cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Model for the gas evolution in a porous medium driven by solute diffusion

An effective continuum model is derived to describe the nucleation and subsequent growth of a gas phase from a supersaturated, slightly compressible binary liquid in a porous medium, driven by solute diffusion. The evolution of the gas results from reducing the system pressure at a constant rate or withdrawing the liquid at a constant rate. The model addresses two stages before the onset of bulk gas flow, nucleation and gas-phase growth. Negligible gradients due to gravity or viscous forces are assumed, so the critical gas saturation signaling the onset of bulk gas flow is only a function of the nucleation fraction. Important quantities characterizing the process, such as the pore number fraction hosting activated sites, deviation from thermodynamic equilibrium, maximum supersaturation, and critical gas saturation, depend crucially on the nucleation characteristics of the medium. Heterogeneous nucleation models using preexisting gas trapped in hydrophobic cavities or in terms of a rate-dependent nucleation are used to investigate the nucleation behavior. Using a simpler analytical model the relevant quantities during nucleation can be expressed in terms of a simple combination of dimensionless parameters. The theory predicts that the maximum supersaturation is a weakly increasing function of rate, which in the region of typical experimental parameters can be approximated as a power law. It depends sensitively on the probability density function of nucleation cavity sizes. The final nucleation fraction (thus, the critical gas saturation) is predicted to be a power law of the decline rate. The theoretical exponents agree well with experimental data. The subsequent evolution of the gas phase and the approach to the critical gas saturation is also described.
Our Self-Destructive Youth: A Look at the Problems and Their Causes.

Many young people today engage in self-destructive behavior. This writer looks at the role society—and educators—can play in preventing such behavior.
Survey of savanna chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) in Southeastern Sénégal.

A survey of the western subspecies of chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus) was conducted from 1 February to 9 April 2000 in Senegal, West Africa, by the Miami Assirik Pan Project (MAPP). In addition to the Assirik area of the Parc National du Niokolo Koba (PNNK), areas south and east of the park were surveyed. Nests made by chimpanzees were used to estimate chimpanzee distribution and densities. Within the PNNK, chimpanzees were estimated to occur at an average of 0.13 individuals/km2. Chimpanzee nests were recorded in nine of 10 locales surveyed outside of the PNNK, as well as within the park. Data on 994 nests made by chimpanzees were recorded outside the PNNK, while 736 nests were recorded inside the park. Nest density in areas surveyed outside the PNNK, such as Bandafassi, Tomboronkoto, and Segou, was comparable to that of Assirik in habitats where nests were concentrated (i.e., evergreen gallery forest). The purpose of MAPP was to initiate long-term research of chimpanzees in southeastern Senegal, as a follow-up to the Stirling African Primate Project (SAPP) of the 1970s. We sought to replicate the standards set by the SAPP project, except when technological innovations allowed improvement in data collection procedures (e.g., the global positioning system (GPS)). Am. J. Primatol. 58:35–43, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Security issues in the ABELS system for linking distributed simulations

The Agent-Based Environment for Linking Simulations (ABELS) framework is designed to allow physically distributed simulations and other data resources to form a "data cloud" for the exchange of information. In particular it uses a distributed brokering system to facilitate dynamic linkings between independently-designed, autonomous participants, without requiring the use of stringent standards to which participants must conform. This paper discusses various challenges in developing a security framework for the ABELS system.
Changes in auditory localization during body tilt.

The induction of an error between a subject's true orientation and his registered orientation in relation to gravity results in auditory mislocaliza-tions of a similar size and time course. The presence of visual cues prevents the development of errors in the interpretation of posture and, accordingly, prevents the development of errors in auditory localization as well. These observations are interpreted as evidence for a spatial reference system responsible for the maintenance of auditory and visual direction constancy. They demonstrate that where a subject hears a sound is dependent not only on the auditory cues at his ears but also on his registered orientatinn in relation to the gravitational force. vector.
Chloride increases adrenergic receptor–mediated platelet and vascular responses

Abstract Background We postulated that increasing intracellular chloride concentration ([Cl − ] i ) in human platelets would potentiate α 2 adrenergic receptor (A2AR)—mediated platelet aggregation, and that vascular reactivity would also be increased by raising [Cl − ] i in blood vessels. We further hypothesized that ligands binding to the A2AR would increase [Cl − ] i by stimulating carbonic anhydrase-dependent chloride/bicarbonate exchange. Because diuretics are potent inhibitors of carbonic anhydrase, we speculated that these agents inhibit platelet aggregation and vascular contractility through inhibition of chloride influx by decreasing carbonic anhydrase activity, and subsequently, chloride/bicarbonate exchange. The aim of this study was to test these hypotheses. Methods: Platelet aggregation was measured by determining changes in optical density of platelet-rich plasma. Contractile responses to A2AR agonists were recorded in isolated vascular smooth muscle. The substances [Cl − ] i and intracellular pH (pH i ) were measured using microfluorometric methods. Carbonic anhydrase activity and chloride/bicarbonate exchange were determined by an in vitro assay based on the Stewart cycle. Results Increasing [Cl − ] i potentiated platelet aggregation and vascular contractility, and epinephrine raised [Cl − ] i by stimulating carbonic anhydrase-dependent chloride/bicarbonate exchange. Furthermore, diuretic-dependent inhibition of carbonic anhydrase activity decreased chloride/bicarbonate exchange. Conclusions: Our data support the concept that diuretics inhibit carbonic anhydrase activity and chloride/bicarbonate exchange in platelets and vascular smooth muscle. The ensuing reduction in [Cl − ] i that is induced by diuretics in these tissues could play a role in reducing the effect of catecholamines on precipitating thrombotic stroke or myocardial infarction.
Strategies to Improve Continuity of Care and Decrease Rehospitalization of Cancer Patients: A Review

(1993). Strategies to Improve Continuity of Care and Decrease Rehospitalization of Cancer Patients: A Review. Cancer Investigation: Vol. 11, No. 2, pp. 140-158.
Growth responses of different aged individuals of Xanthium strumarium L. in flooded conditions1

Abstract In order to assess the effects of age on flooding tolerance, we conducted a mesocosm flooding experiment that examined biomass accumulation of two age cohorts of Xanthium strumarium L. We also examined repeated measures of stem height and diameter of each cohort for the duration of the experiment. We hypothesized that change in biomass measures (root and shoot biomass, increase in total biomass, and root shoot ratio) of older individuals would be greater than younger individuals under simulated flooded conditions. We further hypothesized that older individuals would be impacted more than younger individuals regarding stress; i.e., the younger cohort would acclimate and thus flooding effects would be masked. Results indicate that older individuals were more impacted by flooding than younger individuals for all biomass parameters. Height repeated measures indicated that older individuals differentially responded to flooding stress, compared to younger individuals; which was also the case for diamet...
Beyond babytalk: Re-evaluating the nature and content of speech input to preverbal infants

Infant-directed maternal speech is an important component of infants’ linguistic input. However, speech from other speakers and speech directed to others constitute a large amount of the linguistic environment. What are the properties of infant-directed speech that differentiate it from other components of infants’ speech environment? To what extent should these other aspects be considered as part of the linguistic input? This review examines the characteristics of the speech input to preverbal infants, including phonological, morphological, and syntactic characteristics, specifically how these properties might support language development. While maternal, infant-directed speech is privileged in the input, other aspects of the environment, such as adult-directed speech, may also play a role. Furthermore, the input is variable in nature, dependent on the age and linguistic development of the infant, the social context, and the interaction between the infant and speakers in the environment.
Microbial Community Biofabrics in a Geothermal Mine Adit

Speleothems such as stalactites and stalagmites are usually considered to be mineralogical in composition and origin; however, microorganisms have been implicated in the development of some speleothems. We have identified and characterized the biological and mineralogical composition of mat-like biofabrics in two novel kinds of speleothems from a 50 degrees C geothermal mine adit near Glenwood Springs, CO. One type of structure consists of 2- to 3-cm-long, 3- to 4-mm-wide, leather-like, hollow, soda straw stalactites. Light and electron microscopy indicated that the stalactites are composed of a mineralized biofabric with several cell morphotypes in a laminated form, with gypsum and sulfur as the dominant mineral components. A small-subunit rRNA gene phylogenetic community analysis along the stalactite length yielded a diverse gradient of organisms, with a relatively simple suite of main constituents: Thermus spp., crenarchaeotes, Chloroflexi, and Gammaproteobacteria. PCR analysis also detected putative crenarchaeal ammonia monooxygenase subunit A (amoA) genes in this community, the majority related to sequences from other geothermal systems. The second type of speleothem, dumpling-like rafts floating on a 50 degrees C pool on the floor of the adit, showed a mat-like fabric of evidently living organisms on the outside of the dumpling, with a multimineral, amorphous, gypsum-based internal composition. These two novel types of biofabrics are examples of the complex roles that microbes can play in mineralization, weathering, and deposition processes in karst environments.
A globally detectable hybrid system admits a smooth OSS-Lyapunov function

This paper presents Lyapunov and asymptotic characterizations of output-to-state stability (OSS) for hybrid systems, emphasizing that a globally detectable (i.e. nonuniform OSS) hybrid system admits a smooth exponential-decay OSS-Lyapunov function. Moreover, we construct the norm estimator for a globally detectable hybrid system.
Acute Neuroinflammation Impairs Context Discrimination Memory and Disrupts Pattern Separation Processes in Hippocampus

Although it is known that immune system activation can impair cognition, no study to date has linked cognitive deficits during acute neuroinflammation to dysregulation of task-relevant neuronal ensemble activity. Here, we assessed both neural circuit activity and context discrimination memory retrieval, in a within-subjects design, of male rats given systemic administration of saline or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Rats were exposed over several days to two similar contexts: one of which was paired with weak foot shock and the other was not. After reaching criteria for discriminative freezing, rats were given systemic LPS or saline injection and tested for retrieval of context discrimination 6 h later. Importantly, LPS administration produced an acute neuroinflammatory response in dorsal hippocampus at this time (as assessed by elevation of proinflammatory cytokine mRNA levels) and abolished retrieval of the previously acquired discrimination. The impact of neuroinflammation on hippocampal CA3 and CA1 neural circuit activity was assessed using the Arc/Homer1a cellular analysis of temporal activity by fluorescence in situ hybridization imaging method. Whereas the saline-treated subjects discriminated and had low overlap of hippocampal ensembles activated in the two contexts, LPS-treated subjects did not discriminate and had greater ensemble overlap (i.e., reduced orthogonalization). Additionally, retrieval of standard contextual fear conditioning, which does not require context discrimination, was not affected by pretesting LPS administration. Together, the behavioral and circuit analyses data provide compelling evidence that LPS administration impairs context discrimination memory by disrupting cellular pattern separation processes within the hippocampus, thus linking acute neuroinflammation to disruption of specific neural circuit functions and cognitive impairment.
Post sulfonation of bisphenol A poly(arylene ethers)

In this study, bisphenol A polyetherimide (PEI) was sulfonated by a novel postsulfonation route using trimethylsilylchlorosulfonate. Different degrees of sulfonation were achieved by varying the mole ratio of the sulfonating agent to the PEI repeat unit and the reaction time. Comparison was made with respect to bisphenol A polysulfone (PSU) to study the influence of electron withdrawing group in the sulfonated poly(arylene ethers) (SPAE) backbone on sulfonation. Structural characterization of SPAE was conducted by 1H-NMR and FTIR spectroscopy. The enhanced reaction rate with PSU compared to PEI was attributed to the deactivation of bisphenol A unit due to the stronger electron withdrawing effect of imide group. The sulfonation of PEI was also carried out with chlorosulfonic acid for comparative study. The effects of degree of sulfonation on thermal and mechanical properties of SPAE-s were studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and a tensile testing machine. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010
SMART wind turbine rotor. Data analysis and conclusions

This report documents the data post-processing and analysis performed to date on the field test data. Results include the control capability of the trailing edge flaps, the combined structural and aerodynamic damping observed through application of step actuation with ensemble averaging, direct observation of time delays associated with aerodynamic response, and techniques for characterizing an operating turbine with active rotor control.
Randomized, open-label study of the impact of two doses of subcutaneous recombinant interleukin-2 on viral burden in patients with HIV-1 infection and CD4+ cell counts of ≥300/mm3: CPCRA 059

The effect of intermittent courses of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) on HIV-1 load in patients receiving combination antiretroviral therapy remains uncertain. CPCRA 059 was an open-label, randomized, multicenter trial in which 511 patients with HIV-1 infection and CD4 + cell counts of ≥300/mm 3 who were receiving antiretroviral therapy were assigned to receive no rIL-2 (255 patients [controls]) or subcutaneous rIL-2 in dosages of 4.5 MIU (130) or 7.5 MIU (126) twice daily for 5-day courses every 8 weeks to maintain CD4 + cell counts that were twice the baseline value or ≥1,000/mm 3 . The primary objective of this study was to compare the effects of the two doses of rIL-2 and no rIL-2 on viral load and CD4 + cell counts over 12 months. There was no difference in the following viral load measurements between the rIL-2 treatment groups and the control treatment group: percentage of patients with viral loads of <50 copies/mL at 12 months (p =.55), time to viral load of ≥50 copies/mL for patients who had baseline viral loads of <50 copies/mL (p =.35), and change in viral load from baseline for patients who had viral loads of ≥50 copies/mL at baseline (p =.63). At each follow-up visit, the change in CD4 + cell count from baseline was significantly greater in the rIL-2 treatment groups than in the control treatment group, with a mean difference of 25 l/mm 3 at month 12 (95% confidence interval, 207-295; p <.0001). No unanticipated adverse experiences were seen in this trial, to our knowledge the largest randomized evaluation of rIL-2 treatment conducted to date.
The Non-seismic Data And Joint Inversion Strategy For the Near Surface Solution In Saudi Arabia

A systematic evaluation of non-seismic technologies applied to seismic data processing is ongoing in Saudi Arabia in different geographic locations. These correspond to various complex near surface geologic conditions including: karst, fault zone and wadis, and outcropping basalts. Special acquisition and processing workflows are implemented to enable the improvement of near surface characterization. Acquisition consists of dedicated high-end electromagnetic and gravity specifications, geophysical data integration is performed via simultaneous joint inversion, and seismic processing is carried out with advanced imaging workflows such as pre-stack redatuming (time) and pre-stack depth migration. Well log analysis in shallow boreholes provides the local petrophysical relationships between velocity, resistivity and density to be used in a simultaneous joint inversion scheme. The ongoing non-seismic acquisition and joint inversion project represents a major effort that could bring the methodology to be routinely implemented in a production environment.
Corralling the Free Rider: Deterrence and the Western Alliance

This paper uses the collective-goods approach to alliances to investigate how membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and other American alliances affects the interaction between the United States and the other actors. The paper uses two models, differing in their assumptions about the factors involved in the calculations member states make, to derive hypotheses regarding the dynamics of intra-alliance behavior. I conclude that a "bargaining" model, which assumes that allies are concerned more with maintaining long-term mutual commitment than with maximizing short-term utility, better explains how allies act. The implications for the study of group behavior and the contributions to the understanding of alliances are discussed. Public goods theory can be used to analyze the behavior of political actors in several different ways. Analysis can focus on the necessary conditions for the formation of groups, on the behavior of a group once it is formed, or on the actions of the members of an extant group. This paper investigates how membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and other American alliances, which aim to supply the public good of deterrence, may affect the interaction between the United States and the other members. The paper will use two models to derive hypotheses regarding intra-alliance behavior. The first is based on the assumption that states respond to marginal utility calculations; the second is derived by viewing the alliance members as involved in a bargaining process, with each state aware of the implications of its actions for the other member states. The paper will conclude that the "bargaining" perspective better captures the pattern of the allied relationship in burden sharing. This conclusion has implications for the study of group behavior and contributes to our understanding of the stability of the Western alliance.
A case of duodenal adenocarcinoma masquerading as acute cholecystitis and biliary pancreatitis

Background: Small intestinal tumors are rare accounting for less than 5% of all gastrointestinal (GI) tumors. Primary duodenal carcinoma is very rare among GI tumors and usually presents with non-specific signs and symptoms rendering it difficult for early diagnosis. Importance of early diagnosis arises from the fact that the only curative treatment is radical surgical resection before metastasis. Whipple’s procedure remains the most accepted surgical intervention for resectable tumors. Case presentation: An 82-year-old female presented to the emergency department with a one-day history of epigastric pain and nausea without vomiting. Abdominal examination revealed tenderness in the epigastrium and right upper quadrant. Abdominal ultrasound and laboratory tests were consistent with acute cholecystitis and biliary pancreatitis. She underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy and intra operative cholangiogram which revealed a dilated common bile duct with questionable cholelithiasis. Post-operative computed tomography (CT) scan revealed duodenal thickening at the periampullary region suggesting a mass without evidence of metastasis. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) confirmed a periampullary mass. Histopathological examination of biopsied tissue revealed moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. The patient underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple’s procedure) and had a long, complicated post-operative course and eventually died. Conclusions: Duodenal adenocarcinoma (DAC) is rare and may present with concomitant acute cholecystitis and biliary pancreatitis.
“You Still Got to See Where She’s Coming From”: Using Photovoice to Understand African American Female Adolescents’ Perspectives on Sexual Risk:

African Americans have the highest rate of new HIV infection in the United States. This photovoice study explored the perspectives and experiences of African American female youth and sought to understand how adolescent development impacts HIV risk. This study used the photovoice methodology with seven African American or Biracial female youth, in Grades 8 through 12, residing in North Carolina. Study findings indicate that African American female adolescents struggle to navigate adolescence, specifically in coping with race- and gender-related stressors. The photovoice study demonstrated that African American early adolescent females face unique challenges that influence sexual health and HIV risk. There is a need for HIV prevention programs that support positive racial and gender identity development and teach early adolescents how to cope with race- and gender-related stressors. Our findings suggest it is important for youth to be sources of positive support for their peers.
Introduction to special issue on people with disabilities in the workplace

People with disabilities make up a large and growing population around the globe. The World Health Organization estimates that close to one billion people have disabilities, including 15–19% of the...
The College Transition for First-Year Students from Rural Oregon Communities

This study explores the lived experiences of 10 students entering college from rural Oregon communities. Using narrative inquiry, the author examines students’ transition, common experiences, and enrollment barriers. Resulting themes include: (a) unexpected emotional and social transition, (b) motivations for enrolling, (c) lack of social and co-curricular involvement, and (d) exposure to diversity leading to consciousness of a rural identity. Areas of further research and tools to improve rural students’ college experience are discussed.
Studies on the fine structure of muscle fibres and contained crystalloids in basal socket muscle of the entoproct, Barentsia gracilis.

Basal socket muscle fibres of Barentsia gracilis are morphologically similar to invertebrate muscles classified as slow, tonic-type muscles. They are divisible into a non-contractile bulbous and a contractile myofilamentous portion, are innervated on their non-contractile surface, and are obliquely striated. The electron density and myofilament packing vary from fibre to fibre. Some muscle fibres appear degenerate in that they contain disorganized-appearing myofilaments and electron-dense bodies morphologically reminiscent of autophagosomes found in cells undergoing cytolysis. A distinguishing feature of muscle fibres observed in B. gracilis is the presence of crystalloids, morphologically reminiscent of protein storage crystalloids found in other cell types. These crystalloids are seen to be composed of 30-70 A thick, helically shaped filaments arranged in a hexagonal lattice. Filaments have a pitch of 130-150 A and a tilt-angle of 35-45 degrees. Cross-links occur between adjacent filaments at regular intervals. Crystalloids appear to be formed in the bulbous portion of muscle cells. Constituent, 30-70 A filaments appear to branch from crystalloids and are found free in the myofilamentous area of muscle fibres. The above evidence, coupled with evidence elsewhere in the literature, suggests that the crystalloids may be a storage form of myofilament precursor which relate either to myogenesis or to cyclic regenerative and degenerative phenomena known to occur in Entoprocts, including B. gracilis.
Tiny-TOF Mass Spectrometer for Biodetection

The mass spectrometer has long been known as the most powerful analytical tool in the laboratory for analysis of a broad spectrum of chemical and biological materials. The applicability of mass spectrometers to field detection problems has been quite limited given the large size, heavy weight, and prohibitive power requirements of the instrumentation. However, this situation is rapidly changing, as the need for field-portable detection systems becomes more critical. This paper reports on an effort to bring small, yet powerful, time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer technology to bear on the chemical and biological detection problem. In order to achieve this goal, not only must small instrumentation be developed and fielded, but validated mass spectral signatures for all of the agents of interest must also be obtained. We will describe the development of a miniaturized time-of-flight mass spectrometer (tinyTOF) for field portable biodetection. Topics to be covered include: operating principles of the mass analyzer; miniaturization of the mass analyzer and other system components; mass spectral biosignatures; and the sample interface for airborne particulate samples.
Policy Formulation, Nonprofit Advocacy, and the Principal-Agent Framework

As social capital assets and agents of public policy, nonprofits are not passive purveyors of the public’s will. Some seek to shape that will and to influence the policies that are promulgated in the name of the public. This chapter is about nonprofits as promoters of specific policy positions. Chapters 1–5 reminded us that a nonprofit association is a form of structural social capital formed by individuals with common interests and in which transactions among them are embedded with common understanding, objectives, trust, and a cooperative motivation to achieve a common goal and to take collective action to promote a common goal. Collective action need not be unanimous.
Reidentification of Phalacrocorax subvolans brodkorb as the earliest record of anhingidae

-The putative cormorant Phalacrocorax subvolans Brodkorb 1956, from the early Miocene of Florida, is moved from the Phalacrocoracidae to the Anhingidae and should be known as Anhinga subvolans (Brodkorb 1956). This species is the earliest known anhinga and demonstrates that the family Anhingidae has been present in North America for at least 18 million years. It has been at least 30 million years since the Anhingidae and the Phalacrocoracidae shared a common ancestor. Received 18 December 1985, accepted 17 March 1986. IN a study of fossil birds from the Hawthorn Formation, Brodkorb (1956) described a new species of cormorant, Phalacrocorax subvolans, from the Thomas Farm local fauna, Gilchrist Co., Florida. This species, known only from the holotypical proximal end of a humerus (Brodkorb 1956), "agrees with Phalacrocorax wetmorei Brodkorb (1955) in conformation of caput humeri and bicipital crest, but differs as follows: proximal width less; width of shaft less; ligamental furrow [sulcus ligamentosus transversus] shorter and less deep; deltoid crest [crista pectoralis] longer; internal tuberosity [tuberculum ventrale] sharper and capital groove [incisura capitis] correspondingly deeper; bicipital furrow [impressio m. coracobrachialis cranialis] wider." Brodkorb noted that the greater width of the bicipital furrow in P. subvolans leaves a larger surface for the attachment of M. coracobrachialis anterior (= M. coracobrachialis cranialis) and suggested that this indicates that P. subvolans was a better soarer than living or fossil cormorants. Brodkorb also noted that this condition of the humerus in P. subvolans approached that of anhingas, birds that customarily soar for long intervals. Reexamination of the holotype indicates that Phalacrocorax subvolans should be moved to the genus Anhinga in the family Anhingidae. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fossil specimens included in this study are housed in the Vertebrate Paleontology collections of the Florida State Museum (UF). Comparative material of 1 Present address: Division of Birds, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 20560 USA. living species is in the collections of P. Brodkorb; Florida State Museum; National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution; American Museum of Natural History; University of Michigan; and Royal Ontario Museum. Anatomical terminology follows Baumel et al. (1979). Measurements are described in Table 1.
Development of nanofibrillated cellulose coated with gold nanoparticles for measurement of melamine by SERS

The objective of this study was to develop nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC)-based substrate for rapid detection of melamine in milk by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). NFC were served as a highly porous platform to load with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), which can be used as a flexible SERS substrate with nanoscale roughness to generate strong electromagnetic field in SERS measurement. The NFC/AuNP substrate was characterized by UV–Vis spectroscopy and electron microscopy. Milk samples contaminated by different concentrations of melamine were measured by SERS coupled with NFC/AuNP substrate. The spectral data analysis was conducted by multivariate statistical analysis [i.e. partial least squares (PLS)]. Satisfactory PLS result for quantification of melamine in milk was obtained (R = 0.9464). The detection limit for melamine extracted from liquid milk by SERS is 1 ppm, which meets the World Health Organization’s requirement of melamine in liquid milk. These results demonstrate that NFC/AuNP substrate has improved homogeneity and can be used in SERS analysis for food safety applications.
Functional Decline is Associated with Hopelessness in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

Objective: To determine the relationships between hopelessness, depression, quality of life, and disease progression in ALS. Methods: Hopelessness and depression were assessed prospectively in a cohort of people with ALS using the Beck Hopelessness scale (BHS) and the ALS Depression Inventory (ADI-12), respectively. ALS Specific Quality of Life and measures of functional status (ALSFRS-R and forced vital capacity) were collected. Associations between changes in psychological health and functional scores were calculated using Spearman correlation coefficients. Results: Twenty-five people with ALS had at least 2 visits and were followed for a mean of 11 (± 6) months. People with hopelessness and depression reported worse quality of life (p<0.01 for both associations). Decline in function between any two visits measured by ALSFRS-R (p<0.01) and FVC (p=0.02) correlated with increased hopelessness, but not depression. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of monitoring hopelessness in ALS, particularly in patients with faster functional decline.
Pathophysiology of Rotator Cuff Tears

The development of rotator cuff pathology is multifactorial in nature, resulting from a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Age-related degeneration, oxidative stress, vascular changes, and inflammation are all potential contributors to the intrinsic pathology of the rotator cuff. Of the variety of cellular and morphologic changes that are observed in the setting of massive rotator cuff tears, two changes—muscle atrophy and fatty degeneration—are strongly correlated with high repair failure rates and worsening functional outcomes. Yet, the precise molecular basis for these changes is largely unknown.
Marangoni Convection Assisted Single Molecule Detection with Nanojet Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

Many single-molecule (SM) label-free techniques such as scanning probe microscopies (SPM) and magnetic force spectroscopies (MFS) provide high resolution surface topography information, but lack chemical information. Typical surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) systems provide chemical information on the analytes, but lack spatial resolution. In addition, a challenge in SERS sensors is to bring analytes into the so-called “hot spots” (locations where the enhancement of electromagnetic field amplitude is larger than 103). Previously described methods of fluid transport around hot spots like thermophoresis, thermodiffusion/Soret effect, and electrothermoplasmonic flow are either too weak or detrimental in bringing new molecules to hot spots. Herein, we combined the resonant plasmonic enhancement and photonic nanojet enhancemnet of local electric field on nonplanar SERS structures, to construct a stable, high-resolution, and below diffraction limit platform for single molecule label-free detection. In ...
Knowing what you're talking about: Natural language programming of a multi-player online game

Publisher Summary Enabling end users to express programs in natural language would result in a dramatic increase in accessibility. Previous efforts in natural language programming have been hampered by the apparent ambiguity of natural language. The large part of the solution to this problem is to know what one is talking about—introducing enough semantics about the subject matter of the programs to provide sufficient context for understanding. This chapter presents MOOIDE (pronounced “moody”), a natural language programming system for a MOO, an extensible multiplayer text-based virtual reality storytelling game. MOOIDE incorporates both a state-of-the-art English parser and a large commonsense knowledge base to provide background knowledge about everyday objects, people, and activities. End-user programmers can introduce new virtual objects and characters into the simulated world, which can then interact conversationally with (other) end users. In addition to using semantic context in traditional parsing applications such as anaphora resolution, commonsense knowledge is used to ensure that the virtual objects and characters act in accordance with commonsense notions of cause and effect, inheritance of properties, and affordability of verbs. This leads to a more natural dialog.
TNFR2 regulates gut commensal microbiota tocontrol sex-biased spontaneous experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (BA6P.138)

Host-commensal interactions influence the development and plasticity of gut-associated T helper (Th) and T regulatory (Treg) cells. In mice, the gut commensal segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB) modulate T H 17 and FoxP3 + Treg differentiation to enhance host protection against external pathogens. However, in the context of a susceptible genetic background, SFB has the potential to augment the development of autoimmunity, including multiple sclerosis (MS). We have previously demonstrated that greater than 90% of female, but few male, tumor necrosis alpha receptor type 2 (TNFR2)-deficient mice crossed onto the myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein peptide fragment 35-55 (MOG 35-55 )-specific T cell receptor (TCR) transgenic background rapidly develop spontaneous experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). We now report that oral administration of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, an antibiotic which has broad spectrum of activity against a variety of bacteria prevents the development of spontaneous EAE in TNFR2-deficient 2D2 TCR Tg mice. We have further combined Illumina MiSeq sequencing and RT-PCR to demonstrate a sex-biased microbiome profile in TNFR2-deficient MOG 35-55 -specific TCR mice, including increased SFB expression in the females relative to their male cohorts. Collectively, these findings suggest a role for TNFR2 in regulating commensal microbiota in the context of myelin autoantigen to control autoreactive T cells and autoimmune demyelination.
Mouse papillomavirus infection persists in mucosal tissues of an immunocompetent mouse strain and progresses to cancer

Mouse papillomavirus has shown broad tissue tropism in nude mice. Previous studies have tested cutaneous infections in different immunocompromised and immunocompetent mouse strains. In the current study, we examined mucosal infection in several immunocompetent and immunocompromised mouse strains. Viral DNA was monitored periodically by Q-PCR of lavage samples. Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization were used to determine viral capsid protein and viral DNA respectively. All athymic nude mouse strains showed active infections at both cutaneous and mucosal sites. Interestingly, NOD/SCID mice, which have a deficiency in T, B, and NK cells, showed minimal disease at cutaneous sites but developed persistent infection at the mucosal sites including those of the anogenital region and the oral cavity. Three strains of immunocompetent mice supported mucosal infections. Infections of the lower genital tract in heterozygous (immunocompetent) mice of the NU/J strain progressed to high grade dysplasia and to carcinoma in situ. Anti-MmuPV1 neutralizing antibodies were detected in the sera of all immunocompetent animals. Our findings demonstrate that the mucosae may be the preferred sites for this virus in mice. The mouse model is expected to be a valuable model for the study of mucosal papillomavirus disease, progression, and host immune control.
From Blood to Brain: Adult-Born Neurons in the Crayfish Brain Are the Progeny of Cells Generated by the Immune System.

New neurons continue to be born and integrated into the brains of adult decapod crustaceans. Evidence in crayfish indicates that the 1st-generation neural precursors that generate these adult-born neurons originate in the immune system and travel to the neurogenic niche via the circulatory system. These precursors are attracted to the niche, become integrated amongst niche cells, and undergo mitosis within a few days; both daughters of this division migrate away from the niche towards the brain clusters where they will divide again and differentiate into neurons. In the crustacean brain, the rate of neuronal production is highly sensitive to serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) levels. These effects are lineage-dependent, as serotonin’s influence is limited to late 2nd-generation neural precursors and their progeny. Experiments indicate that serotonin regulates adult neurogenesis in the crustacean brain by multiple mechanisms: via direct effects of serotonin released from brain neurons into the hemolymph or by local release onto target cells, or by indirect influences via a serotonin-mediated release of agents from other regions, such as hormones from the sinus gland and cytokines from hematopoietic tissues. Evidence in crayfish also indicates that serotonin mediates the attraction of neural precursors generated by the immune system to the neurogenic niche. Thus, studies in the crustacean brain have revealed multiple roles for this monoamine in adult neurogenesis, and identified several pathways by which serotonin influences the generation of new neurons.
A Novel Measure of Effect Size for Mediation Analysis

Mediation analysis has become one of the most popular statistical methods in the social sciences. However, many currently available effect size measures for mediation have limitations that restrict their use to specific mediation models. In this article, we develop a measure of effect size that addresses these limitations. We show how modification of a currently existing effect size measure results in a novel effect size measure with many desirable properties. We also derive an expression for the bias of the sample estimator for the proposed effect size measure and propose an adjusted version of the estimator. We present a Monte Carlo simulation study conducted to examine the finite sampling properties of the adjusted and unadjusted estimators, which shows that the adjusted estimator is effective at recovering the true value it estimates. Finally, we demonstrate the use of the effect size measure with an empirical example. We provide freely available software so that researchers can immediately implement the methods we discuss. Our developments here extend the existing literature on effect sizes and mediation by developing a potentially useful method of communicating the magnitude of mediation. (PsycINFO Database Record
The Hurwicz Decision Rule's Relationship to Decision Making with the Triangle and Beta Distributions and Exponential Utility

Nonprobabilistic approaches to decision making have been proposed for situations in which an individual does not have enough information to assess probabilities over an uncertainty. One nonprobabilistic method is to use intervals in which an uncertainty has a minimum and maximum but nothing is assumed about the relative likelihood of any value in the interval. The Hurwicz decision rule in which a parameter trades off between pessimism and optimism generalizes the current rules for making decisions with intervals. This article analyzes the relationship between intervals based on the Hurwicz rule and traditional decision analysis using a few probability distributions and an exponential utility function. This article shows that the Hurwicz decision rule for an interval is logically equivalent to i an expected value decision with a triangle distribution over the interval; ii an expected value decision with a beta distribution; and iii an expected utility decision with constant absolute risk aversion with a uniform distribution. These probability distributions are not exhaustive. There are likely other distributions and utility functions for which equivalence with the Hurwicz decision rule can also be established. Since a frequent reason for the use intervals is that intervals assume less information than a probability distribution, the results in this article call into question whether decision making based on intervals really assumes less information than subjective expected utility decision making.
Accurate population genetic measurements require cryptic species identification in corals

Correct identification of closely related species is important for reliable measures of gene flow. Incorrectly lumping individuals of different species together has been shown to over- or underestimate population differentiation, but examples highlighting when these different results are observed in empirical datasets are rare. Using 199 single nucleotide polymorphisms, we assigned 768 individuals in the Acropora hyacinthus and A. cytherea morphospecies complexes to each of eight previously identified cryptic genetic species and measured intraspecific genetic differentiation across three geographic scales (within reefs, among reefs within an archipelago, and among Pacific archipelagos). We then compared these calculations to estimated genetic differentiation at each scale with all cryptic genetic species mixed as if we could not tell them apart. At the reef scale, correct genetic species identification yielded lower FST estimates and fewer significant comparisons than when species were mixed, raising estimates of short-scale gene flow. In contrast, correct genetic species identification at large spatial scales yielded higher FST measurements than mixed-species comparisons, lowering estimates of long-term gene flow among archipelagos. A meta-analysis of published population genetic studies in corals found similar results: FST estimates at small spatial scales were lower and significance was found less often in studies that controlled for cryptic species. Our results and these prior datasets controlling for cryptic species suggest that genetic differentiation among local reefs may be lower than what has generally been reported in the literature. Not properly controlling for cryptic species structure can bias population genetic analyses in different directions across spatial scales, and this has important implications for conservation strategies that rely on these estimates.
Nonpharmacologic and Medication Minimization Strategies for the Prevention and Treatment of ICU Delirium: A Narrative Review:

Delirium is a multifactorial entity, and its understanding continues to evolve. Delirium has been associated with increased morbidity, mortality, length of stay, and cost for hospitalized patients, especially for patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Recent literature on delirium focuses on specific pharmacologic risk factors and pharmacologic interventions to minimize course and severity of delirium. While medication management clearly plays a role in delirium management, there are a variety of nonpharmacologic interventions, pharmacologic minimization strategies, and protocols that have been recently described. A PubMed search was performed to review the evidence for nonpharmacologic management, pharmacologic minimization strategies, and prevention of delirium for patients in the ICU. Recent approaches were condensed into 10 actionable steps to manage delirium and minimize medications for ICU patients and are presented in this review.
Ligation and Reactivity of Methionine-Oxidized Cytochrome c.

Met80, one of the heme iron ligands in cytochrome c (cyt c), is readily oxidized to Met sulfoxide (Met-SO) by several biologically relevant oxidants. The modification has been suggested to affect both the electron-transfer (ET) and apoptotic functions of this metalloprotein. The coordination of the heme iron in Met-oxidized cyt c (Met-SO cyt c) is critical for both of these functions but has remained poorly defined. We present electronic absorption, NMR, and EPR spectroscopic investigations as well as kinetic studies and mutational analyses to identify the heme iron ligands in yeast iso-1 Met-SO cyt c. Similar to the alkaline form of native cyt c, Lys73 and Lys79 ligate to the ferric heme iron in the Met80-oxidized protein, but this coordination takes place at much lower pH. The ferrous heme iron is ligated by Met-SO, implying the redox-linked ligand switch in the modified protein. Binding studies with the model peptide microperoxidase-8 provide a rationale for alterations in ligation and for the role of ...