cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The farmer and farm networks: an examination of conservation adoption in the U.S. corn belt

Over the last several decades, the negative effects of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution on aquatic and marine ecosystems have been increasingly well-documented. Nutrient fertilizers run off of farm fields, enter regional waterways in the Mississippi River Basin, and ultimately accumulate in the Gulf of Mexico. As a response, in 2013, the State of Iowa released the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy that outlines goals to reduce losses of nitrogen and phosphorus into waterways for both urban and rural contributors. The Iowa Strategy, which is a voluntary approach to addressing water quality impairments, outlines a series of conservation practices that farmers can use on their farms to reduce these losses. This thesis is a sociological examination of conservation adoption among corn and soybean farmers in the U.S Corn Belt Region of the United States. In the text, we pose the following questions: What are the social network factors that are associated with the diversity in the nutrient management practices used by farmers? How do farmers who are recognized as exemplary stewards build resilient farming operations? These questions are explored through the lens of a theoretical framework that uses the diffusion of innovations theory and complex adaptive systems theory. Both qualitative and quantitative methods are used to address the above research questions. Findings from this research show that contextual and social network factors may have a significant impact on conservation adoption. The thesis concludes with a discussion on implications our findings may have on current nutrient reduction policies in agriculture as well as future research directions in understanding conservation practice adoption.
Physiological activity and regulation of growth of developing parotid.

SummaryPhysiological activity of the parotid gland was reduced by maintenance of immature and adult rats on a liquid diet. The general status of the gland was determined by measurements of weight while the status of the individual cellular components was determined by measurements of cell size and nucleic acids. In the developing parotid, reduced physiological activity inhibited the growth of the gland by inhibiting growth in both cell number and cell size. In the mature parotid, reduced physiological activity resulted in a decrease in cell size only. When glandular activity was returned to normal by feeding solid food in both the immature and adult rat, the gland and its cellular components were restored to expected levels.
Crystal Structures, Phase Stabilities, and Hydrogen Storage Properties of Metal Amidoboranes

Metal amidoboranes, M(NH2BH3)n (M = alkali metal or alkaline-earth metal), are candidates for on-board hydrogen storage materials with high gravimetric capacity, low H2 release temperature, and the ability to suppress toxic borazine emission. We have used a first-principles density functional theory (DFT) combination with Monte Carlo method to search for crystal structures for a wide array of metal amidoboranes (M = Li, Na, K, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, and Sc). In cases where the experimental structures are known, the DFT energies of the theoretically predicted LiNH2BH3, NaNH2BH3, KNH2BH3, and Ca(NH2BH3)2 structures are degenerate with the DFT energies computed for the experimental structures [to within 4 kJ/(mol f.u.)], confirming the accuracy of our approach. On the basis of the decomposition reaction pathway, M(NH2BH3)n → MHn + nBN + 2nH2, we compute the H2 release reaction enthalpies and show that the stability of metal amidoboranes obeys the following trend: The metal amidoborane becomes more stable (the decom...
Abstract A73: Antisense oligonucleotides targeting ENO2 have selective anti-proliferative effects in glioblastoma cell with 1p36 genomic loss

Essential cellular processes are often supported by redundant genes and pathways. Cancer cells frequently harbor deletions or mutations in essential genes and survive because of this functional redundancy. Identification of recurrent events that leave cancer cells selectively sensitive to inhibition of a particular pathway or gene can provides the opportunity to develop therapeutics with a high degree of selectivity for cancer cells over normal cells. In Glioblastoma Multiform (GBM), one of the most malignant brain cancers, roughly 3-5% of tumors have loss of the chromosome locus 1p36. Among the genes lost at this locus, is enolase1 (ENO1). Loss of ENO1 is tolerated by the cancer cells and is not required for cancer initiation or progression; likely because of functional redundancy with the closely related paralog, ENO2. However, it has been recently demonstrated that cancer cells with homozygous ENO1 loss are selectively sensitive to ENO2 inhibition. Here we investigate the potential of Antisense Oligonucleotides (ASO) targeted to ENO2 as a therapeutic approach to treat GBM with 1p36 loss of ENO1.We show that constrained ethyl (cET) modified ASOs targeting ENO2 produced dose dependent inhibition of ENO2 RNA and protein levels in GBM cells when delivered by free uptake. ASO-mediated ENO2 depletion led to the selective inhibition of ENO1-null cells and not the isogenic cells engineered to express ENO1. Moreover, cell cycle analysis is demonstrated that ENO2 depletion resulted in impaired proliferation due to unsuccessful transition of cells from G1 to S phase of the cell cycle. These findings support the application of ASO to elicit synthetic lethality in GBM tumors with 1p36 loss. Citation Format: Maria Shahmoradgoli, Curt Mazur, Youngsoo Kim, Brett P Monia, A. Robert Macleod, Florian M Muller, Christopher E Hart. Antisense oligonucleotides targeting ENO2 have selective anti-proliferative effects in glioblastoma cell with 1p36 genomic loss. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2015 Nov 5-9; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2015;14(12 Suppl 2):Abstract nr A73.
What Should We Focus on in the Next Five Years

As far as the requirements of modern applications are concerned, real-time systems have definitely come of age. Unfortunately, this is not true of our ability to engineer such systems. We strongly believe that the following four crucial points need to be addressed — in the next five years and probably beyond — if the gap between what is required and what can be done is to be narrowed or, at least, kept constant.
Census tract correlates of vape shop locations in New Jersey

Abstract Introduction Vape shops are opening across the USA, but little is known about the types of neighborhoods where they are located. This study explores community-level predictors of vape shop locations in New Jersey, USA. Methods Vape shops were identified in July 2015 using a validated systematic online search protocol and geocoded using Google Earth Pro. Multivariable logistic regression identified demographic and other predictors of vape shop presence at the census tract level. Results Tobacco outlet density was consistently associated with higher odds of vape shop presence after adjusting for covariates (p Discussion Vape shops are commonly located in census tracts where tobacco retail is high, but where fewer racial minorities live. The retail environment may communicate social norms regarding vaping and ultimately influence use behaviors of community residents.
Gender classification based on feature selection using genetic algorithms

In this paper we propose a new method to classify gender from face images. In face eigenspace, certain eigenfaces encode more gender information than others. We propose a framework using genetic algorithms (GA) for gender classification. First, GAs are employed to select gender-related eigenfaces from the whole eigenface space and Support Vector Machines (SVM) are used to classify the projection coefficients. Then, GAs are used to select the female eigenfaces and the male eigenfaces from the gender eigenface subset, using SVMs to classify the error between the reconstructed images and average gender images. Finally, in order to fuse the outputs of SVMs from the previous two stages and get the classification decision, the sum rule is employed. Experimental results show that the accuracy of gender classification is 95.1%.
Simulation modeling of a statistical fire spread to respond fire accident in buildings

A statistical modeling of fire spread is intended to enable to firelighters to make the best plan by expecting the fire spread and to effectively extinguish a fire in buildings. In this Fpaper, Anylogic simulation modeling of a statistical fire spread is introduced for fire accident correspondence in buildings. For the modeling, we apply statistical modeling methods, such as Bayesian network and decision tree, to predict the fire spread. In addition, several conditions, including the fire growth parameter, barrier failure probability, the fire ignition location and an exceptional condition such as backdraft, are apply to the modeling methods. The modeling result allows firefighters to realize where the fire is located and how the fire is growing. Especially if the modeling can be applied to easily viewable modeling software such as AnyLogic, the firefighters can recognize the fire spread and growth in a map quickly, exactly and economically. Thanks to the modeling, firefighters can extinguish the fire easier and mortality rate and property damages, as well as the flrefighting time, can be decreased.
Contextual Differences and Case-Processing Variations

In Chapter 2, we described the rape law reforms implemented in the six jurisdictions included in our study. In analyzing the impact of the reforms, it is important to consider not only the details of the legal reforms themselves but also the context in which they were implemented. Criminal courts in the United States exhibit a great deal of diversity, both in terms of the structure and organization of the court system and in terms of the formal and informal norms that guide decision making. These differences, which influence case outcomes as well as the day-to-day operation of the court system, can affect the implementation of reforms that are aimed at the criminal courts.
Uplift cinema: the emergence of African American film and the possibility of black modernity

As film scholars continuously point out, many early films – especially those with African Americans both in front of and behind the camera – have been destroyed because no one had the foresight to ...
Abstract P101: The Association of Hypertension and Antihypertension Medication Use with Sexual Health: A Study from the National Social Health and Aging Project (NSHAP)

Background Hypertension (HTN) and its treatment are commonly associated with sexual problems; yet, data are discordant in men and lacking in women. We investigated the association of HTN and its treatment with sexual health in older adults, and whether the association varied by gender and medication class. Methods Data are from the NSHAP, a nationally-representative observational study of men and women aged 57-85 yrs. Adults were stratified by HTN status: No HTN; HTN-Treated; and HTN-Untreated. HTN was defined by self-report or a mean blood pressure ≥140/90mmHg. HTN-Treated adults reported taking ≥1 of the following medications: diuretics, beta-blockers, calcium-channel blocker, ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers, and alpha blockers. We report the prevalence of partnered sexual activity and problems by HTN status. Models testing the association of medication class were examined, stratified by gender, and adjusted for other antihypertensive medication classes (Model 1), and Model 1 plus age, p...
Circuit Design to Stabilize the Reflectometer Local Oscillator Signals

Reflectometry, which uses the microwave radar technique to probe the magnetically confined fusion plasmas, is a very powerful tool to observe the density fluctuations in the fusion plasmas. Typically, two or more microwave beams of different frequencies are used to study the plasma density fluctuations. The frequency separation between these two beams of the PPPL designed reflectometer system upgrade on the DIII-D tokamak can be varied over 18 GHz. Due to the performance of the associated electronics, the local oscillator (LO) power level at the LO port of the I/Q demodulator suffers more than 12 dB of power fluctuations when the frequency separation is varied. Thus, the I/Q demodulator performance is impaired. In order to correct this problem, a power leveling circuit is introduced in the PPPL upgrade. According to the test results, the LO power fluctuation was regulated to be within 1 dB for greater than 16 dB of input power variation over the full dynamic bandwidth of the receiver
Challenges and opportunities for checkpoint blockade in T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders

The T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders are a heterogeneous group of non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (NHL) for which current therapeutic strategies are inadequate, as most patients afflicted with these NHL will succumb to disease progression within 2 years of diagnosis. Appreciation of the genetic and immunologic landscape of these aggressive NHL, including PD-L1 (B7-H1, CD274) expression by malignant T cells and within the tumor microenvironment, provides a strong rationale for therapeutic targeting this immune checkpoint. While further studies are needed, the available data suggests that responses with PD-1 checkpoint blockade alone will unlikely approach those achieved in other lymphoproliferative disorders. Herein, we review the unique challenges posed by the T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders and discuss potential strategies to optimize checkpoint blockade in these T-cell derived malignancies.
Biosensors based on native chemoreceptors

The coupling of intact natural chemoreceptor structures to potentiometric electrodes results in a new class of electrochemical biosensors with exceptionally fast dynamic response properties and attractive analytical limits. The use of intact sensing structures is advantageous in that both the transduction and conduction functions are contained in the native environment of the neural element. This novel approach is illustrated with antennule structures of the blue crab and characterized in terms of analytical responses to some amino acids.
Growth, behavior, and economics of group-fed dairy calves fed once or twice daily in an organic production system

Heifer calves (n = 102) were used to evaluate the effect of once- or twice-daily feeding on growth, behavior, and economics of calves in an organic group management system. Calves were assigned to replicate feeding groups of 10 in superhutches by birth order, during 2 seasons from September to December 2013 and March to May 2014 at the University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center, Morris. Calves in groups were the experimental unit. Breed groups of calves were Holsteins (n = 26), crossbreds (n = 45) including combinations Holsteins, Montbeliarde, and Viking Red (selected for high production), and crossbreds (n = 31) including combinations of Holsteins, Jersey, Normande, and Viking Red (selected for robustness). Treatment groups were once-daily feeding (1×) or twice-daily feeding (2×). Calves in both groups were fed 6 L per calf/daily of organic milk with 13% total solids and then weaned at 60 d when the group consumption averaged 0.91 kg/d of starter per calf. Body weight and hip height were recorded at birth, once a week, at weaning, and at 90 and 120 d of age. Hobo Pendant G loggers (Onset Computer Corp., Bourne, MA) were applied to the right rear leg of calves to measure total lying and standing time. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED of SAS (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). Independent variables for analyses were the fixed effects of birth weight (co-variable), season of birth, and treatment group, along with replicate as a random effect. No significant differences were found between feeding groups for body weight, weight gain, average daily gain, hip height, or heart girth. For calves in 1× and 2× groups, respectively, weaning group performance was as follows: gain per day was 0.79 and 0.81 kg, weaning weight was 92.7 and 93.3 kg, and weaning hip height was 95.2 and 95.3 cm. Daily gain to 90 d was 0.85 and 0.85 kg, and daily gain to 120 d was 0.85 and 0.83 kg for 1× and 2× calves, respectively. For lying time, calves in groups 1× (988 min/d) and 2× (995 min/d) did not differ. During the evening hours, 2× calves had lesser lying times (34 min/h for 1×; 28 min/h for 2×) because they were fed at 1800 h every evening. The average cost per kilogram of gain for the 2× ($4.03/kg) calves was greater than that for the 1× ($3.56/kg) calves. In summary, group-fed calves fed once a day in an organic production system had similar average daily gains and body dimensions compared with calves fed twice a day. Our results indicated that there is no need for twice-daily milk feeding under the conditions of the present study.
Drugs of Abuse: Men’s Reproductive and Sexual Health

Abstract Recreational drugs are well known to have detrimental side effects on the lives of its users. While physicians are aware that these effects extend to male reproductive and sexual health, male users are less in tune to recognize these effects. Erectile dysfunction, or the inability to maintain penile erection, can be caused in the short- and long-term by nearly every drug mentioned in this chapter: including cigarettes, alcohol, cannabis, opioids, amphetamines, marijuana, cocaine, and steroids. Other pathologies include infertility, hypogonadism, Fournier's gangrene, genital mutilation syndrome, priapism, and genital infections. This chapter is a useful reference to educate patients about the role substance abuse can play in male reproductive and sexual health.
Group Therapy for Improving Self-Esteem and Social Functioning of College Students With ADHD

The present study examined the effectiveness of interpersonal group therapy designed to improve self-esteem and social functioning in college students with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder ...
Cues Used by Subterranean Termites During Foraging and Food Assessment

Subterranean termites tunnel through soil to locate new food sources, an energetically expensive process. The use of efficient search patterns and food location cues reduce the cost of foraging. Once arriving at a potential food source, termites assess its quality using a different set of cues. These types of cues could affect recruitment and colony health and survival. This chapter reviews what is known about the foraging process of subterranean wood-feeding termites, a group that contains a number of economically important pests. It summarizes what is known about search patterns used by these termites and the role of food location cues to effectively reach a viable food source. This chapter also discusses what is known about wood preference and how different components of wood such as density, secondary metabolites, nutrients, and other factors affect food selection in subterranean wood-feeding termites.
Crystal structures of chiral 2-[bis-(2-chloro-eth-yl)amino]-1,3,2-oxaza-phospho-lidin-2-one derivatives for the absolute configuration at phospho-rus.

`Nitro­gen mustard' bis­(2-chloro­eth­yl)amine derivatives (2R,4S,5R)- and (2S,4S,5R)-2-[bis­(2-chloro­eth­yl)amino]-3,4-dimethyl-5-phenyl-1,3,2-oxaza­phos­pho­lidin-2-one (2a and 2b, respectively), C14H21Cl2N2O2P, and (2R,4R)- and (2S,4R)-2-[bis­(2-chloro­eth­yl)amino]-4-isobutyl-1,3,2-oxaza­phospho­lidin-2-one (3a and 3b, respectively), C10H21Cl2N2O2P, were synthesized as a mixture of diastereomers through a 1:1 reaction of enanti­omerically pure chiral amino alcohols with bis­(2-chloro­eth­yl)phospho­ramidic dichloride. Flash column chromatography yielded diastereomerically pure products, as supported by 31P NMR. The crystal structures of 2b and 3b were obtained to determine their absolute configuration at phospho­rus, and 31P NMR chemical shift trends are proposed based on the spatial relationship of the bis­(2-chloro­eth­yl)amine moiety and the chiral substituent of the amino alcohol. Oxaza­phospho­lidinones were observed to have a more downfield 31P NMR chemical shift when the aforementioned substituents are in a syn configuration and vice versa for when they are anti.
Financial Risk Management: An End User Perspective

In the field of financial risk management, the 'sell side' is the set of financial institutions who offer risk management products to corporations, governments, and institutional investors, who comprise the 'buy side'. The sell side is often at a significant advantage as it employs quantitative experts who provide specialized knowledge. Further, the existing body of knowledge on risk management, while extensive, is highly technical and mathematical and is directed to the sell side.
Dancing on ice: mathematics of blade tracings

The art of ice dancing offers many possibilities for mathematical modelling. In this article, we present an artistic model-eliciting activity (MEA) based on skates’ blade trajectories formed by ska...
Parvimonas micra bacteremia in a patient with colonic carcinoma.

Background Parvimonas micra is a gram-positive anaerobe and a part of the normal commensal flora of the gastrointestinal tract. Factors predisposing to anaerobic bacteremia include malignant neoplasms, periodontal disease, immune deficiencies, chronic renal insufficiency, decubitus ulcers and perforated abdominal viscus. Cases of Parvimonas bacteremia in a patient with esophageal carcinoma and in a patient following ERCP procedure have been reported but to our best knowledge no case has been reported yet in which a patient had colonic carcinoma. Case presentation We present a rare case of a 94-year-old male who presented with chief complaint of fever and constipation. Complete blood count revealed normal white blood cell count anemia. Urinalysis came out to be unremarkable for any evidence of infection. Two blood cultures grew Parvimonas micra and Gamella morbillorum and patient was later switched to ampicillin-sulbactam as per blood culture susceptibility results. Echocardiogram came negative for any evidence of infective endocarditis. CT abdomen/pelvis showed soft tissue mass in the ascending colon just superior to the ileocecal valve (fig.1, 2). Colonoscopy showed non-obstructing eccentric mass (fig. 3). Biopsy of the mass revealed moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. Because of lack of distant metastasis, surgical resection of the mass as definitive curative treatment was done. Conclusion Immune deficiency is a risk factor for anaerobic bacteremia. Apart from immediately starting the patient on antibiotics, a thorough search for malignancy may be considered when a patient presents with anaerobic bacteremia, especially, when the source of infection is not known. Identifying malignancy in earliest stages may improve treatment outcome.
Improvement of sexual functioning during treatment of MDD with adjunctive pimavanserin: A secondary analysis.

BACKGROUND Sexual dysfunction is common among patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). In the CLARITY study, the safety and efficacy of adjunctive pimavanserin, an inverse agonist at 5-HT2A receptors, were demonstrated when added to existing treatment for MDD. This analysis provides a detailed assessment of the effects of pimavanserin on sexual function from the CLARITY study. METHODS Patients with a diagnosis of MDD in a depressive episode, inadequate response to ongoing antidepressant therapy, and a Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale total score >20 were randomized to pimavanserin 34 mg/day or placebo added to ongoing treatment with an immediate revision of all selective serotonin or serotonin-norepinephrine for 5 weeks (Stage 1), and nonresponders (<50% improvement from baseline in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale [HAMD-17]) were re-randomized for an additional 5 week (Stage 2). Effects of pimavanserin on the Massachusetts General Hospital Sexual Functioning Index (MGH-SFI) and HAMD-17 Item 14 (sexual interest) were examined. RESULTS Among 203 patients (51 on pimavanserin; 152 on placebo), pimavanserin demonstrated significant improvement from baseline to Week 5 on the MGH-SFI (least square [LS]mean difference -0.634, 95% confidence interval [CI] [-0.964, -0.304]; p = .0002; effect size [ES], Cohen's d: .614). Across Stages 1 and 2, the weighted LSmean difference was -0.468 (95% CI [-0.720, -0.216]; p = .0003) for pimavanserin versus placebo. Mean changes from baseline to Week 5 for MGH-SFI Items 1, 2, 3, and 5 and HAMD Item 14 were significantly (p < .05) greater with pimavanserin versus placebo. CONCLUSIONS Adjunctive pimavanserin improved sexual function in patients with MDD. Adding pimavanserin to ongoing treatment for MDD may be especially useful for patients experiencing sexual dysfunction.
Effect of dilution on sedimentational separation of bacteria from blood

Bacteria must be separated from septic whole blood in preparation for rapid antibiotic susceptibility tests. This work improves upon past work isolating bacteria from whole blood by exploring an important experimental factor: Whole blood dilution. Herein, we use the continuity equation to model red blood cell sedimentation and show that overall spinning time decreases as the blood is diluted. We found that the bacteria can also be captured more efficiently from diluted blood, up to approximately 68 ± 8% recovery (95% confidence interval). However, diluting blood both requires and creates extra fluid that end users must handle; an optimal dilution, which maximizes bacteria recovery and minimizes waste, was found to scale with the square root of the whole blood hematocrit. This work also explores a hypothesis that plasma backflow, which occurs as red cells move radially outward, causes bacterial enrichment in the supernatant plasma with an impact proportional to the plasma backflow velocity. Bacteria experiments carried out with diluted blood demonstrate such bacterial enrichment, but not in the hypothesized manner as enrichment occurred only in undiluted blood samples at physiological hematocrit.
Impact of Expanded Medicaid Eligibility on the Diabetes Continuum of Care Among Low-Income Adults: A Difference-in-Differences Analysis

Introduction The impact of Medicaid expansion on linkage to care, self-maintenance, and treatment among low-income adults with diabetes was examined. Methods A difference-in-differences design was used on data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2008–2018. Analysis was restricted to states with diabetes outcomes and nonpregnant adults aged 18–64 years who were Medicaid eligible on the basis of income. Separate analyses were performed for early postexpansion (1, 2, 3) and late postexpansion years (4, 5). Analyses were performed from September 2019 to March 2020. Results In comparing expansion with control states, low-income residents with diabetes had similar ages (48.9 vs 49.1 years) and similar proportions who were female (54.4% vs 55.0%) but were less likely to be Black, non-Hispanic (20.8% vs 29.2%, standardized difference= −16.3%). In expansion states, health insurance increased by 7.2 percentage points (95% CI=3.9, 10.4), and the ability to afford a physician increased by 5.5 percentage points (95% CI=1.9, 9.1) in the early years, but no difference was found in late years. Medicaid expansion led to a 5.3-percentage point increase in provider foot examinations in the early period (95% CI=0.14, 10.4) and a 7.2-percentage point increase in self-foot examinations in the late period (95% CI=1.1, 13.3). No statistically significant changes were detected in self-reported linkage to care, self-maintenance, or treatment. Conclusions Although health insurance, ability to afford a physician visit, and foot examinations increased for Medicaid-eligible people with diabetes, there was no statistically significant difference found for other care continuum measures.
Extubation during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in adults: An international qualitative study on experts' opinions

Abstract Background Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in adults (adult-ECMO), a modification of cardiopulmonary bypass is increasingly used. Liberation from mechanical ventilation, or extubation, during adult-ECMO remains a challenge. Objectives This study aimed to understand expert perceptions of the reasonableness of extubation during adult-ECMO and the usefulness of an extubation clinical practice guideline (ECPG). Methods Homogeneous purposive sampling, focus groups, and interviews with a discussion guide, and direct content, thematic analysis were used. Results Fourteen volunteers participated with different educational levels (79% Doctor of Medicine, 14% Registered Nurse, 7% Nurse Practitioner), from high-volume ECMO centers of various annual ECMO runs (50% 30–49 ECMO/year, 36% 50–99 ECMO/year, 14% >100 ECMO/year) worldwide (64% North America, 21% South America, 7% Europe, 7% Asia). Seven themes were identified: paucity of evidence, mindsets towards using an ECPG, barriers, criteria and benefits of extubation, culture towards extubation and vision of the future. Participants recommended aiming for extubation based on patient selection, and a standardized extubation approach with an ECPG or team decision-making. Conclusion Application of adult-ECMO is expanding, during which extubation remains difficult. Experts recommend two methods of a standardized extubation approach.
Agroforestry trees for improved food security on farms impacted by wildlife crop raiding in Kenya

Abstract Human-wildlife conflicts are a threat to livelihoods throughout Africa, including Kenya. A major source of human-wildlife conflict is crop raiding, which can seriously impact livelihoods and household food security through crop destruction and income loss. This novel research study explores the role of agroforestry trees as one strategy that may improve food security for farmers experiencing wildlife crop raiding. This study draws on household surveys and interviews conducted in 2014-2015 from the communities of Burat and Kinna in Isiolo County, Kenya. From the results, 56% of research participants reported that agroforestry can provide both income and food in cases of wildlife crop raiding. Common wildlife species reported by respondents were monkeys (163 respondents), elephants (161), porcupines (116), dik-diks (106), gazelles (72), and buffalos (67). Households that could harvest fruit and had a greater diversity of tree species were more likely to report that agroforestry helped when their crops were raided (66.4% of respondents). The results also suggest two different coping strategies utilized by farmers that improve food security when facing wildlife crop raiding: agroforestry and social networks. Based on this research, policies promoting agroforestry in areas prone to wildlife crop raiding may improve food security for some households.
Staged Fowler Stephens, Who Requires a Third Procedure?

The two-stage Fowler-Stephens orchiopexy is a well-described surgical approach for most pediatric urologists tackling the high intra-abdominal testis. Testicular ascent is a well-reported outcome of the surgery and a problem that could be fixed with a repeat procedure. The purpose of this review is to determine the rate of subsequent testicular ascent and repeat surgery after a two-stage Fowler-Stephens using best available evidence. We selected 16 studies that pertained to our topic. 0–13% of testicles were deemed to be in an inappropriate position on follow-up (6–37 months). The definition of appropriate postoperative position varied between studies and rates of repeat procedures were sparsely available. Available data reports a repeat orchiopexy rate of 2.6–7.5% after two-stage Fowler-Stephens. Two-stage Fowler-Stephens orchiopexy is a highly successful surgical technique to manage high intra-abdominal testes. Rates of testicular ascent are difficult to ascertain due to varying definitions and small sample sizes. While repeat procedures are typically indicated, the actual rate of repeat orchiopexy is rarely reported and long-term outcomes following a third procedure is sparse.
Physiological and life history changes associated with seasonal adaptation in the cactophilic Drosophila mojavensis

Many insects inhabiting temperate climates are faced with changing environmental conditions throughout the year. Depending on the species, these environmental fluctuations can be experienced within a single generation or across multiple generations. Strategies for dealing with these seasonal changes vary across populations. Drosophila mojavensis is a cactophilic Drosophila species endemic to the Sonoran Desert. The Sonoran Desert regularly reaches temperatures of 50°C in the summer months. As individuals of this population are rare to collect in the summer months, we therefore simulated in a temperature and light controlled chamber the cycling temperatures experienced by D. mojavensis in the Sonoran Desert from April to July (four generations) to understand the physiological and life history changes that allow this population to withstand these conditions. In contrast to our hypothesis of a summer aestivation, we found that D. mojavensis continue to reproduce during the summer months, albeit with lower viability, but the longevity of the population is highly reduced during this period. As expected, stress resistance increased during the summer months in both the adult and the larval stages. This study examines several strategies for withstanding the Sonoran Desert summer conditions which may be informative in the study of other desert endemic species.
Physical constraints on the movement of disabled performers

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the most common disabilities, the nature of the physical constraints found in those disabilities, and the impact on movement skill and performance. The chapter examines historically the idea of physical constraints as a means of discussing motor skill development. It is only recently that a constraints perspective—especially a physical constraint perspective—has gained popularity among researchers in the area. Two major research approaches have been used in examining the relationship between intrinsic physical constraints and movement performance in non-handicapped children. First, correlational studies have evaluated the degree of relationships between body size, physique, strength, and motor performance in children. However, the second research approach—the direct manipulation of a morphological variable— allows for inferences regarding cause and effect.
Performance of Some Empirical Phosphorus Models

Applicability of four empirical phosphorus models to 22 western lakes is investigated. The models by Jones and Bachman, and Walker show significant agreement with observed phosphorus concentrations as indicated by the Spearman correlation of 0.809 and 0.812 respectively. The values calculated by the other two models by Dillon and Kirchner, show poor correlation with observed data. Vollenweider type classification charts are also derived for the four models. Although all the models show some degree of disagreement with the EPA National Eutrophication Survey trophic classifications, the models by Walker, and Jones and Bachman can be used for predicting a first cut estimate of total phosphorus for lakes low in nutrients.
Localization of Romano-Ward long QT syndrome gene, LQT1, to the interval between tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and D11S1349.

The Romano-Ward long-QT syndrome (RWLQTS) is an autosomal dominant disorder that is characterized by heritable prolongation of the QT interval, syncope, and sudden death. Identification of the gene responsible for this syndrome may aid the diagnosis, management, and treatment of patients with this disease. Furthermore, it may lead to improved understanding of and therapy for other sympathetic-dependent ventricular arrhythmias. 20 refs., 1 fig., 1 tab.
A Phase I/II Study for Analytic Validation of 89Zr-J591 ImmunoPET as a Molecular Imaging Agent for Metastatic Prostate Cancer

Purpose: Standard imaging for assessing osseous metastases in advanced prostate cancer remains focused on altered bone metabolism and is inadequate for diagnostic, prognostic, or predictive purposes. We performed a first-in-human phase I/II study of 89Zr-DFO-huJ591 (89Zr-J591) PET/CT immunoscintigraphy to assess performance characteristics for detecting metastases compared to conventional imaging modalities (CIMs) and pathology. Experimental Design: Fifty patients with progressive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancers were injected with 5 mCi of 89Zr-J591. Whole body PET/CT scans were obtained, and images were analyzed for tumor visualization. Comparison was made to contemporaneously obtained bone scintigraphy and cross-sectional imaging on a lesion-by-lesion basis, and with biopsies of metastatic sites. Results: Median standardized uptake value for 89Zr-J591-positive bone lesions (n = 491) was 8.9; soft tissue lesions (n = 90): 4.8 (p < .00003). 89Zr-J591 detected 491 osseous sites compared to 339 by MDP, and 90 soft tissue lesions compared to 124 by CT. Compared to all CIMs combined, 89Zr-J591 detected an additional 99 osseous sites. Forty-six lesions (21 bone, 25 soft tissue) were biopsied in 34 patients; 18/19 89Zr-J591-positive osseous sites and 14/16 89Zr-J591-positive soft tissue sites were positive for prostate cancer. The overall accuracy of 89Zr-J591 was 95.2% (20/21) for osseous lesions and 60% (15/25) for soft tissue lesions. Conclusions: 89Zr-J591 imaging demonstrated superior targeting of bone lesions relative to CIMs. Targeting soft tissue lesions was less optimal, although 89Zr-J591 had similar accuracy as individual CIMs. This study will provide benchmark data for comparing performance of proposed PSMA targeting agents for prostate cancer.
Mutant p53 DNA clones from human colon carcinomas cooperate with ras in transforming primary rat cells: a comparison of the "hot spot" mutant phenotypes

The majority of the p53 genes derived from human colorectal carcinomas contain point mutations. A significant number of these mutations occur in or around amino acids 143, 175, 273, or 281. Experiments presented here demonstrate for the first time that p53 DNA clones containing any one of these mutations cooperate with the activated ras oncogene to transform primary rat embryo cells in culture. These transformed cells produce elevated levels of the human p53 protein, which has extended half-lives (1.5-7 h), as compared to the wild-type human p53 protein (20-30 min). The p53 mutant with an alteration at residue 175 (p53-175H) binds tightly to the cellular heat shock protein, hsc70. In contrast, the p53 mutants possessing mutations at either residue 273 or 281 (p53-273H/281G) do not bind detectably to this heat shock protein and generally are less efficient at forming transformed foci in culture. The transformed cell lines are tumorigenic in nude mice. Thus, two classes of p53 mutant proteins can be distinguished: p53-175H, which cooperates with ras efficiently and binds to hsc70, and p53-273H/281G, which has a reduced efficiency of transformed foci formation and does not bind hsc70. This demonstrates that complex formation between mutant p53 and hsc70 is not required for p53-mediated transformation, but rather it facilitates this function, perhaps by ensuring sequestration of the endogenous wild-type p53 protein. The positive effect on cell proliferation by these mutant p53 proteins is consistent with a role for activated p53 mutants in the genesis of colorectal carcinomas.
Accuracy of record linkage software in merging dental administrative data sets.

Objective: To determine the accuracy of record matching using “Link King” software that uses an ordinal score for the certainty that linked records are valid matches. Methods: We linked records in North Carolina Medicaid files to public health surveillance files using Link King matching software. We selected a stratified random sample of 230 of 45,295 linked records and 50 of 35,119 non-linked surveillance records, then manually reviewed the records. Sensitivity (Sn) and Specificity (Sp) were calculated based on each cut point of the Link King score, using manual review as the gold standard. Results: The Sn increased from 0.837 (95% CI: 0.785, 0.892) to 0.935 (0.879, 0.994) and Sp decreased from 0.893 (0.816, 0.976) to 0.865 (0.790, 0.947) as cut points were varied to widen the scope of declared matches. With a goal of both Sn and Sp being large, accuracy was best when linked record pairs from the top three levels of certainty were included in the match. Conclusions: This study found that a publicly available software program accurately merged Medicaid and surveillance data. The Link King could be useful to researchers in merging administrative databases.
Hydraulicians are Human Too

Personal reminiscences and historical background are given of fourteen deceased engineers and scientists who had been active in the field of hydraulics. They include John R. Freeman, Theodore Rehbock, Robert T. Knapp, Dmitri P. Riabouchinsky, Franz Eisner, Wilhelm Spannhake, Ludwig Prandtl, Richard von Mises, Lorenz G. Straub, Boris A. Bakhmeteff, Theodor von Karman, Serge Leliavsky, Pierre Danel, and Floyd A. Nagler. The recollections of the writer indicate the human features of these men and their achievements in the development of hydraulics.
Ultrastructural studies of tw32/tw32 mouse embryos.

Homozygous t w 32 / t w 32 mouse embryos, obtained from both spontaneously ovulated and superovulated T+/ t w 32 females mated to T+/ w 32 males, have a lethal period which extends from the 8-12 cell stage to the late morula stage. Most of the homozygous mutant embryos die at the early morula stage and are characterized by excessive amounts of cytoplasmic lipid, mitochondria! abnormalities, binucleated cells and nuclear lipid droplets. The excessive cytoplasmic lipid and nuclear lipid droplets distinguish 35–50% of the embryos (presumably t w 32 homozygotes) from their litter-mates prior to the lethal period. The remainder of the distinguishing characteristics appear in the later (8-cell to late morula) t w 32 / t w 32 embryos in frequencies high enough to be considered phenotypic expressions of the mutant genome. The present study indicates that the non-complementary t w 32 and t 12 alleles are in fact separate T locus recessive alleles.
Detection of multiple sinusoids using a parallel ALE

This paper introduces an Adaptive Line Enhancer (ALE) whose parallel structure enables the detection and enhancement of multiple sinusoids. A function describing the performance surface is derived for the case where several line signals are buried in white noise. A steepest descent adaptive algorithm is derived, and simulations are used to demonstrate its performance.
A low-frequency high resolution digital synthesizer

A high-resolution digital frequency synthesizer was designed to provide modulation and fine frequency interpolation in a new cesium frequency standard. Requirements include resolution, spectral purity, phase-continuous frequency modulation, simplicity, and low power. The authors describe how these requirements were satisfied with a direct digital frequency synthesizer (DDFS). The DDFS consists of a 34-b phase accumulator feeding a 14-b wide address map and a 12-b digital-to-analog converter (DAC). For output frequencies in the range 131.0 to 132.5 kHz, the level of spurious sidebands, is less than -85 dBc. This is compatible with the expected performance of the DAC. >
Scripting distributed scientific workflows using Weaver

Weaver is a high-level distributed computing framework that enables researchers to construct scalable scientific data-processing workflows. Instead of developing a new workflow language, we introduce a domain-specific language built on top of Python called Weaver, which takes advantage of users' familiarity with the programming language, minimizes barriers to adoption, and allows for integration with a rich ecosystem of existing software. In this paper, we provide an overview of Weaver's programming model, which allows users to organize and specify scientific workflows by using a collection of datasets, functions, and abstractions. We also explain how these workflow specifications are compiled into a directed acyclic graph that is used by the Makeflow workflow manager to dispatch work to a variety of distributed execution platforms. To demonstrate the power and benefits of using the framework in constructing scientific research applications, the paper examines four distinct real-world applications scripted using Weaver and analyzes the performance, scalability, and impact of the distributed generated scientific workflows. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Microwave surface emittance retrieval using coincident microwave and infrared satellite data

Two methods are used to calculate microwave surface emittance using the Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) data and the GOES Visible Infrared Spin Scan Radiometer (VISSR) data. The first method calculates an effective surface emittance using only the microwave and infrared brightness temperatures and uses the infrared data as a near-blackbody temperature reference. This method does not account for atmospheric attenuation in the infrared or microwave frequencies. A second more rigorous method includes an atmospheric correction for water vapor attenuation. Comparisons are made between the methods followed by a discussion of the practical implications of the results.
Echocardiographic guidance of cardiac catheterization for atrial septal defect in pregnancy.

Abstract Cardiac disease is the most important cause of non-obstetrical maternal death. 1 Atrial septal defect (ASD), which has a 2:1 female predominance, is the most common congenital heart disease during pregnancy. 1 Echocardiographically guided cardiac catheterization may be an option in patients in whom definitive hemodynamic data are needed for decision making. 224
Psychopathy and the Prediction of Alcohol-Related Physical Aggression: The Roles of Impulsive Antisociality and Fearless Dominance

Background It is well established that individual difference factors modulate aggression under the acute effects of alcohol. In this investigation, we tested the hypothesis that one core dimension of psychopathy, Impulsive Antisociality, would modulate intoxicated aggression, whereas another dimension, Fearless Dominance, would not.