtubules in Ni+2/MCA-transformed 10T1/2 cell lines, 2) aberrant distributions of microtubules in transformed cell lines, and 3) increases in cross sectional areas of transformed cell lines. Log phase Ni+2 ion- and MCA-transformed and non-transformed 10T1/2 mouse embryo cells were stained separately with fluorescent antibodies to alpha tubulin or beta tubulin, then visualized using confocal microscopy (n=8). The number of microtubules/cell and cross sectional areas of stained cells were quantified using the volocity image analysis program, and ratios of (microtubules in transformed cell lines/microtubules in non-transformed 10T1/2 cells) were determined. In non-transformed 10T1/2 cells, microtubules were distributed homogeneously. In transformed cells, microtubules were often present as large aggregates in cells, and shapes of transformed cells were aberrant compared to shapes of non-transformed 10T1/2 cells. Compared to non-transformed 10T1/2 cells, MCA Cl 16, NiS3A1, NiS7A1 and NiO2C3 cell lines had a 2.1 (p 0.05), 1.8 (p > 0.05) and 1.9 (p 0.05) and 1.1 (p<0.05) fold-higher beta tubulin fluorescence intensity relative to 10T1/2 cells. Transformed cell lines showed 1.9 - 2.5 significant (p<0.1) fold-increases in cross-sectional area compared to non-transformed 10T1/2 cells (n = 8). We concluded MCA-/Ni+2 ion-transformed 10T1/2 cells had higher steady-sate levels of microtubules, present in aberrant distributions, and transformed cells were larger than non-transformed cells. Supported by Grant ES03341 from U. S. N. I. H., funding from the M. S. Program in the Dept. of Molecular Microbiology/Immunology at USC, and discretionary funding, to JRL. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3466.
TESTING A SPECIFIED DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PROPORTIONS

Testing of a specified difference between binomial proportions (including the test of equality) may be formulated to preserve the asymptotic power intended for pairs of simple hypotheses related under a specified family of alternatives, such as simple shift alternatives. This formulation simply matches parameterizations for estimated and true response rates in terms of corresponding specifications for the offsets realizing the specified difference from a nuisance parameter. The parameterization is then employed in estimating the variance of the difference in proportions. An unbiased estimator of the appropriate variance is provided and asymptotically unbiased hypothesis testing is verified.
Control of magnetocrystalline anisotropy by epitaxial strain in double perovskite Sr(2)FeMoO(6) films.

We demonstrate tuning of magnetocrystalline anisotropy in high-quality ${\mathrm{Sr}}_{2}{\mathrm{FeMoO}}_{6}$ epitaxial films over a range of several thousand Gauss using strain induced by epitaxial growth on substrates of varying lattice constants. Spectroscopic measurements reveal a striking, linear dependence of the out-of-plane anisotropy on the strain-induced tetragonal distortion of the ${\mathrm{Sr}}_{2}{\mathrm{FeMoO}}_{6}$ lattice. This anisotropy can be tuned from $+2000$ to $\ensuremath{-}3300\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{Oe}$, a range sufficient to rotate the easy axis from in plane to out of plane. Combined with its half-metallicity and high Curie temperature, this result implies a broad range of scientific and technological applications for this novel spintronic material.
Propagation Behavior of Photoacoustic Pulses in Multi-layer Tissues

Propagation behavior of photoacoustic pulses through acoustically heterogeneous tissues is simulated in this study. This study is important for high-resolution and quantitative photoacoustic imaging, particularly when hard tissues like bone and skull are involved.
Changes of Interleukin-10 and Transforming Growth Factor-β in Infants with Food Allergy

Objective To investigate the role of interleukin-10(IL-10) and transforming growth factor bata(TGF-β) in the pathogenesis of food allergy in infants.Methods The serum food specific immunoglobulin E(SIgE) were detected in all infants with food allergy(food allergy group,n=40) and the normal control group(n=40) by Pharmacia UniCAP100E system.The serum levels of IL-10 and TGF-β in food allergy group and normal control group were detected with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results Forty infants with food allergy had signs in the skin,the respiratory and(or) the digestive tract,and they had one or several food SIgE positive in their serum food SIgE detection,including eggs allergy in 27 cases,milk allergy in 34 cases,and quantitative analysis of SIgE in them was all above grade Ⅱ.The serum food SIgE was negative in the controls,and they had no clinical manifestations of food allergy.There was significant diffe-rence between serum level of IL-10 in the infants with food allergy[(10.28±2.38) ng·L-1] and in the normal control group [(4.75±0.92) ng·L-1](P=0.035).The serum level of TGF-β in the infants with food allergy [(1 041.93±75.64) ng·L-1] was higher significantly than that in normal control group [(734.29±39.67) ng·L-1](P=0.001).Conclusions Food allergy is disturbance of the immune system,IL-10 and TGF-β may play a key role in the pathogenesis of food allergy in infants.
Investigation on vaccination status of left-behind children in rural areas of Linquan County

Objective To understand the vaccination status of left-behind children in Linquan county.Method The random method was adopted to determine the investigation points and objects.An interview with children's guardians was conducted,using a questionnaire.The database was established by EpiData software and statistical analysis was performed using SPSS.Results A total of 1 441 children were surveyed in the whole county,of whom the whole five-vaccination coverage rate was 84.25%.The coverage rates of measles vaccine,japanese encephalitis vaccine and hepatitis A vaccine,and the five-vaccination coverage rate were lower in left-behind children,compared with the other children(χ2=20.57,113.39,51.14,67.89 and 11.04 respectively,P0.01).Conclusion The vaccination coverage rate among left-behind children was lower than local general children.The immunization services inodes should be improved to increase vaccination coverage rate among left-behind children.
Structural Design and Improvement of a Passenger Vehicle' s Front Floor

Based on the stiffness problems in the design of a passenger vehicle's front door,the paper puts forward some optimized plans,for increasing the car's stiffness and improving the sense of comfort(NVH Performance) of passengers.
Energy balance, first ovulation and the effects of naloxone on LH secretion in early postpartum dairy cows.

Relationship among energy balance (EB), first ovulation, circulating metabolites and opioid involvement in peripheral LH concentrations were assessed in 40 multiparous Holstein cows assigned randomly to an experiment with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Cows were either milked normally (2x/d) and expected to be in negative EB (LAC) or were milked for only 1 d postpartum (PP) to ensure a rapid return to positive EB (NONLAC). Blood samples were collected from NONLAC cows every 12 min for 16 h on d 7, 10, and 14 PP and from LAC cows on d 7, 14, 21 and 28 PP. Within each group, half the cows received naloxone (50 mg/h) and half received saline during h 9 to 16 of each frequent sampling series. The mean number of LH pulses/8 h for NONLAC cows was 4.3, 4.7 and 5.3 at 7, 10 and 14 d PP and for LAC cows 4.3, 5.7, 6.4 and 7.0 at 7, 14, 21 and 28 d PP, respectively. The LH pulse frequency was not different between NONLAC and LAC cows at 7 and 14 d PP, yet NONLAC cows had fewer days to first ovulation (P less than .01). Naloxone did not affect any parameters of LH secretion in either group. Following parturition, NONLAC cows averaged 4.0 d to negative EB nadir and 14.3 d to first ovulation. The LAC cows averaged 13.6 d to negative EB nadir and 27.0 d to first ovulation. Days PP to first ovulation were highly correlated (r = .85) with days PP to negative EB nadir.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
An evaluation of modified exposure therapy for a child diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder and pervasive developmental disorder–not otherwise specified.

Empirically validated treatments are available for reducing obsessions and compulsions for individuals with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), but limited research exists on their use for children with OCD comorbid with developmental disabilities. A modified exposure treatment was implemented for
SU-F-T-435: Helical Tomotherapy for Craniospinal Irradiation: What We Have Learned from a Multi-Institutional Study

Purpose: To report cranio-spinal irradiation (CSI) planning experience, compare dosimetric quality and delivery efficiency with Tomotherapy from different institutions, and to investigate effect of planning parameters on plan quality and treatment time. Methods: Clinical helical tomotherapy IMRT plans for thirty-nine CSI cases from three academic institutions were retrospectively evaluated. The planning parameters: field width (FW), pitch, modulation factor (MF), and achieved dosimetric endpoints were cross-compared. A fraction-dose-delivery-timing index (FDTI), defined as treatment time per fraction dose per PTV length, was utilized to evaluate plan delivery efficiency. A lower FDTI indicates higher delivery efficiency. We studied the correlation between planning quality, treatment time and planning parameters by grouping the plans under specific planning parameters. Additionally, we created new plans using 5cm jaw for a subset of plans that used 2.5cm jaw to exam if treatment efficiency can be improved without sacrificing plan quality. Results: There were significant dosimetric differences for organ at risks (OARs) among different institutions (A,B,C). Using the lowest average MF (1.9±0.4) and 5cm field width, C had the highest lung, heart, kidney, liver mean doses and maximum doses for lens. Using the same field width of 5cm, but higher MF (2.6±0.6), B had lower doses to the OARs in the thorax and abdomen area. Most of A's plans were planned with 2.5cm jaw, the plans yielded better PTV coverage, higher OAR doses and slightly shorter FDTI compared to institution B. The replanned 5cm jaw plans achieved comparable PTV coverage and OARs sparing, while saving up to 44.7% treatment time. Conclusion: Plan quality and delivery efficiency could vary significantly in CSI planning on Tomotheapy due to choice of different planning parameters. CSI plans using a 5cm jaw, with proper selection of pitch and MF, can achieve comparable/ better plan quality with shorter delivery time compared to 2.5cm jaw plans.
Biliary complications following living donor hepatectomy

Abstract Background Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) has become increasingly common in an effort to increase organ availability for the treatment of end-stage liver disease. Donor safety is a primary concern in LDLT. The majority of complications experienced by living donors are infectious or biliary in nature. The purpose of this paper was to review the existing literature on biliary complications in living donors. Methods Studies were eligible for inclusion if they were published in English between 2006-present, focused on adult-to-adult LDLT, and were available via PubMed/MEDLINE. Results A total of 33 studies reporting outcomes from 12,653 donors (right lobe: 8231, left lobe: 4422) were included. Of 33 studies, 12 reported outcomes from right lobe donors, 1 from left lobe donors, 14 compared left and right, and 6 focused specifically on biliary complications. A total of 830 biliary complications (6.6%) were reported, with 75 donors requiring re-operation for biliary complications and 1 donor death attributed to biliary complications. Conclusion Although bile leaks and strictures are still relatively common following living donor hepatectomy, the majority of complications are minor and resolve with conservative measures. Approximately 6% of living donors will experience a biliary complication and, of these 6%, approximately 9% (total of 0.6% of donors) will require operative management of the biliary complication.
Control design for hybrid systems with TuLiP: The Temporal Logic Planning toolbox

This tutorial describes TuLiP, the Temporal Logic Planning toolbox, a collection of tools for designing controllers for hybrid systems from specifications in temporal logic. The tools support a workflow that starts from a description of desired behavior, and of the system to be controlled. The system can have discrete state, or be a hybrid dynamical system with a mixed discrete and continuous state space. The desired behavior can be represented with temporal logic and discrete transition systems. The system description can include uncontrollable variables that take discrete or continuous values, and represent disturbances and other environmental factors that affect the dynamics, as well as communication signals that affect controller decisions.
Inflammasomes and Cancer

Inflammation affects all stages of tumorigenesis. A key signaling pathway leading to acute and chronic inflammation is through activation of the caspase-1 inflammasome. Inflammasome complexes are assembled on activation of certain nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich repeat-containing proteins (NLR), AIM2-like receptors, or pyrin. Of these, NLRP1, NLRP3, NLRC4, NLRP6, and AIM2 influence the pathogenesis of cancer by modulating innate and adaptive immune responses, cell death, proliferation, and/or the gut microbiota. Activation of the inflammasome and IL18 signaling pathways is largely protective in colitis-associated colorectal cancer, whereas excessive inflammation driven by the inflammasome or the IL1 signaling pathways promotes breast cancer, fibrosarcoma, gastric carcinoma, and lung metastasis in a context-dependent manner. The clinical relevance of inflammasomes in multiple forms of cancer highlights their therapeutic promise as molecular targets. In this review, we explore the crossroads between inflammasomes and the development of various tumors and discuss possible therapeutic values in targeting the inflammasome for the prevention and treatment of cancer. Cancer Immunol Res; 5(2); 94-99. ©2017 AACR.
Disentangling the effects of gratitude and optimism: A cross-cultural investigation.

Previous research finds cultural differences in response to activities designed to increase happiness, or Positive Psychological Intervention (PPIs). The goal of the present study is to explore why...
Yuhuan Wu tone and the role of sonorant onsets

This paper investigates how prosodic elements such as prominences and prosodic boundaries in Hindi are perceived. We approach this using data from three sources: (i) native speakers of Hindi without any linguistic expertise (ii) a linguistically trained expert in Hindi prosody and finally, (iii) classifiers trained on English for automatic prominence and boundary detection. We use speech from a corpus of Hindi narrative speech for our experiments. Our results indicate that non-expert transcribers do not have a consistent notion of prosodic prominences. However, they show considerable agreement regarding the placement of prosodic boundaries. Also, relative to the nonexpert transcribers, there is higher agreement between the expert transcriber and the automatically derived labels for prominence (and prosodic boundaries); this suggests the possibility of using classifiers for the automatic prediction of these prosodic events in Hindi.
Evaluation of Sorghum Silage as an Alternative Forage in Growing and Finishing Diets on Steer Performance, Carcass Characteristics, and Nutrient Digestibility

Overall trial performance indicates that sorghum silage-fed steers consume less feed but maintain similar growth and carcass composition when compared to steers fed grass hay. Similar performance by steers despite additional post-extraction sorghum silage partially replacing cracked corn, the primary energy source in the diet, suggests the feeding value of sorghum silage is equivalent to or better than the average quality hay used in this study. Further research is needed to quantify the energy/feeding value of this post-ethanol extraction sorghum silage in growing and finishing feedlot diets.
Protonpompremmers slecht voor nieren

VraagstellingProtonpompremmers (PPI’s) worden frequent voorgeschreven. Dit is echter niet geheel ongevaarlijk, aangezien PPI-gebruik mogelijk leidt tot chronische nierinsufficientie. Zorgen PPI’s voor achteruitgang in de nierfunctie (Chronische Nier Schade, CNS) gedefinieerd als een glomerulaire filtratie (eGFR) < 60 ml/min/1,73 m?
Exciton trapping is responsible for the long apparent lifetime in acid-treated MoS 2

Here, we show that deep trapped ``dark'' exciton states are responsible for the surprisingly long lifetime of band-edge photoluminescence in acid-treated single-layer ${\mathrm{MoS}}_{2}$. Temperature-dependent transient photoluminescence spectroscopy reveals an exponential tail of long-lived states extending hundreds of meV into the band gap. These subband states, which are characterized by a 4 $\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{s}$ radiative lifetime, quickly capture and store photogenerated excitons before subsequent thermalization up to the band edge where fast radiative recombination occurs. By intentionally saturating these trap states, we are able to measure the ``true'' 150 ps radiative lifetime of the band-edge exciton at 77 K, which extrapolates to $\ensuremath{\sim}600$ ps at room temperature. These experiments reveal the dominant role of dark exciton states in acid-treated ${\mathrm{MoS}}_{2}$, and suggest that excitons spend $g95%$ of their lifetime at room temperature in trap states below the band edge. We hypothesize that these states are associated with native structural defects, which are not introduced by the superacid treatment; rather, the superacid treatment dramatically reduces nonradiative recombination through these states, extending the exciton lifetime and increasing the likelihood of eventual radiative recombination.
Digital signal processing: theory, applications, and hardware

Designed for graduate students and signal processing practitioners with an introductory background in DSP, this new text gives representative coverage of advanced topics (orthogonal expansions, optimal filters, and two-dimensional DSP), and advanced aspects of familiar topics (fast transforms beyond the FFT, non-uniform sampling and quantization). Providing a self-contained blending of DSP theory, applications to speech and image processing, and state-of-the-art DSP hardware, "Digital Signal Processing" includes: introductory DSP concepts summarized in five appendixes; DSP filter algorithms - e.g.subband and median filters; least squares, optimal, and adaptive filters spectral estimation and deconvolution; speech and image processing applications; and DSP hardware realizations.
The only way for minority cultural survival

Asymmetric social boundaries allow a minority culture to reap the benefits of outside interaction while maintaining its distinctiveness. This opens questions about the nature of intergroup interactions and whether such boundaries are the only way to preserve valued cultural norms.
Lomagundi Carbon Isotope Excursion

The Lomagundi carbon isotope excursion (LCIE), sensu stricto (s.s.), refers to highly positive carbon isotope values (on the average +8 ‰, but values as high as +16 ‰ are not uncommon with the highest values observed at +28 ‰) in Paleoproterozoic sedimentary carbonates deposited between ~2.22 and 2.06 Ga (Karhu and Holland 1996; Bekker et al. 2003), likely reflecting seawater composition. The beginning and the end of the excursion have not so far been recognized in the sedimentary record, and there is also uncertainty about the exact age of these transitions. Positive (at ~2.32 Ga and between ~2.45 and ~2.32 Ga; Bekker et al. 2001; Rasmussen et al. 2013) and negative (between ~2.45 and 2.32 Ga; Bekker et al. 2005) carbon isotope excursions have been found leading to the LCIE s.s. The older positive carbon isotope excursions, in particular the ~2.32 Ga one, are considered to be an early expression of the LCIE sensu lato (s.l.). Although originally considered to be a plausible cause for the Great Oxygenation Event (GOE) (e.g., Karhu and Holland 1996), it is nowwidely agreed that the LCIE s.s. followed the GOE and potentially occurred in response to it (e.g., Konhauser et al. 2011; Bekker and Holland 2012). The LCIE s.l. is associated with the Huronian ice ages and the final stage in the assembly of the supercontinent, while the LCIE s.s. followed them and ended during the sea level rise associated with the supercontinent breakup. The excursion ended up with the ocean deoxygenation event and in association with deposition of Mnand P-rich sediments. This is by far the longest-lived and largest perturbation to the biogeochemical carbon cycle in the Earth’s history, and yet, in contrast to Neoproterozoic events, it followed rather than led to the first series of global-scale ice ages.
Cocaine Self-administration Alters Transcriptome-wide Responses in the Brain’s Reward Circuitry

Abstract Background Global changes in gene expression underlying circuit and behavioral dysregulation associated with cocaine addiction remain incompletely understood. Here, we show how a history of cocaine self-administration (SA) reprograms transcriptome-wide responses throughout the brain’s reward circuitry at baseline and in response to context and/or cocaine re-exposure after prolonged withdrawal (WD). Methods We assigned male mice to one of six groups: saline/cocaine SA + 24-hour WD or saline/cocaine SA + 30-day WD + an acute saline/cocaine challenge within the previous drug-paired context. RNA sequencing was conducted on six interconnected brain reward regions. Using pattern analysis of gene expression and factor analysis of behavior, we identified genes that are strongly associated with addiction-related behaviors and uniquely altered by a history of cocaine SA. We then identified potential upstream regulators of these genes. Results We focused on three patterns of gene expression that reflect responses to 1) acute cocaine, 2) context re-exposure, and 3) drug + context re-exposure. These patterns revealed region-specific regulation of gene expression. Further analysis revealed that each of these gene expression patterns correlated with an addiction index—a composite score of several addiction-like behaviors during cocaine SA—in a region-specific manner. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element binding protein and nuclear receptor families were identified as key upstream regulators of genes associated with such behaviors. Conclusions This comprehensive picture of transcriptome-wide regulation in the brain’s reward circuitry by cocaine SA and prolonged WD provides new insight into the molecular basis of cocaine addiction, which will guide future studies of the key molecular pathways involved.
Evaluating the Tradeoffs Between Dollars Spent and Lives saved in Military Settings

Abstract : A fundamental tenant of economics is that actions should be evaluated in terms of benefits and costs, including actions aimed at reducing military or civilian casualties. Safety improvements only expand individual or social welfare if the benefits of the improvements exceed their costs. Monetary costs of safety programs are generally determined through engineering or accounting studies and are fairly non-controversial. Against their costs, must be weighed the value of fewer fatalities and injuries, which requires both an accurate assessment of the fatalities and injuries eliminated and a monetary value of the lives saved and injuries avoided. Some argue that no monetary value can be placed on human life so any effort that improves safety is worthwhile. Clearly, the military cannot operate as if human life had infinite value. The focal message of our chapter is that choices must be made because complete safety is impossible and approving every advancement in armament, technology, or training that would reduce causalities or injuries would soon exhaust the military budget and leave no resources available for the core activities of defending the country.
Improved penetration of spermatozoa into uterine fluids of women with abnormal postcoital tests.

Cervical mucus-uterine fluid cross-penetration of husbands' and control sperm was assessed in 13 couples with poor or negative postcoital tests. Cervical mucus scoring and tray agglutination test identified six women with sperm-agglutinating antibodies and seven women with cervical dysmucorrhea. All males were normozoospermic, with penetration into control cervical mucus and control uterine fluids. Control sperm penetrated into cervical mucus and uterine fluids of three and five of the women with sperm-agglutinating antibodies and cervical dysmucorrhea, respectively. Penetration of husbands' spermatozoa into uterine fluids of patients with sperm-agglutinating antibodies was lower than that of control semen (P less than .05). Control and husbands' sperm penetration into uterine fluids of women with cervical dysmucorrhea were identical. In both groups, husbands' and control sperm penetrated uterine fluids more frequently than cervical mucus (75 versus 12%; P less than .001). On a six-month follow-up and midcycle intrauterine inseminations, six patients (46%) conceived. We conclude that uterine fluids of patients with sperm-agglutinating antibodies and cervical dysmucorrhea may provide a better milieu for spermatozoa than cervical mucus. This observation suggests a rationale for intrauterine inseminations to achieve pregnancy.
Competitive and cooperative multimode dynamics in photorefractive ring circuits

Publisher Summary This chapter describes competitive and cooperative multimode dynamics in photorefractive ring circuits. Competitive and cooperative interactions play a fundamental role in many neural network models. It has been shown that groups of neurons in the brain become maximally sensitive for different sensory inputs. Such a specialization of neurons is not only genetically predetermined but can also develop dynamically over time. This self-organizing process requires a competitive interaction among the neurons to determine which group becomes the activity center for a given external stimulus. Competitive interactions have been shown to solve a universal problem concerning the evaluation of information by a neural network in the presence of noise. This problem is known as the noise-saturation dilemma and results from the fact that small signals can get lost in noise whereas large signals can saturate the system's response. However, through a competitive coupling among the processing units, the system can automatically retune itself to avoid both noise and saturation.
The many clinical faces of cytochrome c oxidase deficiency.

Cytochrome c oxidase (COX) catalyzes the last step in respiration, transferring electrons from cytochrome c to molecular oxygen and coupling electron transfer with proton translocation from the mitochondrial matrix to the intermembrane space. COX is composed of 13 subunits, three larger catalytic subunits encoded by mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and ten subunits encoded by nuclear DNA. Clinically heterogeneous human diseases were attributed to COX deficiency since the 1970s, mostly based on histochemical or biochemical data in muscle biopsies. Here, we revisit the COX deficiencies described before the molecular era, assess the value of COX histochemistry in conjunction with succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) stain, and review the clinical presentations of primary COX deficiencies defined at the molecular level. In general, mutations in mtDNA COX genes are associated with milder and later onset clinical syndromes, probably due to heteroplasmy. Mutations affecting nuclear-encoded COX subunits (“direct hits”) are extremely rare whereas mutations affecting assembly proteins (“indirect hits”) account for most COX deficiencies and the list keeps growing. Onset is generally in infancy and survival into adolescence or adult life is infrequent. The most common neurological disorder is Leigh syndrome, either alone or associated with cardiopathy, hepatopathy, or nephropathy.
The effect of scanning jitter on geometric phase analysis in STEM images.

Geometric phase analysis (GPA) is a useful method to map strain distribution in atomically resolved scanning/transmission electron microscopy (S/TEM) images. Nevertheless, the inevitable periodic jitter of electron probe in STEM along the scanning direction due to the interference of electric power supply, including grounding, can give rise to major artifacts, as evidenced by the appearance of satellite spots surrounding all main peaks in the power spectrum of the images. Here we reveal the origin of the image artifacts related to the probe jitter by mapping the image distortion component exx using the GPA algorithm. The effect is verified by introducing a periodic displacement field to a STEM image simulated from a perfect crystal structure, and the calculated exx maps show very good agreement with the experimental observations. Based on the quantitative analysis of the images distortion, we propose and test a feasible strategy to eliminate the effect of probe jitter from STEM images. Successful examples illustrate that the approach can help improve the accuracy in quantification of STEM images.
Corynebacteria as a cause of pulmonary infection: a case series and literature review

In most cases of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), an etiologic agent is not determined; the most common report from the microbiological evaluation of sputum cites “normal respiratory flora.” Non-diphtheria Corynebacterium spp., a component of this flora, is commonly viewed as a contaminant, but it may be the cause of pneumonia and the frequency with which it causes CAP may be underestimated. This report present 3 cases of CAP in which Corynebacterium spp. was clearly the predominant isolate; identification was confirmed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. Two cases were caused by C. propinquum and one by C. striatum. Two patients had a tracheostomy and one was on hemodialysis. Patients who received an appropriate antibiotic responded well. When identified as the predominant isolate in sputum from a patient with CAP, Corynebacterium spp. should be considered as a potential cause of the infection. In cases with patients who have compromised airway clearance or who are immunocompromised, microaspiration may be responsible. While some Corynebacterium spp. are suspectible to antibiotics usually prescribed for CAP, others are susceptible only to vancomycin or aminoglycosides. Vancomycin is thus the appropriate empiric antibiotic, pending speciation and susceptibility test results. The number of reported cases with result of antibiotic susceptibility testing, however, remains limited, and further investigation is needed. Non-diphtheria Corynebacterium spp. represent a noteworthy clinical cause of pneumonia. Identification by Gram stain and as a predominant organism on culture demands careful consideration for management.
What integers are areas of right triangles

In this chapter we study the set of integers that are the area of a right triangle with integer sides.
Beetle, Dendroides canadensis, antifreeze proteins increased high temperature survivorship in transgenic fruit flies, Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract Paradoxically, some insects have an increased capacity to survive higher temperatures in winter than summer. Possible contributors to this increased heat tolerance in winter could be their sub-zero adaptations (high polyol concentrations, antifreeze proteins, antifreeze glycolipids, etc.). To investigate if a sub-zero adaptation can increase organismal high temperature survivorship, we tested transgenic fruit flies, Drosophila melanogaster, with antifreeze proteins from the fire-colored beetle, Dendroides canadensis (DAFPs). Transgenic Drosophila melanogaster with individual DAFPs-1 and -4 had increased survivorship compared to control flies after 24 h when placed at 35–36.5 °C. The 24 h ULT50 (Upper Lethal Temperature at which 50% mortality occurred) was calculated to be 36.3 °C for DAFP-1 flies, 36.2 °C for DAFP-4 flies, 35.4 °C for wild-type controls, and 34.9 °C for GAL4 controls. The results indicate that DAFPs may have an alternative function in insects and be a contributor in the unexpected phenomenon of increased higher temperature survivorship in winter.
Distribution and characterization of wild bee nesting sites on San Clemente Island, California Channel Islands

Wild bees provide the essential ecosystem service of pollination, which may be particularly important in island systems that host rare and endangered plants. Identifying and protecting nesting habitat of wild bees is critical for successfully conserving these pollinators and their pollination services, but characterization and delimitation of nesting habitat receives relatively little attention in the literature compared to description of floral interactions. Such data on wild bee nesting is necessary for creating effective conservation strategies that benefit the stability of ecosystem services, as well as promote the populations of both pollinators and plants. On San Clemente Island, we identified the locations of 50 bee nest sites. Bees from 12 sites were collected and identified as Diadasia bituberculata (n = 9), D. opuntiae (n = 2), and Anthidium collectum (n = 1). We characterized sites by vegetation cover and soil type: half (54%) of the sites were found in maritime desert scrub–prickly pear phase vegetation, and most (82%) were associated with loam-type soil. Here we provide the first descriptions of ground-nesting bee habitats on San Clemente Island and suggest that conservation of bee nesting habitat could be incorporated into existing avian and plant conservation management efforts in these shared habitats.
CHARACTERISTICS AND OUTCOMES OF PATIENTS WITH DOCUMENTED STRESS INDUCED (TAKOTSUBO) CARDIOMYOPATHY: A TERTIARY CARE CENTER EXPERIENCE

Large scale outcomes data in patients with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) are not available. We sought to assess characteristics and longer-term outcomes of patients presenting with documented TC at a tertiary center. We studied 631 patients (66±14 years, 88% women) who presented to our center
Corrélation anatomique de l’IRM en tractographie pour l’imagerie des nerfspéri-prostatiques

Objectifs La tractographie est une technique d’IRM en tenseur de diffusion (DT) qui permet de representer des structures lineaires in vivo par des traces (tracts). L’objectif etait d’evaluer la validite anatomique de la tractographie des bandelettes neurovasculaires (BNV) peri-prostatiques. Methodes Dix patients eligibles a une prostatectomie totale avaient une sequence DT in vivo au cours de leur IRM-3-Teslas preoperatoire. La piece de prostatectomie etait preparee pour une acquisition ex vivo de 12 h en IRM-7-Teslas (sequences T2, DT). La tractographie etait generee dans le logiciel « TMII-Tracer » sur la plateforme Matlab®. Des coupes prostatiques tous les 5 mm etaient traitees par Hematein-Eosine-Safran (HES) et Proteine S100 (PS100). Le nombre et la position des fibres nerveuses autour de la prostate etaient identifies dans chaque secteur en DT-MRI, puis compares avec l’immunohistochimie. Resultats Les donnees ont pu etre analysees pour 8 patients qui avaient eu une preservation incomplete ou une non-preservation. La tractographie 3 T in vivo generait des tracts non specifiques et ne permettait pas de dissocier les fibres nerveuses. La tractographie 7 T ex vivo generait des tracts des BNV postero-laterales avec un taux de correlation histologique de 58 %. Dans les secteurs lateraux et anterieurs, la correlation entre tractographie et histologie etait inferieure a 30 %. Apres identification histologique prealable des fibres nerveuses, il etait possible de cibler une region d’interet sur la carte 7 T de fraction d’anisotropie. Des tracts specifiques des fibres nerveuses de plus de 200 μm de diametre etaient ainsi obtenus. Conclusion La tractographie des tissus peri-prostatiques est faisable mais sa pertinence anatomique est limitee in vivo. Ex vivo, il est possible d’obtenir des traces specifiques des fibres nerveuses. La duree d’acquisition des images, le haut champ magnetique et le recours a une identification histologique prealable sont des limites pour une application clinique de la tractographie dans l’imagerie des BNV.
Suspect screening and prioritization of chemicals of concern (COCs) in a forest-water reuse system watershed.

Abstract Much research has assessed organic chemicals of concern (COCs) in municipal wastewater and receiving waters, but few studies have examined COCs in land treatment systems. Many prior studies have implemented targeted methods that quantify a relatively small fraction of COCs present in wastewater and receiving waters. This study used suspect screening to assess chemical features in ground- and surface waters from a watershed where secondary-treated wastewater is irrigated onto 900 ha of temperate forest, offering a more holistic view of chemicals that contribute to the exposome. Chemical features were prioritized by abundance and ToxPi scoring across seasonal sampling events to determine if the forest-water reuse system contributed to the chemical exposome of ground- and surface waters. The number of chemical features detected in wastewater was usually higher than on- and off-site ground- and surface waters; in wastewater, chemical features trended with precipitation in which greater numbers of features were detected in months with low precipitation. The number of chemical features detected in off- and on-site waters was similar. The lower overlap between chemical features found in wastewater and downstream surface waters, along with the similar numbers of features being detected in upstream and downstream surface waters, suggests that though wastewater may be a source of chemicals to ground and surface waters on-site, dissipation of wastewater-derived features (in number and peak area abundance) likely occurs with limited off-site surface water export by the forested land treatment system. Further, the numbers of features detected on site and the overlap between wastewater and surface waters did not increase during periods of low rainfall, counter to our initial expectations. The chemical features tentatively identified in this watershed appear common to features identified in other studies, warranting further examination on the potential for resulting impacts of these on humans and the environment.
Security-driven metrics and models for efficient evaluation of logic encryption schemes

Research in logic encryption over the last decade has resulted in various techniques to prevent different security threats such as Trojan insertion, intellectual property leakage, and reverse engineering. However, there is little agreement on a uniform set of metrics and models to efficiently assess the achieved security level and the trade-offs between security and overhead. This paper addresses the above challenges by relying on a general logic encryption model that can encompass all the existing techniques, and a uniform set of metrics that can capture multiple, possibly conflicting, security concerns. We apply our modeling approach to four state-of-the-art encryption techniques, showing that it enables fast and accurate evaluation of design trade-offs, average prediction errors that are at least 2× smaller than previous approaches, and the evaluation of compound encryption methods.
David Oliver: The risks of discharging patients early against doctors’ judgment

On 13 January the BBC reported the contents of an internal email to doctors from the medical director and chief nursing officer at the Royal Cornwall Hospital.1 In response to “significant pressure,” and to free up bed capacity, the email urged doctors to discharge patients “earlier than some clinicians would like.” Last month the Guardian had carried a similar story from Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, reporting internal memos urging senior doctors to find the “least unsafe option” in identifying patients to discharge.2 No doubt, senior operational and clinician managers at those trusts face an almost impossible balancing act. I’m sure that you’d find similar emails in dozens of acute hospitals around the NHS, given that they start each day in negative bed equity, with patients queuing in the emergency department, sometimes on trolleys in corridors. What struck me about both cases was that the …
Theological Parenthood, Demographic Restraints, and the Making of the Good Polygamous Teenager

In this chapter, I explore how the relationship between religious and secular values influence the socialization practices found in Angel Park, a Mormon fundamentalist polygamous community situated in the intermountain western USA, in order to probe how parents attempt to, in their words, “raise up the good child” into becoming a “respected and esteem adult.” My focus is the teenage years – the time when youth are more prone to doubt, if not reject, parental instruction and to question, if not defy, community ideals. Exploring which ideals and cultural practices are more readily challenged provides insight into the cultural contradictions and structural restraints individuals face in their journey into adulthood. The critical issues that polygamous parents must deal with range from: (1) lack of nurturing or bonding between half-siblings, (2) anxiety over possible co-wives’ aggression directed toward their own children, and (3) the doubts about their offspring’s ability to form a polygamous family.