cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
History of Chickenpox and Shingles and Prevalence of Antibodies to Varicella-Zoster Virus and Three Other Herpesviruses among Adults with Glioma and Controls

Whether viruses or immunologic factors might cause or prevent human brain cancer is of interest. Statistically significant inverse associations of adult glioma with history of chickenpox and immunoglobulin G antibodies to varicella-zoster virus have been reported. The authors evaluate associations of immunoglobulin G antibodies to varicella-zoster virus and three other herpesviruses among 229 adults with glioma and 289 controls in the San Francisco Bay Area Adult Glioma Study (1997-2000). Cases were less likely than controls to report a history of chickenpox (for self-reported cases vs. controls: the age-, gender-, and ethnicity-adjusted odds ratio = 0.59, 95% confidence interval: 0.40, 0.86), and they also had lower levels of immunoglobulin G to varicella-zoster virus (for being in the highest quartile vs. the lowest quartile: the age-, gender-, and ethnicity-adjusted odds ratio = 0.41, 95% confidence interval: 0.24, 0.70). The inverse association with anti-varicella-zoster virus immunoglobulin G was most marked for glioblastoma multiforme cases versus controls and was only somewhat attenuated by excluding subjects taking high-dose steroids and other medications. Cases and controls did not differ notably for positivity to three other herpesviruses, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex virus. Cohort studies may help to clarify the nature of the association between immunity to and/or clinical manifestations of varicella-zoster virus and glioblastoma.
A General Test of Self-Control Theory: Has Its Importance Been Exaggerated?

Self-control theory has been tested for 2 decades. However, mixed results and measurement problems have made it difficult to ascertain its true utility. This study addresses recent concerns and includes variables such as risk, consequences, criminal opportunity, an interaction term, and bond controls in one complete test. It also addresses self-control's ability to explain different forms of crime and whether the support that it has garnered has been exaggerated. Results of both cross-sectional and semilongitudinal tests indicate that self-control significantly predicts a higher probability of involvement in property and drug crime but is virtually silent in its ability to explain violence. Furthermore, it can be tentatively stated that support for the theory wanes over time. Finally, neglected concepts such as opportunity, risk, consequences, and bond controls may be important to the theory's ability to explain crime, and further negligence of these concepts may hamper a true understanding of its impact.
Progesterone Modulation of Osteopontin Gene Expression in the Ovine Uterus

Osteopontin (OPN) is an acidic phosphorylated glycoprotein component of the extracellular matrix that binds to integrins at the cell surface to promote cell-cell attachment and cell spreading. This matrix constituent is a ligand that could potentially bind integrins on trophectoderm and endometrium to facilitate superficial implantation and placentation. OPN mRNA increases in the endometrial glandular epithelium (GE) of early-pregnant ewes, and OPN protein is secreted into the uterine lumen. Therefore, progesterone and/or interferon-tau (IFNt) may regulate OPN expression in the uterine GE. Cyclic ewes were ovariectomized and fitted with intrauterine (i.u.) catheters on Day 5 and treated daily with steroids (i.m.) and protein (i.u.) as follows: 1) progesterone (P, Days 5‐24) and control serum proteins (CX, Days 11‐24); 2) P and ZK 136.317 (ZK; progesterone receptor [PR] antagonist, Days 11‐24) and CX proteins; 3) P and recombinant ovine IFNt (roIFNt, Days 11‐24); or 4) P and ZK and roIFNt. All ewes were hysterectomized on Day 25. Progesterone induced the expression of endometrial OPN mRNA in the GE and increased secretion of a 45-kDa OPN protein from endometrial explants maintained in culture for 24 h. Administration of ZK ablated progesterone effects. Intrauterine infusion of roIFNt did not affect OPN gene expression or secretion in any of the steroid treatments. Interestingly, OPN mRNA-positive GE cells lacked detectable PR expression, although PR were detected in the stroma. Results indicate that progesterone regulates OPN expression in GE through a complex mechanism that includes PR down-regulation, and we suggest the possible involvement of a progesterone-induced stromal cell-derived growth factor(s) that acts as a progestamedin.
Liquid backmixing in bubble columns and the axial dispersion coefficient

Liquid backmixing in bubble columns is commonly described using the 1-D axial dispersion model, wherein all the contributing mechanisms leading to liquid macromixing are lumped into a single axial dispersion coefficient. No relationship has been reported that allows the quantification of various fluid-dynamic contributions to the axial dispersion coefficient in bubble columns. In this study, a Taylor-type analysis was performed to arrive at an expression for the axial dispersion coefficient in terms of the two dominant fluid-dynamic factors, convective recirculation and eddy diffusion. Experimental measurements of the relevant fluid-dynamic parameters are used to study the effects of operating conditions on the axial dispersion coefficient and its contributing factors.
A Report on some miscellaneous African Encyrtidae in the British Museum

The holotypes and allotypes of all species described as new in this paper are to be deposited in the British Museum and paratypes in the United States National Museum. All the species described in this paper are parasitic in scale-insects or mealybugs.Some of the classifications presented in these papers on African Encyrtidae are tentative only, for in the case of closely related variable species it is impossible to make final identifications on the basis of a few museum samples. The exact degrees of relationship can be expressed only when the insects are known intimately throughout their entire range and a knowledge of the limits and degrees of variation obtained. Even with this knowledge it is not always possible to make final determinations with assurance.
Gonadotropin regulation of glutamate cysteine ligase catalytic and modifier subunit expression in rat ovary is subunit and follicle stage specific

We have observed that levels of the antioxidant glutathione (GSH) and protein levels of the catalytic and modifier subunits of the rate-limiting enzyme in GSH synthesis, GCLc and GCLm, increase in ...
Factors Influencing the Cold-Season Diurnal Temperature Range in the United States

Abstract This study examines the contributions of sunshine duration, snow cover extent, and the atmospheric circulation to variations of the cold-season diurnal temperature range (DTR) in eight regions of the contiguous United States. The goal of the research is to facilitate the interpretation of long-term changes in the DTR in light of the possible anthropogenic role in these trends. For the cold seasons (Nov–Mar) between 1958/59 and 1994/95, daily surface observations at more than 200 stations from the First Summary of the Day (FSOD) dataset as well as selected daily fields from the NCEP–NCAR 40-Year Reanalysis Project are analyzed using compositing, correlation, and regression techniques. For each region, a sea level pressure anomaly pattern is identified that is linearly related to daily variations in the DTR. It is found that the presence of positive sea level pressure anomalies over a region, clear skies, and the absence of snow on the ground all favor high values of the regionally averaged DTR. Th...
Persistence of Flow Patterns over North America and Adjacent Ocean Sectors

Abstract This paper constitutes an attempt to elucidate and account for the characteristics of persistence of mouth-to-month, season-to-season, and year-to-year midtropospheric flow patterns-patterns that control much of the weather and climate of North America. The well-known signature of atmospheric forcing produced by normal seasonal factors is sharpened with new data, exposing a large residual of interannual variation to be documented and explained. In order to do this, several avenues are explored, including the preparation of statistics of pattern correlations stratified by month, season, year, and combinations thereof, as well as the stratification of data by quartiles representing high, low and intermediate persistence. Analyses of these data imply that certain flow patterns are more stable than others, and that the more stable patterns have stronger anomalies, are associated with mutually reinforcing teleconnections, and tend to be well reflected in persistent zonal wind speed profiles. Strong mo...
Building faculty expertise in outcome-based education curriculum design

An information technology (IT) tool that can guide STEM educators through the complex task of course design development, ensure tight alignment between various components of an instructional module, and provide relevant information about research-based pedagogical and assessment strategies will be of great value. A team of researchers is engaged in a User-Centered Design (UCD) approach to develop the Instructional Module Development System (IMODS), i.e., a software program that facilitates course design. In this paper the authors present the high-level design of the IMODS and demonstrate its use in the development of the curriculum for an introductory software engineering course.
Opioids in pregnancy.

High prescribing rates have probably contributed to recent increases in neonatal abstinence syndrome
Proton acceleration from high-contrast short pulse lasers interacting with sub-micron thin foils

A theoretical study complemented with published experimental data of proton acceleration from sub-micron (thickness 1010) short pulse lasers is presented. The underlying physics issues pertinent to proton acceleration are addressed using two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. For laser energy e≤4 J (intensity I≤5×1020 W/cm2), simulation predictions agree with experimental data, both exhibiting scaling superior to Target Normal Sheath Acceleration's model. Anomalous behavior was observed for e>4 J ( I>5×1020 W/cm2), for which the measured maximum proton energies were much lower than predicted by scaling and these simulations. This unexpected behavior could not be explained within the frame of the model, and we conjecture that pre-pulses preceding the main pulse by picoseconds may be responsible. If technological issues can be resolved, energetic proton beams could be generated for a wide range of applications such as nuclear physics, radiography, an...
Using the SI System of Units

Abstract SI surpasses previous metric systems in coherence, simplicity, distinction between force and mass, choice of units, and uniformity of usage. Coherence eliminates conversion factors, other than powers of ten, within the system. Through simplification, only seven base units, two supplementary units, fifteen named derived units, and fourteen prefixes are needed to describe the entire system. Introduction of the newton as a unit of force and retention of the kilogram for mass clarifies the difference between the two quantities. Other new units are: pascal for pressure, Siemens for electric conductance and mole for amount of a substance. International agreement minimizes proliferation of specialized units or usage. Adopted conventions include spelling, abbreviations, style, and usage, as well as definitions for the units. Tolerances, rounding of numbers, and elimination of the comma in multidigit numbers assume new significance. Conversion to SI offers a unique opportunity to reduce the number of size...
Characterization of Cleaved GaAs(110) with A Scanning Photoemission Microscope Capable of Submicron Resolution

We have utilized a scanning photoemission spectromicroscope with sub-micron spatial resolution to observe microscopic Fermi level pinning on the cleaved GaAs(110) surface. We present micrographs which identify pinning that is highly localized to the vicinity of a single linear cleavage step. This extends previous work utilizing scanning Kelvin probe and imaging photoelectron microscopy conducted at lower spatial resolution. A sub-monolayer coverage of In uniformly pins the surface, thus allowing us to observe only the image contrast mechanism resulting from topography. From this one can determine the spatial extent of defects near a cleavage step. Initial observations indicate that Fermi level pinning can extend from a cleavage step over the range of 2 μm. This indicates the additional presence of defects at the adjacent surfaces of the step.
Modeling delay-fired explosion spectra at regional distances

The objectives of this study are to model the observed seismic spectra from large industrial explosions using information obtained from blaster's logs and to compare the explosion spectra with those of small earthquake signals from the same source region. The data set consists of digital waveforms from four mining explosions (200,000 + lb. of explosives each) and two earthquakes ( M = 3.5 and 4.0) in eastern Kentucky. The data were recorded on a short-period regional network at distances ranging from 180 to 400 km and have good signal-to-noise ratios at frequencies from 0.5 to 10 Hz. The explosion amplitude spectra differ markedly from those of the earthquakes, by exhibiting strong time-independent amplitude modulations. This spectral modulation is directly attributable to the explosive charge geometry and firing sequence and is largely independent of source-station path and recording site. Modeling of the explosion source spectra shows that the major contributor to the modulated character of the spectra are amplitude minima at frequencies related to the total duration of the explosion sequence. Another important effect is amplitude reinforcement at low frequencies (e.g., 5 Hz) due to the comparatively long delay (0.2 sec) between the firing of individual rows of explosives. These features dominate both Pg and Lg amplitude spectra at frequencies less than 7 Hz. Accurate modeling of the observed spectra at frequencies greater than a few Hertz requires that the azimuth of the recording site be taken into account. Also, the spectra at higher frequencies become sensitive to random variations in the firing times of any of the various subexplosions.
OPINNIONS ON FURTHER INCREASE OF THE PADDY OUTPUT IN JILIN PROVINCE

The importance of developing rice production and increasing paddy output was explicated in this paper. The effective practice and important strategies were put forward.
An Electrokinetic Active Micromixer

In this work, a novel active micromixer using electrohydrodynamic (EHD) convection phenomena [1] has been demonstrated, simulated, and characterized. Two different liquid samples injected through the realized electrokinetic micromixer have been successfully mixed after passing the mixer. Numerical simulation has also proved the concept of the micromixer. Since the mixer includes no moving parts, reliable and robust mixing in a microchannel can be rapidly achieved. The novel active micromixer realized in this work can be widely applicable for micro total analysis systems (µ-TAS) and biochips.
Microstructural Evolution and Creep-Rupture Behavior of A-USC Alloy Fusion Welds

Characterization of the microstructural evolution of fusion welds in alloys slated for use in advanced ultrasupercritical (A-USC) boilers during creep has been performed. Creep-rupture specimens involving INCONEL® 740, NIMONIC® 263 (INCONEL and NIMONIC are registered trademarks of Special Metals Corporation), and Haynes® 282® (Haynes and 282 are registered trademarks of Haynes International) have been analyzed via light optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and thermodynamic and kinetic modeling. Focus has been given to the microstructures that develop along the grain boundaries in these alloys during creep at temperatures relevant to the A-USC process cycle, and particular attention has been paid to any evidence of the formation of local γ′-denuded or γ′-free zones. This work has been performed in an effort to understand the microstructural changes that lead to a weld strength reduction factor (WSRF) in these alloys as compared to solution annealed and aged alloy 740 base metal. γ′ precipitate-free zones have been identified in alloy 740 base metal, solution annealed alloy 740 weld metal, and alloy 263 weld metal after creep. Their development during long-term thermal exposure is correlated with the stabilization of phases that are rich in γ′-forming elements (e.g., η and G) and is suppressed by precipitation of phases that do not contain the γ′ formers (e.g., M23C6 and μ). The location of failure and creep performance in terms of rupture life and WSRF for each welded joint is presented and discussed.
Trophic ecology and ecomorphology of fish assemblages in coastal lakes of Benin, West Africa

Abstract:The feeding ecology and morphological diversification of fish assemblages of two coastal lakes in southern Benin (West Africa) were examined to compare patterns of community organization. Though located only 18 km apart, the two fish assemblages had dissimilar species composition, and this is largely derived from differences in connectivity to the Gulf of Guinea, salinity and pH. Among the 35 and 20 species sampled from Lake Nokoue (connected with a sea) and Lagoon Toho-Todougba (no sea connection), respectively, only a few species dominated each system. Lake Nokoue was dominated by the perciform Gerres melanopterus and the clupeiform Ethmalosa fimbriata, and Lagoon Toho-Todougba was dominated by the characiform Brycinus longipinnis. In Lake Nokoue, the akadja habitat (dense stands of woody debris installed by humans to attract fishes) had high species richness compared to the other lake habitats. Multivariate procedures were used to examine trophic guilds and the relationship between morphology ...
Genetic association of the glycine cleavage system genes and myelomeningocele.

Background Neural tube defects (NTDs) are one of the most common congenital birth defects, with myelomeningocele (MM) being the most severe form compatible with life. Recent studies show a link between mitochondrial folate one carbon metabolism and NTDs by means of the glycine cleavage system (GCS). We hypothesize that single nucleotide polymorphisms and novel variants in the coding regions of the GCS genes increase the risk for MM. Methods DNA was obtained from 96 subjects with MM born before the United States mandated folic acid fortification of grains in 1998. Primers were designed for polymerase chain reaction amplification and sequencing of all exons in the AMT gene, one of four genes in the GCS, followed by identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms and novel variants. An additional 252 MM subjects underwent whole exome sequencing to examine all four GCS genes (aminomethyltransferase, glycine dehydrogenase, glycine cleavage system protein-H, and dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase). Results We identified six novel, heterozygous variants in the AMT gene with three predicted to be deleterious to AMT function (p.Val7Leu, p.Pro251Arg, and p.Val380Met). Five extremely rare, known heterozygous variants were found in the AMT gene and one in the GLDC gene. No novel variants in the exons of the other two GCS genes (DLD and GCSH) were identified. Conclusion We identified novel and rare, known variants in two of the four GCS genes that may contribute to the development of MM. Consistent with previous findings, the current study provides additional support that genetic variations in GCS genes contribute to the risk of NTDs. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A framework to facilitate modeling of a Cognitive Radio network using layered architecture

Cognitive Radio (CR) is a promising solution to solve the problem of limited spectrum and poor bandwidth utilization in wireless networks by opportunistically exploiting the available wireless spectrum. Despite the numerous advantages of CR technology, it imposes unique challenges for modeling and simulation due to dynamic spectrum sensing and the high fluctuations in the spectrum utilization as well as diverse set of components that form a CR network. Therefore, to develop a model for CR network and execute the distributed simulation, it is critical to have a complete understanding of (1) an analytical model that incorporates all components of a CR network and (2) a framework that layout all necessary tools and services needed for a successful modeling and simulation. In this paper, we have two research contributions. First, we present an analytical model of CR by identifying components necessary for a design of a typical CR and classify them in the context of modeling and simulation. A design of a CR network includes the software defined radio (SDR), spectrum sensing, and communication channels. The layers of the analytical model encapsulate the SDR, spectrum sensing techniques, and the communication channels. Second, we construct a theoretical representation of a CR by specifying its unique characteristics needed for modeling and simulation. We show the mapping of these characteristics into a layered architecture framework which ease the model formulization and simplify the simulation of a complex CR network.
Modeling and incorporation of system response functions in 3D whole body PET

Appropriate application of spatially variant system models can correct for degraded resolution response and mispositioning errors. This work explores the detector blurring component of the system model for a whole body PET system and extends this factor into a more general system response function to account for other system non-idealities such as the influence of FORE rebinning. We model the system response function as a 3 dimensional function that blurs in the radial and axial dimension and is spatially variant in radial location. This function is derived from Monte Carlo simulations and incorporates inter-crystal scatter, crystal penetration, and the blurring due to FORE rebinning. The improved system model is applied in a modified OSEM algorithm to reconstruct FORE rebinned, fully 3D PET data into images with improved resolution and quantitative accuracy.
An Early Functional and Performance Experiment of the MarFS Hybrid Storage EcoSystem

Many computing sites, LANL being one of them, have a requirement for long-term retention of mostly cold data. Although the main function of this storage tier is capacity, it does also have a bandwidth requirement. For many years, tape was the best economic solution for this requirement. However, over time, data sets have grown larger more quickly than tape bandwidth has improved. We have now entered a regime in which disk is the more economically efficient medium for this storage tier. Also more and more, data dominates the computing world. There is a "sea" of data out there in many different formats such as file, object, and Key-value that needs to be efficiently managed and effectively used. In this paper, we introduce a new hybrid storage system named MarFS. MarFS is a Near-POSIX File System using scale-out commercial/cloud for data and many POSIX file systems for metadata services. MarFS is an approach to support a data lake for HPC that sits on industry based commodity storage hardware and is a software layer that provides a global namespace and near POSIX semantics. MarFS provides the capability to serve as an umbrella over a variety of underling storage layers. In this paper, we present the system architecture of the proposed MarFS near-POISX file system, we conduct early functional performance testing cases on MarFS's software components, and finally we address current deployment status and future development works of the MarFS.
Teacher education around the world: What can we learn from international practice?

This article describes teacher education in jurisdictions around the world that have well-developed systems for teacher development. It examines teacher education policies and practices in Australi...
Substantial local variation of the Seebeck coefficient in gold nanowires

Nanoscale structuring holds promise to improve the thermoelectric properties of materials for energy conversion and photodetection. We report a study of the spatial distribution of the photothermoelectric voltage in thin-film nanowire devices fabricated from a single metal. A focused laser beam is used to locally heat the metal nanostructure via a combination of direct absorption and excitation of a plasmon resonance in Au devices. As seen previously, in nanowires shorter than the spot size of the laser, we observe a thermoelectric voltage distribution that is consistent with the local Seebeck coefficient being spatially dependent on the width of the nanostructure. In longer structures, we observe extreme variability of the net thermoelectric voltage as the laser spot is scanned along the length of the nanowire. The sign and magnitude of the thermoelectric voltage is sensitive to the structural defects, metal grain structure, and surface passivation of the nanowire. This finding opens the possibility of improved local control of the thermoelectric properties at the nanoscale.
Physical Activity as a Vital Sign: A Systematic Review.

Introduction Physical activity (PA) is strongly endorsed for managing chronic conditions, and a vital sign tool (indicator of general physical condition) could alert providers of inadequate PA to prompt counseling or referral. This systematic review examined the use, definitions, psychometric properties, and outcomes of brief PA instruments as vital sign measures, with attention primarily to studies focused on arthritis. Methods Electronic databases were searched for English-language literature from 1985 through 2016 using the terms PA, exercise, vital sign, exercise referral scheme, and exercise counseling. Of the 838 articles identified for title and abstract review, 9 articles qualified for full text review and data extraction. Results Five brief PA measures were identified: Exercise Vital Sign (EVS), Physical Activity Vital Sign (PAVS), Speedy Nutrition and Physical Activity Assessment (SNAP), General Practice Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPPAQ), and Stanford Brief Activity Survey (SBAS). Studies focusing on arthritis were not found. Over 1.5 years of using EVS in a large hospital system, improvements occurred in relative weight loss among overweight patients and reduction in glycosylated hemoglobin among diabetic patients. On PAVS, moderate physical activity of 5 or more days per week versus fewer than 5 days per week was associated with a lower body mass index (-2.90 kg/m2). Compared with accelerometer-defined physical activity, EVS was weakly correlated (r = 0.27), had low sensitivity (27%-59%), and high specificity (74%-89%); SNAP showed weak agreement (κ = 0.12); GPPAQ had moderate sensitivity (46%) and specificity (50%), and SBAS was weakly correlated (r = 0.10-0.28), had poor to moderate sensitivity (18%-67%), and had moderate specificity (58%-79%). Conclusion Few studies have examined a brief physical activity tool as a vital sign measure. Initial investigations suggest the promise of these simple and quick assessment tools, and research is needed to test the effects of their use on chronic disease outcomes.
An evolutionary concept analysis of futility in health care.

Aim To report a concept analysis of futility in health care. Background Each member of the healthcare team: the physician, the nurse, the patient, the family and all others involved perceive futility differently. The current evidence and knowledge in regard to futility in health care manifest a plethora of definitions, meanings and interpretations without consensus. Design Concept analysis. Data sources Databases searched included Medline, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Academic Search Premier, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and PsycINFO. Search terms included "futil*," "concept analysis," "concept," "inefficacious," "non-beneficial," "ineffective" and "fruitless" from 1935-2016 to ensure a historical perspective of the concept. A total of 106 articles were retained to develop the concept. Methods Rogers' evolutionary concept analysis was used to evaluate the concept of futility from ancient medicine to the present. Results Seven antecedents (the patient/family autonomy, surrogate decision-making movement, the patient-family/physician relationship, physician authority, legislation and court rulings, catastrophic events and advancing medical technology) lead to four major attributes (quantitative, physiologic, qualitative, and disease-specific). Ultimately, futile care could lead to consequences such as litigation, advancing technology, increasing healthcare costs, rationing, moral distress and ethical dilemmas. Conclusion Futility in health care demonstrates components of a cyclical process and a consensus definition is proposed. A framework is developed to clarify the concept and articulate relationships among attributes, antecedents and consequences. Further testing of the proposed definition and framework are needed.
Racial and Ethnic Differences in the Prevalence of Depressive Symptoms Among U.S. Nursing Home Residents.

This study aimed to examine racial and ethnic differences in significant depressive symptoms among long-term nursing home residents. We analyzed the 2014 national Minimum Data Set linked to a nursing home file and estimated multivariable logistic regressions to determine the associations of race and ethnicities with significant depressive symptoms (score ≥ 10 on the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9] scale) and whether associations were explained by resident and nursing home covariates. Stratified analyses further determined independent associations in subgroups of residents. We found that the prevalence rate of PHQ-9 scores ≥ 10 was 8.8% among non-Hispanic White residents (n = 653,031) and 7.4%, 6.9%, and 6.6% among Black (n = 97,629), Hispanic (n = 39,752), and Asian (n = 16,636) residents, respectively. The reduced likelihoods of significant depressive symptoms for minority residents compared to non-Hispanic Whites persisted after sequential adjustments for resident and nursing home covariates, as well as in stratified analyses. The persistently lower rate of significant depressive symptoms among racial and ethnic minority residents suggests that training of nursing home caregivers for culturally sensitive depression screening is needed for improved symptom recognition among minority residents.
Selection among nonlinear models for rate of passage studies in ruminants.

Eight Toggenburg wether goats were fed either Coastal bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) or orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata)-alfalfa (Medicago sativa) hay (57:43%) in a reversal design. Four markers were used to study the movement of different digesta fractions: erbium for large particles >1,700 /am; ytterbium for medium particles 500/am; chromium for small particles 32/am; and cobalt to follow liquid passage. Fecal samples were collected every 4 h for 6 d. The excretion curves obtained for every marker in each animal were used for model selection. One-compartment gamma age-dependent models (gamma 2, 3 and 4 age-dependent), two-compartment (gamma 2 and gamma 3 age-dependent, age-independent) models and a biexponential model were fitted to the data. Residual sums of squares and the Davidson and MacKinnon test were used to select the most appropriate models. These procedures indicated that the models best describing the movement of different digesta fractions through the gastrointestinal tract of goats, in this experiment, were the biexponential model for liquids, gamma 2 two-compartment model for small and medium particles and gamma 3 two-compartment model for large particles. To accurately describe the behavior of different components of digesta in the digestive tract, different mathematical models are required. In general, models that describe the movement of large particles have higher orders of age-dependency than models that describe the passage of liquids or small particles.
Grain Boundary Resistivity and Electrically Induced Grain Boundary Migration (EIGM) in Metallic Bamboo Microstructures

As VLSI conductor line dimensions continue to decrease, electrotransport properties increasingly effect device lifetimes. Grain boundaries are intimately linked to these processes, providing paths of varying diffusivity, and as mobile defects themselves. Haessner et al. [6] make a challenging finding in experiments with thin gold films: based on calorimetric data, in order to account for the velocity of grain boundaries migrating in high electric current densities, the force on the atoms of a grain boundary would have to be two orders of magnitude larger than what the accepted theory for bulk ions predicts. The failure is attributed to the simplicity of the model which does not account for possible variations of the resistivity and effective valance charge that could occur in the vicinity of a grain boundary. In this paper, expressions are developed for the electron wind force on the atoms near grain boundaries, and they are written in terms of thermodynamic variables: the boundary specific volume expansion and specific resistivity. The enhancement of the wind force of the boundary atoms over the bulk wind force is calculated using published data. This model allows for more than an order of magnitude enhancement in gold, and Haessner's observation is rationalized.
Plant Finding and Acceptance Behaviors of Anasa tristis (DeGeer)

Finding and acceptance behaviors of Anasa tristis were investigated using plants that are suitable (pumpkin) or unsuitable (cucumber, coleus) for development. A. tristis found plants in the absence of non-contact cues. Plant finding is enhanced by olfaction and vision. A. tristis found suitable and unsuitable plants equally well. The importance of olfaction in plant acceptance is suggested by intense antennation while on plant and change in behavior on pumpkin and coleus after removal of antennae. Insects on suitable and unsuitable plants dab the surface, contact the plant surface with the labium and insert stylets. Post ingestive effects are important for plant acceptance and rejection. Ingesting water and some nutrients from plants unsuitable for development can be important in extending the time available to move between resource patches.
Motion Planning in Deformable Soft Tissue with Applications to Needle Insertion

Minimally invasive medical procedures such as brachytherapy, biopsies, and treatment injections often require inserting a rigid needle to a specific target location inside the body to implant a radioactive seed, extract a tissue sample, or inject a drug. In all cases, the needle tip should be inserted as close as possible to a predetermined target inside soft tissue. Unfortunately, inserting and retracting a needle causes the surrounding soft tissue to displace and deform: ignoring these deformations can result in substantial placement error, as illustrated in figure 3.1. Although real-time imaging such as ultrasound is available during the procedure, it does not provide crisp tissue boundaries and cannot be used to precisely monitor the tissue deformations. Physicians must therefore learn to compensate for the effects of tissue deformations in order to insert the needle to the correct location within the tissue.
The Past and Future of Proactive Law: An Overview of the Development of the Proactive Law Movement

This chapter introduces the concept of proactive law. Proactive law originated in Scandinavia in the late 1990s in an effort to improve the contracting process in business dealings. It later has been expanded to other regions and areas of law. It regards the law as an enabling instrument, which fosters the creation of economic value and successful relationships. This article summarizes the history and basic principles of the proactive law approach. It reflects on some of the reasons for the emergence of the approach, describes its origins in and contrast it from preventive law, and concludes with perspectives on future research.
DDoS Botnet Prevention using Blockchain in Software Defined Internet of Things

Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks have two defense perspectives firstly, to defend your network, resources and other information assets from this disastrous attack. Secondly, to prevent your network to be the part of botnet (botforce) bondage to launch attacks on other networks and resources mainly be controlled from a control center. This work focuses on the development of a botnet prevention system for Internet of Things (IoT) that uses the benefits of both Software Defined Networking (SDN) and Distributed Blockchain (DBC). We simulate and analyze that using blockchain and SDN, how can detect and mitigate botnets and prevent our devices to play into the hands of attackers.
Blackgirl face: racialized and gendered performativity in mathematical contexts

While race, class, and gender are often treated as well-defined and static identities within mathematics education research, we explore gender, race and class as performances through the case of a middle school Black girl, Cameryn. Scenes from video artifacts are deconstructed using a hermeneutic process to reveal how Cameryn positions herself as a seemingly disinterested, resistant mathematics student through a facade we call blackgirl face. Blackgirl face not only reflects the particularities of Black girlhood for Cameryn but provides a new conceptual lens for understanding mathematics learning as a performance, requiring and enabling children to simultaneously negotiate race, class, and gender.
Acculturation, Gender, and Health Among Middle Eastern Immigrants in the United States

This study uses data from the 2002-12 National Health Interview Surveys and binary logistic regression techniques to examine the association between acculturation and health for Middle Eastern (ME) immigrants in the United States. Particular attention is given to the gender-specific acculturation-health relationship. Results indicate that, in general, ME immigrants are healthier than U.S.-born whites; ME immigrant men are, on average, healthier than ME immigrant women. The study finds evidence of an association between acculturation and self-rated health. However, the acculturation pattern holds neither for activity limitation nor for chronic health conditions. Male and female ME immigrants of all acculturation levels are less likely to report any activity limitations or any chronic health conditions compared to their U.S.-born counterparts. Findings suggest that future research on ME immigrants and on other immigrant groups should take into account different levels of acculturation when examining the rel...
Use of Aerial Triangulation in Large-Scale Mapping

The special character of large-scale photogrammetric mapping and its relatively high accuracy requirements make the use of aerial triangulation not as easy, or as common, as in topographical mappin...
Community development in the face of resource extraction in northern Minnesota, USA

Abstract The seven counties that make up northeastern Minnesota are known collectively as the “Arrowhead,” a region dominated by taconite mining, timber production, and tourism. Because of the Arrowhead’s long history of resource extraction and the boom-bust nature of resource dependence, there is recognition that to achieve long-term sustainability, economic diversification is critical. Complicating this narrative is upcoming decisions by the State of Minnesota to allow extraction of one of the largest undeveloped deposits of copper-nickel and precious metals worldwide; a decision that will determine the economic and environmental fate of the region for decades to come. The objective of this study was to determine how media coverage in six resource dependent communities in northeastern Minnesota perceived, prioritized and acted upon issues of community development and natural resource management, and how those perceptions and priorities differ spatially and temporally in the face of proposed copper-nickel and precious metal mining.
Young Children’s Learning of Bioengineering with CRISPEE: a Developmentally Appropriate Tangible User Interface

Bioengineering represents an interdisciplinary field with the potential to engage young learners in science inquiry and engineering design in the context of real-world challenges. Although children encounter bioengineered products and solutions in their everyday lives, they are not introduced to bioengineering until much later in school, after stereotype threats about STEM engagement have crystallized. The purpose of this paper is to present an experimental tangible tool called CRISPEE and evidence from an intervention with young children who explored CRISPEE in the context of an informal bioengineering curriculum. In this design study, 25 children aged 4–7 years engaged in a 9-h workshop designed to introduce them to foundational bioengineering concepts of gene editing, engineering design, and bioethics. Children’s attitudes and content knowledge about life science, engineering, and bioengineering were assessed pre- and post-interventions. Mixed quantitative and qualitative results show that most children entered the intervention with pre-existing ideas about genes and attitudes about engineering and science. Post intervention, children demonstrated increased positive STEM attitudes and content knowledge, especially in the area of science inquiry, and also demonstrated an emerging curiosity about the purpose and effectiveness of bioengineering work, including bioethics. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
A novel convolutional neural network for predicting full dose from low dose PET scans

The use of radiolabeled tracers in PET imaging raises concerns owing to potential risks from radiation exposure. Therefore, to reduce this potential risk in diagnostic PET imaging, efforts have been made to decrease the amount of radiotracer administered to the patient. However, decreasing the injected activity reduces the signal-to-noise Ratio (SNR) and deteriorates image quality, thus adversely impacting clinical diagnosis. Previously proposed techniques are complicated and slow, yet they yield satisfactory results at significantly low dose. In this work, we propose a deep learning algorithm to reconstruct full-dose (FD) from low-dose (LD) PET images using a fully convolutional encoder-decoder deep neural network model. The goal is to train a model to learn to reconstruct from images with only 5% of the counts to produce images corresponding to 100% of the dose. Brain PET/CT images of 140 patients acquired on the Siemens Biograph mCT with a standard injected activity of 18F-FDG (205 ± 10 MBq). Images were acquired for about 20 min. The sinograms of each scan were used to produce a low-dose sinogram by randomly selecting only 1/20th of the counts. To avoid over fitting, data augmentation was used. A modified 3D U-Net, was developed to predict standard-dose sinogram (PSS) from their corresponding LD sinogram. Detailed quantitative and qualitative comparison demonstrated the proposed method can generate artefact-free diagnostic quality images that preserve internal structures without noise amplification. The structural similarity index (SSIM) and peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR) were used as quantitative metrics for assessment. For instance, the PSNR and SSIM in selected slices were 37.30±0.71 and 0.97±0.02, respectively. The proposed algorithm operates in the projection space and is capable of producing diagnostic quality images with only 5% of the standard injected activity.
Intraoperative Nerve Monitoring in Thyroidectomies for Malignancy: Does it Matter?

BackgroundRecurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury and postoperative hypocalcemia are potential complications of thyroidectomy, particularly in malignancy. Intraoperative nerve monitoring (IONM) rema...
Assessing Stakeholder Perceptions of the Utility of Genetic Information for the Clinical Care of Mental Health Disorders: We Have a Will but Need to See the Way

Academic stakeholders’ (primarily mental health researchers and clinicians) practices and attitudes related to the translation of genetic information into mental health care were assessed. A three-part survey was administered at two large, urban universities. Response frequencies were calculated. Participants (N = 64) reported moderate levels of translational practice, adequate levels of genetic knowledge, and variable levels of genetic competence. They held positive attitudes toward translating genetic information about mental health broadly but negative attitudes about the impact that such information would have on specific aspects of care. The current study lays the groundwork for further inquiry into translating genetic information to mental health care.
Ephedra's Role as a Precursor in the Clandestine Manufacture of Methamphetamine

In February 1993, an illicit, fully operational methamphetamine laboratory was confiscated in Vacaville, California. In addition to seizing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine tablets, approximately 1.3 kg of ephedra was found at the lab site. Ephedra (also referred to as Ma Huang) is a plant material that contains numerous alkaloids, including 1-ephedrine and d-pseudoephedrine. Ephedra products are currently sold over-the-counter in various forms such as tablets and capsules. Quantitative analysis reveals that some ephedra capsules and tablets contain as much methamphetamine precursors as a synthetic 25 mg ephedrine tablet. Because of this, ephedra is becoming a “substitute precursor” for ephedrine compounds for use in the illicit manufacture of methamphetamine. Ephedra samples were reacted with hydriodic acid and red phosphorus in much the same way as ephedrine would be reacted in order to produce methamphetamine. The progress of the reduction was monitored by obtaining aliquots of the reaction solution at time intervals followed by analyses using GC/IRD and GC/MS. An analysis of the final product of the reaction indicated that d-metham-phetamine, d-amphetamine and d-N,N-dimethylamphetamine had been produced as a result of the reduction of ephedra. The latter two compounds result from the reduction of norephedrine and N-methylephedrine, respectively (also present in ephedra), and therefore represent markers for this synthetic methodology.
Regional anesthesia in neonates and infants outside the immediate perioperative period: A systematic review of studies with efficacy and safety considerations.

This review examines the quality and quantity of literature regarding methods that measure efficacy in the context of reported safety of regional anesthesia techniques in preterm and term infants <1 year of age. Because the role of anesthesiologists continues to expand outside the operating room, we focused on all relevant settings with assessments that extend beyond 24 hours from the intraoperative period. All study designs were included from a search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus, and Cochrane databases from 1946 to the end of 2019. A total of 31 studies were included (n = 1038 participants), consisting of five randomized controlled trials and 26 observational studies. Twenty-three studies examined neuraxial procedures, seven studies examined peripheral procedures, and one study examined both. Efficacy measures included pain assessment tools, analgesic use, and factors pertaining to the recovery of patients. Safety was assessed in multiple systems (neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory, pathological) and with vital signs and/or measures of systemic toxicity. Evidence in this review establishes that neuraxial and peripheral anesthesia treatments may be applied to neonates and infants with a high degree of safety. However, large gaps in the consistency of methods used to assess pain in these studies underline the need for rigorous prospective efficacy studies of these techniques in this population. This systematic review was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42018114466).