cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ISOLATION AND PRELIMINARY CHARACTERIZATION OF THREE CHLAMYDOMONAS STRAINS INTERFERTILE WITH CHLAMYDOMONAS REINHARDTII (CHLOROPHYTA)1

Three new strains of the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Dangeard were isolated from soil. The isolates differed from one another and from standard laboratory strains of C. reinhardtii in a number of traits, including heavy metal resistance, protein composition, and mitochondrial DNA length. The new isolates also exhibited distinctive restriction fragment length polymorphisms in their nuclear, chloroplast, and mitochondrial genomes. The new isolates were interfertile with the standard laboratory strains and appeared to transfer their chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes in a similar manner, that is, predominantly from the material (mt + ) and paternal (mt − ) parents, respectively
The Direct Determination of Shear Stress-Shear Rate Behavior of Foods in the Presence of a Yield Stress

SUMMARY The yield stress of food materials plays an important role in their Row characteristics. It is possible to determine the yield stress from the shear stress-shear rate data determined from a narrow-gap viscometer and applying Casson's equation. The yield stress determined in this manner checked with the yield stress determined from the torque exerted on a serrated cylinder at rest. However, the yield stress for applesauce and tomato puree is much lower with a single-cylinder viscometer than with a narrow-gap viscometer. This is apparently due to disruption of suspension aggregates under shear, with the release of entrapped fluid at the cylinder wall. It is expected that materials in which large amounts of entrapped fluid are released under shear will not exhibit this phenomenon. The shear stress vs. shear rate data from the narrow-gap viscometer could be fitted by a power-law equation.
Pressurized freezing for retarding shrinkage after drying: a quantitative interpretation.

Abstract Certain gases, when dissolved at high pressure in foods and biological materials, give a structure of gas bubbles inflating cells after freezing, depressurization, and thawing. This phenomenon has been found to reduce shrinkage after subsequent drying. The effect is interpreted quantitatively in terms of the needs for (a) a sufficient solubility of the gas in the water of the tissue at high pressure so that the Bunsen coefficient is high enough (at least 1.5 cm3/cm3 for maximum effect), and (b) a sufficiently low permeability, expressed as the product of atmospheric solubility and diffusivity in water (equal to or less that of air for maximum effect).
Untersuchungen von Struktur und Funktion von Proteinen mit einem erweiterten genetischen Code

Eine allgemeine biosynthetische Methode wurde entwickelt, um ortsspezifisch nichtnaturliche Aminosauren mit neuartigen sterischen und elektronischen Eigenschaften in Proteine einzufuhren. Sie beginnt damit, das das Codon fur die jeweilige Aminosaure durch Oligonucleotid-Mutagenese durch das Nonsense-Codon UAG, ein „Leerzeichen” des genetischen Codes, ersetzt wird. Fur dieses spezielle Codon wird eine Suppressor-tRNA hergestellt und in vitro chemisch mit der gewunschten nichtnaturlichen Aminosaure aminoacyliert. Gibt man diese aminoacylierte tRNA in ein In-vitro-Proteinsynthesesystem, das von der mutagenisierten DNA gesteuert wird, wird die gewunschte Aminosaure einheitlich in der angestrebten Stelle im Protein eingebaut. Die Methode wurde jungst eingesetzt, um die katalytischen Eigenschaften, die Spezifitat und die Stabilitat einiger Proteine zu untersuchen. Aminosauren und ihre Analoga mit veranderten Eigenschaften bei der Wasserstoffbruckenbindung, mit veranderten sterischen Eigenschaften und mit anderen Konformationen des Ruckgrats wurden ebenso ortsspezifisch in Proteine eingebaut wie lichtaktivierbare Aminosauren und biophysikalische Sonden. Damit sollten weitergehende detaillierte physikalisch-organische Untersuchungen an dieser wichtigen Klasse von Makromolekulen moglich werden.
Fatal Infection of Irradiated White Mice with European Typhus by the Intra-Abdominal Route.

A fatal infection of irradiated white mice with the Breinl strain of European typhus has been established and passed serially for 22 passages by the intra-abdominal route. Rickettsiae were abundant and easily demonstrable in the moribund or dead mice. The mortality of irradiated mice infected with passage material (peritoneal washings or blood) was nearly 100 per cent as contrasted to no mortality in the control mice given the same dose of x-ray (450 R) and the same volume of fluid intra-abdominally. (The observation period of control mice was arbitrarily limited to 14 days.) After eighteen passages in irradiated mice no increase in virulence for non-irradiated adult mice was detected. After passage in guinea pigs, the rickettsial infection deriving from the mouse passage material was identical with the Breinl strain as judged by fever, cross immunity tests, and brain lesions in sections.
Chemistry and ectomycorrhizal communities of coarse wood in young and old-growth forests in the Cascade Range of Oregon

Coarse wood provides important ecosystem structure and function such as water and nutrient storage and critical habitat for the conservation of a variety of organisms, including ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi. The chemistry and EM com- munities were compared in coarse wood samples collected from two advanced decay stages of logs in 12 paired young and old-growth stands in the Oregon Cascade Range. Average total C and nonpolar extractives were higher in young stands (15-55 years) (mean = 53.38%, 95% CI of 52.48-54.27 and mean = 8.54%, 95% CI of 6.92-10.16, respectively) compared with old-growth stands (200-500 years) (mean = 51.22%, 95% CI of 49.67-52.77 and mean = 6.75%, 95% CI of 5.88-7.62, respectively). Averages for total and extractable P were higher in old-growth stands (mean = 0.03%, 95% CI of 0.02-0.04 and mean = 82.91, 95% CI of 52.24-113.57, respectively) compared with young stands (mean = 0.02%, 95% CI of 0.02-0.02 and mean = 56.17, 95% CI of 45.84-66.50, respectively). Average pH and total N were highest in logs in the most advanced decay stage (mean = 4.17, 95% CI of 3.97-4.38 and mean = 0.35%, 95% CI of 0.29-0.40, respec- tively). No differences between log decay class or stand age were detected for water-soluble extractives, hemicellulose plus cellulose (or acid-hydrolyzable fraction), or acid-unhydrolyzable residue. Observed differences in average wood prop- erty values between decay stages and between young and old-growth stands were small and, although statistically signifi- cant, may not reflect an important difference in EM fungal habitat. EM communities were similar between young and old- growth stands and between logs in decay classes 4 and 5. Results suggest that down wood in advanced decay stages pro- vides similar habitat for EM fungi in both old-growth and young, managed stands. Resume´ : Les debris ligneux grossiers fournissent d'importantes structures et fonctions dans les ecosystemes telles que
A sequential technique for active network analysis

The sequential method of analysis of ladder networks is well known. Similar methods of analysis for active networks are presented.
Has the Study of Global Politics Found Religion

The past generation has witnessed a resurgence of religion in global politics, but political science has been slow to catch up with it. The reason lies in the secularism embedded in the field's major theories, one that reflects actual secularism in world politics, beginning with the events surrounding the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 and growing steadily through the middle twentieth century. Today, a small but growing number of political scientists have begun to explore religion, doing so in ways that depart from secular assumptions and embrace religion's distinctiveness to greater and lesser degrees.
Malnutrition and associated factors in preschool Miskito Indians in Nicaragua

The nutritional status of 463 infants and preschool children was assessed in a Miskito Indian community in northeast Nicaragua. Data were collected over an eight‐month period in order to measure th...
Phenotypic and Genotypic Selection of Breeding Females

Abstract The problem of selecting breeding females in breeding for high fecundity becomes increasingly difficult as the production level of the flock increases. Egg production in itself is such a complex interaction of processes that every effort should be made to employ selective breeding to the very best advantage. The heritability of gross egg production on the basis of individual performance is low, somewhere around .045 according to Lerner and Hazel (1947), so that selection of breeders on the basis of their egg record could not be very effective in raising the production level of the flock. This observation had previously been made by Hays (1946) in Rhode Island Reds. The actual first year production record of a female might be taken to represent her phenotype but as far as the writer is aware there is no information regarding the range in annual production that may constitute one phenotype. Genotype is . . .
On the elastic‐perfectly plastic bending of the lithosphere under generalized loading with application to the Kurd Trench

Summary. The bending of the lithosphere as it approaches an oceanic trench is modelled using an elastic-perfectly plastic rheology. The rock within the elastic lithosphere is assumed to behave elastically until a yield stress is reached; for larger strains the stress is assumed to remain at the yield value (no strain hardening). The deflection of the lithosphere is obtained numerically for a range of applied moments, vertical forces and horizontal forces at the trench axis. The results of the analysis are compared with a series of topographic and gravity profiles across the Kuril Trench. In order to model the large observed curvatures of the lithosphere on the outer trench slope plasticity is required. The location of the region of high curvatures gives a value for the compressive axial load. One conclusion is that the lithosphere is under compression seaward of the Kuril Trench.
An easy method to design gas/vapor relief system with rupture disk

Tank discharge gas/vapor flow problems are frequently encountered in both practice and design. To perform this type of design calculation, the first step is to identify whether the flow is choked or not through a trial-and-error solution of an equation for adiabatic flow with friction from a reservoir through a pipe. Developing a direct method without any trial-and-error to identify a choking condition would be helpful for expediting the flow calculations. This paper presents an easy and quick method to identify the choking of gas flow for an emergency relief system consisting of a rupture disk and vent piping. This greatly simplifies the design calculations. The proposed method for validating the venting adequacy of existing ERS circumvents the iteration calculation and the use of Lapple charts. Three case studies for the design of vent piping for rupture disks support the proposed method. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Emergency Relief Systems (ERS) are installed to protect process vessels from the catastrophic effects of excessive overpressure and subsequent rupture. An Emergency Relief System can be thought of as being composed of three different elements: pressure source (reservoir), relief device, and vent line. The pressure source can be a reactor, a pipe needing to be protected, or any other equipment or process vessel. Rupture disks and safety valves are the primary relief devices by which pressurized vessels and pipelines are protected against intolerable overpressures. The safety valve is a reclosing pressure relief device that will reclose once the protectedsystem pressure is lower than the set pressure of the valve, minus the “blowdown” of the valve. The blowdown of a safety valve is the difference between the set pressure and the closing pressure of a safety valve, expressed as a percentage of the set pressure. The rupture disk is a non-reclosing pressure relief device actuated by the differential pressure between the inlet and outlet sides of the disk, and it is designed to function by bursting. The methods for designing gas/vapor emergency relief system have been well established and used in industrial practice (API
Effects of excitatory amino acid antagonists on the phasic depolarizing events that occur in lumbar motoneurons during REM periods of active sleep

The membrane potential of lumbar motoneurons is dominated during the tonic periods of active sleep by glycine-mediated inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs). During the phasic rapid eye movement (REM) periods of active sleep there are also IPSPs but, in addition, the membrane potential exhibits depolarizing shifts and action potentials that occur in conjunction with the phasic activation of the somatic musculature. The present study was designed to provide evidence that an excitatory amino acid (EAA) neurotransmitter is responsible for these patterns of motoneuronal activation. It was found that juxtacellular microiontophoretic applications of kynurenic acid a non-NMDA antagonist of EAA neurotransmission, blocked the depolarizing potentials of motoneurons that arise during the REM periods of active sleep. In contrast, the selective NMDA receptor antagonist APV did not block these depolarizations. The conclusion is drawn that the myoclonic twitches and jerks that characterize that REM periods of active sleep are dependent upon the excitation of motoneurons that occurs as a result of EAAs acting at non-NMDA receptors.
Glycosylation of Thrombin Activatable Fibrinolysis Inhibitor: Why Is it So Important?

See related article, pages 295–301 The coagulation and fibrinolytic systems safeguard the patency of the vasculature and the surrounding tissue. Regulation of these systems is accomplished by various mechanisms involving cellular responses, flow, and protein–protein interactions. Thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) is a fibrinolysis inhibitor, and its activation is sensitive to the dynamics of the coagulation system; it is one of the main intermediaries between coagulation and fibrinolysis. TAFI is a thrombin, thrombin/thrombomodulin and/or plasmin-activated enzyme that has greatly improved our understanding of the cross-regulation between coagulation and fibrinolysis, and its pathway modulates both the coagulation and the fibrinolytic system.1,2 TAFI was identified at the same time by different groups, and this resulted in initial different names for the same protein3–6: procarboxypeptidase U (pro-CPU), plasma procarboxypeptidase B (propCPB), and procarboxypeptidase R (pro-CPR). At the moment, TAFI is the most commonly used denomination. TAFI is synthesized in the liver and secreted as a propeptide consisting of 401 amino acids.4 It has a molecular mass of 56 kDa. TAFI is activated by plasmin, by thrombin generated via the extrinsic …
Automating Codes Conformance in Structural Domain

The intelligent codes (SMARTcodes) is a new initiative of the International Code Council (ICC) that strives to automate code compliance check which takes the building plan as represented by a Building Information Model (BIM), and instantly checks for code compliance via model checking software. The goal is to be able to create an inspection checklist of building elements to look for, and viewing the building components that don't comply with code provisions and for what reasons. This paper examines automated code compliance checking systems that assess building designs according to various structural code provisions. This includes evaluating and reviewing the functional capabilities of both the technology and structure of smart codes and current building design rule checking systems. The paper suggests a new framework for development of automated rule checking systems to verify structural design against code provisions and other user defined rules.
Thiol-En-Klickchemie†

Nach Sharpless’ visionarer Charakterisierung verschiedener idealisierter Reaktionen als Klick-Reaktionen hat man innerhalb der Materialwissenschaften und Synthesechemie grose Anstrengungen unternommen, um solche Reaktionen zu finden und zu implementieren. In diesem Aufsatz diskutieren wir die radikalvermittelte Thiol-En-Reaktion, die uber all die Merkmale einer Klick-Reaktion verfugt: hohe Effizienz, einfache Durchfuhrung, keine Nebenprodukte, hohe Reaktionsgeschwindigkeiten, hohe Ausbeuten. Daruber hinaus besteht die Moglichkeit, die Thiol-En-Reaktion photoinitiiert auszufuhren, was insbesondere fur Photopolymerisationen zur Synthese extrem einheitlicher Polymernetzwerke genutzt wird. Der Reaktionsmechanismus wird nach dem aktuellen Kenntnisstand erlautert, und zentrale Anwendungen der Thiol-En-Reaktion in der Material- und Molekulsynthese, der Biofunktionalisierung, der Polymersynthese und der Oberflachen- und Polymermodifizierung werden zusammengefasst.
The soleus syndrome A cause of medial tibial stress (shin splints)

Radionuclide bone scans have demonstrated linear uptake along the posterior medial border of the tibia in patients with shin splints. This area was investigated by anatomical dissection (14 human cadavers), electromyographic (EMG) and muscle stimulation studies (10 patients), and open biopsy (1 patient). Histologically, the increased metabolic activity manifested on the radionuclide scan is due to a periostitis with new bone formation. The soleus muscle and its investing fascia are anatomically and biomechanically implicated in the production of these stress changes, particularly when the heel is in the pronated position. The soleus muscle and fascia form a tough "soleus bridge" over the deep compartment which is thought to be important in patients requiring surgical decompression.
Validation of Rearrangement Break Points Identified by Paired-End Sequencing in Natural Populations of Drosophila melanogaster

Several recent studies have focused on the evolution of recently duplicated genes in Drosophila. Currently, however, little is known about the evolutionary forces acting upon duplications that are segregating in natural populations. We used a highthroughput, paired-end sequencing platform (Illumina) to identify structural variants in a population sample of African D. melanogaster. Polymerase chain reaction and sequencing confirmation of duplications detected by multiple, independent paired-ends showed that paired-end sequencing reliably uncovered the break points of structural rearrangements and allowed us to identify a number of tandem duplications segregating within a natural population. Our confirmation experiments show that rates of confirmation are very high, even at modest coverage. Our results also compare well with previous studies using microarrays (Emerson J, Cardoso-Moreira M, Borevitz JO, Long M. 2008. Natural selection shapes genome wide patterns of copy-number polymorphism in Drosophila melanogaster. Science. 320:1629‐1631. and Dopman EB, Hartl DL. 2007. A portrait of copy-number polymorphism in Drosophila melanogaster. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 104:19920‐19925.), which both gives us confidence in the results of this study as well as confirms previous microarray results. We were also able to identify whole-gene duplications, such as a novel duplication of Or22a, an olfactory receptor, and identify copy-number differences in genes previously known to be under positive selection, like Cyp6g1, which confers resistance to dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane. Several ‘‘hot spots’’ of duplications were detected in this study, which indicate that particular regions of the genome may be more prone to generating duplications. Finally, population frequency analysis of confirmed events also showed an excess of rare variants in our population, which indicates that duplications segregating in the population may be deleterious and ultimately destined to be lost from the population.
Comparative analysis of gene expression between CMS-D8 restored plants and normal non-restoring fertile plants in cotton by differential display

CMS-D8 and its restorer were developed by introducing the cytoplasm and nuclear gene Rf2from the wild diploid Gossypium trilobum (D8) into the cultivated tetraploid Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum). No information is available on how the Rf2 gene interacts with CMS-associated genes and how CMS-D8 cytoplasm affects nuclear gene expression. The objective of this study was to identify differentially expressed genes in anther tissues between the non-restoring fertile maintainer ARK8518 (rf2rf2) and its isogenic heterozygous D8 restorer line, ARK8518R (Rf2rf2) with D8 cytoplasm, by mRNA differential display (DD). Out of more than 3,000 DDRT-PCR bands amplified by 31 primer combinations from 12 anchor primers and 8 arbitrary decamer primers, approximately 100 bands were identified as being qualitatively differentially displayed. A total of 38 cDNA fragments including 12 preferentially expressed cDNA bands in anther were isolated, cloned and sequenced. Reverse northern blot analysis showed that only 4 genes, including genes encoding a Cys-3-His zinc finger protein and aminopeptidase, were up-regulated, while 22 genes, including genes for phosphoribosylanthranilate transferase (PAT), starch synthase (SS), 4-coumarate-CoA ligase, electron transporter, calnexin, arginine decarboxylase, and polyubiquitin, were down-regulated in the heterozygous restorer ARK8518R. The down-regulation of SS explains the lack of starch accumulation in sterile rf2 pollen grains in the heterozygous restored plants. The molecular mechanism of CMS and its restoration, specifically the possible roles of SS and PAT genes in relation to restoration of Rf2 to CMS-D8, are discussed. This investigation represents the first account of such an analysis in cotton.
Fatal outcome of bacteraemic patients caused by infection with staphylokinase-deficient Staphylococcus aureus strains.

Staphylokinase (SAK) is a plasminogen-activator protein produced by Staphylococcus aureus. SAK production was evaluated in vitro in S. aureus isolates from the bloodstream of patients with lethal (n = 56) and non-lethal (n = 57) bacteraemia and from anterior nares of healthy subjects (n = 48). Most isolates (93/161) produced SAK, and 68 % of SAK-producing isolates expressed both surface-bound and secreted types of SAK. SAK production was significantly less common among isolates from patients with lethal bacteraemia (39 %) than isolates from patients with non-lethal bacteraemia (68 %) or nasal carriage isolates (67 %) (P < 0.01). After adjusting for infection with methicillin-resistant S. aureus and APACHE II score, patients infected with SAK-deficient isolates were 4.3 times more likely to have lethal bacteraemia than patients whose infecting isolate produced high levels of SAK (⩾5 μg ml−1), suggesting that in vitro SAK production was inversely associated with clinical outcome among patients with S. aureus bacteraemia. The high frequency of SAK production in nasal isolates and in cases with uncomplicated bacteraemia suggests that SAK may be one of the adaptive mechanisms of S. aureus symbiosis with the host.
The effect of sequence length on DNA decorated CNT gas sensors

This article reports the effect of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequence length on the sensing characteristics of DNA decorated single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) devices. First, SWNTs were assembled on micro electrodes via a versatile, solution based Dielectrophoresis process. Then four single-stranded poly-G oligomers with lengths of 8, 16, 24 and 32 were decorated on SWNTs and the response of SWNT sensors to methanol and IPA vapors were measured. We found that the optimum DNA sequence length for sensing applications was 24. Sequence length of DNA had a dramatic impact on the response of DNA-SWNT sensors. This phenomenon can be explained by the difference in binding affinities of nucleotides on SWNTs and the conformations that DNA forms on SWNTs. These experimental results have significant implications for the interactions between DNA and SWNTs. They can facilitate the development of DNA functionalized SWNT sensors in analytical chemistry, biochemistry and environmental monitoring applications.
Magis: Creating a Sustainable, Educational and Economic Partnership in Belize

In December of 2010, a Regis University student from Belize and a Regis University faculty member launched an entrepreneurial adventure by planting 1,000 teak trees on one acre of land near the town of Punta Gorda in southern Belize. The trees survived four months of drought, and in June of 2011 another 1,000 trees were planted. In June of 2012, the student and professor will do a third planting of 1,000 trees, bringing the grand total to 3,000 trees. Two full-time Mayan Indians are employed; they trim, fertilize, and water the trees. Future expansion will require hiring additional workers. The operating life cycle of a teak tree is approximately 20 years from planting to harvest. A unique plan is being developed by faculty, students, and administrators of Regis University that will facilitate student entrepreneurship education and increase sustainable environmentally-friendly economic opportunities in southern Belize. Planting, caring for, harvesting, and marketing teak trees is a complex task. Teak tree suppliers must be located, trees must be planted and fertilized, and jungle vegetation must be abated. “Green” certification must be obtained. Harvesting requires the services of logging, milling, drying, and transportation technicians. Finally, finished teak wood must be priced, buyers located, and delivery secured. Students of Regis University are fashioning business plans to own and grow teak trees; scaling and repeating the teak tree farming business model provided; addressing the needs of tree farmers in Belize by creating a saw mill and kiln, and developing marketing channels. The Belize business opportunity requires students to understand international entrepreneurship, both theoretically and experientially, and requires students to align economic opportunities with the indigenous population.
A small animal model for monitoring inotropic responses to cardiotonic agents.

Abstract A method for evaluating potential cardiotonic agents in vivo has been developed in a small laboratory animal. In this study, right ventricular inotropic responses are measured in an anesthetized, closed-chested guinea pig using a pressure-sensitive transducer inserted into the right ventricle of the heart via the right jugular vein, dp/dt is used as an index of ventricular contractility. Agents known to have positive inotropic effects in other models were found to have similar effects using this new method. Some advantages of using such a model include: relatively rapid surgical preparation; use of less costly small animlas; and the need for less compound for experimentation.
Spatial and Dietary Overlap Creates Potential for Competition between Red Snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) and Vermilion snapper (Rhomboplites aurorubens).

Understanding the complex nature of direct and indirect species interactions is a critical precursor to successful resource management. In the northern Gulf of Mexico fisheries ecosystem, red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) and vermilion snapper (Rhomboplites aurorubens) are two commercially harvested species within a larger reef fish complex. These two species share similar habitats and diets; however, little is known about how these species partition habitat and dietary resources. In this study we examined the extent of spatial and dietary overlap between red snapper and vermilion snapper, and experimentally compared their feeding behavior. Field data from multiple gear types demonstrates that red snapper and vermilion snapper frequently cohabited reefs in the northern Gulf of Mexico, and Pianka’s niche overlap indices suggest significantly overlapping diets. Experimental manipulations show that red snapper are the dominant forager of the two species, as red snapper foraging alone ate more shrimp per fish than vermilion snapper in both the single species (p = 0.003) and mixed species (p = 0.02) treatments. In addition, red snapper ate significantly more shrimp per fish in the mixed species treatment than in the single species treatment (p = 0.04). Vermilion snapper shrimp consumption per fish did not differ significantly between mixed and single species treatments. Cumulatively, our results suggest that spatial and dietary overlap could lead to competition between red and vermilion snapper in the study area; however, conclusively determining the existence of such competition would require further research.
Breast milk from mothers who smoke and drink smells

Mennella and Beauchamp studied whether the odor of breast milk is altered by alcohol consumption (1991) and cigarette smoking (1998). In both cases, the answer was yes. The odor of both nicotine and ethanol peaked in 30 minutes to 1 hour after the mother smoked or drank. The studies demonstrated that changes in the odor of breast milk parallel the changes in concentration of nicotine and ethanol. Although these authors do not suggest that lactating women who smoke or drink occasionally should stop breastfeeding, they do offer the results of these studies as a reason to avoid smoking and drinking during lactation. Women should consider the effects nicotine and alcohol may have on the infant's developing brain. They should also consider that these early experiences may influence the flavors the child finds appealing later in life. This may be one explanation for the findings that (a) children whose mothers smoke have an increased risk of smoking during adolescence (Osler, Clausen, Ibsen & Jensen, 1995) and (b) adolescent girls whose mothers drank during and after pregnancy are more likely to consume alcohol (Greisler & Kandel, 1998).
Early Changes in QRS Frequency Following Cardiac Resynchronization Predict Hemodynamic Response in Left Bundle Branch Block Patients.

QRS Frequency and CRTIntroduction QRS characteristics are the cornerstone of patient selection in cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) and the presence of left bundle branch block (LBBB) and baseline QRS ≥150 milliseconds portends a good outcome. We previously showed that baseline QRS frequency analysis adds predictive value to LBBB alone and have hypothesized that a change in frequency characteristics following CRT may produce additional predictive value. Methods We examined the QRS frequency characteristics of 182 LBBB patients before and soon after CRT. Patients were assigned to responder and nonresponder groups. Responders were defined by a decrease in left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV) ≥15% following CRT. We analyzed the QRS in ECG leads I, AVF, and V3 before and soon after CRT using the discrete Fourier transform algorithm. The percentage of total QRS power within discrete frequency intervals before and after CRT was calculated. The reduction in lead V3 power <10 Hz was the best indicator of response. Results Baseline QRS width was similar between the responders and nonresponders (162.2 ± 17.2 milliseconds vs. 158 ± 22.1 milliseconds, respectively; P = 0.180). Responders exhibited a greater reduction in QRS power <10 Hz (–17.0 ± 11.9% vs. –6.6 ± 12.5%; P < 0.001) and a significant AUC (0.743; P < 0.001). A ≥8% decline in QRS power <10 Hz produced the best predictive values (PPV = 84%, NPV = 59%). Importantly, when patients with baseline QRS <150 milliseconds were compared, the AUC improved (0.892, P < 0.001). Conclusions Successful CRT produces a significant reduction in QRS power below 10 Hz, particularly when baseline QRS <150 milliseconds. These results indicate that QRS frequency changes after CRT provide additional predictive value to QRS alone.
Caloric, but not macronutrient, compensation by humans for required-eating occasions with meals and snack varying in fat and carbohydrate

Six subjects participated in a residential study assessing the effects of covert macronutrient and energy manipulations during three required-eating occasions (breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snack) on total macronutrient and energy intakes. Overall, energy content of the occasions varied between approximately 3000 and approximately 7000 kJ (approximately 700 and approximately 1700 kcal) with the majority of the differential derived from either fat or carbohydrate (CHO). Each condition (high, medium, and low fat; high, medium, and low CHO; and no required eating) was examined for 2 d. Subjects compensated for the energy content of the required occasions such that only under the low-CHO condition (11,297 +/- 3314 kJ) was total daily energy intake lower than that observed in the absence of required occasions (13,297 +/- 1356 kJ). Only total energy intake under the high-fat condition (12,326 +/- 2548 kJ) was significantly different from its matched CHO condition (high-CHO condition: 14,665 +/- 2686 kJ). In contrast to the clear evidence for caloric compensation, there were no differential effects of condition on macronutrient intake, ie, there was no macronutrient compensation.
The Marketing of Intercollegiate Sports: Problems, Mistakes and Future Opportunities

Although American Intercollegiate sports made its initial appearance in the late 1850’s, the marketing of intercollegiate sports is still in the embryonic stage. College athletic programs are inadequately funded, organized, and staffed to effectively adopt marketing techniques. Furthermore, contrasting personalities among coaches and budget allocations for varsity sports within an athletic department have often evoked schism and poor synergism in the marketing of a total collegiate sports program. At times, there is even conflict between coaches and physical education teachers.
Reductions in the Lattice Thermal Conductivity of Ball-milled and Shock compacted TiNiSn1−XSbX Half-Heusler alloys

Half-Heusler alloys are currently being investigated for their potential as thermoelectric materials [1], [2]. They exhibit high negative thermopower (40-250μV/K) and favorable electrical resistivity (0.1-8mW•cm) at room temperature. Attractive power factors (α2σT) of about (0.2-1.0W/m•K) at room temperature and about 4W/m•K at 600K [3] have been reported in these materials. But in order to achieve a high figure-of-merit in the half-Heusler alloys, the relatively high thermal conductivity in these materials (∼ 10 W/m•K) must be reduced. The thermal conductivity in these materials is composed of mainly a lattice contribution, compared to a very small electronic component. The challenge is to reduce the relatively high lattice thermal conductivity in these materials. Reported in this paper is a significant reduction of lattice thermal conductivity (∼1.5 - 3.5W/m•K) in some Ti-based half-Heusler alloys. Samples have been prepared by ball milling and followed by shock-compaction that has resulted into reduced grain sizes in these materials. The effects of the microstructure on the thermal transport properties of the Half-Heusler alloys have been investigated and are presented and discussed herein.
Failure to demonstrate circulating endotoxin in malaria (38572).

SummaryThe possibility that endotoxin or an endotoxin-like substance plays a role in malaria has been suggested by the clinical similarity between human malaria and the febrile reaction to endotoxins, as well as the occurrence of endotoxin tolerance in humans infected with malaria. However, endotoxin or endotoxin-like activity was not demonstrable, using the Limulus test, in the plasma of humans or monkeys infected with plasmodia. The data indicate that the febrile paroxysm of malarial infection is not associated with detectable levels of endotoxin in the blood.This investigation could not have been possible without the cooperation of the inmate volunteers who willingly underwent experimental malarial infections. Madame Francine Corthesy provided excellent technical assistance. We are also grateful to Dr. W. E. Collins for his expert advice and assistance with the infections in monkeys.
Biology of Taeniopoda eques (Orthoptera: Acrididae) in Southeastern Arizona

Life history parameters are given for Taeniopoda eques (Burmeister) including habitat characterization, distribution, phenology, morphometrics, diet, and natural enemies. Molting, mating, oviposition, dispersal, daily, thermoregulatory, and disturbance behaviors are examined. Hatching and abundance for this desert dweller are closely linked to onset of summer rains and appearance of ephemeral food plants. Times from egg hatch to adult, mating, oviposition, and death are ca. 39, 56, 74, and 105 days, respectively. Five instars are distinguished by pronotum length, head width, and wing pad development. Fresh eggs weigh 0.029 g; 40-day-old adult males, 2.75 g; females, 8.26 g. Molting is primarily diurnal, but extends past sunset on warm nights. Temperature influences molting success; no molting occurred at temperatures below 22°C. The molt to adult requires 86.8 min at 30°C. Both sexes mate repeatedly. Males are sexually aggressive, females passive. During the long copulation (ca. 14.1 h) multiple spermatophores are passed. Females oviposit diurnally 4–8 cm deep in soil under shrubs. T. eques feeds mainly on low-growing desert annuals, but takes dead or incapacitated arthropods, feces, or raindrops. First instars aggregate strongly; later instars weakly. A cyclical daily movement into and out of nonfood shrubs is thought to alleviate predator and thermal pressures. Male movement exceeded that of females. Beauveria bassiana and other microorganisms were found in moribund grasshoppers. T. eques is chemically protected from some predators. Aggregation, aposematism, and noisy expulsion of an odorous secretion from metathoracic spiracles advertise and reinforce chemical defense.
Effect of thyroid status on catecholamine stimulation of thyroxine 5'-deiodinase in brown adipocytes.

We examined type II 5'-iodothyronine deiodinase activation by adrenergic agonists in dispersed brown adipocytes from euthyroid and hypothyroid rats. In euthyroid cells, basal deiodinase activity wa...
The Re-worlding of Intentionality

This chapter treats of the manner in which Husserl handled the intending of impossible objects such as a round square, and elaborates precisely how intentionality can never intend a real relation in any founded manner, even though the ground and term of such a relation remain intendible. Then the phrase, “transcendent-in-immanence,” is defined formally as a core characteristic of adesse objectivity as proto-constituted by transcendental subjectivity. It is established that it is only within convergent phenomenology that the inner adesse of intentionality itself can be brought to descriptive clarity, and thus its essence can only be finally understood as re-worlding itself back in the Husserlian Lebenswelt.
Exploring Top-Down and Bottom-Up Cosmopolitan Traces in Schools on the West Coast of the United States

This chapter focuses on the exploration of traces of critical cosmopolitanism in U.S. schools. The first goal is to examine whether critical cosmopolitan traces are evident in national, regional, and local educational policies with a specific focus on the West Coast. The second goal is to explore elements of emerging critical cosmopolitan dispositions and attitudes in schools through composite portraits of students. The portraits are based on research on identity construction of students in elementary and secondary educational institutions on the West Coast and the authors’ informal interactions in schools. Finally, the aim of the chapter is to critically analyze and synthesize the two previous sections and identify areas of synergy and potential divergence. The authors make recommendations for policy, research and practice with a call for a redirection of top-down initiatives to the local, bottom-up realities of students’ lives.
Factor: A game about matching common factors

Factor is a minimalist, educational, number-based puzzle game about matching common factors that will be released to the AppStore in early 2016. It has simple rules but requires strategic planning, number fluency and spatial reasoning. While there is no explicit instructional content in the game, Factor encourages players to discover and internalize relationships between numbers through its gameplay, feedback, and visualizations.
Iatrogenic Extremity Ischemia with the Potential for Amputation

Most patients with ischemic syndromes of the upper or lower extremity have arteriosclerotic or primary vascular disease. There are however a number of examples of circulatory insufficiency that occur as a result of medical therapy—either intentional or unexpected in nature. We have seen a number of such examples including a steal syndrome after AV fistula creation for dialysis or radial artery thrombosis following radial artery pressure monitors.
Phase I study of the aurora A kinase inhibitor alisertib with induction chemotherapy in patients with acute myeloid leukemia

Aberrant expression of aurora kinase A is implicated in the genesis of various neoplasms, including acute myeloid leukemia. Alisertib, an aurora A kinase inhibitor, has demonstrated efficacy as monotherapy in trials of myeloid malignancy, and this efficacy appears enhanced in combination with conventional chemotherapies. In this phase I, dose-escalation study, newly diagnosed patients received conventional induction with cytarabine and idarubicin, after which alisertib was administered for 7 days. Dose escalation occurred via cohorts. Patients could then receive up to four cycles of consolidation, incorporating alisertib, and thereafter alisertib maintenance for up to 12 months. Twenty-two patients were enrolled. One dose limiting toxicity occurred at dose level 2 (prolonged thrombocytopenia), and the recommended phase 2 dose was established at 30mg twice daily. Common therapy-related toxicities included cytopenias and mucositis. Only three (14%) patients had persistent disease at mid-cycle, requiring “5+2” reinduction. The composite remission rate (complete remission and complete remission with incomplete neutrophil recovery) was 86% (nineteen of twenty-two patients; 90% CI 68–96%). Among those over age 65 and those with high-risk disease (secondary acute leukemia or cytogenetically high-risk disease), the composite remission rate was 88% and 100%, respectively. The median follow up was 13.5 months. Of those treated at the recommended phase 2 dose, the 12-month overall survival and progression-free survival were 62% (90% CI 33–81%) and 42% (90% CI 17–65%), respectively. Alisertib is well tolerated when combined with induction chemotherapy in acute myeloid leukemia, with a promising suggestion of efficacy. (clinicaltrials.gov Identifier:01779843).
Chiari Network and Aortic Valve Endocarditis with Concurrent Pulmonary and Systemic Embolization.

• Janeway lesions and Osler's nodes were clinical clues for the diagnosis of endocarditis.
The experience of breast cancer survivors' participation in important activities during and after treatments

IntroductionThis study compares breast cancer survivors’ experiences of participating in activities important to them, both during and after breast cancer treatment.MethodEight survivors between th...
Quantitative evaluation of omnidirectional video quality

Omnidirectional video encoding and delivery are rapidly evolving fields, where choosing an efficient representation for storage and transmission of pixel data is critical. Given that there are a number of projections (pixel representations), a projection independent measure is needed to evaluate the merits of different options. We present a technique to evaluate projection quality by rendering virtual views and use this to evaluate three projections in common use: Equirectangular, Cubemap, and Equi-Angular Cubemap1. Through evaluation on dozens of videos, our metrics rank the projection types consistently with pixel density computations and small scale user studies.
The Relationship Between Instructor Use of Different Types of Humor and Student Interest in Course Material

ABSTRACTThe goal of this study was to research the frequency of the use of diverse types of humor in the college classroom for a possible association with student interest in course material. This relationship was studied using quantitative methods. Participants answered questions about their interest in course material and the type of humor that their instructor used in the classroom. The study involved 195 undergraduate students ranging in age from 18 to 25. A factor analysis recognized two separate types of humor (relevant/appropriate and non-relevant). The study found that both relevant/appropriate humor and non-relevant humor predicted student interest. The more relevant/appropriate humor used the more student had interest in course materials. As well, the more non-relevant humor used the less students reported interest in course materials. No differences were found between the gender of students in the classroom when examining this question of humor and interest.
Process Modeling of a Biomass Torrefaction Plant

A process model is developed to simulate the performance of a biomass torrefaction unit, which consists of a dryer, a torrefaction reactor, a combustor, and two heat exchangers. The model is capable of predicting the composition of volatiles and torrefied biomass, mass and energy yields, thermal efficiency, process heat requirement, and CO2 emissions. Useful correlations are presented for the heating value, molecular weight, and specific heat of the volatiles. A comparison of the model prediction with the experimental data reported in the literature shows a very good agreement. The performance of a torrefaction unit with production capacity of 150 MWth is predicted with an acceptable accuracy using the presented process model. The effect of moisture content, torrefaction temperature, residence time, and adiabatic flame temperature on key process parameters are examined. The thermal efficiency of willow torrefaction unit is found to be 88% at a moisture content of 50% (dry basis), which increases to 94% as...
Long-term follow-up of clinical presentation and outcomes of patients with urinary bladder paragangliomas.

507Background: Urinary bladder paragangliomas (UBPGLs) are extremely rare, accounting for less than 6% of paragangliomas (PGLs) and 0.06% of bladder tumors. The goal of this study is to examine the...
A Refined Global Segmentation of X-Ray CT Images for Multi-phase Geomaterials

X-ray computed tomography images of three-phase silica sand and glass bead specimens are analyzed and used to evaluate the segmentation performances of Otsu-, and recursion-based multilevel algorithms. A global image segmentation technique that combines iterative and recursive algorithms, namely a refined statistics-based global segmentation is proposed for segmenting multi-phase granular geomaterials. The performance of the proposed algorithm is tested by segmenting partially saturated silica sand and glass bead specimens. For the tested silica sand specimen, the refined statistics method estimated void ratio and degree of saturation were 0.67 and 39.35%. The estimates for the glass bead specimen yielded 0.64 and 43.49%, respectively. The true void ratio (0.66) and degree of saturation (37.71%) were determined with a user-controlled Image processing software package—Image-Pro. It was found that the proposed method estimated the void ratio and the degree of saturation with 1.52 and 4.35 percent errors for the silica sand and with 15.63 and 0.34 percent errors for the glass bead, respectively. The computational time of the proposed method was found to be shorter than other methods considered. Overall, it is concluded that the proposed technique performed better in segmenting three-phase granular geomaterials.