cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Monodomain response of arbitrary aspect ratio nematic polymers in general linear planar flows

Various rheological devices (plane Couette cell, four-roll mill, film tenter) impose approximately linear, planar flow, from which nematic polymers have been characterized across ranges of flow type and strength. Theoretical predictions of monodomain responses of nematic liquids are predominantly for simple shear flows, studied from disparate scale models: continuum theory of Leslie–Ericksen, mesoscopic theory of Landau, deGennes and many others, and kinetic theory of Hess, Doi and Edwards. Our goal here is to illustrate consequences of a monodomain correspondence principle of kinetic and mesoscopic theory for nematic polymers consisting of arbitrary aspect ratio spheroids. The principle states that the bulk rheology of monodisperse nematic polymers for all linear flows in the plane of shear and any concentration can be deduced directly from a model system consisting of pure shear flow and a renormalized molecular aspect ratio parameter. The observation that there is a “trade-off” between molecule shape and flow is not new (cf. [Proc. R. Soc. London, Ser. A 102 (1922) 161; Proc. R. Soc. London, Ser. A. 146 (1934) 501; Principles of Non-Newtonian Fluid Mechanics, McGraw-Hill, London, 1974; J. Rheol. 42 (5) (1998) 1095]). Our contribution is to precisely formulate the principle in terms of the solution space of kinetic or mesoscopic models coupled with the relationship between stresses: a two-parameter model generates solutions for an entire four-parameter family of experiments. The wealth of predictions, and available numerical codes, for nematic polymer response in simple shear can be brought to bear on different flow types. We then illustrate a variety of concrete applications. As a primary example, we deduce the monodomain attractors and phase transitions versus flow-type for four-roll mill flow settings of a nematic polymer. We further provide continuous families of planar flow types of different aspect ratio liquids that have identical monodomain dynamics. Finally, we analyze pure planar extension and straining flows as a limit of the correspondence principle.
A Service Profile-Aware Control Plane with a Comparison to IETF & ITU Approaches

Existing Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and International Telecommunications Union (ITU) optical control plane models do not consider the service profile layer when establishing network connections, this work proposes the novel concept of a Service Profile-Aware (SPA) control plane model that is superior to existing models. SPA includes a full realization of the multi-granularity network resources, and considers services' architectures and their associated service profile feature set. Detailed comparison between the three control plane models were considered from multiple dimensions including traffic management scheme, components level interaction between (service profile, control plane, network infrastructure) layers, and network infrastructure realization from both horizontal "network domains" and vertical "resource granularity and network partitions" perspective. The service models were analyzed based on their service profile parameters from both an architectural and performance perspective. Mathematical analysis of the three control plane models was performed using multi-instance Fixed Point Approximation (FPA). The performance analysis of the new SPA traffic management schemes found a significant increase in service allowed load while maintaining lower service blocking probability and network utilization as compared to the IETF and ITU control plane models.
PVS Strategies for Proving Abstraction Properties of Automata

Abstractions are important in specifying and proving properties of complex systems. To prove that a given automaton implements an abstract specification automaton, one must first find the correct abstraction relation between the states of the automata, and then show that this relation is preserved by all corresponding action sequences of the two automata. This paper describes tool support based on the PVS theorem prover that can help users accomplish the second task, in other words, in proving a candidate abstraction relation correct. This tool support relies on a clean and uniform technique for defining abstraction properties relating automata that uses library theories for defining abstraction relations and templates for specifying automata and abstraction theorems. The paper then describes how the templates and theories allow development of generic, high level PVS strategies that aid in the mechanization of abstraction proofs. These strategies first set up the standard subgoals for the abstraction proofs and then execute the standard initial proof steps for these subgoals, thus making the process of proving abstraction properties in PVS more automated. With suitable supplementary strategies to implement the “natural” proof steps needed to complete the proofs of any of the standard subgoals remaining to be proved, the abstraction proof strategies can form part of a set of mechanized proof steps that can be used interactively to translate high level proof sketches into PVS proofs. Using timed I/O automata examples taken from the literature, this paper illustrates use of the templates, theories, and strategies described to specify and prove two types of abstraction property: refinement and forward simulation.
Clinical examination of sheep

Clinical examination of sheep involves the interpretation of information about both the individual and the flock within the context of the farm environment. It is an art, which relies on careful observation and the systematic collection of specific data, suggestions of which are presented in tabular format. However, interpretation is subjective with the potential for wide variation between clinicians. To ensure that the information is directly transferable, clinicians have a responsibility to use repeatable measurements and assessments wherever possible. Standard scoring systems and criteria that have been developed primarily for use in the research environment are reviewed and their relevance to the clinician is discussed. In particular, the repeatability of measures is considered.
Axonal Damage Induced by Invading T Cells in Organotypic Central Nervous System Tissue in vitro: Involvement of Microglial Cells

Neuroinflammation in the course of multiple sclerosis and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis results in demyelination and, recently demonstrated, axonal loss. Invading neuroantigen specific T cells are the crucial cellular elements in these processes. Here we demonstrate that invasion of activated T cells induces a massive microglial attack on myelinated axons in entorhinal-hippocampal slice cultures. Flow cytometry analysis of activation markers revealed that the activation state of invading MBP-specific T cells was significantly lower in comparison to PMA-activated T cells. Moreover, MBP-specific T cells showed a significantly lower secretion of IFN-gamma. Conversely, MBP-specific T cells displayed a significantly higher potential to trigger activation of microglial cells, i.e. upregulation of MHC class II and ICAM-1 expression, and, most importantly, microglial phagocytosis of pre-traced axons. Our data suggest that this was mediated via specific cellular interactions of T cells and microglial cells since IFN-gamma alone was not sufficient to induce axonal damage while such damage was apparent in response to TNF-alpha which is released by activated microglial cells. TNF-alpha secretion by both T cell populations was negligible. Thus, MBP-specific T cells which invade nervous tissue in the course of neuroinflammation are more effective in axon-damaging recruiting microglial cells than activated T cells of other specificities.
Population and environment in the twenty-first century

In the past 50 years global population grew by 3.7 billion. There is a large unmet need for family planning and wherever women have been given the means and the information to decide if or when to have the next child, then family size has fallen, often rapidly. However, since the UN 1994 Cairo conference on population and development, support for international family has collapsed and fertility declines in many of the poorest countries have stalled. Amongst some of the most vulnerable groups family size has risen. The investment made in voluntary family planning will largely determine whether, in the next 50 years, the global population grows to something less than 8 billion or to over 10. The trajectory taking us to the higher figure could jeopardize any possibility of transitioning the global economy to a biological sustainability. Much precious time has been lost. Almost all the additional growth in population will take place in the world's poorest countries, and it is imperative that the international community act to improve access to family planning in those countries, within a human rights frame framework.
Strategic Orientation and Firm Performance in an Artistic Environment

Abstract Conventional marketing wisdom holds that a customer orientation provides a firm with a better understanding of its customers, which subsequently leads to enhanced customer satisfaction and firm performance. However, there are cautions that being too customer focused can lead to inertia, and anecdotal evidence suggests that it may be better to “ignore your customer” when developing new products. Building on the market orientation research stream, the authors examine the impact of three alternative strategic orientations—customer orientation, competitor orientation, and product orientation—on a variety of subjective and objective measures of performance in the nonprofit professional theater industry, which is marked by high rates of artistic innovation and largely unpredictable customer preferences. The results indicate that the association between strategic orientation and performance varies depending on the type of performance measure used. However, the most unambiguous result is that a customer ...
Network Issue Agendas on Twitter During the 2012 U.S. Presidential Election

This study finds support for agenda melding and further validates the Network Agenda Setting (NAS) model through a series of computer science methods with large datasets on Twitter. The results demonstrate that during the 2012 U.S. presidential election, distinctive audiences “melded” agendas of various media differently. “Vertical” media best predicted Obama supporters’ agendas on Twitter whereas Romney supporters were best explained by Republican “horizontal” media. Moreover, Obama and Romney supporters relied on their politically affiliated horizontal media more than their opposing party’s media. Evidence for findings are provided through the NAS model, which measures the agenda-setting effect not in terms of issue frequency alone, but also in terms of the interconnections and relationships issues inside of an agenda. doi:10.1111/jcom.12089 Big Data and computer science methods can further the findings of agenda-setting theory. Using Twitter, ap opular microblogging service, we show how supporters of Barack Obama and supporters of Mitt Romney reacted to different media agendas during the 2012 U.S. presidential election. We do so using a network analysis perspective, which shows how issues from the election were talked about in relationship to each other. The results give us a clear, large-scale picture of how the media influenced different audiences. We also offer updates to the emerging theory of agenda melding and the Network Agenda Setting (NAS) model. We have arrived at these conclusions by utilizing several computer science methods, including automated data mining and aggregation, sentiment analysis, network analysis, machine learning, and computer-assisted content analysis. Why Twitter data? In a world of social media, Twitter differentiates itself in two ways: Its messages are public and short. The majority of this data is open for all to examine (Vieweg, 2010).
A pacemaker powered by an implantable biofuel cell operating under conditions mimicking the human blood circulatory system – battery not included

Biocatalytic electrodes made of buckypaper were modified with PQQ-dependent glucose dehydrogenase on the anode and with laccase on the cathode and were assembled in a flow biofuel cell filled with serum solution mimicking the human blood circulatory system. The biofuel cell generated an open circuitry voltage, Voc, of ca. 470 mV and a short circuitry current, Isc, of ca. 5 mA (a current density of 0.83 mA cm−2). The power generated by the implantable biofuel cell was used to activate a pacemaker connected to the cell via a charge pump and a DC–DC converter interface circuit to adjust the voltage produced by the biofuel cell to the value required by the pacemaker. The voltage–current dependencies were analyzed for the biofuel cell connected to an Ohmic load and to the electronic loads composed of the interface circuit, or the power converter, and the pacemaker to study their operation. The correct pacemaker operation was confirmed using a medical device – an implantable loop recorder. Sustainable operation of the pacemaker was achieved with the system closely mimicking human physiological conditions using a single biofuel cell. This first demonstration of the pacemaker activated by the physiologically produced electrical energy shows promise for future electronic implantable medical devices powered by electricity harvested from the human body.
Relationship between Apoptosis and the Cell Cycle in Lymphocytes: Roles of Protein Kinase C, Tyrosine Phosphorylation, and AP1

The mechanism of switching between the cell cycle and active cell death (apoptosis) was investigated in cytokine-dependent CTLL cells. These cells proliferate in the presence of interleukin 2 (IL2), but accumulate in early G1 and undergo apoptosis in its absence. In the absence of IL2 the cells also become sensitive to glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis. Using specific inhibitors of protein kinase C and tyrosine kinases we established that two signals are required to fully repress cell death and stimulate G1 progression. One of these signals activates protein kinase C (PKC) which represses cell death and the other activates a tyrosine kinase which confers glucocorticoid resistance and permits cell cycle progression. Thus, phorbol esters can activate PKC and maintain cell viability in the absence of IL2, but the cells cannot proliferate. Moreover, the cells remain sensitive to glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis unless the tyrosine kinase-mediated signal is also given. There is a correlation between the presence of AP1 DNA-binding activity and the repression of the cell death pathway. The c-jun gene is expressed constitutively and both IL2 and phorbol esters induce the expression of c-fos to generate a functional AP1 capable of repressing cell death. However, only interleukin 2 can initiate the tyrosine kinase-mediated modification that confers dexamethasone resistance and permits G1 progression. In the absence of IL2 glucocorticoids stimulate AP1 degradation and induce apoptosis.
Working for the Clampdown: Congressional (In)Action and Immigration Position-Taking

Members of Congress rely on the support of their constituents to remain in office. This fact suggests members of Congress should (co)sponsor a bill when the policy issue is important to their district. However, we observe increased Congressional attention to immigration in states without high concentrations of immigrants. This paper asks who (co)sponsors congressionally proposed immigration legislation. Immigration is particularly interesting in recent years because of the focus on illegality and geographical proximity to the primary source of migration flows. We argue the level of difficulty associated with position-taking should vary as a function of regional salience and the political agenda coupled with how the issue is framed. Examining two recent time periods (mid-1990s and mid-2000s) early results indicate a clear regional diffusion of attentiveness between the two periods, as well as changing effects for member ideology.
Survival times of selected enteropathogenic bacteria in frozen passionfruit nectar base.

Five test organisms were used: Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhosa, Salmonella schottmuelleri, Salmonella enteritidis, and Shigella paradysenteriae. Even when large inocula of these test cultures were introduced into fresh passionfruit nectar base, all test organisms were killed within 1 to 2 hr, provided the nectar base was held at room temperature for more than 1 hr before freezing. If the nectar base was frozen immediately after inoculation, four of the five test organisms were eliminated almost as quickly. But the fifth, Salmonella enteritidis, proved to be exceptional: it was being recovered after 90 days of storage at -20 C, when the last available sample was analyzed.
Analysis and Removal of Spurious Response in SH0 Lithium Niobate MEMS Resonators

This paper reports on the analysis and removal of transverse spurious modes in shear horizontal (SH0) mode lithium niobate (LiNbO3) laterally vibrating resonators (LVRs). A length-controlled electrode configuration that employs an optimized overlapping length between the adjacent electrodes has been developed to subdue the spurious modes. The technique modifies the stress and electric field distribution in the resonator body, consequently enabling near zero electromechanical coupling ( $k_{t}^{2}$ ) for the higher order transverse spurious modes. The length-controlled electrode configuration also reduces the loss at the interface between the metal electrodes and the piezoelectric layer, demonstrating a more than $2\times $ enhancement in quality factors ${Q}$ . The fabricated LiNbO3 LVR with the length-controlled electrode configuration has shown an unprecedented spectral range (100–200 MHz) of spurious-free response, a high $\mathit {k}_{t}^{2}$ value of 20.1%, a ${Q}$ value of 1150, and, thereby, a remarkably high figure of merit of 230.
Interpreting ambiguous social cues in unpredictable contexts

Unpredictable environments can be anxiety-provoking and elicit exaggerated emotional responses to aversive stimuli. Even neutral stimuli, when presented in an unpredictable fashion, prime anxiety-like behavior and elicit heightened amygdala activity. The amygdala plays a key role in initiating responses to biologically relevant information, such as facial expressions of emotion. While some expressions clearly signal negative (anger) or positive (happy) events, other expressions (e.g. surprise) are more ambiguous in that they can predict either valence, depending on the context. Here, we sought to determine whether unpredictable presentations of ambiguous facial expressions would bias participants to interpret them more negatively. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging and facial electromyography (EMG) to characterize responses to predictable vs unpredictable presentations of surprised faces. We observed moderate but sustained increases in amygdala reactivity to predictable presentations of surprised faces, and relatively increased amygdala responses to unpredictable faces that then habituated, similar to previously observed responses to clearly negative (e.g. fearful) faces. We also observed decreased corrugator EMG responses to predictable surprised face presentations, similar to happy faces, and increased responses to unpredictable surprised face presentations, similar to angry faces. Taken together, these data suggest that unpredictability biases people to interpret ambiguous social cues negatively.
Starting Small: Setting Up Off-Campus Library Services with Limited Resources

How do you provide library services to online students if you have a small staff and a limited budget? First, learn as much as possible about your online students and start small. Librarians at Northwest Vista College, a new community college in San Antonio, addressed the challenge by putting as much help as possible on their library Web site, by targeting groups most in need of these services, and by offering virtual reference service by appointment.
The Ample Cone for a K3 Surface

In this paper, we give several pictorial fractal representations of the ample or Kahler cone for surfaces in a certain class of K3 surfaces. The class includes surfaces described by smooth (2, 2, 2) forms in P×P×P defined over a sufficiently large number field K, which have a line parallel to one of the axes, and have Picard number four. We relate the Hausdorff dimension of this fractal to the asymptotic growth of orbits of curves under the action of the surface’s group of automorphisms. We experimentally estimate the Hausdorff dimension of the fractal to be 1.296± .010. The ample cone or Kahler cone for a surface is a significant and often complicated geometric object. Though much is known about the ample cone, particularly for K3 surfaces, only a few non-trivial examples have been explicitly described. These include the ample cones with a finite number of sides (see [N1] for n = 3, and [N2, N3] for n ≥ 5; the case n = 4 is attributed to Vinberg in an unpublished work [N1]); the ample cone for a class of K3 surfaces with n = 3 [Ba3]; and the ample cones for several Kummer surfaces, which are K3 surfaces with n = 20 [V, K-K, Kon]. Though the complexity of the problem generically increases with n, the problem for K3 surfaces with maximal Picard number (n = 20) appear to be tractable because of the small size of the transcendental lattice. In this paper, we introduce accurate pictorial representations of the ample cone and the associated fractal for surfaces within a class of K3 surfaces with Picard number n = 4 (see Figures 1, 3, 4, and 5). As far as the author is aware, the associated fractal has not been studied in any great depth for any ample cone for which the fractal has a non-integer dimension, except the one in [Ba3]. The fractal in that case is Cantor-like (it is a subset of S) and rigorous bounds on its Hausdorff dimension are calculated in [Ba1]. The Hausdorff dimension of the fractal of this paper is estimated to be 1.296± .010. Our second main result is to relate the Hausdorff dimension of the fractal to the growth of the height of curves for an orbit of curves on a surface in this class. Precisely, let V be a surface within our class of K3 surfaces and let A = Aut(V/K) be its group of automorphisms over a sufficiently large number field K. Let D be an ample divisor on V and let C be a curve on V . Define NA(C)(t,D) = #{C′ ∈ A(C) : C′ ·D < t}. Here we have abused notation by letting C′ also represent the divisor class that contains C′. The intersection C′ ·D should be thought of as a logarithmic height of 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification. 14J28, 14J50, 11D41, 11D72, 11H56, 11G10, 37F35, 37D05.
Novel approaches for the use of aminoglycosides: The value of experimental models

Although newer antimicrobials look promising for the treatment of serious Gram-negative infections, the aminoglycosides still remain part of the mainstay of their therapy. Traditional intermittent therapy is based upon the premise that high serum aminoglycoside concentrations are toxic. However, the rate of bacterial killing for aminoglycosides is also a concentration-dependent phenomenon. An animal model of pseudomonas pneumonia and staphylococcal endocarditis has been used to examine the efficacy of non-traditional aminoglycoside dosing regimens, i.e. single, large daily doses or constant infusions, versus the conventional, intermittent low doses of aminoglycosides. Results demonstrate that high peak concentrations are more efficacious. Other recent data suggest that toxicity might also be less with the large, single daily-dose regimen. The way in which we have been dosing aminoglycosides may not be maximizing their therapeutic potential, nor minimizing their toxicities.
Local Treatments and Supportive Care

While the primary treatment of autoimmune blistering diseases (ABD) has been systemic therapy, it is important to be aware of the value of several non-systemic treatments. Topical corticosteroids (both as monotherapy and adjuvant therapy), intra-lesional corticosteroids and corticosteroid elixirs can play an important role in treatment. In addition, non-steroidal treatments such as topical calcineurin inhibitors and non-steroidal elixirs have also been reported in treatment of ABD. Furthermore, it is important to be aware of exogenous factors contributing to ABD (including food and nutrition, iodine, poor oral hygiene and ultraviolet light). Treatment of ABD is not complete without consideration of infection control and vaccination guidelines. Systemic antihistamines are also helpful in controlling symptoms of pruritus. A variety of local treatment options have proven to be beneficial in mild as well as moderate and severe disease as an adjuvant. Patients should be constantly encouraged and reminded that these measures may help reduce the dosage and duration of their systemic treatments, and in some mild cases provide remission of the ABD.
Phosphorus in Swine. V. Interrelationships of Various Feedlot Performance, Serum Minerals, Structural Soundness and Bone Parameters in Barrows, Boars and Gilts

Daily gain, daily feed intake, feed per unit of gain, serum Ca, serum P, serum Mg, structural soundness scores, foot pad scores, metacarpal breaking force and metacarpal ash values from five Ca P trials with barrows, gilts or boars were subjected by sex in each trial to multivariate analysis of variance. Correlation coefficients were obtained from the residual sums of squares and sum of products; thus, coefficients were corrected for treatment effects. Individual values were used for all comparisons except those involving daily feed and feed/gain, for which pen means were used. High positive correlations were observed between daily gain and daily feed; there was no relationship between daily gain and feed/gain, but daily feed was positively correlated with feed/gain. Serum Ca levels were not highly correlated with daily gain, daily feed or feed/gain. Although all coefficients were less than .5, serum P was positively (P less than .01 or less than .05) related to daily gain. Serum Ca and serum Mg concentrations were unrelated to serum P concentrations, but serum Ca was positively correlated with serum Mg. There was no relationship between daily gain and soundness or pad scores. Although there were some inconsistencies, a positive relationship was observed between daily gain and metacarpal dried weight, and between daily gain and breaking strength. There appeared to be little, if any, relationship between daily feed and feed/gain and bone parameters. Ca, P and Mg were not consistently related to metacarpal dried weight, breaking strength or ash. Dried weight was positively correlated to breaking strength in four trials and to ash in two trials. Breaking strength was correlated to ash in only one trial. These results offer no support for the belief that stronger, denser bones produce more structurally sound animals, because soundness and pad scores were not related to bone parameters.
Structure-Activity Relationship Studies (SAR) of Melanocortin Agonists Central His-Phe-Arg-Trp Sequence

Obesity and obesity related diseases affect millions of people in the United States and other countries. The melanocortin (MC) system contains genetic factors that have been demonstrated to be involved in obesity. The melanocortin receptor system is a GPCR pathway that consist of five receptor subtypes (MC1R-MC5R). The MC4 receptor subtype is expressed in the brain and is involved in the regulation of energy homeostasis and feeding behavior [1]. The endogenous melanocortin agonists are derived from posttranslational processing of the POMC gene transcript, and contain the central His-Phe-Arg-Trp sequence [2]. The His6-Phe7-Arg8-Trp9 (α-MSH numbering) sequence is the minimal sequence required for activity at the MC4R [2]. To further investigate the role of the His-Phe-Arg-Trp amino acids in receptor activity, 60 positionally modified tetrapeptides were synthesized, purified and characterized at the mouse MC4R [3,4].
Rodent Working Heart Model for the Study of Myocardial Performance and Oxygen Consumption

Isolated working heart models have been used to understand the effects of loading conditions, heart rate and medications on myocardial performance in ways that cannot be accomplished in vivo. For example, inotropic medications commonly also affect preload and afterload, precluding load-independent assessments of their myocardial effects in vivo. Additionally, this model allows for sampling of coronary sinus effluent without contamination from systemic venous return, permitting assessment of myocardial oxygen consumption. Further, the advent of miniaturized pressure-volume catheters has allowed for the precise quantification of markers of both systolic and diastolic performance. We describe a model in which the left ventricle can be studied while performing both volume and pressure work under controlled conditions. In this technique, the heart and lungs of a Sprague-Dawley rat (weight 300-500 g) are removed en bloc under general anesthesia. The aorta is dissected free and cannulated for retrograde perfusion with oxygenated Krebs buffer. The pulmonary arteries and veins are ligated and the lungs removed from the preparation. The left atrium is then incised and cannulated using a separate venous cannula, attached to a preload block. Once this is determined to be leak-free, the left heart is loaded and retrograde perfusion stopped, creating the working heart model. The pulmonary artery is incised and cannulated for collection of coronary effluent and determination of myocardial oxygen consumption. A pressure-volume catheter is placed into the left ventricle either retrograde or through apical puncture. If desired, atrial pacing wires can be placed for more precise control of heart rate. This model allows for precise control of preload (using a left atrial pressure block), afterload (using an afterload block), heart rate (using pacing wires) and oxygen tension (using oxygen mixtures within the perfusate).
High- and ultrahigh-field magnetic resonance imaging of naïve, injured and scarred vocal fold mucosae in rats

Subepithelial changes to the vocal fold mucosa, such as fibrosis, are difficult to identify using visual assessment of the tissue surface. Moreover, without suspicion of neoplasm, mucosal biopsy is not a viable clinical option, as it carries its own risk of iatrogenic injury and scar formation. Given these challenges, we assessed the ability of high- (4.7 T) and ultrahigh-field (9.4 T) magnetic resonance imaging to resolve key vocal fold subepithelial tissue structures in the rat, an important and widely used preclinical model in vocal fold biology. We conducted serial in vivo and ex vivo imaging, evaluated an array of acquisition sequences and contrast agents, and successfully resolved key anatomic features of naive, acutely injured, and chronically scarred vocal fold mucosae on the ex vivo scans. Naive lamina propria was hyperintense on T1-weighted imaging with gadobenate dimeglumine contrast enhancement, whereas chronic scar was characterized by reduced lamina propria T1 signal intensity and mucosal volume. Acutely injured mucosa was hypointense on T2-weighted imaging: lesion volume steadily increased, peaked at 5 days postinjury, and then decreased – consistent with the physiology of acute/subacute hemorrhage and associated changes in the magnetic state of hemoglobin and its degradation products. Intravenous administration of superparamagnetic iron oxide conferred no T2 contrast enhancement during the acute injury period. These findings confirm that magnetic resonance imaging can resolve anatomic substructures within naive vocal fold mucosa, qualitative and quantitative features of acute injury, and the presence of chronic scar.
Molybdenum Cofactor Deficiency: Dietary Therapy

Moderate short-term clinical improvement was obtained with dietary methionine restriction and cysteine supplementation in a 5-month-old-girl with molybdenum cofactor deficiency (MoCD) treated at Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.
Breed effects and heterosis in advanced generations of composite populations for puberty and scrotal traits of beef cattle.

Heterosis effects were evaluated in F1, F2, and F3 generations of females and in the F1, F2, and combined F3 and F4 generations of males in three composite populations of beef cattle. Traits included weight, height, and condition scores at different ages, percentage of females reaching puberty at 368, 410, and 452 d, adjusted age, and adjusted weight of females at puberty and scrotal circumference and paired testicular volume of males. Breed effects were evaluated for the nine parental breeds (Red Poll [R], Hereford [H], Angus [A], Limousin [L], Braunvieh [B], Pinzgauer [P], Gelbvieh [G], Simmental [S], and Charolais [C]) that contributed to the three composite populations (MARC I = 1/4 C, 1/4 B, 1/4 L, 1/8 H, 1/8 A; MARC II = 1/4 G, 1/4 S, 1/4 H, 1/4 A; and MARC III = 1/4 R, 1/4 P, 1/4 H, 1/4 A). Breed effects were significant for all traits evaluated. Heterosis was significant for weight, height, and condition score at all ages and for most measures of puberty in each generation of each composite and for the mean of the three composite populations. Heterosis for age at puberty was largely independent of heterosis effects on 368-d weight. Heterosis was significant for scrotal circumference and paired testicular volume in each generation of each composite and for the mean of the three composite populations. Heterosis effects on scrotal measurements are mediated both through heterosis effects on growth rate and through factors that are independent of growth rate. Correlation coefficients among breed group means and correlations of breed rank for scrotal measurements with puberty traits of females were greater than or equal to .88 (P less than .01) for all puberty traits except weight at puberty, which was not associated with scrotal measurements. There was close agreement in heterosis observed for most traits and expectation based on retained heterozygosity. These results support the hypothesis that heterosis in cattle for size, puberty, and scrotal measurement traits is due to dominance effects of genes.
Retinal oxygen: from animals to humans

This article discusses retinal oxygenation and retinal metabolism by focusing on measurements made with two of the principal methods used to study O2 in the retina: measurements of PO2 with oxygen-sensitive microelectrodes in vivo in animals with a retinal circulation similar to that of humans, and oximetry, which can be used non-invasively in both animals and humans to measure O2 concentration in retinal vessels. Microelectrodes uniquely have high spatial resolution, allowing the mapping of PO2 in detail, and when combined with mathematical models of diffusion and consumption, they provide information about retinal metabolism. Mathematical models, grounded in experiments, can also be used to simulate situations that are not amenable to experimental study. New methods of oximetry, particularly photoacoustic ophthalmoscopy and visible light optical coherence tomography, provide depth-resolved methods that can separate signals from blood vessels and surrounding tissues, and can be combined with blood flow measures to determine metabolic rate. We discuss the effects on retinal oxygenation of illumination, hypoxia and hyperoxia, and describe retinal oxygenation in diabetes, retinal detachment, arterial occlusion, and macular degeneration. We explain how the metabolic measurements obtained from microelectrodes and imaging are different, and how they need to be brought together in the future. Finally, we argue for revisiting the clinical use of hyperoxia in ophthalmology, particularly in retinal arterial occlusions and retinal detachment, based on animal research and diffusion theory.
A net fishing enrichment strategy for colorimetric detection of E. coli O157:H7

Abstract The strict regulatory requirements for pathogen monitoring in food systems to ensure safety demands that the detection method can recognize small numbers of pathogens. Although significant efforts on the development of biosensors have been reported with marked improvement in sensitivity, appropriate enrichment strategies are still needed in a detection scheme. Herein we proposed a unique strategy for the enrichment of pathogens, based on a concept termed as net fishing, to capture target bacteria with antibodies functionalized on porous substrates to fish the target from samples. Because of their large surface area porous nitrocellulose membranes (NC membranes) were used as substrates for target capture. By immersing the antibody modified NC membrane into liquid samples and upon mixing, we expect to anchor target pathogens on the membrane due to the specific interaction between antibody and target, where the nonspecific enrichment could be reduced compared to methods such as filtration. Meanwhile the net fishing enrichment requires 2 h, less than common culture methods. An enzyme enhanced procedure was performed with the NC membrane after the capture to obtain colorimetric signal. Gold nanoparticle (GNP) probes conjugated with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and antibody were used to label capture target bacteria, and the presence of pathogens was determined by the colorimetric signal generated from HRP catalyzed TMB reaction. With E. coli O157:H7 as target, we investigated the detection performance of the proposed net fishing strategy with an enzyme amplification step for colorimetric reporting. After optimization of detection conditions, we show that as low as 100 CFU/ml E. coli O157:H7 could be detected. The feasibility was then demonstrated using pineapple juice as a food model.
Non-medical opioid use in youth: Gender differences in risk factors and prevalence.

Background Non-medical use (NMU) of prescription opioids in youth is of concern since they may continue this pattern into adulthood and become addicted or divert medications to others. Research into risk factors for NMU can help target interventions to prevent non-medical use of opioids in youth.
Ethylene modulates development and toxin biosynthesis in aspergillus possibly via an ethylene sensor-mediated signaling pathway.

Ethylene, a biologically active natural compound, inhibited aflatoxin accumulation by Aspergillus parasiticus on a solid growth medium in a dose-dependent manner at concentrations of 0.1 to 150 ppm. The activity of the nor-1 promoter (an early aflatoxin gene) was reduced to nondetectable levels by similar quantities of ethylene, suggesting that the inhibitory effect on toxin synthesis occurred, at least in part, at the level of transcription. The inhibitory effect of ethylene on aflatoxin accumulation was also observed when A. parasiticus was grown on raw peanuts. Under similar growth conditions and doses, ethylene strongly inhibited development of asci and ascospores in Aspergillus nidulans, with no detectable effect on Hulle cell formation, conidiation, or sterigmatocystin accumulation. During early growth, A. parasiticus and A. nidulans produced ethylene with approximately twofold higher quantities measured in continuous light than in the dark. 1-Methylcyclopropene (an inhibitor of ethylene receptors i...
Predictors of retention in a cervical cancer survivorship study.

6132 Background: Women with cervical cancer experience numerous quality of life (QOL) disruptions. A completed pilot study indicated that QOL and key biomarkers could be improved with psychosocial ...
Recovering area-to-mass ratio of resident space objects through data mining

Abstract The area-to-mass ratio (AMR) of a resident space object (RSO) is an important parameter for improved space situation awareness capability due to its effect on the non-conservative forces including the atmosphere drag force and the solar radiation pressure force. However, information about AMR is often not provided in most space catalogs. The present paper investigates recovering the AMR information from the consistency error, which refers to the difference between the orbit predicted from an earlier estimate and the orbit estimated at the current epoch. A data mining technique, particularly the random forest (RF) method, is used to discover the relationship between the consistency error and the AMR. Using a simulation-based space catalog environment as the testbed, this paper demonstrates that the classification RF model can determine the RSO's category AMR and the regression RF model can generate continuous AMR values, both with good accuracies. Furthermore, the paper reveals that by recording additional information besides the consistency error, the RF model can estimate the AMR with even higher accuracy.
Media, Terrorism, and Society: Perspectives and Trends in the Digital Age

With the advent of the new millennium, the number of terrorism attacks increased worldwide. The attacks inspired a series of empirical terrorism studies, and I received a wave of invitations to rev...
Homogenous scales of narcissism: Using the psychological entitlement scale, interpersonal exploitativeness scale, and narcissistic grandiosity scale to study narcissism

Abstract We examined the extent to which the Psychological Entitlement Scale (PES), the Interpersonal Exploitativeness Scale (IES), and the Narcissistic Grandiosity Scale (NGS), when taken together, assess a broader construct or three distinct facets. In Study 1, a principal components analysis was conducted, demonstrating that the PES, IES, and NGS should be considered three separate traits rather than one overall construct. In Study 2, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) revealed that the most efficient and best fitting model contained 8 items of the PES (dropping a reverse-scored item), the 6-item IES, and a revised 6-item model of the NGS. Study 3 replicated the CFA and examined the correlates of the PES, IES, and NGS with measures of narcissism and related measures such as empathic concern and self-esteem. Implications for future assessment of narcissism traits are discussed.
Perspectives on the physiological roles of microRNAs in immune-metabolism: Where are we now?

Highlights: Experiments in KO mouse models will strengthen our understanding of the physiological and pathological roles played by miRNAs and/or miRNA families within the context of immune-metabolism. It will be important to explore additional miRNAs that have the capacity to regulate various aspects of metabolism in immune cells. The knowledge acquired from engineered mouse models may pave the way for preclinical studies.
Place and Mobility in Shaping the Freedmen’s Community of Antioch Colony, Texas, 1870–1954

ABSTRACTArchaeological inquiry into the landscapes produced by free Black Americans has greatly contributed to understandings of how spatial use continued to reflect resistance to racial subjugation during the Reconstruction and Jim Crow eras. In this article, I discuss the community of Antioch Colony, a freedmen’s community located in central Texas, to consider the remaking of Black community in the rural countryside between the years of 1870 and 1954. Using oral histories, historic aerial photography, and historic maps, I examine the ways residents of Antioch Colony adapted their landscape over time to create an empowering environment suitable for their needs in the post-bellum period. Through my analysis, I find that the landscape created reinforced a sense of belonging by allowing people to freely congregate and move through space.
Crisis in access to care: geriatric psychiatry services unobtainable at any price.

Where are elders with difficult psychiatric illness to seek ambulatory care? These elders are patients with severe or recurrent major depression, bipolar disorders, schizoaffective disorders, behavioral complications of dementia, anxiety disorders, late life psychoses, substance abuse, and personality disorders. A crisis in access to care for this group of patients has emerged in recent years. Its essential components are as follows.
Freeing the data from cytology databases in order to improve the quality of cytology.

Introduction To review how changes in data storage and analysis can impact quality and quality assessment in cytology. Methods Review of the literature. Results All quality assessment is dependent on the data available for review and the methods available for evaluation. Current laboratory information systems (LISs) incorporate both a relational or hierarchical database and built in methods to analyze current quality assessment standards. In contrast, most information systems outside of medicine are separating data storage from analysis, allowing increasingly more sophisticated forms of evaluation. Conclusion There is an opportunity for improvement in cytology by improving the way data can be extracted and analyzed from the cytology LIS.
The Use of Pain in Childbirth Recorded in Chinese Medical Works

In pre-modern China, midwives and pregnant mothers used pain description as a tool to gauge the progress of childbirth. This was recorded in the twelfth century medical work Shichan lun 十產論 (Ten Topics on Birth), which takes the form of a list, describing routine childbirth, birth complications and the techniques used to manage those specific complications.It was the most widely quoted and disseminated work on childbirth and birth complications in late imperial China. The description of childbirth pain in Shichan lun would shift in meaning and use by the end of the imperial period, leading to the representation of childbirth pain as inevitable, nondescript and immutable. This study examines how pain was a tool for the pregnant woman and birth attendants in Shichan lun . This reading of pain challenges our current understanding of the value and meaning of pain in childbirth physiology.
Abstract P150: Age, Gender and Race Variations in QRS Duration in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with increased incidence of congestive heart failure (CHF). While patients with intraventricular conduction delay were shown to have increased ris...
Overvaluation of Weight or Shape and Loss-of-Control Eating Following Bariatric Surgery.

Objective Little is known regarding overvaluation of weight or shape, a key cognitive feature of eating disorders, among individuals with disordered eating following bariatric surgery. This study examined the significance of overvaluation of weight or shape among post-bariatric surgery patients with loss-of-control (LOC) eating. Methods Participants were 145 individuals who had undergone sleeve gastrectomy within the previous 6 months and reported regular LOC eating. Overvaluation of weight or shape, LOC eating, and eating disorder psychopathology were assessed using the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE)-Bariatric Surgery Version interview; depressive symptoms and disability were assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS), respectively. Results Overvaluation of weight or shape, examined continuously, was correlated significantly with higher levels of eating disorder psychopathology (EDE), depression (BDI-II), and disability (SDS). Categorically, using established clinical cut points, relative to the subclinical overvaluation group (n = 70 [48.3%]), the clinical overvaluation group (n = 75 [51.7%]) reported significantly greater frequency of LOC eating episodes and higher EDE, BDI-II, and SDS scores. The two groups did not differ significantly in current BMI or percent weight loss following surgery. Conclusions These findings, which highlight the clinical significance of overvaluation of weight or shape among patients with LOC eating following bariatric surgery, are similar to those previously reported for binge-eating disorder. Postoperatively, overvaluation of weight or shape was associated with greater eating disorder psychopathology, depression, and disability.