cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SU-E-T-599: The Variation of Hounsfield Unit and Relative Electron Density Determination as a Function of KVp and Its Effect On Dose Calculation Accuracy

Purpose: To investigate the differences in relative electron density for different energy (kVp) settings and the effect that these differences have on dose calculations. Methods: A Nuclear Associates 76-430 Mini CT QC Phantom with materials of known relative electron densities was imaged by one multi-slice (16) and one single-slice computed tomography (CT) scanner. The Hounsfield unit (HU) was recorded for each material with energies ranging from 80 to 140 kVp and a representative relative electron density (RED) curve was created. A 5 cm thick inhomogeneity was created in the treatment planning system (TPS) image at a depth of 5 cm. The inhomogeneity was assigned HU for various materials for each kVp calibration curve. The dose was then calculated with the analytical anisotropic algorithm (AAA) at points within and below the inhomogeneity and compared using the 80 kVp beam as a baseline. Results: The differences in RED values as a function of kVp showed the largest variations of 580 and 547 HU for the Aluminum and Bone materials; the smallest differences of 0.6 and 3.0 HU were observed for the air and lung inhomogeneities. The corresponding dose calculations for the different RED values assigned to the 5 cm thick slab revealedmore » the largest differences inside the aluminum and bone inhomogeneities of 2.2 to 6.4% and 4.3 to 7.0% respectively. The dose differences beyond these two inhomogeneities were between 0.4 to 1.6% for aluminum and 1.9 to 2.2 % for bone. For materials with lower HU the calculated dose differences were less than 1.0%. Conclusion: For high CT number materials the dose differences in the phantom calculation as high as 7.0% are significant. This result may indicate that implementing energy specific RED curves can increase dose calculation accuracy.« less
Phylogenetic relationships of the silver saxifrages (Saxifraga, sect. Ligulatae haworth): implications for the evolution of substrate specificity, life histories, and biogeography.

The silver saxifrages (Saxifraga sect. Ligulatae Haworth; Saxifragaceae) exhibit remarkable variation of substrate specialization, with strictly calcicole to calcifuge species, as well as life histories which range from semelparity to iteroparity. They occur almost exclusively in the European mountain ranges and display high levels of endemism. Sequences from chloroplast and nuclear ribosomal DNA were obtained to resolve phylogenetic relationships among the silver saxifrages and related taxa and to gain insight into the evolution of substrate specificity, life history, and biogeography. The resulting phylogenies suggested that (1) Saxifraga sect. Ligulatae, as traditionally defined, does not constitute a monophyletic group; (2) lime-secreting hydathodes in calcifuge species apparently represent a secondary nonaptation; (3) semelparity evolved independently two or three times in the silver saxifrages and allied sections, possibly in response to climatic changes that occured during the Pleistocene; and (4) narrow endemics, for example S. cochlearis, likely evolved from the fragmentation of the widespread S. paniculata into refugial populations that became isolated during the glacial maxima of the Pleistocene.
Measurements of Ultraviolet Spectral Radiance of the Horizon Sky

The spectral radiance of the horizon sky between 3000 A and 4200 A was measured in a maritime environment under clear and cloudy sky conditions. The spectral radiance was found to be mainly a function of the position of the sun and of the amount of cloud cover. A typical value for the spectral radiance at 3600 A at noon with clear sky is 5 microW cm(-2) sr(-2) nm(-1).
Acute graft-versus-host disease arising within tattooed skin

Acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is the major complication of hematopoietic cell transplantation and affects multiple organs and systems, most commonly the skin. We report a case of acute GVHD localized to a tattoo in a patient with a history of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation and describe typical and atypical cutaneous findings in acute GVHD. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case in English-language literature of acute GVHD presenting as cutaneous changes within tattooed skin.
Body Size Evolution and the Concept of Alloenergetic Change

Abstract A theoretical mechanism of evolutionary body size change is proposed, based on the allometric scaling of energy intake and metabolic expenditure rates with body mass over ontogeny. Genetic or environmental changes that affect these allometries are hypothesized to incidentally change the balance of selective forces on adult body size. A new descriptive term, alloenergetic , relating to such changes is proposed. This new mechanism is termed the size-energy differential (SED) hypothesis. The SED mechanism is shown to be a potential factor in both evolutionary size increase and decrease. Random alloenergetic mutation under the SED hypothesis favors size increase on the average. The SED hypothesis predicts that adult mass, among species, should show a positive association with mass-specific net-production rates and mass-specific food conversion efficiencies during ontogeny. The SED hypothesis also generates realistic, positively skewed distributions of species body mass on a logarithmic scale, and may suggest a new approach to the explanation of "Cope's Rule" of evolutionary size increase. Problematical aspects of the model and its domain are discussed. The importance of both size-specific net production and size-specific mortality risk in determining the actual optimal adult size is emphasized.
Multiplex advantage in Hadamard transform spectrometry utilizing solid-state encoding masks with uniform, bistable optical transmission defects.

The effect of a uniform bistable optical transmission defect in the encoding mask on the multiplex efficiency is investigated for solid-state Hadamard transform spectrometry with thermal detection. It is demonstrated that encoding masks which possess nonideal optical transmission properties, i.e., bistable transmission defects, need not impare the multiplex capability provided a sufficient number of resolution elements are multiplexed. Application to the SNR of a general algorithm for the calculation of the average mean square error in the estimate of the spectrum shows that reasonable SNR improvements can be expected when compared to conventional dispersive instruments.
Reference Measurement Procedure for Total Glycerides by Isotope Dilution GC-MS

BACKGROUND: The CDC's Lipid Standardization Program established the chromotropic acid (CA) reference measurement procedure (RMP) as the accuracy base for standardization and metrological traceability for triglyceride testing. The CA RMP has several disadvantages, including lack of ruggedness. It uses obsolete instrumentation and hazardous reagents. To overcome these problems the CDC developed an isotope dilution GC-MS (ID-GC-MS) RMP for total glycerides in serum. METHODS: We diluted serum samples with Tris-HCl buffer solution and spiked 200-μL aliquots with [13C3]-glycerol. These samples were incubated and hydrolyzed under basic conditions. The samples were dried, derivatized with acetic anhydride and pyridine, extracted with ethyl acetate, and analyzed by ID-GC-MS. Linearity, imprecision, and accuracy were evaluated by analyzing calibrator solutions, 10 serum pools, and a standard reference material (SRM 1951b). RESULTS: The calibration response was linear for the range of calibrator concentrations examined (0–1.24 mmol/L) with a slope and intercept of 0.717 (95% CI, 0.7123–0.7225) and 0.3122 (95% CI, 0.3096–0.3140), respectively. The limit of detection was 14.8 μmol/L. The mean %CV for the sample set (serum pools and SRM) was 1.2%. The mean %bias from NIST isotope dilution MS values for SRM 1951b was 0.7%. CONCLUSIONS: This ID-GC-MS RMP has the specificity and ruggedness to accurately quantify total glycerides in the serum pools used in the CDC's Lipid Standardization Program and demonstrates sufficiently acceptable agreement with the NIST primary RMP for total glyceride measurement.
Thalamic stimulation reduces essential tremor but not the delayed antagonist muscle timing.

Background: Electrical stimulation of the thalamus dramatically reduces essential tremor (ET). It has been hypothesized that the cerebellum and inferior olive are involved in the generation of ET, and thalamic stimulation is presumed to dampen ET through interactions with cerebellar output to the thalamus. Evidence suggests that abnormal timing of agonist and antagonist muscle responses contribute to cerebellar tremor (CbT); however, this relationship has not been investigated for ET. The mechanisms of the tremor and improvement are unknown. Objective: To measure the effect of ventral intermediate thalamic stimulation in controlling the ET response to sudden stretch of an agonist muscle and to determine whether, in ET, the timing relationships between the initial agonist and antagonist electromyography (EMG) responses show abnormalities similar to those seen in CbT. Methods: The authors studied ET subjects (with implanted thalamic stimulators turned off and on) and normal controls as they responded to mechanical torque pulses given at the wrist joint. The wrist joint angle, wrist agonist, and antagonist EMG were recorded. Results: Like CbT, patients with ET showed delayed onsets of antagonist EMG and excessive rebound. Thalamic stimulation reduced the tremor but did not alter the antagonist delay or the rebound. Conclusions: In ET, antagonist muscle responses to a torque pulse are similar to that in CbT. However, benefit from thalamic stimulation did not alter these EMG responses; therefore, suppression of tremor must be caused by mechanisms other than the re-establishment of normal agonist–antagonist timing.
Bacillus anthracis Has Two Independent Bottlenecks That Are Dependent on the Portal of Entry in an Intranasal Model of Inhalational Infection

Bacillus anthracis can cause inhalational anthrax. Murine inhalational B. anthracis infections have two portals of entry, the nasal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (NALT) and the lumen of the lungs. Analysis of the dissemination from these sites is hindered because infections are asynchronous and asymptomatic until the hosts near death. To further understand and compare how B. anthracis disseminates from these two different environments, clonal analysis was employed using a library of equally virulent DNA-tagged clones of a luminescent Sterne strain. Luminescence was used to determine the origin of the infection and monitor the dissemination in vivo. The number of clones and their proportions in the portals of entry, lymph nodes draining the portals, and kidneys were analyzed. Clonal analysis indicated a bottleneck for both portals of entry, yet the extent and location of the reduction in represented clones differed between the routes. In NALT-based infections, all clones were found to germinate in the NALT, but they underwent a bottleneck as the infection spread to the cervical lymph node. However, lung-based infections underwent a bottleneck in a focal region of growth within the lung lumen and did not need to spread through the mediastinal lymph nodes to cause a systemic infection. Further, the average number of clones found in the kidney and the rate at which genetic drift was affecting the disseminated populations were significantly higher in lung-based infections. Collectively, the data suggested that differences in the host environment alter dissemination of B. anthracis depending on the site of initial colonization and growth.
Binding identities and attributes using digitally signed certificates

A certificate is digitally signed by a certificate authority (CA) to confirm that the information in the certificate is valid and belongs to the subject. Certificate users can verify the integrity and validity of a certificate by checking the issuing CA's digital signature in the certificate and, if necessary, chasing certificate chain and revocation lists. Usually, we use certificates to provide the integrity of identity or attribute information of the subject. Attributes must be coupled with the corresponding identities. We introduce comprehensive approaches to bind identity and attribute certificates, identifying three different techniques: monolithic, autonomic, and chained signatures. We describe each technique and analyze the relative advantages and disadvantages of each.
Immunity to Calicivirus Infection

The evolution of our understanding of immunity to calicivirus infection, using Norwalk virus as the prototype, is discussed in three stages: (1) "ancient times (1972-1978), when human volunteer studies prevailed, (2) the "middle ages (1978-1990), which were characterized by the development and implementation of solid-phase immunoassays based on native viral antigens, and (3) "modern times (1990 to present), which began with the cloning of the genome of the noncultivatable 8FIIa strain of Norwalk virus and resulted in a readily available source of recombinant virus-like particles that have revolutionized the study of caliciviruses. Throughout these stages, it has been shown repeatedly that short-term immunity develops to homologous virus. However, the search for determinants of long-term immunity continues. These studies will likely be facilitated by the newest reagents-the noninfectious recombinant virus-like particles-used in the setting of human volunteer studies and large epidemiologic studies.
A fast, preconditioned conjugate gradient Toeplitz and Toeplitz-like solvers

Abstract For a Toeplitz or Toeplitz-like matrix T , we define a preconditioning applied to the symmetrized matrix T H T , which decreases the condition number compared to the one of T H T and even the one of T . This enables us to accelerate the conjugate gradient algorithm for solving Toepiltz and Toeplitz-like linear systems, thus extending the previous results of [1], restricted to the Hermitian positive definite case. The extension relies on some recent formulae of Gohberg and Olshevsky for the inverses of Toeplitz-like matrices.
Cell-Associated and Extracellular Phospholipid Transfer Protein in Human Coronary Atherosclerosis

Background— Phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) plays an important role in HDL particle metabolism and may modulate hepatic secretion of apolipoprotein B–containing lipoproteins. However, whether PLTP might participate directly in human atherosclerotic lesion formation is unknown. Methods and Results— The cellular and extracellular distributions of PLTP were determined in normal and atherosclerotic human coronary lesions with a monoclonal antibody to human PLTP. Cell types (smooth muscle cells [SMCs] or macrophages), apolipoproteins (apoA-I, apoB, and apoE), and extracellular matrix proteoglycans (biglycan and versican) were identified on adjacent sections with monospecific antibodies. Minimal extracellular PLTP was detected in nonatherosclerotic coronary arteries, but extracellular and cellular PLTP immunostaining was widespread in atherosclerotic lesions. PLTP was detected in foam cell SMCs and in foam cell macrophages, which suggests that cellular cholesterol accumulation might increase PLTP expressio...
HFES Members' and Students' Career Influences: A Survey

Surveys were sent to 150 members and 150 student affiliates of HFES asking how they first learned about the field and what or who was the major influence in choosing their career. Approximately half learned about it as undergraduates and about a third as graduate students, usually from a professor. About a third learned about it during work or internship. The survey also asked respondents to indicate what examples they would use to represent the field to a naive listener. Most frequently cited examples included applications in human-computer interaction, aviation/space, ground transportation, and the workplace.
On the resolution of radial viscosity structure in modelling long‐wavelength postglacial rebound data

SUMMARY Studies of postglacial rebound (PGR) constrain the viscosity of the mantle in an absolute sense, and have also been used to constrain the radial variation in mantle viscosity. Such radial variations probably have important effects on many aspects of solid-earth dynamics, including the existence and style of plate tectonics, rotational dynamics, thermal convection, and mixing of chemical species by convection. Most studies of PGR, as well as other studies constraining viscosity structure (e.g. the geoid), agree that the average viscosity of the upper mantle (beneath the lithosphere) is smaller than that of the lower mantle. However, there is marked disagreement regarding the amount of viscosity contrast and the thickness of an upper mantle ‘low viscosity zone’ (LVZ), with estimates for the viscosity contrast ranging from a mere factor of 2 to several orders of magnitude. Here we seek to both quantify and clearly illustrate the fundamental modelling trade-off between viscosity contrast (η ∗ ) and layer thickness (D), and show that if only long-wavelength constraints are available, PGR models are largely indistinguishable for constant values of η ∗ /D 3 characterizing an LVZ. Models employing both relative sea level (RSL) data from Hudson Bay and time-variations in gravity from the GRACE satellite illustrate this principle. Models with LVZ viscosity contrasts ranging from 3 orders of magnitude fit the data equally well, depending on the thickness of the LVZ. Other traditional data sets constraining PGR (e.g. Fennoscandian strand lines) appear no more capable of independently resolving this ambiguity, although some studies that incorporate both long-wavelength (RSL) type constraints and shorter wavelength constraints, such as tilting of continental margins, appear to favour a relatively thin, high viscosity contrast LVZ. New GPS data from North America and Scandinavia may be able to resolve this question even further. However, at the present time PGR studies do not preclude, and perhaps favour, a relatively thin LVZ of viscosity contrast at least one and perhaps as much as 3 orders of magnitude beneath the lithosphere in some regions. This conclusion has significant implications for understanding the phenomenon of plate tectonics and the evolution and dynamics of the mantle.
Sex ratio and mate preferences: a cross-cultural investigation

Sex ratio is the number of men per 100 reproductive-age women within a specified mating pool. We generated and tested two hypotheses about the cross-cultural relationships between sex ratio and mate preferences using preference ratings of 18 characteristics provided by 9809 participants and corresponding sex ratio data secured from an international organization. The Classical Sex Ratio Mate Preference Shifts Hypothesis predicts that in imbalanced sex ratio societies, the more numerous sex will lower their standards, to facilitate acquisition of a partner of the less numerous sex. The Alternative Sex Ratio Mate Preference Shifts Hypothesis predicts that in lower sex ratio societies, men will lower their standards to secure more short-term matings, whereas women will raise their standards to avoid deception by men seeking short-term relationships. Results supported the Classical Sex Ratio Mate Preference Shifts Hypothesis for men, and the Alternative Sex Ratio Mate Preference Shifts Hypothesis for women. Discussion addresses limitations of the current research and highlights future directions for research on the relationships between sex ratio and mating psychology and behavior. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
LAKE DISSOLVED INORGANIC CARBON AND DISSOLVED OXYGEN: CHANGING DRIVERS FROM DAYS TO DECADES

Dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and dissolved oxygen (DO) are commonly measured to compute metabolism of aquatic ecosystems. However, concentrations of DIC and DO depend on many factors in addition to ecosystem metabolism, such as water temperature, gas exchange with the atmosphere, abiotic chemical reactions, and inputs in precipitation, groundwater, and surface water. We used 20-year time series from seven lakes to understand how DIC and DO concentrations are controlled as a function of time scale. Diel cycles of both solutes are controlled primarily by metabolism, exchange with the atmosphere, and temperature. At seasonal and annual scales, metabolism is important, but physical processes associated with spring and autumn mixing, as well as solute loading from the watershed, have comparably large effects. At decadal scales, effects of metabolism are negligible. Controls of the two solutes diverge, with variance in DIC explained largely by solute inputs and variance in DO explained largely by water temperature. Like other indicators in many ecosystems, variability of DIC and DO is strongly scale dependent and associated with different drivers depending on the time scale of the analysis.
Evolution of the margin of the Gulf of California near Loreto, Baja California Peninsula, Mexico

The Gulf of California is a prime example of a young oblique-divergent plate boundary. This type of plate boundary is much less well understood than classic rifts and passive margins in divergent plate settings. A complexity in the Gulf of California is that the modern oblique rifting was preceded by a stage of orthogonal rifting. We have used extensive mapping as well as stratigraphic, geomorphic, and structural analysis to determine the history of deformation near Loreto on the southern Baja California peninsula during formation of the Gulf of California. Our data support the suggestion that middle to late Miocene (protogulf stage, 12 to ca. 6 Ma) orthogonal rifting was overprinted by transtensional structures during Pliocene to Quaternary time, though we cannot closely define the time of change. We further demonstrate that the plate margin was structurally segmented in the protogulf stage and then complexly overprinted by transtensional structures that suggest one type of process for initiating transform faults. The Loreto segment is 85 km long along the rift and is bounded on the west by a discontinuous series of aligned, down-tothe-east extensional monoclines and normal faults. These structures lie along, or as far as 4 km in front (east) of, a steep, 1000‐ 1600-m-high Main Gulf Escarpment that defines the western topographic margin of the rift zone. The Loreto segment is further defined by a rise in elevation of the Main Gulf Escarpment of up to 1 km and an ;500‐800 m increase in structural relief of prerift strata in the escarpment from the segment boundaries to the center of the segment. Structural analysis of secondary faults of the Loreto segment shows that fault populations that are known to be Pliocene to Quaternary in age are mixed normal and dextral-normal faults with a bulk extension direction of west-northwest‐eastsoutheast (2808‐1008). In contrast, fault populations that cut only prerift, Oligocene‐middle Miocene volcanic and sedimentary rocks are mainly normal faults with northeast-southwest to east-northeast‐ west-southwest bulk extension directions that average 2458‐658. These faults are interpreted to be late Miocene in age and formed during protogulf orthogonal rifting. Thus, the Pliocene faults record a major change of extension direction of ;358 from latest Miocene to Pliocene time, compatible with the onset of oblique rifting in the Gulf of California. Oblique-divergent overprinting is mainly expressed as the Loreto fault and Loreto basin in the northern part of the segment. The Loreto fault and basin evolved with major fault reorganizations and partial basin inversion. Many observations suggest that the Pliocene Loreto fault was linked to two nascent transform faults in the gulf and that Carmen Island rotated ;358‐408 clockwise within the complex fault system.
Influence of Suessen and Superba Heat Setting on Optical Streak Intensity in Finished Nylon Carpets

Texturing conditions were systematically adjusted in a factorial experiment to create twenty-four yarn items that varied in their respective bulk levels. Following a heat- setting treatment by one of three methods (one dry, the Suessen at a tunnel temperature of 200°C, and two wet, the Superba at tunnel temperatures of 129.4°C and 137.8°C), each item was implanted as a triple tuftline into two carpet backgrounds that also differed in their respective levels of bulk. Forty-eight such implanted streaks from each heat-setting method—144 streaks in all—were then rated by shade and intensity and contrasted by method of heat setting. The relative intensity of the low-bulk dark streaks was worst for the Suessen-set treatment and best for those Superba-set at the higher temperature. Suessen heat setting enabled smaller bulk differences to be seen in the carpet.
The National Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network.

THE NATIONAL Transplantation Act of 1984 (Public Law 98-507, Section 372) established a national health policy regarding transplantation. Public interest in this scientific field has caused concern in the professional community.1This commentary is submitted to clarify the situation. About five years ago a new immunosuppressive agent came into general use. This agent, cyclosporin, substantially improved renal allograft success, but more important, it revolutionized the transplantation of hearts and livers. There ensued a remarkable increase in the number of transplantations performed in this country. In the past six years the number of renal transplants performed yearly has increased from 5000 to approximately 10 000. Heart transplants have increased from a handful to about 1400 in 1986. Similarly, liver transplants have increased from a negligible number to about 900 in 1986. This sudden increase in demand for transplantable organs created a crisis. The profession had produced a remarkable scientific achievement
A critical comparison of several low Reynolds number k-epsilon turbulence models for flow over a backward-facing step

Turbulent backward-facing step flow was examined using four low turbulent Reynolds number k-epsilon models and one standard high Reynolds number technique. A tunnel configuration of 1:9 (step height: exit tunnel height) was used. The models tested include: the original Jones and Launder; Chien; Launder and Sharma; and the recent Shih and Lumley formulation. The experimental reference of Driver and Seegmiller was used to make detailed comparisons between reattachment length, velocity, pressure, turbulent kinetic energy, Reynolds shear stress, and skin friction predictions. The results indicated that the use of a wall function for the standard k-epsilon technique did not reduce the calculation accuracy for this separated flow when compared to the low turbulent Reynolds number techniques.
Methodological Parameters Influence the Detection of Right-to-Left Shunts by Contrast Transcranial Doppler Ultrasonography

Background and Purpose—Contrast transcranial Doppler ultrasonography is a new method to detect intracardiac right-to-left shunts, such as the patent foramen ovale. However, the methodology of the procedure varies considerably among investigators. This study was undertaken to assess the influence of methodological parameters on the results of the contrast transcranial Doppler examination in the detection of right-to-left shunts. Methods—A total of 72 patients (mean age, 58.2±14.7 years) had a contrast transcranial Doppler ultrasonography examination. To study the influence of methodological factors, patients with evidence of a right-to-left shunt underwent repeated examinations with modified procedures. Parameters under investigation were the timing of the Valsalva maneuver, the dose of the contrast medium, and the patient’s posture during the examination. Results—The median contrast signal count was 58.5 and 48.0 (P<0.001) and the median latency of the first intracranially detected contrast signal was 12....
Accelerated skin wound healing in plasminogen activator inhibitor-1-deficient mice.

Components of the fibrinolytic system have been implicated in cell migratory events associated with tissue remodeling. Studies in plasminogen-deficient mice (PG−/−) indicated that skin wound healing is impaired, but is resolved with an additional fibrinogen deficiency. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) expression by keratinocytes has been identified shortly after wound injury. PAI-1 expression could affect wound healing by regulating the fibrinolytic environment of the wounded area, as well as influencing events associated with cell attachment and detachment through interactions with matrix proteins. The present study directly assesses PAI-1 involvement in skin wound healing through analyses of a dermal biopsy punch model in PAI-1-deficient (PAI-1−/− mice. While the cellular events associated with the healing process are similar between wild-type (WT) and PAI-1−/− mice, the rate of wound closure is significantly accelerated in PAI-1−/− mice.
A viscometer for solutions of high polymers

A viscometer for solutions of high polymers having the following features is described: (1) The lower level of the capillary viscometer is determined by an overflow into an auxiliary reservoir. (2) The solutions are prepared, insoluble gel filtered, and dilutions carried out in the auxiliary reservoir. (3) Because of the fact that the viscometer is a closed system it can be rotated through 360° within the constant temperature bath, automatically filling the upper reservoir and allowing repetitive measurements to be carried out. (4) As constructed, the viscometer can only be used for solutions of low surface tension.
Nutrient excretion by fish in wetland ecosystems and its potential to support algal production

We used both direct measurement and bioenergetic methods to examine nitrogen and phosphorus (P) excretion by fathead minnows in two wetlands over 2 yr. We also assessed the potential importance of nutrient flux from fish by comparing excretion estimates to empirically derived estimates of algal P demand. Population-level estimates of P excretion across the four lake-years were high relative to other published studies, peaking at 11.7 mg m 23 d 21
Analysis of fumonisin B1-induced apoptosis.

Fumonisins are mycotoxins produced by Fusarium moniliforme, a prevalent fungus that infects corn and other cereal grains. Fumonisin B1(FB1 is the most common mycotoxin produced by F. moniliforme, s...
Uncertainties in life cycle greenhouse gas emissions from U.S. beef cattle

Abstract Beef cattle feedlots are estimated to contribute 26% of U.S. agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and future climate change policy could target reducing these emissions. Life cycle assessment (LCA) of GHG emissions from U.S. grain-fed beef cattle was conducted based on industry statistics and previous studies to identify the main sources of uncertainty in these estimations. Uncertainty associated with GHG emissions from indirect land use change, pasture soil emissions (e.g. soil carbon sequestration), enteric fermentation from cattle on pasture, and methane emissions from feedlot manure, respectively, contributed the most variability to life cycle GHG emissions from beef production. Feeding of coproducts from ethanol production was estimated to reduce life cycle emissions by 1.7%, but could increase emissions by 0.6–2.0% with higher feeding rates. Monte Carlo simulation found a range of life cycle emissions from 2.52 to 9.58 kg CO2 per kg live weight (5th and 95th percentiles), with a calculated average of 8.14, which is between recent estimates. Current methods used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) associated with beef production in feedlots were found to account for only 3–20% of life cycle GHG emissions.
Human and Machine Consciousness as a Boundary Effect in the Concept Analysis Mechanism

To solve the hard problem of consciousness we observe that any cognitive system of sufficient power must get into difficulty when it tries to analyze consciousness concepts, because the mechanism that does the analysis will “bottom out” in such a way as to make the system declare these concepts to be both real and ineffable. Rather than use this observation to dismiss consciousness as an artifact, we propose a unifying interpretation that allows consciousness to be explicable at a meta level, while at the same time being mysterious and inexplicable on its own terms.
PRIMATES OF THE LOWER URUBAMBA REGION, PERU, WITH COMMENTS ON OTHER MAMMALS

Abstract We present data on encounter rates and group sizes of primates in the Lower Urubamba Region of Peru, an unprotected area little represented in the literature. We censused a total of 467.7km on 10 transects during two seasons and documented nine primate species in the area. Compared to nearby protected areas, group encounter rates were lower and group sizes were smaller for all species except Saguinus fuscicollis and S. imperator. Relatively high abundance of S. imperator and low abundance of larger bodied primates is a possible example of density compensation resulting from hunting pressure. In addition to the primates, 23 other mammal species were observed or photographed by camera traps, including Procyon cancrivorus, which was not previously reported in the area.
Impact of neonatal intensive care bed configuration on rates of late-onset bacterial sepsis and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization

Objectives Infections cause significant morbidity and mortality in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). The association between nursery design and nosocomial infections has not been delineated. We hypothesized that rates of colonization by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), late-onset sepsis, and mortality are reduced in single-patient rooms.
The Role of Anxiety on the Experience of Peer Victimization and Eating Disorder Risk

This study examined the mediating effect of anxiety and its subtypes on the relation between peer victimization and eating disorder risk and how this mechanism may be contingent on gender. Data were analyzed from 1391 male and female children between the ages of 10 and 14. Measures used include: the Eating Disorder Inventory-3, the School Climate and Bullying Scale, and the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children. It appears that the increase in anxiety associated with being bullied partly explains why peer victimization is related to eating disorder symptoms for the anxiety symptom clusters of physical symptoms, social anxiety symptoms, and separation anxiety symptoms but not for harm avoidance symptoms. This present study further explored the development of eating disorders across genders using moderated mediation analysis, which found gender differences for physical symptoms of anxiety, social anxiety symptoms, and overall anxiety symptoms when such anxiety symptoms were studied as a mediating variable using an exploratory model of moderating mediation (i.e., first- and second-stage moderated mediation). Here, both the effect of peer victimization on these symptoms of anxiety and the effect of these anxiety types on eating disorder symptoms were greater for girls than for boys, while no gender differences were found with harm avoidance and separation anxiety symptoms in this model. This study was the first to identify a significant mediating effect of different types of anxiety symptoms on peer victimization and eating disorder risk as well as ways in which boys and girls appear to be similar with regard to these mechanisms as well as different. Findings highlight the importance of considering interpersonal vulnerabilities of the victim in selecting intervention efforts. In addition to intrapersonal strategies aimed at reducing bystander behavior and increasing assertiveness, school-based interventions for victims of bullying should also assess victims for anxiety and support the development of healthy coping skills.
Marijuana Use on a Campus: Spring, 1969

This study was designed to contribute to our knowledge of increasing marijuana usage at a large western university and, in addition, to look at some of the social factors which seem to be affected by this increase, including the transition from experimentation to more frequent use.
Multiscale Opening of Conjoined Fuzzy Objects: Theory and Applications

Theoretical properties of a multiscale opening algorithm for two conjoined fuzzy objects are established, and its extension to separating two conjoined fuzzy objects with different intensity properties is introduced. In addition, its applications to artery/vein separation in pulmonary CT imaging and carotid vessel segmentation in CT angiograms (CTAs) of patients with intracranial aneurysms are presented. The new algorithm accounts for distinct intensity properties of individual conjoined objects by combining fuzzy distance transform, a morphologic feature, with fuzzy connectivity, a topologic feature. The algorithm iteratively opens the two conjoined objects starting at large scales and progressing toward finer scales. Results of application of the method in separating arteries and veins in a physical cast phantom of a pig lung are presented. Accuracy of the algorithm is quantitatively evaluated in terms of sensitivity and specificity on patients’ CTA datasets, and its performance is compared with existing methods. Reproducibility of the algorithm is examined in terms of volumetric agreement between two users’ carotid vessel segmentation results. Experimental results using this algorithm on patients’ CTA data demonstrate a high average accuracy of 96.3% with 95.1% sensitivity and 97.5% specificity and a high reproducibility of 94.2% average agreement between segmentation results from two mutually independent users. Approximately, 25–35 user-specified seeds/separators are needed for each CTA data through a custom-designed graphical interface requiring an average of 30 min to complete carotid vascular segmentation in a patient's CTA dataset.
Surveillance of Campylobacter Jejuni and Campylobacter Coli Contaminations of 5 Kinds of Food in Longyan

Objective To learn about the current status of the Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli contamination of foods in the market in Longyan.MethodsA total of 180 food samples of raw meat,raw milk,raw vegetable,egg and fishery product were taken from 2 markets in Longyan.The detections of the samples were conducted according to the testing method recommended by WHO and included in national laboratory manual for food contamination.The samples were pre-enriched in Preston broth containing campylobacter growth supplement and specific antibiotics.Enriched broth was inoculated in selective agar CCDA plates.Suspected colonies were purified on Columbia blood agar plates.The isolates were Gram stained and tested by motility test,catalase test,oxidase test,hippurate hydrolysis and indoxyl acetate hydrolysis.ResultsEleven Campylobacter strains were detected from 180 food samples with the detection rate of 6.1%,of which 10 were detected from raw meat(11.8%),1 was detected from fishery product(3.3%).It was found that the MPN value reached 240 cfu/100g in one or two raw meat samples.The resistance rate was 54.5% of the 11 strains of Campylobacter to 1 antibiotic,36.4% to two antibiotics and 18.2% to three antibiotics.ConclusionThe Campylobacter contamination of raw meat and fishery product in the market of Longyan was found.It is necessary to strengthen the management in animal's raising,butchering,transportation and processing,and prevent cross infection in order to effectively prevent and control the outbreak or epidemic of Campylobacter infection.The management of antibiotics and drug resistance surveillance should be improved too.
P01.09 Trends in selected measures of racial and ethnic disparities in gonorrhoea and syphilis in the united states, 1981–2012

Introduction The purpose of this study was to examine different measures of racial and ethnic disparities in the reported cases of primary and secondary (P&S) syphilis and gonorrhoea from 1981 to 2012 in the United States. Methods For each year from 1981 to 2012, we calculated values for five disparity measures: the Gini coefficient, two versions of the index of disparity (unweighted and weighted by population subgroup size), the population attributable fraction, and the black-to-white rate ratio. We also examined annual changes in these measures. Specifically, we examined whether or not the five measures yielded consistent assessments as to whether racial and ethnic disparity was increasing or decreasing from one year to the next. Results Overall, the disparity measures we examined were generally consistent with one another. However, from any given year to the next, the various disparity measures could yield divergent results in terms of whether racial/ethnic disparities in STDs are increasing or decreasing as well as in terms of the relative magnitude of the change. Over the 31-year period, ≥4 of the 5 index measures agreed on the direction of change 28 times for both P&S syphilis and gonorrhoea. The most common measure that had a different direction of change from the other measures was the population attributable fraction. Conclusion Our findings illustrated two well-known limitations of relative measures of racial/ethnic disparities in health. First, relative measures of disparity can decrease due to increases in STD incidence rates among Non-Hispanic Whites (or increase due to decreases in STD incidence among Non-Hispanic Whites). Second, whether or not racial and ethnic disparities increased from one year to the next can differ across measures of disparity. Reliance on just one measure of disparity can at times lead to divergent conclusions about changes in disparities over short time periods. Disclosure of interest statement The findings and conclusions in this study are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). No external funding was received for this study and the authors have no conflicts of interest.
Parametric system identification of resonant micro/nanosystems operating in a nonlinear response regime

Abstract The parametric system identification of macroscale resonators operating in a nonlinear response regime can be a challenging research problem, but at the micro- and nanoscales, experimental constraints add additional complexities. For example, due to the small and noisy signals micro/nanoresonators produce, a lock-in amplifier is commonly used to characterize the amplitude and phase responses of the systems. While the lock-in enables detection, it also prohibits the use of established time-domain, multi-harmonic, and frequency-domain methods, which rely upon time-domain measurements. As such, the only methods that can be used for parametric system identification are those based on fitting experimental data to an approximate solution, typically derived via perturbation methods and/or Galerkin methods, of a reduced-order model. Thus, one could view the parametric system identification of micro/nanosystems operating in a nonlinear response regime as the amalgamation of four coupled sub-problems: nonparametric system identification, or proper experimental design and data acquisition; the generation of physically consistent reduced-order models; the calculation of accurate approximate responses; and the application of nonlinear least-squares parameter estimation. This work is focused on the theoretical foundations that underpin each of these sub-problems, as the methods used to address one sub-problem can strongly influence the results of another. To provide context, an electromagnetically transduced microresonator is used as an example. This example provides a concrete reference for the presented findings and conclusions.
Comprehensive analysis on cross-bowtie element for designing wideband CP Ka-Band reflectarcay

A comprehensive study on the cross-bowtie element has been made in this paper, for designing wideband circularly polarized (CP) reflectarray (RA) in the Ka-Band. Several parameters have been investigated on the element e.g. slant angle, oblique incidence, dielectric permittivity, and the bandwidth analysis. A λ/4 unit cell size has been used for the analysis. Smaller element will generate less phase errors at the RA surface and provides better antenna performance in terms of bandwidth and aperture efficiency. The element rotation technique has been used to obtain the phase characteristics of the unit cell. The cross bowtie element provides more than 30 % bandwidth, and low reflected wave amplitude losses. The element performance guarantees in resulting wider RA bandwidth and higher aperture efficiency, when used in Ka-Band RA design as an element.
Constraint-Referenced Analytics of Algebra Learning

The development of the constraint-referenced analytics tool for monitoring algebra learning activities presented here came from the desire to firstly, take a more quantitative look at student responses in collaborative algebra activities, and secondly, to situate those activities in a more traditional introductory algebra setting focusing on procedural understanding. Procedural skill was analyzed by modeling the complexity of attempts to make equivalent transformations of algebraic expressions. The constraint-referenced analytics system uses log files of student inputs on a classroom network of handheld devices to measure success rate as students make attempts to replace one algebraic expression with another equivalent expression. The analytics engine produced psychometrically verifiable results. Moving averages of student performance revealed that when students experienced a period of struggle and persisted in attempting similar transformations, an apparent conceptual shift led to subsequent success. Students also responded to periods of struggle by switching to familiar tasks or choosing non-participation.