cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The modification of human society by natural systems: discontinuities caused by the exploitation of endemic species and the introduction of exotics.

Drastic reductions in Earth's biodiversity, old growth forests, top soil, clean water and air, and truly wild areas are occurring during a period when discussions of sustainable growth and sustaina...
Reaching the global community during disasters: findings from a content analysis of the organizational use of Twitter after the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

Social networking sites provide virtual environments in which individuals and organizations exchange real-time information on a multitude of topics, including health promotion and disease prevention. The January 2010 earthquake in Haiti has been posited as a turning point in the way in which organizations use social media, such as Twitter, for crisis communication. The purpose of this content analysis was to explore whether organizations’ use of Twitter changed after the 2010 Haiti earthquake. A team of 13 coders analyzed all English-language tweets (N = 2,616) during the 3 months before and post earthquake from 6 leading organizations in the Haiti disaster relief efforts. Study findings indicate that the ways in which organizations used Twitter changed over time. Chi-square analyses demonstrated that organizations decreased in their use of certain strategies to disseminate information through Twitter, such as the use of links. Organizations did not change in their use of techniques to involve users (e.g....
Enabling technologies for natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (N.O.T.E.S) using robotically guided elasticity imaging

Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (N.O.T.E.S) is a minimally invasive surgical technique that could benefit greatly from additional methods for intraoperative detection of tissue malignancies (using elastography) along with more precise control of surgical tools. Ultrasound elastography has proven itself as an invaluable imaging modality. However, elasticity images typically suffer from low contrast when imaging organs from the surface of the body. In addition, the palpation motions needed to generate elastography images useful for identifying clinically significant changes in tissue properties are difficult to produce because they require precise axial displacements along the imaging plane. Improvements in elasticity imaging necessitate an approach that simultaneously removes the need for imaging from the body surface while providing more precise palpation motions. As a first step toward performing N.O.T.E.S in-vivo, we integrated a phased ultrasonic micro-array with a flexible snake-like robot. The integrated system is used to create elastography images of a spherical isoechoic lesion (approximately 5mm in cross-section) in a tissue-mimicking phantom. Images are obtained by performing robotic palpation of the phantom at the location of the lesion.
Antimicrobial Agents with Improved Clinical Efficacy versus Their Persistence in the Environment: Synthetic 4-Quinolone As an Example

There is increasing concern about the effects of pharmaceutical agents in the environment. The use of synthetic 4-quinolone compounds is rapidly increasing: newer and more complex analogues are being developed by the pharmaceutical industry to meet clinical and veterinary needs. This review aims at stimulating the need to consider the fate of pharmaceuticals in the environment as part of overall drug design and development. Currently, regulatory action is triggered if the predicted environmental concentration exceeds an arbitrarily set value, whereas in some countries, there are no regulations at all. By extension, from a clinical perspective, enviropharmacokinetics and enviropharmacodynamics are proposed to quantify the risk to organisms in the environment in a more realistic fashion that is reflective of concentrations at which hazardous effects are observable on such organisms. Such a new approach integrates our knowledge to address ecosystems and related health problems in a more holistic fashion, thus linking public health, environmental degradation, and ecology. Its success requires more collaboration in research and development of newer antibiotics, with their ultimate fate in the environment being central, to bolster the already existing aspirations of controlling the rapid emergence of resistance.
Usefulness of OPC-8212, a quinolinone derivative, for chronic congestive heart failure in patients with ischemic heart disease or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Abstract To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the inotropic agent OPC-8212 in patients with chronic congestive heart failure, 76 patients with impaired cardiac function and diminished exercise tolerance were studied. They were randomized to 12 weeks of double-blind therapy with either 60 mg/day of OPC-8212 or placebo. The study drug was added to their baseline medical regimen. The primary study outcome was the combined outcome of the time to either mortality (of all cause) or substantial worsening of heart failure (major morbidity), whichever occurred first. Treatment with OPC-8212 significantly (p
Some computational aspects of a group theoretic finite element approach to the buckling and postbuckling analyses of plates and shells-of-revolution

Abstract Progress in the application of group theoretic methods to the nonlinear bifurcation analysis of symmetric structures has provided new hope in understanding the global postbuckling behavior of symmetric thin shell structures. However, what is still lacking in the computational mechanics community is a general purpose FE code with a group theoretic capability designed to take ‘optimal’ advantage of existing symmetry. This paper addresses some of the important issues associated with developing such a code—the long term goal being to provide structural analysts with new numerical tools for doing careful global analyses of imperfection sensitive structures which may eventually lead to more accurate predictions of the maximum load-carrying capacity of thin imperfection sensitive shell structures.
Isoflurane inhibits neutrophil-endothelium interactions in the coronary circulation: lack of a role for adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channels.

Isoflurane protects myocardium during ischemia-reperfusion via a mechanism involving the adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channels. We tested the hypothesis that an inhibition of the neutrophil-endothelium interactions by isoflurane contributes to this effect. Polymorphonuclear neutrophils
Review of Oxystigma Selys with the synonymy of Oxystigma williamsoni Geijskes (Odonata: Heteragrionidae)

Oxystigma williamsoni Geijskes, 1976 is synonymized with Oxystigma petiolatum (Selys, 1862), based on a reexamination of an extensive series of both taxa identified by D. Geijskes in the RMNH. Illustrations of the variability for both taxa and illustrations, maps, and keys for all species are provided.
PERFORMANCE AND FAILURE OF METAL SANDWICH PLATES SUBJECTED TO SHOCK LOADING

The deflection and fracture of metal sandwich plates subjected to intense uniform impulsive pressure loads are studied for plates made of four steels representing a wide range of strength, strain hardening and ductility. Sandwich plates with both square honeycomb cores and folded plate cores are considered. The primary fracture modes of the sandwich plates are necking and subsequent tearing of the face sheets and webs and shear delamination of the core webs from the faces. Plates with square honeycomb cores have higher damage tolerance than those with folded plate cores in that they can withstand much larger loads above those at which the first signs of fracture appear. The trade-off between strength and ductility in plate performance is illustrated.
FALSE-RECOGNITION REVERSAL: WHEN SIMILARITY IS DISTINCTIVE

Abstract On a recognition test, if presentation of a memory target (e.g., CAT) is used to prime-related distractors (e.g., ANIMAL, DOG), common sense and global memory theories expect that false-recognition rates will increase relative to unrelated distractors. However, counterintuitively, fuzzy-trace theory predicts that false-recognition rates will decrease and that, in some instances, related distractors will be easier to reject than unrelated distractors. In five experiments, this reversal of the usual false-recognition effect was observed for associates, category exemplars, category names, and rhymes. False-recognition reversals increased with age, with amount of target repetition, with degree of target priming, and decreased with length of retention interval.
Electric Field Strength Dependence of Surface Damage in Oxde Passivated Silicon Planar Transistors

A dependence of surface degradation induced by ionizing radiation in matched oxide-passivated silicon planar epitaxial transistors on junction fringing electric field strength present during exposure is reported. The electric field strength and gamma dose dependence are investigated of the decrease in the forward current gain, hFE (as reflected by the increase in the surface recombination current component), the increase in the surface recombination velocity (as reflected by the increase in the reciprocal of the minority carrier lifetime), and the increase in junction capacitance. Empirical prediction equations have been derived, for matched devices, correlating the normalized base current increase and the normalized surface recombination velocity increase with the average junction electric field strength present during irradiation and the total gamma dose. The ionizing radiation induced surface recombination and surface channel components are analyzed from a study of the reciprocal slope term, "n", obtained from forward and inverse configuration current-voltage data.
Political Efficacy and the Use of Local and National News Media Among Undecided Voters in a Swing State A Study of General Population Voters and First-Time College Student Voters

This survey examined undecided voters’ local and national news media use in relation to political efficacy. Results suggest that online media use was the strongest predictor for political efficacy, creating a self-selection polarized trend of political use of media. Local election efficacy was higher than national election efficacy. Over one half of the first-time voters and general population voters believed their vote could change the outcome of the election. Social media only had an impact on first-time voters’ political efficacy. No liberals could be found in undecided voters among the general population voters. Television was the most important medium for campaign information for the general population, while the internet was the most important medium for first-time voters. The result signified the diminishing role of newspapers as an important source of campaign information.
The nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of a cDNA encoding the E1β-subunit of the Arabidopsis thaliana mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase complex

Abstract A cDNA encoding the E1β subunit of the Arabidopsis thaliana mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase complex was sequenced. The 1230 bp cDNA contains a 1089-base open reading frame encoding a polypeptide of 363 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 39 190 Da and an isoelectric point of 4.9. A 29-residue presumptive mitochondrial targeting sequence is present at the amino terminus.
Creation of lattice defects in the bulk and at the surface of alkali halide crystals

Abstract When a conduction electron is recaptured in the coulomb field of a self-trapped hole, it is strongly attracted to the site of the halogen molecular ion on which the hole resides, and particularly to the alkali neighbors, but not to the halogen atom core. We will consider how the electron can effectively force the halogen from its site. The interaction thus generates a lattice vacancy which the electron occupies to form an F center, and an interstitial halogen atom. If this occurs very near the surface, ejection of the halogen atom from the crystal may be the result. This defect generation process now accounts for a wide variety of observations.
Commentary--improving diabetes care by combating clinical inertia.

Over the last 10 years, numerous clinical trials have provided consistent and strong evidence that adequate control of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), blood pressure (BP), and LDL-cholesterol (LDL) levels significantly reduces major macrovascular complications (Pyorala et al. 1997; Hansson et al. 1998), microvascular complications (U.K. Prospective Diabetes Study [UKPDS] Group 1998), and mortality in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Clinical strategies that simultaneously control HbA1c, BP, and LDL may yield multiplicative benefits. For example, in one multifactorial diabetes clinical trial, simultaneous intensification of care across multiple clinical domains reduced major cardiovascular events by 50 percent over an 8-year period (Gaede et al. 2003). Epidemiological data further underscore the dominance of HbA1c, BP, and LDL as predictors of significant clinical outcomes in diabetes. About 70 percent of adults with diabetes die from a heart attack or stroke (Haffner et al. 1998). Significantly fewer die of renal failure or experience blindness over the course of their diabetes (NDDG 1995). Thus, both epidemiological studies and clinical trials strongly support the hypothesis that interventions to control HbA1c, BP, and LDL have the greatest potential to extend life and sustain quality of life for adults with type 2 diabetes. In light of this persuasive evidence, it is curious that many national diabetes care quality measures continue to emphasize preventive processes of care, rather than assessing HbA1c, BP, and LDL levels. For example, from 1994 to 1999 the principal HEDIS measure of diabetes care quality was the rate of eye exams. It was not until 2000 that HEDIS expanded its diabetes measures to include HbA1c and LDL levels. In 2005, the HEDIS comprehensive diabetes measure still do not include BP control, but continue to include measures of eye exams and nephropathy screening (HEDIS 1995, 2000, 2005). While early detection of eye and kidney problems is not unimportant, it is possible that continued emphasis on screening for these factors may have the unintended consequence of diverting resources and attention from the clinically more productive tasks of achieving and maintaining better control of HbA1c, BP, and LDL levels (Marshall et al. 2000; Sperl-Hillen et al. 2000; Hofer, Zemencuk, and Hayward 2004).
Update on control of olive oil adulteration and misbranding in the United States

The Food and Drug Administration has carried out a regulatory program since 1982 to control olive oil adulteration and mislabeling in the U.S. Analysis of imported and domestically packaged olive oil products and inspection of domestic packers have significantly reduced the presence of undeclared esterified olive oil in olive oil products. Undeclared esterified olive oil was present in 13% of olive oils examined in a 1985–86 survey, compared to 65% in a 1983–84 survey. Undeclared olive pomace oil and seed oils continue to require surveillance in a continuing effort to eliminate olive oil adulteration.
Temperatures of California iceberg lettuce loaded in trailers and shipped on railroad flatcars

Abstract This study was conducted to determine the extent of temperature increases of iceberg lettuce during transcontinental shipments in trailers on railroad flatcars (TOFC). The intransit temperatures from seven commercial shipments, as affected by loading patterns, pallet arrangement, and air distribution, are discussed and compared to the results from a previous study of 10 shipments in refrigerated highway trailers. Lettuce that was loaded off the trailer floow and away from the walls had lower average temperatures and a smaller temperature spread than lettuce that was loaded on the floor and that was tight against the side walls.
First Return Approachability

Abstract We consider real-valued functions defined on [0, 1]. Both the class of Baire one functions and the class of Baire-one, Darboux functions have been characterized using first return limit notions. The former class consists of the first return recoverable functions and the latter consists of the first return continuous functions. Here we introduce a natural intermediate type of first return limiting process, first return approachability, and show that the first return approachable functions are precisely those Baire class one functions whose graphs are dense in themselves. Also, the set of points at which a function is first return approachable, but not first return continuous, is shown to be σ-porous.
Location of Sites of Reaction Within Starch Granules

ABSTRACT To observe granular reaction patterns within modified starch granules, starch derivatives were converted to thallium(I) salts and viewed by scanning electron microscopy compositional backscattered electron imaging. Observation of phosphorylated potato and sorghum starches and a hydroxypropyl analog of waxy maize starch revealed that granular patterns of reaction were influenced by both starch and reagent types. In waxy maize and sorghum starches, flow of reagent into the granule matrix occurred from channels (laterally) and cavities (from the inside outward). In potato starch granules, which do not possess channels, reagent diffused inward through exterior granule surfaces. Phosphoryl chloride (highly reactive) reacted to a large extent at granule surfaces, while the propylene oxide analog (less reactive) appeared to diffuse into the granule matrix prior to reacting.
Freeze-Fracture Cytochemistry: Replicas of Critical Point-Dried Cells and Tissues after Fracture-Label

Applications of the new fracture-labeling techniques for the observation of cytochemical labels on platinum-carbon replicas are described. Frozen cells, embedded in a cross-linked protein matrix, and frozen tissues are fractured with a scalpel under liquid nitrogen, thawed, labeled, dehydrated by the critical point drying method, and replicated. This method allows direct, high-resolution, two-dimensional chemical and immunological characterization of the cellular membranes in situ, as well as detection of sites within cross-fractured cytoplasm and extracellular matrix.
Water, Neutral Fat and Solids of Adipose Tissue.

SummaryPeri-renal adipose tissue may contain varying amounts of water, neutral fats and solids. The absolute amount of these constituents is a function of weight of tissue. Cold exposure in addition to depleting adipose tissue of neutral fat also decreases water content of fat free solids. Water and solids vary directly with each other and both vary inversely with amount of neutral fat present. It appears that water present in adipose tissue is located in tissue solids and is not associated directly with neutral fats; and that when neutral fats are added to adipose tissue they are added, with limits of this experiment, independently of water.
Radiative lifetimes and absolute oscillator strengths for the SiOA1Π-X1Σ+ transition

Abstract Measurement of a radiative lifetime of 9.6 ± 1.0 nsec for the SiO A 1 Π-state is reported. RKR Franck-Condon factors have been computed and, with these, absolute oscillator strengths are calculated. A band system at ∼ 3022A has been found that may be due to SiO + , but the band is not resolved at our experimental resolution, and identification remains uncertain. The upper state of the carrier of this spectrum has a radiative lifetime of 8.3 ± 0.8 nsec.
Writing skills for technical academia using computers

Abstract Technology cannot efficiently be implemented without the ability of an engineer or technician to communicate the theories, manufacturing processes, and the usage of the product. Where does the prospective engineer learn these communication skills? Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) is designed to be used in all academia to meet these needs and develop communication skills through the development of writing skills. This paper discusses WAC, its concepts, computer skills employed for technical writing, how to use WAC in technically oriented programs, and how it is being used in a University technical program.
Roentgen videodensitometric determination of left to right shunts in experimental ventricular septal defect.

Abstract Dilution curves of Renovist s R-indocyanine green dye solutions and blood oxygen saturation and pressure levels were studied in 6 dogs 21 to 45 days after Creation of a ventricular septal defect. Left to right shunt indexes, after right- and left-sided circulatory injections, were determined from the following: (1) the ratio of the area under roentgen Videodensitometric dilution curves recorded over the silhouettes of the pulmonary artery and aorta during replays of video-taped angiograms, and (2) the ratio of the area under indocyanine green dye curves in blood from the same circulatory segments. These left to right shunt indexes were also compared with values calculated from oxygen saturation levels of pulmonary arterial and caval blood. After correction for rapid circulation of Renovist by way of distal pulmonary, bronchial and intercostal vasculature superposed in the densitometric pulmonary arterial window, a high correlation was demonstrated between values determined by each method. Phasic variations in shunted Renovist occurred during the cardiac cycle.
Comparison of the effects of amino acid substitutions and β-N- vs. α-O-glycosylation on the T-cell stimulatory activity and conformation of an epitope on the rabies virus glycoprotein

Abstract The first potential N-glycosylation site of the rabies virus glycoprotein, the antigen that carries epitopes for glycoprotein-specific T-cells and virus neutralizing; antibodies, is glycosylated inefficiently. Recently, we showed that addition of a β-N-acetyl-glucosamine moiety to the asparagine residue in the corresponding synthetic fragment V V E D E G C T N L S G F (amino acids 29–41), significantly diminished the T-cell stimulatory activity and reduced the characteristic α-helicity of the peptide. The amino acid sequence of the glycoprotein in this region exhibits some degree of variability among different rabies virus and rabies virus related strains, including the replacement of the asparagine residue with aspartic acid or threonine. In the current study, stimulation of a specific T-cell clone by various viral strains and appropriate tridecapeptide sequences and their analogs was investigated. The T-cell recognition pattern of the rabies and rabies-related viruses was identical to that of the synthetic peptides representing the respective epitope sequences. While the asparagine could be replaced without complete loss of T-cell stimulatory activity, amino acid modifications at the C-terminus of the peptide were not tolerated. In contrast to glycosylation of the asparagine, coupling of an N-acetyl-galactosamine moiety at the serine, or galactosyl-N-acetyl-galactosamine moieties at the threonines preceding or replacing the asparagine (all O-linked sugars in the natural α-anomeric configuration) resulted in epitopes that lowered rather than abolished the T-cell stimulatory activity. All non-glycosylated peptides assumed a low-to-medium helicity in trifluoroethanol. O-glycosylation was more efficient than N-glycosylation in breaking the helical conformation of the peptides to result in the formation of reverse-turns or unordered structure.
Distributed Detection in Sensor Networks With Packet Losses and Finite Capacity Links

We consider the problem of classifying among a set of M hypotheses via distributed noisy sensors. The sensors can collaborate over a communication network and the task is to arrive at a consensus about the event after exchanging messages. We apply a variant of belief propagation as a strategy for collaboration to arrive at a solution to the distributed classification problem. We show that the message evolution can be reformulated as the evolution of a linear dynamical system, which is primarily characterized by network connectivity. We show that a consensus to the centralized maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimate can almost always reached by the sensors for any arbitrary network. We then extend these results in several directions. First, we demonstrate that these results continue to hold with quantization of the messages, which is appealing from the point of view of finite bit rates supportable between links. We then demonstrate robustness against packet losses, which implies that optimal decisions can be achieved with asynchronous transmissions as well. Next, we present an account of energy requirements for distributed detection and demonstrate significant improvement over conventional decentralized detection. Finally, extensions to distributed estimation are described
Pectoral sound generation in the blue catfish Ictalurus furcatus.

Catfishes produce pectoral stridulatory sounds by “jerk” movements that rub ridges on the dorsal process against the cleithrum. We recorded sound synchronized with high-speed video to investigate the hypothesis that blue catfish Ictalurus furcatus produce sounds by a slip–stick mechanism, previously described only in invertebrates. Blue catfish produce a variably paced series of sound pulses during abduction sweeps (pulsers) although some individuals (sliders) form longer duration sound units (slides) interspersed with pulses. Typical pulser sounds are evoked by short 1–2 ms movements with a rotation of 2°–3°. Jerks excite sounds that increase in amplitude after motion stops, suggesting constructive interference, which decays before the next jerk. Longer contact of the ridges produces a more steady-state sound in slides. Pulse pattern during stridulation is determined by pauses without movement: the spine moves during about 14 % of the abduction sweep in pulsers (~45 % in sliders) although movement appears continuous to the human eye. Spine rotation parameters do not predict pulse amplitude, but amplitude correlates with pause duration suggesting that force between the dorsal process and cleithrum increases with longer pauses. Sound production, stimulated by a series of rapid movements that set the pectoral girdle into resonance, is caused by a slip–stick mechanism.
The First Decade and Beyond of Transcriptional Profiling in Schizophrenia

Gene expression changes in brains of individuals with schizophrenia (SZ) have been hypothesized to reflect possible pathways related to pathophysiology and/or medication. Other factors having robust effects on gene expression profiling in brain and possibly influence the schizophrenia transcriptome such as age and pH are examined. Pathways of curated gene expression or gene correlation networks reported in SZ (white matter, apoptosis, neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity, glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmission, immune and stress-response, mitochondrial, and neurodevelopment) are not unique to SZ and have been associated with other psychiatric disorders. Suggestions going forward to improve the next decade of profiling: consider multiple brain regions that are carefully dissected, release large datasets from multiple brain regions in controls to better understand neurocircuitry, integrate genetics and gene expression, measure expression variants on genome wide level, peripheral biomarker studies, and analyze the transcriptome across a developmental series of brains. Gene expression, while an important feature of the genomic landscape, requires further systems biology to advance from control brains to a more precise definition of the schizophrenia interactome.
Human Papillomavirus Type 16 Infections and 2-Year Absolute Risk of Cervical Precancer in Women With Equivocal or Mild Cytologic Abnormalities

Background: The 2-year absolute risk for cervical precancer attributable to infection by human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16), the most common and oncogenic HPV type, in the millions of women diagnosed annually with equivocal or mildly abnormal cytology has not been defi nitively evaluated. Methods: Baseline cervical specimens of 5060 women with equivocal (atypical squamous cells of undetermined signifi cance [ASCUS]) or mildly abnormal (low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion [LSIL]) cytology were tested for HPV DNA using Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2) and typespecifi c L1 consensus primer polymerase chain reaction. We calculated absolute risks with 95% confi dence intervals (CIs) for cumulative diagnosis, during the 2-year study period, of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 (CIN3) ( n = 535) or cancer ( n = 7) (collectively referred to as ≥ CIN3) and compared risk by HPV16 status and by other oncogenic HPV types using logistic regression. All statistical tests were two-sided. Results: The baseline prevalences of HPV16 in women with ASCUS or LSIL cytology were 14.9% and 21.1%, respectively. Women with ASCUS or LSIL cytology who were HPV16 DNA positive at baseline had 2-year cumulative absolute risks for ≥ CIN3 of 32.5% (95% CI = 28.4% to 36.8%) and 39.1% (95% CI = 33.8% to 44.7%), respectively. By comparison, women with ASCUS who were positive by HC2 for other oncogenic HPV types combined had an 8.4% (95% CI = 6.9% to 10.4%) risk for ≥ CIN3, which was similar to the risk posed by having ASCUS (risk = 8.8%, 95% CI = 7.9% to 9.8%) without knowledge of the oncogenic HPV DNA status. Women with LSILs who were positive by HC2 for other oncogenic HPV types combined had a 9.9% (95% CI = 8.0% to 12.0%) 2-year risk for ≥ CIN3, which was less than the risk posed by having LSILs (risk = 15.0%, 95% CI = 13.3% to 16.9%) without knowledge of the oncogenic HPV DNA status. Together, women with ASCUS or LSILs who were HPV16positive had the highest 2-year risk for ≥ CIN3 compared with women who were HPV-negative (odds ratio [OR] = 38, 95% CI = 22 to 68; P <.001 ), fi vefold greater than the increased risk in women who were positive for other oncogenic HPV types (OR = 7.2, 95%CI = 4.2 to 13, P <.001). Conclusions: Distinguishing the high absolute risk for cervical precancer in HPV16-positive women from the lower risk posed by other oncogenic HPV types might have clinical implications. [J Natl Cancer Inst 2005;97:1066 – 71]
HYDROGEN PEROXIDE IN HUMAN BLOOD

Blood and plasma of humans and rats were analyzed for hydrogen peroxide. The samples were analyzed after deproteinization with trichloroacetic acid, immediately after they were withdrawn from human volunteers or rats. A radio-isotopic technique based on peroxide-dependent decarboxylation of 1-14C-alpha-ketoacids and consequent liberation of 14CO2 was used. The results demonstrate the presence of micromolar levels of H2O2, both, in the plasma as well as in the whole blood. The values in the whole blood were substantially greater than the plasma. This was true for rats as well as humans. The presence of such significant quantities of H2O2 in the blood have been demonstrated for the first time. The investigation, therefore, opens a newer avenue of research on diseases purported to be related to the generation of oxygen radicals in vivo.
Relationship of potassium ions and blood lactate to ventilation during exercise

Ventilatory control during exercise is a complex network of neural and humoral signals. One humoral input that has received little recent attention in the exercise literature is potassium ions [K(+)]. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between [K(+)] and ventilation during an incremental cycle test and to determine if the relationship between [K(+)] and ventilation differs when blood lactate [lac-] is manipulated. Eight experienced triathletes (4 of each sex) completed 2 incremental, progressive (5-min stages) cycle tests to volitional fatigue: 1 with normal glycogen stores and 1 with reduced glycogen. Minute ventilation was measured during the final minute of each stage, and blood [lac(-)] and [K+] were measured at the end of each exercise stage. Minute ventilation and [K(+)] increased with exercise intensity and were similar between trials (p > 0.5), despite lower [lac-] during the reduced-glycogen trial. The concordance correlations (R(c)) between [lac(-)] and minute ventilation were stronger for both trials (R(c) = approximately 0.88-0.96), but the slopes of the relationships were different than the relationships between [K(+)] and minute ventilation (R(c) = approximately 0.76-0.89). The slope of the relationship between [lac-] and minute ventilation was not as steep during the reduced-glycogen trial, compared with the normal trial (p = 0.002). Conversely, the slope of the relationships between [K(+)] and minute ventilation did not change between trials (p = 0.454). The consistent relationship of minute ventilation and blood [K(+)] during exercise suggests a role for this ion in the control of ventilation during exercise. Conversely, the inconsistent relationship between blood lactate and ventilation brings into question the importance of the relationship between lactate and ventilation during exercise.
How Is Information Shared across Boundaries

The paper draws on a case study of Taiwan e-Government to explore cross-boundary information sharing in both the vertical and horizontal dimensions. The advantages and disadvantages of the different types of cross-boundary information sharing are discussed, and the influential moderators regarding what types are employed in a give situation are discussed. Two preliminary frameworks for understanding the transition among different types of cross-boundary information sharing in both the vertical and horizontal dimensions are presented. While there is no perfect type, centralization was found to be the primary strategy adopted to enhance cross-boundary information sharing in both dimensions. The relationship among the different types is also discussed. Lastly, the similarities and differences between the two major centralized types in the both dimensions are compared and analyzed.
Radioprotectants to reduce the risk of radiation-induced carcinogenesis

AbstractPurpose: Development of radioprotective agents has focused primarily on cytoprotection from relatively high doses of therapeutic radiation and nuclear disasters. Epidemiological studies and radiobiological models report the potential for stochastic effects from relatively low-dose radiation exposure. Diagnostic studies like computed tomography (CT) expose the patient to a small but significant amount of radiation, which has been reported to increase the risk for carcinogenesis. Young patients expected to undergo multiple CT studies may benefit from a protective agent given prior to CT. This review includes published data of agents that have been shown to protect against radiation-induced carcinogenesis. A discussion follows regarding the data that describes the extent of radiation exposure during CT, as well as technical modifications, which also reduce radiation exposure.Results/Conclusions: Most experiments have used in vivo animal models or in vitro cell lines. Ethical barriers prevent large-sc...
Marine security and international law: government seizure of vessels in peacetime

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the contemporary international law concerning the seizure of vessels on the high seas in peacetime. It first notes the importance of the principle of flag state control of vessels on the high seas, and then examines exceptions to that principle that are enshrined in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea . The 1982 Convention, which entered into force in November 1994, has great significance in international law. Eighty-one states are now parties to it. The states parties include both developing and developed states, though not yet the United States. Provisions of the Convention concerning sea-bed mining delayed its entry into force, but the Convention's articles concerning authority to board or seize vessels have not generated widespread controversy. Even nonparties often rely on many parts of the Convention, asserting that they state customary international law. Despite its significance, however, the 1982 Convention is not the only source that addresses exceptions to the principle of flag state control of vessels on the high seas. The later sections of this paper note other relevant treaties and arguments grounded in customary international law.
Cabassous unicinctus (Cingulata: Dasypodidae)

Cabassous unicinctus (southern naked-tailed armadillo) is a nocturnal, solitary, fossorial myrmecophage that ranges east of the Andes across the central lowlands of South America. It occupies a wide range of habitats including grassland, rain forest, cultivated pastures, flooded grasslands, forest patches, disturbed habitats, and gallery forests. C. unicinctus is listed as “Least Concern” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.
Exploring the factorial composition of the transcultural self-efficacy tool

The factorial composition of the transcultural self-efficacy tool (TSET) was explored using data from 1,260 culturally diverse undergraduate nursing students. The TEST was an 83-item questionnaire designed to measure and evaluate students' confidence for performing general transcultural nursing skills among diverse client populations. A principal component analysis, with the varimax rotation, yielded nine factors: recognition, kinship and social factors, professional nursing care, cultural background and identity, lifecycle transitional phenomena, awareness of cultural gap, communication, self-awareness and appreciation. The results indicate that the TEST assesses the multidimensional nature of transcultural self-efficacy and taps the three dimensions of learning: cognitive, practical and affective.
Acceptance sampling with rectification when inspection errors are present

Estimating the number of nonconformances remaining in outgoing lots after acceptance sampling with rectification is considered. Inspection errors can have a biasing effect on the predictor for the number of undetected nonconformances. A bias-corre..
Economics, Intuition and Budgets: The Theory of Constraints Alternative

Not since the Italian scientist-monk, Luca Pacioli, codified the double-entry accounting system based on Arabic algebra in the 15th century has there been as potentially significant a contribution to the economic literature by a non-business scholar as is represented in the fledgling Theory of Constraints. Born in the brain of an Israeli physicist, Eilyahu M. Goldratt, this new theory poses a significant challenge to the domination of cost accounting methods in the management of business enterprises. This article describes in non-technical terms the major philosophical differences between current economic cost accounting methods and this relatively undeveloped new theory of the firm. Its primary purpose is to motivate an interest in the Theory of Constraints.
Surgeon's skill key to ovarian cancer management.

No good screening test exists for ovarian cancer, yet women are being advised to demand screening.
Cultivating Culturally Fluent Leaders for the Future of Kinesiology

ABSTRACTThis article posits that each content area that falls under the umbrella of kinesiology must develop a future cadre of professionals who are competent in their content knowledge and are trained as leaders who are able to understand the essential impacts of culture on their work. The intentional development of culturally fluent leaders should be a cornerstone placed at the intersections of the discrete fields contained within kinesiology to collectively and authentically promote excellence in the whole, which is potentially greater than anything possible for the individual parts. Cultural fluency is an on-going process of critical reflection with the intention of accurately interpreting intercultural interactions. Leadership is essential to support cultural fluency, and being culturally fluent may be essential for effective leadership. Both must be explicitly taught to future kinesiology professionals at the undergraduate and graduate levels to collectively move the professions forward to accuratel...
Research Progress of Molecular Marker-assisted Selection in Rice Blast Resistance Varieties Breeding

Rice blast,as a worldwide fungal disease of rice,severely decreases the yield and quality of rice.The most economical and effective method to resist rice blast is researching resistance varieties.Ted identification of disease resistant germplasm resources,gene mapping,gene cloning,innovation and utilization of them were reviewed.Furthermore,it also prospected utilization of molecular marker-assisted selection in rice blast resistance varieties breeding.
Forward and Inverse Problems in Science and Engineering

Geophysical methods are based on the study of different physical fields being propagated through the earth’s interior. The most important geophysical fields are gravity, magnetic, electromagnetic, and seismic wave fields. This chapter presents a mathematical formulation of several forward and inverse problems typical for different physical fields used in geophysical methods. We also discuss the important questions of the existence, uniqueness, and stability of the geophysical inverse problems.
Time domain analysis of a superconductor's nonlinear THz response

We analyze the response of a BCS-type superconductor exposed to a strong THz pulse using the FDTD method in combination with a model time-dependent susceptibility having an explicit dependence on the superconductor's energy gap Δ. In the analysis, the energy gap is allowed to be time varying through its dependence on the current density, along with a relaxation time related to the inelastic electronic scattering rate. The model accounts for 3rd harmonic generation effects and can be applied to the case of an incident, strong-field, single or few cycle pulse for which significant nonlinear effects can occur.
Understanding the Role of Change in Incident Prevention

IT service providers are faced with a dilemma when trying to ensure proper function and effective operation of their clients' infrastructure. On one hand, frequent changes to the IT infrastructure are required to ensure smooth operation; on the other hand, studies show that changes are responsible for 80% of all incidents that result in client outages. This paper proposes a novel methodology for investigating the role of change in incident prevention. We provide a detailed analysis of the change-incident space, offer algorithms on linking incidents to changes that caused them, and show how such data can be effectively used to build predictive models for incident prevention. We conclude by presenting our methodology applied to a real-world dataset and use cases.
Glass binder development for a glass-bonded sodalite ceramic waste form

Abstract This paper discusses work to develop Na2O-B2O3-SiO2 glass binders for immobilizing LiCl-KCl eutectic salt waste in a glass-bonded sodalite waste form following electrochemical reprocessing of used metallic nuclear fuel. Here, five new glasses with ∼20 mass% Na2O were designed to generate waste forms with high sodalite. The glasses were then used to produce ceramic waste forms with a surrogate salt waste. The waste forms made using these new glasses were formulated to generate more sodalite than those made with previous baseline glasses for this type of waste. The coefficients of thermal expansion for the glass phase in the glass-bonded sodalite waste forms made with the new binder glasses were closer to the sodalite phase in the critical temperature region near and below the glass transition temperature than previous binder glasses used. These improvements should result in lower probability of cracking in the full-scale monolithic ceramic waste form, leading to better long-term chemical durability.
Information Technology and Wealth Concentration

This chapter describes shifts in private wealth in the United States since 1980, away from real assets toward financial assets, and away from the energy and commodity sectors of the economy toward information technology and finance. We describe how major digital technology companies, despite their variety, share basic similarities in terms of financial characteristics, such as profits, ownership, and a variety of business models. This chapter also explores how the scalability of digital technology affects the concentration of wealth.
Anatomical Considerations in Transoral Robotic Approach

The complexity of head and neck robotic-assisted surgery is not the use of the robotic system itself, but in its application within tight anatomic confines and in the adjustment to new anatomic perspectives. These challenges are most applicable for transoral robotic surgery (TORS). Whereas abdominal robotic surgery can introduce trocars for the instruments and endoscopes at wide approach angles, TORS is confined to strict boundaries of the teeth and mandible. Even at the upper extent of mouth opening and retraction, the confinement creates challenges for instrument movement and endoscope positioning. The TORS surgeon therefore must always keep in mind the factors which can challenge or, at times, prevent a TORS approach. Anatomical considerations include trismus, tori, dentition, vasculature, and cervical spine. This chapter will review anatomic considerations of the TORS approach. With these factors taken into account, the TORS surgeon can progress to the performance of the specific surgical procedures which follow this chapter.
Image distortion characterization due to equivalent monostatic approximation in near field bistatic SAR imaging

The $\omega $ – $k$ synthetic aperture radar (SAR) algorithm is a computationally efficient algorithm for near-field 3-D monostatic SAR imaging in nondestructive testing (NDT) applications. However, bistatic measurements are preferred in order to obtain high dynamic range, in particular when real-time imaging arrays are used. This article investigates the image distortion caused by using an equivalent monostatic imaging algorithm for bistatic measurements. Simulations and measurements at millimeter-wave frequencies in the Ka-band (26.5–40 GHz) are used to investigate the resultant image distortion. Furthermore, the image distortion is quantified through the root-mean-square (rms) error, which is calculated as a function of the bistatic transmitter–receiver separation distance, range, and noise power. Simulations and measurements are conducted for imaging using the raster scanning of a pair of antennas and for nonuniform imaging arrays. In addition, an approximate method for phase compensation is introduced to improve the image error from the monostatic approximation of bistatic measurement.
City Preparedness for Resilience against Terrorism Threats

Terrorism prevention is a complicated matter, because it requires the consideration of a multiple social factors as well as the economic and political connections.
Community-Based Network Alignment for Large Attributed Network

Network alignment is becoming an active topic in network data analysis. Despite extensive research, we realize that efficient use of topological and attribute information for large attributed network alignment has not been sufficiently addressed in previous studies. In this paper, based on Stochastic Block Model (SBM) and Dirichlet-multinomial, we propose "divide-and-conquer" models CAlign that jointly consider network alignment, community discovery and community alignment in one framework for large networks with node attributes, in an effort to reduce both the computation time and memory usage while achieving better or competitive performance. It is provable that the algorithms derived from our model have sub-quadratic time complexity and linear space complexity on a network with small densification power, which is true for most real-world networks. Experiments show CAlign is superior to two recent state-of-art models in terms of accuracy, time and memory on large networks, and CAlign is capable of handling millions of nodes on a modern desktop machine.
Racial/Ethnic Differences in Prevalence and Correlates of Blunt Smoking among Adolescents.

ABSTRACTBlunt use is pervasive among adolescents. The study uses cross-sectional data from the 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health to examine sociodemographic, health, and other substance u...