cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rapid nitrogen transfer from ectomycorrhizal pines to adjacent ectomycorrhizal and arbuscular mycorrhizal plants in a California oak woodland

Summary • Nitrogen transfer among plants in a California oak woodland was examined in a pulse-labeling study using 15N. The study was designed to examine N movement among plants that were mycorrhizal with ectomycorrhizas (EM), arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM), or both. • Isotopically enriched N (K15NO3−) was applied to gray pine (Pinus sabiniana) foliage (donor) and traced to neighboring gray pine, blue oak (Quercus douglasii), buckbrush (Ceanothus cuneatus) and herbaceous annuals (Cynosurus echinatus, Torilis arvensis and Trifolium hirtum). • After 2 wk, needles of 15N-treated pines and foliage from nearby annuals were similarly enriched, but little 15N had appeared in nontreated (receiver) pine needles, oak leaves or buckbrush foliage. After 4 wk foliar and root samples from pine, oak, buckbrush and annuals were significantly 15N-enriched, regardless of the type of mycorrhizal association. • The rate of transfer during the first and second 2-wk periods was similar, and suggests that 15N could continue to be mobilized over longer times.
Analysis of fatty acid composition in insulin secreting cells by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Abstract A comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC) time-of-flight mass spectrometry method was developed for determination of fatty acids (irrespective of origin, i.e., both free fatty acids and fatty acids bound in sources such as triglycerides) in cultured mammalian cells. The method was applied to INS-1 cells, an insulin-secreting cell line commonly used as a model in diabetes studies. In the method, lipids were extracted and transformed to fatty acid methyl esters for analysis. GC × GC analysis revealed the presence of 30 identifiable fatty acids in the extract. This result doubles the number of fatty acids previously identified in these cells. The method yielded linear calibrations and an average relative standard deviation of 8.4% for replicate injections of samples and 12.4% for replicate analysis of different samples. The method was used to demonstrate changes in fatty acid content as a function of glucose concentration on the cells. These results demonstrate the utility of this method for analysis of fatty acids in mammalian cell cultures.
CNS chloromas in patients presenting with eosinophilia

A patient presented with hypereosinophilia for 3 years followed by acute leukemia with intracranial chloroma. Eight of 15 reported cases of myeloproliferative disorder accompanied by hypereosinophilia developed men-ingeal chloromas, suggesting a previously unrecognized association between eosinophilia, acute leukemia, and CNS chloroma.
Missed opportunities: HIV and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Summary The international community missed opportunities to raise HIV awareness and reduce transmission risk during the World Cup held in South Africa from 11 June–11 July 2010. With the tournament captivating the entire region, the public health community should have better applied our knowledge and evidence-based interventions to raise the profile of HIV prevention, care and treatment. More should have been done to prevent possible new infections fueled by visitors, alcohol and sports celebrations. Considering the impact of HIV in southern Africa and the amount of funds and effort that go into addressing the problem each year, we cannot afford to miss these opportunities for action.
Nanosphere lithography based technique for fabrication of large area well ordered metal particle arrays

Nanosphere lithography is an effective technique for high throughput fabrication of well-ordered patterns, but expanding the method to large area coverage of nanoparticles less than 300 nm in diameter while maintaining good order has proven challenging. Here we demonstrate a nanosphere lithography based technique for fabricating large area, wellordered arrays of hemispherical metal particles which pushes the limits of these size constraints. First, large area monolayers of polystyrene (PS) nanospheres are assembled at an air-water interface and then transferred to a submerged substrate. The submerged substrate is supported at a 10° angle so that the water draining speed can be used to control the transfer rate, which is essential for hydrophobic substrates such as the polymer-coated glass used in our work. A double liftoff procedure was used to transfer the PS pattern to a silver particle array on an arbitrary substrate, achieving tunable control over the final metal particle diameter and spacing in the range of 50-150 nm and 100-200 nm, respectively. Additional control over particle shape and diameter can be obtained by modifying the substrate surface energy. For example, depositing silver on ITO-coated glass rather than a more hydrophilic clean glass substrate leads to a more hemispherical particle shape and a diameter reduction of 20%. Peak wavelength-selective reflection greater than 70% and total extinction greater than 90% were measured. The intensity, position and bandwidth of the main plasmon resonance of the arrays were shown to have minimal angle dependence up to at least 30° off normal.
Interfacial study of the role of SiO2 on Si anodes using electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance

Abstract One of the challenges associated with silicon as an anode material for Li-ion batteries is the formation of an unstable solid-electrolyte interphase which, forms continuously while consuming lithium and other components; and consequently contributes to irreversible capacity. To elucidate some of the details of the formation and subsequent dissolution of species formed during lithiation of silicon anodes we have produced thin film silicon electrodes and analyzed them during lithiation and delithiation using an electrochemical quartz microbalance with in-situ dissipation (EQCM-D). Measurements were conducted on electrodes with silicon alone and silicon with a silicon dioxide coating, and in EC:EMC and EC:DEC:FEC based electrolytes. Mass loss during lithiation was observed in both solvents systems when an oxide layer was present on the surface of the electrode. Solid state and solution NMR measurements indicate that the formation and dissolution of Li2O is the most likely cause of mass loss.
American Indian studies and its evolution in academia

Abstract This article traces the progression of American Indian Studies programs and the discipline's evolution in academia. Our research is divided into three sections. The first describes the era of the turbulent 1960s, when programs began and struggled to assert themselves as worthy of independent intellectual status. The second part focuses on American Indian studies programs' efforts to continue maturing as an interdisciplinary field of inquiry. This section includes a discussion of the evolving methods, theories, and concepts used for analysis and research concerning the diversity of American Indian cultures. There were certain structural, personnel, and curriculum problems which presented themselves along the road to academic maturity, some of which remain. The final section suggests characteristics necessary for an ideal American Indian studies program into the 21st century.
Vascular function and carotid intimal-medial thickness in children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Abstract Objectives The objective of this study was to evaluate endothelium-dependent vasodilation and carotid intimal-medial thickness (IMT) in children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Background Diabetes mellitus is an established risk factor for atherosclerosis. Vascular complications of diabetes are not clinically evident in diabetic children. However, preclinical atherosclerosis is more common in young subjects exposed to cardiovascular risk factors. Endothelial function and carotid IMT, known to be abnormal in preclinical atherosclerosis, have not been studied concurrently in a pediatric population exposed to a risk factor for atherosclerosis. Methods We studied 31 diabetic teenagers (age 15.0 ± 2.4 years; duration of diabetes 6.8 ± 3.9 years) and 35 age-matched healthy children (age 15.7 ± 2.7 years). Using high-resolution vascular ultrasound, we compared carotid IMT and brachial artery responses to reactive hyperemia (endothelium-dependent vasodilation) and to sublingual nitroglycerin (endothelium-independent vasodilation). Results There was no difference in baseline brachial artery diameter between the two groups. Endothelium-dependent vasodilation was significantly lower in diabetic children compared with healthy children (4.2 ± 3.8% vs. 8.2 ± 4.2%, p Conclusions Endothelial function is impaired in children with diabetes mellitus within the first decade of its onset and precedes an increase in carotid IMT. The relative timing of these events is important in the evaluation of strategies to prevent progression of atherosclerosis and other vascular complications in this patient population.
Weld electrode cooling study

The U.S. auto/truck industry has been mandated by the Federal government to continuously improve their fleet average gas mileage, measured in miles per gallon. Several techniques are typically used to meet these mandates, one of which is to reduce the overall mass of cars and trucks. To help accomplish this goal, lighter weight sheet metal parts, with smaller weld flanges, have been designed and fabricated. This paper will examine the cooling characteristics of various water cooled weld electrodes and shanks used in resistance spot welding applications. The smaller weld flanges utilized in modern vehicle sheet metal fabrications have increased industry's interest in using one size of weld electrode (1/2 inch diameter) for certain spot welding operations. The welding community wants more data about the cooling characteristics of these 1/2 inch weld electrodes. To hep define the cooling characteristics, an infrared radiometer thermal vision system (TVS) was used to capture images (thermograms) of the heating and cooling cycles of several size combinations of weld electrodes under typical production conditions. Tests results will show why the open ended shanks are more suitable for cooling the weld electrode assembly then closed ended shanks.
Design and characterization of electrochromic membrane probes

Electrochronic membrane probes display a spectroscopic response to membrane potential by a direct electronic mechanism. This allows such probes to be designed a priori via quantum-chemical techniques. The detailed behavior of potentiometric optical probes can be elucidated with an apparatus based on phase-sensitive detection from a hemispherical lipid bilayer; several different types of response spectra can be obtained with this apparatus allowing distinction between the electrochromic mechanism and the more common molecular-motion based mechanisms. The development of 'fast' potentiometric dyes has now reached a stage where practical and exciting applications are rapidly appearing. It is anticipated that the emergence of a complementary set of electrochromic probes will lead to new applications; in particular, it may be possible to elucidate the molecular events which underlie biological or physiological phenomena.
Material Symmetry and Crystals

When a crystal undergoes a change of symmetry during a phase transition, it suffers a change in the point group that characterizes the crystal structure. This kind of phase transition also is associated with the existence of variant forms whose particular arrangements are closely related to the symmetry change itself [1, 21]. Thus, the standard practice of considering a fixed point group as the material symmetry group clearly is inadequate to describe such phenomena. This observation was given an interesting perspective ten years ago by Ericksen [2] when he suggested that a more local theory of material symmetry was needed. Others [19, 20], already had begun to question the classical development of constitutive theory concerning material symmetry on the grounds that the symmetry was not allowed to change with either the temperature or the deformation gradient. The ideas of Ericksen in [2], and later in [17, 18], have motivated some additional development of the local theory for crystals by Pitteri [3] and others, wherein point groups serve as local material symmetry groups that are embedded in a basic global invariance group; the latter group identifies the crystal lattice structure. We, also, shall pursue this direction here.
MICROBIOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF WATER FOR RECYCLING IN POULTRY PROCESSING PLANTS

Water samples from four points in a commercial broiler processing plant were compared to evaluate the feasibility of recycling processing water to the giblet flume without bactericidal treatment. Five microbiological parameters were examined: total aerobic counts, total and fecal coliform levels, salmonellae incidence and levels. By all methods of evaluation microbiological quality of water was best from the gizzard splitter and worst from the giblet flume. Giblets leaving the flume were microbiologically equal to giblets leaving the chiller despite differences in water quality. Apparently untreated water from the giblet splitter or chiller could be recycled to the giblet flume without sacrifice of product quality.
Expression of the neuron-specific protein, 14-3-2, and steroid sulfatase in neuroblastoma cell hybrids.

Three series of neuroblastoma X fibroblast hybrid clones were isolated from crosses between mouse or human fibroblasts and mouse or human neuroblastoma cell lines by virus-mediated cell fusion. The expression of 14-3-2 protein (an acidic protein specific to neurons) and steroid sulfatase activity was studied in parental and hybrid cell lines. Steroid sulfatase was extinguished in hybrids when only one parent expressed the enzyme, but was expressed in one hybrid combination in which both parents expressed the enzyme. The neuron-specific 14-3-2 protein, on the other hand, continued to be expressed in all three series of neuroblastoma x fibroblast hybrids. In most cases where these pheno-types were expressed, they also exhibited temporal modulation; that is, specific activity is low during logarithmic growth and increases markedly during stationary phase. The glial-specific protein S-100 is absent from all parents and hybrids. The results are discussed in terms of mechanisms of regulation of differentiated phenotypes in mammalian cells.
Identification of the SCA21 disease gene: remaining challenges and promising opportunities

This scientific commentary refers to ‘TMEM240 mutations cause spinocerebellar ataxia 21 with mental retardation and severe cognitive impairment’, by Delplanque et al. (doi: 10.1093/brain/awu202).
Rationale and design of the carvedilol or metoprolol European trial in patients with chronic heart failure: COMET.

In large clinical trials both carvedilol and metoprolol have been shown to reduce mortality and morbidity in patients with chronic heart failure. Carvedilol is an adrenoceptor antagonist, which inhibits beta1-, beta2-, and alpha1-adrenergic receptors. Carvedilol has additional metabolic and antioxidant properties. Metoprolol is a selective antagonist of beta1-adrenergic receptors. The carvedilol or metoprolol European trial (COMET) is the first study to investigate whether beta-blocking agents with differing pharmacological profiles exert different effects on morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic heart failure. 3029 patients from 15 different European countries were enrolled into COMET and will be followed until 1020 fatal events have been observed, unless the data and safety monitoring committee (DSMC) recommends early termination. The target dose for carvedilol is 25 mg bid and for metoprolol tartrate 50 mg bid. This manuscript outlines the rationale, design and possible outcomes of COMET.
Kinetics of Wet Air Oxidation of Phenol over a Novel Catalyst

The wet air oxidation kinetics of an aqueous solution of phenol was studied over extrudates of an Al−Fe pillared clay catalyst in the temperature range of 90−150 °C and air pressure range of 0.8−2.5 MPa. The variables studied included reaction temperature, air pressure, solution pH, initial phenol concentration, and catalyst loading. The obtained findings are compared with those obtained using hydrogen peroxide oxidation. A group of kinetic models considering both the power-law and Langmuir−Hinshelwood approaches was evaluated to describe the catalytic kinetics of the phenol disappearance. The nonlinear dependence of the phenol conversion rate on the catalyst concentration was taken into account via the empirical power-law function of this variable. Finally, a kinetic model was discriminated on the basis of equilibrium adsorption of phenol and dissociated oxygen on two distinct types of active sites. The rate-controlling step was assumed to be the surface reaction between adsorbed reactant species. This m...
Characterization of the α-D-glucan from the plastids of cecropia peltata as a glycogen-type polysaccharide

Abstract A water-soluble polysaccharide extracted from the plastids of Cecropia peltata , a higher green plant, has been characterized by enzymic methods as a polysaccharide similar to phytoglycogen.
Analytic properties of plane offset curves

Abstract We survey the principal geometric and topological features of plane offset curves. With appropriate sign conventions, the irregular points of the offset at distance d from a regular generator curve arise where the generator has curvature κ=− 1 d . Usually, this induces a cusp on the offset, but if κ is also a local extremum, we observe instead a tangent-continuous extraordinary point of infinite curvature. Such irregular points are intimately related to the evolute, or locus of centers of curvature, of the generator. Certain special regular points are then identified: those of horizontal or vertical tangent, and those where the curvature or its derivative vanish. A one-to-one correspondence (with due allowance for irregularities) is established between such characteristic points on the generator and its offsets at each distance d. In the absence of irregular points, simple relations between certain global properties of the generator and offset curves, such as their arc length, the area they bound, and their mean square curvature or “smoothness” may be derived. The self-intersections of offset curves, and the trimming of certain extraneous loops they delineate, are also addressed.
Adsorption of organic acids on TiO2 nanoparticles: effects of pH, nanoparticle size, and nanoparticle aggregation.

In this study, the adsorption of two organic acids, oxalic acid and adipic acid, on TiO2 nanoparticles was investigated at room temperature, 298 K. Solution-phase measurements were used to quantify the extent and reversibility of oxalic acid and adipic acid adsorption on anatase nanoparticles with primary particle sizes of 5 and 32 nm. At all pH values considered, there were minimal differences in measured Langmuir adsorption constants, Kads, or surface-area-normalized maximum adsorbate−surface coverages, Γmax, between 5 and 32 nm particles. Although macroscopic differences in the reactivity of these organic acids as a function of nanoparticle size were not observed, ATR−FTIR spectroscopy showed some distinct differences in the absorption bands present for oxalic acid adsorbed on 5 nm particles compared to 32 nm particles, suggesting different adsorption sites or a different distribution of adsorption sites for oxalic acid on the 5 nm particles. These results illustrate that molecular-level differences in...
Sound and precise analysis of parallel programs through schedule specialization

Parallel programs are known to be difficult to analyze. A key reason is that they typically have an enormous number of execution interleavings, or schedules. Static analysis over all schedules requires over-approximations, resulting in poor precision; dynamic analysis rarely covers more than a tiny fraction of all schedules. We propose an approach called schedule specialization to analyze a parallel program over only a small set of schedules for precision, and then enforce these schedules at runtime for soundness of the static analysis results. We build a schedule specialization framework for C/C++ multithreaded programs that use Pthreads. Our framework avoids the need to modify every analysis to be schedule-aware by specializing a program into a simpler program based on a schedule, so that the resultant program can be analyzed with stock analyses for improved precision. Moreover, our framework provides a precise schedule-aware def-use analysis on memory locations, enabling us to build three highly precise analyses: an alias analyzer, a data-race detector, and a path slicer. Evaluation on 17 programs, including 2 real-world programs and 15 popular benchmarks, shows that analyses using our framework reduced may-aliases by 61.9%, false race reports by 69%, and path slices by 48.7%; and detected 7 unknown bugs in well-checked programs.
The Seriousness of Crime Cross‐Culturally:

This study examines the perceptions of the seriousness of offenses: first, by examining perceptions of a wide range of offenses for respondents from two very divergent cultures, the United States and the Middle East, second, by assessing the perceived severity of some 17 sanctions for respondents from these two cultures and finally, by assessing the impact of religiosity on the perceived seriousness of Crime. In addition, both the magnitude estimation and category techniques for measuring the seriousness of crime are utilized and the results from using these two techniques are compared.
Ant Protection against Herbivory in Three Species of Tococa (Melastomataceae) Occupying Different Environments1

The genus Tococa is comprised of 47 species of small trees and shrubs distributed from southern Mexico to Bolivia. About 30 of the species have ant domatia that develop at the base of the leaf blade or at the apex of the petiole. Ant exclusion experiments on three different species of Tococa occupying different environments were carried out to assess their effect in protecting the plant against herbivores. Additionally, ant behavior was monitored in control plants to study how they might be conferring protection against herbivory. Herbivory was significantly lower on control plants (ants maintained) than on experimental plants (ants removed), demonstrating the role of the ants as defenses against herbivores. Herbivory rates in open and disturbed areas were higher than in the forest understory. Ant exclusion experiments showed that both timid and aggressive ants protect their host plants against potential herbivores by killing or warding off scouts of leaf-cutter ants (Atta sp.) and removing the eggs of Lepidoptera and Coleoptera from the surface of the plants.
Java programming assignment using client/server interaction: nifty assignment

This paper describes an assignment used by the author in an advanced Java programming course. The goals of the assignment include: (1) to help students learn stream-based process communication using sockets, and (2) to have an assignment that is different, fun and has a certain "wow" factor. The assignment is highly flexible and scalable, allowing the instructor to tailor it to the abilities of the students and the objectives of the course.
Head-movement evaluation for first-person games

A first-person view is often used in games to enhance players' sense of presence. Camera movements are added to provide a walking sensation when the player is moving around. Several variations of camera movement are used in current games to simulate head movement. This work aims to evaluate these different types of camera movements by measuring subjective responses of users when exposed to them. In this first stage of research, five important movements were identified, and evaluated in a pair-wise fashion, resulting in subject preferences that contradicted our initial hypothesis.
Opting out: liability and policy implications of eliminating the Medicare CRNA supervision requirement.

In recent years, the availability of “moonlighting” insurance and a shortage of anesthesiologists led to increased utilization of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) as independent cont...
Leading Diverse Followers

Leadership is impossible outside of a community defined by shared values and vision. Leadership is a process of first developing a culture founded on values that most group members share (or learn to share) and then enrolling them in joint action to accomplish the leader's vision. Present trends to accept unreservedly the values of every social, ethnic, or gender group militates against shared culture and makes leadership impossible. This article makes the case against blind acceptance of the values of every group (sub-culture) present in the society. But, since diversity is a fact--and an asset--nine implicit features of American culture are identified as a foundation upon which leaders can begin the process of building community as a basis for their leadership.
Large-Scale Dynamical Fields Associated with Convectively Coupled Equatorial Waves

Abstract Convectively coupled equatorial waves, as previously detected in studies of wavenumber-frequency spectra of tropical clouds, are studied in more detail. Composite dynamical structures of the waves are obtained using linear regression between selectively filtered satellite-observed outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) data, and various fields from a global reanalysis dataset. The selective filtering of the OLR was designed to isolate the convective variations contributing to spectral peaks that lie along the equatorial wave dispersion curves for equivalent depths in the range of 12–50 m. The waves studied are the Kelvin, n = 1 equatorial Rossby (ER), mixed Rossby–gravity, n = 0 eastward inertio–gravity, n = 1 westward inertio–gravity (WIG), and n = 2 WIG waves. The horizontal structures of the dynamical fields associated with the waves are all generally consistent with those calculated from inviscid equatorial β-plane shallow water theory. In the vertical, there are statistically significant structur...
Election based hybrid channel access

We propose an Election based Hybrid Channel Access (EHCA) protocol for ad hoc network to achieve high throughput and bounded channel access delay at the same time. EHCA reduces the contentions during the channel scheduling formation through fair node elections, which are based on the topology information. Only the elected nodes contend for the channel and broadcast the scheduling result. Numerical analysis and simulation results show that EHCA outperforms alternative designs.
BIOELECTRIC POTENTIALS IN VALONIA : II. EFFECTS OF ARTIFICIAL SEA WATERS CONTAINING LiCl, CsCl, RbCl, OR NH4Cl

In their influence on the P.D. across the protoplasm of Valonia macrophysa, Kutz., Li(+) and Cs(+) resemble Na(+), while Rb(+) and NH(4) (+) resemble K(+). The apparent mobilities of the ions in the external surface layer of Valonia protoplasm increase in the order: Cs(+), Na(+), Li(+) < Cl(-) < Rb(+) < K(+) < NH(4) (+).
Neuroadaptive model following controller design for a nonaffine UAV model

This paper proposes a new model-following adaptive control design technique for nonlinear systems that are nonaffine in control. The adaptive controller uses online neural networks that guarantee tracking in the presence of unmodeled dynamics and/or parameter uncertainties present in the system model through an online control adaptation procedure. The controller design is carried out in two steps: (i) synthesis of a set of neural networks which capture the unmodeled (neglected) dynamics or model uncertainties due to parametric variations and (ii) synthesis of a controller that drives the state of the actual plant to that of a reference model. This method is tested using a three degree of freedom model of a UAV. Numerical results which demonstrate these features and clearly bring out the potential of the proposed approach are presented in this paper.
Diversity among New World microhylid frogs (Anura: Microhylidae): morphological and osteological comparisons between Nelsonophryne (Gunther 1901) and a new genus from Peru

A new genus and species of microhylid frogs are described from localities at elevations of 2500–2960 m on the eastern slopes of the Andes in central Peru. These are the first microhylids recorded from the Peruvian Andes and they differ from all other neotropical microhylids by their lack of a tympanum, tympanic annulus and stapes. Phrynopus carpish is removed from Leptodactylidae and placed in Microhylidae. Several novel morphological characters for microhylids are described, among them dermal body spines, expanded nuptial pads in males and heterotopic cartilages. Osteological descriptions and comparison of the new genus with Nelsonophryne revealed a number of intriguing characters that may prove to be useful in phylogenetic studies. Among these are the presence of a double, rather than single, wall between the olfactory capsules in one genus and the presence of a pair of previously undescribed bones in the nasal capsules of one species in each genus. In addition, some of these taxa have spinous projections on the ventral surface of the hyoid plates, and one species has only seven presacral vertebrae, owing to the fusion of Presacrals I and II. © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2007, 149, 583–609.
Correction of land-cover area estimates from low spatial resolution remotely sensed data

A two stage modeling strategy improves area estimates by correcting coarse-resolution measurements of class proportions. Stage I models use measurements of landscape spatial properties to estimate the slope and intercept of proportion transition relationships. A stage II model uses a regression estimator to predict true class proportions based on measured coarse-scale proportions, and the slope and intercept estimates from the stage I models. Model development and testing on a calibration site is followed by testing and inversion for a validation site. A probabilistic sampling strategy allows statistical assessment of the models and results.
Suppressive Oligodeoxynucleotides Protect Mice from Lethal Endotoxic Shock

Endotoxic shock is a life-threatening condition caused by exposure to bacterial LPS. LPS triggers the release of acute phase, proinflammatory, and Th1 cytokines that facilitate the development of endotoxic shock. Synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) expressing suppressive TTAGGG motifs effectively down-regulate the production of proinflammatory and Th1 cytokines elicited by a variety of immune stimuli. The current results demonstrate that suppressive ODN protect mice from LPS-induced endotoxic shock. Underlying this protective effect is the ability of suppressive ODN to bind to and prevent the phosphorylation of STAT1 and STAT4, thereby blocking the signaling cascade mediated by LPS-induced IFN-β and IL-12. These findings suggest that suppressive ODN might be of use in the treatment of endotoxic shock.
Why Faces May Be Special: Evidence of the Inversion Effect in Chimpanzees

Five chimpanzees were tested on their ability to discriminate faces and automobiles presented in both their upright and inverted orientations. The face stimuli consisted of 30 black and white photographs, 10 each of unfamiliar chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), brown capuchins (Cebus apella), and humans (Homo sapiens). Ten black and white photographs of automobiles were also used. The stimuli were presented in a sequential matching-to-sample (SMTS) format using a computerized joystick-testing apparatus. Subjects performed better on upright than inverted stimuli in all classes. Performance was significantly better on upright than inverted presentations of chimpanzee and human faces but not on capuchin monkey faces or automobiles. These data support previous studies in humans that suggest the inversion effect occurs for stimuli for which subjects have developed an expertise. Alternative explanations for the inversion effect based on the type of spatial frequency contained in the stimuli are also discussed. These data are the first to provide evidence for the inversion effect using several classes of face stimuli in a great ape species.
Distal embolization during lower extremity endovascular interventions

Abstract Objective Distal embolization (DE) during peripheral arterial endovascular interventions is a well-known complication that is poorly studied. The goal of this study was to determine the incidence, risk factors, and effect of DE on the outcomes of lower extremity endovascular interventions (LEIs). Methods All LEIs between 2010 and 2014 in the Vascular Study Group of New England (VSGNE) database were reviewed. Patient characteristics were analyzed to determine predictors of DE. LEIs involving the superficial femoral artery (SFA) were reviewed to assess the effect of type of treatment on DE. The outcomes examined were loss of patency, limb loss, and mortality after LEI involving the SFA. A multivariable regression was used to determine predictors of DE. Results There were 10,875 procedures. The incidence of DE was 17.3 per 1000 procedures, and 68% required treatment (57% endovascular, 11% open surgery). DE was more common in patients treated for critical limb ischemia compared with claudication (relative risk [RR], 2.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.24-3.45; P = .006) and for emergency interventions compared with elective (RR, 2.98; 95% CI, 1.22-7.30; P = .017). DE increased with the number of arteries treated ( P P P = .005), balloon angioplasty alone (RR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.13-0.41; P P Conclusions The incidence of DE during LEIs is 1% to 2% in the VSGNE database, and most patients are treated with additional endovascular interventions. The incidence increases in patients with critical limb ischemia and with the use of atherectomy.
Global-Attributes Assisted Outdoor Scene Geometric Labeling

An approach that extracts global attributes from outdoor images to facilitate geometric layout labeling is investigated in this work. The proposed Global-attributes Assisted Labeling (GAL) system exploits both local features and global attributes. First, by following a classical framework, we use local features to provide initial labels for all superpixels. Then, we develop a set of techniques to extract global attributes from 2D outdoor images. They include sky lines, ground lines, vanishing lines, etc. Finally, we propose the GAL system that uses global attributes to correct local features-based initial labels so as to offer a more robust labeling result. The performance of the proposed GAL system is demonstrated and benchmarked with several state-of-the- art algorithms against a popular outdoor scene layout dataset.
Serum level of antibodies against influenza A (H1N1) at baseline and after vaccination among healthy people in Shijingshan district of Beijing in 2009

Objective To understand serum level of antibody against influenza A (H1N1) virus at baseline and after vaccination among healthy people in Shijingshan district of Beijing to provide scientific basis for further promotion of its vaccination. Methods A total of 236 people at various age groups were selected for the study, 83 for evaluating immunological effects after vaccination. In total, 319 serum specimens were collected to detect hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibody against 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus.Results Prevalence of the protective antibody in healthy people was 31.36 percent with geometric mean titer (GMT) of 1∶17.22 before vaccination. There was significant differences in prevalence and GMT of antibody against influenza A (H1N1) among varied age groups (χ2=70.58, P0.001 and F=17.59, P0.001, respectively), with the lowest prevalence and GMT at groups of 20~59 years old. Distribution of serum prevalence of influenza A (H1N1) antibody by occupation was consistent with that by age. Prevalence of the antibody and GMT were 95.18 percent and 1∶184.41, respectively after vaccination, significantly higher than those before it (χ2=70.58, P0.001 and F=17.59, P0.001, respectively).Conclusion About 31 percent of healthy people in Shijingshan district show serum protective antibody against 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus before vaccination, and a better immunological effect of influenza A (H1N1) vaccine has been observed after vaccination.
Oxidation of the Indole Nucleus of 5-Hydroxytryptamine and the Formation of Pigments: Isolation and Partial Characterization of a Dimer of 5-Hydroxytryptamine

The products of the metabolism of 5-hydroxytryptamine are of interest not only because of their possible physiological importance but also because of their pathological potentialities. Although the oxidation of the ethylamine portion of the molecule has been extensively investigated (1) only suggestions have been made concerning oxidation of the indole nucleus: Dalgliesh (2) has proposed that 5-hydroxytryptamine may be metabolized to a substance of enhanced physiological activity, e.g. 5,6or 4,5-dihydroxytryptamine; and Udenfriend et al. (1) have suggested that melanin-like pigments may be derived from tryptophan by way of a 5,6-dihydroxyindole. McIsaac and Page (3) have found in the urine of rabbits and rats given radioactive 5-hydroxytryptamine a minor metabolite, provisionally identified as an oxidation product and diagrammatically represented as an o-dihydroxytryptamine; apparently the same compound, referred to only as a hydroxyindole, was found in liver tumor tissue and in the urine of a patient who had the carcinoid syndrome associated with a malignant bronchial adenoma (4). As a part of a general investigation of the properties of 5-hydroxytryptamine related to its histochemistry (5) and its participation in some pathologic processes (6) we have studied the oxidation products formed from this substance by a serum enzyme, by molecular oxygen, and by silver ion. The latter was used because it readily oxidizes 5-hydroxytryptamine histochemically. The following is a report of our studies of the oxidation products formed by the two inorganic reagents, and includes the isolation and partial characterization of a dimer of 5-hydroxytryptamine identical in chromatographic mobility and color reactions with one of the products observed in the oxidation of 5-hydroxytryptamine by the action of a human serum oxidase (7) .I
Conducting survey research in education

Survey research is prevalent among many professional fields. Both cost effective and time efficient, this method of research provides insight into the attitudes, thoughts, and opinions of populations. Because there are several types of survey research designs and data collection instruments, the researcher has the flexibility to determine which methods will work best for his or her particular study. Regardless of the method, the researcher must carefully select an existing instrument or construct the data collection instrument, as this is the key to a successful survey research study. This chapter discusses and defines survey research, provides the basic structure for conducting such research, describes the challenges surrounding survey research, provides recommendations when developing survey research studies, and presents information regarding future trends associated with survey research.
Eigenvalues of the Adjacency Tensor on Products of Hypergraphs

We consider the generalized notions of Cartesian and tensor products on m-uniform hypergraphs. The adjacency tensor is analogous to the adjacency matrix and two different notions of eigenvalues of the adjacency tensor on the products of hypergraphs are studied. The eigenvalues and E-eigenvalues of the adjacency tensor of the Cartesian and tensor products of two hypergraphs in relation to the E-eigenvalues and eigenvalues of the adjacency tensor of the factors are considered.
The Diagnosis and Treatment of Alzheimer’s: Are We Being (Ir)responsible?

Whitehouse provides a brief history of biomedical research into so-called Alzheimer’s disease, describes current challenges in the field, exposes some of our ideas as myths, and presents the argument that some practices in the field are irresponsible. The chapter presents in detail the development of first-generation drugs, the cholinesterase inhibitors, and their limitations. It then considers the issues surrounding new diagnostic conceptions such as preclinical labels, mild cognitive impairment, and the exaggerated expectations surrounding next-generation diagnostic tests and therapies. The chapter embraces the concept of responsible innovation. It concludes by calling for broader conceptions of bioethics and a new focus on community and public health approaches to late life cognitive and challenges.
On the relative importance of demand and supply shocks: a panel VAR study for US states

ABSTRACTThis article is a panel VAR study of demand and supply shocks in the USA using state-level data where structural shocks are decomposed into state idiosyncratic and common components. Decomposition suggests that in all instances, idiosyncratic state shocks rather than common shocks have larger impact and explain most variation in both the state-level unemployment rate and real gross state product. Further, demand shocks are the primary driving force in unemployment rate fluctuations, while both demand and supply are important in output movements to varying degree of impact and importance depending on the use of quarterly or annual data.
Ammonium chloride alters neuronal excitability and synaptic vesicle release.

Genetically encoded pH-sensors are widely used in studying cell membrane trafficking and membrane protein turnover because they render exo-/endocytosis-associated pH changes to fluorescent signals. For imaging and analysis purposes, high concentration ammonium chloride is routinely used to alkalize intracellular membrane compartments under the assumption that it does not cause long-term effects on cellular processes being studied like neurotransmission. However, pathological studies about hyperammonemia have shown that ammonium is toxic to brain cells especially astrocytes and neurons. Here, we focus on ammonium’s physiological impacts on neurons including membrane potential, cytosolic Ca2+ and synaptic vesicles. We have found that extracellularly applied ammonium chloride as low as 5 mM causes intracellular Ca2+-increase and a reduction of vesicle release even after washout. The often-used 50 mM ammonium chloride causes more extensive and persistent changes, including membrane depolarization, prolonged elevation of intracellular Ca2+ and diminution of releasable synaptic vesicles. Our findings not only help to bridge the discrepancies in previous studies about synaptic vesicle release using those pH-sensors or other vesicle specific reporters, but also suggest an intriguing relationship between intracellular pH and neurotransmission.
Merger Analysis with Endogenous Prices and Product Characteristics: Generalized Theorem and Application to the U.S. Airline Industry

This paper studies firms' endogenous choices of prices and product characteristics pre- and post-merger. The paper finds that firms' adjustments of post-merger prices and product characteristics depend on pre-merger market shares, net benefits of improving product characteristics (Definition 2.1), overall production efficiencies (Definition 2.2) and threshold market shares that balance marginal cost and markup effects (Definition 2.3). A generalized theorem (Theorem 3.1) is provided to characterize the conditions to predict post-merger outcomes. An application of the 2010 merger of United and Continental Airlines demonstrates that the theorem achieves high prediction accuracy in predicting post-merger outcomes.
16th Workshop on Privacy in the Electronic Society (WPES 2017)

The 16th Workshop on Privacy in the Electronic Society was held on October 30, 2017 in conjunction with the 24th ACM Conference on Computer and Communications Security (CCS 2017) in Dallas, Texas, USA. The goal of WPES is to bring together a diverse group of privacy researchers and practitioners to discuss privacy problems that arise in global, interconnected societies, and potential solutions to them. The program for the workshop contains 14 full papers and 5 short papers selected from a total of 56 submissions. Specific topics covered in the program include but are not limited to: de-anonymization, fingerprinting and profiling, location privacy, and private memory systems.
Recent foodborne outbreaks in the United States linked to atypical vehicles - lessons learned

The past decade has seen atypical vehicles linked to foodborne outbreaks in the United States, including low moisture foods, frozen foods, and certain produce commodities which were not or rarely associated with outbreaks before. We reviewed selected recent outbreaks involving Salmonella, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, and Listeria monocytogenes. Recognition of these outbreaks was partially due to improvements in outbreak response and surveillance, partially attributable to whole genome sequencing and related tools. Depending on the pathogen and vehicle, the contamination events leading to these outbreaks could occur before, during, and after food processing. Important data for root cause analyses are not always available because of inadequate traceability records or sampling throughout production chains, and challenges in detecting low levels of potentially injured pathogens heterogeneously distributed in foods. Further understanding of pathogen behaviors in these foods will enable better risk assessments and improve pathogen control strategies.
Nanoscale current uniformity and injection efficiency of nanowire light emitting diodes

As an alternative to light emitting diodes (LEDs) based on thin films, nanowire based LEDs are the focus of recent development efforts in solid state lighting as they offer distinct photonic advantages and enable direct integration on a variety of different substrates. However, for practical nanowire LEDs to be realized, uniform electrical injection must be achieved through large numbers of nanowire LEDs. Here, we investigate the effect of the integration of a III-Nitride polarization engineered tunnel junction (TJ) in nanowire LEDs on Si on both the overall injection efficiency and nanoscale current uniformity. By using conductive atomic force microscopy (cAFM) and current-voltage (IV) analysis, we explore the link between the nanoscale nonuniformities and the ensemble devices which consist of many diodes wired in parallel. Nanometer resolved current maps reveal that the integration of a TJ on n-Si increases the amount of current a single nanowire can pass at a given applied bias by up to an order of mag...
Robust tensor decomposition of resting brain networks in stereotactic EEG

Stereotactically implanted Electro-Encephalography (SEEG) in patients with epilepsy provides a unique insight into spontaneous human brain activity. Exploring dynamic functional connectivity in spontaneous SEEG signals provides a rich framework for studying brain networks. Tensor decomposition is a powerful tool for decoding dynamic networks, capturing the intrinsic interactions between multiple dimensions with less restrictive constraints than traditional 2D matrix decomposition methods such as PCA and ICA. Tensor decomposition, however, is seldom used for decoding large resting brain datasets due to its high computational complexity and poor robustness. In this paper, we describe a Scalable and Robust Sequential Canonical Polyadic Decomposition (SRSCPD) framework that can sequentially and robustly identify tensor models of successively higher rank. We demonstrate that SRSCPD is not only more robust than the popular Alternating Least Square (ALS) algorithm, but can also be extended to large-scale problems.