cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Functional and Numerical Responses of Orius insidiosus (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) to Its Prey in Different Vegetable Crops

The functional response of Orius insidiosus (Say) to one of its primary prey, the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), was measured on bean, tomato, and pepper plants in the greenhouse. Fewer thrips were taken by the predator on tomato than on bean plants, and a lower attack coefficient was calculated on tomato than on bean and pepper plants. Differences in the searching behavior of the predator on the 3 plants affected the shape of the functional response of O. insidiosus to its prey. To assess the relationship between populations of O. insidiosus and its prey (thrips, aphids, leafhoppers, and whiteflies), bean, tomato, pepper, and corn plots were monitored at 2 field sites. At both sites, O. insidiosus density was significantly higher on bean and corn than on pepper (densities in tomato were intermediate). Although the phenology of the predator differed among crops, its population dynamics generally followed that of its prey. A direct (behavioral) density-dependent response was found to prey in pepper and tomato, whereas a delayed (reproductive) response was detected in bean and corn. Further, the ratio between the densities of O. insidiosus nymphs and adults (an indication of population growth) was higher in bean and corn than in tomato and pepper. The importance of plant characteristics to predator-prey interactions is discussed, and particular attention is given to the influence of the plant-feeding habits of O. insidiosus.
Nothing Clinical, Just Business? Reflections on Psychoanalytically Grounded Organizational Diagnosis and Intervention

The purpose of this article is to explore psychoanalytically grounded approaches to organizational consultation. The article draws on existing literature as well as personal interviews with several contributors in the field to articulate certain critical concerns over psychoanalytically grounded organizational study and intervention. These include the inappropriate analyzing of clients, non-systemic interventions, wild analysis and collusion. The article examines in detail how contributors in the field see the work they carry out and how they respond to various criticisms. It is suggested that the parameters of clinical psychoanalysis may be used as the basis for a constructive dialog in the field aimed at addressing critical concerns and developing both theory and applications.
Preparation and characterization of some cellulose graft copolymers. Part III. The role of concurrent degradation during radiation grafting

The radiation degradation of cellulose acetate has been studied both in the dry state and in solution. The rate of degradation was greater in the solid state and was unaffected by oxygen. Conjugated solvents such as pyridine, toluene, and α-methylstyrene were shown to exert considerable protection against the radiation degradation of cellulose acetate when in solution or as swollen films. α-Methylstyrene has been used as a model for styrene to study the amount of degradation accompanying the grafting process. Matching experiments have been carried out by using both the mutual and the preirradiation methods of grafting. Considerably greater chain cleavage was found to accompany the grafting in the preirradiation case. With both methods the number of chain cleavages has been measured when α-methylstyrene was present in the “grafting” solution and the number of grafted side chains when styrene was used. It was shown that at least twice as many grafted chains as cleavages occur with the mutual technique, but in the case of preirradiation the number of cleavages is comparable to the number of grafted chains. The G (grafted chain) value for cellulose acetate with styrene was determined and was about 1.1 in all cases. The G (chain cleavage) values varied, however, from 0.2 to 1.3, approximately. The proportion of grafted chains attached to the ester groups was determined by extraction with benzene after cold alkaline hydrolysis. About half of the grafts were found to be attached in each case, including the preirradiation product. In general, it can be said that in every case at least 50% of the graft copolymers are side-chain grafts; this figure is probably considerably higher in the case of the mutual radiation preparations.
Sepsis caused by Elizabethkingia miricola successfully treated with tigecycline and levofloxacin

Elizabethkingia miricola is a Gram-negative rod that was initially isolated from condensation water of the space station Mir. This is the 1st reported case of human disease caused by this organism.
Quantifying skeletal muscle properties in cadaveric test specimens: effects of mechanical loading, postmortem time, and freezer storage.

Investigators currently lack the data necessary to define the state of skeletal muscle properties within cadaveric specimens. The purpose of this study is to define the temporal changes in the postmortem properties of skeletal muscle as a function of mechanical loading and freezer storage. The tibialis anterior of the New Zealand white rabbit was chosen for study. Modulus and no-load strain were found to vary significantly from live after eight hours postmortem. Following the changes that occur during rigor mortis, a stable region of postmortem, post-rigor properties occurred between 36 to 72 hours postmortem, A freeze-thaw process was not found to have a significant effect on the post-rigor response. The first loading cycle response of post-rigor muscle was unrepeatable but stiffer than live passive muscle. After preconditioning, the post-rigor muscle response was repeatable. The preconditioned post-rigor response was less stiff than the live passive response due to a significant increase in no-load strain. Failure properties of postmortem muscle were found to be significantly different from live passive muscle with a significant decrease in failure stress (61 percent) and energy (81 percent), while failure strain was unchanged. These results suggest that the post-rigor response of cadaveric muscle is unaffected by freezing but sensitive to even a few cycles of mechanical loading.
Locality in search engine queries and its implications for caching

Caching is a popular technique for reducing both server load and user response time in distributed systems. We consider the question of whether caching might be effective for search engines as well. We study two real search engine traces by examining query locality and its implications for caching. Our trace analysis produced three results. One result shows that queries have significant locality, with query frequency following a Zipf distribution. Very popular queries are shared among different users and can be cached at servers or proxies, while 16% to 22% of the queries are from the same users and should be cached at the user side. Multiple-word queries are shared less and should be cached mainly at the user side. Another result shows that if caching is to be done at the user side, short-term caching for hours is enough to cover query temporal locality, while server/proxy caching should use longer periods, such as days. The third result showed that most users have small lexicons when submitting queries. Frequent users who submit many search requests tend to reuse a small subset of words to form queries. Thus, with proxy or user side caching, prefetching based on the user lexicon looks promising.
Success Strategies: Winning Through Cooperation or Competition

Abstract To test the hypothesis that cooperative and competitive behavior strategies affect attitudes toward success, 147 male and female adults (age range 16 to 51 years) wrote stories in response to a modification of Horner's (1972) success cue and completed a personality trait list for their cue figure. Subjects were given one of four cues that varied sex of cue figure (Anne vs. John) and behavioral strategy (cooperative vs. competitive). Both measures yielded differences as a function of the strategy variable, with significantly more positive stories written in response to the cooperative strategy cue than to the competitive strategy cue (p < .001), and significant differences between the strategy cues on 26 of 40 personality traits. Although sex differences were predicted, no differences were found as a function of sex of subject or sex of cue figure.
Comparison of chemometric methods for the screening of comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatographic analysis of wine

Abstract Two chemometric methods are compared for the rapid screening of comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatographic (LC × LC) analysis of wine. The similarity index and Fisher ratio methods were both found to be able to distinguish geographical variability and to determine potentially significant peaks for further quantitative and qualitative study. An experimental data set consisting of five different wine samples and multiple simulated data sets were analyzed in the investigation of the screening methods. Several statistical analyses are employed in the understanding and verification of the results from the similarity index and Fisher ratio methods. The sum rank difference (SRD) method was used to compare the rankings of the two different methods as applied to the different data sets and to determine the amount of variability associated with the ranking of the peak differences. The major advantage the similarity index method offers is that it is an unsupervised method; no a priori knowledge of the samples ( i.e. , class identification) is required, while the Fisher ratio method is supervised. Both methods are rapid and require little user intervention other than the determination of a threshold for inclusion/exclusion of compounds from further analysis.
Eimeria (Protozoa: Eimeriidae) from North American Sciurids, Glaucomys sabrinus and Tamias townsendii: With a Description of a New Species

From 1990 to 1991, 11 northern flying squirrels, Glaucomys sabrinus, and 30 Townsend's chipmunks, Tamias townsendii, were live-trapped, marked, and released in MacDonald Forest, Benton Co., Oregon and their feces at each capture examined for the presence of coccidian parasites. Two eimerians were found in G. sabrinus: Eimeria dorneyi and a second species we describe here as new. One species, Eimeria vilasi, was identified from T. townsendii. Sporulated oocysts of the new eimerian are strongly ellipsoidal, pointed at 1 end, and are 47.2 x 25.0 (41-52 x 22-31) microns with ovoidal sporocysts, 19.0 x 10.5 (17-21 x 9-11) microns. A micropyle and oocyst residuum are absent, but, occasionally, a polar granule is present in the oocyst. In the sporocysts, Stieda and substieda bodies are present, as is a membrane-bound residuum. Sporulated oocysts of E. dorneyi are uniformly ellipsoidal, 23.0 x 14.7 (17-26 x 13-16) microns with elongate ellipsoidal sporocysts, 11.6 x 5.7 (9-13 x 5-7) microns. A micropyle and oocyst residuum are absent, but 1 polar granule is present. A Stieda body is present, but sub- and parastieda bodies are absent. The sporocyst residuum is composed of granules in a compact mass. Here we provide phototype (hapantotype) specimens archived in a nationally accredited museum and a line drawing (cartoon) to supplement the one provided by Soon and Dorney because their drawing did not show the sporocyst residuum given in the written description.
Uniaxial and biaxial orientation development and mechanical properties of polystyrene films

Uniaxially and biaxially oriented polystyrene films were prepared in a biaxial stretching machine. The state of orientation was determined by birefringence measurements and represented in terms of a set of biaxial orientation factors ƒ. The data are plotted on an isosceles triangular diagram whose coordinates represent the orientation factors ƒ, ƒ. Tensile force–elongation curves were obtained on the films in the machine stretching direction (MSD) and at various angles to the MSD in the plane of the film. The isotropic film is brittle, while uniaxial films yield in the machine direction but are brittle in the transverse direction. The biaxially oriented films exhibit ductile yielding in all directions in the plane of the film.
Functional Characterization of Connexin43 Mutations Found in Patients With Oculodentodigital Dysplasia

Specific mutations in GJA1, the gene encoding the gap junction protein connexin43 (Cx43), cause an autosomal dominant disorder called oculodentodigital dysplasia (ODDD). Here, we characterize the effects of 8 of these mutations on Cx43 function. Immunochemical studies have shown that most of the mutant proteins formed gap junction plaques at the sites of cell-cell apposition. However, 2 of the mutations (a codon duplication in the first extracellular loop, F52dup, and a missense mutation in the second extracellular loop, R202H, produced full-length connexins that failed to properly form gap junction plaques. Cx43 proteins containing ODDD mutations found in the N-terminus (Y17S), first transmembrane domain (G21R, A40V), second transmembrane domain (L90V), and cytoplasmic loop (I130T, K134E) do form gap junction plaques but show compromised channel function. L90V, I130T, and K134E demonstrated a significant decrease in junctional conductance relative to Cx43WT. Mutations Y17S, G21R, and A40V demonstrated a complete lack of functional electrical coupling even in the presence of significant plaque formation between paired cells. Heterologous channels formed by coexpression of Cx43WT and mutation R202H resulted in electrically functional gap junctions that were not permeable to Lucifer yellow. Therefore, the mutations found in ODDD not only cause phenotypic variability, but also result in various functional consequences. Overall, our data show an extensive range of molecular phenotypes, consistent with the pleiotropic nature of the clinical syndrome as a whole.
Armored Scale Insects (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) of San Lorenzo National Park, Panama, with Descriptions of Two New Species

ABSTRACT Armored scale insects include invasive economic pests that have been widely studied in human-altered habitats but have received less attention in natural habitats. Although armored scale insects are nearly ubiquitous associates of woody plants, they generally go uncollected in general surveys because they are not susceptible to mass collecting techniques, such as fogging, beating, or trapping. San Lorenzo National Park in Panama was the subject of a recent high-profile effort to quantify the arthropod diversity in a tropical forest (Basset et al. 2012). Here, we contribute to understanding the biodiversity of this classic site by reporting the armored scale insect species we found there in August 2010. We found that, unlike other rainforest canopy taxa, the armored scale insect fauna is dominated by highly polyphagous cosmopolitan pests. However, we also found new species, and we describe two of them here: Furcaspis douglorum Okusu & Normark n. sp. and Hemiberlesia andradae Okusu & Normark n. sp....
Virtual Smoke: an interactive 3D flow visualization technique

This paper introduces a new technique for computer visualization of simultaneous three-dimensional vector and scalar fields such as velocity and temperature in reacting fluid flow fields. The technique, which we call Virtual Smoke, simulates the use of colored smoke for experimental gaseous fluid flow visualization. However, it is noninvasive and can animate, in particular, the dynamic behaviors of steady-state or instantaneous flow fields obtained from numerical simulations. Virtual Smoke is based on Volume Seeds and Volume Seedlings, which are direct volume visualization methods previously developed for highly interactive scalar volume data exploration. We use data from combustion simulations to demonstrate the effectiveness of Virtual Smoke.
Angle error simulation of radome effect for tracking phased-array radar

The angle errors due to radome seam scattering are simulated for a tracking phased array at various mechanical and electronic scans. The dual antenna considered consists of an LFOV (limited-field-of-view) phased array and an FFOV (full-field-of-view) phased array. The 78 ft diameter metal space frame radome consists of high-strength metal seams joined together at hubs in such a fashion as to structurally approximate a shell capable of sustaining large loads. The computer simulations of the angle error due to the radome effect considered are valuable in trading off radome geometries and in supporting track analysis so as to arrive at a best system configuration. >
Analysis of meiosis-defective mutations in yeast by physical monitoring of recombination.

We have developed a method by which the extent of physical exchange of DNA molecules can be determined throughout meiosis in the yeast Saccharomyces cereuisiae. We have used this technique to analyze the effect of five meiosisdefective mutations (rad6, rad50, rad52, rad57 and spoll) on the physical exchange of DNA molecules. In the same experiments, we have also measured other meiotic parameters, such as premeiotic DNA synthesis, commitment to intragenic recombination, haploidization, ascus formation, and viability. rad50 and $01 I diploids make an undetectable amount of physically recombined DNA and <1% of wild-type levels of viable intragenic recombinants. In contrast, diploids homozygous for rad52, rad6 or rad57 all yield significant amounts of novel restriction fragments which arise by recombination. rad57 diploids make nearly wild-type levels of the recombined restriction fragments, although they produce <lo% of the wild-type levels of viable intragenic recombinants. rad52 strains are also capable of a significant (33%) amount of exchange of DNA molecules, but make <1% of wild-type levels of viable intragenic recombinants. rad6 diploids are also capable of undergoing a high level of exchange, as measured by the appearance of the recombined restriction fragment. In addition, rad6 diploids show an unusual allele- or locus-specific variability in the level of viable intragenic recombinants produced. Although rad6 diploids produce no viable spores, they are able to complete a significant amount of haploidization upon return to vegetative growth conditions. N important approach to the analysis of the major events in meiosis has A been to isolate meiosis-defective mutations. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, attention has focused on two types of mutations, those that were isolated directly as sporulation-defective (spo) mutations (ESPOSITO et al. 1972; ESPOSITO and ESPOSITO 19'74a) and those that were described initially as radiation-sensitive (rad) and were subsequently shown to prevent normal meiosis (GAME et
Discovery of the imidazole-derived GPR40 agonist AM-3189

As a follow-up to the GPR40 agonist AMG 837, which was evaluated in clinical trials for the treatment of type II diabetes, further optimization led to the discovery of AM-3189 (13k). AM-3189 is representative of a new class of compounds with minimal CNS penetration, superior pharmacokinetic properties and in vivo efficacy comparable to AMG 837.
Molecular biological identification and characterization of inherited platelet receptor disorders.

Platelets are derived from megakaryocytic and have a critical role in thrombus formation. Megakaryocytes are terminally differentiated marrow cells that are derived from the pluripotent hematopoietic stem cell (1). These extremely large, polyploid cells demarcate their cytoplasm, giving rise to circulating platelets. Following vascular injury, platelets adhere to the site of injury through von Willebrand factor (vWF) and the platelet membrane glycoprotein (GP) Ib/IX complex. The platelets become activated, and aggregate with other activated platelets through fibrinogen and the platelet membrane αIIb/β3 (GPIIb/IIIa) integrin complex. In addition, platelets contain unique granules called α-granules that contain important factors involved in normal coagulation. These factors include factor VIII, vWF, factor V, Multimerin, fibrinogen, factor XIII, factor XI, thrombospondin, fibronectin, s-thromboglobulin (sTG) and platelet factor 4 (PF4). Some of these factors are actively synthesized in megakaryocytes, some are actively transported through clatherin pits, and some are endocytosed (2,3,9).
The Earliest Evidence of Ostionoid Maize Agriculture from the Interior of Hispaniola

Considering the abundance of archaeological sites and the numerous archaeological surveys conducted throughout the Caribbean region, evidence of prehistoric cultivation of maize (Zea mays subsp. mays) is surprisingly rare. The rarity of botanical or other evidence of maize agriculture hampers efforts to chart the spread of this cultigen through the Caribbean and to understand its local and regional importance at different times. To better constrain and understand the biogeography and chronology of maize in the Caribbean we searched for evidence of maize agriculture in lake sediments from two mid-elevation lakes in the Dominican Republic, Laguna Castilla and Laguna de Salvador. The two sedimentary records contain abundant maize pollen dating back to around A.D. 1060. These prehistoric maize pollen grains constitute the earliest evidence of maize from the interior of Hispaniola and represent some of the earliest and most securely dated evidence of maize agriculture on the island of Hispaniola and from the Caribbean as a whole.
Perceptions of Burnout, Its Prevention, and Its Effect on Patient Care as Described by Oncology Nurses in the Hospital Setting .

Purpose/Objectives: To identify overall perceptions of burnout within the inpatient oncology nursing population, how they perceived that burnout affected the care they provided, and how they perceived that burnout could be decreased.Design: A quantitative descriptive study using questionnaires to de
Temperature Effect on Mortality of Confused Flour Beetles Treated with CO2 or N2 Before Fumigation

Adult Tribolium confusum Jacquelin duVal were fumigated at different temperatures with CCI4:CS2 (80:20 by volume) during metabolic depression caused by ½-hour exposure to flowing CO2 or N2. At 30°C, preconditioning increased the mortality of the insects to a greater degree than it did at 20° or 40°C.
A Rational Model of Regional Rivalry

A rational choice model of the arms acquisitions and alignments of regional rivals is developed that incorporates the restraining effects of economic opportunity costs as well as the political opportunity costs of alignment concessions and dependence on foreign sources of arms. Emphasis is placed on the consequences of substitutability between arms and alignment in the production of security and on the connections between rivalries at the regional and global levels. This model imposes only general qualitative restrictions rather than specific equations, and it encompasses a wide range of behavior, including self-reliance, diversification, dependence, nonalignment, alignment reversals, and a generalized arms-alignment race. The broad scope of this model poses several challenges for future formal and empirical research in this area.
Radiographically opaque bones from lead-lined coffins at Christ Church, Spitalfields, London; an extreme example of bone diagenesis

Slices of cortical bone taken from femur mid-shaft selected from lead-coffined burials at Spitalfields (a XVIIIth Century crypt) were X-rayed on to non-screen film using standard clinical techniques. Anomalous degrees of opacity were observed from some of the X-ray images. Chemical analyses of the bone samples showed concentrations of Pb up to 37 weight percent, and Sn up to 3.16 weight percent. In areas of extreme replacement, the lead phosphate mineral pyromorphite (a member of the apatite group) was identified. Other metals displaying unusually high concentrations include Fe, Cu, Zn, Ag, Sb and Cd. Electron microprobe analysis, coupled with backscattered electron imaging, showed the Pb and Sn distributions in some of the samples to be of a heterogeneous (but systematic) nature, with the highest concentrations of these elements occurring in the outermost regions of the bone. Localised enrichments of these elements were also observed around osteon canals throughout the cortex. X-ray diffraction studies of orientated sections of cortical bone showed a correlation between the concentration of Pb and changes in the diffraction profile between 31 degrees and 33 degrees 2Theta (using Cu K a radiation) towards Pb-rich hydroxylapatite. The concentrations of Pb and Sn recorded here are, of course, far in excess of any possible life-time levels, and illustrate the extent of extreme post-mortem alteration and recrystallisation of bone, in the presence of solutions rich in these elements, over a period of less than 200 years. However, the bone still retains many of its histological characteristics.
Detection of one Strain of Non-hemolysis Staphylococcus Aureus

Objective To discuss the determination of an atypical staphylococcus aureus. Methods The samples were detected according to the food microbiology standard GB4789. 10- 2010. Results The colony characteristics of the atypical staphylococcus aureus on the blood plate was not obvious,while was obvious on the Baird- Parker plate. Conclusion Blood plate and Baird- Parker plate are somewhat complementary in determining the staphylococcus aureus.
Midwives and Pregnant Women of Color: Why We Need to Understand Intersectional Changes in Midwifery to Reclaim Home Birth

The vast majority of births occur in hospitals attended by physicians. However, this has not always been the case. Prior to the turn of the twentieth century, home births held the majority and were primarily attended by midwives, the majority of whom were women of color and immigrant women. The move toward hospital birth is rarely discussed today and midwifery and home birth, though now both experiencing a small comeback, are often viewed with skepticism and fear. This Note discusses the raced and gendered history of this change in American birth norms and argues that the racist and sexist motivations and phenomena that prompted the move into hospitals and away from midwives is relevant to understanding current birth trends and statistics. The Note begins with an overview and discussion of the raced and gendered history of American midwifery. Next, the Note explains the history of the Medicalization of pregnancy and birth–here, exerting excessive medical rhetoric into and oversight over reproduction, and especially women of color’s reproduction, in order to control it. Finally the Note considers current home birth and midwifery trends and statistics and their connection to the race and gender discrimination of twentieth century birth and midwifery. The Note concludes that the racist and sexist underpinnings of the change from home to hospital birth still operate in our current birthing systems to keep women of color in hospitals and out of the midwifery profession.
Comparison of regional myocardial blood flow and metabolism distal to a critical coronary stenosis in the fibrillating heart during alternate periods of pulsatile and nonpulsatile perfusion

The effect of pulsatile cardiopulmonary bypass on intramyocardial gas tensions and regional myocardial blood flow was studied in 10 mongrel dogs. Following application of a critical stenosis to the circumflex coronary artery (CIRC), animals were placed on total bypass with vented, fibrillating hearts. During three 45 minute periods of perfusion, animals alternately received pulsatile or linear flow with perfusion pressure carefully maintained at 80 mm. Hg. In myocardium supplied by the stenosed CIRC, intramyocardial oxygen tension (Po2) rose from 13 ± 3 to 19 ± 5 mm. Hg when a period of linear flow was followed by a period of pulsatile flow (p
Die Methoden der christlichen Mystik

Im vorhergehenden Kapitel haben wir die Begrundung der christlichen Mystik betrachtet. Wir mussen jetzt ihre Methoden untersuchen. Da die Mystiker Befriedigung in der Vereinigung mit Gott finden sollen, konnte man unser Problem als das der Mittel, durch die sie die Verbindung mit dem Gottlichen herstellen, formulieren.
Age and the effectiveness of chewing during eating in Holstein cows

Six lactating Holstein cows with rumen cannulae were separated into age groups of 3, 4 and >5 years old, to examine the potential effect of age on the effectiveness of chewing during eating. The first 15 boluses swallowed during a meal of high-quality long lucerne hay were collected from the cardia to determine their mean particle size and weight. The mean particle size of the swallowed boluses did not differ between age groups. As the meal progressed, the mean particle size of boluses decreased from 3.1 to 1.9 aem. The weight of the swallowed boluses was also unaffected by age. There did not appear to be any relationship between the weight of the swallowed bolus and the time it was collected or mean particle size. Over the normal productive lifespan of cows in the USA, age does not appear to greatly affect the effectiveness of chewing.
When the payer says "no!": ethical considerations in patient advocacy.

AbstractSpinal cord injury is a relatively infrequent but often catastrophic injury. As such, it presents special challenges for the individuals affected and the clinicians who care for them. Claims for reimbursement of acute care, rehabilitation, and long-term care are often denied, requiring patients and clinicians to exhaust every effort to ensure coverage for therapeutic interventions, preventive care, and durable medical equipment. Ethical dilemmas are presented within the framework of the US healthcare system, and practical strategies are discussed.
Adverse safety events in patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) confers a higher risk of adverse safety events as a result of many factors including medication dosing errors and use of nephrotoxic drugs, which can cause kidney injury and renal function decline. CKD patients may also have comorbidities such as hypertension and diabetes for which they require more frequent care from different providers, and for which standard, but countervailing treatments, may put them at risk for adverse safety events.Areas covered: In addition to the well-known agents such as iodinated radiocontrast, antimicrobials, diuretics and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors which can directly affect renal function, safety considerations in the treatment of common CKD complications such as anemia, diabetes, analgesia and thrombosis will also be discussed.Expert opinion: Better outcomes in CKD may be achieved by alerting care providers to the special care needs of kidney patients and encouraging patients to self-manage their disease ...
In Situ Neutron Diffraction Study of NiTi–21Pt High-Temperature Shape Memory Alloys

In situ neutron diffraction was used to investigate the microstructural features of stoichiometric and Ti-rich NiTiPt high-temperature shape memory alloys with target compositions of Ni29Ti50Pt21 and Ni28.5Ti50.5Pt21 (in atomic percent), respectively. The alloys’ isothermal and thermomechanical properties (i.e., moduli, thermal expansion, transformation strains, and dimensional stability) were correlated to the lattice strains, volume-averaged elastic moduli, and textures as determined by neutron diffraction. In addition, the unique aspects of this technique when applied to martensitic transformations in shape memory alloys are highlighted throughout the paper.
Evaluating the effect of wood ultrastructural changes from mechanical treatment on kinetics of monomeric sugars and chemicals production in acid bisulfite treatment.

Abstract Currently, various chemical-mechanical treatments were widely used in biofuel production to achieve high total sugar yields. However, the interaction between two treatments was scarcely investigated. In this study, we employed a ball milling process to create ultrastructural changes for Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) micronized wood powders. The 0, 30, and 60 min ball milled wood powders resulted in a crystallinity index of 0.41, 0.21, and 0.10 respectively. It was found that the ultrastructural changes accelerate monomeric sugars production without influencing the yield of sugar degradation products. The optimal acid bisulfite treatment time was substantially decreased from 120 min to 40 min as the cellulose crystallinity decreased. Meanwhile, total sugar yield increased from 65% to 92% and had a linear relation with a decrease of the cellulose crystallinity.
Development of Efficient Obstacle Avoidance for a Mobile Robot Using Fuzzy Petri Nets

In the field of autonomously operated robots it is quite common for a form of environment mapping to be implemented. The process of environment mapping requires standby time and processing time. The robot remains stationary and surveys the surroundings, then constructs an environmental representation and determines the appropriate path of travel. This process diminishes the fluidity of robot locomotion, resulting in limited applications. Through the application of fuzzy Petri nets (FPNs) with embedded memory module, an enhanced mapping method was proposed to overcome such a limitation. With the storage and reuse of key information, such as past calculations and decisions made by the robot, time spent in survey and analysis is reduced. Since this approach requires less processing time, the proposed method can be executed while the robot is in motion, continuously looping at frequent intervals. The proposed method brings the benefits of greater movement fluidity while also introducing the ability to navigate in a dynamic environment with less erratic decision making. The modeling and simulation results demonstrated an 8% increase in efficiency.
Characteristics of medication advertisements found in US women’s fashion magazines

Background: Although prescriptions are dispensed at discretion of medical professionals, many pharmaceutical companies use direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising to increase sales. Over-the-counter (OTC) medications are similarly marketed. Methods: We examined the content of advertisements in 38 issues of 9 popular US women’s fashion magazines. We evaluated target audience, health condition, product availability, message appeal, target to females, and mention of potential side effects and benefits. Results: Sixty total medication advertisements were identified, 58.3% (95% CI: 45.8, 70.8) for prescription products. In magazines targeted to non-Hispanic Whites, >65% of advertisements were for OTC medications whereas 80% (95% CI: 66.7, 94.5) of advertisements found in Black/Latina magazines were for prescription medications. The rational appeal was used most commonly in non-Hispanic White magazines (75.9%; 95% CI: 60.3, 91.5). Emotional appeal was featured more often in prescription advertisements magazines (60.0; 95% CI:43.8, 76.2) compared to OTC (8.0; 95% CI: -2.6, 18.6). Conclusion: Although emotional appeal may be effective for selling medication to women, it often does not completely inform consumers of potential risks.
US tornado fatalities in motor vehicles (1991–2015)

Motor vehicles historically have been dangerous locations to shelter in during tornado events. Throughout the twentieth century, motor vehicle design has become safer while tornado forecasting has become better understood. Despite such advances, tornado fatalities in motor vehicles still occur today, and some events periodically result in high numbers of deaths (e.g., ten motor vehicle occupants were killed by a single tornado in Garland, Texas, in 2015). We seek to examine all US tornado-induced motor vehicle fatalities documented between 1991 and 2015. Our findings indicate that motor vehicle fatalities have not significantly changed during this study period. We attribute annual fatality totals to persons lacking awareness of impending dangers coupled with numbers of significant tornado events for a given year. We find most fatalities result when vehicles are lofted or passengers are ejected, and this most typically occurs at the EF3–EF5 intensity thresholds. Fatalities that occur at weaker tornado winds (EF0–EF2) are most often attributed to collapsing debris (mostly trees) on vehicles. Spatially, motor vehicle fatalities are greatest in the Deep South and southern Great Plains regions where overall tornado and nighttime tornado frequencies are greatest. Some of the largest motor vehicle fatality events have resulted from tornadoes not being distinctly visible to motorists; such events have been characterized by tornadoes occurring at night or by tornadoes not appearing as “classic funnels.”
Mdm2 selectively suppresses DNA damage arising from inhibition of topoisomerase II independent of p53

Mdm2 is often overexpressed in tumors that retain wild-type TP53 but may affect therapeutic response independently of p53. Herein is shown that tumor cells with MDM2 amplification are selectively resistant to treatment with topoisomerase II poisons but not other DNA damaging agents. Tumor cells that overexpress Mdm2 have reduced DNA double-strand breaks in response to doxorubicin or etoposide. This latter result is not due to altered drug uptake. The selective attenuation of DNA damage in response to these agents is dependent on both Mdm2 levels and an intact ubiquitin ligase function. These findings reveal a novel, p53-independent activity of Mdm2 and have important implications for the choice of chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of Mdm2-overexpressing tumors.
The Risk of Assuming Abuse in an Infant with an Isolated Metaphyseal Lesion: A Case Report.

CASE The classic metaphyseal lesion, or corner fracture, is considered a strong indicator of nonaccidental trauma. In the present case, the parents brought their 8-month-old boy to a community hospital after he stopped crawling on the right leg. A knee radiograph demonstrated an isolated metaphyseal lesion, which prompted concern for child abuse. The patient was transferred to the nearest academic medical center; the pediatric radiology expert in child abuse determined that the lesion was a normal variant and not the result of abuse. CONCLUSION An isolated metaphyseal lesion is not pathognomonic for child abuse, and a thoughtful differential diagnosis should be considered.
‘The malignity of Reviewers’: Coleridge, Wilson, and Blackwood's

The first number of the refashioned Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine opens with a review of Samuel Taylor Coleridge's Biographia Literaria which is still regarded as one of the most virulent ‘attacks...
Effect of a piutitary peptide on liver tissue respiration.

SummaryThe capacity of a pituitary peptide to stimulate the liver is further supported by tissue respiration studies. Peptide concentrates stimulate oxygen uptake of rat liver slices. The stimulating effect appears to be specific for the liver. The response of liver tissue was used to study the releasing mechanism of the peptide from hypophysis using Warburg's direct procedure. Cortisol (5 × 10−6M) increased liver slice oxygen uptake only when pituitary tissue was included in the mixture. Epineph-rine (2 × 10−7M) produced the same results only when pituitary and hypothalamus tissue were included. A possible relation between the effect of HTH, cortisol, and epinephrine on in vitro liver tissue metabolism and the in vivo release of vitamin-K-dependent coagulation factors was discussed.
Synthetic mid-urethral sling complications: Evolution of presenting symptoms over time

INTRODUCTION To study the evolution of type of presenting symptoms after mid-urethral sling (MUS) placement relative to the interval between placement and subsequent synthetic sling removal (SSR) for complication(s). METHODS An IRB-approved, prospectively maintained database of women who underwent SSR was retrospectively reviewed for demographics, interval between MUS placement and SSR, history of chronic pain syndromes and recurrent urinary tract infections (RUTI), anti-incontinence and prolapse repairs, and MUS-related symptoms at presentation, including storage dysfunction, voiding dysfunction, RUTI, vaginal pain, non-vaginal pain, mesh exposure, and urinary incontinence (UI). Comparisons were made between patient groups divided into 2 and 4-year intervals to test the hypothesis that there would be higher rates of mesh exposure, pain and/or dyspareunia earlier, but higher rates of RUTI and UI in later groups. RESULTS Between 2005-2017, 278/435 women met study criteria. Overall, mean number of presenting symptoms per patient was 3.8 ± 1.4 and increased significantly in relation to time since MUS placement (P < 0.01). There was a significant difference between number of patients presenting with RUTI (P = 0.01), vaginal pain (P = 0.03), and UI (P = 0.03) between the 2-year groups and a significant difference between number of patients presenting with RUTI (P < 0.01), non-vaginal pain (P = 0.01) and vaginal pain (P = 0.05) between the 4-year groups. CONCLUSIONS In our tertiary care center, women with MUS-related complications presented with multiple symptoms that increased in number over time, with a higher rate of pain complaints in earlier groups but a higher rate of RUTI and UI in later groups.
Lymphocyte surface receptors and leukemia virus-induced immunosuppression.

The number and distribution patterns of lymphocytes in the spleens and lymph nodes of Balb/c mice which express immunoglobulin surface receptors were studied in terms of the effects of a murine leukemia virus on the immune-response mechanism. Friend leukemia virus induces a prompt, marked depression of the immune response of mice to antigens such as sheep erythrocytes and E. coli LPS. A functioning T- and B-lymphocyte system is necessary for the response to the SRBC's whereas E. coli LPS, a T cell-independent antigen, stimulates B cells alone. Although the responses to both classes of antigen were markedly depressed in FLV-infected mice, the major defect appeared to be impairment of B-cell function, at least early in the course of infection. In order to examine in more detail the mechanism of interaction between FLV and lymphoid cells with Ig surface receptors, presumably B cells, immmunofluorescent analyses were performed with spleen, and lymph node cells from FLV-infected mice. Within a few days after infection there was a marked decrease in the percentage of spleen cells with Ig surface molecules, although the absolute number of these cells was either unchanged or increased due to marked splenomegaly caused by the virus. A marked decrease in the percentage of splenocytes with theta antigen, considered a marker for mature T cells, also was evident in infected mice. The number of spleen cells showing evidence of FLV infection (i.e., positive for FLV-associated antigens) increased rapidly during the first few days after infection, and within 2 to 2 1/2 weeks nearly all of the nucleated splenocytes were positive for the tumor antigen. In contrast to the results for spleen cells, there were increases rather than decreases in the percentages of Ig-positive and theta-positive cells in the lymph nodes after infection. The number of lymph-node cells that showed the presence of FLV antigen was much lower than in the spleen, and their appearance was also much slower as the leukemic process progressed. Despite these differences between spleen and lymph-node cells in terms of relative percentages of Ig- and theta-positive lymphocytes, relatively similar depressions were evident for the percentages of lymphoid cells that could redistribute their surface Ig receptors into polar caps when incubated with anti-Ig serum at 37 C. Marked impairment of the Ig-capping responses for both spleen and lymph-node cells paralleled the course of infection and development of immunosuppression. These observations indicate that murine leukemia virus infection can both alter the responsiveness of immunocompetent cells to T-dependent and independent antigens and depress the number and normal functional activity of these cells, as reflected by altered surface Ig receptors and antigens.
An EM Algorithm for Estimating Log Linear Models with Additional Marginal Constraints

In this paper we consider a class of parametric models for two-way multinomial tables, where the cell probabilities, pij, are a function of a K dimensional parameter vector θ, pij =pij(θ), and the ML estimator, θ, has the property that $$\hat{p}_i.=n_i./n$$ and $$\hat{p}._j=n._j/n$$ (1.1) where ni., n.j, pi and pj denote the usual row and column sums for the data and the cell probabilities and \(\hat{p}._ij=p_{ij}(\hat{\theta} )\). That is, the MLE for row and column marginals is precisely the observed marginal frequencies. This class of parametric models includes tables with positive local odds ratios, Smith (1989) and Dykstra and Lemke (1988), a wide class of log linear models, Bishop, Fienberg and Holland (1975), as well as the unconstrained MLE \(\hat{p}_{ij}=n_{ij}/n\)
Software engineering collaboratories (SEClabs) and collaboratories as a service (CaaS)

Novel research ideas require strong evaluations. Modern software engineering research evaluation typically requires a set of benchmark programs. Open source software repositories have provided a great opportunity for researchers to find such programs for use in their evaluations. Many tools/techniques have been developed to help automate the curation of open source software. There has also been encouragement for researchers to provide their research artifacts so that other researchers can easily reproduce the results. We argue that these two trends (i.e., curating open source software for research evaluation and the providing of research artifacts) drive the need for Software Engineer Collaboratories (SEClabs). We envision research communities coming together to create SEClab instances, where research artifacts can be made publicly available to other researchers. The community can then vet such artifacts and make them available as a service, thus turning the collaboratory into a Collaboratory as a Service (CaaS). If our vision is realized, the speed and transparency of research will drastically increase.
Real-world effects of rear automatic braking and other backing assistance systems.

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the effects of rearview cameras, rear parking sensors , and rear automatic braking systems on backing crashes. Method: Negative binomial regression was used to compare police-reported backing crash involvements per insured vehicle year in 23 US states during 2012–2015 among General Motors vehicles with Rear Vision Camera alone; Rear Parking Assist alone (rear parking sensors); Rear Vision Camera and Rear Parking Assist; or the Rear Vision Camera, Rear Parking Assist, and Rear Automatic Braking to vehicles with none of these systems. Modeling controlled for other backing assistance systems on vehicles and factors that may affect crash risk. Results: The combination of Rear Vision Camera and Rear Parking Assist reduced backing crash involvement rates by 42%. When Rear Automatic Braking was added to the Rear Vision Camera and Rear Parking Assist, vehicles with all three systems had backing crash involvement rates that were 78% lower than vehicles with none of the systems. On vehicles with Rear Parking Assist alone or Rear Vision Camera alone, backing crash involvement rates were reduced 28% and 5%, respectively, but these reductions were not statistically significant. Conclusions: Rearview cameras and rear parking sensors are preventing some backing crashes, but their effectiveness may be constrained in part by drivers not using or responding to the systems appropriately. Rear automatic braking adds to the effectiveness of these systems because it does not rely entirely on appropriate driver response. Practical applications: Rear parking sensors and rearview cameras are available on most new vehicles, but availability of rear automatic braking is limited. If more vehicles were equipped with rear automatic braking that performed like the system evaluated in the current study, many backing crashes that still occur among vehicles with rearview cameras and rear parking sensors could be prevented.