cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Extending work environment research into home health settings.

Organizational attributes in work environments that support nursing practice are theoretically associated with superior nurse and patient outcomes, and lower frequencies of adverse events. This study explored associations between organizational support for nursing practice in home health care agencies and (a) the frequency of nurse-reported adverse events, (b) nurse-assessed quality of care, (c) nurse job satisfaction, and (d) nurses’ intentions to leave their employing agency. Data were collected from a sample of 137 registered nurses employed as home health staff nurses in the United States and analyzed using descriptive techniques and bivariate correlation. As anticipated, organizational support for nursing was negatively associated with nurse-reported adverse patient events and intent to leave, and positively associated with nurse-assessed quality of care and job satisfaction. These findings may be helpful to nursing administrators who seek to create work environments in home health agencies that maxi...
On Switching Problems Requiring Queuing Theory in Computer-Based Systems

Consider N terminal sets connected to a "black box" by N lines, one from each set. This box has K \leq N output lines. This box connects one of the input lines to one of the output lines when so requested and breaks that connection when the terminal has finished transmission. The output lines can be connected to the input lines in many different ways. Each method leads to a different cost and efficiency. As a measure of efficiency, we take the average time that a message, which arrives at random, has to wait before it can be transmitted. Using queuing theory we show that the mean waiting time is the same for any method of services however, the standard deviations differ.
Toxicity of Polybrominated Biphenyl and Its Effects on Reproduction of White Leghorn Hens

Abstract White Leghorn hens were fed 0, 20, 64, 200, 640, and 2000 ppm of a commercial mixture of polybrominated biphenyls (BP-6). The lower levels of BP-6 (20 and 64 ppm) did not change feed intake. After 8 weeks, egg production was 59%, 51% and 39%, and hatchability was 85%, 65% and 11% for the hens fed 0, 20 and 64 ppm BP-6, respectively. During the second week of feeding 200 ppm BP-6, feed consumption was reduced to 85 g/hen/day, a 23% reduction in intake, and all hens fed 200 ppm stopped egg production within 3 weeks. Hens fed 640 and 2000 ppm refused feed immediately, and at the end of 1 week, feed consumption was 30% that of the control. During the second week of treatment, hatchability was 43%, 21%, and 43% for hens fed 200, 640, and 2000 ppm BP-6, respectively. Dead embryos had subcutaneous edema in the neck and rump areas. The day-old chicks that survived had a higher mortality and lower body weight gains during the 3-week growth test than the control progeny had. The concentration of BP-6 in the egg reached a plateau by the 4th week of feeding; the maximum concentration in the egg was 1.5 times the dietary level. When the BP-6 was replaced with uncontaminated feed, feed consumption returned to normal; and within 8 weeks, egg production of the hens fed 200, 640, and 2000 ppm BP-6 was similar to that of the control. After withdrawal of the BP-6, the concentration of BP-6 in the eggs of hens fed 20 and 64 ppm BP-6 decreased rapidly during the first 2 weeks. After the first 2 weeks, the concentration declined much less rapidly, and detectable amounts were still present 33 weeks after withdrawal of BP-6 from the diet.
Autonomous control integrating fast voltage regulation and islanding detection for high penetration PV application

Distributed renewable energy generation offers unique advantages compared with large fossil-fuel power plants. These advantages include higher efficiency, increased reliability and less pollution. However, renewable generation will cause adverse impact on the distribution system because of the stochastic generation feature. System voltage problem and unintentional islanding are two impediments to further increase the penetration level of renewable resources. An autonomous controller, with both fast voltage regulation and islanding detection facilitation functions, is proposed in this paper to address these two issues. By developing adaptive voltage reference generation mechanism, the distributed generators (DG) at different locations can be actively involved in the system voltage regulation. If the grid is lost, the islanding detection function will be seamlessly triggered without influencing the system power quality. A multiple-PV system is built in RTDS to test the controller coordination capability. The controller is also implemented in a PV inverter prototype. Simulation and experimental results are provided to verify the effectiveness of the proposed controller.
Olfactory relationships of the telencephlaon and diencephalon in the rabbit. 1. An autoradiographic study of the efferent connections of the main and accessory olfactory bulbs

The efferent connections of the main and accessory olfactory bulbs in the female albino rabbit have been studied using the autoradiographic method for tracing axonal pathways. Following unilateral injections of 3H-proline or 3H-leucine into the main olfactory bulb, radioactively labeled material transported intraaxonally by axoplasmic flow in an anterograde direction from soma to axon terminal is present ipsilaterally in the superficial half of the plexiform layer (IA) of: the entire circumference of the olfactory peduncle, the tenia tecta, the full mediolateral extent of the olfactory tubercle, the entire length of the prepyriform cortex, a transition area between the prepyriform cortex and the horizontal limb of the nucleus of the diagonal band, the nucleus of the lateral olfactory tract, the anterior cortical and posterolateral cortical amygdaloid nuclei (periamygdaloid areas 1, rostral half of 2, 5 of Rose, '31), and the ventrolateral entorhinal cortex (entorhinal areas 1, 2, 4, 5, 7 of Rose, '31). No subcortical or contralateral projection of main bulb efferents was found. After a unilateral injection of 3H-leucine into the accessory olfactory bulb, transported material could be followed caudally along the dorsal surface of the ipsilateral lateral olfactory tract. This heavily labeled projection is distinct from the unlabeled lateral olfactory tract and has been termed the accessory olfactory tract. Beginning at the level of the caudal third of the olfactory tubercle and extending caudally to the nucleus of the lateral olfactory tract is a group of small neurons intimately associated with the accessory olfactory tract. This cell group is referred to as the bed nucleus of the accessory olfactory tract. Projection sites of the accessory bulb include the bed nucleus of the accessory olfactory tract and layer IA of the medial nucleus and the posteromedial cortical nucleus of the amygdala (periamygdaloid areas 3, 4, PAM, caudal half of 2, 6 of Rose, '31). An additional accessory bulb efferent projection was found to enter the stria terminalis at the level of the medial amygdaloid nucleus and could be traced to a posterior segment of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. The autoradiographic findings indicate that the accessory olfactory bulb connects with portions of the amygdala that do not receive afferent input from the main olfactory bulb and provide evidence for the existence of two distinct and separate olfactory systems.
The Cryptosporidium oocyst wall protein is a member of a multigene family and has a homolog in Toxoplasma.

ABSTRACT Coccidian parasites are transmitted via a fecal oocyst stage that is exceptionally resistant to environmental stress and harsh chemical treatments, which allows parasites to stably persist outside a host. Because of its oocyst durability Cryptosporidium parvum is a significant water- and food-borne pathogen of humans, as well as animals of agricultural importance. To date, only one apicomplexan oocyst membrane protein has been identified, Cryptosporidium oocyst wall protein 1 (COWP1). COWP1 has a highly cysteine-rich periodicity due to arrays of two apicomplexan-specific motifs, designated the type I and type II domains. In this study, exhaustive BLAST screening of a complete C. parvum genome sequence database resulted in identification of eight additional genes encoding similar arrays of cysteine-rich type I and/or type II domains. Transcript expression analysis revealed that all COWP genes are abundantly expressed at a time when developing oocysts are observed, roughly 48 to 72 h after inoculation of in vitro cultures. A monoclonal antibody recognizing COWP8 specifically localized to the C. parvum oocyst wall, supporting the hypothesis that multiple COWPs play a role in the oocyst wall structure. BLAST screening of the Toxoplasma gondii genome sequence database resulted in identification of a gene encoding at least one COWP homolog (TgOWP1), and this multiexon sequence information was used to isolate a full-length cDNA. Exhaustive screening of Plasmodium sp. genome sequence databases by using COWP genes as BLAST queries failed to detect similar proteins in Plasmodium. We therefore propose that the COWP family of proteins have a structural role in apicomplexan species that produce durable shed cysts capable of surviving environmental stress.
Nutritional policies and standards for snacks served in after-school programmes: a review.

Objective To review and synthesize existing national and state organizations' policies related to the nutritional quality of snacks served in after-school programmes (ASP; 15.00-18.00 hours) in the USA. Design Systematic review of websites and corresponding documentation describing national and state-level ASP organizations' policies, standards, guidelines and/or recommendations for the nutritional quality of snacks served within the ASP setting. Setting ASP can play a critical role in a child's daily dietary intake. State and national organizations have developed policies to assist ASP in selecting nutritionally appropriate snacks, yet no widely accepted standards exist. By reviewing the extent of existing policies, recommendations for uniform policies can be made. Subjects Policy documentation. Results A total of seventeen organizations representing five unique snack policies comprised of thirteen different food items were identified. The most widely recognized snack policy, which the majority of state and national ASP organizations endorsed and upon which other snack policies were modelled, was the US Department of Agriculture reimbursement programmes. Consistently, policies endorsed serving fruits/vegetables, whole grains and milk/dairy products, and limiting foods high in fats/sugar/energy (calories). Two policies focused predominantly on total energy and macronutrient composition of snacks, a single policy suggested limits on sugar-sweetened beverages, and three endorsed serving water daily. A proposed set of general guidelines for ASP was developed based on uniformity in recommendations across policies. Conclusions The proposed set of nutritional guidelines will assist policy makers and ASP providers in selecting and serving nutritionally appropriate snacks that contribute to a child's overall healthful daily dietary intake.
Why Generative Phrase Models Underperform Surface Heuristics

We investigate why weights from generative models underperform heuristic estimates in phrase-based machine translation. We first propose a simple generative, phrase-based model and verify that its estimates are inferior to those given by surface statistics. The performance gap stems primarily from the addition of a hidden segmentation variable, which increases the capacity for overfitting during maximum likelihood training with EM. In particular, while word level models benefit greatly from re-estimation, phrase-level models do not: the crucial difference is that distinct word alignments cannot all be correct, while distinct segmentations can. Alternate segmentations rather than alternate alignments compete, resulting in increased deter-minization of the phrase table, decreased generalization, and decreased final BLEU score. We also show that interpolation of the two methods can result in a modest increase in BLEU score.
Evaluation of systemic absorption and renal effects of topical ophthalmic flurbiprofen and diclofenac in healthy cats

Objective To investigate systemic absorption and renal effects of topically applied ophthalmic flurbiprofen and diclofenac in healthy cats. Animals studied Twelve domestic shorthair cats. Procedures Cats were randomly assigned to two treatment groups (n = 6) and administered one drop (approximately 40 μL) of either flurbiprofen 0.03% or diclofenac 0.1% in both eyes four times daily (6 am, 12 pm, 6 pm, and 12 am) for 14 days. Blood samples were collected on days 0, 4, 8, 14, 16, and 17 and analyzed by liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry for flurbiprofen and diclofenac plasma concentrations. A complete blood count (CBC), serum chemistry, and urinalysis were analyzed at the beginning of the study (Day 0) and at the end of topical drug administration (Day 15). Results Both drugs demonstrated systemic absorption. Flurbiprofen was detected (mean ± SD) at day 4 (237 ± 65 ng/mL), day 8 (396 ± 91 ng/mL), day 14 (423 ± 56 ng/mL), day 16 (350 ± 66 ng/mL), and day 17 (270 ± 62 ng/mL), and diclofenac was detected (mean ± SD) at day 4 (130 ± 44 ng/mL), day 8 (131 ± 25 ng/mL), day 14 (150 ± 36 ng/mL), and sporadically on day 16 [corrected]. Flurbiprofen plasma concentration decreased slowly over 48 h after the last dose. No clinically significant abnormalities were noted in the serum blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, or urine specific gravity at the end of topical drug administration compared to the beginning of the study. Conclusions Flurbiprofen and diclofenac were systemically absorbed after topical administration four times daily to both eyes of healthy cats. Flurbiprofen reached higher plasma concentrations compared to diclofenac.
First-principles study of the effects of mechanical strains on the radiation hardness of hexagonal boron nitride monolayers

We investigate the strain effect on the radiation hardness of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) monolayers using density functional theory calculations. Both compressive and tensile strains are studied in elastic domains along the zigzag, armchair, and biaxial directions. We observe a reduction in radiation hardness to form boron and nitrogen monovacancies under all strains. The origin of this effect is the strain-induced reduction of the energy barrier to displace an atom. An implication of our results is the vulnerability of strained nanomaterials to radiation damage.
Late Mesozoic and possible early Tertiary accretion in western Washington State: The Helena-Haystack mélange and the Darrington-Devils Mountain fault zone

The Helena-Haystack melange (HH melange) and coincident Darrington-Devils Mountain fault zone (DDMFZ) in northwestern Washington separate two terranes, the Northwest Cascade System (NWCS) and the western and eastern melange belts (WEMB). The two terranes of Paleozoic and Mesozoic rocks superficially resemble each other but record considerable differences in structural and metamorphic history. The HH melange is a serpentinite-matrix melange containing blocks of adjacent terranes but also exotic blocks of schistose metavolcanic rocks and Jurassic tonalite and associated amphibolite. The HH melange must have formed between early Cretaceous and late middle Eocene time, because it contains tectonic clasts of early Cretaceous Shuksan Greenschist and is overlain by late middle Eocene sedimentary and volcanic rocks. Less certain constraints on its age are a tectonic clast of metarhyolite that yields 90 Ma metamorphic ages and the presumption that the melange was emplaced before the outboard Olympic terrane arrived at about 50 Ma. The apparent continuity of the HH melange and the Decatur terrane of the San Juan Islands suggests that the melange is the strongly tectonized equivalent of the Fidalgo ophiolite. The out-crop pattern suggests that the HH melange overlies rocks of the NWCS and it may have formed when the WEMB terranes were thrust over rocks of the NWCS. Much of the exposed belt of the HH melange is overlain by late middle Eocene feldspathic sandstone and volcanic rocks of the Barlow Pass Volcanics of Vance (1957a), which are cut by numerous faults of the DDMFZ paralleling the melange. The Barlow Pass Volcanics appear to overlie the Straight Creek fault without large offset, but a displaced exotic block of amphibolite with attached early or early middle Eocene(?) sandstone in the melange suggests that strike-slip movement along the DDMFZ was synchronous with movement on the Straight Creek fault, and stretched cobbles in the conglomerates of the Barlow Pass Volcanics suggest post-Straight Creek movement. The possible continuation of the DDMFZ to the northwest as the San Juan and the West Coast faults on Vancouver Island suggests That the structure has had a major role in the emplacement of all the westernmost terranes in the Pacific Northwest. This major suture is strongly bowed to the northeast opposite the great oroclinal bend of the Olympic terrane, suggesting that the emplacement of that terrane may have deformed a once straighter strike-slip zone.
HYSTERESIS IN THE KALECKIAN GROWTH MODEL: A BAYESIAN ANALYSIS FOR THE US MANUFACTURING SECTOR FROM 1984 TO 2007: Hysteresis in the Kaleckian Growth Model

Responding to the Classical criticism of the baseline Kaleckian growth model which is not fully adjusted in the long run, post-Kaleckians have proposed model variants that imply the economy to converge to a steady state in which the realized and the normal utilization rates as well as the realized and the expected secular rate of sales growth are congruent. Convergence is caused by endogenous adjustments of the conventional rates to their respective realized rates which is theoretically justified by hysteresis effects. Using a dynamic linear specification of the Kaleckian investment function in state-space form and by the aid of the Kalman filter, this paper studies the endogeneity of the normal utilization rate and the expected secular rate of sales growth empirically for the US manufacturing sector and its sub-sectors. We find evidence for an endogenous adjustment of both variables.
Modeling and Adaptive Control for Flapping-Wing Micro Aerial Vehicle

Flight quality of flapping-wing micro aerial vehicle (FMAV) depends much upon efficient control of flight attitude. So, an accurate model of flight attitude is of utmost importance. The fly mechanism of birds and big insects, especially the motion rule of wings were investigated to establish a complete dynamic model and mathematical model for flight attitude of FMAV. The design of attitude controller is challenging due to the complexity of the flight process, and the difficulty is system uncertainty, nonlinearity, multi-coupled parameters, and all kinds of disturbances. To control the attitude movement effectively, a global adaptive H∞ control strategy was constructed that the controller synthesis was based on Lyapunov function instead of solving the Hamilton-Jacobi-Isaacs (HJI) partial differential equation. The method overcomes the impact of time-varying parameters and unknown disturbances to the system. Simulation results support the effectiveness of the dynamic model and the control strategy.
Location and Capacity Allocations Decisions to Mitigate the Impacts of Unexpected Disasters

Abstract This paper develops a stochastic modeling framework to determine the location and capacities of distribution centers for emergency stockpiles to improve preparedness in the event of a disaster for which there is little to no forewarning. The proposed framework is applicable to emergency planning that must incorporate multiple sources of uncertainty, including the timing and severity of a potential event, as well as the resulting impact, while taking into consideration both disaster and region specific characteristics. To demonstrate the modeling approach, we apply it to a region prone to earthquakes. The model incorporates various uncertainties such as facility damage and casualty losses, based upon their severity and remaining survivability time, as a function of the magnitude of the earthquake. Given the computational complexity of the problem of interest, we develop an evolutionary optimization heuristic aided by an innovative mixed integer programming model that generates time efficient high quality solutions. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the heuristic via a case study featuring the HAZUS-MH software from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Finally, given the uncertainty associated with the magnitude of the earthquake, we use a decision analysis approach to develop robust solutions while taking into account the geological characteristics of the region.
Supervision of Entry Level Licensed Counselors

Abstract This study addresses the background and qualifications of supervisors of entry level licensed counselors, content of the supervision process, and perceptions of both supervisors and supervisees regarding supervisor roles and functions. Results are discussed with suggestions for future research.
Spatial colocalization and functional link of purinosomes with mitochondria

Purine biosynthetic enzymes organize into dynamic cellular bodies called purinosomes. Little is known about the spatiotemporal control of these structures. Using super-resolution microscopy, we demonstrated that purinosomes colocalized with mitochondria, and these results were supported by isolation of purinosome enzymes with mitochondria. Moreover, the number of purinosome-containing cells responded to dysregulation of mitochondrial function and metabolism. To explore the role of intracellular signaling, we performed a kinome screen using a label-free assay and found that mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) influenced purinosome assembly. mTOR inhibition reduced purinosome-mitochondria colocalization and suppressed purinosome formation stimulated by mitochondria dysregulation. Collectively, our data suggest an mTOR-mediated link between purinosomes and mitochondria, and a general means by which mTOR regulates nucleotide metabolism by spatiotemporal control over protein association.
Determinants of racial differences in survival for sinonasal cancer.

Objectives/Hypothesis Racial differences in survival are present across multiple cancer types, including sinonasal cancer. Thus far in the literature, reasons for this have been theorized but not proven. We aimed to examine proposed potential factors and understand the true determinants in racial differences for survival in sinonasal cancer. Study Design Utilizing the U.S. National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare database (2000–2008), we analyzed multiple demographic, tumor-related, and treatment-related factors. Use of the Medicare subset allows much deeper examination of patient and treatment factors than the usual SEER database study. Methods Univariate analysis and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression models were used. Results Eight hundred and forty-five patients remained after exclusion criteria. Five-year cause-specific survival (CSS) was 62%, with a racial difference confirmed because non-Hispanic whites (NHW) and blacks and Hispanic whites (B/HW) demonstrated 64% and 52% CSS, respectively. After multivariate analysis, factors significantly determining racial survival were age, stage, histology, grade, comorbidity status, and standard of care. Conclusion This study confirms the difference in racial survival in sinonasal cancer. In opposition to popular theories of access to care and education level- and poverty level-determining outcomes, those factors were not significant on multivariate analysis, whereas stage and receiving standard of care, determined by unimodality versus multimodality treatment appropriate to stage, were the two most important prognostic factors. Level of Evidence 2c. Laryngoscope, 126:2022–2028, 2016
Underwater sound: Its relevance to behavioral functions among fishes and marine mammals

A brief history of the development of underwater bioacoustics (from the early 1960s on) is provided, particularly as it relates to the theoretical problems confronting directional hearing in fishes and its experimental resolution as well as the resulting change that occurred in the interests of many workers, i.e., from understanding the acoustical and associated functional problems confronting the whole animal to understanding the neural and sensory mechanisms of hearing. Several topics are then discussed: (1) functional aspects of acoustical communication (interplay among sensory modalities and sound structure), (2) functional aspects of interception (some insights into old problems), and (3) orientation in space (independent of animal interactions) by fishes and marine mammals. The author concludes that although studies are demonstrating an expanding functional role of sound in the lives of fishes and marine mammals, speculation continues to play a large role. Such speculation has strong heuristic value...
The value of dental radiographic equipment in a navy field hospital

The portable dental X-ray machine has been used to augment standard field x-ray equipment. This allows for more rapid assessment of combat casualties. The data presented describe the use of the portable dental X-ray machine during the 100-hour ground war against Iraq.
Dysregulation of innate and adaptive serum mediators precedes systemic lupus erythematosus classification and improves prognostic accuracy of autoantibodies.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease with a poorly understood preclinical stage of immune dysregulation and symptom accrual. Accumulation of antinuclear autoantibody (ANA) specificities is a hallmark of impending clinical disease. Yet, many ANA-positive individuals remain healthy, suggesting that additional immune dysregulation underlies SLE pathogenesis. Indeed, we have recently demonstrated that interferon (IFN) pathways are dysregulated in preclinical SLE. To determine if other forms of immune dysregulation contribute to preclinical SLE pathogenesis, we measured SLE-associated autoantibodies and soluble mediators in samples from 84 individuals collected prior to SLE classification (average timespan = 5.98 years), compared to unaffected, healthy control samples matched by race, gender, age (±5 years), and time of sample procurement. We found that multiple soluble mediators, including interleukin (IL)-5, IL-6, and IFN-γ, were significantly elevated in cases compared to controls more than 3.5 years pre-classification, prior to or concurrent with autoantibody positivity. Additional mediators, including innate cytokines, IFN-associated chemokines, and soluble tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily mediators increased longitudinally in cases approaching SLE classification, but not in controls. In particular, levels of B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) were comparable in cases and controls until less than 10 months pre-classification. Over the entire pre-classification period, random forest models incorporating ANA and anti-Ro/SSA positivity with levels of IL-5, IL-6, and the IFN-γ-induced chemokine, MIG, distinguished future SLE patients with 92% (±1.8%) accuracy, compared to 78% accuracy utilizing ANA positivity alone. These data suggest that immune dysregulation involving multiple pathways contributes to SLE pathogenesis. Importantly, distinct immunological profiles are predictive for individuals who will develop clinical SLE and may be useful for delineating early pathogenesis, discovering therapeutic targets, and designing prevention trials.
Patient Preferences in Regulatory Benefit-Risk Assessments: A US Perspective

Demands for greater transparency in US regulatory assessments of benefits and risks, together with growing interest in engaging patients in Food and Drug Administration regulatory decision making, have resulted in several recent regulatory developments. Although Food and Drug Administration's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) and Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) have established patient-engagement initiatives, CDRH has proposed guidelines for considering quantitative data on patients' benefit-risk perspectives, while CDER has focused on a more qualitative approach. We summarize two significant studies that were developed in collaboration and consultation with CDER and CDRH. CDER encouraged a patient advocacy group to propose draft guidance on engaging patient and caregiver stakeholders in regulatory decision making for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. CDRH sponsored a discrete-choice experiment case study to quantify obese respondents' perspectives on "meaningful benefits." CDRH and CDER issued draft guidance in May and June 2015, respectively, on including patient-preference data in regulatory submissions. Both organizations face challenges. CDER is working on integrating qualitative data into existing evidence-based review processes and is exploring options for therapeutic areas not included on a priority list. CDRH has adopted an approach that requires patient-preference data to satisfy standards of valid scientific evidence. Although that strategy could facilitate integrating patient perspectives directly with clinical data on benefits and harms, generating such data requires building capacity.
COMMUNITY ECOLOGY OF SALAMANDERS

Salamanders (Amphibia: Caudata) are often dismissed, even by biologists, as interesting oddities: small, unobtrusive animals, seemingly far-removed from the mainstream of vertebrate evolution and largely irrelevant to ecosystem function or to the development of ecological theory. In this slim volume, one of our preeminent ecologists has gone far toward correcting this inaccurate view. N. G. Hairston is uniquely well-qualified for the task he has set for himself. It is only a slight exaggeration to state that Hairston and an outstanding cadre of his former graduate students (including D. E. Gill, K. C. Nishikawa, M. T. Southerland, S. G. Tilley, and H. M. Wilbur) have virtually defined experimental salamander ecology. Because a number of the other important researchers in this area (notably R. G. Jaeger and his coworkers) have employed approaches that are consistent with those of the Hairston "school," experimental salamander ecology forms a relative cohesive whole. This book is, however, much more than a mere compilation of what is known about the community ecology of salamanders, for Hairston is a man with a mission: to call into question the entire body of concepts that constitutes current community ecology. Community theory, which emerged some 25 years ago with the seminal theoretical papers by R. H. MacArthur, R. Levins, and their coworkers, is considered by Hairston (p. 201) to be "unacceptable . . . too many facts must be ignored." Hairston's chief weapon in his assault on current community theory is the controlled field experiment ("the hallmark of acceptable scientific procedure" [p. 35]). Although he acknowledges at one point that field experiments do not necessarily succeed, he proceeds as if they are the only way to study ecology. Alternative approaches (such as descriptive studies, analysis of patterns of correlation, observation of uncontrolled "natural experiments," etc.) are dismissed as providing, at best, "weak inference" (p. 173). Many readers of Evolution may find this dichotomy between "good" and "bad" science to be overstated and needlessly stark. For all their clarity and rigor, field experiments are impossible or impractical to apply to a great many important problems. The reader is referred to T. W. Schoener's (1983) review for a more measured, though still very favorable, assessment of the role of field experiments in ecology. Hairston begins with a very useful historical review of the development of community theory and a spirited critique of that theory's untested, and often patently
Functional effects of eotaxin are selectively upregulated on IL-5 transgenic mouse eosinophils.

Synergistic interactions between cytokines, chemokines and adhesion molecules may facilitate the selective recruitment of eosinophils into sites of allergic inflammation. Ovalbumin-sensitized IL5TG mice responded to antigen challenge with robust airway eosinophilia 24 and 72 hr post-exposure. Adhesion molecule expression and functional responsiveness of immune cells derived from IL5TG mice to various inflammatory mediators were evaluated. IL5TG-derived eosinophils, but not neutrophils, expressed higher levels of CD49d and CD11b relative to WT. Functional responsiveness to eotaxin was increased in IL5TG eosinophils as demonstrated by a 10× increase in its potency in producing actin polymerization and 3× increase in CD11b upregulation relative to WT. These data are consistent with increased CCR3 expression on IL5TG eosinophils. Responsiveness of eosinophils to LTB4 or MIP-1α was similar between WT and IL-5TG mice. These data provide evidence of synergy between eosinophil-specific cytokines and chemokines that may promote accumulation of this cell type under conditions of allergic inflammation in vivo.
Lock-in effect in the Russian–Libyan economic relations in the post-Arab Spring period

ABSTRACTThis paper analyses the impact of Libya’s regime change in the post-Arab Spring period on its economic relations with Russia. It shows the usefulness of path dependence theory as an instrument to explain the rapprochement between the two countries and renewal of their joint projects after the Arab Spring. The paper argues that path-dependent factors related to pre-revolution contracts signed between Russia and the Gaddafi regime in the gas and oil industries, the military sphere, and transportation constrained the ability of Libya’s new political elites to significantly decrease Russia’s economic presence in the country. The major implication that can be drawn from the analysis of the impact of Libya’s regime change on its bilateral ties with Russia is that path dependence plays a significant role in the formation of foreign policy.
Diet-induced obesity causes visceral, but not subcutaneous, lymph node hyperplasia via increases in specific immune cell populations

Objectives The spatial proximity of adipose depots to secondary lymph nodes allows a unique relation between the two systems. Obesity, predominately visceral adiposity, links to numerous diseases; hence, we postulate that secondary lymphatics within this region contributes to disease risk. Material and methods Male C57BL/6 mice were fed standard CHOW (18% kcal fat) or Western diet (45% kcal fat) for 7 weeks. Visceral and subcutaneous lymph nodes and associated adipose depots they occupy were excised. Lymph node morphology and resident immune cell populations were characterized via histopathology, immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. Adipose tissue immune cell populations were also characterized. Results Obesity caused lymph node expansion, increased viable cell number and deviations in immune cell populations. These alterations were exclusive to visceral lymph nodes. Notably, pro-inflammatory antigen presenting cells and regulatory T cells increased in number in the visceral lymph node. Obesity, however, reduced T regulatory cells in visceral lymph nodes. The visceral adipose depot also had greater reactivity towards HFD than subcutaneous, with a greater percent of macrophages, dendritic and CD8+ T cells. Immune cell number, in both the visceral and subcutaneous, however decreased as adipose depots enlarged. Conclusion Overall, HFD has a greater influence on visceral cavity than the subcutaneous. In the visceral lymph node, but not subcutaneous, HFD-induced obesity decreased cell populations that suppressed immune function while increasing those that regulate/activate immune response.
Watersnakes Prey on Invasive Fishes in an Urban Canal in Southern Florida

Abstract Canals in southern Florida are populated by a variety of invasive fish species, but interactions between these invasive fishes and native species are poorly understood. Watersnakes are documented predators of fishes and are well studied in many portions of their range; however, few studies have addressed their ecology and life history in the expansive southern Florida canal system. I captured individuals of 2 watersnake species in a canal in a residential southern Florida neighborhood to determine which fish species were preyed upon. I recovered 4 prey items, all of which were invasive fishes.
The Promise and Challenge of In Vivo Delivery for Genome Therapeutics.

CRISPR-based genome editing technologies are poised to enable countless new therapies to prevent, treat, or cure diseases with a genetic basis. However, the safe and effective delivery of genome editing enzymes represents a substantial challenge that must be tackled to enable the next generation of genetic therapies. In this Review, we summarize recent progress in developing enzymatic tools to combat genetic disease and examine current efforts to deliver these enzymes to the cells in need of correction. Viral vectors already in use for traditional gene therapy are being applied to enable in vivo CRISPR-based therapeutics, as are emerging technologies such as nanoparticle-based delivery of CRISPR components and direct delivery of preassembled RNA–protein complexes. Success in these areas will allow CRISPR-based genome editing therapeutics to reach their full potential.
SV40-Mediated Oncogenesis

Simian virus 40 (SV40) was first isolated in 1958 among other simian viruses from contaminated polio vaccine preparations, which were inadvertently administered to millions of people in different countries from 1954 to 1963. Soon after SV40 was introduced to the scientific community (1) its capabilities to induce different forms of cancer in experimental animals were recognized (2,3). However, epidemiology failed to establish a conclusive link between the administration of SV40contaminated polio vaccines to humans and the development of cancer (4–8). Because epidemiology was inconclusive, SV40 has been considered for many years to be harmless to humans. From the 1970s, throughout the 1980s, and until recently, SV40 has been utilized mainly as a tool to understand key molecular processes such as DNA replication, splicing, and translation in mammalian cells. It has also been widely used to uncover the process of the cell cycle control because of the interaction of its major oncogenic protein products with critical tumor suppressor gene pathways of the cell. Indeed, the SV40 oncogenes have probably been the most commonly used tools to experimentally immortalize or transform rodent and human cells, mainly fibroblasts. Occasional screening of human tumors suggested that SV40 could participate in the development of human cancer (9–15). The interest concerning the association of SV40 with certain human malignancies (specifically, malignant mesothelioma, tumors of the brain and bone, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma) and the possible causative role of SV40 in the onset of these forms of cancer has vigorously resurfaced during the past decade (reviewed in refs. 16 and 17). This has been caused by the development of new molecular techniques that now allow investigators to better study the presence and the biologic effects of viruses in infected cells. The wealth of experimental data accumulated over the recent past conclusively associates SV40 with human tumors, especially with malignant mesothelioma (16,18,19). A recent meeting of the National Academy of Science, Institute of Medicine (IOM) concluded that SV40 is a “strong” carcinogen, and that there is “moderate evidence” that SV40 causes some human tumors (20). This was emphasized by the recognition that previous epidemiologic
A Benchmarking Study of Peptide–Biomineral Interactions

A long-standing goal in the field of biomineralization has been to achieve a molecular-level mechanistic understanding of how proteins participate in the nucleation and growth of inorganic crystals (both in vitro and in vivo). Computational methods offer an approach to explore these interactions and propose mechanisms at the atomic scale; however, to have confidence in the predictions of a computational method, the method must first be validated against a benchmark experimental data set of protein–mineral interactions. Relatively little work has been done to test the ability of computation to reproduce experimental results on mineral systems with biologically relevant additives present. The goal of this work is to develop a standard and varied benchmark to test whether a computational method is able to match experimental results at the length and time scales of biomineral–peptide interactions. We compare the results of the RosettaSurface algorithm to an experimental benchmark of kinetic and thermodynamic ...
Multilayer polymer dielectric films for hollow glass waveguides

Hollow glass waveguides (HGWs) have been extensively investigated for the transmission of broadband, high-power radiation, particularly in the mid-infrared. One area of particular interest is the deposition of dielectric thin films within the hollow core of the HGW in order to reduce the losses at desired wavelengths. By implementing a thin film multilayer structure with high index mismatch between adjacent films, it is possible to dramatically improve the losses of the waveguides due to the thin film interference effect. Existing multilayer film research has utilized heavy metal halides, which although provide considerable index contrast, are toxic and unsuitable for clinical applications in which they are often used. Polymer dielectric thin films provide desirable optical properties for HGWs but are hindered by solvent compatibility in the deposition procedure. This work demonstrates implementation of a polymer multilayer dielectric thin film stack within a HGW, using ChemoursTM Teflon AF (n = 1.29) as the low-index material and polystyrene (n = 1.59) as the high-index material. These two polymers were deposited using liquid phase techniques within a HGW; the absorption spectra of waveguide as each layer was deposited on was analyzed in the mid-IR with an FTIR, and straight and bending losses were measured on a CO 2 laser. Appreciable losses were realized with the addition of the second polymer film and the interference bands red-shifted with the second layer, suggesting the successful creation of the multilayer structure.
Image-guided radiotherapy quality control: Statistical process control using image similarity metrics.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to demonstrate an objective quality control framework for the image review process. Methods and materials A total of 927 cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) registrations were retrospectively analyzed for 33 bilateral head and neck cancer patients who received definitive radiotherapy. Two registration tracking volumes (RTVs) - cervical spine (C-spine) and mandible - were defined, within which a similarity metric was calculated and used as a registration quality tracking metric over the course of treatment. First, sensitivity to large misregistrations was analyzed for normalized cross-correlation (NCC) and mutual information (MI) in the context of statistical analysis. The distribution of metrics was obtained for displacements that varied according to a normal distribution with standard deviation of σ = 2 mm, and the detectability of displacements greater than 5 mm was investigated. Then, similarity metric control charts were created using a statistical process control (SPC) framework to objectively monitor the image registration and review process. Patient-specific control charts were created using NCC values from the first five fractions to set a patient-specific process capability limit. Population control charts were created using the average of the first five NCC values for all patients in the study. For each patient, the similarity metrics were calculated as a function of unidirectional translation, referred to as the effective displacement. Patient-specific action limits corresponding to 5 mm effective displacements were defined. Furthermore, effective displacements of the ten registrations with the lowest similarity metrics were compared with a three dimensional (3DoF) couch displacement required to align the anatomical landmarks. Results Normalized cross-correlation identified suboptimal registrations more effectively than MI within the framework of SPC. Deviations greater than 5 mm were detected at 2.8σ and 2.1σ from the mean for NCC and MI, respectively. Patient-specific control charts using NCC evaluated daily variation and identified statistically significant deviations. This study also showed that subjective evaluations of the images were not always consistent. Population control charts identified a patient whose tracking metrics were significantly lower than those of other patients. The patient-specific action limits identified registrations that warranted immediate evaluation by an expert. When effective displacements in the anterior-posterior direction were compared to 3DoF couch displacements, the agreement was ±1 mm for seven of 10 patients for both C-spine and mandible RTVs. Conclusions Qualitative review alone of IGRT images can result in inconsistent feedback to the IGRT process. Registration tracking using NCC objectively identifies statistically significant deviations. When used in conjunction with the current image review process, this tool can assist in improving the safety and consistency of the IGRT process.
New Power Sources

This chapter analyzes how new knowledge of thermodynamics led to improved sources of power such as the internal combustion engine, the four cycle engine and the Diesel engine. The chapter focuses on the work of Etienne Lenoir in France, Nikolaus Otto in Germany, Alphonse-Eugene Beau de Rochas in France, and Rudolf Diesel in Germany.
Speech-based text correction patterns in noisy environment

We present a study focused on observation of methods of dictation and error correction between humans in a noisy environment. The purpose of this study is to gain insight to natural communication patterns which can then be applied to human --- machine interaction. We asked 10 subjects to conduct the standard Lane Change Test (LCT) while dictating messages to a human counterpart who had to note down the message texts. Both parties were located in separate rooms and communicated over Skype. Both were exposed to varying types and levels of noise, which made their communication difficult and forced the subjects to deal with misunderstandings. Dictation of both short and longer messages was tested. We observed how the subjects behaved and we analyzed their communication patterns. We identified and described more then 20 elementary observations related to communication techniques such as synchronization and grounding of parties, error checking and error correction. We also report frequencies of use for each communication pattern and provide basic characteristics of driving distraction during the test.
Evolving modular neural sequence architectures with genetic programming

Automated architecture search has demonstrated significant success for image data, where reinforcement learning and evolution approaches now outperform the best human designed networks ([12], [8]). These successes have not transferred over to models dealing with sequential data, such as in language modeling and translation tasks. While there have been several attempts to evolve improved recurrent cells for sequence data [7], none have achieved significant gains over the standard LSTM. Recent work has introduced high performing recurrent neural network alternatives, such as Transformer [11] and Wavenet [4], but these models are the result of manual human tuning.