cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The thermic effect of food in normal-weight and overweight pregnant women

A defective thermic response to food may be an energy-sparing adaptation in both obesity and pregnancy. To evaluate the combined effect of obesity and pregnancy on postprandial thermogenesis, the thermic effect of food was assessed for a 240 min period following a high-carbohydrate meal and a typical mixed meal in nine normal-weight non-pregnant, eight overweight non-pregnant, eight normal-weight pregnant and six overweight pregnant women using indirect calorimetry. A test meal that provided 60% of each subject's measured daily requirement for basal metabolism was used. Pregnant women were studied during weeks 30-35 of gestation. Neither obesity nor pregnancy altered the thermic effect of food, although the response to the mixed meal was greater (P < 0.01) than that to the high-carbohydrate meal in all cases. The mean responses for the high-carbohydrate and mixed meals were 26.9 (SD 6.0) and 30.1 (SD 6.2) % baseline energy expenditure respectively, and 7.4 (SD 1.6) and 8.3 (SD 1.6) % of the meal energy load respectively. Obesity and pregnancy were associated with hyperinsulinaemia (P < 0.005) following both test meals, suggesting that postprandial thermogenesis was not altered by insulin resistance in this group. The incremental glucose response was elevated (P < 0.001) in the pregnant women following both test meals; overweight women tended to have a greater incremental glucose response following the high-carbohydrate meal, but it was not significant (P = 0.065). These results do not provide evidence of an impaired thermic response to food in either overweight or third trimester pregnant women.
Modeling hydraulic characteristics and nitrogen removal in a fixed-bed reactor for septic tank effluent treatment

This paper presents information on modeling of (1) hydraulic characteristics, (2) the nitrification, and (3) denitrification processes in the down-flow sulfur/limestone autotrophic denitrification ...
DVDs, VIDEO GAMES, AND THE CINEMA OF INTERACTIONS

The “cinema of interactions” in the title of my paper alludes to Tom Gunning’s paradigmatic conception of early cinema as a “cinema of attractions.” Borrowing from the idea that electronic textuality marks what has been called the late age of print, I argue that the history of cinema up to the present moment can be seen as an extension of early cinema. In describing the current cinematic moment in this fashion, I do not mean to suggest that film will disappear in the face of video games and other digital media, but rather that it will continue increasingly to be engaged with the social, technological, and aesthetic forms and practices of digital media. This engagement will not be marked (as many digital enthusiasts contend) by the emergence of a distinctively new digital medium (and the concomitant abandonment of the technologically outmoded medium of celluloid film), but rather by the emergence of multiply networked, distributed forms of cinematic production and exhibition. Indeed I am convinced that in this sense we already find ourselves with a digital cinema—not as a distinctively new medium but as a hybrid network of media forms and practices.
An unstructured-grid, finite-volume, nonhydrostatic, parallel coastal ocean simulator

A finite-volume formulation is presented that solves the three-dimensional, nonhydrostatic Navier–Stokes equations with the Boussinesq approximation on an unstructured, staggered, z-level grid, with the goal of simulating nonhydrostatic processes in the coastal ocean with grid resolutions of tens of meters. In particular, the code has been developed to simulate the nonlinear, nonhydrostatic internal wave field in the littoral ocean. The method is based on the formulation developed by Casulli, in that the free-surface and vertical diffusion are semi-implicit, thereby removing stability limitations associated with the surface gravity wave and vertical diffusion terms. The remaining terms in the momentum equations are discretized explicitly with the second-order Adams–Bashforth method, while the pressure-correction method is employed for the nonhydrostatic pressure in order to achieve overall second-order temporal accuracy. Advection of momentum is accomplished with an Eulerian discretization which conserves momentum in cells that do not contain the free surface, and scalar advection is discretized in a way that ensures consistency with continuity, thereby ensuring local and global mass conservation using a velocity field that conserves volume on a local and global basis. The nonhydrostatic pressure field is solved efficiently using a block-Jacobi preconditioner, and while stability is limited by the internal gravity wave speed and vertical advection of momentum, applications requiring relatively small time steps due to accuracy or stability constraints are run efficiently on parallel computers, since the present formulation is written entirely with the message-passing interface (MPI). The ParMETIS libraries are employed in order to achieve a load-balanced parallel partitioning that minimizes interprocessor communication, and the grid is reordered to optimize per-processor performance by limiting cache misses while accessing arrays in memory. Test cases demonstrate the ability of the code to efficiently and accurately compute the nonhydrostatic lock exchange and internal waves in idealized as well as real domains, and we evaluate the parallel efficiency of the code using up to 32 processors. � 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Engineering novel life.

Mol Syst Biol. 1: 2005.0020 A Scientist discovers that which exists. An Engineer creates that which never was.Theodore von Karman Biology will never be the same. The remarkable scientific success of biology in describing, explaining, and manipulating natural systems is so well recognized as to be a cliche–but the engineering application of that scientific knowledge is just beginning. In the same way that electrical engineering grew from physics to become a separate discipline in the early part of the last century, we see the growth of a new engineering discipline: one oriented to the intentional design, modeling, construction, debugging, and testing of artificial living systems. Currently published in Molecular Systems Biology , Chan et al (2005) describe the most compelling example of work in synthetic biology to date. …
Diplomatic History and Policy History: Finding Common Ground

It is difficult to imagine two fields of scholarly inquiry with so much in common and yet so little interaction as diplomatic and policy history. Policy, policy process, policymakers, policy origins, policy intentions, policy consequences—those terms and ones of a similar stripe roll just as easily off the tongues and word processors of diplomatic historians as of self-described policy historians. Moreover, the questions asked and the methods employed by the two groups of scholars bear a striking resemblance. Both fields focus perforce on the state and state-centered actors, concern themselves with elite-level decision making, interrogate fundamental issues of power within societies, and concentrate overwhelmingly on the twentieth century to the relative neglect of earlier periods. Each field occupies as well an embattled position within the larger historical profession, where social and cultural history have predominated since the 1960s.
The Natural History of Periodontal Disease in Man: The Rate of Periodontal Destruction Before 40 Years of Age*

This longitudinal study of randomly selected Norwegian students and academicians has shown that 50% of the 17-year olds have lost no periodontal support, and the other 50% exhibited slight localized loss of attachment primarily on buccal surfaces of first molars and first bicuspids of both jaws. At 21 all students show one or more of these lesions as well as loss of attachment on interproximal surfaces. At 30 years of age the mean cumulative loss is still less than 1 mm. As they approach 40 years of age the mean individual loss of attachment is slightly above 1.5 mm or 10% of the total periodontal support, and the mean annual rate of attachment loss is 0.08 for interproximal surfaces and 0.1 mm for buccal surfaces. No case of juvenile periodontitis (periodontosis) or adult aggressive periodontitis were seen in this population. Seventy percent of the 15-year-old Sri Lankans have no or very little loss of periodontal support. However, approximately 30% exhibit localized lesions measuring between 2 and 9 mm and more than 1% have one or more root surfaces with 10 mm loss of attachment or more. In this age group the lesions occur at the interproximal and buccal aspects of lower central incisors and in first molars of both jaws. At 30 years of age the mean loss of attachment is 3.11 mm and approximately 25% of the tea laborers have lesions extending 10 mm or more below the cemento-enamel junction. As the Sri Lankan approaches 40 years of age the mean loss of attachment is 4.50 mm and the mean rate of progress of the lesion is 0.20 mm per year for buccal surfaces and 0.30 mm for interproximal surfaces. This study suggests that without interference the periodontal lesion progresses at a relatively even pace and that the progress is continuous.
Liquid chromatography with dual parallel mass spectrometry and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy for analysis of sphingomyelin and dihydrosphingomyelin: I. Bovine brain and chicken egg yolk

Liquid chromatography coupled to atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) and electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry (MS), in parallel, was used for detection of bovine brain and chicken egg sphingolipids (SLs). APCI–MS mass spectra exhibited mostly ceramide-like fragment ions, [Cer-H2 O+H ] + and [Cer-2H2 O+H ] + , whereas ESI–MS produced mostly intact protonated molecules, [M + H] + . APCI–MS/MS and MS 3 were used to differentiate between isobaric SLs. APCI–MS/MS mass spectra exhibited long-chain base related fragments, [LCB] + and [LCB-H2O] + , that allowed the sphinganine backbone to be differentiated from the sphingenine backbone. Fragments formed from the fatty amide chain, [FA(long)] + and [FA(short)] + , allowed an overall fatty acid composition to be determined. The presence of both dihydrosphingomyelin (DSM) and sphingomyelin (SM) sphingolipid classes was confirmed using 31 P NMR spectroscopy.
Hepatosplenic fungal disease: diagnostic accuracy and spectrum of appearances on MR imaging.

We describe our 6-year experience in the prospective examination of patients with suspected hepatosplenic fungal disease to show the diagnostic accuracy of MR imaging and the spectrum of appearances on MR images.All patients who underwent MR examination for suspected hepatosplenic fungal disease from January 1990 to January 1997 in three university institutions were included in the study. Patients presented with persistent fever or no response to antibacterial antibiotics. Patients were grouped as acute, subacute treated, and chronic treated, according to the duration of their symptoms. Patients with 2 weeks or fewer of possible infection were acute presentation, patients on antifungal therapy longer than 2 weeks but shorter than 3 months were subacute treated presentation, and patients on antifungal therapy for 3 months or longer or who had completed antifungal therapy and had a history of hepatosplenic fungal disease were chronic treated presentation. MR studies were prospectively interpreted for the pr...
Outbreak of Potato Y potyvirus and Tobacco mosaic tobamovirus in Georgia's Flue-Cured Tobacco.

Flue-cured tobacco is an economically important crop in Georgia. During the 1999 growing season, tobacco plants showing various degrees of mottling (mild to severe), mosaic, and vein clearing were observed in most counties in Georgia. In most cases, symptoms were not clearly those associated with Potato Y potyvirus (PVY) or Tobacco mosaic tobamovirus (TMV). The incidence of symptomatic plants in individual fields ranged from 0 to 90%. A survey was conducted in several tobacco-growing counties to ascertain the causal agent(s) of the disease. Symptomatic plants were collected from 11 counties: Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Berrien, Coffee, Colquitt, Echols, Grady, Lowndes, Tattnall, and Ware. Leaf samples were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for Cucumber mosaic cucumovirus (CMV), PVY, TMV, Tobacco etch potyvirus (TEV) and Tobacco vein mottling potyvirus. On the basis of ELISA, TMV and PVY were the most prevalent viruses, followed by CMV. From a total of 50 samples tested, 28 were doubly infe...
Non-Fermi-Liquid Crossovers in a Quasi-One-Dimensional Conductor in a Tilted Magnetic Field.

We consider a theoretical problem of electron-electron scattering time in a quasi-one-dimensional (Q1D) conductor in a magnetic field, perpendicular to its conducting axis. We show that inverse electron-electron scattering time becomes of the order of characteristic electron energy, 1/τ~e~T, in a high magnetic field, directed far from the main crystallographic axes, which indicates breakdown of the Fermi-liquid theory. In a magnetic field, directed close to one of the main crystallographic axis, inverse electron-electron scattering time becomes much smaller than characteristic electron energy and, thus, applicability of Fermi-liquid theory restores. We suggest that there exist crossovers (or phase transitions) between Fermi-liquid and some non-Fermi-liquid states in a strong enough tilted magnetic field. Application of our results to the Q1D conductor (Per)_{2}Au(mnt)_{2} shows that it has to be possible to observe the above-mentioned phenomenon in feasibly high magnetic fields of the order of H≥H^{*}≃25 T.
Abbott and the Aids Crisis (a)

In 1999 and 2000, Abbott Laboratories’ senior management considered a number of philanthropic options that could make a difference and define the focus for Abbott and the Abbott Fund’s charitable programs. Although the cause was humanitarian, it was considered important that the programs align strategically with Abbott’s leadership in the HIV/AIDS arena. The Abbott Fund officially launched the Program for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in June 2000. The program assisted orphans and vulnerable children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS as well as the communities that cared for them. They chose Tanzania as host for a pilot program, which involved updating the country’s community health care infrastructure. Abbott partnered with Tanzania’s Ministry of Health over the next five years to upgrade the facilities at Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar Es Salaam, the Tanzanian capital; build an HIV center comprising an outpatient clinic and counseling/support facilities; create a national HIV teaching center; and introduce pharmacy, health information, and management systems. The dramatic growth of the Abbott Fund HIV/AIDS programs suggested a strategic turning point for the Abbott Fund, transforming it from a domestic philanthropic program to one with a global focus, now aligned with Abbott’s international business focus. By 2003, nearly $20 million from the Abbott Fund was being invested in its developing-world AIDS programs.
Efficiency of Two-Way Weirs and Prepositioned Electrofishing for Sampling Potamodromous Fish Migrations

AbstractPotamodromy (i.e., migration entirely in freshwater) is a common life history strategy of North American lotic fishes, and efficient sampling methods for potamodromous fishes are needed to formulate conservation and management decisions. Many potamodromous fishes inhabit medium-sized rivers and are mobile during spawning migrations, which complicates sampling with conventional gears (e.g., nets and electrofishing). We compared the efficiency of a passive migration technique (resistance board weirs) and an active technique (prepositioned areal electrofishers; [PAEs]) for sampling migrating potamodromous fishes in Valley River, a southern Appalachian Mountain river, from March through July 2006 and 2007. A total of 35 fish species from 10 families were collected, 32 species by PAE and 19 species by weir. Species richness and diversity were higher for PAE catch, and species dominance (i.e., proportion of assemblage composed of the three most abundant species) was higher for weir catch. Prepositioned ...
Solute Diffusion in Bentonite Pastes

AbstractSodium bentonite (Na-bentonite) is a high-swelling clay with low hydraulic conductivity (k) that is commonly used for hydraulic and chemical containment applications (e.g., engineered barriers, seals, and grouts) to limit advective (hydraulic) flow and chemical transport. In Na-bentonite pastes and other paste-like substances (e.g., high slump backfills, filter cakes, well seals, and slurried mine tailings) that exhibit low values of k (<10−9 m/s), diffusion can be a significant chemical transport process such that measurement of diffusion properties of these materials may be necessary. Based on these considerations, diffusion of NaCl from Na-bentonite pastes with porosities ranging from 0.96 to 0.98 was evaluated by adapting standardized test methods for diffusive leaching of contaminants from stabilized/solidified waste to a dialysis procedure commonly used for clay purification. The apparent diffusion coefficients (Da) measured with the proposed dialysis-leaching test method ranged from 2.26×1...
An evaluation of the Haema-Count MK-40 blood counting system.

The Haema-Count MK-40, a semiautomated blood counting system, determines hemoglobin, erythrocyte count, leukocyte count, and hematocrit values of blood cell suspensions prepared with a small automatic pipetter-diluter. It is similar to the MK-3, which the authors previously evaluated, but has automatic coincidence correlation and a modified prime and rinse cycle. Its performance was compared with those of standard methods, i.e. , the single-channel Coulter Counter and manual cyanmethemoglobin and microhematocrit methods. Precisions for hemoglobin determinations and for leukocyte and erythrocyte counts were equal to those of the reference (comparative) methods. Patient comparisons for those determinations had only small intermethod variability and small clinically insignificant biases. The hematocrit channel was the least precise. With a modified method of calibration, the authors obtained patient comparisons without statistically significant bias from the microhematocrit. Calibration was stable for all channels during the course of the study.
Morphology of the Alimentary Canal During the Metamorphosis of Hyalophora cecropia (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)

Changes in the anatomy of the alimentary canal are described during the life of the cecropia moth, Hyalophoracecropia (L.), with particular attention given to the transformations from larva to pupa and pupa to adult. During the development of the pupa, the larval foregut and hindgut empty and collapse to form narrow tubes, but the most dramatic change is the deterioration of the mass of cryptonephric tubules and the subsequent development of rectal pads in the adult rectum. In general, the changes from larva to pupa are degenerative. During development of the adult, a crop is formed from the posterior foregut. It is postulated that the crop is a compensatory mechanism for maintaining hemocoel volume when hemolymph is pumped into the wings of the adult shortly after ecdysis.
Piety over Protest: Cognitive Liberation and Deflected Collective Action in Central India

AbstractCognitive liberation is often treated in the social movements literature as a mediating factor through which political opportunities and mobilizing structures generate protest. This paper unpacks multiple dimensions of cognitive liberation and finds that they may operate in tension with one another. Building on scholarship that focuses on subjective factors in social movements, the paper examines the case of the Korku, an oppressed indigenous community in central India, who choose not to protest despite the presence of several dimensions of cognitive liberation. Rather than engage in collective political action, the Korku’s grievances are deflected toward depoliticized religious goals. The Korku seek communal improvement through Hindu piety in a context of the Hindutva cultural-nationalist ideology, rather than protest against the encroachment of this ideology on their community.
Carbonyl diazide, OC(N3)2: synthesis, purification, and IR spectrum.

Carbonyl diazide (1), OC(N3)2, is prepared by reaction of triphosgene and tetra-n-butylammonium azide in a solution of diethyl ether or dimethyl ether. The advantage of this synthetic method, relative to other procedures, is that the use of triphosgene, OC(OCCl3)2, mitigates the need to use highly poisonous reagents such as phosgene, OCCl2, or chlorofluorocarbonyl, OC(Cl)F. The identity and purity of OC(N3)2 are established by gas-phase IR spectroscopy, which reveals the presence of both syn–syn and anti–syn conformers. Computed anharmonic vibrational frequencies and infrared intensities of carbonyl diazide (1) display excellent agreement with experiment, and reveal the presence of strong Fermi resonances.
Magnetic field spectral crossings of Luttinger holes in quantum wells

We develop an analytic approach to two-dimensional (2D) holes in a magnetic field that allows us to gain insight into physics of measuring the parameters of holes, such as cyclotron resonance, Shubnikov-de Haas effect and spin resonance. We derive hole energies, cyclotron masses, and the $g$ factors in the semiclassical regime analytically, as well as analyze numerical results outside the semiclassical range of parameters, qualitatively explaining the experimentally observed magnetic field dependence of the cyclotron mass. In the semiclassical regime with large Landau level indices, and for size quantization energy much bigger than the cyclotron energy, the cyclotron mass coincides with the in-plane effective mass, calculated in the absence of a magnetic field. The hole $g$ factor in a magnetic field perpendicular to the 2D plane is defined not only by the constant of direct coupling of the angular momentum of the holes to the magnetic field, but also by the Luttinger constants defining the effective masses of holes. We find that the $g$ factor for quasi-2D holes with heavy mass in the [001] growth direction in GaAs quantum well is $g=4.05$ in the semiclasssical regime. Outside the semiclassical range of parameters, holes behave as a species completely different from electrons. Spectra for size- and magnetic-field-quantized holes are nonequidistant, not fanlike, and exhibit multiple crossings, including crossing in the ground level. We calculate the effect of Dresselhaus terms, which transform some of the crossings into anticrossings, and the effects of the anisotropy of the Luttinger Hamiltonian on the 2D hole spectra. Dresselhaus terms of different symmetries are taken into account, and a regularization procedure is developed for the ${k}_{z}^{3}$ Dresselhaus terms. Control of the nonequidistant levels and crossing structure by the magnetic field can be used to control the Landau level mixing in hole systems, and thereby control hole-hole interactions in the magnetic field.
Methods of the Failure Repair of Slow Scan Oscillograph

The main methods of repairing slow scan oscillograph by the phenomenon of some failure are introduced in this paper.
MAC Protocol Based on Reputation Mechanism in Ad Hoc Networks

With some potential insecure factors in 802.11 protocol,credit-based multi-token media access control protocol is proposed. The mechanism of reputations for the nodes in the network through the detection of attacks and the observation of communication activities is set up. The management mechanism of tokens is based on the mechanism of reputations. The management mechanism regulates that a node can access the channel only when it holds a token,by which the protective mechanism with media access control can be realized. In order to verify the validity of this protocol,simulation is done on the popular network simulator NS. Simulation results indicate that it can react quickly when some malicious behaviors in the network are detected and effectively maintain the network performance.
The Natural History of Papillary Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Bladder and its Treatment in an Unselected Population on the Basis of Histologic Grading

AbstractBetween 1950 and 1965, 365 patients were treated for transitional cancer of the bladder at our hospitals. A retrospective study was done, using clinical records and a histopathologic review to determine the long-term natural history of this population when treated conservatively.The natural history of 3 separate patient populations was discovered, based solely on the grading of the transurethrally resected fragments. Based on the grade on initial presentation these patients were divided into grades I, II and III. Of the patients 5 per cent in grade I, 16 per cent in grade II, 28 to 35 per cent in grade III not involving muscle and 83 per cent in grade III involving muscle died of bladder cancer. Ninety-seven patients (26 per cent) died of bladder cancer, 110 (31 per cent) died of other causes and 158 (43 per cent) have been alive more than 5 years (104 more than 10 years). Grade I tumors that progressed to a higher grade did so within 2 years of the initial diagnosis. Of the bladder cancer deaths ...
Low latency bounty hunting and geographically adjacent server configuration for real-time cloud control

This paper explores the feasibility and proposes a method on how to obtain high frequency real-time controllers operating in loop with physical robot hardware over a geographically adjacent and bounty hunting cloud server architecture. Having the cloud in the loop has many purposes including increasing computation, decreasing “on robot” power usage, reducing overall robot weight etc. Today when robots use the cloud in loop it is typically for sharing information, high level planning, and other non-real-time tasks. All of the balancing and stability algorithms stay onboard the robot. What if we could run high frequency real-time loops over the cloud? The better question is how would we do that? As with any real-time system latency is a big factor in the application and operation frequency. This paper shows that with a geographically adjacent and bounty hunting server approach it is feasible to obtain high frequency real-time control in loop with with a physical robot over the cloud. The feasibility of such a system running in-loop on humanoids and wheeled robots are explored and tested.
Combined doxorubicin/vinorelbine (Navelbine) therapy in the treatment of advanced breast cancer.

A multicenter US study of the combination of doxorubicin (50 mg/m2 day 1) and vinorelbine (Navelbine; Burroughs Wellcome Co, Research Triangle Park, NC; Pierre Fabre Medicament, Paris, France) (25 mg/m2 days 1 and 8) every 21 days examined the effects of this regimen as first-line chemotherapy in advanced breast cancer patients. Of the 62 patients enrolled in the study, 41 were completely evaluable for response and toxicity at the time of this analysis. The median patient age was 59 years. Prior therapy included hormone therapy (55%), adjuvant chemotherapy (40%), and radiotherapy (28%). Two hundred twelve courses of combined therapy were given. Toxicities included granulocytopenia (grade 4, 83%; grade 3, 12%), febrile neutropenia requiring hospitalization (three patients, 8%), septic death (one patient, 3%), thrombocytopenia (grade 3, 5%), stomatitis (grade 4, 5%), alopecia (grade 3, 15%), and nausea/vomiting (grade 3, 12%). One patient developed clinical congestive heart failure due to doxorubicin. The overall response rate for 58 patients evaluable for response was 57% (95% confidence interval: 45% to 69%): 16% of patients had complete responses (9 patients) and 41% had partial responses (24 patients). Twenty-seven percent of patients had stable disease (16 patients). This regimen was well tolerated and had excellent patient acceptance.
Efficacy and pharmacokinetics of a modified acid-labile docetaxel-PRINT® nanoparticle formulation against non-small-cell lung cancer brain metastases

Aim: Particle Replication in Nonwetting Templates (PRINT®) PLGA nanoparticles of docetaxel and acid-labile C2-dimethyl-Si-Docetaxel were evaluated with small molecule docetaxel as treatments for non-small-cell lung cancer brain metastases. Materials & methods: Pharmacokinetics, survival, tumor growth and mice weight change were efficacy measures against intracranial A549 tumors in nude mice. Treatments were administered by intravenous injection. Results: Intracranial tumor concentrations of PRINT-docetaxel and PRINT-C2-docetaxel were 13- and sevenfold greater, respectively, than SM-docetaxel. C2-docetaxel conversion to docetaxel was threefold higher in intracranial tumor as compared with nontumor tissues. PRINT-C2-docetaxel increased median survival by 35% with less toxicity as compared with other treatments. Conclusion: The decreased toxicity of the PRINT-C2-docetaxel improved treatment efficacy against non-small-cell lung cancer brain metastasis.
Improving farmers markets and challenging neoliberalism in Argentina

Although typically invisible, neoliberal policies and ideologies are often at the root of why farmers markets struggle to offer affordable prices for consumers, sufficient income for farmers, and expand socially and environmentally sustainable food systems. Argentinian ferias francas, a variation on farmers markets, offer a unique case to examine how they may be designed to alleviate these issues by challenging neoliberalism through legislative mechanisms. Ferias francas emerged as an explicitly anti-neoliberal, grassroots response to Argentina’s expansion of neoliberal agricultural policies that stimulated global agribusiness and displaced small-scale farmers. Organizers partnered with municipal, provincial, and national governments to develop legislation to support small-scale farmers and to make the network of ferias competitive with global agribusiness. I ask, how can organizers expand farmers markets’ potential to fulfill the social and environmental goals of agri-food movements, given neoliberal capitalism’s constraints and contradictions? I analyze feria legislation by situating it in its social and historical context, and comparing legislative mechanisms to core elements of neoliberalism in the economy and in the everyday mentalities of agri-food activists. I find that mechanisms such as setting prices lower than neighboring supermarkets and establishing uniform prices for feria goods contest some aspects of neoliberalism. However, the ferias also reproduce neoliberalism, and are still subject to the price standards set under the global neoliberal agroeconomy, raising questions about their prospects for sustainability under neoliberal capitalism. This analysis of feria legislation makes neoliberalism’s influence on farmers markets visible and highlights legislative mechanisms that address some of its harmful effects.
Extracurricular Physical Activity Programs in California Private Secondary Schools.

ABSTRACTPurpose: Interscholastic, intramural, and club physical activity (PA) programs can be important contributors to student PA accrual at schools. Few studies have assessed factors related to the provision of these extracurricular PA programs, especially in private schools. Methods: We used a 16-item questionnaire to assess the associations and influences of selected factors relative to extracurricular PA program policies and practices in 450 private California secondary schools. Associations were evaluated using contingency table analyses (i.e., chi-squared, effect size, and post-hoc analyses). Results: Six factors were associated with schools providing extracurricular PA programs: school location, level, enrollment, and religious classification and whether the physical education (PE) program met state PE time standards and was taught by PE specialists. Conclusions: Both static factors (e.g., school location, level, enrollment, and religious affiliation) and modifiable factors (e.g., meeting PE stand...
Use of cover crop fields by migratory and resident birds

Abstract Cover crops, established between the growing seasons of primary crops to improve soil and water quality, have become increasingly popular in the Midwest region of the United States; however, the impact on migratory and resident birds is largely unknown. We conducted avian surveys on four field types in east central Illinois in the spring of 2015 and 2016: maize (Zea mays L.) stubble with cover crop, maize stubble only, soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] stubble with cover crop, and soybean stubble only. For each field type, we calculated relative bird abundance and the Avian Conservation Significance value (ACS). Relative bird abundance was greater in cover crop fields than non-cover crop fields, with the maize fields planted with cover crops providing the greatest value (nearly twice the number of individuals and twice the species compared with non-cover crop soybean fields). The most common species were Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus), Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula), and American Robin (Turdus migratorius). ACS values were most influenced by the Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna), a species of high conservation concern. Many agricultural landscapes lack habitat in the spring and cover crop fields may be important areas to provide shelter and forage for birds. While we documented greater use of these fields more research is needed to understand why birds use these fields; more explicitly are birds finding cover, foraging, or attempting to breed in cover crop fields? As the amount of cover crop area increases, the value of these fields for migratory and resident bird use may increase. While habitat for wildlife is a secondary consideration when planting cover crops, my research suggests the use of cereal rye and later termination of cover crops benefits birds. Cover crops will not replace natural habitats for birds, but the widespread use of cover crops may benefit some bird populations.
A study of engagement and collaborative learning in a virtual environment

This paper focuses on the pattern of engagement of students collaborating in a virtual environment. Students work different time and place to develop responses to three homework assignments in a collaborative online learning environment. For each assignment, students are asked to cognitively engineer a technology-mediated collaboration in which they must consider issues such as communication, shared workspaces, online communities, and so on. Because of the “distance” between peer collaborators introduced by the virtual environment, the question of engagement becomes more complex. An analysis of the interactions of students in the virtual space is presented. The students exhibit a shift toward putting more effort into the revision stage of the assignment where they have access to the work of their peers. The data shows that students trend toward becoming more engaged from the first assignment to the last. The analysis illuminates changing patterns of engagement which gives insight as to how to improve student engagement in virtual, different time and place collaborations.
A review of infrared spectroscopy in microarchaeology: Methods, applications, and recent trends

Abstract Infrared (IR) spectroscopy has emerged as one of the most powerful analytical tools available to archaeologists. It has been used to document site formation processes and understand the preservation of organic remains within sites; to investigate pyrotechnology including control of fire, heat treatment of stone, and plaster manufacture; to assess the preservation of charcoal and bone prior to dating or isotope analyses; and, to identify unknown substances inside containers or on artifact surfaces such as stone tools. Most importantly, IR spectroscopy has become an essential tool in the field of microarchaeology, the analysis of the portion of the archaeological record which cannot be seen with the naked eye, yet which contains a wealth of data to address the research areas listed above. IR spectroscopy, long a workhorse of analytical chemistry, is particularly suited to archaeology because it is applicable to many kinds of materials - organic as well as inorganic - and can therefore be used to address a wide range of questions. Sample preparation is rapid and, since minute quantities of a substance are necessary, the technique is ‘microdestructive’. It can also be performed on-site, yielding results in real time that help guide excavation and sampling strategies. The purpose of this review is to detail the basic principles and instrumentation of IR spectroscopy as it has been applied in microarchaeology and related fields of research. The discussion centers on major archaeological applications to date, methodological issues, and recent trends. A special focus is placed on new reflectance techniques.
The association between fatigue and pain symptoms and decreased physical activity after cancer

Patients with cancer frequently experience symptoms such as fatigue and pain that can influence their ability to maintain their usual physical activity (PA). This study aimed to evaluate whether symptoms of fatigue and pain are associated with decreased PA among patients with cancer. We recruited patients with a cancer diagnosis from one academic medical center and 11 affiliated community hospitals to participate in a cross-sectional survey. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to examine the association between symptoms, demographics, and clinical characteristics and decreased PA since cancer diagnosis. Among 629 participants, 499 (79%) reported a decreased level of PA since their cancer diagnosis. In the past 7 days from the time of the survey, 78% of participants reported moderate to very severe fatigue, and 68% reported a pain level 4 or greater on a scale of 0 to 10. Adjusted for covariates, patients with fatigue (Adjusted Odds Ratio, AOR 4.01, 95% CI 2.41–6.65) and pain (AOR 1.89, 95% CI 1.14–3.12) had higher odds of reporting decreased PA since diagnosis. Receipt of chemotherapy or currently receiving active cancer treatment was also associated with decreased PA (p < 0.05). Fatigue and pain are associated with decreased PA among patients with cancer, even after adjusting for cancer treatment. Interventions focused on managing these symptoms may help promote maintenance of PA throughout cancer treatment and beyond.
The impact of alcohol on breathing parameters during sleep: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Summary Alcohol, a muscle relaxant, can potentially worsen obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) but the literature on the effects of alcohol on OSA is conflicting. This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials examined the impact of alcohol on breathing parameters during sleep. Ovid Medline, Embase and PsycINFO databases were queried through November 1, 2017 for studies that reported objective measures of breathing during sleep, prior to and after alcohol administration. Weighted mean differences (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and mean oxyhemoglobin saturation (SpO2). Secondary outcome measures were examined where available. The meta-analysis of 14 eligible studies (n = 422; 71.9% male) found that AHI increased significantly after alcohol administration (WMD = 2.33; 95% CI = 1.41 to 3.25, I 2 = 62%) and mean SpO2 was significantly reduced (WMD = −0.60; 95% CI = −0.72 to −0.49, I 2 = 0%). The increase in AHI was greater in snorers (WMD = 4.20; 95% CI = 1.19 to 6.50, I 2 = 0%) and those with a diagnosis of OSA (WMD = 7.10; 95% CI = 3.59 to 10.61, I 2 = 0%). Additionally, a significant increase in respiratory event duration (WMD = 0.86; 95% CI = 0.18 to 1.55, I 2 = 19%) and decrease in nadir SpO2 (WMD = −1.25; 95% CI = −2.00 to −0.50, I 2 = 25%) were noted. Alcohol is a modifiable risk factor that can result in the development or worsening of OSA.
The effects of iatrogenic blood contamination on total nucleated cell counts and protein concentrations in canine cerebrospinal fluid.

Background Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) might be altered by iatrogenic blood contamination, precluding accurate diagnostic interpretation. Objectives Available formulas to correct for iatrogenic blood contamination are likely unreliable. Study objectives were to determine the effects of blood contamination on total nucleated cell counts (NCCs) and protein concentrations in canine CSF. Methods Two methods were followed to evaluate the effect of blood contamination on total NCC and protein concentrations in CSF. First, records from the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital were retrospectively searched for dogs where CSF analysis was performed. Total NCCs, RBC counts, protein concentrations, and cytologic interpretations were recorded. Second, CSF from 4 canine patients and 3 research hounds was prospectively analyzed before and after known dilutions of whole blood were added. Results Of the 787 clinical samples analyzed, 108 samples had a cytologic diagnosis of blood contamination. RBC counts for all clinical samples ranged from 0 to 210,000 cells/μL. No correlation between total NCCs or protein concentrations with RBC counts were found when all samples were evaluated. Total NCCs and RBCs were weakly correlated in samples with a cytologic diagnosis of blood contamination and when ≥500 RBC/μL was present. When serial dilutions of whole blood were added to normal CSF, no significant changes were observed in the total NCCs of uncontaminated aliquots and contaminated aliquots containing up to 8480 RBC/μL. Conclusions Erythrocyte counts in blood-contaminated canine CSF poorly correlate with total NCCs and protein concentrations. Using formulas to correct total NCCs and protein concentrations for the number of RBCs in CSF is inappropriate.
The Comprehensive Assessment of Left Ventricular Assist Devices by Echocardiography

Echocardiography is the imaging modality of choice for patient selection prior to left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation, assessment of device placement, optimization of device settings, diagnosis of device-related complications, and assessment of LV recovery. The key echocardiographic features of these devices will be highlighted in the following review. With increased utilization of LVADs as well as the development of centrifugal continuous-flow pumps, familiarity with echocardiographic imaging of LVADs is essential to optimal care of these complex patients. All echocardiographic evaluations both before and after LVAD implantation should assess for biventricular function and cavity size, valvular function and pathology, intracardiac thrombi, intracardiac shunting, cannula position and flow, aortic pathology, and pericardial effusion. RAMP testing may be utilized when device complications are suspected.
Ribosomal DNA and the rDNA-binding protein Indra mediate non-random sister chromatid segregation in Drosophila male germline stem cells

Although non-random sister chromatid segregation has been proposed to underlie asymmetric cell divisions, the underlying biological significance or mechanisms remained elusive. Here we show that non-random sister chromatid segregation during asymmetric division of Drosophila male germline stem cells is mediated by ribosomal DNA (rDNA) loci, consisting of hundreds of tandemly repeated rDNA units. We identify a novel zinc-finger protein CG2199/Indra that binds to rDNA and control non-random sister chromatid segregation. Our data indicate that non-random sister chromatid segregation may reflect the segregation of sister chromatids with different rDNA copy numbers after unequal sister chromatid exchange to maintain rDNA copy number through generations. To our knowledge, this is the first study to provide mechanistic insights into the mechanism of non-random sister chromatid segregation.
Determination of Undrained Shear Strength of Low Plasticity Clays

Difficulties posed by low plasticity soils including silty and sandy clays, silts, and sands are described. The soils considered are not cemented and generally display the dependence between consolidation state and strength necessary to apply such procedures as Stress History and Normalized Soil Engineering Properties (SHANSEP). Unfortunately, these soils are highly susceptible to sampling disturbance because of the unavoidable low effective stress that remains in specimens after sampling. Sampling disturbance obscures consolidation behavior, making it difficult to estimate the in situ overconsolidation ratio. Also, the low compressibility of these materials makes it difficult to clearly define the virgin compression curve. Improvements in interpretation procedures will come only after a sound mechanical description of sampling disturbance has been developed.
Enhanced exposure therapy for combat-related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Abstract Background PTSD, which has been identified in up to 23% of post-9-11 veterans, often results in a chronic, pernicious course. Thus, effective treatments are imperative. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) concluded that the only intervention for PTSD with sufficient evidence to conclude efficacy is exposure therapy. This Phase III trial compares the efficacy of exposure therapy for combat-related PTSD delivered in two different formats- via virtual reality exposure therapy (VRE) or prolonged exposure therapy (PE)- combined with D-Cycloserine (DCS), a cognitive enhancer shown to facilitate the extinction of fear. Methods/design Military personnel of any duty status and civilians deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan were eligible. Participants were randomly assigned to 9 sessions of exposure therapy (VRE or PE) and medication (50 mg DCS or placebo). Participants were treated at three geographically diverse sites. Participants were re-assessed at 3-months post-treatment. The co-primary hypotheses are that (1) DCS will augment response to exposure therapy (both VRE and PE) on PTSD symptoms; (2) VRE will be associated with greater improvement than PE. Genetic and psychophysiological markers will be evaluated as potential moderators and mediators of treatment outcomes as well as secondary outcomes. Discussion This study is the first to compare the relative efficacy of DCS-augmented VRE versus PE on PTSD symptoms. The design has several advantages: participants received an active, effective treatment and predictors of response to treatment included genetic and psychobiological measures. The results may directly influence the future delivery of services, and contribute to the development of a standardized treatment protocol. Trial registration: NCT01352637 .
Effect of the Oxygen Vacancies and Structural Order on the Oxygen Evolution Activity: A Case Study of SrMnO3-δ Featuring Four Different Structure Types.

We report the facile synthesis methods of four materials, with the general formula SrMnO3−δ, which have previously been synthesized in multiple steps, involving switching between different oxidizin...