cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Testimonials Versus Informational Persuasive Messages: The Moderating Effect of Delivery Mode and Personal Involvement

This study aims to test the relative effectiveness of testimonials compared to simple informational health messages, presented both through different modalities and to recipients with different levels of involvement. Results of the three independent experiments demonstrate that testimonials are more persuasive when presented through the audio mode rather than when presented through the written mode. Also, the informational messages are more persuasive when perceived by individuals characterized by high rather than low involvement and high rather than low need for cognition. The results are explained in terms of the Elaboration Likelihood Model. The interactive effect of transportation and involvement on persuasion is further examined. The findings help in the development of more efficient message targeting. The highest level of efficiency can be achieved if the appropriate media modality and message format are used for recipients with certain initial involvement or need for cognition.
A distributed formation of a virtual backbone in MANETs using adjustable transmission ranges

Recently, the use of a virtual backbone (connected dominating set) in various applications in mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) has become popular. These applications include topology management, point and area coverage, and routing protocol design. In a mobile environment such as a MANET, one challenging issue in constructing a virtual backbone is to accomplish a distributed and localized solution that aims at balancing several contradicting objectives: small approximation ratio, fast convergence, and low computation cost. Many existing distributed and localized algorithms select a virtual backbone without resorting to global or geographical information. However, these algorithms incur a high computation cost in a dense network. In this paper, we propose a distributed solution based on reducing the density of the network using two mechanisms: clustering and adjustable transmission range. By using adjustable transmission range, we also achieve another objective, energy-efficient design, as a by-product. As an application, we show an efficient broadcasting where nodes (and only nodes) in a virtual backbone are used to forward the broadcast message. The virtual backbone is constructed using Wu and Li's marking process [J. Wu et al., (1999)] and the proposed density reduction process. The application of the density reduction process to other localized algorithms is also discussed. The efficiency of our approach is confirmed through both analytic and simulation study.
Stable Gene Silencing in Zebrafish with Spatiotemporally Targetable RNA Interference

The ability to regulate gene activity in a spatiotemporally controllable manner is vital for biological discovery that will impact disease diagnosis and treatment. While conditional gene silencing is possible in other genetic model organisms, this technology is largely unavailable in zebrafish, an important vertebrate model organism for functional gene discovery. Here, using short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) designed in the microRNA-30 backbone, which have been shown to mimic natural microRNA primary transcripts and be more effective than simple shRNAs, we report stable RNA interference-mediated gene silencing in zebrafish employing the yeast Gal4-UAS system. Using this approach, we reveal at single-cell resolution the role of atypical protein kinase Cλ (aPKCλ) in regulating neural progenitor/stem cell division. We also show effective silencing of the one-eyed-pinhead and no-tail/brachyury genes. Furthermore, we demonstrate stable integration and germ-line transmission of the UAS-miR-shRNAs for aPKCλ, the expressivity of which is controllable by the strength and expression of Gal4. This technology shall significantly advance the utility of zebrafish for understanding fundamental vertebrate biology and for the identification and evaluation of important therapeutic targets.
Maladaptive Perfectionism as a Mediator and Moderator Between Adult Attachment and Depressive Mood.

This study examined maladaptive perfectionism (concern over mistakes, doubts about one’s ability to accomplish tasks, and failure to meet high standards) as both a mediator and a moderator between adult attachment (anxiety and avoidance) and depressive mood (depression and hopelessness). Survey data were collected from 310 undergraduates and analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) methods. Results indicated that maladaptive perfectionism partially mediated the relationship between attachment anxiety and depressive mood and fully mediated the relationship between attachment avoidance and depressive mood. Bootstrap methods were used to assess the magnitude of the indirect effects. Significant moderator effects were also found with SEM methods. The association between attachment anxiety and depressive mood was stronger as perfectionism increased. Perfectionism was not a significant moderator for attachment avoidance and depressive mood.
Ultra-compact electro-thermally tunable photonic crystal prism for on-chip optical router application

We report design, fabrication and characterization of MEMS enabled electro-thermally tunable 2D photonic crystal prism. The tunable photonic crystal prism was realized by utilizing thermo-optic effect of silicon. A nickel chromium heater was used to heat up the photonic crystal prism. The localized heating on the prism (to 222°C) modifies the photonic band structure, leading to an angle shift (4°) of the propagation direction of light. The tunable prism was characterized using a far field imaging infrared camera. The profiles of the scattered light spot at the end tip of the output waveguides clearly showed angle shift of the propagation of the light as expected. Both electromagnetic simulation and experiment results were in good agreement.
Developing operational algorithms using linear and non-linear squares estimation in Python for the identification of Culex pipiens and Culex restuans in a mosquito abatement district (Cook County, Illinois, USA).

In this research, community level spatial models were developed for determining mosquito abundance and envi- ronmental factors that could aid in the risk prediction of West Nile virus (WNv) outbreaks. Adult Culex pipiens and Culex restuan mosquitoes and multiple habitat covariates were collected from nine sites within Cook County, Illinois, USA, to provide spatio-temporal information on the abundance of WNv vectors from 2002 to 2005. Regression analy- ses of the sampled covariates revealed that the adult Culex population was positively associated with temperature throughout the sampling frame. The model output also indicated that precipitation was negatively associated to mos- quito abundance in 2002, 2003 and 2005 (P <0.05), but positively associated in 2004 (P <0.05). A land use land cover classification, based on QuickBird visible and near infra-red data, acquired at 0.61 m resolution, was used to investigate possible associations between geographical features and the abundance of sampled Culex oviposition surveillance sites. A maximum likelihood unsupervised classification in ArcInfo 9.2 ® revealed that the highest overall mosquito abundance was found in sites having a low-to-moderate range of built environment (40%) and high forest composition. A set of propagation equations were then designed to model the calibration uncertainties, which revealed that normalized dif- ference vegetation index (NDVI), and two NDVI variants, were informative markers for the sampled mosquito data. Spatial dependence of the covariates of Cx. restuans and Cx. pipiens oviposition sites were indexed using semivari- ograms, which suggested that all main effects of the explanatory variables were statistically significant in the model. Additionally, a multispectral classification and digital elevation model-based geographical information system method were able to evaluate stream flow direction and accumulation for identification of terrain covariates associated with the sampled habitat data. These results demonstrate that remotely sensed operational indices can be used to identify param- eters associated with field-sampled Cx. pipiens and Cx. restuans aquatic habitats.
Immune recognition of serum albumin.15. Localization by synthesis of antigenic site 4 of bovine serum albumin to the region around the disulfide bond 166-175.

Abstract Recently, we have localized and confirmed by synthesis the regions within which reside five major antigenic sites of bovine serum albumin and propoed that the remaining sixth major antigenic site (antigenic site 4) was localized within subdomain 3 (fragment 115–184) of albumin. In the present work, antigenic site 4 was localized to fall around the disulfide bond 166–175 by synthesis and immunochemical reactivity of the region 162–179. The synthetic 18-residue peptide was shown to bind substantial amounts of antibodies from early (38-day) and late (398-day) anti-albumin antisera from two rabbits. As much as half the total anti-albumin antibodies could be bound by the peptide from the late antisera. It was concluded that antigenic site 4 resides within, but may not include all of, the region 162–179 of albumin.
A penalized Bayesian approach to predicting sparse protein-DNA binding landscapes.

Motivation: Cellular processes are controlled, directly or indirectly, by the binding of hundreds of different DNA binding factors (DBFs) to the genome. One key to deeper understanding of the cell is discovering where, when and how strongly these DBFs bind to the DNA sequence. Direct measurement of DBF binding sites (BSs; e.g. through ChIPChip or ChIP-Seq experiments) is expensive, noisy and not available for every DBF in every cell type. Naive and most existing computational approaches to detecting which DBFs bind in a set of genomic regions of interest often perform poorly, due to the high false discovery rates and restrictive requirements for prior knowledge. Results: We develop SparScape, a penalized Bayesian method for identifying DBFs active in the considered regions and predicting a joint probabilistic binding landscape. Using a sparsity-inducing penalization, SparScape is able to select a small subset of DBFs with enriched BSs in a set of DNA sequences from a much larger candidate set. This substantially reduces the false positives in prediction of BSs. Analysis of ChIP-Seq data in mouse embryonic stem cells and simulated data show that SparScape dramatically outperforms the naive motif scanning method and the comparable computational approaches in terms of DBF identification and BS prediction. Availability and implementation: SparScape is implemented in Cþþ with OpenMP (optional at compilation) and is freely available at ‘www. stat.ucla.edu/*zhou/Software.html’ for academic use. Contact: zhou@stat.ucla.edu Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Electronic Raman coherence in GaAs: state-specific scattering processes

Summary form only given. Quantum beats probe energy gaps and coherences, including the nonradiative Raman correlation between the light- and heavy-hole valence bands. A recent analysis of quantum beats in four-wave mixing (FWM) in a multiple-quantum well (MQW) illustrates the potential of this technique. We have demonstrated the existence of a Raman coherence, independent of polarization beats. The fast decay and polarisation dependence reveal strongly state specific scattering and spin independent interactions.
Mimosa pudica: Electrical and mechanical stimulation of plant movements

Thigmonastic movements in the sensitive plant Mimosa pudica L., associated with fast responses to environmental stimuli, appear to be regulated through electrical and chemical signal transductions. The thigmonastic responses of M. pudica can be considered in three stages: stimulus perception, electrical signal transmission and induction of mechanical, hydrodynamical and biochemical responses. We investigated the mechanical movements of the pinnae and petioles in M. pudica induced by the electrical stimu- lation of a pulvinus, petiole, secondary pulvinus or pinna by a low electrical voltage and charge.The threshold value was 1.3-1.5 V of applied voltage and 2 to 10 mC of charge for the closing of the pinnules. Both voltage and electrical charge are responsible for the electro-stimulated closing of a leaf. The mechanism behind closing the leaf in M. pudica is discussed. The hydroelastic curvature mechanism closely describes the kinetics of M. pudica leaf movements.
In vitro acoustic molecular imaging of tissue factor expressed by smooth muscle cells with stable liquid perfluorocarbon nanoparticle contrast agents

Liquid perfluorocarbon nanoparticle contrast agents can be used to target specific tissue types through incorporation of appropriate ligands into the nanoparticles' outer lipid monolayer. In this study we sought to characterize the specificity of targeting of perfluorooctyl bromide (PFOB) nanoparticles to tissue factor, a transmembrane glycoprotein expressed by smooth muscle cells as part of inflammatory response after vessel injury (e.g., angioplasty). Porcine smooth muscle cells constitutively expressing tissue factor on the cell surface were cultured on microporous membranes and targeted with PFOB nanoparticles by avidin-biotin binding techniques. Treatment groups included: 1) "targeted" cell samples exposed sequentially to biotinylated tissue factor antibody/avidin/biotinlyated nanoparticles, 2) "non-targeted" smooth muscle cells exposed to avidin/biotinlyated nanoparticles; 3) "control" smooth muscle cells left untreated. Ultrasonic imaging and quantification of surface reflectivity for each cell group was accomplished by scanning a 25MHz transducer in a grid over the membrane inserts and analyzing the reflected RF signal from the cell-covered surfaces. Total PFOB content for each sample (directly related to nanoparticle concentration) was determined independently by gas chromatography. Targeted cells exhibited significantly enhanced surface reflectivity (-22.6/spl plusmn/2.0 dB referenced to steel reflector, p<0.002) relative to either non-targeted (-29.6/spl plusmn/1.1 dB) or control groups (-29.3/spl plusmn/1.4 dB). Gas chromatography data indicated that bound PFOB was present in targeted cells at levels nearly six times greater than for nontargeted cells. Additionally, bound PFOB levels for the targeted samples Correlated directly with the magnitude of surface reflectivity (r=0.99; p<0.03). In conclusion, PFOB nanoparticles targeted to smooth muscle cell tissue factor specifically bind to such cells at levels nearly six times greater than to nontargeted cells. The targeted cells exhibit substantially enhanced acoustic reflectivity, thereby confirming the utility of quantitative ultrasonic molecular imaging with the use of a nongaseous nanoparticle contrast agent.
Do generational schemes improve the garbage collection efficiency

Recently, most research efforts on garbage collection have concentrated on reducing pause times. However, very little effort has been spent on the study of garbage collection efficiency, especially generational garbage collection which was introduced as a way to reduce garbage collection pause times. In this paper a detailed study of garbage collection efficiency in generational schemes is presented. The study provides a mathematical model for the efficiency of generation garbage collection. Additionally, important issues such as write-barrier overhead, pause times, residency, and heap size are also addressed. We find that generational garbage collection often has lower garbage collection efficiency than other approaches (e.g. mark-sweep, copying) due to a smaller collected area and write-barrier overhead.
Using spectral correlation for non-cooperative RSS-based positioning

Typically, methods for received signal strength (RSS) based source localization assume that the signal can be separated from the noise and interference. However, in non-cooperative applications where the details of the modulation format are not known a priori, this is not possible. In a high SNR environment, the RSS of the signal can be estimated from the power spectral density (PSD) via energy detection, but the PSD becomes dominated by noise at low SNR, leading to a loss of positioning information. This paper proposes the use of the spectral correlation function (SCF) for RSS-based localization, as the SCF has been shown to outperform simple energy detection for detecting the presence of a signal.
The Changing Picture of Max Weber's Sociology

▪ Abstract Over the years the secondary literature on Max Weber's sociology has grown enormously, and it is time to raise the following question: Is the picture of his sociology the same today as it was yesterday? In this review I argue that the traditional picture of Weber's sociology has begun to change and that one important factor in this change has to do with the perception of the role that the theme of the economy plays in Weber's life and work. Special attention has recently been paid to Weber's relationship to economics, his economic sociology, and the fact that Weber came from a background of wealthy merchants that he strongly identified with. Several new topics in Weber's sociology are explored that are related to the changing picture of his work. Special attention is also paid to interpretations of Weber that draw on rational choice sociology and an interest-based type of analysis.
Optimality of hedging point policies in the production control of failure prone manufacturing systems

We study the necessary and sufficient conditions for the optimality of the hedging point policy for production systems in which the failure rate of machines depends on the rate of production. We focus on a one machine one part-type and infinite horizon discounted cost problem. It is shown that when the failure rate is independent of the rate of production and a constant, the hedging point policy is provably optimal. The main result of this paper is to show that the linearity of the failure rate function is both necessary and sufficient for the optimality of the hedging point policy. >
Tidally regulated chemical fluxes across the sediment-water interface in Elkhorn Slough, California: Evidence from a coupled geochemical and hydrodynamic approach

Measurements of four Ra isotopes, Ba, Mn, U, and dissolved nutrients were used in concert with hydrodynamic modeling to reveal a large, tidally regulated sediment–surface-water exchange within Elkhorn Slough, an estuary in Monterey Bay, California. Hydrologic and oceanographic data from in situ sensors and geophysical surveys of estuarine bottom sediments were integrated with the chemical measurements to develop Ra flux boundary conditions for a three-dimensional hydrodynamic transport model of the estuary. Sediment and surface-water exchange is the dominant source of Ra isotopes within this system. This process occurs without significant fresh terrestrial groundwater discharge. A number of known solute transport and pore-water flushing mechanisms can explain the 224Ra input, including diffusion, evaporative transport, bioirrigation, and inundation and drainage of borrows and macropores. The 226Ra results suggest that some of these mechanisms, or others, are capable of mobilizing Ra from deeper sediments. The sediments supplying this flux may cover an area as large as the entire intertidal zone, primarily salt marsh, to a depth of 1–2 cm. In addition, the Ra delivery to the estuary appears to be temporally regulated by the tidal inundation of the salt marsh and subsequent drainage through tidal creek channels. These results illustrate the importance of the intertidal zone as a flowpath in the estuarine water cycle and the tidal phase lag that results when solute from this zone is transported into the estuary. This process is essential to understanding estuarine biogeochemical budgets of elements with significant sedimentary sources. Among marine environments, estuaries stand out for their high biologic productivity, numerous societal functions, and hydrologic and chemical complexity. Because of their complexity and variability, estuaries are also challenging environments to study, and even more so to predict. Large tidal excursions, temporally variable freshwater inputs, and stratification can confound efforts to relate water chemistry to anything but the largest features (e.g., riverine inputs). Mixing processes, and thus net tidal exchange, are spatially and temporally variable in many estuaries (Uncles 2002), making it difficult to predict chemical exchange with the sea. The complex morphology of intertidal salt marshes and mudflats results in irregularly flushed areas where evaporation and stagnation can alter the salinity, trace element, and nutrient chemistry of intertidal water. Such water is ultimately remixed back into the main estuary, influencing surface-water chemistry. Sediment pore waters also possess distinct chemical characteristics and can influence surface-water chemistry through a variety of exchange processes (Huettel et al. 1998; Charette and Sholkovitz 2006). In shelf sands, intertidal sand flats, and other permeable sediments, the dominant solute exchange mechanism is pressure-induced advection created by the interaction of currents, waves,
Child neurology in the community hospital setting.

Data are presented relating to the first 100 child neurological consultations seen in both ambulatory and inpatient settings in a community hospital practice in conjunction with a medical school teaching program. These data suggest that a great variety of interesting child neurology cases for teaching may present at the community hospital. Such cases may offer students at all levels the advantage of seeing a greater variety of neurological diseases earlier in the course of evolution, and provide a more realistic environment for a comprehensive approach to the psychosocial problems related to chronic neurological disease in childhood.
A cluster analysis of service utilization and incarceration among homeless youth

Our paper examines service usage (e.g., shelter) as well as a typology of individuals who are most likely to use groupings of services among 249 homeless youth. Our results revealed that the majority of homeless young people have used food programs (66%) and street outreach (65%) on at least one occasion within the past year. Cluster analysis of services revealed four distinct groups: (1) basic survival service use, characterized by above average shelter, food, and outreach service use, but below average on counseling, substance abuse/mental health services, and incarceration; (2) multiple service use, which included above average use of all six services; (3) incarceration experience, characterized by above average incarceration experience, but below average use of all other five services; and (4) minimal service use, which included slightly above average use of counseling, but below average use of all other services. These findings have the potential to provide important information that may assist with targeting services to homeless youth.
The Attributes of Selenium-Enriched Garlic in Cancer Prevention

Selenium supplementation has been reported to suppress carcinogenesis in many different animal models. A summary of these observations can be found in several reviews.1–6 The effect is not organ specific, since selenium is known to inhibit tumor development in mammary gland, liver, skin, pancreas, esophagus, colon and other sites. In general, there is a dose dependent response, and selenium chemoprevention can be realized in the absence of toxicity. The sensitivity to selenium appears to decrease as cells progress from normal to preneoplastic to neoplastic. In order to achieve maximal prophylaxis, it is necessary to maintain a continuous regimen of selenium administration. This suggests that the active species of selenium with anticarcinogenic potential is generated only when the supply of selenium is sustained at certain levels. Metabolism alters the chemical form of selenium and plays a key role in determining its biological activity. The past collaborative work of Ip and Ganther has produced a substantial body of evidence indicating that the commonly used selenium compounds, such as selenite and selenomethionine, have to be metabolized in order to express their anticancer activity.6
Renal nerves modulate kidney renin gene expression during the transition from fetal to newborn life

The role of renal nerves in regulating changes in plasma renin activity (PRA) and renal renin gene expression was studied in intact (n = 6) and denervated (n = 6) fetal sheep before birth and during the first 24 h after delivery. Renal denervation completely blunted the rise in PRA observed 24 h after delivery in newborn lambs; in lambs with intact kidneys, PRA increased significantly (P less than 0.05) from 3.26 +/- 0.60 (predelivery) to 6.34 +/- 1.85 ng angiotensin I (ANG I).ml-1.h-1 (24 h postdelivery), while in lambs with denervated kidneys, predelivery and post-delivery values were 2.84 +/- 0.19 and 2.49 +/- 0.45 ng ANG I.ml-1.h-1, respectively. Renin mRNA levels were significantly lower (P less than 0.001) in denervated than in intact kidneys 24 h after birth. A close analysis of these results also revealed that renin mRNA levels were significantly higher (P less than 0.001) in intact kidneys of newborn lambs delivered vaginally (n = 3) than in newborn lambs delivered by cesarean section (n = 3). These results suggest that renal nerves play an important role in regulating renin gene expression and PRA during the transition from fetal to newborn life.
Deficiency of depression in adduction: Clinical characteristics and surgical management of the "inverted Brown pattern"

Purpose To evaluate the clinical characteristics and surgical management of patients with an “inverted Brown pattern,” which is defined clinically as a hypertropia with greatest deviation in down-and-in gaze of the higher eye, having the appearance of superior oblique muscle underaction but without significant inferior oblique muscle overaction. Methods The medical records of patients with this misalignment pattern who had cyclovertical muscle surgery at our institution from 2003 through 2015 were retrospectively reviewed; medical records were analyzed for pre- and postoperative motility patterns, fundus torsion, intraoperative findings, and type of strabismus surgery. Results A total of 45 patients presenting with a hyperdeviation worse in down-and-in gaze of the higher eye were included in the study. Of these, 25 (56%) had previously had inferior oblique–weakening procedures. The remainder included those with untreated superior oblique paresis (22%), previous orbital trauma (18%), or other ocular surgery (4%). The mean preoperative hyperdeviation in straight-ahead gaze was 8.7Δ, compared with 0.9Δ postoperatively. Surgical success, defined as the absence of diplopia in straight-ahead gaze and not requiring further cyclovertical surgery, was achieved in 78% of patients. Conclusions The motility pattern referred to as the “inverted Brown pattern” can develop in patients with orbital trauma, as previously described, or in association with superior oblique muscle paresis, most commonly after prior surgery to weaken the inferior oblique muscle. Weakening or reweakening of the inferior oblique muscle appears to correct this misalignment pattern, despite the absence of significant inferior oblique overaction preoperatively.
Characterization of a Polymer-Based Microfluidic System for Electrophysiological Studies

This paper presents the characterization of a polymer-based microfluidic system for whole-cell analysis manufactured using low-cost fabrication techniques. The multi-layer, laminate polyimide device contains features defined by a combination of laser ablation and microstenciling. This process requires minimal infrastructure and allows for a faster design-to- prototype cycle while providing the ability to integrate complex arrangements of multi-layer electrical functionality. The features include an array of analysis sites, a fluidic microchannel, and integrated electrodes for electrophysiological studies. Validation of the system for whole-cell analysis was first performed with impedance spectroscopy measurements collected on air, DI water, phosphate buffered saline (PBS), and clusters of human cancer cells. This was followed by testing the ability to use the device to control the movement and position of 10 µm diameter microbeads and dissociated cells.
Commercially Available Rapid Methods for Detection of Selected Food-borne Pathogens

Generally, the enumeration and isolation of food-borne pathogens is performed using culture-dependent methods. These methods are sensitive, inexpensive, and provide both qualitative and quantitative assessment of the microorganisms present in a sample, but these are time-consuming. For this reason, researchers are developing new techniques that allow detection of food pathogens in shorter period of time. This review identifies commercially available methods for rapid detection and quantification of Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in food samples. Three categories are discussed: immunologically based methods, nucleic acid-based assays, and biosensors. This review describes the basic mechanism and capabilities of each method, discusses the difficulties of choosing the most convenient method, and provides an overview of the future challenges for the technology for rapid detection of microorganisms.
Comparison of the Biological Equivalence of Two Methods for Isolating Bone Marrow Mononuclear Cells for Fabricating Tissue-Engineered Vascular Grafts

Our approach for fabricating tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVG), applied in the surgical management of congenital heart disease, is accomplished by seeding isolated bone marrow-derived mononu...
ErAs:GaAs extrinsic photoconductivity: a new alternative for 1550-nm-driven THz sources

This paper summarizes our recent progress on the discovery and THz performance of ErAs:GaAs photoconductive devices driven around 1550 nm. We will present the impulse response of such device in a time-domain spectrometer where the detection is realized with a GaAs electro-optic crystal. The full width at half-maximum of the temporal pulse is 500 fs and the corresponding bandwidth is greater than 2.5 THz. We also present different 1550-nm properties of this material including carrier lifetime by pump-probe phototransmission. All evidence to date suggests that the 1550-nm ultrafast behavior in ErAs:GaAs occurs by extrinsic photoconductivity, not two-photon effect.
On the Mechanism of Fever Production with Inflammation.

ConclusionIn conclusion, the observations presented indicate that necrosin, the euglobulin fraction recovered from exudates and which is per se primarily responsible for the basic pattern of injury in inflammation, in turn induces, contrary to other protein fractions of exudates, an appreciable degree of fever when injected into the circulating blood of dogs. The absorption of this substance into the blood stream from the site of an acute injury offers a reasonable explanation for the probable factor largely responsible in the development of fever with inflammation.
The Stylet Sheath as an Indicator of Feeding Activity of the Rice Stink Bug

Tan, volcano-shaped, stylet sheaths of Oebalus pugnax (F.) were found on developing grains and branches of the rice panicle. The sheaths were weakly attached to the surface of the plant tissues. Stylet sheaths were used to study the feeding activities of the rice stink bug. All immature stages, except Stage 1, fed on and damaged grains similar to adults. Adult rice stink bugs produced more stylet sheaths at 25° than at 30° and 35°C. Male rice stink bugs produced ca. half as many stylet sheaths as females.
118 LIMITATION ON PREDICTIVE VALUE OF ROHRER'S PONDERAL INDEX DUE TO DISCORDANCY BETWEEN LIVEBORNS AND PERINATAL DEATHS.

Rohrer9s ponderal index (birth weight 3 100/CHL^3) is often used to categorize clinical risks such as SGA and LGA and to compare mortality rates [Lubchenco et al Pediatrics 1966;37:403-8]. Per Lubchenco, “There is an increasing weight-length ratio (viz: the ponderal index) as gestation proceeds: the babies become heavier for length as they near full term (p. 407). Variations in measuring crown-heel length are minimized by large databases; Lubchenco et al compared 4,706 liveborn PI over 26-42 weeks of gestation. The present study involved birth weights and birth CHL from 530 perinatal autopsies; the CHL for newborns up to 10 days of life were verified by autopsy CHL. The plot of PI against gestation by percentile not only failed to show any progression but was a series of essentially parallel lines with minor variations and then a steady decline in the 100th percentile from 32 to 43 weeks. The most divergent points were at 28-32 weeks at higher percentiles, 90-100. This effect was shown by Lubchenco and similar effects were seen in mortality rates for high birth rates (3,000+ g) at 28-32 weeks [Erhardt et al. Am J Public Health 1964;54:1841-55]. The different range of PI in stillborns and neonatal deaths bespeaks of a distinct developmental biology, which may carry pathogenetic potential (heavier is "bad "). The displacement of PI, both empiric and by percentile, over the interval of 28-32 completed weeks, points to a second factor or net factors of significance in growth and development.
Topologically protected modes in non-equilibrium stochastic systems

Non-equilibrium driving of biophysical processes is believed to enable their robust functioning despite the presence of thermal fluctuations and other sources of disorder. Such robust functions include sensory adaptation, enhanced enzymatic specificity and maintenance of coherent oscillations. Elucidating the relation between energy consumption and organization remains an important and open question in non-equilibrium statistical mechanics. Here we report that steady states of systems with non-equilibrium fluxes can support topologically protected boundary modes that resemble similar modes in electronic and mechanical systems. Akin to their electronic and mechanical counterparts, topological-protected boundary steady states in non-equilibrium systems are robust and are largely insensitive to local perturbations. We argue that our work provides a framework for how biophysical systems can use non-equilibrium driving to achieve robust function. Energy dissipation characterizes the states far from equilibrium, whilst how it affects the local organization remains elusive. Here, Muruganet al. show that the non-equilibrium systems exhibit topologically protected boundary modes that have been known in electronic and mechanical systems.
Lingering Puzzles about Myxobacteria

The myxobacteria are social and capable of constructing intricate macroscopic structures called fruiting bodies. First recognized as bacteria in 1892 by the cryptogamic botanist Roland Thaxter, these exotic anomalies have proved challenging to microbiologists. Even so, we now know a great deal about the nutrition, life cycle, growth physiology, intermediary metabolism, structural chemistry, genetics, and regulatory pathways of one of the myxobacteria, Myxococcus xanthus. Despite such progress, however, the myxobacteria leave us with several outstanding puzzles, including: How do fruiting bodies form? What is the function of “A,” or adventurous, gliding motility, and how is “S,” or social motility coordinated? How can we understand the cellular morphogenesis of myxospore formation and germination? What mechanisms control M. xanthus swarming behavior? What is the ecological role of the myxobacteria?
Prepared but not practicing: declining pregnancy care among recent family medicine residency graduates.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pregnancy care has been an important component of family medicine in the Pacific Northwest. This paper describes a sudden decline in the provision of pregnancy care by recent family medicine residency graduates in the region. METHODS: Two cohorts of graduates from the University of Washington Family Medicine Residency Network were surveyed about their current pregnancy care practice patterns. A total of 205 graduates from 1997-1999 (surveyed in 2000) and 223 graduates from 2000-2002 (surveyed in 2003) completed the surveys (69% and 65% response rates). RESULTS: From 2000 to 2003, there was a 20% decline in the proportion of recent family medicine residency graduates performing deliveries in their practice (78% versus 58%). The proportion performing prenatal care declined from 81% to 64%. Graduates from all the programs across the region rated their preparation for the practice of pregnancy care highly, regardless of whether or not they currently provided such care. In addition to graduation cohort, the provision of pregnancy care was also related to practicing in the Washington, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho (WAMI) region, providing hospital care, and feeling well prepared to provide pregnancy care. (Wyoming residency programs became affiliated with the WAMI network in 2003 and are not included in this analysis.) CONCLUSIONS: Fewer new family physicians are providing pregnancy care in the Pacific Northwest. This decline does not appear to be related to training but threatens access to service for patients.
Enhancing and Restoring Habitat for the Desert Tortoise

Abstract Habitat has changed unfavorably during the past 150 y for the desert tortoise Gopherus agassizii, a federally threatened species with declining populations in the Mojave Desert and western Sonoran Desert. To support recovery efforts, we synthesized published information on relationships of desert tortoises with three habitat features (cover sites, forage, and soil) and candidate management practices for improving these features for tortoises. In addition to their role in soil health and facilitating recruitment of annual forage plants, shrubs are used by desert tortoises for cover and as sites for burrows. Outplanting greenhouse-grown seedlings, protected from herbivory, has successfully restored (>50% survival) a variety of shrubs on disturbed desert soils. Additionally, salvaging and reapplying topsoil using effective techniques is among the more ecologically beneficial ways to initiate plant recovery after severe disturbance. Through differences in biochemical composition and digestibility, so...
Genital Papules in an Adult Male.

A man presented with more than 50 firm, moist, pink papules on the scrotum and penile shaft, as well as inguinal lymphadenopathy. The lesions were nontender, smooth, and flat-topped.
Natural History of Atherothromboembolic Occlusion of Cerebral Arteries: Carotid Versus Vertebrobasilar Territories

Although Natural history studies are often used as “historical controls” for evaluating new therapeutic modalities, their proper role is to help determine sample size for prospective, randomized trials. These studies can also provide important insights into variables impacting on prognosis following stroke. Unfortunately, natural history data pertinent to thrombolytic therapy for acute stroke are scant since we are most interested in lesion-specific outcome rather than outcome related solely to clinical parameters. Clinical and computed tomography (CT) data alone cannot be used to localize precisely the site of arterial occlusion in patients with acute cerebral infarction, and virtually all studies of acute stroke therapy lack angiographic or even noninvasive data. Furthermore, thrombolytic trials carry out treatment in the very early stages of evolving infarction, i.e., less than 8h from onset, making it even more difficult to use existing data related to outcome since the average time from onset to stroke therapy in most trials exceeds 24 h [25].
Exploring the Attributes of Technology in Addressing Challenges of Governance and Development: The Case of E-Uparjan in Madhya Pradesh

Role of technology in governance and development has been an area of discourse that has generated a renewed interest among practitioners and policy makers to address the challenges of sustainable development. This essay explores the interlinkage between the attributes of technology, governance, and development through a technology enabled foodgrains procurement initiative – e-Uparjan – rolled out in Madhya Pradesh. The improvisation using a low-cost information and communication technology (ICT) has potential to play a critical role to streamline the procurement operations and secure farmer payoff under the price support scheme. e-Uparjan can be seen as a case of digital inclusion of farmers and state agencies in foodgrains procurement. The faster and near real-time information flow along the decision support system can plug-in the fund leakage, reduce transaction costs and mitigate the rent seeking behaviour of actors along the value chain.
Defining the chromatin landscape of the Il2-Il21 locus in CD4+ T cells (IRM6P.653)

IL-2 and IL-21 are pleiotropic cytokines that control key aspects of the immune response including proliferation, cell survival, and differentiation of multiple cell lineages. Despite their co-localization in the genome, there are both overlapping and divergent patterns of expression of these cytokines during T cell development and differentiation, suggesting both coordinate and distinct transcriptional control within the Il2-Il21 locus. Employing the assay for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing (ATAC-seq), we demonstrated that the Il2 promoter and distal regulatory elements spanning the Il2-Il21 locus are accessible as early as 30 min following TCR activation while chromatin accessibility of the Il21 promoter requires IL-6 stimulation. Further, CTCF recruitment and chromatin looping analyses defined a boundary element between the Il2 and Il21 genes. In addition, we identified several conserved non-coding elements in the Il2 - Il21 intergenic region that have both repressor and enhancer activities on the Il2 or Il21 transcriptional activity. This study provides insight into the chromatin landscape of the Il2-Il21 locus and identifies regulatory elements responsible for the coordinate and differential expression of IL-2 and IL-21.
Epigenetic regulation of RELN and GAD1 in the frontal cortex (FC) of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) subjects

Both Reelin (RELN) and glutamate decarboxylase 67 (GAD1) have been implicated in the pathophysiology of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). We have previously shown that both mRNAs are reduced in the cerebella (CB) of ASD subjects through a mechanism that involves increases in the amounts of MECP2 binding to the corresponding promoters. In the current study, we examined the expression of RELN, GAD1, GAD2, and several other mRNAs implicated in this disorder in the frontal cortices (FC) of ASD and CON subjects. We also focused on the role that epigenetic processes play in the regulation of these genes in ASD brain. Our goal is to better understand the molecular basis for the down-regulation of genes expressed in GABAergic neurons in ASD brains. We measured mRNA levels corresponding to selected GABAergic genes using qRT-PCR in RNA isolated from both ASD and CON groups. We determined the extent of binding of MECP2 and DNMT1 repressor proteins by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays. The amount of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) present in the promoters of the target genes was quantified by methyl DNA immunoprecipitation (MeDIP) and hydroxyl MeDIP (hMeDIP). We detected significant reductions in the mRNAs associated with RELN and GAD1 and significant increases in mRNAs encoding the Ten-eleven Translocation (TET) enzymes 1, 2, and 3. We also detected increased MECP2 and DNMT1 binding to the corresponding promoter regions of GAD1, RELN, and GAD2. Interestingly, there were decreased amounts of 5mC at both promoters and little change in 5hmC content in these same DNA fragments. Our data demonstrate that RELN, GAD1, and several other genes selectively expressed in GABAergic neurons, are down-regulated in post-mortem ASD FC. In addition, we observed increased DNMT1 and MECP2 binding at the corresponding promoters of these genes. The finding of increased MECP2 binding to the RELN, GAD1 and GAD2 promoters, with reduced amounts of 5mC and unchanged amounts of 5hmC present in these regions, suggests the possibility that DNMT1 interacts with and alters MECP2 binding properties to selected promoters. Comparisons between data obtained from the FC with CB studies showed some common themes between brain regions which are discussed.
Entresto (Sacubitril/Valsartan): Angiotensin Receptor Neprilysin Inhibition for Treating Heart Failure

Purpose of Review Heart failure is a major and growing public health problem throughout the world. Sacubitril/valsartan is a new medication with proven benefit in chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. In order to use it most effectively, a thorough understanding of this medication is essential for providers.
Pruning Filters and Classes: Towards On-Device Customization of Convolutional Neural Networks

In recent years, we have witnessed more and more mobile applications based on deep learning. Widely used as they may be, those applications provide little flexibility to cater to the diversified needs of different groups of users. For users facing a classification problem, it is natural that some classes are more important to them, while the rest are not. We thus propose a lightweight method that allows users to prune the unneeded classes together with associated filters from convolutional neural networks (CNNs). Such customization can result in substantial reduction in computational costs at test time. Early results have shown that after pruning the Network-in-Network (NIN) model on CIFAR-10 dataset\cite{lim2013network} down to a 5-class classifier, we can trade a 3\% loss in accuracy for a 1.63$\times$ gain in energy consumption and a 1.24$\times$ improvement in latency when experimenting on an off-the-shelf smartphone, while the procedure incurs with very little overhead. After pruning, the custom-tailored model can still achieve a higher classification accuracy than the unmodified classifier because of a smaller problem space that more accurately reflects users' needs.
Investigation of Biotransport in a Tumor With Uncertain Material Properties Using a Nonintrusive Spectral Uncertainty Quantification Method

In this study, statistical models are developed for modeling uncertain heterogeneous permeability and porosity in tumors, and the resulting uncertainties in pressure and velocity fields during an intratumoral injection are quantified using a nonintrusive spectral uncertainty quantification (UQ) method. Specifically, the uncertain permeability is modeled as a log-Gaussian random field, represented using a truncated Karhunen-Loeve (KL) expansion, and the uncertain porosity is modeled as a log-normal random variable. The efficacy of the developed statistical models is validated by simulating the concentration fields with permeability and porosity of different uncertainty levels. The irregularity in the concentration field bears reasonable visual agreement with that in MicroCT images from experiments. The pressure and velocity fields are represented using polynomial chaos (PC) expansions to enable efficient computation of their statistical properties. The coefficients in the PC expansion are computed using a nonintrusive spectral projection method with the Smolyak sparse quadrature. The developed UQ approach is then used to quantify the uncertainties in the random pressure and velocity fields. A global sensitivity analysis is also performed to assess the contribution of individual KL modes of the log-permeability field to the total variance of the pressure field. It is demonstrated that the developed UQ approach can effectively quantify the flow uncertainties induced by uncertain material properties of the tumor.
Biblical narratives for positive psychology and suicide prevention: an evidence supported approach

Suicide is the ultimate outcome of a tragic view of life that is prevalent in ancient Greek writings. Indeed, over 16 suicides and self-mutilations can be found in the 26 surviving tragedies of Sop...