cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phase transitions in aqueous NH4HSO4 solutions

Differential scanning calorimetry has been employed to investigate phase transitions in aqueous NH4HSO4 solutions 0 to 60 wt %. Bulk samples, 3 μL in volume, have been used to determine the NH4HSO4 phase diagram down to 195 K. The results are in very good agreement with the ice, letovicite, and sulfuric acid tetrahydrate melting points predicted by the thermodynamic model of Clegg et al. (J. Phys. Chem. A 1998, 102, 2137−2154). In addition, emulsified samples have been employed to investigate the kinetics of ice nucleation in micrometer-sized aqueous NH4HSO4 droplets. The observed ice freezing points range from 234 K for 0 wt % to 179 K for 35 wt %. A thermodynamic model has been used to apply these freezing point data to the formation of cirrus clouds. The results indicate that the homogeneous nucleation of ice particles in cirrus clouds requires saturation ratios with respect to ice ranging from about 1.5 at 230 K to about 1.7 at 200 K.
Plasma thrombocytopenic factor as measured by direct and indirect platelet methods.

ConclusionsA temporary and significant decrease in platelets as measured by the indirect method occurred in 8 of 10 individuals following the transfusion of normal blood plasma. No decrease in platelets occurred as determined by the direct method of evaluating platelet levels. The possible cause for the differences in the results obtained by the direct and indirect methods is discussed.
Talker discrimination in preschool children with and without specific language impairment.

Abstract Variability inherently present between multiple talkers can prove beneficial in the context of learning. However, the performance during learning paradigms by children with specific language impairment (SLI) remains below typically developing peers, even when multiple talkers are used. Preschool children with typically developing language ( n = 17) and SLI ( n = 17) participated in a talker discrimination task. Five different pairings of talkers (same male, different males, same female, different females, male + female) were used to present 50 spoken words. Children with SLI were significantly poorer in discriminating same and different male speakers compared to their typical peers. The present findings demonstrate that preschool children with SLI can experience difficulty distinguishing between talkers. Poor sensitivity to variation in talkers may contribute to poor learning in SLI for contexts where multiple talker input should benefit the learner. Learning outcomes : The reader will recognize that the presence of multiple talkers (voices) can assist or detract from performance on cognitive tasks. Children with specific language impairment are less proficient than their peers in distinguishing the same from different talkers.
Spondylopathy in Broilers Case Reports

Abstract Representative samples of birds from broiler flocks experiencing 3 to 7% incidence of lameness (Flock A) and normal unaffected flocks (Flock B) were obtained from a commercial breeder. Lameness (creeper bird syndrome) in Flock A occurred as early as 4 weeks and the number of birds developing paraplegia or lameness reached a peak at about 7 weeks. Spondylopathy was identified in 17 of the 29 Flock A birds examined. The affected birds were observed resting on their hocks and keel, with one leg usually stretched forward and when disturbed were capable of only creeping movements with the aid of their wings. Flock B birds were normal. Day old chickens and hatching eggs were obtained from Flock A and B and are identified as Flock A1 and B1, respectively. Birds 1 to 180 days-old were necropsied and spondylopathy was identified in 56% of Flock A1 and 22% of Flock B1 birds. A third group of 19 lame birds (Flock D) were obtained from another source. Of these 37% had spondylolisthesis and 16% scoliosis. A fourth flock of 9 week old chickens (Flock E) from a commercial broiler strain was examined. Birds in this flock had been raised in wire cages under experimental heat stress. In the 13 birds examined spondylolisthesis was diagosed in 25%, scoliosis in 16% and a dual involvement in 25%. Histopathologic examination of muscles from affected birds revealed interstitial edema, atrophy and degeneration of muscle fibers. Microscopic examination of T5-7 vertebrae confirmed the grossly observed ventrodorsal rotation of T6, which caused various degrees of compression of the spinal cord in the region of T5-7.
Pseudomonas Septicemia in Neutropenic Dogs I. Treatment with Granulocyte Transfusions

A canine model was developed for the study of Pseudomonas septicemia in the leukopenic host. Dogs rendered leukopenic by the intravenous administration of cyclophosphamide were challenged intravenously with 107 pseudomonas. An initial period of apparently unimpaired bacterial clearance was followed by a second wave of bacteremia beginning within 24 hours. All leukopenic dogs died during this second phase, in contrast to normal animals which cleared the bacteria and remained well thereafter. Granulocytes suitable for transfusion purposes were obtained by a technique of continuous leukofiltration through nylon columns. The infusion of such granulocyte preparations in quantities of 2 to 15 × 109 cells resulted in a demonstrable reduction in circulating numbers of bacteria in septic dogs. The system provides a model for the further study of the natural course of Pseudomonas sepsis in the leukopenic host, as well as a means for evaluating various modes of therapy.
Diversity in the U.S. Federal Government: Antecedents and Correlates of Diversity in Federal Agencies

Although there are numerous studies on the consequences of demographic diversity, relatively little research has been conducted on what determines the variation of demographic diversity. This study...
Computing on a shoestring: Initial data entry for service organizations

This paper addresses the feasibility of computerized record-keeping for low-budget volunteer organizations, and presents results of an experiment designed to determine a fast, reliable, and comfortable data entry technique for enabling non-computer-user to enter large amounts of manually recorded data into a computer file.
Trauma exposure and the drug endangered child.

This study examines the differences in trauma exposure and the response to those events between drug endangered children (DEC) and non-drug endangered children involved in the child welfare system. This data represents the experiences of 1,127 children randomly selected from the state's child protective service database and represents 20% of all open cases during 2005-2006. Archival data were analyzed to determine the presence of exposure using DSM-IV-TR posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Criterion A1, and whether or not the child's response to exposure met PTSD Criterion A2. Results reveal high rates of trauma exposure in the DEC group and indicate that trauma exposure and trauma response did significantly vary across groups. Implications for the assessment and treatment of child welfare-involved children are drawn. Language: en
Role of Endogenous Opioid Peptides in the Initiation of the Midcycle Luteinizing Hormone Surge in Normal Cycling Women

While compelling evidence indicates a pivotal role for endogenous opioids in the regulation of GnRH-LH pulsatile activity during the late follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle, the participation, if any, of the opioidergic mechanism in the initiation of the midcycle surge has not been examined. Accordingly, we measured serum LH, FSH, estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) levels daily during 2 consecutive cycles in 12 normal cycling women. After a control cycle, each woman was infused with naloxone (30 micrograms/kg.h) for 24 h starting 3 days before the anticipated spontaneous midcycle surge. Blood samples were obtained at 15-min intervals for 8 h before, during, and 16 h after the naloxone infusion. Serum LH and FSH concentrations were measured in all samples, and serum E2 and P4 concentrations at 2-h intervals. Pulsatile LH secretion was analyzed using the cluster program. The opioidergic blockade elicited a robust increase in LH pulsatile activity and a 3-fold rise in serum FSH levels in 6 of the 12 women. This increased gonadotropin secretion lasted more than 24 h and was characterized by a progressive increase in LH pulse amplitude, which was 9-fold greater during the last 8 h of naloxone infusion [mean LH pulse amplitude, 36.5 +/- 4.5 (+/- SE) vs. 4.1 +/- 0.4 IU/L; P less than 0.001]. This increase was accompanied by a corresponding increase in transverse mean serum LH levels (83.3 +/- 13 vs. 20.7 +/- 3.2 IU/L; P less than 0.001), but no alteration of the interpulse interval (93 +/- 11 vs. 85 +/- 4 min). The peak serum LH concentrations exceeded 100 IU/L in all 6 of these women. This naloxone-advanced gonadotropin surge, resembling closely the spontaneous midcycle surge, resulted in a significantly shortened (P less than 0.001) follicular phase and a more than 2-fold elevation of serum P4, followed by assumed ovulation and normal luteal function. These 6 women had serum E2 levels immediately before naloxone infusion that were comparable to those during the preovulatory peak during the control cycle. In the 6 women who did not have a naloxone-induced increase in gonadotropin secretion the preinfusion serum E2 levels were substantially lower (P less than 0.001) than the values during the control cycle. These findings suggest that a transient decrease in opioidergic activity may contribute to the initiation of the midcycle gonadotropin surge in women.
Catheter Ablation for Long-Standing Persistent Atrial Fibrillation in Patients Who Have Failed Electrical Cardioversion

Ablation outcomes in 22 consecutive long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation (LPAF) patients with failed direct current cardioversion (DCCV; group 1) were compared with findings in 22 consecutive LPAF patients who had successful DCCV (control 1) and 22 consecutive patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF; control 2). All patients underwent a stepwise progressive ablation protocol (pulmonary vein isolation, ablation of complex fractionated atrial electrogram, and repeat ablation of any induced atrial tachycardias). Over 18-month follow-up, 59 % of group 1 patients remained in sinus rhythm without recurrent AF, compared to 64 % and 77 % in controls 1 and 2, respectively. The procedure time was longer in LPAF with a higher procedure complication risk in these 44 LPAF patients (5 % vs. 0 %) than in patients with paroxysmal AF. Our data suggest that catheter ablation provides a practical treatment option with moderate efficacy for restoring sinus rhythm in LPAF patients after failed DCCV.
Fifteen-Year Trends in Lower Limb Amputation, Revascularization, and Preventive Measures Among Medicare Patients

Although severe lower extremity peripheral arterial disease affects more than 12 million people in the United States,1,2 secular trends in the risk of amputation remain unexplored in recent years. Using national billing and survey data sets from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, we examined trends in lower extremity amputation rates, diagnostic and therapeutic vascular procedures, and the use of preventive measures aimed at limiting the use of amputation procedures in the United States between 1996 and 2011.
Globalizations Forum on Middle East Protests: Commentary

The ‘Arab spring’ is part of a growing set of challenges to US hegemony and the capitalist world-system. The global economy is fueling the grievances that motivate protests while also providing tools that aid the spread of global protest movements. The global financial and other crises threaten the legitimacy of the entire system, opening up opportunities for challenges by popular groups even in the most authoritarian contexts. As the US and its Western allies confront more limited budgets, and as slower growth undermines stability in countries whose quiescence has been key to ensuring the flows of resources necessary for the operation of the global capitalist economy, we are destined to see more popular challenges to existing authorities. These challenges should be seen not simply as national challenges, but rather as part of a larger struggle for the transformation of the world-system. La ‘primavera arabe’ es parte de una serie de retos que va en aumento contra la hegemonia de E.E.U.U. y el sistema mund...
Heterotopic (Supradiaphragmatic) Liver

Abstract A case is reported of a heterotopic liver in the left supradiaphragmatic position, without any connection to the main organ, and a review of the pertinent literature is presented. A similar location of heterotopic liver has not been recorded previously. Our view concerning the developmental anomaly is presented. The difficulty of establishing the clinical diagnosis makes operative exploration necessary to differentiate this lesion from tumors of the diaphragm and pleura. Because of the presence of a pedicle that may undergo torsion, it is believed that the condition may not always follow a benign course.
Performance Comparison of Capillary and Agarose Gel Electrophoresis for the Identification and Characterization of Monoclonal Immunoglobulins

The objective of this study was to compare gel- and capillary-based serum protein electrophoresis methods to identify and characterize monoclonal immunoglobulins (M proteins). Five reviewers interpreted 149 consecutively ordered serum specimens following agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE), capillary electrophoresis (CE), immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE), and subtraction immunotyping (IT). As a screening test for detecting M proteins, AGE and CE displayed similar sensitivity (91% and 92%, respectively). CE was less specific (74%) than AGE (81%). An analysis of interinterpreter agreement revealed that interpretations were more consistent using gel-based methods than capillary-based methods, with 80% of the gel interpretations being in complete (5/5) agreement compared with 67% of the capillary interpretations. After implementing the capillary-based methods, the number of tests per reportable result increased (from 1.58 to 1.73). CE is an analytically suitable alternative to AGE, but laboratories implementing it will need to continue IFE testing to characterize all M proteins detected by CE.
Node placement for triangular mesh generation by Monte Carlo simulation

A new approach of node placement for unstructured mesh generation is proposed. It is based on the Monte Carlo method to position nodes for triangular or tetrahedral meshes. Surface or volume geometries to be meshed are treated as atomic systems, and mesh nodes are considered as interacting particles. By minimizing system potential energy with Monte Carlo simulation, particles are placed into a near-optimal configuration. Well-shaped triangles or tetrahedra can then be created after connecting the nodes by constrained Delaunay triangulation or tetrahedrization. The algorithm is simple, easy to implement, and works in an almost identical way for 2D and 3D meshing. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Pronator Quadratus Sign

The pronator quadratus muscle is a small quadrilateral muscle attached to the anterior aspects of the distal sixths of the radius and ulna. A well-defined fascia covers the muscle, preventing intermuscular communication and creating a distinct forearm space in which fluid can accumulate (4). A thin layer of fat overlies the fascial covering, between the pronator quadratus and flexor digitorum profundus muscles (1,4). This fat plane can be seen as a thin radiolucency on at least 90% of lateral radiographs of normal distal forearms (1,3). The thin radiolucency can either have a slight anterior convexity or be straight and parallel to the ra-
Three-dimensional deformation process simulation with explicit use of polycrystal plasticity models

Abstract The combination of massive parallel processing and polycrystal plasticity theory offers the potential for applying detailed microstructural models to macroscopic deformation processes. In this work the finite element method is used to solve for the three-dimensional deformation of a plastic workpiece. The elemental constitutive response is derived from the microstructural response of a polycrystal aggregate situated in the element. Crystal orientations and their respective weighted contributions to the aggregate response are selected to approximate the orientation distribution derived from experimental pole figure measurements. The interaction of the material symmetry adopted in analysis of pole figures and the boundary conditions posed in the plasticity boundary value problem are examined. Through the introduction of distinct aggregates with decreasing crystal to aggregate ratio, an inhomogenous material response is developed where: (1) the orientation distribution becomes well approximated only by a collection of spatially distinct aggregates, and (2) these aggregates experience deformation paths of increasing variation. It is shown that the use of spatially distinct aggregates in a material experiencing local kinematic inhomogeneities throughout its deformation history leads to texture predictions that compare favorably with experimental measurements.
Legal Fictions Revisited

A rarely noticed feature of legal fictions is their dependence on a certain understanding of the nature of legal language. If the language of the law is understood as a largely technical language internal to law and its goals, then that language can be applied without need for recourse to fictions. But if, instead, law’s language is in important ways related to and dependent on ordinary language, then the language of the law may at times frustrate law’s goals. When this happens, there will be a need for legal fictions, and thus the very use of a legal fiction presupposes a controversial view about legal language as being, at least in part, ordinary language.
A multi-scale, multi-layer, translucent virtual space

The dynamic nature of virtual display spaces can provide powerful tools for helping people comprehend phenomena that occur over widely disparate spatial scales. This paper presents the macroscope, an interactive technique for browsing very large spaces of displayed information at different scales. The macroscope takes as a point of departure the traditional 2D zoom and pan operations, but introduces multiple translucent layers to avoid the problem of losing visual context. The third dimension is used to visually separate the layers and provide an external point of view for controlling the presentation. The user can manipulate viewfinders in the virtual space, which control the relative scale and position of the layers.
The Trophic Effect of the Sympathetic Nervous System on Cells of the Septal Region of the Basal Forebrain

The sympathetic nervous system exerts a trophic-mitogenic effect on C-1300 mouse neuroblastoma. We now report that the trophic factor present in freshly excised sympathetic ganglia from newborn rats enhances survival and process formation of the cells of the septal region of the rat basal forebrain.
Ground-water surface-water interactions and long-term change in riverine riparian vegetation in the southwestern United States

Riverine riparian vegetation has changed throughout the southwestern United States, prompting concern about losses of habitat and biodiversity. Woody riparian vegetation grows in a variety of geomorphic settings ranging from bedrock-lined channels to perennial streams crossing deep alluvium and is dependent on interaction between ground-water and surface-water resources. Historically, few reaches in Arizona, southern Utah, or eastern California below 1530 m elevation had closed gallery forests of cottonwood and willow; instead, many alluvial reaches that now support riparian gallery forests once had marshy grasslands and most bedrock canyons were essentially barren. Repeat photography using more than 3000 historical images of rivers indicates that riparian vegetation has increased over much of the region. These increases appear to be related to several factors, notably the reduction in beaver populations by trappers in the 19th century, downcutting of arroyos that drained alluvial aquifers between 1880 and 1910, the frequent recurrence of winter floods during discrete periods of the 20th century, an increased growing season, and stable ground-water levels. Reductions in riparian vegetation result from agricultural clearing, excessive ground-water use, complete flow diversion, and impoundment of reservoirs. Elimination of riparian vegetation occurs either where high ground-water use lowers the water table below the rooting depth of riparian species, where base flow is completely diverted, or both. We illustrate regional changes using case histories of the San Pedro and Santa Cruz Rivers, which are adjacent watersheds in southern Arizona with long histories of water development and different trajectories of change in riparian vegetation.
Mammalian Pins Is a Conformational Switch that Links NuMA to Heterotrimeric G Proteins

Abstract During asymmetric cell divisions, mitotic spindles align along the axis of polarization. In invertebrates, spindle positioning requires Pins or related proteins and a G protein α subunit. A mammalian Pins, called LGN, binds Gαi and also interacts through an N-terminal domain with the microtubule binding protein NuMA. During mitosis, LGN recruits NuMA to the cell cortex, while cortical association of LGN itself requires the C-terminal Gα binding domain. Using a FRET biosensor, we find that LGN behaves as a conformational switch: in its closed state, the N and C termini interact, but NuMA or Gαi can disrupt this association, allowing LGN to interact simultaneously with both proteins, resulting in their cortical localization. Overexpression of Gαi or YFP-LGN causes a pronounced oscillation of metaphase spindles, and NuMA binding to LGN is required for these spindle movements. We propose that a related switch mechanism might operate in asymmetric cell divisions in the fly and nematode.
Stimulation of vigorous rotational flows and novel flow patterns using triaxial magnetic fields

We have discovered that new flow patterns can be created by applying a dc field to the ac biaxial fields that are used to induce isothermal magnetic advection (IMA). IMA is a recently discovered fluid flow phenomenon that occurs in suspensions of magnetic platelets subjected to particular time-dependent, uniform, biaxial magnetic fields. IMA is characterized by the formation of emergent flow patterns called advection lattices. We find that a dc field can disrupt the antiparallel flow symmetry of the advection lattice and give rise to qualitatively new flow patterns, including vigorous rotational flows and a highly regular diamond lattice. The rotational flows are very robust and may have applications to heat transfer. The diamond lattice is an intriguing and challenging example of emergent dynamics. Both of these effects occur when the dc field is applied orthogonal to the plane of the biaxial field.
The Neurology of Empty Categories: Aphasics' Failure to Detect Ungrammaticality

A direct investigation into the grammatical abilities of Broca's and Wernicke's aphasics sought to obtain critical evidence for a revised model of the functional neuroanatomy of language. We examined aphasics' ability to make grammaticality judgments on a set of theoretically selected, highly complex syntactic structures that involve, most prominently, fine violations of constraints on syntactic movement. Although both groups have been thought to possess intact abilities in this domain, we discovered severe deficits: Broca's and Wernicke's aphasics (whose performances differed) exhibited clear, delineated, and grammatically characterizable deficits - they follow from the Trace-Deletion Hypothesis, which is motivated by independent comprehension results. These conclusions have both linguistic and neurological implications: Linguistically, they show that the aphasic deficit interacts with more than one module of the grammar.Namely, it manifests not only when the thematic module is called for in interpretive tasks but also when constraints on syntactic movement are tapped in a study of judgment. Neurologically, the results support a view of receptive grammatical mechanisms in the left cortex, which is functionally more restrictive than currently assumed; neuroanatomically, however, it is more distributed.
A spreadsheet-based user interface for managing plural relationships in structured data

A key feature of relational database applications is managing \emph{plural} relationships---one-to-many and many-to-many---between entities. However, since it is often infeasible to adopt or develop a new database application for any given schema at hand, information workers instead turn to spreadsheets, which lend themselves poorly to schemas requiring multiple related entity sets. In this paper, we propose to reduce the cost-usability gap between spreadsheets and tailor-made relational database applications by extending the spreadsheet paradigm to let the user establish relationships between rows in related worksheets as well as view and navigate the hierarchical cell structure that arises as a result. We present Related Worksheets, a spreadsheet-like prototype application, and evaluate it with a screencast-based user study on 36 Mechanical Turk workers. First-time users of our software were able to solve lookup-type query tasks with the same or higher accuracy as subjects using Microsoft Excel, in one case 40% faster on average.
A Pilot Study Investigating Neuropsychological Consultation as an Intervention for Persistent Postconcussive Symptoms in a Pediatric Sample

Objective To examine the efficacy of a one-time neuropsychological consultation as an intervention for youth with persistent postconcussive symptoms following mild traumatic brain injury. Study design Using a prospective interrupted time series design, we enrolled 80 patients aged 8-17 years referred consecutively for clinical neuropsychological consultation. Patients needed to have sustained injury between 2 and 12 months prior to enrollment. Parent and child postconcussive symptom ratings were used as the primary outcome measures and were collected at 6 time points, 3 before the neuropsychological consultation and 3 after. Repeated measure ANOVA was used to estimate the magnitude of change in symptom ratings before and after the neuropsychological intervention. Results The decrease in symptoms for the week prior to consultation was nonsignificant by both child (P = .63) and parent (P = .19) report. In contrast, for both reporters, the decrease in symptoms at 1 week and 3 months postconsultation was significant (P Conclusions Postconcussive symptoms decreased significantly following the neuropsychological consultation. The primary limitation of the study is that it lacked randomization and a control group. The results warrant further research into the benefits of neuropsychological consultation after mild traumatic brain injury and provide justification for clinical providers to consider referring to neuropsychologists in the face of persistent postconcussive symptoms.
The Origin and Phylogenetic Relationships of the Californian Chaparral ‘Paleoendemic’ Pickeringia (Leguminosae)

Abstract Pickeringia, a monotypic genus of the Leguminosae endemic to the xerophytic sclerophyllous chaparral vegetation of the California Floristic Province, has been considered a “relict” of legume diversity in the North American flora and an example of the classic “paleoendemics” in the flora of California. Evidence is presented for the phylogenetic relationships of this genus, inferred from nucleotide sequence variation in the internal transcribed spacers of nuclear ribosomal DNA and the plastid matK gene. Phylogenies derived from maximum parsimony and Bayesian analyses both strongly support a close relationship of Pickeringia to the temperate to subtropical, deciduous genera Cladrastis and Styphnolobium of tribe Sophoreae consistent with morphological and cytogenetic evidence rather than to members of tribe Thermopsideae where the genus has been treated taxonomically. Cladrastis is resolved as paraphyletic while Styphnolobium is strongly supported as a monophyletic group. These results, plus an estim...
Synthesis of a potentially insulin-mimetic phosphodisaccharide

The synthesis of phosphodisaccharide 1 from myo-inositol and D-glucosamine has been accomplished. This compound is the terminal (and presumably essential) portion of both the putative insulin second messenger and the phosphatidylinositol glycan protein membrane anchor.
Valleys of fear: Policing terror in an imperial age, 1865–1925

In The Valley of Fear, Arthur Conan Doyle returned to a theme he had explored in his first Sherlock Holmes novel, A Study in Scarlet, namely, the linkages between crimes in London and events occurring elsewhere in the world. The precipitating events of these two novels occurred in the United States. A Study in Scarlet revolves around the emergence of Mormonism in Utah, and The Valley of Fear builds upon the Molly Maguires episode in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. However, there was a noticeable change of tone between the earlier work, written in 1887, and the later work, Doyle’s last Holmes novel, written on the eve of the war in Europe, then serialized in The Strand after the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914.
Molecular and Morphological Characterization of Xiphinema chambersi Population from Live Oak in Jekyll Island, Georgia, with Comments on Morphometric Variations

A population of Xiphinema chambersi from the root zone around live oak (Quercus virginiana Mill.) trees on Jekyll Island, GA, is described using both morphological and molecular tools and compared with descriptions of type specimens. Initially, because of a few morphological differences, this nematode was thought to represent an undescribed species. However, on further examination, the morphometrics of the nematodes from live oak tend to agree with most of the morphometrics in the original description and redescription of X. chambersi except for few minor differences in V% relative to body length, slightly shorter stylet length, different c value, and the number of caudal pores. We consider these differences to be part of the normal variation within this species and accordingly image this new population of X. chambersi and redescribe the species. The new population is characterized by having females with a body length of 2.1 to 2.5 mm; lip region slightly rounded and set off from head; total stylet length 170 to 193 µm; vulva at 20.4% to 21.8% of body length; a monodelphic, posterior reproductive system; elongate, conoid tail with a blunt terminus and four pairs of caudal pores, of which two pairs are subdorsal and two subventral. Sequence data from the D2-D3 region of the 28S rRNA molecule subjected to GenBank sequence comparison using BLAST showed that the sequence had 96% and 99% similarity with X. chambersi from Alabama and Florida, respectively. Phylogenetic relationships of X. chambersi with other xiphinematids based on analysis of this DNA fragment are presented. This finding represents a new location of X. chambersi in Georgia on live oak for this species.
Radiative transfer modeling of surface chemical deposits

Remote detection of a surface-bound chemical relies on the recognition of a pattern, or “signature,” that is distinct from the background. Such signatures are a function of a chemical’s fundamental optical properties, but also depend upon its specific morphology. Importantly, the same chemical can exhibit vastly different signatures depending on the size of particles composing the deposit. We present a parameterized model to account for such morphological effects on surface-deposited chemical signatures. This model leverages computational tools developed within the planetary and atmospheric science communities, beginning with T-matrix and ray-tracing approaches for evaluating the scattering and extinction properties of individual particles based on their size and shape, and the complex refractive index of the material itself. These individual-particle properties then serve as input to the Ambartsumian invariant imbedding solution for the reflectance of a particulate surface composed of these particles. The inputs to the model include parameters associated with a functionalized form of the particle size distribution (PSD) as well as parameters associated with the particle packing density and surface roughness. The model is numerically inverted via Sandia’s Dakota package, optimizing agreement between modeled and measured reflectance spectra, which we demonstrate on data acquired on five size-selected silica powders over the 4-16 μm wavelength range. Agreements between modeled and measured reflectance spectra are assessed, while the optimized PSDs resulting from the spectral fitting are then compared to PSD data acquired from independent particle size measurements.
Host origin of the human hematopoietic microenvironment following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

The origin of marrow stromal cells post allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) was studied. Two groups of patients receiving HLA-identical marrow grafts from sex mismatched siblings were included in the study: the first group (eight patients) received conventional marrow grafts and the second group (ten patients) received stromal cell and T cell depleted grafts. All patients showed hematopoietic engraftment with donor cells. Marrow aspirates obtained from these patients were used to establish stromal layers in long-term marrow cultures (LTMC) for 4 to 6 weeks. In both groups, karyotype analysis of nonhematopoietic cultured stromal cells showed host origin even as late as day 760 posttransplantation. Immunofluorescence methods using monoclonal antibodies against components of fibroblasts, macrophages, and endothelial cells, showed that the composition of stromal layers was similar to those obtained from normal controls. Our data indicate that marrow stromal progenitors capable of proliferation are nontransplantable and do not originate from a hematopoietic-stromal common progenitor.
[Assessment of schistosomiasis transmission interruption in Beichuan County, Sichuan Province].

OBJECTIVE To assess whether Beichuan County reaches the national standard of schistosomiasis transmission interruption. METHODS Three villages in Beichuan County were sampled as assessment spots, and the schistosomiasis infections of residents and domestic animals, the status of Oncomelania snails and the past records were assessed according to the Criteria for Control and Elimination of Schistosomiasis in China. RESULTS No local schistosome infections were found in residents and cattle for successive 5 years and no snails were found for 2 successive years in the 3 villages. The files were documented completely. All the indices reached the national standard of schistosomiasis transmission being interrupted. CONCLUSION Beichuan County has reached the national standard of schistosomiasis transmission interruption. However, the endemic surveillance of schistosomiasis still needs to continue.
Some Thoughts on the Role of non-LTE Physics in ICF

An effort to develop sub-critical-density high-Z metal-doped and pure metal foams as laser-driven x-ray sources is described. The main idea is that the laser beams preferentially heat the electrons, and if the plasma is sufficiently low density so that the heating rate is greater than the equilibration rate via electron-ion collisions, then the electron temperature in the plasma is much greater than the ion temperature as long as the laser is on. In such a situation the plasma is not in local thermal equilibrium (LTE), it heats supersonically and volumetrically, and the conversion efficiency of laser beam energy to multi-keV L-shell and K-shell radiation is much higher than what it would be in LTE plasma.
Randomized Trial of an Integrated Behavioral Health Home: The Health Outcomes Management and Evaluation (HOME) Study.

Objective:Behavioral health homes provide primary care health services to patients with serious mental illness treated in community mental health settings. The objective of this study was to compare quality and outcomes of care between an integrated behavioral health home and usual care.Method:The study was a randomized trial of a behavioral health home developed as a partnership between a community mental health center and a Federally Qualified Health Center. A total of 447 patients with a serious mental illness and one or more cardiometabolic risk factors were randomly assigned to either the behavioral health home or usual care for 12 months. Participants in the behavioral health home received integrated medical care on-site from a nurse practitioner and a full-time nurse care manager subcontracted through the health center.Results:Compared with usual care, the behavioral health home was associated with significant improvements in quality of cardiometabolic care, concordance of treatment with the chroni...
A Novel Interaction between Tryptophan Hydroxylase 2 (TPH2) Gene Polymorphism (rs4570625) and BDNF Val66Met Predicts a High-Risk Emotional Phenotype in Healthy Subjects.

Poor inhibitory processing of negative emotional content is central to many psychiatric disorders, including depression and anxiety. Moreover, increasing evidence suggests that core aspects of emotion-inhibitory processing are largely inherited and as such may represent a key intermediate or risk-related phenotype for common affective diseases (e.g., unipolar depressive, anxiety disorders). The current study employed a candidate-gene approach in order to most effectively examine this complex behavioral phenotype. We examined the novel interaction between BDNF (Val66Met) and TPH2 (rs4570625) polymorphisms and their influence on behavioral inhibition of negative emotion in two independent investigations of healthy adults. BDNF Met carriers consistently report greater symptoms of affective disease and display corresponding behavioral rigidity, while TPH2 T carriers display poor inhibitory processing. These genotypes are traditionally perceived as ‘risk’ genotypes when compared to their respective major Val and G homozygous genotypes, but evidence is mixed. Recent studies in humans and mutant mouse models suggest biological epistasis between BDNF and genes involved in serotonin regulation. Moreover, polymorphisms in the TPH2 gene may have greater influence on serotonergic function than other more commonly studied polymorphisms (e.g., 5-HTTLPR). We observed consistent evidence across two different emotion-inhibition paradigms, one with high internal validity (Study 1, n = 119) and one with high ecological validity (Study 2, n = 115) that the combination of Val/Val and G/G genotypes was clearly associated with impaired inhibition of negative emotional content. This was followed by individuals carrying the BDNF—Met allele (including Met/Val and Met/Met) when combined with the TPH2—T allele (including T/G and T/T combinations). The consistency of these results across tasks and studies suggests that these two groups may be particularly vulnerable to the most common psychiatric disorders and should be targets for future clinical investigation.
Glucose requirements of an activated immune system in lactating Holstein cows

Accurately quantifying activated immune system energy requirements in vivo is difficult, but a better understanding may advance strategies to maximize animal productivity. Study objectives were to estimate whole-body glucose utilization following an i.v. endotoxin challenge. Lactating Holstein cows were jugular catheterized and assigned 1 of 3 bolus treatments: control (CON; 5 mL of saline; n = 6), lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-administered (LPS-C; 1.5 μg/kg of body weight; Escherichia coli 055:B5; n = 6), and LPS + euglycemic clamp (LPS-Eu; 1.5 μg/kg of body weight; 50% glucose solution infusion; n = 6). After LPS administration, blood glucose was determined every 10 min and glucose infusion rates were adjusted in LPS-Eu cows to maintain euglycemia for 720 min. Blood samples were obtained 180, 360, 540, and 720 min postbolus for further analysis. Cows were milked 360 and 720 min postbolus. Blood glucose was increased 84% in LPS-administered cows for up to 150 min postbolus; thereafter, circulating glucose was decreased 30% in LPS-C relative to LPS-Eu and CON cows. Mild hyperthermia (+0.5°C) occurred between 30 and 90 min postbolus in LPS-administered relative to CON cows; thereafter, rectal temperature did not differ between treatments. Milk yield and lactose percentage were decreased 80 and 11%, respectively, in LPS-administered relative to CON cows. Circulating insulin was increased 4 fold and nonesterified fatty acids, β-hydroxybutyrate, and ionized Ca were decreased ∼50% in LPS-administered compared with CON cows. Plasma l-lactate, haptoglobin, and serum amyloid A increased ∼160, 260, and 75%, respectively, in LPS-administered relative to CON cows. Overall, LPS-binding protein was increased 87% in LPS-administered relative to CON cows; however, at 720 min, it was decreased 25% in LPS-Eu compared with LPS-C cows. White blood cell count decreased ∼90% in LPS-administered cows at 180 min and progressively increased to ∼50% of CON values by 720 min. Total glucose deficit during the 720 min following LPS administration was calculated as the decrease in the amount of glucose required to synthesize milk (due to the decrease in milk yield relative to prebolus levels) plus the amount of glucose infused to maintain euglycemia (in LPS-Eu cows only) and was 461, 1,259, and 1,553 g for CON, LPS-C, and LPS-Eu cows, respectively. Our data indicate an acutely activated immune system uses >1 kg of glucose within 720 min and maintaining euglycemia did not rescue milk synthesis.
Who pays the price for high neuroticism? Moderators of longitudinal risks for depression and anxiety.

Background High neuroticism is a well-established risk for present and future depression and anxiety, as well as an emerging target for treatment and prevention. The current analyses tested the hypothesis that physical, social and socio-economic disadvantages each amplify risks from high neuroticism for longitudinal increases in depression and anxiety symptoms. Method A national sample of adults (n = 7108) provided structured interview and questionnaire data in the Midlife Development in the United States Survey. Subsamples were reassessed roughly 9 and 18 years later. Time-lagged multilevel models predicted changes in depression and anxiety symptom intensity across survey waves. Results High neuroticism predicted increases in a depression/anxiety symptom composite across retest intervals. Three disadvantage dimensions – physical limitations (e.g. chronic illness, impaired functioning), social problems (e.g. less social support, more social strain) and low socio-economic status (e.g. less education, lower income) – each moderated risks from high neuroticism for increases in depression and anxiety symptoms. Collectively, high scores on the three disadvantage dimensions amplified symptom increases attributable to high neuroticism by 0.67 standard deviations. In contrast, neuroticism was not a significant risk for increases in symptoms among participants with few physical limitations, few social problems or high socio-economic status. Conclusions Risks from high neuroticism are not shared equally among adults in the USA. Interventions preventing or treating depression or anxiety via neuroticism could be targeted toward vulnerable subpopulations with physical, social or socio-economic disadvantages. Moreover, decreasing these disadvantages may reduce mental health risks from neuroticism.
Cancer-related side effects and diabetes self-management.

152Background: Cancer survivors often experience cancer and treatment-related side effects and may also have comorbidities that may further impact their quality of life. Little is known about how cancer-related side effects and health status impact survivors’ beliefs and management of comorbidities. We undertook this study to assess the relationship between cancer-related side effects and diabetes (DM) self-management behaviors (SMB) and beliefs in cancer survivors with comorbid diabetes. Methods: We recruited diabetes patients recently diagnosed with early-stage breast or prostate cancer who were taking at least one oral hypoglycemic agent. Side effects for prostate cancer survivors were assessed using the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite; side effects for breast cancer survivors were assessed using a standardized questionnaire for hormonal therapy-related side effects. Patients were asked to rate their overall health status and about the perceived impact of cancer treatment on DM. We measured DM...
Conformational Landscapes of Metal(II) Porphyrinato, Chlorinato, and Morpholinochlorinato Complexes

The macrocycle conformation of [meso-tetraarylporphyrinato]metal complexes is metal-dependent. Furthermore, hydroporphyrins and some of their analogues are known to be more conformationally flexible than the parent porphyrins, but the extent to which this is reflected in their metal-dependent conformations was much less studied. meso-Tetraarylmorpholinochlorins are intrinsically nonplanar chlorin analogues in which the five-membered pyrroline moiety was replaced by a six-membered morpholine moiety. The metal complexes (M = Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Pd2+, Ag2+) of meso-aryl-2,3-dimethoxychlorins and meso-arylmorpholinochlorins were prepared. Their conformations were determined using X-ray crystal structure diffractometry and compared against those of their free bases, as well as against the conformations of the corresponding metalloporphyrins. Out-of-plane displacement plots visualized and quantified the conformational changes upon stepwise conversion of a pyrrole moiety to a dimethoxypyrroline moiety and to a dia...
A review of recent incentive contrast studies involving discrete-trial procedures

The literature on incentive contrast effects since 1968 is reviewed with regard to variables related to the occurrence and magnitude of positive and negative contrast. The negative contrast effect, although attenuated or obliterated by certain manipulations, occurs consistently with a variety of training procedures. Several studies suggest that the positive contrast effect occurs, albeit transiently, with successive incentive upshifts under delayed reinforcement, but with other procedures it has seldom been obtained, and the ceiling effect hypothesis to account for its absence appears incorrect. An excitatory-inhibitory model accounts for both successive and simultaneous contrast phenomena, and it seems that this model might be extended to explain positive contrast under delayed reinforcement.
Can Bitcoin Become a Major Currency

At present, bitcoin is held mostly as a speculative vehicle, little used to pay for goods and services. Its value has been unstable, which impedes bitcoin’s wider use as a payment medium. We explain why the value of bitcoin has been so unstable. Then, we discuss entrepreneurial efforts that might enable bitcoin to become a more commonly accepted payment medium.
Sequence-Discriminative Training of Neural Networks

In this chapter we explore sequence-discriminative training techniques for neural-network–hidden-Markov-model (NN-HMM) hybrid speech recognition systems. We first review different sequence-discriminative training criteria for NN-HMM hybrid systems, including maximum mutual information (MMI), boosted, minimum phone error, and state-level minimum Bayes risk (sMBR). We then focus on the sMBR criterion, and demonstrate a few heuristics, such as denominator language model order and frame-smoothing, that may improve the recognition performance. We further propose a two-forward-pass procedure to speed up sequence-discriminative training when memory is the main constraint. Experiments were conducted on the AMI meeting corpus.
Needed: A More Rigorous Analysis of Models of Decision Making and a Richer Account of Respect for Autonomy.

I, for one, am grateful to Peter Ubel, Karen Scherr, and Angela Fagerlin (2017) for their important and illuminating reflections on medical decision making, particularly in the context of preferenc...