cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In utero and lactational exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) induces genital dysmorphogenesis in the female rat.

Abstract Recently, Gray and Ostby (Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol.133, 285–294, 1995) reported thatin uteroand lactational TCDD exposure causes striking abnormalities in the rat female reproductive system, including reduced fecundity and vaginal threads. The mechanism by which TCDD induces such abnormalities is unknown. Thus, we sought to determine: (1) whether TCDD reduced fecundity by destroying ovarian follicles and (2) whether the vaginal threads resulted from a TCDD-induced developmental defect during embryogenesis or abnormal vaginal opening at puberty. Pregnant Holtzman rats were treated with 1.0 μg TCDD/kg or vehicle by a single oral dose on gestation day (GD) 11, 15, or 18. Female offspring were monitored for vaginal opening and terminated on postnatal days 2, 21, and 42. The reproductive tract was removed and evaluated for structural abnormalities. The number of primordial follicles also was determined for each ovary. TCDD exposure on GD 11, 15, or 18 did not change the day of vaginal opening, affect ovarian morphology, or reduce the number of primordial follicles. However, this exposure induced the cleft clitoris and vaginal thread originally described by Gray and Ostby (1995) in approximately 55–96% and 36–44% of the litters in our study, respectively. Histologically the thread presented as a thick cord of mesenchyme surrounded by epithelial cells. This defect was clearly visible in histological sections at birth and was noted in the closed vaginas of prepubertal animals. These data suggest thatin uteroand lactational exposure to TCDD does not reduce the size of the primordial follicle pool; however, it induces developmental abnormalities in the vaginal canal.
Differential games with information time lag: Norm-invariant systems

The theory of differential games with information lag is applied to an encounter between norm-invariant systems. The problem is solved in closed form to illustrate some of the effects of the information time lag.
Onto-Tools: new additions and improvements in 2006

Onto-Tools is a freely available web-accessible software suite, composed of an annotation database and nine complementary data-mining tools. This article describes a new tool, Onto-Express-to-go (OE2GO), as well as some new features implemented in Pathway-Express and Onto-Miner over the past year. Pathway-Express (PE) has been enhanced to identify significantly perturbed pathways in a given condition using the differentially expressed genes in the input. OE2GO is a tool for functional profiling using custom annotations. The development of this tool was aimed at the researchers working with organisms for which annotations are not yet available in the public domain. OE2GO allows researchers to use either annotation data from the Onto-Tools database, or their own custom annotations. By removing the necessity to use any specific database, OE2GO makes the functional profiling available for all organisms, with annotations using any ontology. The Onto-Tools are freely available at http://vortex.cs.wayne.edu/projects.htm.
Adjustment of children and adolescents to parental cancer: Parents' and children's perspectives

BACKGROUND Little empirical evidence exists to address the impact of a diagnosis of cancer of a father or mother on his or her children. Previous studies have found inconsistencies in the levels of distress reported for children of a parent with cancer, which may be a function of who (parent or child) was reporting on the child's symptoms and when the reports were taken (near diagnosis or months or years later). METHODS This study examined parents' and children's reports of emotional and behavioral problems in children and adolescents from 76 patient families in which a mother or father was recently diagnosed with cancer. RESULTS Parents' reports indicated little or no evidence of emotional distress or disruptive behavior in their children regardless of the child's age or sex, or whether the mother or father was ill. Children's reports differed significantly from those of their parents, with adolescent girls reporting the highest levels of symptoms of anxiety/depression and aggressive behavior. Children's reports of their emotional distress declined from an initial assessment 10 weeks after their parents' diagnosis to a follow-up 4 months later, whereas parents' reports of their children's distress did not change with time. CONCLUSIONS Children's symptoms of psychologic distress varied considerably according to their age, sex, whether their mother or father had cancer, and whether they themselves or their parents were reporting the symptoms. Adolescent girls whose mothers had cancer reported the highest levels of distress. When children did report elevated levels of psychologic symptoms, their parents did not appear to be aware of their distress and rated their children as asymptomatic. These findings suggest that health professionals may need to assist parents in recognizing and coping with their children's distress when it is present. Cancer 1996;77:1409-18.
Coccinella septempunctata in the United States: Recolonizations and Notes on Its Ecology

Despite repeated efforts to establish the Palearctic coccinellid Coccinella septempunctata L. in the United States, no recoveries of this aphid predator were made until 1973 when a large population was found in the Hackensack Meadowlands, Bergen County, NJ. This was the first record of the establishment of C. septempunctata in this country. The predator is now found in New York and Connecticut as a result of natural dispersion, and has become established in Delaware, Georgia, and Oklahoma through recolonization. Since the species dominates all native coccinellids in the Meadowlands, it could become a useful addition to our beneficial insect fauna.
Low-dose, time-resolved, contrast-enhanced 3D MR angiography in cardiac and vascular diseases: correlation to high spatial resolution 3D contrast-enhanced MRA

Aim To evaluate the effectiveness of low-dose, contrast-enhanced, time-resolved, three-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance (MR) angiography (TR-MRA) in the assessment of various cardiac and vascular diseases, and to compare the results with high-resolution contrast-enhanced MRA (CE-MRA). Materials and Methods Thirty consecutive patients underwent contrast-enhanced 3D TR-MRA and high spatial resolution 3D CE-MRA for evaluation of cardiac and thoracic vascular diseases at 1.5 T, and neurovascular, abdominal and peripheral vascular diseases at 3 T. Gadolinium-based contrast medium was administered at a constant dose of 5 ml for TR-MRA, and 20 ml (lower extremity 30 ml) for CE-MRA. Two readers evaluated image quality using a four-point scale (from 0 = excellent to 3 = non-diagnostic), artefacts and findings on both datasets. Interobserver variability was tested with kappa coefficient. Results The overall image quality for TR-MRA was in the diagnostic range (median 0, range 0–1; k = 0.74). Readers demonstrated important additional dynamic information on TR-MRA in 28 of 30 patients (k = 0.84). Confident evaluation of organ perfusion ( n = 23), arteriovenous malformation/fistula flow patterns ( n = 7), exclusion of intra-cardiac shunts ( n = 6), and assessment of stent and conduit patency ( n = 5) were performed by both readers using TR-MRA. Readers demonstrated fine vascular details with higher confidence in 10 patients on CE-MRA. Using CE-MRA, Reader 1 and 2 depicted anatomical details in 6 and 5 patients, respectively, only on CE-MRA. Conclusion Low-dose TR-MRA yields rapid and important functional and anatomical information in patients with cardiac and vascular diseases. Due to limited spatial resolution, TR-MRA is inferior to CE-MRA in demonstrating fine vascular details.
Resource Allocation in Multi-hop Wireless Networks

We describe and analyze a joint scheduling, routing and congestion control mechanism for wireless networks, that asymptotically guarantees stability of the buffers and fair allocation of the network resources. The queue lengths serve as common information to different layers of the network protocol stack, which are otherwise decoupled. Our main contribution is to prove the asymptotic optimality of a primal-dual congestion controller
The effect of walking mobility on the measurement of physical activity using accelerometry in multiple sclerosis

Objective: To examine whether accelerometry provides a measure of physical activity, walking ability or both in a sample of individuals with multiple sclerosis. The secondary purpose was to examine the validity of physical activity measures in people with multiple sclerosis who have ambulatory impairments.Participants: Forty-two individuals with multiple sclerosis without ambulatory impairment (Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score ≤ 4.5) and 32 individuals with multiple sclerosis with ambulatory impairment (EDSS ≥5.0).Method: Participants completed the Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale-12 and Performance Scales, wore an accelerometer for seven days, and completed the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire and short-form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire.Results: There were significant differences between groups on scores from the five measures. There were large correlations between the accelerometer counts with scores from both the self-report measures of physical activity an...
Demonstrating “Reasonable Fear” at Trial: Is it Science or Junk Science?

This paper explores how scientific knowledge is used in a criminal case. I examine materials from an admissibility hearing in a murder trial and discuss the dynamics of contesting expert scientific opinion and evidence. The research finds that a purported form of “science” in the relevant scientific community is filtered through, tested by, and subjected to legal standards, conceptions, and procedures for determining admissibility. The paper details how the opposing lawyers, the expert witness, and the judge vie to contingently work out what will count in court as appropriate scientific authority, methods and evidence, and as a scientifically valid and legally admissible account of “reasonable fear.” When science becomes enmeshed in legal controversies, science does not trump law. Rather, it is the court’s canons of proper procedure and measures of substantive adequacy that take precedence.
Differences in the Gait Characteristics of Patients With Diabetes and Peripheral Neuropathy Compared With Age-Matched Controls

Background and Purpose. Patients with diabetes and peripheral neuropathy have a high incidence of injuries while walking. Biomechanical analysis of their walking may lead to treatments to reduce these injuries. The purpose of this study was to compare (1) the gait characteristics, (2) the plantar-flexor peak torques, and (3) the ankle range of motion of subjects with diabetes mellitus (DM) and peripheral neuropathy with those of age-matched controls. Subjects. Twenty subjects, 10 with DM and a history of peripheral neuropathy (DM group) (mean age=58 years, SD=15, range=35–75) and 10 subjects without diabetes (NODM group) (mean age=57 years, SD=11, range=37–68), were evaluated. Methods. The following data were collected on all subjects: ankle joint mobility, plantar-flexor peak torque (ankle strength), kinematics of the trunk and lower extremity during normal walking, and ground reaction forces. Moments and power at the ankle, knee, and hip during walking were calculated using a two-dimensional link-segment model. Results. The DM group subjects showed less ankle mobility, ankle moment, ankle power, velocity, and stride length during walking than the NODM group subjects. A significant decrease in ankle strength and mobility appeared to be the primary factor contributing to the altered walking patterns of the DM groups. Conclusion and Discussion. The DM group subjects appeared to pull their legs forward using hip flexor muscles (hip strategy) rather than pushing the legs forward using plantar-flexor muscles (ankle strategy), as seen in the NODM group subjects. Implications for treatment are presented to attempt to reduce the number of injuries during walking in patients with DM and peripheral neuropathy.
MPL1, a novel phosphatase with leucine-rich repeats, is essential for proper ERK2 phosphorylation and cell motility.

The novel Dictyostelium phosphatase MPL1 contains six leucine-rich repeats at the amino-terminal end and a phosphatase domain at the carboxyl end. Similarly architectured phosphatases exist among other protozoa, such as Entamoeba histolytica, Leishmania major, and Trypanosoma cruzi. MPL1 was strongly induced after 5 h of development; ablation by homologous recombination led to defective streaming and aggregation during development. In addition, cyclic AMP (cAMP)-pulsed mpl1− cells showed reduced random and directional motility. At the molecular level, mpl1− cells displayed higher prestimulus and persistent poststimulus ERK2 phosphorylation in response to cAMP stimulation. Consistent with their phenotype of persistent ERK2 phosphorylation, mpl1− cells also displayed an aberrant pattern of cAMP production, resembling that of the regA− cells. Reintroduction of a full-length MPL1 into mpl1− cells restored aggregation, ERK2 regulation, random and directional motility, and cAMP production similar to wild-type cells. We propose that MPL1 is a novel phosphatase essential for proper regulation of ERK2 phosphorylation and optimal motility during development.
Attrition in Randomized Controlled Trials for Pediatric Chronic Conditions

Objective To examine attrition variables in randomized controlled trials of cognitive behavioral interventions for children with chronic illnesses. Methods We examined attrition rates reported on 40 randomized cognitive behavioral interventions published in six pediatric research journals, during the years 2002-2007. Intervention focus was limited to children with a chronic medical condition, such as asthma, obesity, arthritis, diabetes, cancer, sickle cell disease, and cystic fibrosis. Results Mean rate of enrollment refusal was 37% (range 0-75%). Mean attrition rate was 20% (range 0-54%) for initial follow-up and 32% (range 0-59%) for extended follow-up. Of the reviewed articles, 40% included a CONSORT diagram. Conclusions Strategies that can be used to limit attrition include tailoring recruitment to the study population, providing personalized feedback, maintaining consistent study procedures, providing incentives, and using intensive tracking measures. There is a need for standardized definitions and reporting of attrition rates in randomized cognitive behavioral intervention studies.
Breakthrough Candida infections in patients receiving voriconazole.

OBJECTIVETo describe 2 instances of breakthrough Candida infection in 2 patients on treatment doses of voriconazole.CASE SUMMARIESA 27-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus was receiving high-dose voriconazole (400 mg twice daily) for central nervous system lesions of unknown origin and developed oral thrush. The patient was receiving concomitant therapy with phenytoin 400 mg/day. The voriconazole dose was increased to 400 mg 3 times daily, and the thrush resolved. A 50-year-old man with HIV infection was receiving enfuvirtide, lamivudine, tenofovir, and efavirenz 600 mg/day, as well as prophylactic trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and azithromycin. He was started on voriconazole 200 mg twice daily for pulmonary aspergillosis and developed esophageal candidiasis. The voriconazole dose was increased to 350 mg twice daily, and the thrush eventually resolved.DISCUSSIONBoth reactions were probable according to the Naranjo probability scale. Significant drug interactions may have played a role in the d...
Highway traffic state estimation using improved mixture Kalman filters for effective ramp metering control

In this paper, we use a cell transmission model based switching state-space model to estimate vehicle densities and congestion modes at unmeasured locations on a highway section. The mixture Kalman filter algorithm, which is based on sequential Monte Carlo method, is employed to approximately solve the difficult problem of inference on a switching state-space model with an unobserved discrete state. We propose a scheme to prevent the risk of weight underflow and to introduce forgetting. The estimation results show that comparable accuracies can be achieved using either a small or a large number of sampling sequences, thus make it possible to carry out efficient online filtering. Underflow prevention and forgetting improves estimation accuracy in our examples. On average, a mean percentage error of approximately 10% is achieved for the vehicle density estimation. The estimation performance is consistent with data sets from various days.
Recognizing plankton images from the shadow image particle profiling evaluation recorder

We present a system to recognize underwater plankton images from the shadow image particle profiling evaluation recorder (SIPPER). The challenge of the SIPPER image set is that many images do not have clear contours. To address that, shape features that do not heavily depend on contour information were developed. A soft margin support vector machine (SVM) was used as the classifier. We developed a way to assign probability after multiclass SVM classification. Our approach achieved approximately 90% accuracy on a collection of plankton images. On another larger image set containing manually unidentifiable particles, it also provided 75.6% overall accuracy. The proposed approach was statistically significantly more accurate on the two data sets than a C4.5 decision tree and a cascade correlation neural network. The single SVM significantly outperformed ensembles of decision trees created by bagging and random forests on the smaller data set and was slightly better on the other data set. The 15-feature subset produced by our feature selection approach provided slightly better accuracy than using all 29 features. Our probability model gave us a reasonable rejection curve on the larger data set.
Numerical Simulations of Pool-Boiling Heat Transfer

Boiling has been studied extensively during the last half of the 20th century. Many correlations and semimechanistic models have also been developed for various modes of boiling. However, due to the complexity involved in modeling continuously evolving vapor–liquid interfaces, unrealistic assumptions are often made in developing various models. With the advances of recent years in the area of computational science and engineering, it is now possible to solve, completely, the conservation equations of mass, momentum, and energy for liquid and vapor phases simultaneously when an interface is continuously evolving at and near a heated surface. The solutions provide not only detailed physics of associated thermal and hydrodynamic processes, but also the shape of the evolving interface. In demonstrating the application of numerical simulations as an effective tool, both pool nucleate and film boiling at normal earth gravity, and nucleate boiling under microgravity conditions are considered. Although these simulations have been computationally intensive, in the future calculations of this type are expected to become routine.
Tetraarylphosphonium polyelectrolyte chromophores: synthesis, stability, photophysics, film morphology and critical surface energy

Three ionic polymers featuring main chain tetraarylphosphonium units have been prepared by an underexplored polymerisation route that employs Ni-catalysed P–C bond formation. The three polymers include chromophores comprised of 2,5-dihexyloxy-p-phenylene, 9,9-dioctyl-2,7-fluorenylene, or 2,7-fluorenone segments between phosphonium sites so that the composite ionic polymers exhibit absorption and photoluminescence in the UV-visible region of the spectrum. The photophysical properties of the materials were evaluated to assess the applicability of the polymers for optoelectronic applications. The wettability and critical surface energies of dip-coated neat polymer films were also determined from contact angle measurements.
IceCube PeV cascade events initiated by electron-antineutrinos at Glashow resonance

We propose an interpretation of the two neutrino initiated cascade events with PeV energies observed by IceCube: Ultrahigh energy cosmic ray protons (or Fe nuclei) scatter on cosmic microwave background photons through the Delta-resonance (the Berezinsky-Zatsepin process) yielding charged pions and neutrons. The neutron decays give electron-antineutrinos which undergo neutrino oscillations to populate all antineutrino flavors, but the electron-antineutrino flux remains dominant. At 6.3 PeV electron-antineutrino energy their annihilation on electrons in the IceCube detector is enhanced by the Glashow resonance (the $W$-boson) whose decays can give the PeV showers observed in the IceCube detector. The two observed showers with $\ensuremath{\sim}1\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{PeV}$ energies would need to be from $W$ leptonic decays to electrons and taus. An order of magnitude higher event rate of showers at 6.3 PeV is predicted from $W$ to hadron decays. This interpretation can be tested in the near term. It has significant physics implications on the origin of the highest energy cosmic rays, since neutrino events and cosmic ray events likely share a common origin.
Automation reliability in unmanned aerial vehicle control: a reliance-compliance model of automation dependence in high workload.

Objective: Two experiments were conducted in which participants navigated a simulated unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) through a series of mission legs while searching for targets and monitoring system parameters. The goal of the study was to highlight the qualitatively different effects of automation false alarms and misses as they relate to operator compliance and reliance, respectively. Background: Background data suggest that automation false alarms cause reduced compliance, whereas misses cause reduced reliance. Method: In two studies, 32 and 24 participants, including some licensed pilots, performed in-lab UAV simulations that presented the visual world and collected dependent measures. Results: Results indicated that with the low-reliability aids, false alarms correlated with poorer performance in the system failure task, whereas misses correlated with poorer performance in the concurrent tasks. Conclusion: Compliance and reliance do appear to be affected by false alarms and misses, respectively, and ...
Training on Exercise is Medicine® Within an Integrative Medicine Curriculum.

Physicians are increasingly approached by individuals seeking integrative approaches to health care and well-being. Many integrative modalities include a physical activity component. Patients seek guidance from primary and specialty care providers on the safe and effective incorporation of these modalities into their lifestyle. Physicians and other health professionals receive very limited training in the clinical applications of exercise science. This paper reports on a curriculum designed to teach health professionals key exercise constructs for application to clinical practice for prevention and management of lifestyle-related disease, and incorporating the curriculum into a preventive medicine residency training program. The course was developed in 2012–2013, data collected in 2013–2015, and analysis was done in 2015. Six modules were developed as part of a 24-hour course. Each module included didactic, laboratory, and case examples. The modules included energetics, exercise and cardiorespiratory health, bone health, obesity and sarcopenia, balance and fall prevention, and behavior change and the use of technologies. The delivery was found feasible for all three components, delivered in 2–4-hour segments. The incorporation into the residency curriculum was feasible, efficacious, well received, and easily incorporated into the existing curriculum. This comprehensive curriculum has the potential to close the gap in medical school, residency, graduate, nursing, and integrative curricula on this important topic. Current practitioners would benefit in primary care and geriatric settings. This curriculum would also be useful for cross-disciplinary researchers, including public health, health behaviors, and integrative medicine practitioners.
Heterotopic limb allotransplantation model to study skin rejection in the rat

Current rodent models for investigation of limb allotransplantation typically utilize orthotopic whole-limb transplantation, a morbid and time-consuming procedure. Our objective was to design a less morbid rat model to explore the immunological obstacles of limb transplantation, and particularly skin. Twenty lower hindlimbs from 10 donors were transplanted into a heterotopic subcutaneous position into 20 animals (10 isogeneic and 10 allogeneic). Each group was further subdivided to include animals with (n = 5) and without (n = 5) a skin paddle for observation of cutaneous signs of rejection. All grafts in the isogeneic group survived for 100 days, i.e., the endpoint of the study. Allogeneic transplants rejected their allografts at a mean of 12.8 days (with skin) and 20.6 days (without). Our heterotopic limb transplantation model takes less time and is less stressful to the animals, while allowing for early observation of graft skin rejection, when compared to orthotopic whole-limb transplantation.
Relieving Isolation, Avoiding Vices: The Social Purposes of Participation in A Salvadoran Literacy Program

This article uses ethnographic research to examine how women and men in rural El Salvador used literacy classes to accomplish their own social purposes. Employing a sociocultural, feminist framework, the author argues that men and women valued classes as an opportunity for social interaction. Moreover, the classes were a gendered social space that helped women to relieve isolation and men to spend their time purposefully and “avoid vices” like drinking. These needs were rooted in gender relations (an inequitable gender division of labor, the restriction of female mobility, the sanctioning of drinking as masculine behavior) and socioeconomic conditions (unemployment, postwar social fragmentation). Attending classes allowed learners to construct identities that challenged dominant conceptions of gender. The article proposes that serving the human longing for affiliation is a legitimate, essential role of adult education. It concludes by suggesting ways to analyze and support social interaction in adult and ...
Adaptive Multi-Task Lasso: with Application to eQTL Detection

To understand the relationship between genomic variations among population and complex diseases, it is essential to detect eQTLs which are associated with phenotypic effects. However, detecting eQTLs remains a challenge due to complex underlying mechanisms and the very large number of genetic loci involved compared to the number of samples. Thus, to address the problem, it is desirable to take advantage of the structure of the data and prior information about genomic locations such as conservation scores and transcription factor binding sites. In this paper, we propose a novel regularized regression approach for detecting eQTLs which takes into account related traits simultaneously while incorporating many regulatory features. We first present a Bayesian network for a multi-task learning problem that includes priors on SNPs, making it possible to estimate the significance of each covariate adaptively. Then we find the maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimation of regression coefficients and estimate weights of covariates jointly. This optimization procedure is efficient since it can be achieved by using a projected gradient descent and a coordinate descent procedure iteratively. Experimental results on simulated and real yeast datasets confirm that our model outperforms previous methods for finding eQTLs.
Formation of N2(A3Σu+) and N(2D, 2P) by Photodissociation of HN3 and N2O and Their Reactions with NO and N2O

The formation of NO (A 2Σ+) and NO (B 2II) in the photolysis of N2O at 1236 and 1470 A was investigated by observing the fluorescence of the γ and β bands. The β‐band fluorescence is obtained when pure N2O is photolyzed at 1236 and 1470 A in a flow system. The β bands are observed with vibrational excitation up to v′=3. The β bands disappear with the addition of small amounts of NO, whereas the emission of rotationally hot γ bands is obtained. The γ bands are observed with vibrational excitation up to v′=2. According to the energetics, NO (A 2Σ+) and NO (B 2II) are formed at 1470 A as well as at 1236 A not by direct photodissociation of N2O but by secondary reactions. No fluorescence is obtained when N2O or N2O/NO mixtures are irradiated at wavelengths ≧1600 A, i.e., within the long‐wavelength absorption band of N2O. The roles of N2 (A 3Σu+), N (2D), N (2P) are evaluated and discussed.The emission of γ bands is also obtained in the photolysis of HN3/NO mixtures at 1470 and 1236 A. This observation is expl...
A complete parameterization of clf-based input-to-state stabilizing control laws

Sontag's formula proves constructively that the existence of a control Lyapunov function implies asymptotic stabilizability. A similar result can be obtained for systems subject to unknown disturbances via input-to-state stabilizing control Lyapunov functions (ISS-clfs) and the input-to-state analogue of Sontag's formula. The present paper provides a generalization of the ISS version of Sontag's formula by completely parameterizing all continuous ISS control laws that can be generated by a known ISS-clf. When a simple inner-product constraint is satisfied, this parameterization also conveniently describes a large family of ISS controls that solve the inverse-optimal gain assignment problem, and it is proved that these controls possess Kalman-type gain margins. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An information flow technique in ERP application

A directional information flow technique is applied to investigate interactions among different parts of the brain during a conditioning paradigm using visually masked stimuli. Data of three phases, preconditioning, conditioning, and postconditioning for 17 subjects were analysed. The number of points above the mean+3 standard deviations of information flow profiles were used in a MANOVA analysis for comparing information flows in the three experimental phases. Significant differences in information flow were found between the P3 and P4 electrode pair while no such differences were found for the Oz and Cz electrode pair. Significant directional difference between P3 and P4 electrode pair does not exist.
Isolation and Characterization of an Adventitious Avian Leukosis Virus Isolated from Commercial Marek's Disease Vaccines

Abstract Commercial Marek's disease (MD) vaccines produced by two manufacturers were tested for possible contamination with avian leukosis virus (ALV). Samples of MD vaccines manufactured by two companies (A and B) were received from a breeder company; samples were also received directly from vaccine company B. Using virus isolation tests, samples initially tested positive for subgroup E (endogenous) ALV. However, upon repassage, the vaccines also tested positive for exogenous ALV. The isolated exogenous ALV proved to be a subgroup A virus, as determined by flow cytometry using polyclonal chicken antibodies specific for various subgroups of ALV, and by DNA sequencing of the envelope glygoprotein (gp85). The exogenous ALV isolated from MD vaccines was inoculated in chickens from ADOL lines 15I5 × 71 and 0 to determine its pathogenicity and compare it with that of Rous-associated-virus–1 (RAV-1), the prototype strain of ALV-A. Each chicken from each line was inoculated with approximately 10,000 infectious u...
Articulatory Constraints on Distinctive Features

In its search for generalization on the behavior of speech sounds, phonology needs to be aware of and to explain the interactions between distinctive features. This chapter presents some interactions between features in the articulatory domain covering two general phenomena: emergent stops and consequences of the aerodynamic voicing constraint.
Medical Textiles That Suit the User: Predicting Health Care Workers' Preference for Disposable Versus Reusable Surgical Gowns

Administrators need to balance a variety of factors when purchasing products for a health care facility, including user preference. The objectives of this study were to determine which variables were significantly related to gown preference and then to create a multivariate model to determine the best set of variables for predicting user preference for reusable versus disposable gowns. When "no preference" was included in the multivariate analysis, both occupational group and years employed at the hospital where they currently worked were significant. When no preference data were removed, years employed at the current hospital became the only significant predictor of preference.
Of “Likes” and “Pins”: The Effects of Consumers' Attachment to Social Media

Abstract Marketing researchers and practitioners are showing substantial interest in social media communication, trying to understand the challenges and opportunities associated with this new cultural and social phenomenon. In this research, the authors examine social media as a new attachment phenomenon, positing likely predictive links to marketing-related social media behaviors. Researchers have demonstrated useful applicability of psychological attachment theory to a variety of other marketing contexts, including special possessions, places, brands, and services. Attachment to such varied focal targets has been shown to influence behaviors of interest to marketers. However, research to date has yet to develop a conceptualization or operationalization of attachment in the social media context. The authors seek to contribute to the literature in two primary ways: first, we provide a foundational definition of attachment to social media, and conduct four initial studies to develop a measure that meets desired reliability and validity standards. Secondly, in a fifth study, we use this validated measure to test its empirical usefulness in predicting social media behaviors in an applied retail setting. Taken together, the results are particularly valuable in demonstrating that attachment to social media is a distinct, measurable phenomenon that helps to explain various activities on social media platforms, including C2C advocacy and C2B supportive communication behaviors. Results reveal practical guidance for marketing managers wrestling with developing effective social media marketing strategies.
New Route to the Ergoline Skeleton via Cyclization of 4-Unsubstituted Indoles

A new route to the ergoline skeleton has been developed that does not require prior functionalization of the indole 4-position. The indole nucleus is introduced late in the synthesis to allow for eventual efficient introduction of substituents in this region. Key steps include Negishi coupling of a three-carbon chain to a bromonicotinate ester, Fischer indole synthesis to facilitate incorporation of substituents via phenylhydrazines, and Pd-catalyzed cyclization to form the ergoline C ring.
Carbohydrate, Amino Acid, and Inorganic Constituents of Leaves of Two Hosts of the Elm Spanworm

Soluble carbohydrates, free amino acids, and 11 major inorganic constituents were determined in juvenile and mature leaves of pignut hickory, Carya glabra (Mill.) Sweet, and southern red oak, Quercus falcata Michx. var. falcata , hosts of Ennomos subsignarius (Hubner). These constituents all differed with the species and maturation of the leaves. The total soluble carbohydrates and free amino N did not change with maturation of oak leaves, but both decreased substantially with maturation of hickory leaves. Hickory leaves contained more free carbohydrates and ash but less free amino N than did oak leaves. Acid hydrolysis of leaf extracts increased both the relative concentrations and the number of amino acids. In both species, P, K, Zn, Na, and Cu decreased and Ca, Al, and Fe increased with leaf maturation.
Male annihilation through mass-trapping of male flies with methyleugenol to reduce infestation of oriental fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) larvae in Papaya

Mass-trapping of male oriental fruit flies, Dacus dorsalis Hendel, with methyleugenol plus malathion at the rate of nine saturated fiberboard blocks per ha produced male population reductions >99% in a papaya orchard (63 ha). However, because the surrounding jungle was not trapped, fruit infestation rate was reduced only 48%.
Digital curation and digital literacy: Evaluating the role of curation in developing critical literacies for participation in digital culture

Despite the increased role of digital curation tools and platforms in the daily life of social network users, little research has focused on the competencies and dispositions that young people deve...
437 EFFECT OF POST-GLUCOSE CHALLENGE ON LIPID PROFILE IN PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES.

Purpose Fasting samples are required for serum lipid measurement due to the concern of elevated triglycerides (TGs) from high-fat meals. Postprandial hypertriglyceridemia could also affect the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol values routinely calculated based on the Freidewald equation. The effect of postprandial hyperglycemia mainly from carbohydrate on lipid profile is less clear, especially among diabetic patients. The purpose of this study was to determine the changes in serum lipid panel before and after a standard oral glucose loading in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods A convenient sample of 50 diabetic patients with fasting blood glucose Results Twenty-four percent of the patients were smokers and 96% were males, with a mean age of 67 years, BMI 28.5 kg/m2, systolic BP 130 mm Hg, and HbA1c 7.4%. Sixty-eight percent of the patients were on statin, 68% on ACE-I/ARB, and 10% on insulin. The mean values of total cholesterol (TC), LDL cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and TGs before and after glucose challenge were 166, 92, 44, 154, and 162, 92, 40, 150 (mg/dL), respectively. The decrease in TC and HDL from baseline was statistically significant (p Conclusion In this elderly and predominantly male patient population from a VA primary care clinic, we found a significantly decreased TC and HDL levels associated with hyperglycemia from oral glucose challenge. Lipid management is one of the main treatment strategies for cardiovascular risk reduction in diabetic patients. Therefore, it is clinically important to have accurate measurement of all components of lipid profile. Although the exact mechanisms for the reduction in TC and HDL associated with postprandial hyperglycemia are unknown, a strict fasting blood sample without pretest carbohydrate intake is preferred for lipid panel analysis.
A study on the growth rhythm of Shorea chinensis plantation in southwest of Guangxi

The growth rhythm of Shorea chinensis plantation in southwest of Guangxi was studied using the method of stem analysis.The results showed that: the height,DBH and volume of 32-year-old Shorea chinensis plantation were 23.1 m,23.4 cm,0.516 53 m3,respectively.The annual growth curve of height and DBH intersected with the average growth curve multiple times and changed drastically,the annual growth decreased obviously around the 24 th year;but the volume changed relatively less than the height and DBH,and it did't reach the age of quantitative maturity.The high growth rate and low growth rate of the DBH consistent with the year of the height growth,it reflected that the Shorea chinensis which was introduced from Xishuangbanna region was very sensitive to the local climate change in southwest of Guangxi.The growth forecasting models which were chosen to fit models had high accuracy,and the Richards model was superior to the growth process of the height and DBH,the Korf model was superior to the growth process of the volume.
Impact of Stimulant Medication Use on Heart Rate and Systolic Blood Pressure During Submaximal Exercise Treadmill Testing in Adolescents.

Objectives Inappropriately decreased heart rate (HR) during peak exercise and delayed heart rate recovery (HRR) has been observed in adult users of stimulant medications who underwent exercise testing, suggesting autonomic adaptation to chronic stimulant exposure. In the general population, this pattern of hemodynamic changes is associated with increased mortality risk. Whether the same pattern of hemodynamic changes might be observed in adolescent stimulant medication users undergoing exercise testing is unknown. Methods Among adolescents (aged 12 to 20 years) that underwent submaximal exercise treadmill testing from 1999 to 2004 in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, propensity score matching of stimulant medication users (n = 89) to matched nonusers (n = 267) was conducted. Testing consisted of a 3-minute warm-up period, two 3-minute exercise stages, and three 1-minute recovery periods, with the goal of reaching 75% of the predicted HR maximum. A linear mixed model analysis was used to evaluate the effect of stimulant exposure on each of the exercise outcomes. Results Stimulant medication users compared to matched nonusers had a lower peak HR in Stage 2 (154.9 vs. 158.3 beats/minute [bpm], p = 0.055) and lower HR at 1-minute recovery (142.2 vs. 146.4 bpm, p = 0.030). However, submaximal HRR at 1 minute did not differ between stimulant users and matched nonusers (13.0 vs. 12.1 bpm, p = 0.38). Duration of stimulant use was not related to these outcomes. Conclusion Adolescent stimulant medication users compared to matched nonusers demonstrated a trend toward decreased HR during submaximal exercise, which is potential evidence of chronic adaptation with stimulant exposure. There was no evidence for delayed HRR in this study, and thus, no evidence for decreased parasympathetic activity during initial exercise recovery. Exercise testing outcomes may have utility in future research as a method to assess stimulant-associated autonomic nervous system adaptations.
Interactions of Plutonium with Pseudomonas sp. Strain EPS-1W and Its Extracellular Polymeric Substances.

ABSTRACT Safe and effective nuclear waste disposal, as well as accidental radionuclide releases, necessitates our understanding of the fate of radionuclides in the environment, including their interaction with microorganisms. We examined the sorption of Pu(IV) and Pu(V) to Pseudomonas sp. strain EPS-1W, an aerobic bacterium isolated from plutonium (Pu)-contaminated groundwater collected in the United States at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) in Nevada. We compared Pu sorption to cells with and without bound extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). Wild-type cells with intact EPS sorbed Pu(V) more effectively than cells with EPS removed. In contrast, cells with and without EPS showed the same sorption affinity for Pu(IV). In vitro experiments with extracted EPS revealed rapid reduction of Pu(V) to Pu(IV). Transmission electron microscopy indicated that 2- to 3-nm nanocrystalline Pu(IV)O 2 formed on cells equilibrated with high concentrations of Pu(IV) but not Pu(V). Thus, EPS, while facilitating Pu(V) reduction, inhibit the formation of nanocrystalline Pu(IV) precipitates. IMPORTANCE Our results indicate that EPS are an effective reductant for Pu(V) and sorbent for Pu(IV) and may impact Pu redox cycling and mobility in the environment. Additionally, the resulting Pu morphology associated with EPS will depend on the concentration and initial Pu oxidation state. While our results are not directly applicable to the Pu transport situation at the NNSS, the results suggest that, in general, stationary microorganisms and biofilms will tend to limit the migration of Pu and provide an important Pu retardation mechanism in the environment. In a broader sense, our results, along with a growing body of literature, highlight the important role of microorganisms as producers of redox-active organic ligands and therefore as modulators of radionuclide redox transformations and complexation in the subsurface.
A protocol suite for wireless sensor and actor networks

Wireless sensor and actor networks (WSAN) refer to a group of sensors and actors, which gather information about the physical world and perform appropriate actions upon the environment, respectively. The requirements of communication protocols occurring due to the presence of actors and the protocol suite of WSAN are outlined.
Triggering Selective Autophagy at the Right Place and the Right Time.

In this issue of Molecular Cell, Torggler et al. (2016) leverage innovative synthetic biology approaches to dissect the spatiotemporal activation of Atg1 kinase during selective autophagy, revealing two distinct pathways that coordinately initiate autophagosome formation at the yeast vacuole.
Globally optimal affine epipolar geometry from apparent contours

We study the problem of estimating the epipolar geometry from apparent contours of smooth curved surfaces with affine camera models. Since apparent contours are viewpoint dependent, the only true image correspondences are projections of the frontier points, i.e., surface points whose tangent planes are also their epipolar planes. However, frontier points are unknown a priori and must be estimated simultaneously with epipolar geometry. Previous approaches to this problem adopt local greedy search methods which are sensitive to initialization, and may get trapped in local minima. We propose the first algorithm that guarantees global optimality for this problem. We first reformulate the problem using a separable form that allows us to search effectively in a 2D space, instead of on a 5D hypersphere in the classical formulation. Next, in a branch-and-bound algorithm we introduce a novel lower bounding function through interval matrix analysis. Experimental results on both synthetic and real scenes demonstrate that the proposed method is able to quickly obtain the optimal solution.
Working on how to solve the never ending problem of diversity

There are many challenges in changing the diversity in engineering. In the Catalyzing Collaborative Conversation, we explored ways to change the diversity climate through outreach, recruitment, and retention methods to help students succeed and achieve the goal of becoming an engineer.
Pseudo Market Timing and the Long-Run Performance of IPOs

Numerous studies document long-run underperformance by firms following initial public offerings or seasoned offerings. In this paper I show that such underperformance is very likely to be observed ex-post in an efficient market. The premise is that more firms issue equity at higher stock prices even though they cannot predict future returns. Ex-post, issuers will seem to time the market because there will usually be more offerings at market peaks than when stock prices are low. Simulations based on observed market parameters suggest that even when ex-ante expected abnormal returns are zero, median ex-post underperformance for equity issuers will be significantly negative and very close to what is actually observed.