cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Application of Fracture Mechanics to Failure in Manatee Rib Bone

Background The Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) is listed as endangered by the U.S. Department of the Interior. Manatee ribs have different microstructure from the compact bone of other mammals. Biomechanical properties of the manatee ribs need to be better understood. Fracture toughness (K(C)) has been shown to be a good index to assess the mechanical performance of bone. Quantitative fractography can be used in concert with fracture mechanics equations to identify fracture initiating defects/cracks and to calculate the fracture toughness of bone materials. Method of approach Fractography is a standard technique for analyzing fracture behavior of brittle and quasi-brittle materials. Manatee ribs are highly mineralized and fracture in a manner similar to quasi-brittle materials. Therefore, quantitative fractography was applied to determine the fracture toughness of manatee ribs. Results Average fracture toughness values of small flexure specimens from six different sizes of manatees ranged from 1.3 to 2.6 MPa(m)(12). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images show most of the fracture origins were at openings for blood vessels and interlayer spaces. Conclusions Quantitative fractography and fracture mechanics can be combined to estimate the fracture toughness of the material in manatee rib bone. Fracture toughness of subadult and calf manatees appears to increase as the size of the manatee increases. Average fracture toughness of the manatee rib bone materials is less than the transverse fracture toughness of human and bovine tibia and femur.
Call activities: Are they all the same?

Abstract For effective use and study of CALL, teachers and researchers need to be able to assess the degree of similarity among CALL activities as well as the significance for language learning of any apparent differences among activities. This paper explains how the concept of genre is useful for investigating similarities among the types of language produced in CALL activities (i.e. CALL texts). Examples of CALL texts are provided to demonstrate how their functional elements can be analyzed and how their significant features might be identified in light of classroom research results. On the basis of this analysis, I conclude that apparent differences in the example CALL texts are not significant. Three relevant levels of analysis for CALL activities—text, genre, and context—are clarified and their implications for CALL are explained.
Comparative effects of the polychlorinated biphenyl mixture, Aroclor 1242, on porphyrin and xenobiotic metabolism in kidney of Japanese quail and rat.

Abstract 1. Aroclor 1242 (500 mg/kg, p.o.) produced a marked increase in porphyrin content of quail kidney (1800-fold), and of rat kidney but to a lesser extent (6-fold). 2. δ-Aminolevulinic acid synthetase activity was increased 12-fold in quail kidney but was unchanged in rat kidney folowing Aroclor 1242 treatment. 3. Uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase activity was significantly inhibited in quail kidney but not in rat kidney. 4. Renal ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity was induced in rat and quail whereas renal ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase and glutathione S-transferase activities were induced only in rats by Aroclor 1242.
Mission-critical software development for a distributed and diverse user base

XTour is a distributed software system used to design operating commands for the Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) instrument onboard the Cassini spacecraft. The distributed architecture increases security and accessibility by centralizing access to the large datasets of information required to create instrument commands. Users are able to leverage portable devices to connect to the server and quickly complete their tasks, independent of their location. In this paper we discuss the design and implementation of the XTour software. 12
Characteristics of a Group of Lesbian and Gay Radical Street Activists

This article presents the results of an exploratory study of the leaders of a group of lesbian and gay radical street activists in a northwest metropolitan area. The characteristics of the activist...
An evaluation of heat transfer surface materials used in fouling applications

Fouling is a very important and complex problem that extends into many fields, including natural, chemical, medical, and industrial processes. Fouling of a surface takes place as a result of the complex reactions that cause deposits to form on process surfaces. A number of parameters influence fouling development, including flow velocity, surface temperature, surface material/finish, surface geometry and fluid properties. Fouling is a transient process that begins with a clean process surface and progresses until the surface no longer can be used effectively. The event sequence of the fouling process appears in general to be universal, beginning when fluid comes into contact with a process surface. During the induction period, the conditioning film forms with heat transfer efficiencies not changing significantly. Conditioning film development is followed by a rapid accumulation of deposit growth. It is during this growth phase that the heat transfer across the process surface starts to dramatically change...
Multienzyme containing tissue-based and ferrocene-mediated bioelectrode for the determination of polyamines

Oat seedling tissue and ferrocene/ferricinium were coimmobilized in a carbon paste matrix to construct a biosensor for polyamines. The oat tissue is rich in the enzymes polyamine oxidase and peroxidase while the mediator facilitates electron transfer between the electrode and hydrogen peroxide. The determination of the polyamines spermine and spermidine, in both batch and flow injection modes, was evaluated. The concentration of polyamine was monitored through hydrogen peroxide in the presence of oxygen as cosubstrate of polyamine oxidase. A reductive potential of 0.0 V was chosen for monitoring ferricinium which is generated by peroxidase. The detection limit (S/N = 3) for spermidine and spermine in the batch system was 0.19 and 1.15 μM, respectively. The relative standard deviation for twelve replicate analyses of 10 μM spermidine was 4.5%. The activity of the tissue modified carbon paste electrode decreased to 45% of the original value after a storage for 8 days in buffer solution at 4°C.
Early Cellular and Stromal Responses in Regeneration Versus Repair of a Mammalian Bladder Using Autologous Cell and Biodegradable Scaffold Technologies

Purpose: Internal organ regeneration holds promise for changing medical technology and decreasing organ shortages. Current medical treatment for internal organ failure is largely limited to organ transplantation. A construct composed of synthetic biopolymer with autologous cells has shown long-term clinical benefit in patients undergoing augmentation cystoplasty. However, to our knowledge early cellular and stromal events during bladder regeneration have not been elucidated.Materials and Methods: In situ cellular responses to 2 biopolymer implants, including a poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (Sigma-Aldrich™) based biodegradable mesh scaffold with autologous urothelial and smooth muscle cells (construct) and a poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) based biodegradable mesh scaffold alone without cells (scaffold), were compared in a canine model of augmentation cystoplasty. Healing events were correlated with urodynamic assessments.Results: Construct implants regenerated baseline urodynamics as early as 4 months after...
Reproductive cycle and fecundity of Euphausia pacifica in Puget Sound, Washington†

The length and timing of the spawning season and the fecundity of Euplaausia pacijicu in northern Puget Sound, Washington, were investigated by analyzing preserved samples and by observing spawning of euphausiids in the laboratory. Gravid females (stage IV) and ripe females (spawning within 24 h) first appeared in mid-April. Spawning of the overwintered females was most intense in April and May, but continued at a low level throughout most of June. No ripe females ~19 mm were found after mid-May. Larger females disappeared by the end of summer. Females born in April began to develop ovaries (stage I) in mid-June, and although a few matured to stage IV and released eggs in late July-early August, most of the population was stage II (with immature eggs in the ovaries) in the fall, overwintered as stage II, and began to mature again in late winter or early spring. The brood size, brood frequency, and length of the spawning season varied with female size. Small females released a maximum of 11-12 broods (- 1,000 eggs) over a l-month period from mid-April to mid-May. Over a 2-month period large females released a maximum of 2531 broods (-3,700 eggs). A comparison of laboratory and field data suggested a method which may lead to accurate estimates of fecundity from preserved samples. Reproductive effort, the amount of energy or material an individual invests in eggs or sperm over a lifetime, can be significant both to the energetics of the individual and to predators which consume eggs and larvae. The reproductive effort of large marine pelagic malacostracans that broadcast their eggs has been estimated largely from preserved samples (Mauchline and Fisher 1969; Omori 1974). Unfortunately, preserved samples do not establish a time scale for the estimated reproductive effort, so calculating an egg production rate or an accurate total fecundity is impossible. The fraction of eggs in the ovary released in 1 day, the number of broods, and the length of the spawning season for an individual are unknown. Fecundity, defined as the total number of eggs released by an individual during
Interplay of Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Oxidative Stress in Heart Failure

The dawn of mitochondrially powered cells began 1 to 2 billion years ago when an amitochondriate host subsumed α-proteobacterium, a hydrogen-producing symbiont.1 Equipped to oxidize nutrients, eukaryotic cells acquired a boost to cellular energy, enabling the emergence of multicellular mammals, sustained by a nearly inexhaustible muscular pump: the heart. Article see p 1957 In this issue of Circulation , Ahuja et al2 examine the interplay of mitochondria biogenesis and oxidative stress in human cardiomyopathy. They reveal that disparate changes in mitochondrial biogenesis and mitochondrial oxidative stress distinguish between ICM and DCM. Using a complement of ultrastructural, biochemical, and genetic analyses, Ahuja et al convincingly show that mitochondrial content is increased in dilated cardiomyopathic (DCM) hearts (n=8) but not ischemic cardiomyopathic (ICM) hearts (n=8). Regardless of the type of heart failure, oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) was severely impaired, a finding universally reported by others. Given that mitochondrial content was increased ≈2-fold in DCM hearts, these data may imply better maintenance of total cellular OXPHOS in DCM hearts compared with ICM hearts. Because mitochondrial mass is influenced by proliferation (mitochondrial biogenesis) and clearance (mitophagy), the authors investigated the mechanistic basis for increased mitochondrial content in DCM hearts. Notably, PGC-1α (PPARGC1α ), a potent regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis,3 and several target genes of PGC-1α were induced at the level of mRNA and protein in DCM hearts but not in ICM hearts. These genetic data replicate a previously reported study.4 Even so, this topic is not immune to controversy or the Proteus phenomenon; findings by others oppugn the conclusions of Ahuja et al. Using a mixed cohort, 1 study showed that PGC-1α, which promotes mitochondrial biogenesis, was reduced in both ICM and DCM hearts.5 Induction of adenine nucleotide translocator ( SLC25A4 ), a gene with an induction that signifies mitochondrial biogenesis, was reported …
Energy characterization of a tiled architecture processor with on-chip networks

Tiled architectures provide a paradigm for designers to turn silicon resources into processors with burgeoning quantities of programmable functional units and memories. The architecture has a dual responsibility: first, it must expose these resources in a way that is programmable. Second, it needs to manage the power associated with such resources. We present the power management facilities of the 16-tile Raw microprocessor. This design selectively turns on and off 48 SRAM macros, 96 functional unit clusters, 32 fetch units,and over 250 unique processor pipeline, stages, all according to the needs of the computation and environment at hand.
Subthreshold oscillations in a map-based neuron model

Self-sustained subthreshold oscillations in a discrete-time model of neuronal behavior are considered. We discuss bifurcation scenarios explaining the birth of these oscillations and their transformation into tonic spikes. Specific features of these transitions caused by the discrete-time dynamics of the model and the influence of external noise are discussed.
Packaging Cell Lines for Simian Foamy Virus Type 1 Vectors

Foamy viruses are nonpathogenic retroviruses that offer several unique opportunities for gene transfer in various cell types from different species. We have previously demonstrated the utility of simian foamy virus type 1 (SFV-1) as a vector system by transient expression assay (M. Wu et al., J. Virol. 72:3451-3454, 1998). In this report, we describe the first stable packaging cell lines for foamy virus vectors based on SFV-1. We developed two packaging cell lines in which the helper DNA is placed under the control of either a constitutive cytomegalovirus (CMV) immediate-early gene or inducible tetracycline promoter for expression. Although the constitutive packaging expressing cell line had a higher copy number of packaging DNA, the inducible packaging cell line produced four times more vector particles. This result suggested that the structural gene products in the constitutively expressing packaging cell line were expressed at a level that is not toxic to the cells, and thus vector production was reduced. The SFV-1 vector in the presence of vesicular stomatitis virus envelope protein G (VSV-G) produced an insignificant level of transduction, indicating that foamy viruses could not be pseudotyped with VSV-G to generate high-titer vectors. The availability of stable packaging cell lines represents a step toward the use of an SFV-1 vector delivery system that will allow scaled-up production of vector stocks for gene therapy.
Fishing, fish consumption and advisory awareness among Louisiana's recreational fishers.

Abstract This paper presents results from the first known population-based survey of recreational fishers in Louisiana ( n =1774). The ultimate goal of this study was to obtain data in support of the development of regional advisories for a high exposure population with unique seafood consumption patterns. Between July and August of 2008, a survey was mailed to a random sample of licensed recreational fishers to characterize local fishing habits, sportfish consumption, and advisory awareness. Eighty-eight percent of respondents reported eating sportfish. Respondents ate an estimated mean of four fish meals per month, of which, approximately half were sportfish. Over half of all sportfish meals (54%) were caught in the Gulf of Mexico or bordering brackish areas. Sportfish consumption varied by license and gender; and was highest among Sportsman’s Paradise license holders (2.8±0.2 meals per month), and males (2.2±0.1 meals per month). The most frequently consumed sportfish species were red drum, speckled trout, catfish, bass, crappie and bream. Advisory awareness rates varied by gender, ethnicity, geographic area, license type, age and education; and were lowest among women (53%), African-Americans (43%), fishers from the southeast of Louisiana (50%), holders of Senior Hunting and Fishing licenses (51%), individuals between 15 and 19 years of age (41%), and individuals with less than a high school education (43%). Results were used to identify ways to optimize monitoring, advisory development and outreach activities.
Optimization of the VARTM process for enhancement of the degree of devolatilization of polymerization by-products and solvents

Devolatilization of the polymerization by-products and the impregnation solvent during Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM) of the polyimide polymers is analyzed using a combined continuum hydrodynamics/chemical reaction one-dimensional model. The model which consists of seven coupled partial differential equations is solved using a finite element collocation method based on the method of lines. The results obtained reveal that the main process parameters which give rise to lower gas-phase contents in the VARTM-processed polymer matrix composites are the vacuum pressure and the tool-plate heating rate. Lower tool-plate heating rates are found to be beneficial since hey promote devolatilization of the impregnation solvent at lower temperatures at which the degree of polymerization and, hence, resin viscosity are low.
Nachwort: Ein Zukunftstraum

Wir haben nun ein groses Stuck der Reise zusammen zuruckgelegt, die wir im 1. Kapitel angetreten haben. Wir hoffen, das Sie nun ein besseres Verstandnis dafur haben, womit sich die Psychologie beschaftigt und wie einige der personlichen und sozialen Probleme, die auf einen zukommen, durch die neuerworbene psychologische Anschauungsweise analysiert (und besser bewaltigt) werden konnen.
Using Indices of Fidelity to Intervention Core Components to Identify Program Active Ingredients

Identifying the active ingredients of an intervention—intervention-specific components serving as key levers of change—is crucial for unpacking the intervention black box. Measures of intervention ...
Slow cooling prevents cold-induced damage to sperm motility and acrosomal integrity in the black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes).

The endangered black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) has benefited from artificial insemination; however, improved sperm cryopreservation protocols are still needed. The present study focused on identifying factors influencing gamete survival during processing before cryopreservation, including: (1) the presence or absence of seminal plasma; (2) temperature (25 degrees C v. 37 degrees C); (3) type of medium (Ham's F10 medium v. TEST yolk buffer [TYB]); (4) cooling rate (slow, rapid and ultra-rapid); and (5) the presence or absence of glycerol. Seminal plasma did not compromise (P > 0.05) sperm motility or acrosomal integrity. Sperm motility traits were maintained longer (P 0.05) acrosomal integrity. Overall, TYB maintained optimal (P 0.05), indicating that 4% glycerol was non-toxic to ferret sperm; however, glycerol failed to ameliorate the detrimental effects of either rapid or ultra-rapid cooling. The results of the present study demonstrate that the damage observed to black-footed ferret spermatozoa is derived largely from the rate of cooling.
Analysis of Internally Bandlimited Multistage Cubic-Term Generators for RF Receivers

Adaptive feedforward error cancellation applied to correct distortion arising from third-order nonlinearities in RF receivers requires low-noise low-power reference cubic nonidealities. Multistage cubic-term generators utilizing cascaded nonlinear operations are ideal in this regard, but the frequency response of the interstage circuitry can introduce errors into the cubing operation. In this paper, an overview of the use of cubic-term generators in receivers relative to other applications is presented. An interstage frequency response plan is presented for a receiver cubic-term generator and is shown to function for arbitrary three-signal third-order intermodulation generation. The noise of such circuits is also considered and is shown to depend on the total incoming signal power across a particular frequency band. Finally, the effects of the interstage group delay are quantified in the context of a relevant communication standard requirement.
Pharmacokinetics of methylene blue dye for lymphatic mapping in breast cancer-implications for use in pregnancy.

Abstract Background Although blue dye is routinely used for lymphatic mapping, it is not used for lymphatic mapping in pregnancy-associated breast cancer, because of concern of fetal risk. Methods To investigate the safety of blue dye for lymphatic mapping in pregnant women, the pharmacokinetics of methylene blue dye were examined in 10 nonpregnant women, and the results were extrapolated to estimate maximal fetal exposure to the dye. Results Plasma and urine measurements indicated that the dye quickly distributed from the breast injection site to the circulation, with 32% of the total dose excreted in urine within 48 hours. Combined with existing data on organ distribution of methylene blue, the estimated maximal dose to the fetus is 0.25 mg (5% of the administered dose), likely further reduced by other physiologic factors related to pregnancy. Conclusions The analysis suggests that methylene blue dye can be used for lymphatic mapping in pregnancy-associated breast cancer with minimal fetal risk.
Appropriate antibiotic therapy for ventilator-associated pneumonia and sepsis: a necessity, not an issue for debate

3 (p<0.001), age over 64 years (p<0.01), time to onset of pneumonia longer than 3 days (p<0.01), mottling (p<0.05), and hypotension (p<0.05). Among the 322 microbiologically confirmed cases of POP only those with ASA grade greater than 3, time to onset of pneumonia longer than 3 days, and hypotension remained independently associated with mortality. Based on these data the authors conclude that the importance of initial appropriate antibiotic therapy for POP is a matter of debate. However, it is important to recognize that this investigation may have missed a statistically significant relationship between the appropriateness of initial antibiotic therapy and mortality for this patient population. The conclusions of this study are also contrary to those of several other investigations associating the appropriateness of antimicrobial therapy for patients with severe infections and clinical outcome. Dupont et al. examined a population of surgical patients. It is possible that the influence of appropriate antibiotic therapy is more important in nonsurgical patients or medical patients. Timely evaluation of pulmonary infiltrates and the administra
Faculty Attitudes about Distance Education

In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in distance learning in higher education. Given this, it is extremely important to understand faculty attitudes about distance education, not only because they can vary widely, but also because it is the faculty, through their design and implementation of online courses, that will shape the future of distance education. The purpose of the present study is to uncover faculty attitudes about distance education in a specific context, namely that of a mid-sized mid-Atlantic state university. Data sources consist of posts from two of six discussion boards written by 21 faculty participants during an Online Faculty Development Program. Findings are categorized according to (i) philosophical discussions about collaboration, online versus face-to-face courses, and anonymity, (ii) practical discussions about instructor workload and small group discussions, and (iii) practical applications on the incorporation of discussion boards, access, and guidelines for discussion board use. The study ends with course design and faculty training implications.
Calico Scallop Argopecten gibbus Abundance on the Cape Canaveral Bed and on Florida's Gulf of Mexico Shelf

AbstractAnnual landings of the calico scallop Argopecten gibbus fishery in the southeastern United States increased from less than 3,000 kg in 1959 to 19.5 million kg of adductor muscle meat in 1984. The fishery began to collapse in early 1986 in Florida and fell below 1 million kg/year in the mid-1990s. From 2002 through 2011, the only reported landings were 550 kg in 2009, but annual landings of less than 200,000 kg beginning in 2012 indicate the resource rebounded enough in that year to create renewed interest in the fishery. When the fishery was developing, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) sponsored 59 cruises (1956 through the mid-1970s) to map the distribution of the stock and found the calico scallop stocks on Florida's east coast principally occurred around the 40-m depth contour near the shelf break. By the early 1980s, surveys were no longer routinely conducted. Two surveys in the mid-1990s were dedicated to investigating the collapse of the stock. The present study consisted of eigh...
Deteriorative Factors and Their Control

Foods undergo deterioration to varying degrees in organoleptic properties, nutritional value, safety and esthetic appeal. The term food deterioration is often associated with advanced spoilage, which may make food unfit for human consumption. In the broader sense any adverse change in attributes from an agreed upon measure of quality may be considered deterioration. In this sense most foods, from harvest, slaughter, or manufacture, undergo progressive deterioration which, depending upon the food, may be very slow or very rapid.
Phototaxis: Life in focus

Single-celled photosynthetic bacteria determine the direction of incoming light by acting as lenses.
The Deal Process, Asymmetric Bidders and Target Premia

While half of all acquisition targets are sold in negotiated deals with only one buyer rather than by auction, the wealth effects for target shareholders are surprisingly similar in both auctions and negotiations. This begs the following questions: why do companies frequently avoid auctions and instead negotiate with just one buyer, and how can targets achieve comparable premia in negotiations? Drawing on Fishman's (1988) model of preemptive bidding and Povel and Singh's (2006) model of asymmetric bidders, I hypothesize that the sales procedure (i.e., auction, or negotiation) is most likely determined by the party that initiates the deal. When an acquirer initiates a deal, it prefers a negotiated deal and hence agrees to pay a high premium to preempt the target and other potential bidders from running an auction. I document detailed information on the private bargaining process for 598 deals. I find that most negotiation deals are in fact initiated by the acquirers and that most of the target-initiated deals use an auction, which indicates that targets are using an auction as a mechanism to discover the highest bidder. Moreover, I provide evidence that the targets receive higher excess returns in the deals initiated by the acquirers than in the deals initiated by the targets. I also provide further evidence of preemptive bidding and bidder asymmetry by studying the indicative bids and the business relations between the targets and the acquirers. Hence, target firms are willing to forgo the potential benefits of an auction and agree to a negotiated deal because they are already facing a bidder with a high valuation and are able to get a high price.
The “Sabines”: A Study of Racial Hybrids in a Louisiana Coastal Parish

slightly more "public-relations" minded, and in a few instances individuals have been chosen for office who were not the first in line of succession. Although most hereditary chiefs were elected, there has intruded into the thoughts of some circles the possibility of choosing chiefs from among the elite clans more on the basis of their capacity than their hereditary rights. The meteet also perceive the implications with respect to the likelihood of some of their group climbing or descending the sociopolitical ladder. There is no evidence of the thesis that commoners might be elected to high office: the meteet have no anxiety over this prospect and the lower ranking exhibit no aspirations in this direction. Democratic forms will be adapted to Palau social structure as have other alien innovations. The contemporary social order in Palau reflects one of the varied types of internal power adjustments occurring in the modern world. Though the local features are unique, the processes involved exhibit characteristics common to many occupied peoples. These processes need further exploration as a basis for comprehending the present social scene.
Multi-Paradigm Modeling of the Effects of PHEV Adoption on Electric Utility Usage Levels and Emissions

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are a transportation technology on the cusp of introduction that has the potential to couple the transportation and electricity energy systems. A multiparadigm model of the electricity and transportation systems of Alexandria, Virginia has been developed in order to examine the effects of PHEV introduction. This model combines detailed subsector models of the transportation, household electricity demand, and electricity supply sectors. The effects of PHEV adoption on the electricity supply sector have been explored through an examination of the changes in both total electricity usage and peak electricity demand that could be expected. Additionally, the differences in emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrous oxides, and sulfur dioxide between conventional vehicles and PHEVs charged under varying electricity supply mixtures has been quantified. The results indicate that the charging pattern of the vehicles used can significantly alter the effects on the system as a whole.
Intracolonial communication by body oscillations in the paper wasp,Polistes metricus

Field studies (150 h) on pre-emergence, multiple-foundress colonies and laboratory observations (150 h) on post-emergence, single-foundress colonies revealed three distinct types of oscillatory movements in adultPolistes metricus. Two of these are analysed in this report. “Abdominal wagging” is a slow, horizontal abdominal oscillation performed by a female against the nest as she walks over brood cells. It is almost exclusively performed by queens in pre-emergence, foundress associations and more often by queens than workers in post-emergence colonies. In pre-emergence colonies abdominal wagging is done independently of the presence of other foundresses and first appears in colonies when broods contain third instar larvae. We recorded no responses by other foundresses to abdominal wagging. In post-emergence colonies the performance of abdominal wagging is significantly correlated with both numbers of third larval instars and prey trips by workers.
Imaging the Endometrium: A Pictorial Essay

Female gynaecologic conditions arising from the endometrium are common and depend on a woman's age, her menstrual history, and the use of medications such as hormone replacement and tamoxifen. Both benign and malignant conditions affect the endometrium. Benign conditions must be distinguished from malignant and premalignant conditions. The most commonly used imaging modality for evaluating the endometrium is pelvic ultrasound with transabdominal and transvaginal techniques. Additional imaging methods include hysterosonography and magnetic resonance imaging. This pictorial essay will review the normal and abnormal appearance of the endometrium and diagnostic algorithms to evaluate abnormal vaginal bleeding and abnormal endometrial thickness.
Data Fusion for Movement Visualization in a Remote Health Monitoring System

In this paper, we present a data fusion visualization infrastructure for sensor signals from a remote health monitoring system. The infrastructure involves wireless interfacing with the embedded sensor system, known as the Smart Shoe. It fuses and filters the data measured and then uses it to visualize with a graphics display the extracted walking and movement patterns. The various features of the visualization infrastructure are presented, along with the implementation challenges and details.
Odor-Mediated Performance Is Affected by Cadmium Ingestion

Two experiments investigated the ability to use olfactory cues in maze-learning tasks following cadmium exposure. In Experiment 1, two groups of rats—one exposed to a cadmium-saccharin solution, one exposed just to saccharin—received double-alternation, reward(R)-nonreward(N) runway training. When only olfactory cues could be used as discriminative stimuli (Phase 1), just the saccharin-exposed animals were capable of mastering the Rrnnrrnn pattern. When a tactile discriminative stimulus was added (Phase 2), both groups of animals displayed appropriate patterned responding. Removal of the tactile cue (Phase 3) resulted in the immediate disruption of patterned responding in the cadmium-exposed animals. In Experiment 2, when a peppermint odor was used as a discriminative stimulus for T-maze performance, cadmium-exposed animals were incapable of learning the discrimination. However, when a light served as the discriminative stimulus, cadmium-exposed subjects performed as well as control subjects. These results point to potential olfactory deficits resulting from cadmium ingestion.
Recent Applications of Coaxial and Emulsion Electrospinning Methods in the Field of Tissue Engineering

Abstract Electrospinning has emerged as an effective method of producing nanoscale fibers for use in multiple fields of study. One area of significant interest is nanofiber utilization for tissue engineering because the nanofibrous mats can mimic the native extracellular matrix of biological tissues. A logical next step is the inclusion of certain molecules and compounds to accelerate or increase the efficacy of tissue regeneration. Two methods are under scrutiny for their capability to encapsulate therapeutic compounds within electrospun nanofibers: emulsion and coaxial electrospinning. Both have advantages and disadvantages, which need to be taken into careful consideration when deciding to use them in a specific application. Several examples are provided here to highlight the vast potential of multilayered nanofibers as well as the emergence of new techniques to produce three-dimensional scaffolds of nanofibers for use in the field of tissue engineering.
The effect of milliamperage, number of basis images, and export slice thickness on contrast-to-noise ratio and detection of mandibular canal on cone beam computed tomography scans: an in vitro study

Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of milliamperage, number of basis images, and export slice thickness on contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and confidence in detecting mandibular canal. Study Design Two phantoms were used. Each phantom consisted of a dry mandible with an epoxy resin bone tissue substitute block and a water-equivalent block, submerged in water. Each mandible was scanned with a Morita 3D Accuitomo cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) machine (Morita, Kyoto, Japan). Scans were made with 180-degree and 360-degree rotations, at 4, 6, and 8 mA. Each scan was exported in Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) format at slice thicknesses of 0.125 mm, 0.25 mm, 0.75 mm, and 1.0 mm, resulting in 24 image sets for each phantom. The CNR was calculated. Variables were analyzed using factorial analysis of variance. The scans were also evaluated by five observers who were asked to state their confidence in detecting the mandibular canal on a four-point confidence scale. Results Increasing the number of basis images, milliamperage, or export slice thickness significantly increased the CNR. Reducing the export slice thickness improved observers' confidence in detecting the mandibular canal. Conclusions The CBCT acquisition settings should be carefully chosen, depending on specific diagnostic tasks. The lowest slice thickness equal to the voxel size should always be used for exporting CBCT data despite the higher noise.
RHINOLOPHUS EURYALE AND R. MEHELYI (CHIROPTERA, RHINOLOPHIDAE) IN EGYPT AND SOUTHWEST ASIA

ABSTRACT Various criteria which have been used to distinguish between Rhinolophus euryale and R. mehelyi are presented. Of these lancet shape and certain cranial measurements (particularly zygomatic width) are shown to be the most reliable for specimens from southwest Asia. Both species are shown to be present in the USSR, Turkey, Iran, and Israel and both are shown to occur in the same caves in Iran. Only R. mehelyi is reported from Egypt and Cyprus. Several new locality records are given for Iran and R. mehelyi is reported for the first time from Iran, Israel and Jordan.
Statistical guidance for setting product specification limits

This document outlines a data-driven probabilistic approach to setting product acceptance testing limits. Product Specification (PS) limits are testing requirements for assuring that the product meets the product requirements. After identifying key manufacturing and performance parameters for acceptance testing, PS limits should be specified for these parameters, with the limits selected to assure that the unit will have a very high likelihood of meeting product requirements (barring any quality defects that would not be detected in acceptance testing). Because the settings for which the product requirements must be met is typically broader than the production acceptance testing space, PS limits should account for the difference between the acceptance testing setting relative to the worst-case setting. We propose an approach to setting PS limits that is based on demonstrating margin to the product requirement in the worst-case setting in which the requirement must be met. PS limits are then determined by considering the overall margin and uncertainty associated with a component requirement and then balancing this margin and uncertainty between the designer and producer. Specifically, after identifying parameters critical to component performance, we propose setting PS limits using a three step procedure: 1. Specify the acceptance testing and worst-case use-settings, the performance characteristic distributions in these two settings, and the mapping between these distributions. 2. Determine the PS limit in the worst-case use-setting by considering margin to the requirement and additional (epistemic) uncertainties. This step controls designer risk, namely the risk of producing product that violates requirements. 3. Define the PS limit for product acceptance testing by transforming the PS limit from the worst-case setting to the acceptance testing setting using the mapping between these distributions. Following this step, the producer risk is quantified by estimating the product scrap rate based on the projected acceptance testing distribution. The approach proposed here provides a framework for documenting the procedure and assumptions used to determine PS limits. This transparency in procedure will help inform what actions should occur when a unit violates a PS limit and how limits should change over time.
Tgm1-like transglutaminases in tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus)

Among the adaptations of aquatic species during evolution of terrestrial tetrapods was the development of an epidermis preventing desiccation. In present day mammals, keratinocytes of the epidermis, using a membrane-bound transglutaminase (Tgm1), accomplish this function by synthesizing a scaffold of cross-linked protein to which a lipid envelope is attached. This study characterizes the abilities of two homologous transglutaminase isozymes in the teleost fish tilapia to form cross-linked protein structures and their expression in certain tissues. Results indicate they are capable of membrane localization and of generating cellular structures resistant to detergent solubilization. They are both expressed in epithelial cells of the lip, buccal cavity and tips of gill filaments. Adaptation of transglutaminase use in evolution of terrestrial keratinocytes evidently involved refinements in tissue expression, access to suitable substrate proteins and activation of cross-linking during terminal differentiation.
A dual role for farmlands: food security and pollinator conservation

Summary We briefly review current understanding of wild pollinators and pollination services on farmlands. We consider how concepts in plant ecology – community assembly and functional trait diversity - may be applied to create diverse, wild pollinator communities across scales in agroecosystems. We also make recommendations for best practices to enhance pollination services and create more sustainable food production systems under changing environmental conditions, including creating greater landscape connectivity, embracing pollinator dynamics, and providing incentives and other motivations to support these practices. Synthesis. We highlight the opportunity for agricultural lands to serve a dual role for both food production and pollinator conservation, and conclude by posing unanswered questions and top priorities for future studies.
Saint Luis Beltrán in Valencian Art and Pageantry

Eleven Spaniards were canonised in the seventeenth century, and the post-Tridentine context required elaborate fiestas which incorporated altars, triumphal arches, and processions. On the Iberian peninsula, devotions to local saints produced especially sumptuous festivities in order to elicit heightened emotional responses from the collective public. The former kingdom of Valencia provided for its local saint, Luis Beltran, with weeks of pageantry, including processions of dwarfs and giants, bulls, dancing, and music. Confraternities, guilds, and monastic communities took responsibility for the grandiose ephemera. Subsequently, representations of Beltran proliferated in the region, both in panel paintings and woodcut prints. By examining the social context of the cult to Saint Luis Beltran, one may trace the dissemination of imagery from the Dominican monastery through the city streets to private homes. The scope and strength of a visual cult(ure) centered around Luis Beltran correlated with the ways in which the local Valencian church sought to laud its dead, and further elevate its dead from beatus to sanctus.
Mixed Aryl Phosphonate Prodrugs of a Butyrophilin Ligand

Studies of aryl phosphonate derivatives of a butyrophilin 3A1 ligand have resulted in identification of a potent stimulant of Vγ9 Vδ2 T cells. This compound, a mixed ester bearing one pivaloyloxymethyl substituent and one 1-naphthyl ester displayed an EC50 of 0.79 nM as a stimulant of T cell proliferation, and a 9.0 nM EC50 in an assay designed to measure interferon gamma production. In both assays, this is the most potent butyrophilin ligand prodrug yet reported, and thus it should be a valuable tool for studies of T cell function. Furthermore, mixed aryl/acyloxyalkyl esters may represent a new class of phosphonate prodrugs with high efficacy.
The gut-liver axis: impact of a mouse model of small-bowel bacterial overgrowth.

Abstract Background The mechanisms by which intestinal bacteria impact liver diseases remain poorly understood. The aim of this study was to develop a mouse model of small-bowel bacterial overgrowth and to determine its impact on hepatobiliary injury. Materials and methods A jejunal self-filling blind loop (SFBL) was created in C57BL/6 mice. Three weeks after surgery, the mice were euthanized, and bacterial cultures of luminal content of the loop and extraintestinal tissues were performed. Liver and jejunum were collected for histological grading of inflammation and injury. Serum liver biochemistry assays were performed. Hepatobiliary transporter mRNA expression in liver was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Bile and blood were collected for measurement of total bile acids, phospholipid, and cholesterol. Mice undergoing jejunal transection and reanastomosis and laparotomy only served as control groups. Results SFBL induced a dramatic increase in intraluminal bacterial counts, mesenteric lymph node bacterial translocation, and evidence of jejunal and hepatobiliary injury. Significant reductions in hepatic expression of hepatobiliary transporters involved in biliary canalicular export and basolateral uptake were observed in SFBL mice. SFBL resulted in a significant increase in biliary total bile acid concentration, decreases in bile phospholipid and cholesterol output, and an increase in the bile acid/phospholipid ratio. Conclusions We have developed a reproducible mouse model of small-bowel bacterial overgrowth with evidence of liver inflammation, altered hepatobiliary transporter expression, and alterations in bile composition. This model may help to elucidate the mechanisms by which gut-derived bacterial factors impact the liver and contribute to the exacerbation of liver diseases and biliary injury.
Subthalamic Nucleus Deep Brain Stimulation Does Not Modify the Functional Deficits or Axonopathy Induced by Nigrostriatal α-Synuclein Overexpression

Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN DBS) protects dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) against 6-OHDA and MPTP. We evaluated STN DBS in a parkinsonian model that displays α-synuclein pathology using unilateral, intranigral injections of recombinant adeno-associated virus pseudotype 2/5 to overexpress wildtype human α-synuclein (rAAV2/5 α-syn). A low titer of rAAV2/5 α-syn results in progressive forelimb asymmetry, loss of striatal dopaminergic terminal density and modest loss of SNpc dopamine neurons after eight weeks, corresponding to robust human-Snca expression and no effect on rat-Snca, Th, Bdnf or Trk2. α-syn overexpression increased phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 (p-rpS6) in SNpc neurons, a readout of trkB activation. Rats received intranigral injections of rAAV2/5 α-syn and three weeks later received four weeks of STN DBS or electrode implantation that remained inactive. STN DBS did not protect against α-syn-mediated deficits in forelimb akinesia, striatal denervation or loss of SNpc neuron, nor did STN DBS elevate p-rpS6 levels further. ON stimulation, forelimb asymmetry was exacerbated, indicating α-syn overexpression-mediated neurotransmission deficits. These results demonstrate that STN DBS does not protect the nigrostriatal system against α-syn overexpression-mediated toxicity. Whether STN DBS can be protective in other models of synucleinopathy is unknown.
Reducing Overutilization of Preoperative Medical Referrals Among Patients Undergoing Radical Cystectomy Using an Evidence-based Algorithm.

Objective To evaluate the frequency with which preoperative medical evaluations lead to changes in perioperative management of patients undergoing radical cystectomy and to examine the impact of an evidence-based algorithm on referral utilization. Materials and Methods A retrospective review of 176 patients undergoing radical cystectomy in 2013-2014 was conducted. Patients referred for additional preoperative medical or cardiology evaluation were identified and the incidence of diagnostic testing or management changes resulting from such evaluations were determined. The impact of an evidence-based algorithm on referral utilization and identification of patients undergoing changes in perioperative management was examined. Results Of 176 patients, 111 underwent additional preoperative medical evaluation, with 2.7% undergoing additional diagnostic testing and 8.1% experiencing resultant changes in medical management. Perioperative management changes were minor in scope, with the majority (65%) involving management of hypertension or hypokalemia. Perioperative outcomes were similar between patients undergoing urologic evaluation alone and patients referred for additional preoperative medical evaluation. Applying a referral algorithm incorporating the American College of Cardiology guidelines would have avoided 72% of all medical referrals and reduced direct hospital costs of preoperative evaluations by 74%, while still capturing 94% of all patients who underwent perioperative management changes and all patients with diagnostic findings necessitating surgical delay. Conclusion Preoperative medical evaluation of patients undergoing radical cystectomy infrequently yields perioperative management changes. The algorithm presented would significantly reduce overutilization and direct hospital costs while capturing patients most likely to benefit from additional medical evaluation.
Service seeking experiences of college-aged sexual and intimate partner violence victims with a mental health and/or behavioral disability.

Objective: To examine mental health service experiences following sexual violence (SV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization among college women with a disability. Participants: College...