cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Discourse and the Projection of Corporate Culture: The Mission Statement:

This article explores how corporations project their corporate philosophy through `Mission Statements'. Linguistic and textual analysis of such statements drawn from a sizeable corpus allows us to ...
Lung transplantation for interstitial lung disease

There have been over 120 diffuse parenchymal lung diseases (DPLD) identified, and these diseases have similar clinical and pathological findings. These diseases are associated with autoimmune disorders, environmental or drug exposures, or are idiopathic in nature. Unfortunately, many of these diseases have limited effective therapies and may require lung transplantation for ongoing survival. Because of changes that have been made in lung allocation, lung transplantation in patients with DPLD is becoming more common. For successful lung transplantation, the DPLD patient requires optimized global medical management. Once transplanted, patients typically have a change in their lifestyle that requires multiple medications, dedication to lifelong exercise, and chronic medical management; however, they also garner a survival benefit and significant improvement in quality of life. Part of the transplant process is to inform patients fully of the risks, costs, and benefits associated with the procedure. It is imperative that patients are evaluated early so that a relationship between transplant centers and patients can be established.
High-Resolution Nuclear Magnetic Resonance of Inorganic Solids

Recent improvements in instrumentation and technique now permit the observation of high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of many nuclei in inorganic solids. The application of nuclear magnetic resonance to the study of the structures of materials of interest in chemistry, earth science, and materials science are discussed together with a prognosis for future work.
Comorbidities and exercise capacity in older patients with intermittent claudication

Patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and intermittent claudication often have coronary artery disease (CAD) and other comorbid medical problems. There is a paucity of information on the impact of coexistent medical conditions on exercise capacity and func- tional status in patients with PAD. This study examined the impact of CAD, diabetes, cigarette smoking, prior peripheral surgical revascularization and other medical conditions on claudi- cation pain times and peak oxygen capacity (VO2) during maximal effort treadmill testing in 119 male outpatient volunteers (ankle-brachial index (ABI) of 0.65 0.2, mean SEM) with a history of Fontaine Stage II PAD. Smoking status was significantly related to ambulatory func- tion. Current smokers had a lower peak VO2 expressed in l/min than either former or never smokers (ANCOVA adjusted for age, p = 0.003). However, after adjustment for body weight, there was only a trend for a difference in peak VO2 between current (13.2 0.5 ml/kg per min), former (14.2 0.4 ml/kg per min) and never (15.4 1.0 ml/kg per min) smokers (ANCOVA, p = 0.10). Current smokers had a shorter time to onset of claudication pain (p = 0.023) and shorter maximal claudication pain times (p = 0.029) than former or never smokers (p = 0.023). The ABI 1 min after cessation of exercise was also lower in smokers compared to former and never smokers (p = 0.018). There were no significant differences in functional performance measures or time to recovery from maximal claudication pain when patients were categorized on the presence or absence of CAD, diabetes, peripheral revascularization, arthritis, hypertension or dyslipidemia. Therefore, smoking adversely affected exercise capacity in these PAD patients, whereas the presence of CAD, diabetes and other medical problems had a relatively minor impact on exercise capacity. In conclusion, the relatively minor impact of comorbid medical conditions on walking ability in patients with PAD reflects the overwhelming limitation in ambu- latory function due to the claudication pain.
STUDIES ON THE MECHANISM OF HYDROGEN TRANSPORT IN ANIMAL TISSUES : VII. INHIBITION BY RIBONUCLEASE.

1. The effect of ribonuclease on various enzyme systems was studied as one approach to the problem of whether or not these enzymes are contained in macromolecules of ribonucleoprotein nature in protoplasm. 2. Ribonuclease inhibited CoI-cytochrome c reductase, succinic dehydrogenase, and cytochrome oxidase, all of which require cytochrome c in order to function. Ribonuclease did not act on cytochrome c. 3. Ribonuclease did not inhibit urease, xanthine oxidase, catalase, alkaline phosphatase, or adenosine triphosphatase under the conditions employed. 4. It was suggested that ribonuclease acted sterically by preventing contact between cytochrome c and its activating centers. 5. It was suggested that the enzymes inhibited may be contained in a ribonucleoprotein of macromolecular dimensions but that the enzymes not inhibited are not necessarily excluded from such a complex by the data presented. 6. Further evidence against the Szent-Gyorgyi theory of hydrogen transport was presented and discussed.
Why conservation planning needs socioeconomic data

Over the past century, human population has expanded rapidly, much to the detriment of many other species that coinhabit the earth. There are roughly four times as many people alive now as there were in 1900. Economic activity has increased even more rapidly than population as evidenced by rising standards of living in most parts of the world. The vast expansion of human activity has led to widespread conversion of natural habitat, the spread of exotic invasive species, changes in nutrient flows, pollution, climate change, and overharvesting. The combined effect of these impacts has put many species at risk of extinction. Projections for continued human population growth and further economic expansion will further increase the risks to biodiversity.
Multitiered health assessment of Atlantic menhaden in the Pamlico River, North Carolina.

Abstract During the fall of 2001 and 2002, Atlantic menhaden Brevoortia tyrannus were collected from several creeks in the Pamlico River, North Carolina, to investigate recent fish kills and ulcerative skin lesions. High skin lesion prevalence (>50%) was associated with the Atlantic menhaden kills in fall 2001, whereas there were no fish kills in fall 2002 and skin lesion prevalence was lower (≤50%). Indicators of tissue damage (histopathological analyses of gills, heart, liver, intestine, and anterior kidney), body condition (liver somatic index), and immune status (transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) messenger RNA (mRNA) production, hematology, plasma chemistry, and splenosomatic index) were compared between Atlantic menhaden with and without ulcerative skin lesions in fall. Atlantic menhaden with ulcerative skin lesions had significantly higher liver somatic indices, neutrophil and monocyte percentages, and splenic mononuclear cell TGF-β mRNA levels than did fish without lesions. Hematocrit values, pl...
Quantification of human and veterinary antibiotics in water and sediment using SPE/LC/MS/MS

An analytical method was developed and tested for four different groups of veterinary antibiotics in both river water and sediment matrices. Solid phase extraction (SPE) was used to enrich and to clean up the aqueous sample. Also, Mcllvaine and ammonium hydroxide buffer solutions were used to extract the compounds from the sediment matrix. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) equipped with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) was used to separate and quantify the samples. The range of recoveries (in percent) for tetracyclines (TCs), sulfonamides (SAs), macrolides (MLs), and ionophore polyethers (IPs) in the water matrix were 102.2-124.8, 76.6-124.3, 89.5-114.7, 82.7-117.5 with 1-13 (%) of relative standard deviation respectively with three different concentrations. For sediment, the percent recovery ranges were 32.8-114.8, 62.4-108.9, 53.4-128.4 and 51.3-105.4 for TCs, SAs, MLs and IPs, respectively. The relative standard deviation ranged from 16 - 27 (%) over three different concentrations. The limit of quantification (LOQ) was determined by two different methods and calculated to be in the range of 0.01-0.04 microg/l and 0.3-2.5 microg/kg for TCs, SAs, and MLs in water and sediment, respectively. For IPs, the LOQ was 0.001-0.003 microg/l in river water and 0.4-3.6 microg/kg for sediment. The sediment concentration measured in an agriculture-influenced river was much higher than in the overlying water matrix, indicating a high degree of sediment partitioning for these compounds.
Evaluation of the BiliChek Being Used on Hyperbilirubinemic Newborns Undergoing Home Phototherapy

Abstract Context.—Newborns are often screened prior to discharge for hyperbilirubinemia. Transcutaneous bilirubin analyzers, such as the BiliChek, are promoted as screening tools, but it is unclear whether they also function well as monitoring devices. Newborns on home phototherapy require frequent determinations of serum bilirubin levels to monitor therapy effects. A transcutaneous bilirubin analyzer would be helpful to limit blood draws and enhance staff efficiency. We evaluated the accuracy of the BiliChek analyzer in this setting. Objective.—Is the BiliChek sufficiently accurate to monitor the effectiveness of home phototherapy and establish when to terminate therapy? Design.—Paired serum bilirubin results and results from the BiliChek were obtained from newborns on home phototherapy during daily home health care visits. Results.—The BiliChek demonstrates a negative bias (mean bias, −1.71 mg/dL; 95% confidence interval, −1.89 to −1.52 mg/dL) compared with serum bilirubin values. This bias worsens as t...
Shadows of Empire: Colonial Discourse and Javanese Tales

Shadows of Empire: Colonial Discourse and Javanese Tales. Laurie J. Sears. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 1996. xxi. 349 pp., illustrations, notes, glossary, bibliography, index.
Real-time pitch extraction by adaptive prediction of the speech waveform

With the exception of relatively sophisticated methods such as cepstrum analysis, the problem of reliable pitch-period extraction has remained largely unsolved. This paper examines the feasibility of pitch-period extraction by means of the nonstationary error process resulting from adaptive-predictive quantization of speech. A real-time hard-ware system that may be realized at low cost is described.
Implications of dynamical symmetry breaking: An addendum

It is shown that the dynamical symmetry breakdown of a gauge symmetry can in some cases lead to simple relations among the masses of intermediate vector bosons.
Language learning and language culture in a changing world

To communicate effectively, learners have to become proficient in both the language and the culture of the target language. Being aware of socio-cultural frameworks does not mean that as an outcome of instruction learners have to become "native-like," but an awareness of L2 cultural norms can allow learners to make their own informed choices of how to become competent and astute language users. This paper provides an overview of practical approaches and techniques to teaching culture in the classroom in conjunction with instruction in the essential language skills. It is important to keep in mind, however, that this brief review of strategies and tactics for cross-cultural teaching and learning is minimalist, and a number of additional sources of pedagogical techniques are currently available.
Factors that contribute to tourism students' development of intercultural competence

Th is study explores factors and contexts that helped students to develop intercultural competence from participating in the global service-learning experience. Th e Deardorff Process Model of Intercultural Competence was adopted as the conceptual framework of this research and guided its assessment of students' intercultural competence. Th e conceptual framework proposes 15 elements of intercultural competence that include respect, openness, tolerance for ambiguity, fl curiosity and discovery, withholding judgment, cultural self-awareness/understanding, understanding others' worldviews, culture-specifi c knowledge, sociolinguistic awareness, skills to listen, observe and interpret, skills to analyze, evaluate, and relate, empathy, adaptability, and communication skills. Th is study involves a three-week service-learning course that was off ered in Kenya. Th e class included lectures, discussions, fi eld trips, and research activities that resulted in a tourism development project for the Rift Valley in Kenya. Given the increasing attention to students' development of intercultural competence, educational institutions are searching for means to help students become interculturally competent. Tourism students in the service-learning course were asked to refl ect on their experience three times during the three-week period in Kenya. Results of students' evaluations on their development of intercultural competence produced data that help to identify critical factors or contexts that contribute to their development. Th is paper aims to share what was learned about students' development of intercultural competence and to stimulate further research on relevant topics.
Charge is Major Determinant of Activation of the Ligand-Responsive Multidrug Resistance Gene Regulator, BmrR

A medium-throughput approach (80+ compounds) to investigate allosteric transcriptional control in the multidrug resistance gene regulator BmrR, with cations, zwitterions, uncharged compounds and anions, is described. Even at the allosteric level, BmrR is quite promiscuous with regard to molecular shape and structure, but it is sensitive to molecular charge. A role for charge is further supported by differences in the activation properties of structurally similar ligands displaying variable charge properties as well as differences in activation by zwitterions and uncharged ligands, which show similar binding affinities. A comparison of allosteric selectivity with the distribution of differently charged ligands in bacterial cellular environments suggests that the selectivity of charge is a major factor in discrimination of xenobiotics, and native biological compounds and metabolites. Interestingly, in eukaryotic cells, the selectivity of cationic ligands might be a protective mechanism against chemical agents that act in a promiscuous fashion.
The Role of Stable Complexes that Repress and Activate Eukaryotic Genes

The state of activity or repression of 5S RNA genes is built into the chromatin in the form of stable complexes. The characteristics and composition of these complexes will be described. Stable transcription complexes that activate 5S RNA genes consist of multiple factors bound tightly to a control region of the gene. Repressed 5S RNA genes do not have these factors bound to them; their repressed state is maintained by nucleosomes.
A Sexual Influence on the Biosynthesis and Storage of L-Ascorbic Acid in Rats.∗:

SummaryA sexual influence on the enzymes in the biosynthesis of ascorbic acid, and on the tissue concentrations of total ascorbate has been shown by comparisons between male and female rats. Males have significantly higher activities for the 4 hepatic enzymes assayed, and significantly higher ascorbate concentrations in 6 of the 8 tissues analyzed. The higher male enzymic activities at the sub-cellular level are thought to be the molecular basis for the higher concentrations of ascorbic acid at the tissue level.
PLASMA CARDIAC MYOSIN BINDING PROTEIN-C MAY BE A NOVEL BIOMARKER FOR HEART FAILURE

Heart failure (HF) is associated with oxidative stress, and oxidative modification of cardiac myosin binding protein C (cMyBP-C) has been associated with diastolic dysfunction in HF. In animals models of diastolic HF, full-length cMyBP-C, cMyBP-C fragments, and glutathionylated cMyBP-C are elevated
Applications of Dot-Blot, Elisa, and Immunoelectron Microscopy to Field Detection of Bluetongue Virus in Culicoides variipennis sonorensis: An Ecological Perspective

An avidin-biotin complex (ABC) dot-blot, an antigen capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and immunoelectron microscopy (IEM) were used to detect bluetongue (BLU) virus and viral antigen in field-collected C. variipennis sonorensis Wirth & Jones from an enzootic BLU area in northeastern Colorado. This is the 1st attempt to apply these immunodiagnostic methods to an epidemiologically relevant, large-scale ecological system. One of the 1,800 midges (0.0005%) was positive by the dot-blot procedure, 2 (0.0011%) were positive by the ELISA, and BLU virus was identified in 8 midges (0.0044%) by IEM. These data are interpreted in context of the“whole system”of the disease to provide a framework for determining the knowledge gaps in our understanding and directing future studies in these areas. Our basic model of BLU ecology suggests that the infection rates found by the diagnostic methods are within expected ranges, thus strongly supporting the proposed ecological model and the work used to parameterize the model. This integration of immunodiagnostic methods and ecology makes it evident that further investigations of daily mortality during the extrinsic incubation period are vital to a better understanding of BLU virus occurrence in Culicoides vector and vertebrate host populations.
Colladonus and related genera of Mexico and Central America with new taxa and synonymy (Homoptera: Cicadellidae)

A study of the genus Colladonus and related genera of Mexico and Central America was based almost exclusively upon the examination of nearly the entire type series of all the Idiodonus species described by the late Dr. D. M. DeLong. All species referable to Colladonus are redescribed, and illustrations of the male genitalia are given for the first time. A key to the species of Mexico and Central America is also included. A brief discussion of the distribution and phylogeny of the group is given. Among 35 species described by DeLong in Idiodonus , 21 belong in Colladonus, 1 is assigned to Ollarianus Ball , 1 to Paratanus Young , 2 to Bonneyana Oman , 2 are retained in Idiodonus , 5 are relegated to four proposed new genera, and the remaining 3 have uncertain generic position. One new combination in Colladonus is proposed, and 16 names are treated as new synonyms. Eight new combinations are proposed in the treatment of related genera. New genera include: Paracolladonus, Paracrassana, Paranurenus , and Jaacunga . The subgenus Angulanus DeLong is elevated to generic rank.
Design of Digital Key Mixer Based on MCU and FPGA

Generally speaking, Broadcast system needs to increase a bit few special effects, such as superimposed radio station logo and digital clock, and the rolled bottom line of advertisement when it is live.For traditional broadcast applications, the way is to connect the equipments in series.when the number of the equipments increase, this way will result in a corresponding increase in the complexity of devices connecting lines, and in a lower security and reliability of the broadcasting system.Application of Digital key Mixer as the center of the parallel approach ,can improve system reliability and security,at the same time simplify the circuit connection.This design will apply MCU (Micro Controller Unit), as well as FPGA (Large Scale Integrated Circuit) as core, and design Digital key Mixer (Digital Key Mixer).
403 PEDIATRIC SPECIFIC CLINICAL PREDICTION CRITERIA FOR GROUP A STREPTOCOCCAL PHARYNGITIS

Purpose Prediction rules to identify group A streptococcal pharyngitis (GAS) in adults have been well validated, but may not be applicable to the pediatric population. The purpose of our study is to establish pediatric specific clinical prediction criteria (CPC) to identify children with group A streptococcal pharyngitis. Methods Throat cultures were obtained on a consecutive sample of 1022 children ages 18 years and younger presenting to an academic pediatric primary care practice, from November 2003 to August 2004. Informed consent was obtained and children were enrolled when the attending physician ordered a rapid GAS test. Presenting symptoms and clinical examination findings were collected prospectively at the time of throat culture. The clinical prediction criteria were developed using both univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression. Results 352 (34%) of the 1022 children presenting were positive for GAS by throat culture. Children were divided into three groups according to age (0-2, 2-12, and 12-18 years). Five (9%) of the 55 children less than two years of age and 50 (21%) of the 240 children ages 12-18 years were positive for GAS. These two groups were not included in development of our CPC. The 2-12 year old group included 723 children, of whom 297 (41%) were positive for GAS. We developed a CPC unique for this age group. A finding of scarletina rash had a sensitivity of 12%, specificity of 98%, and a positive predictive value (PPV) of 79%, thus prompting treatment for GAS without further testing. For patients without scarletina rash, the following coefficients/predictors apply: 0.4 sore throat/difficulty swallowing, 0.38 lymphadenopathy, 0.45 pharyngeal erythema, and 0.38 for palatal petechiae. Based on these coefficients, each predictor will be assigned a value of 1, and the resulting risk scoring system for GAS is 0 features present P = 9.4%, 1 feature 18.1-20.3%, 2 features 32.1-36.1%, 3 features 51.3-54.7%, and all 4 features 72%. Conclusion These findings support establishment of pediatric specific criteria for diagnosis of GAS pharyngitis.
13, 14-Dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F2α concentrations in human plasma and amniotic fluid

An antiserum to 13, 14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F 2α (PGF 2α M) was prepared and a radioimmunoassay evaluated in various reproductive states. PGF 2α M plasma concentration was 63.6 ± 10.3 pg/ml (mean ± SEM) in cycling women. The concentration fluctuated throughout the menstrual cycle and pregnancy, but no discernible patterns were noted. PGF 2α M concentrations were elevated at the time of urea + oxytocin induced abortion (238 ± 54 pg/ml) and during late stages of normal labor (352 ± 107 pg/ml) but were not elevated during labor prior to 7 cm dilatation. Following intra-amniotic instillation of 5 mg of PGF 2α tromethamine into the amniotic sac, PGF 2α M concentration increased in the amniotic fluid. In the plasma of these patients there was an eighteenfold rise in plasma PGF 2α M concentration compared to a 3.5-fold rise in PGF 2α at 1 hour, suggesting changes in PGF 2α M may be more easily detected than the parent compound. While PGF 2α M may be a useful index of PGF 2α production, it appears that PGF 2α M is of little value in predicting the occurrence of uterine contraction.
Head and Neck Brachytherapy: A Description of Methods and a Summary of Results

Brachytherapy applications for head and neck are diverse and sometimes complicated. Knowledge of anatomy and the ability to perform complex procedures are basic prerequisites. This chapter addresses most head and neck brachytherapy other than radionuclide treatment of thyroid cancer and eye plaques for melanoma. The literature is comprehensively reviewed, but it is not exhaustive. It is recommended that the reader also consult Modern Brachytherapy [1], GEC-ESTRO Handbook of Brachytherapy [2], Head and Neck Cancer [3], and Brachytherapy: Applications and Techniques [4].
Investigation of respiratory motion correction with and without motion correction of attenuation map in cardiac SPECT/CT in presence of non-rigid motion, an NCAT study

Respiratory motion combined with “respiratory creep” of the heart can introduce false cooling or affect the appearance of defects and thereby impact the diagnostic accuracy of cardiac PET or SPECT perfusion images. In this work we investigate the differences in apparent imaging agent localization induced in emission images when the attenuation maps used for attenuation correction (from transmission or CT imaging) are misaligned with the patient anatomy during emission imaging due to variations in respiratory state. We first obtain various NCAT attenuation maps acquired at different stages of the respiratory cycle (end-expiration, end-inspiration, the mid-way map, and the average transmission map). We investigated use of these different attenuation maps to correct for attenuation in MLEM reconstruction of several variants of the NCAT phantom which included both with and without non-rigid motion between liver and heart. We tested these cases with and without emission motion correction. For most cases as long as we performed emission motion correction the false cooling artifacts induced by respiratory motion were greatly diminished and the appearance of the slices did not change significantly based on which of the attenuation maps we employed. In particular the quantitative RMS error with respect to the corresponding motion-less reference case reduced by factor of 0.93 to 0.47 times with emission correction versus without correction. However for some non-rigid cases there was were remaining cooling artifacts when we used the end-expiration map.
Modeling Uncertainty, Context, and Information Fusion via Lattice-Based Probability

This chapter reviews and explores mathematical foundations for probabilistic inference, uncertainty representation, and fusion of disparate information sources. We will revisit probability measures defined on an event space that is modeled as a bounded distributive lattice—this includes as a special case Boolean lattice where each element has unique complementation and upon which standard probability theory has been axiomatized.
Note: On the probability of detection of a signal by multiple monitors

In attempting to evaluate the probability that at least one member of a multi-man team will detect a signal, one must avoid the assumption that the probabilities of the individual monitors detecting the signal are independent. Such an assumption is probably unjustified, and the use of the multiplicative rule for combining independent probabilities will lead to false conclusions regarding the benefits of increasing the number of monitors on a team.
Multivitamin use and risk of stroke incidence and mortality amongst women.

Background and purpose Few studies have examined the association between multivitamin use and the risk of stroke incidence and mortality, and the results remain inconclusive as to whether multivitamins are beneficial. Methods The associations between multivitamin use and the risk of incident stroke and stroke mortality were prospectively examined in 86 142 women in the Nurses' Health Study, aged 34-59 years and free of diagnosed cardiovascular disease at baseline. Multivitamin use and covariates were updated every 2 years and strokes were documented by review of medical records. Hazard ratios of total, ischaemic and hemorrhagic strokes were calculated across categories of multivitamin use (non-user, past, current user) and duration (years), using Cox proportional hazards models. Results During 32 years of follow-up from 1980 to 2012, 3615 incident strokes were documented, including 758 deaths from stroke. In multivariate analyses, women who were current multivitamin users did not have a lower risk of incident total stroke compared to non-users [relative risk (RR) 1.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.93-1.11], even those with longer durations of 15 or more years of use (RR 1.08, 95% CI 0.97-1.20) or those with a lower quality diet (RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.80-1.15). There was also no indication of benefit from multivitamin use for incident ischaemic or hemorrhagic strokes or for total stroke mortality. Conclusions Long-term multivitamin use was not associated with reduced risk of stroke incidence or mortality amongst women in the study population, even amongst those with a lower diet quality. An effect in a less well-nourished population cannot be ruled out.
Nonlinear Correlation and Dependence Using NNS

This note serves as a hands-on supplement to: Viole, F. and Nawrocki, D. (2012), "Deriving Nonlinear Correlation Coefficients from Partial Moments" https://ssrn.com/abstract=2148522
The gens and Intestate Inheritance in the Early Republic

This paper attempts to gauge the ability of the gens to influence the affairs of its members by tracing the development of the rules governing intestate inheritance. It will argue that, although the power of the gens in this area of the law did eventually give way to a more centralised and stronger state, a development which has been documented in other areas of Roman society as well, the gens was nonetheless able to continue to exert an influence on its members for some considerable time. The present study will analyse several cases to argue this point and examine both the means by which this centuries-long change took place, as well as highlight a period that witnessed a potential acceleration of the trend away from gentilicial importance. Finally, it will return to the circumstances of early Rome, the focal point for this volume, and offer some cautionary notes for thinking about the period that was in many ways the starting point for these developments.
Surface Moistening Trends in the Northern North American Great Plains Increase the Likelihood of Convective Initiation

AbstractLand management impacts atmospheric boundary layer processes, and recent trends reducing the practice of summer fallow have led to increases in precipitation and decreases in temperature in the Canadian Prairie provinces during summer. It is unclear if such trends also impact the hydrometeorology of the adjacent U.S. northern Great Plains, parts of which have seen similar changes in land management. Here, MERRA-2 reanalysis data, eddy covariance observations, and a mixed-layer (ML) atmospheric modeling framework are combined to demonstrate that the likelihood of convectively preconditioned conditions has increased by approximately 10% since the mid-1980s and is now more sensitive to further decreases in the Bowen ratio (Bo) and maximum daily net radiation in northeastern Montana. Convective season Bo in the study area has decreased from approximately 2 to 1 from the 1980s until the present, largely due to simultaneous increases in latent heat flux and decreases in sensible heat flux, consistent wi...
Evaluation of the effect of live LaSota Newcastle disease virus vaccine as primary immunization on immune development in broilers.

Newcastle disease remains a major concern to the poultry industry; however, it can be managed with effective vaccination programs. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of 2 1× doses of live LaSota strain Newcastle disease virus (NDV) vaccine administered oculo-nasally on d one and 21 on development of humoral and cell-mediated immune response in broilers, and to compare different immunization schedules. Two experiments were conducted. In Experiment I (n = 320), Ross 308 birds were randomly assigned to an unvaccinated control group or vaccinated treatment. [Both treatments consisted of 4 pens per treatment and 40 birds per pen]. At d one, live NDV LaSota strain vaccine was used as a primary immunization to evaluate its impact on adaptive immunity. No substantial NDV-specific humoral immune response was established. Body weights were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the vaccinated birds on d 4 and 7. Spleen index of the vaccinated birds was significantly (P < 0.05) lower at d 28 and 35. Flow cytometry showed reduced levels of peripheral and splenic B and T lymphocytes. Interferon gamma secreted by splenocytes and in circulation was measured; the results showed a reduced expression post-secondary immunization. In Experiment II (n = 180), the role of maternal antibodies and primary vaccination at d one was evaluated using 3 vaccination protocols. Protocol 1 used live B1 strain as primary immunization, whereas protocol 2 used live LaSota strain. Protocol 3 used live LaSota strain after maternal antibodies had decayed. Protocol 3 resulted in the highest NDV-titer level during the trial. Protocol 2 had the lowest NDV titer. Feed conversion was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in protocol 3 compared to 1 and 2. Overall, the results indicate that the use of live LaSota strain NDV vaccine as primary immunization at d one has a detrimental effect on the development of adaptive immunity in broilers; however, its use after the level of maternal antibodies decays results in a robust antigen-specific humoral immune response.
Anxiety, neuroinflammation, cholinergic and GABAergic abnormalities are early markers of Gulf War illness in a mouse model of the disease

Abstract Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a chronic disease that affects the 1991 Gulf War (GW) veterans for which treatment is lacking. It has been hypothesized that drugs used to protect military personnel from chemical attacks and insects during the war: pyridostigmine bromide (PB), N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET), and permethrin (PER) together with stress may have contributed collectively and synergistically to generate GWI. There is a need to find markers of pathology to be used in pre-clinical trials. For this purpose we employed a previously validated mouse model of GWI evoked by daily exposure to PB (1.3 mg/kg), DEET (40 mg/kg), PER (0.13 mg/kg), and 5 min of restraint stress for 28 days to analyze behavior, brain pathology and neurochemical outcomes three months later. GWI-model mice were characterized by increased anxiety, decreased hippocampal levels of N-acetyl aspartate, GABA, the GABA-producing enzyme GAD-67 and microglial activation. We also observed that GWI model was sexually dimorphic on some measures: males had increased while females had decreased protein levels of the acetylcholine-synthesizing enzyme, choline acetyltransferase, in the septum and hippocampus and decreased levels of the receptor for brain-derived neurotrophic factor, TrkB140, in the hippocampus. Increased hippocampal levels of nerve growth factor were detected in males only. Together the data show behavioral and neuropathological abnormalities detected at 3 months post-exposure and that some of them are sexually dimorphic. Future preclinical studies for GWI may take advantage of this short latency model and should include both males and females as their response to treatment may differ.
Position-sensitive, fast ionization chambers

Abstract A high-count-rate ionization chamber design with position-sensitivity has been developed and deployed at several accelerator facilities. Counting rates of ≥ 500 kHz with good Z -separation (up to 5% energy resolution) for particle identification have been demonstrated in a series of commissioning experiments. A position-sensitive capability, with a resolution of 3 mm, has been implemented for the first time to record position information and suppress pileup. The design and performance of the detectors are described.
Sexual Harassment in Egypt

Although sexual harassment is a worldwide phenomenon, the contemporary case of sexual harassment in Egypt is noteworthy, as the nation only recently occupied a top position on the map of sexual harassment on a world scale. In November 2013, Egypt was declared by the Thomson Reuters Foundation as the worst country for women to live in within the Arab World when compared to twenty-two other Arab countries, largely as a result of its female sexual harassment rates. 1 Similarly, and on a more international scale, the United Nations Population Fund declared Egypt as ranking “second in the world after Afghanistan in terms of this issue.” 2 In the years following the 2011 revolution, the nature of sexual harassment in Egyptian society greatly evolved, as it transformed from a hidden phenomenon to an overtly prevalent social epidemic. This study presents the “weaponization” of sexual harassment as a common ground where class struggles, state policies, and women’s empowerment intertwine in post-revolutionary Egyptian society. It argues that the phenomenon was partially produced by an ongoing class struggle, manipulatively reproduced by the state, and strategically resisted by women for different yet interrelated reasons.
Colleges Take Advantage of Cray Time Grants for Students

From terminals at their college campuses, undergraduate and graduate students can access the CRAY Y-MP8/864 at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado, to run models as part of their classroom assignments. Professors in a variety of disciplines have incorporated hands-on supercomputing experience into their classes, thanks to special grants of computing time from Cray Research, Inc.
Impact of Early Radiology Research Experiences on Medical Student Perceptions of Radiology and Research.

Abstract Rationale and objectives To promote opportunities for medical students to gain early exposure to radiology and research, our institution has initiated programs which fund summer radiology research projects for rising second-year medical students. This study assesses the impact of these faculty-mentored summer research experiences on medical student perceptions of radiology and research, in terms of both knowledge and interest. Materials and methods A voluntary, anonymous survey was administered to students both before and after the summer research period. Both the pre-program survey and post-program survey included 7-point Likert-scale questions (1 = strongly disagree; 7 = strongly agree) to evaluate students’ perceptions about research and students’ perceptions about radiology as a specialty. Faculty mentors were sent an analogous post-program survey that included an evaluation of their student's research skills. Results The surveys were completed by 9 of 11 students and 10 of 11 mentors. Students’ perceived knowledge of radiology as a specialty improved (P = 0.02) between the pre-program survey and post-program survey. Similarly, there was an increase in students’ perceived knowledge of research skills (P = 0.02) between the pre-program survey and post-program survey, with student ratings of research skills consistent with those of mentors. High student interest in both radiology and research was maintained over the course of the program. Conclusion Our pilot study suggests that summer research experiences can improve knowledge of radiology and research among medical students. Continued evaluation of this annual program will allow us to enhance the benefit to medical students and thereby bolster interest in academic radiology.
Computation of large-scale quadratic forms and transfer functions using the theory of moments, quadrature and Padé approximation

Large-scale problems in scientific and engineering computing often require solutions involving large-scale matrices. In this paper, we survey numerical techniques for solving a variety of large-scale matrix computation problems, such as computing the entries and trace of the inverse of a matrix, computing the determinant of a matrix, and computing the transfer function of a linear dynamical system.
Modeling Risk in Sequential Decision Making with Interval Probabilities

There are some drawbacks in attempting to apply the classical approach to risk analysis. We propose a new method to analyze scenarios involving a sequence of decisions which have imprecise information regarding event likelihoods. The decision maker’s knowledge and degree of optimism are included as key elements in the analysis. An example in risk management in presented.
What Makes Inheritance Fair in Stepfamilies? Examining Perceptions and Complexities

ABSTRACTThis article examines the complexity of fairness in the inheritance process within the context of divorce, remarriage, and stepchildren. Interpersonal social justice theory and qualitative vignette methods were used to explore family members' perceptions of fair inheritance outcomes and processes for financial assets and personal possessions. Findings identify decision rules for determining fair outcomes, including treating biological and stepchildren equally and differently. Who participates, what structures are relied upon, the role of information, and ethical interpersonal treatment were identified as key factors when determining fair processes. Understanding fairness provides a sound basis for helping stepfamily members navigate unavoidable inheritance decisions.
Clinical Scenarios II: Syndromes with Abnormal Peritoneal Response

Normal peritoneal response to microorganisms is characterized by hyperemia, exudation of protein-rich fluid into the peritoneal cavity and marked influx of neutrophils, universally known as peritonitis. Under favorable circumstances for the host, peritoneal and systemic defense mechanism can remove infection from peritoneal cavity (resolution) or at least manage to contain infection (intra-abdominal abscess). Normal peritoneal response to infection may be altered by local peritoneal and systemic factors resulting in a non-efficient mechanism that interfere with the ability of the host to eradicate infection from the peritoneal cavity or further damage the peritoneal interface.
Invented Science: A Framework for Discussing a Persistent Problem of Practice

A central goal of science education reform is for students to participate in scientific sense making rather than to merely acquire science facts. However, even in classrooms utilizing reform-based ...
Frequency Doubling in Wirelessly Actuated Multiferroic MEMS Cantilevers

Wireless multiferroics is an emerging field taking advantage of energy efficient multiferroic coupling to design and develop ultra-conformal, electrically-small antennas. To date, all work on MEMS scale multiferroic devices utilize linear multiferroic coupling. In this work, we present the first demonstration of frequency doubling through nonlinear multiferroics in MEMS resonators. Multiferroic composite cantilevers are fabricated and tested, and it is shown that these resonators can be wirelessly driven to mechanical resonance with magnetic fields at half of the resonant frequency by utilizing perpendicular magnetic poling. This is a potential method for low noise measurement of wireless signals, a problem that plagues all electrically-small wireless devices, which would revolutionize the emerging field of wireless multiferroic devices.
Parents Taking Action: Reducing disparities through a culturally informed intervention for Latinx parents of children with autism

Latinx children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are underserved in part due to a lack of culturally relevant evidence-based services. We conducted a randomized control trial to test the efficac...
The safety of morphine use in acute coronary syndrome: a meta-analysis.

Background Morphine is widely used for pain control in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Several studies have questioned the safety of morphine in this setting with a concern of interaction with and reduced efficacy of antiplatelet agents. Objective This study aims to systematically review the safety of morphine use in ACS. Methods MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were queried from inception through April 2018. Studies comparing morphine to nonmorphine use in ACS were included. Study endpoints included: in-hospital myocardial infarction (MI), all-cause mortality, stroke, major bleeding, minor bleeding and dyspnoea. Results A total of 64 323 patients with ACS were included from eight studies, seven of which were observational studies and one was a randomised controlled trial. The use of morphine was associated with increased risk of in-hospital recurrent MI (OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.43, p Conclusion The use of morphine for pain control in ACS was associated with an increased risk of in-hospital recurrent MI. Randomised clinical trials are needed to further investigate the safety of morphine in ACS.
Herbicide free agriculture? A bio-economic modelling application to Swiss wheat production

Abstract Herbicide application in agricultural systems is currently critically discussed because of its possible adverse effects on the environment and human health. Currently, governments and food industry actors search for solutions to reduce herbicide use on farms. Yet, potential consequences of herbicide reductions on a farm-level are not well known. The goal of this article is to develop and apply a bio-economic modelling approach to simulate how farmers and agricultural systems react to a potential ban of glyphosate and eventually of all herbicides. We apply this approach for Swiss Extenso wheat production, which is a widespread form of wheat production in Switzerland, where pesticide use is currently limited to herbicides and seed treatments. Our modelling approach combines spatially explicit, detailed information on weed pressure, possible yield effects of weeds and efficacy and costs of 140 weed control strategies in a spatially explicit economic decision model. We assess the strategies optimal for farmers in response to i) glyphosate-free and ii) herbicide-free production requirements in terms of economic losses, yield reductions and environmental impacts. We find economic losses in the glyphosate-free production scenario of up to CHF 119/ha and in the herbicide-free scenario of up to CHF 192/ha, with respective yield reductions ranging between 0.8 and 2.7 dt/ha (i.e. of up to 6%). However, possible economic losses would be outweighed by existing Swiss agri-environmental direct payments for herbicide-free and reduced tillage production systems. We find that restrictions with respect to glyphosate and herbicide use imply trade-offs between the reduction in pesticide risks for the environment and human health versus higher energy consumption. Yet, these trade-offs can be limited if incentive schemes for glyphosate and herbicide reduction are combined with requirements to prevent more intensive tillage.
Bronchoscopic ablation techniques in the management of lung cancer

Central airway involvement is a common manifestation of lung cancer during the disease course. Some patients will require bronchoscopic therapeutic interventions to palliate symptoms, or less commonly to provide more definitive therapy of airway involvement. We describe an overview specifically of bronchoscopic ablative techniques that are available for use in malignant airway obstruction. Techniques that are more commonly used include bronchoscopic application of laser, electrocautery, argon plasma coagulation (APC), cryotherapy and mechanical debulking techniques. Less commonly employed are brachytherapy and photodynamic therapy. These techniques may be applied via flexible or rigid bronchoscopy depending upon the clinical scenario. The choice of technique depends on available tools and expertise, the urgency of the clinical scenario, and whether the lesion is predominately endobronchial, extrinsic compression, or a combination of both. Malignant airway obstruction is a common finding in lung cancer and there are a number of effective bronchoscopic ablative techniques that may be employed safely to palliate patients with a significant symptom burden.
Attending Professional Health Education Meetings: What’s In It for the Student and New Professional

The profession of health education and health promotion involves a journey of discovery, where along the way, the student and new professional is uncovers many layers and nuances. One of the mysteries surrounding the profession is the participation in a professional meeting. Student and new professionals often perceive this to be challenging, overwhelming and fraught with roadblocks and barriers. While understanding perceptions of mystery from those entering the field about professional meetings, the best way to fully engage in the profession and to get the full effect and benefit of a professional health education meeting is through direct immersion and personal experience.
Making Waves: Patterns of Maternal Alcohol Consumption Among Women with Intended Pregnancies

Purpose: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has experienced a rough ride in the wake of new public health outreach defining “any alcohol use by women who are pregnant or might be” as drinking too much. Since half of US pregnancies are unplanned and effects of fetal alcohol exposure can be devastating, the guidance recommends that all women planning a pregnancy or not using reliable contraception abstain from alcohol. The CDC guidance presumes women who desire a pregnancy in the near term will abstain. We aimed to test this …