cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lower Serum Androstenedione Levels in Pre-Rheumatoid Arthritis versus Normal Control Women: Correlations with Lower Serum Cortisol Levels

Serum adrenal androgens (AAs), including androstenedione (Δ4A) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), have been reported to be lower in female rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with early disease. Few data are available on hormonal status of women before the onset of clinical rheumatoid arthritis (pre-RA). A broad baseline panel of serum adrenal and sex steroids was compared in 36 female pre-RA to 144 matched cohort control (CN) subjects to determine differences in their mean values and in patterns of hormonal correlations. Study subjects having lower versus higher baseline serum cortisol levels than the total group's mean value were also analyzed separately to investigate differences in their hormonal levels and correlational patterns. In total subjects, mean (±SE) Δ4A level (nmol/L) was lower () in 28 pre-RA cases () versus 108 CN (). The significant () difference was restricted to 9 pre-RA versus 53 CN subjects having lower cortisol levels ( versus nmol/L, resp.). In total subjects, no significant difference was found between study subjects in their bivariate correlations of the hormonal panel variables, unlike results found in the subgroups stratified by lower versus higher cortisol levels. A subgroup of pre-RA females may have relative adrenal cortical insufficiency, as reflected by lower Δ4A, especially observed among those subjects with lower cortisol levels.
Polysilicon Integrated Microsystems: Technologies And Applications

Merging polysilicon microstructures with CMOs electronics offers monolithic solutions for inertial sensing and micromechanical signal processing. Correlations between polysilicon deposition, doping, and anneal conditions and the mechanical properties are understood. A low-thermal impact polysilicon process could be merged with submicron CMOS. In vacuum, the Brownian noise of a polysilicon accelerometer is about 1 /spl mu/g/Hz/sup 1/2/. An integrated sigma-delta controller, implemented in 1 /spl mu/m CMOS, can in principle resolve this noise. Microresonator oscillators and filters are of potential application in low-power electronic signal processing. Building-block approaches to microsystem design are emerging.
Teaching Science in Southern Africa

In the context of early experiences of teaching in South Africa and Lesotho, I describe how my curiosity led to two research projects concerning density and heat. I focus on theories of teaching and learning, especially students’ acquisition of scientific knowledge. I discuss the role of alternative conceptions in learning, and the implications for curriculum.
Introducing endogenous antigens into the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II presentation pathway. Both Ii mediated inhibition and enhancement of endogenous peptide/MHC class II presentation require the same Ii domains.

Summary The invariant chain (Ii) plays a key role in regulating the antigen presentation function of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules. Ii also influences the presentation of usually excluded endogenously synthesized proteins into the MHC class II presentation pathway. To evaluate the role of Ii in the generation of peptide–MHC class II complexes derived from endogenously synthesized proteins, we tested mutant Ii constructs in two model systems. Co-expression of wild-type Ii inhibits the presentation of hen-egg lysozyme (HEL) 35–45/Ak complex, but enhances the presentation of ovalbumin (OVA) 247–265/Ak complex from endogenously synthesized HEL or OVA precursors. The differential sensitivity of these antigens to chloroquine was consistent with their being processed in distinct compartments. Nevertheless, with a panel of Ii deletion constructs we show here that both the Ii-mediated inhibition and enhancement functions require the endosomal targeting and CLIP residues. Surprisingly, the Ii mutant lacking the endoplasmic reticulum lumenal residues 126–215, despite apparently lower expression, was at least as effective as full-length Ii in antigen presentation assays. Thus, alternative pathways exist for processing endogenously expressed antigens, and Ii-mediated inhibition and enhancement of peptide/MHC class II expression depend upon the same regions, with neither requiring the 89 C-terminal, lumenal Ii residues.
BIG: an agent for resource-bounded information gathering and decision making

Abstract The World Wide Web has become an invaluable information resource but the explosion of available information has made Web search a time consuming and complex process. The large number of information sources and their different levels of accessibility, reliability and associated costs present a complex information gathering control problem. This paper describes the rationale, architecture, and implementation of a next generation information gathering system—a system that integrates several areas of Artificial Intelligence research under a single umbrella. Our solution to the information explosion is an information gathering agent, BIG, that plans to gather information to support a decision process, reasons about the resource trade-offs of different possible gathering approaches, extracts information from both unstructured and structured documents, and uses the extracted information to refine its search and processing activities.
Speed-dating as an invaluable tool for studying romantic attraction: A methodological primer.

Research on initial romantic attraction flourished in the 1960s and 1970s but has now been partially eclipsed by research on close relationships. The authors argue that speed-dating procedures, in which participants attend an event where they experience brief ‘‘dates’’ with a series of potential romantic partners, permit researchers to ‘‘retrofit’’ the advances of close relationships research to the study of initial romantic attraction. Speed-dating procedures also allow for strong tests of many fundamental attraction-related hypotheses and, via longitudinal follow-ups, could unify the fields of initial romantic attraction and close relationships. This article will help investigators conduct speed-dating studies by addressing the methodological and logistical issues they will face and by illustrating procedures with a description of the Northwestern Speed-Dating Study.
A non-contact method for spatially localized sedimentation of particles from liquid suspensions using Marangoni forces

This paper presents the directed sedimentation of suspension particles in a thin layer of liquid (1 mm) onto a featureless glass substrate by Marangoni flows. A programmable 16 × 8 array of surface mount resistors suspended 0.1‐2 mm above the liquid provides dynamic millimeter-sized heat sources to locally heat the liquid surface to temperatures from approximately 28.5 to 36.5 ◦ C. The heaters in this array can be activated independently by a graphical user interface, creating surface tension gradients along the liquid surface. The resulting Marangoni flows direct spatially localized particle sedimentation on the substrate. The resultant sedimentation patterns and accumulation levels depend on factors such as the temperature gradient at the liquid surface, number of active heaters and type of liquid used. For example, when a single heater is activated, a liquid surface temperature elevation of 6.9 ◦ C results in a localized sedimentation of suspended weed pollen Kochia scoparia (� = 25 μm) in silicone oil DC-704 over a region of 2.9 mm 2 that is centered directly beneath the active heater. This sedimentation method is a contactless technique, which reduces the likelihood of sample contamination. (Some figures in this article are in colour only in the electronic version)
An evaluation of the effects of persistent environmental contaminants on the reproductive success of Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodias) in Indiana.

Contaminants in Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodias) from Indiana were quantified to determine if levels were high enough to impair reproduction. During 2005 and 2006, 35 eggs were collected from 6 colonies and analyzed for contaminants. Between 30 and 101 nests were monitored in 7 colonies weekly over a 3-month period to determine reproductive and fledging success. Average levels (±SD) of polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and organochlorine pesticides in egg yolks were 3,101 (±4,737), 7.20 (±2.96), and 2,869 (±2,291) ppb, respectively. Reproductive success (average number of chicks fledged per active nest) and fledging success (number of chicks fledged per successful nest) averaged 1.52 and 1.92 chicks, respectively. Contaminant levels measured in eggs from this region are comparable to those observed not having affects on reproductive success elsewhere; therefore, factors other than environmental contamination may be affecting reproductive success of Great Blue Herons in study colonies.
Forewarning and forearming stereotype-threatened students.

This study investigated communicative strategies for helping female students cope with “stereotype threat”. Participants completed a difficult math test after reading one of three coping messages: a control message encouraging perseverance, a “suppression” message describing stereotype threat and instructing participants to suppress associated thoughts, and a “replacement” message describing the phenomenon and presenting an alternative, self-relevant positive stereotype. As predicted, a performance gap favoring males was observed in the control condition. This gap widened when students attempted to suppress threatening thoughts but narrowed when they were primed with the alternative positive stereotype. Our results demonstrate that priming a positive achieved identity (e.g., private college student) can subdue stereotype threat associated with an ascribed identity (e.g., female).
Tempo Perception and Performance of Elementary Students, Grades 3-6

The tempo perception and performance abilities of 80 elementary students in Grades 3-6 were investigated by means of two tests of tempo perception and one test of tempo performance. Scores for (a) the detection of gradual tempo changes, (b) the discrimination of differences in tempo pairs, and (c) the steadiness of tempo performance increased in a linear fashion from Grade 3 to Grade 6. Although scores for the accuracy ofreproducing a given tempo also increased with grade, a linear trend was not found. “In-tempo” responses increased significantly with grade level. The effect of training was significant only for the accuracy of reproducing a given tempo. All perception and performance scores increased as tempos increased, and subjects most often performed faster than the given tempo. The correlations among all measures tended to increase in strength with grade level, and all correlations involving the aggregate of scores from Grades 3-6 were significant.
taxonomiC history and status oF the Coahuila bishoP's CaP

Abstract Astrophytum coahuilense (Moller) Kayser has had an unsettled taxonomic history since it was originally named as a subspecies of A. myriostigma Lemaire by H Moller in 1927. A review of the systematic and horticultural literature reveals that A. coahuilense has been treated as a variety or synonym of A. myriostigma by botanists in the United States and Mexico but is generally recognized as a distinct species in Germany and other parts of Europe. Recent encyclopedic and regionally significant works treat A. coahuilense as a synonym of A. myriostigma. Previous authors performed hybridization experiments involving the two taxa and reported reproductive isolation between them, but these authors provided little or no quantitative data in support of their observations. The results of my preliminary hybridization experiments are in agreement with these published reports. A. coahuilense and A. myriostigma, when artificially hybridized, failed to set fruit or produced seed that, in most cases, failed to ger...
Cardiac radiology: centenary review.

During the past century, cardiac imaging technologies have revolutionized the diagnosis and treatment of acquired and congenital heart disease. Many important contributions to the field of cardiac imaging were initially reported in Radiology. The field developed from the early stages of cardiac imaging, including the use of coronary x-ray angiography and roentgen kymography, to nowadays the widely used echocardiographic, nuclear medicine, cardiac computed tomographic (CT), and magnetic resonance (MR) applications. It is surprising how many of these techniques were not recognized for their potential during their early inception. Some techniques were described in the literature but required many years to enter the clinical arena and presently continue to expand in terms of clinical application. The application of various CT and MR contrast agents for the diagnosis of myocardial ischemia is a case in point, as the utility of contrast agents continues to expand the noninvasive characterization of myocardium. ...
Simulated Physician Learning Intervention to Improve Safety and Quality of Diabetes Care: A Randomized Trial

Abstract Objective: To assess two physician learning interventions designed to improve safety and quality of diabetes care delivered by primary care physicians (PCPs). Research Design and Methods: This group-randomized clinical trial included 57 consented PCPs and their 2,020 eligible adult patients with diabetes. Physicians were randomized to no intervention (Group A); a simulated case-based physician learning intervention (Group B); or the same simulated case-based learning intervention with physician opinion leader feedback (Group C). Dependent variables included glycated hemoglobin (A1c) values, LDL-cholesterol values, pharmacotherapy intensification rates in patients not at clinical goals, and risky prescribing events. Results: Groups B and Group C had substantial reductions in risky prescribing of metformin in patients with renal impairment (p=0.03). Compared to Group A and C, physicians in Group B achieved slightly better glycemic control (p=0.04), but physician intensification of oral glucose lowering medications was not affected by interventions (p=0.41). Lipid management improved over time (p Conclusions: A simulated, case-based learning intervention for physicians significantly reduced risky prescribing events and marginally improved glycemic control in actual patients. The addition of opinion leader feedback did not improve the learning intervention. Refinement and further development of this approach is warranted.
Service Differentiation in IEEE 802.11s Mesh Networks: A Dual Queue Strategy

Wireless Mesh Networks (WMNs) extend the concept of ad hoc multi-hop wireless communication to WLANs in an attempt to complement the wired infrastructure. Unlike in traditional WLANs where all the Access Points (APs) had to be connected to the wired infrastructure, in WMNs, only a subset of APs are connected to the wired infrastructure which cooperatively relay other's traffic towards the Internet. Although WMNs are a good proposition for ubiquitous broadband connectivity, they suffer from serious spatial unfairness problem. Often, the proximity of nodes in a network to the main internet attachment plays a significant role in the performance obtained, which is highly undesirable in the envisioned scenario of WMNs. The prime motivation of this paper is to provide fair treatment to all users and provision guaranteed service to users that are attached to a far away AP. We propose a dual queue strategy that provides service guarantees to all users in the network irrespective of their spatial location. The algorithm is designed to elegantly segregate and exclusively reserve queues for either of the traffic. We implement this module above the standard IEEE 802.11 MAC layer thus obviating any modifications to the legacy MAC. Extensive simulations reveal that our proposed scheme substantially improves the performance of multihop flows.
Ultrastructural studies of pteridosperm pollen: Nanoxanthiopollenites clendening and nygreen

Abstract The ultrastructure and organization of the Upper Pennsylvania (Missourian Stage) taxon Nanoxanthiopollenites mcmurrayii Clendening and Nygreen is described. The exine is ornamented by widely spaced spines that possess the same infrastructure as the remainder of the exine. Ornamentation between the spines is foveolate. The exine consists of a thin nexine and alveolate sexine infrastructure similar to that described in the seed fern pollen types Monoletes and Parasporites .
Voltage-load dynamics: Modeling and control

This paper discusses voltage recovery phenomena following typical faults in a power system considering the existence of dynamic loads, consisting mainly of induction motors. A three-phase, physically based power system model is utilized, allowing inclusion of system asymmetries and imbalances. The proposed modeling and simulation is based on a quadratic power system model and on a numerical integration technique that assumes quadratic variation of the state within an integration step. Numerical experiments are presented for the purpose of quantifying the phenomena and identifying the major parameters affecting these phenomena.
Skewness Persistence in Common Stock Returns

Recent empirical studies have found expost common stock returns to be consistently posi? tively skewed. The frequency of positive skewness in this study is found to be relatively stable over varying time periods from 1961 to 1980. However, the skewness of individual stocks and portfolios of stocks does not persist across different time periods. Positivelyskewed equity portfolios in one period are not likely to be positively skewed in the next time period. Past positively-skewed returns do not predict future positively-skewed re? turns.
Nonamplified Probe-Based Microbial Detection and Identification

Probe-based nonamplified molecular assays were first developed for detection of microorganisms decades ago. Over the years, the variety of molecular technologies for the laboratory diagnosis of infectious diseases has expanded greatly, largely due to the rapidly expanding field of sequenced microbial genomes. Probe-based hybridization assays remain a commonly used format in clinical microbiology laboratories due to its numerous advantages over routine culture-based metrologies. Conventional phenotypic methods of bacterial identification which include the Gram stain, culture, and biochemical reactions, contain three major challenges. First, nonviable or nonculturable organisms simply cannot be identified due to growth restrictions. Second, some microbial strains may exhibit atypical biochemical characteristics that do not match established patterns routinely used for identification. Third, slow-growing or fastidious organisms require a prolonged time to identification. In contrast, probe-based assays bypass many of the limitations of phenotypic methods and provide accurate pathogen identification in a clinically relevant timeframe. A variety of commercial assays are available to identify pathogens from culture, and in addition there are several assays that can detect infectious agents directly from specimen. This chapter presents an overview of the design and clinical applications of prominent nonamplified probe-based methods commonly used in clinical microbiology laboratories to identify pathogens.
Relationship Changes In IT Offshoring

As the sheer volume of IT being offshored continues to grow, other changes are occurring. The type of IT work being offshored is expanding as more sophisticated vendors and technologies make it feasible for new, often more complicated, IT work to be offshored. Information Technology (IT) is continually improving, transforming formerly non-offshorable personal tasks into offshorable impersonal tasks. The relationships between clients and their offshore vendors have been changing, most obviously in the sheer volume of offshoring being undertaken. To gain a better picture of offshoring, it is necessary to examine these changing aspects.
Self-injury, suicide ideation, and sexual orientation: differences in causes and correlates among high school students.

BACKGROUND: Researchhas suggested that sexual minority youth are more likely to experience a number of behavioral and health-related risk factors due to their exposure to negative attitudes and beliefs about sexual minorities. Few studies, however, have examined the prevalence of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) among sexual minority youth. With self-cutting and suicidal ideation common in middle and high schools, understanding the antecedents and correlates of such behaviormay help identify troubled students and initiate preventative measures. METHODS: Bivariate probit regression analyses are performed using data from 7,326 high school students collected via the Delaware Youth Risk Behavior Survey. RESULTS: Results indicate that bullying victimization, fighting, substance use, sexual behavior, depression, and unhealthy dieting behaviors were generally associated with NSSI and suicidal ideation. Some effects - including those from sexual activity, substance use, and unhealthy dieting behaviors - significantly differed based on gender and orientation. CONCLUSIONS: Risk factors for suicide and NSSI vary by gender and orientation. Both prevention/intervention specialists and researchers should consider the intersection of these risk factors with sexual orientation in their efforts. Language: en
A structured light method for underwater surface reconstruction

Abstract A new structured-light method for 3D imaging has been developed which can simultaneously estimate both the geometric shape of the water surface and the geometric shape of underwater objects. The method requires only a single image and thus can be applied to dynamic as well as static scenes. Experimental results show the utility of this method in non-invasive underwater 3D reconstruction applications. The performance of the new method is studied through a sensitivity analysis for different parameters of the suggested method.
A fully unsupervised non-intrusive load monitoring framework

Monitoring an individual electrical load's energy usage is of great significance in energy-efficient buildings as it underlies the sophisticated load control and energy optimization strategies. Non-intrusive load monitoring (NILM) provides an economical tool to access per-load power consumption without deploying fine-grained, large-scale smart meters. However, existing NILM approaches require training data to be collected by sub-metering individual appliances as well as the prior knowledge about the number of appliances attached to the meter, which are expensive or unlikely to obtain in practice. In this paper, we propose a fully unsupervised NILM framework based on Non-parametric Factorial Hidden Markov Models, in which per-load power consumptions are disaggregated from the composite signal with minimum prerequisite. We develop an efficient inference algorithm to detect the number of appliances from data and disaggregate the power signal simultaneously. We also propose a criterion, Generalized State Prediction Accuracy, to properly evaluate the overall performance for methods targeting at both appliance number detection and load disaggregation. We evaluate our framework by comparing against other multi-tasking schemes, and the results show that our framework compares favorably to prior work in both disaggregation accuracy and computational overhead.
Tricolored blackbird itinerant breeding in California

To evaluate the abundance of Tricolored Blackbirds (Agelaius tricolor), the schedule of breeding throughout the Central Valley of California was determined in four years (1992-1994, 1997). By the end of April in 1994, all observed Tricolored Blackbirds were in the immediate vicinity of active breeding colonies. Only one colony of 600 birds was established in the Sacramento Valley north of Sacramento County. During late May and early June, more than 170,000 individuals settled in the Sacramento Valley, while attendance at colonies in the San Joaquin Valley was declining. Most breeding birds colonizing the Sacramento Valley in May and June probably already had completed nesting efforts elsewhere. This suggests that Tricolored Blackbirds are itinerant breeders. Surveys, conducted after initial settlement and before substantial movements from one breeding area to another occur, have the potential to estimate overall numbers. Inclusion of late season breeding colonies in estimates of overall abundance would result in substantial overestimates of the global population. Local and regional declines in the number of breeding Tricolored Blackbirds of an order of magnitude or more resemble population collapses but probably are attributable to itinerant breeding.
The Case of Jane: A Pinean Approach

One of the goals of psychodynamic psychotherapy is to address not only patients’ symptoms but also their personality dynamics. In this case, a psychodynamic approach based on the four psychologies (drive, ego, object, self) suggested by Fred Pine was used to facilitate assessment, to guide psychotherapy, and to evaluate the outcomes. It is proposed that this eclectic and integrative approach honors the richness of the dignity and tragedy of the human condition.
Simple Estimate of Entrainment Rate of Pollutants from a Coastal Discharge into the Surf Zone

Microbial pollutants from coastal discharges can increase illness risks for swimmers and cause beach advisories. There is presently no predictive model for estimating the entrainment of pollution from coastal discharges into the surf zone. We present a novel, quantitative framework for estimating surf zone entrainment of pollution at a wave-dominant open beach. Using physical arguments, we identify a dimensionless parameter equal to the quotient of the surf zone width lsz and the cross-flow length scale of the discharge la = Mj1/2/Usz, where Mj is the discharge’s momentum flux and Usz is a representative alongshore velocity in the surf zone. We conducted numerical modeling of a nonbuoyant discharge at an alongshore uniform beach with constant slope using a wave-resolving hydrodynamic model. Using results from 144 numerical experiments we develop an empirical relationship between the surf zone entrainment rate α and lsz/la. The empirical relationship can reasonably explain seven measurements of surf zone e...
Flower Power: Assessing the Impact of the Magnolia Project on Reducing Poor Birth Outcomes in an At-Risk Neighborhood:

The past decade has seen tremendous improvements in the health status of children in the United States. In 1992, the infant mortality rate in the United States was at 8.5 per 1,000 live births. By 2002 that figure had declined to 6.9. However, the infant mortality rate for Jacksonville/Duval County in Northeast Florida has consistently remained higher than both the national and state rates, particularly for minority populations. The Magnolia Project was developed by a consortium of local health care providers and concerned community agencies to address racial disparities in birth outcomes. The Magnolia Project provides well-woman clinic and case management services to women in the childbearing years residing in the urban core, where infant mortality is highest. In this paper, we examine the Magnolia Project to assess the impact that this initiative has made on the target community in providing health services and prevention strategies to reduce poor birth outcomes. Included in such services are strategies aimed at reducing factors associated with infant mortality. These strategies have resulted in improved birth outcomes for women associated with the Magnolia Project, including a low incidence of infant mortality and low birth weight babies for participants.
Abstract P5-12-04: Directed exercise intervention in breast cancer patients with arthralgias receiving aromatase inhibitors: A randomized pilot study

Purpose: Early discontinuation or non-adherence of AI therapy occurs in 25-50 % of patients due to treatment associated toxicities, including musculoskeletal symptoms such as arthralgias and myalgias. The goal of this pilot study is to evaluate the effect of a directed physical therapy regimen including joint mobility and stretching exercises on musculoskeletal symptoms resulting from AI therapy, in comparison to normal physical activity alone. Patients and methods: Eligibility criteria included post-menopausal women with histological evidence of hormone receptor positive breast cancer who were currently receiving adjuvant AI therapy and experiencing significant joint discomfort/stiffness when attempting activities of daily living which began or significantly increased after initiation of AI therapy. Patients were excluded if they had preexisting rheumatoid arthritis or fibromyalgia, systemic metastasis or ECOG performance status of greater than 2. Patients were randomly assigned to an 8 week directed exercise program under the supervision of a physical therapist (Group A, n=15) or were told to participate in moderate physical activity (walking) (Group B, n=12). Before beginning the study and at the end of the 8 week intervention, patients in both groups underwent a physical therapy evaluation including performance based measures such as functional lower extremity strength and grip strength and a Patient Specific Functional Scale (PSFS) to assess functional ability to complete specific activities. Additionally, all patients answered a series of questionnaires including a pain disability index (PDI), pain scale (PS) and the PHQ4 depression scale. Effects of the directed exercise regimen were evaluated using non-parametric analysis to determine differences between the two groups. Results: Significant improvement was observed in both left and right grip strength and right pinch in the intervention group (Group A) as compared to the control group (Group B). Additionally, significant improvement in lower body measures including 2-minute step tests and chair raises were observed in patients who underwent the directed exercise program compared to the control group. No significant differences were observed in PS, PDI or PHQ4 between the groups. However, Group A showed a slight improvement on the PS and PDI. Conclusions: Directed exercise regimens involving joint mobility and stretching exercises may have benefits over moderate physical activity alone for joint pain and arthralgia associated with AI therapy. Citation Format: Varadarajan R, Helm E, Arnold C, Huelsenbeck-Dill L, Ingraham-Lopresto B, Sonaad S, Swanson P, Sims-Mourtada J, Dickson-Whitmer D. Directed exercise intervention in breast cancer patients with arthralgias receiving aromatase inhibitors: A randomized pilot study. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-12-04.
Identification of Genes Potentially Responsible for extra-Oral Digestion and Overcoming Plant Defense from Salivary Glands of the Tarnished Plant Bug (Hemiptera: Miridae) Using cDNA Sequencing.

Saliva is known to play a crucial role in tarnished plant bug (TPB, Lygus lineolaris [Palisot de Beauvois]) feeding. By facilitating the piercing, the enzyme-rich saliva may be used for extra-oral digestion and for overcoming plant defense before the plant fluids are ingested by TPBs. To identify salivary gland genes, mRNA was extracted from salivary glands and cDNA library clones were sequenced. A de novo-assembling of 7,000 Sanger sequences revealed 666 high-quality unique cDNAs with an average size of 624 bp, in which the identities of 347 cDNAs were determined using Blast2GO. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis indicated that these genes participate in eighteen metabolic pathways. Identifications of large number of enzyme genes in TPB salivary glands evidenced functions for extra-oral digestion and feeding damage mechanism, including 45 polygalacturonase, two α- amylase, one glucosidase, one glycan enzyme, one aminopeptidase, four lipase, and many serine protease cDNAs. The presence of multiple transcripts, multigene members, and high abundance of cell wall degradation enzymes (polygalacturonases) indicated that the enzyme-rich saliva may cause damage to plants by breaking down plant cell walls to make nutrients available for feeding. We also identified genes potentially involved in insect adaptation and detoxifying xenobiotics that may allow insects to overcome plant defense responses, including four glutathione S-transferases, three esterases, one cytochrome P450, and several serine proteases. The gene profiles of TPB salivary glands revealed in this study provides a foundation for further understanding and potential development of novel enzymatic inhibitors, or other RNAi approaches that may interrupt or minimize TPB feeding damage.
Synthesis of large scale MoS2 for electronics and energy applications

Layered molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has attracted great attention owing to its unique properties. However, synthesizing large area thin film with high crystal quality and uniformity remains a challenge. The present study explores large scale MoS2 growth methods, i.e., two-step method of sputtering-chemical vapor deposition and direct sputtering method, and applies them to fabricate field effect transistors and supercapacitors, respectively. The thickness modulated MoS2 films by two-step method exhibited high field effect mobility [∼12.24 cm2/(V s)] and current on/off ratio (∼106). The direct sputtering of MoS2 demonstrated excellent electrochemical performance with a high capacitance (∼30 mF/cm2) and cyclic stability upto 5000 cycles. Our growth methods reported here for the large scale MoS2 with high uniformity can trigger the development of several important technologies in two-dimensional materials.
Evaluation of a sport-based youth development programme for refugees

Various methods have been used to help vulnerable populations, including sport and physical recreation. This study was an initial evaluation of a sport and physical recreation programme for refugee...
Trends in oil spill detection via hyperspectral imaging

In hyperspectral imaging, pixels of interest generally incorporate information from disparate components which requires quantitative decomposition of these pixels to extract desired information. Since hyperspectral sensors collect data in hundreds of spectral bands, it is essential to perform spectral unmixing to identify the spectra of all endmembers in the pixel in order to ascertain the fractional abundances of pure target spectral signatures. By extracting desired spectral signature from high-dimensional remotely sensed hyperspectral imagery, one can detect and identify objects in vast geographical regions. While numerous algorithms were developed for target detection in hyperspectral imagery, a unified and synergistic approach to evaluate the performance of these algorithms for oil spill detection in ocean environment is yet to be done. Consequently, in this paper, we investigate and compare the performance of five most widely used target detection algorithms for the identification and tracking of surface and subsurface oil spills in ocean environment. Test results using real life oil spill based hyperspectral image datasets show that the spectral fringe-adjusted joint transform correlation technique and the constrained energy minimization technique yield better results compared to alternate techniques.
Development and validation of an instrument to measure collaborative goal setting in the care of patients with diabetes.

Objective Despite known benefits of patient-perceived collaborative goal setting, we have a limited ability to monitor this process in practice. We developed the Patient Measure of Collaborative Goal Setting (PM-CGS) to evaluate the use of collaborative goal setting from the patient9s perspective. Research design and methods A random sample of 400 patients aged 40 years or older, receiving diabetes care from the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System between 8/2012 and 8/2013, were mailed a survey containing potential PM-CGS items (n=44) as well as measures of patient demographics, perceived self-management competence, trust in their physician, and self-management behaviors. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to evaluate construct validity. External validity was evaluated via a structural equation model (SEM) that tested the association of the PM-CGS with self-management behaviors. The direct and two mediated (via trust and self-efficacy) pathways were tested. Results A total of 259 patients responded to the survey (64% response rate), of which 192 were eligible for inclusion. Results from the factor analysis supported a 37-item measure of patient-perceived CGS spanning five domains: listen and learn; share ideas; caring relationship; measurable objective; and goal achievement support (χ=4366.13, p Conclusions CGS can be validly measured by the 37-item PM-CGS. Use of the PM-CGS can help illustrate actionable deficits in goal-setting discussions.
Whoosh - Declining Law School Applications and Entering Credentials: Responding with Pivot Pedagogy

Whoosh – that is the sound when the number of law school applications and entering law students and the credentials of those students, decline all at once. This trend has continued for many years, however, given the cyclical nature of law school applications, it will likely reverse eventually and credentials will improve, but not overnight. The first part of the article briefly discusses the decline in law school applicants and applications, including the confluence of perfect storm factors that resulted in more of the crash landing we experienced than a gradual drop. It also details the corresponding drop in entering credentials which accompanied that decline. The article focuses on what we can do as law professors in response to these declines to better equip students for success in law school, the bar examination and practice. The second part describes a range of responses to the storm: panic, paralysis, or pivot. While recognizing there is no single solution and certainly no perfect solution, pivoting seemed the only viable option and certainly the most effective. Pivot pedagogy is essentially a package of ideas to respond to declining applications, applicants, and entering statistics with the goal of improving student performance across the board, especially students with lower entering credentials. This part then details my classroom experiences and experiments with pivot pedagogy over the past two years, including empirical data. It closes with a plea for continued pivot pedagogy as a tool to engage students and improve performance.
Toxoplasma gondii LCAT Primarily Contributes to Tachyzoite Egress.

ABSTRACT Egress is a crucial phase of the Toxoplasma gondii intracellular lytic cycle. This is a process that drives inflammation and is strongly associated with the pathogenesis observed during toxoplasmosis. Despite the link between this process and virulence, little is known about egress on a mechanistic or descriptive level. Previously published work has suggested that a phospholipase, lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), secreted from the parasite’s dense granules contributes to parasite growth, virulence, and egress. Here we present evidence from several independent mutant parasite lines confirming a role for LCAT in efficient egress, although no defects in growth or virulence were apparent. We also show via genetic complementation that the catalytic activity of LCAT is required for its role in parasite egress. This work solidifies the contribution of LCAT to egress of T. gondii tachyzoites. IMPORTANCE Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most successful human pathogens, infecting an estimated 2.5 billion people across the globe. Pathogenesis seen during acute or reactivated toxoplasmosis has been closely tied to the parasite’s intracellular lytic life cycle, which culminates in an event called egress that results in the release of freshly replicated parasites from the infected host cell. Despite the highly destructive, cytolytic nature of this event and its downstream consequences, very little is known about how the parasite accomplishes this step. Previous work has suggested a role for a secreted phospholipase, LCAT, in Toxoplasma egress and roles in cell traversal and egress in the Plasmodium species orthologue. We confirm here that LCAT-deficient tachyzoites are unable to efficiently egress from infected monolayers, and we provide evidence that LCAT catalytic activity is required for its role in egress.
Utilization of BIA-Derived Bone Mineral Estimates Exerts Minimal Impact on Body Fat Estimates via Multicompartment Models in Physically Active Adults.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to compare body fat estimates and fat-free mass (FFM) characteristics produced by multicompartment models when utilizing either dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) or single-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (SF-BIA) for bone mineral content (BMC) in a sample of physically active adults. Body fat percentage (BF%) was estimated with 5-compartment (5C), 4-compartment (4C), 3-compartment (3C), and 2-compartment (2C) models, and DXA. The 5C-Wang with DXA for BMC (i.e., 5C-Wang DXA ) was the criterion. 5C-Wang using SF-BIA for BMC (i.e., 5C-Wang BIA ), 4C-Wang DXA (DXA for BMC), 4C-Wang BIA (BIA for BMC), and 3C-Siri all produced values similar to 5C-Wang DXA ( r > 0.99; total error [TE] DXA (underwater weighing for body volume and DXA for BMC) and 3C-Lohman BIA (underwater weighing for body volume and SF-BIA for BMC) produced the largest 95% LOAs (±5.94%–8.63%). The FFM characteristics (i.e., FFM density, water/FFM, mineral/FFM, and protein/FFM) for 5C-Wang DXA and 5C-Wang BIA were each compared with the "reference body" cadavers of Brozek et al. 5C-Wang BIA FFM density differed significantly from the "reference body" in women (1.103 ± 0.007 g/cm 3 ; p DXA or either 5C model in men. Moreover, water/FFM and mineral/FFM were significantly lower in men and women when comparing 5C-Wang DXA and 5C-Wang BIA with the "reference body," whereas protein/FFM was significantly higher (all p ≤ 0.001). 3C-Lohman BIA and 3C-Lohman DXA produced error similar to 2C models and DXA and are therefore not recommended multicompartment models. Although more advanced multicompartment models (e.g., 4C-Wang and 5C-Wang) can utilize BIA-derived BMC with minimal impact on body fat estimates, the increased accuracy of these models over 3C-Siri is minimal.
2.09 – Distinctiveness and Memory: A Theoretical and Empirical Review

Three prominent theoretical perspectives on the nature of distinctiveness in memory research are identified: organizational, representational, and affective theories. Fifteen different memory phenomena that researchers have explained by appealing to one or more of these formulations are then reviewed. Several common threads emerged, including the contributions of both encoding and retrieval processes and the importance of within-subjects designs. It is argued that complete explanations of the impact of distinctiveness on memory will entail hybrid theories, combining elements of the three main perspectives. Researchers are encouraged to provide specific definitions of distinctiveness and identify mechanisms whereby distinctiveness enhances memory performance.
EMBEDDED AND ATTACHED SAPPHIRE OPTICAL FIBER SENSORS FOR THE NONDESTRUCTIVE CHARACTERIZATION OF MATERIALS AT HIGH TEMPERATURE

Sapphire optical fiber sensors have been attached to and embedded within high temperature materials and subsequently used to measure strain and temperature at temperatures above 1000°C for several years1. Intrinsic and extrinsic interferometric, polarimetric and intensity-based sensor configurations have been implemented using unclad and uncoated solid-core sapphire fibers, as well as sapphire fibers with ceramic coatings designed to reduce propagation loss and allow increased protection of the fiber surface2. Of these methods, extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometric cavity designs using fibers operated as single mode waveguides have thus far been most widely employed, in part due to their inherent avoidance of off-axis strain effects and temperature-induced signal fading3. These sensor elements combined with low loss in-line splices, implemented directly between sapphire fibers and indirectly using aluminosilicate glass fiber jumpers between sapphire and silica fibers4, have allowed the implementation of such fiber sensors on and in materials in high temperature laboratory environments up to several meters from room temperature electronic instrumentation. Such sensors have been directly attached to silicon carbide specimens using high temperature ceramic adhesives and used to measure temperature with 0.2°C resolution from room temperature to over 1700°C, and quasistatic strain with 0.1 microstrain resolution at temperatures up to and above 1200°C5. The sensors also have been used above 1200°C to monitor strain during the fatigue loading of a silicon carbide specimen to more than 60,000 cycles without failure6.
The Spatial Structure of Crime in Urban Environments

It is undoubtedly cliche to say that we are in the Age of Big Data Analytics or Data Science; every computing and IT publication you find talks about Big Data and companies no longer are interested in software engineers and analysts but instead they are looking for Data Scientists! In spite of the excessive use of the term, the truth of the matter is that data has never been more available and the increase in computation power allows for more sophisticated tools to identify patterns in the data and on the networks that governs these systems (complex networks). Crime is not different, the open data phenomena has spread to thousand of cities in the world, which are making data about crime activity available for any citizen to look at. Furthermore, new criminology studies argue that criminals typically commit crimes in areas in which they are familiar, usually close to home. Using this information we propose a new model based on networks to build links between crimes in close physical proximity. We show that the structure of the criminal activity can be partially represented by this spatial network of sites. In this paper we describe this process and the analysis of the networks we have constructed to find patterns in the underlying structure of criminal activity.
Locating Discontinuities of a Bounded Function by the Partial Sums of Its Fourier Series

A key step for some methods dealing with the reconstruction of a function with jump discontinuities is the accurate approximation of the jumps and their locations. Various methods have been suggested in the literature to obtain this valuable information. In the present paper, we develop an algorithm based on asymptotic expansion formulae obtained in our earlier work. The algorithm enables one to approximate the locations of discontinuities and the magnitudes of jumps of a bounded function given its truncated Fourier series. We investigate the stability of the method and study its complexity. Finally, we consider several numerical examples in order to emphasize strong and weak points of the algorithm.
United Shoe Machineryand the Antitrust Significance of “Free” Service

In United States v. United Shoe MachineryCorp., United Shoe Machinery was found guilty ofillegal monopolization due to its leasing practices. Existing scholarship on this case largely focuses onthe issue of leasing versus selling. In contrast,we examine a particular practice of United's thatwas condemned: its policy of providing service forits leased machines without a separate servicecharge. Our analysis demonstrates that thispractice served an important insurance function byshifting risk from the shoe manufacturers to United,a more efficient bearer of risk, and concludes thatthis practice was efficiency enhancing.