cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Diversity and Infection Frequency of Symbiotic Bacteria in Different Populations of the Rice Brown Planthopper in China

Abstract Genetic sequences (16S rRNA) demonstrated that the symbiotic bacteria associated with different populations of the rice brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens Stal, were clustered into 18 operational taxonomic units. Molecular phylogenetic analyses revealed that the majority of these bacteria belong to Alphaproteobacteria (Wolbachia), Gammaproteobacteria (Arsenophonus, Acinetobacter, Serratia, Arthrobacter), and the Bacteroidetes (Chryseobacterium, Sphingobacterium). Bacteria of the genera Acinetobacter, Serratia, and Arthrobacter were present in all brown planthopper individuals analyzed. The infection frequency (IF) of Arsenophonus in brown planthopper reared on the rice variety ‘Taichun Native1′ was higher than that observed with the ‘Mudgo' and ‘ASD7′ varieties. The IF of Arsenophonus increased by 50% when the planthoppers were reared on Taichun Native1 for >15 generations, unrelated to the origin of that population of planthoppers. The IF of Wolbachia, however, declined when the brown planth...
DYNAMICS OF MACROECONOMIC SHOCKS ON FOOD ASSISTACE PROGRAMS IN THE UNITED STATES

Monthly national and state-level U.S. data for the period 1997-2012 associated with macroeconomic shocks and participation in food assistance programs were used to model dynamics using polynomial distributed lags and vector autoregression approaches. Contemporaneous causal flows of macroeconomic shocks and participation in food assistance programs were modeled using directed acyclic graphs. With a more accurate set of predictions associated with participation rates in food assistance programs based on macroeconomic drivers or shocks, policy makers will be in better position to assess program costs and to minimize errors in the budgetary process.
Microsofts Monopoly: Anti-Competitive Behavior, Predatory Tactics, And The Failure Of Governmental Will

Thirty years ago, Microsoft Corp. was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen. To understand how the company has gained competitive advantage we examine how the company used unfair, anti-competitive, and predatory approaches in their business. We discuss how we have come to the belief that the government settlement in United States and State of New York, et al., v. Microsoft Corporation imposing restrictions on Microsoft’s behavior and monitoring its actions for compliance is not enough to keep it from abusing its monopolistic power and does too little to prevent it from dominating the software and operating system industry today.
Privacy Recalibration in Personal Relationships: Rule Usage Before and After an Incident of Privacy Turbulence

Although privacy violations can be uncomfortable and disruptive, they have the potential for positive outcomes in relationships if addressed. Using Communication Privacy Management theory as a framework, this study surveyed a community sample of 273 adults to examine their retrospective accounts of privacy violations in personal relationships. Results showed that less than half of the sample offered explicit rules for information management, and the majority of participants blamed the confidant for the privacy turbulence. Findings indicated that people often do not share similar information with the violator in the future, but if they do, less than half offer explicit privacy rules during the privacy recalibration process. Confrontation efficacy was positively associated with initiating a conversation about the privacy turbulence and that people who engaged in privacy recalibration were more likely to report forgiveness and relational improvement and less likely to report relational damage than those indi...
Work-related social skills: Definitions and interventions in public vocational rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVE Social skills play an important role in employment. This study provides a qualitative analysis of salient work related social skills and interventions for addressing social skills in public vocational rehabilitation (VR). RESEARCH DESIGN A modified consensual qualitative research (CQR) approach was taken to understand the elements and influence of work related social skills in public VR. Thirty-five counselors, supervisors, and administrators participated in semistructured interviews to provide their perspectives of work related social skills and the interventions they use for addressing these skills. RESULTS Multiple aspects of work-related social skills were described as being important for VR consumer success. The most common work related social skills across all participants were nonverbal communication and the ability to connect with others. Primary social interventions included informal social skills training (SST), systems collaboration, and creating an appropriate job match. CONCLUSIONS Public rehabilitation agency staff, constantly faced with addressing work related social skills, possess many insights about salient skills and interventions that can benefit future research and practice. Agencies currently address social skills deficits by providing interventions to both person and environment. The research provides directions for future research related to identification of social skills and interventions to address related deficits.
Synthesis of 2-Oxazolidinones by Direct Condensation of 2-Aminoalcohols with Carbon Dioxide Using Chlorostannoxanes

Synthesis of 2-oxazolidinones from 2-aminoalcohols and carbon dioxide (CO2) in the presence of 1,3-dichloro-1,1,3,3-tetraalkyldistannoxanes (1) is reported. The influence of the change in substituent groups on the metal centers Sna and Snb of the catalyst (1) on the yields of the products was studied. Turnover numbers as high as 138 were obtained using the chlorostannoxane catalyst with all butyl substituents (1a) on both the metal centers. The activity of the catalyst 1a on various substrates was studied and reported.
Transarticular Distal Soft-Tissue Release with an Arthroscopic Blade for Hallux Valgus Correction

The few reported anatomic studies have proved the inconsistency of distal soft-tissue release for hallux valgus correction with both the open (dorsal) and transarticular approaches. Anatomic dissections were performed in 15 fresh-frozen human anatomic lower extremity specimens to evaluate the efficacy of the transarticular soft-tissue release utilizing an arthroscopic blade. The features of the arthroscopic blade, such as continuous cutting surface in all edges, increased length as compared with the No. 15 scalpel blade, and flexibility that permits bending without the likelihood of breakage, substantially increase its efficacy during the transarticular soft-tissue release, allowing for complete release of the lateral sesamoid ligament, lateral metatarsophalangeal capsule, and the adductor hallucis tendon insertion onto the proximal phalangeal base. Based on these observations, the authors recognized the inherent limitations of the transarticular approach for complete adductor release from the lateral sesamoid. Transarticular release including the lateral sesamoid ligament, lateral metatarsophalangeal capsule, and the adductor hallucis tendon insertion onto the proximal phalangeal base utilizing the arthroscopic blade is a versatile, reproducible, safe, and easy technique that should be expected to have decreased morbidity and improved cosmesis compared with the open approach.
Experimental Study of Renoprotective Effect of Xuebijing in FSGS Rats

Objective:To observe the protective effects of Xuebijing on rat kidney and the expression of TGF-β1 and VEGF in kidney tissue of FSGS rats.Methods:Rat model of FSGS was established with unilateral nephrectomy and injection of Adriamycin caudal-venously.Rats were randomized into normal control group,Xuebijing-treated group,and model group.24 hours urinary protein and blood biochemical indicators were measured at the 0,4th,6th and 8th week.Creatinine clearance(Ccr) was calculated.Renal pathological changes were evaluated at the 8th week.Expression of TGF-β1 and VEGF were detected by immunohistochemical method.Results:Compared with that in the model group,24 hours urinary protein in Xuebijing-treated group was lower.The Pathological changes in Xuebijing-treated group were significantly improved compared with those in the model group.Compared with those in the normal control group,expressions of TGF-β1 and VEGF were increased in model group and Xuebijing-treated group;The expressions of TGF-β1 and VEGF in Xuebijing-treated group were significantly lower than those in the model group.Conclusion:Xuebijing can inhibit the high expression of TGF-β1and VEGF.It plays an important role in kidney protection on FSGS rats.
"Gathering Facts for the End of the World": Don DeLillo's Archive of Global Turbulence

Over his career, Don DeLillo grows to inhabit more complex and critical ideas about politics, capitalism, and strategies for opposition than the remote affect of his earlier work might suggest. As part of this project, he developed an advanced analysis of conditions under the global finance regimes gaining strength in the West. The author's papers at the Harry Ransom Center show that he arrived at this informed position through a program of independent research, his newspaper cuttings from this period vividly demonstrating reflections on the meaning of US global power. Once back in New York, his investment in public intellectual debates on the meaning of "terrorism" led to a characteristic but problematic emphasis on free speech as a political issue. More recently, his work has turned to sophisticated theoretical texts for increasingly subtle ideas about globalization and its opponents.
Book reviewManhood Acts: Gender and the Practices of Domination, Michael Schwalbe, Paradigm Publishing, Boulder, CO (2014), 205 pp.

In Manhood Acts, Michael Schwalbe argues that the academic fields of feminism and gender theory have abandoned the critical analysis that typified earlier scholarship in the area. He argues that, “...
Biosynthesis and Functional Significance of Peripheral Node Addressin in Cancer-Associated TLO

Peripheral node addressin (PNAd) marks high endothelial venules (HEV), which are crucial for the recruitment of lymphocytes into lymphoid organs in non-mucosal tissue sites. PNAd is a sulfated and fucosylated glycoprotein recognized by the prototypic monoclonal antibody MECA-79. PNAd is the ligand for L-selectin, which is expressed on the surface of naive and central memory T cells, where it mediates leukocyte rolling on vascular endothelial surfaces. Although PNAd was first identified in the HEV of peripheral lymph nodes, recent work suggests a critical role for PNAd in the context of chronic inflammatory diseases, where it can be used as a marker for the formation of tertiary lymphoid organs (TLO). TLO form in tissues affected by sustained inflammation, such as the tumor microenvironment (TME), where they function as local sites of adaptive immune cell priming. This allows for specific B- and T-cell responses to be initiated or reactivated in inflamed tissues without dependency on secondary lymphoid organs (SLO). Recent studies of cancer in mice and humans have identified PNAd as a biomarker of improved disease prognosis, and blockade of PNAd or its ligand, L-selectin, abrogates protective anti-tumor immunity in murine models. This review examines pathways regulating PNAd biosynthesis by the endothelial cells integral to HEV and the formation and maintenance of lymphoid structures throughout the body, particularly in the setting of cancer.
Postoperative complications necessitating right lower lobectomy in a heart-lung transplant recipient with previous sternotomy

Heart-lung transplantation for treatment of end-stage cardiopulmonary disease continues to be plagued by many problems. Three primary ones are the technical difficulties that can be encountered, particularly in those patients who have undergone previous cardiac operations, the additional restriction on donor availability imposed by the lack of satisfactory preservation techniques, and the need for lung size compatibility. Two of these difficulties and others surfaced postoperatively in a heart-lung transplant recipient who presented a series of unique operative and therapeutic challenges. A 42-year-old woman with chronic pulmonary hypertension and previous atrial septal defect repair underwent a heart-lung transplantation in August 1985. The operative procedure was expectedly complicated by bleeding from extensive mediastinal adhesions from the previous sternotomy and bronchial collateralization. Excessive chest tube drainage postoperatively necessitated reoperation to control bleeding from a right bronchial artery tributary. Phrenic nerve paresis, hepatomegaly, and marked abdominal distention caused persistent atelectasis and eventual right lower lobe collapse. Arteriovenous shunting and low oxygen saturation necessitated right lower lobectomy 15 days after transplantation, believed to be the first use of this procedure in a heart-lung graft recipient. Although oxygenation improved dramatically, continued ventilatory support led to tracheostomy. An intensive, psychologically oriented physical therapy program was initiated to access and retrain intercostal and accessory muscles. The tracheostomy cannula was removed after 43 days and gradual weaning from supplemental oxygen was accomplished. During this protracted recovery period, an episode of rejection was also encountered and successfully managed with steroid therapy. The patient continued to progress satisfactorily and was discharged 83 days after transplantation. She is well and active 20 months after discharge.
Nivolumab treatment for advanced renal cell carcinoma: Considerations for clinical practice

Abstract Background Nivolumab is an important new therapy option for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma, and has a different mechanism of action compared with vascular endothelial growth factor -targeted therapies. It is a programmed death 1 immune checkpoint inhibitor antibody with response patterns, efficacy, and safety profiles that differ from those of conventional antiangiogenic or mammalian target of rapamycin inhibition therapy. Methods and Purpose This commentary discusses and evaluates the clinical experience with nivolumab from the available literature and presents practical considerations for the use of nivolumab immunotherapy in aRCC to optimize clinical management.
QUANTITATIVE PHARMACO-ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY IN THE DISCOVERY OF PSYCHOTROPIC PROPERTIES OF DRUGS

Abstract Based on the hypothesis that therapeutically equivalent compounds produce similar computer EEG (CEEG) changes, using the methods of quantitative pharmaco EEG, the psychotropic properties of four compounds were discovered. Because of the similarities of the CEEG profiles of mianserin (an antiallergic) to amitriptyline and mesterolone (an androgenic steroid hormone) to imipramine, antidepressant effects of these compounds were predicted. The CEEG profiles of cyproterone acetate, an antiandrogen, were similar to benzodiazepine anxiolytics, suggesting anxiolytic (minor tranquilizer) properties. The CEEG profiles of lisuride, a potent migraine prophylactic, resembled those seen after psycho-stimulant compounds, thus the psychotropic properties of lisuride were predicted. Subsequent clinical trials confirmed the EEG predictions. None of these four compounds have the typical pharmacological and biochemical profiles of the existing psychotropics.
Do academic preschools yield stronger benefits? Cognitive emphasis, dosage, and early learning

Abstract Earlier research details how quality preschool offers sustained benefits for children from poor families. But the nation’s typical program yields tepid effects for the average middle-class child. We ask whether pre-k impacts range higher when teachers spend more time on activities emphasizing language, preliteracy, and math concepts. Stronger effects are observed for children attending academic classrooms: up to about 0.27 SD in preliteracy and math concepts, compared with peers in home-based care at 52 months of age (n = 6,150). Black children enjoy strong benefits from academic pre-k, up to 0.39 SD for math concepts. Estimated benefits equal 0.43 SD for the average child attending academic pre-k after about eight months. Gains persist through kindergarten. Results stem from a national sample of children, employing a quasi-experimental method to account for confounders related to family practices and children's earlier proficiencies. Future work might focus on the interplay of academic activities with social dimensions of instructional support.
Beginnings and Endings: An Autoethnographic Account of Two Zanzibari Marriages

SUMMARY In this autoethnographic essay, I explore my identification with a young Zanzibari woman I call Asha, whose premarital activities and wedding I took part in while doing ethnographic research on Zanzibari Muslim women's weddings and marriages in 2011. When both of our marriages ended abruptly, my relationship with Asha was severed, and I use this loss to examine why I was so invested in it to begin with. [loss, marriage, Swahili, weddings, Zanzibar]
The union of conjunction and disjunction: The case of and/or

And/or is a coordinator in English that has virtually never been remarked on in the syntactic literature on coordination. I present a new empirical survey of and/or , supported by naturally-occurring examples from several English corpora. I examine the basic distribution of and/or, and its interaction with collective predicates, relational modifiers with an internal reading, anaphors, ‘respectively’, semantic contradiction, quantifiers, and gapping with negation. Based on the distribution across corpora and its syntactic behavior, I argue that and/or is a completely lexicalized coordinator in productive use, and conclude that the constraints on the syntactic distribution of and/or are a union of the set of constraints on and and or .
The response of pollen-transport networks to landscape-scale climate variation

Climate variation can have profound effects on the composition and diversity of species as well as species physiology and behavior. Such effects may have ramifications on the network structure of interacting species within a community. Our aim was to understand how landscape-scale variation in temperature and wind exposure influenced plant–pollinator diversity, composition, and network structure. We constructed pollen-transport networks at six sites along a temperature gradient in west Greenland. Half of these sites were naturally sheltered from katabatic winds, while the other half were exposed. At each site, we measured temperature, wind speed, and the presence of flowering plants. We netted insects and identified the insects and the pollen carried on their bodies. Network structure was quantified using connectance, nestedness, and specialization, three metrics related to the robustness of networks to environmental variation. We tested how temperature and wind speed affected the diversity and composition of insects, pollen, and plants flowering in sites, and network structure. Temperature zone and wind exposure did not explain variation in the richness, evenness, or abundance of insects or pollen, or the richness of plants flowering in sites. However, the composition of pollen and plants flowering in sites varied across temperature zones and levels of wind exposure. Despite the observed changes in pollen and plant community composition, we found that network connectance, nestedness, and specialization were unresponsive to landscape-scale variation in temperature and wind exposure. High generalization and opportunism among Arctic plants and pollinators may contribute to this lack of response.
Effect of air leakage on the hygrothermal performance of highly insulated wood frame walls: Comparison of air leakage modelling methods

Abstract Air leakage is one of the important moisture sources that may increase the risk of moisture problems in wood frame walls. Two simplified air leakage modeling methods, i.e. air convection method and air infiltration method, can be implemented in commonly used hygrothermal models. This paper investigates the applicability of these two methods in evaluating the hygrothermal performance of three types of wood frame walls: one baseline 2 × 6 wood frame with fiberglass insulation, two highly insulated walls, i.e. deep cavity wall with I-joist framing and cellulose fiber insulation and 2 × 6 farming with exterior polyisocyanurate insulation and fiberglass stud cavity insulation. Firstly, the hygrothermal models are calibrated by comparison to measurements. Then the best matched models are used for two years' simulation to evaluate the mold growth risk of these walls at various airtightness levels. The results show that both methods can model the effect of air leakage reasonably well by adjusting the position of air layer in the air convection method and the amount of the indoor air reaching the condensation plane in the air infiltration method. The air infiltration method tends to overestimate the moisture content of OSB sheathing, while the air convection method tends to underestimate the moisture content of OSB sheathing. The baseline wall has higher mold growth risk than the I-joist wall with cellulose fiber, while the I-joist wall's mold growth risk becomes slightly higher than the baseline wall when the insulation materials are changed to fiberglass. The exterior insulated wall has no risk of condensation and mold growth.
Validated MALDI-TOF-MS method for anthrax lethal factor provides early diagnosis and evaluation of therapeutics.

Anthrax lethal factor (LF) is a zinc-dependent endoprotease and a critical virulence factor for Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax. The mass spectrometry (MS) method for total-LF quantification includes three steps; 1) LF specific antibody capture/concentration, 2) LF-specific hydrolysis of a peptide substrate, and 3) detection and quantification of LF-cleaved peptides by isotope-dilution MALDI-TOF/MS. Recombinant LF spiked plasma was used for calibration and quality control (QC) materials. Specificity was 100% from analysis of serum and plasma from 383 non-infected humans, 31 rabbits, and 24 rhesus macaques. Sensitivity was 100% from 32 human clinical anthrax cases including infections by inhalation, ingestion, cutaneous and injection exposures and experimental infections for 29 rabbits and 24 rhesus macaques with inhalation anthrax. Robustness evaluation included sample storage, serum and plasma, antimicrobial and antitoxin effects and long-term performance. Data from 100 independent runs gave detection limits 0.01 ng/mL (111 amol/mL) for the 4-h method and 0.0027 ng/mL (30 amol/mL) for an alternate 20-h method. QC precision ranged from 7.7 to 14.8% coefficient of variation and accuracy from 0.2 to 9.8% error. The validated LF MS method provides sensitive quantification of anthrax total-LF using a robust high throughput platform for early diagnosis and evaluation of therapeutics during an anthrax emergency.
Case-Mix for Performance Management: A Risk Algorithm Based on ICD-10-CM.

Background Accurate risk adjustment is the key to a reliable comparison of cost and quality performance among providers and hospitals. However, the existing case-mix algorithms based on age, sex, and diagnoses can only explain up to 50% of the cost variation. More accurate risk adjustment is desired for provider performance assessment and improvement. Objective To develop a case-mix algorithm that hospitals and payers can use to measure and compare cost and quality performance of their providers. Methods All 6,048,895 patients with valid diagnoses and cost recorded in the US Veterans health care system in fiscal year 2016 were included in this study. The dependent variable was total cost at the patient level, and the explanatory variables were age, sex, and comorbidities represented by 762 clinically homogeneous groups, which were created by expanding the 283 categories from Clinical Classifications Software based on ICD-10-CM codes. The split-sample method was used to assess model overfitting and coefficient stability. The predictive power of the algorithms was ascertained by comparing the R, mean absolute percentage error, root mean square error, predictive ratios, and c-statistics. Results The expansion of the Clinical Classifications Software categories resulted in higher predictive power. The R reached 0.72 and 0.52 for the transformed and raw scale cost, respectively. Conclusions The case-mix algorithm we developed based on age, sex, and diagnoses outperformed the existing case-mix models reported in the literature. The method developed in this study can be used by other health systems to produce tailored risk models for their specific purpose.
The stamp plate and the kicking chair: playful productivity for mealtime in preschools

Most technology designed for young children at mealtime centers around conceptions of how the child should eat or behave at the table. Expanding this view to include children's perspectives, we present a two-part study to explore the design of technology for mealtimes in preschools. We first worked to identify existing value tensions through interviews and observations, then designed three prototypes to address different value tensions (e.g., the tension between children's interest in experimenting with food versus the teachers' interest in cleanliness). Although there are specific ways adults' and children's values are in conflict, our work suggests the potential for novel designs to provide creative and meaningful experiences such as playful productivity that support the needs of both parties.
Fundamentals of the Radon Transform

The Radon transform is the mathematical basis of computed tomography and finds application in many other medical imaging modalities as well. In this chapter we present the fundamental mathematics of this transform and its inverse, with emphasis on the central-slice theorem.
Hepatic Systems Degrade Tyrosine Aminotransferase

Features of tyrosine aminotransferase (TyrAT) and interactive, cytosolic systems in liver that inactivate or degrade this enzyme are under study. TyrAT possesses a proteolytically-sensitive site beginning at Arg 27, and an extensive region near the carboxylic terminal that may confer a short half-life in vivo. Components of ai hepatic system that reversibly inactivates TyrAT in the presence of L-cysteine are described. An additional, soluble factor irreversibly inactivates TyrAT during incubation at pH 8.
Chapter 53 Fertilizers and other farm chemicals

Abstract Demand for fertilizer in developing countries has expanded at a rapid rate over the past forty years. The relative scarcity of agricultural land has been a major underlying cause of this expansion in demand. More proximate causes include the development of complementary Green Revolution technologies – high yielding, fertilizer responsive seed varieties and expansion of irrigation or better water control within irrigated systems. At the same time, real fertilizer prices have declined over time, driven by technical change in fertilizer production. Expansion of fertilizer consumption has been particularly high in many Asian countries, and particularly low in much of Sub-Saharan Africa, where infrastructural and institutional constraints have restricted use. Pesticide use has also expanded in developing countries, albeit in more localized circumstances. Relative scarcity of agricultural labor has been one cause of increased herbicide demand. Disease pressure and the availability of disease-resistant cultivars have influenced insecticide and fungicide demand. Integrated pest management (IPM), over the past 20 years, and genetically modified crops, over the past five to ten years, are new technologies that have the potential to curb the growth in pesticide use. Price policies, environmental policies, and related investments in agricultural research and development, infrastructural expansion, or education all influence the markets for fertilizer and other farm chemicals in developing countries. One major policy issue is how to reduce or eliminate fertilizer subsidies at the same time that measures are taken to increase demand in areas such as Sub-Saharan Africa where fertilizer use is below the social optimum. At the same time, in intensive agricultural systems where agricultural chemical use is high, resource degradation and human health risks from pesticide use compromise productivity growth. In areas of both high and low use of chemical inputs, meeting the production and environmental challenges of the future will require increasing reliance on knowledge-intensive technology.
NOX1 dependent redox signaling mediates colonic stem cell proliferation via EGFR, and is potentiated by microbial components

The intestinal microbiota provides beneficial roles for the host and is required for general homeostasis, affecting host development, physiology and metabolism. The intestinal epithelium renews itself every 4 – 5 days, a process directly regulated by the presence of the gut microbiota. Interactions between the host and the microbiota can result into generation of ROS by the epithelial cells. Redox signaling has emerged in recent years to play an important, but only partly elucidated, role in maintaining intestinal homeostasis and mucosal barrier function. It has been shown that redox signaling via NOX1 is implicated in epithelial wound repair, proliferation and alteration in the composition of the commensal microbiota. The exact mechanism by which NOX1 regulates proliferation is unknown. Here we demonstrate that NOX1 is predominantly expressed by the stem cells at the base of the crypt enhancing proliferation via EGFR signaling. Experiments performed on colonic organoid cultures derived from mice identified that NOX1 is highly expressed by the stem cells, and is the major source of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide in the colon. Epithelia cells from NOX1-/- mice showed a redox-dependent decrease in proliferation, which could be rescued in vitro by supplementing the cultures with EGF. In addition, expression and activity of NOX1 were shown to be regulated by bacterial components and proliferation of colonic cells was significantly reduced in NOX-/- mice following treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics as compared to wild type mice. NOX1 expression coincides with an increase in bacterial load towards the distal colon, suggesting that NOX1 contributes to the proliferation rate in the distal region of the digestive tract. These results are consistent with a model in which NOX1-dependent activation of EGFR signaling supports colonic stem cell proliferation depending on the bacterial load in an environment with limited supporting EGF producing cells.
Heterosis losses resulting from incorrect matings in a three-breed rotational crossbreeding system in pigs.

Losses in individual heterosis were estimated using performance records from 11,700 pigs, 959 litters, and 377 pens of pigs from a three-breed rotational crossbreeding system. Three types of rotational crossbred sows were produced using the Duroc, Landrace, and Yorkshire breeds. Twenty-nine Duroc, 27 Landrace, and 25 Yorkshire boars were mated to 275 sows to produce pigs with theoretical levels of breed heterozygosity of 85.7, 71.4, or 42.9% depending on the genetic composition of the sows and boars. Orthogonal polynomials for unequally spaced levels were used to partition sum of squares for individual heterozygosity into linear and quadratic responses. There was a linear decline in 56-d litter weight (-.222 kg; P .05). Decreased productivity, resulting from decreased heterozygosity, can be expected when three-breed rotational crossbred sows are mated to boars from the wrong breed.
Syntactic complexity and writing quality in assessed first-year L2 writing

Abstract This study explores the relationship between syntactic complexity and writing quality in assessed source-based research papers produced by ESL undergraduate writers in a first-year writing course through a combination of holistic and fine-grained measures of complexity. The analysis is based on a corpus of 280 student papers across three grade tiers: high, mid, and low. A one-way MANOVA was used to explore the statistical significance of differences of five commonly used syntactic complexity measures (assessed using Lu’s Second Language Syntactic Complexity Analyzer, 2010) across these grade tiers. Results reveal little variation in clausal subordination and coordination, but statistically significant lower complex nominal densities, mean length of clauses (phrasal measures), and mean length of T-units (global measure) in low-rated papers. Analysis of complex nominal composition using the Stanford Tregex with differences assessed with a one-way MANOVA shows that the highest densities of complex nominal types are present in high-rated papers, with statistical significance in adjectival pre-, prepositional post-, and participle modification, and the lowest densities in low-rated papers. While clausal complexity did not demonstrate a relationship with assessed quality, both global and phrasal complexity features appear to be important components. We conclude with implications for syntactic complexity research and ESL composition pedagogy.
The Integration of Recognition and Cleavage: X-Ray Structures of Pre-Transition State Complex, Post-Reactive Complex, and the DNA-Free Endonuclease

DNA has been selected as the biological information storage molecule for many reasons; one of which is its stability. The rate of spontaneous hydrolysis of DNA(at 24 ° C and pH 7.4) was estimated at 5.7×10−14 S−1 (Bunton et al.1960; Kumamoto et al. 1956; Serpersu et al. 1987); more recently, Radzicka and Wolfenden have estimated this value as 1.7xl0−13 S−1. (Radzicka and Wolfenden 1995).This corresponds to an estimated half-life of 130,000 years for a DNA phosphodiester bond in solution, placing DNAhydrolysis among the slowest of biochemical reactions in the absence of enzymes.
Pediatric Trauma Resuscitation

Evaluation and treatment of the pediatric trauma patient has some key differences from the adult patient. Blunt trauma is the most common mechanism of injury, but because of abdominal wall compliance, can produce injuries that resemble penetrating mechanisms (i.e., handlebar injury producing small bowel perforation). Cardiac arrest is most often respiratory in etiology, and a Miller blade and cuffless endotracheal tube (the size of a child’s pinky finger) are used for rapid sequence intubation. Nasogastric tube decompression can relieve respiratory distress from gastric distension in a crying child who has swallowed air. Children have impressive physiologic reserve and can maintain SBP until severe blood loss (>30%), so do not be reassured by normal blood pressure. Intraosseous line is an excellent source of vascular access when peripheral IVs cannot be established. If hypotensive, a bolus of crystalloid (20 mL/kg) may be administered twice while assessing response. Subsequent volume resuscitation should be with blood products (10 mL/kg). Many solid organ injuries in children can safely be managed nonoperatively. A high index of suspicion for non-accidental trauma must be maintained by any practitioner caring for pediatric trauma patients.
Making US cities pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly

Abstract Walking and bicycling are health promoting, environmentally benign, and financially beneficial modes of travel. Many cities in the United States have embraced these modes, but creating pedestrian-and-bike-friendly (PBF) cities in the US context is a tall order. The challenge for planners is to create a city where walking and bicycling live safely and comfortably with faster, longer-distance modes. This chapter presents three key principles that are essential to turning car-friendly cities into pedestrian-and-bicycle-friendly cities: distances, protection, and integration. Two other important challenges are also discussed: unleashing the potential of bicycling, and elevating walking and bicycling in regional planning. These are not the only challenges US cities and others like them face, and success in overcoming them does not guarantee success in increasing walking and bicycling. But cities must confront these challenges on their way toward becoming pedestrian-and-bicycle-friendly cities.
The divergent effects of organizational identification on salesperson and customer outcomes in a friend-selling context

The last decade has witnessed a rapid growth in the number of individuals who sell products and services to their friends. Despite this fast growth, there is scant research on the phenomenon of sel...
ECG-Based Virtual Pathology Stethoscope Tracking Using Transfer Learning

Standardized Patient (SP) based medical simulation is commonly used to teach bedside skills. However, SPs are typically healthy individuals, and the number and range of conditions they can portray are limited. Our research aims to improve the cardiac auscultation (CA) skills of medical students by utilizing a modified stethoscope in tandem with SP. This technology introduces the potential to augment virtual pathology sounds on otherwise healthy SP. In this study, CNN models, previously trained on large-scale image datasets, are transferred to identify the four CA sites. We applied the pre-trained CNN models of ResNet50, InceptionV3, and Alexnet, to the ECG recordings from the CA regions, which are converted to images using a wavelet scalogram. Moreover, data augmentation is performed to supplement limited labeled data. Experimental results illustrate data augmentation with InceptionV3 and Resnet50 models leads to a better performance than our previously reported methods, between 93% and 95% F1 score.
Research on Situation Creation in Curriculum Integration under Cloud Computing Environment

This article quantifies and analyses curriculum integration in a cloud computing environment, and comparatively studies its situation creation from different dimensions. After combing the development and evolution of the learning environment and the application and development trend of teaching strategies, the paper proposes a smart learning environment suggestion for the implementation of teaching strategies. The conclusion of the study enriches the research on the theory of wisdom education, improves the principles of formulating teaching strategies, and provides a reference for practical research on personalized learning in the context of wisdom learning. Finally, from the perspective of teaching and learning elements, five fusion paths of goal fusion, content fusion, activity fusion, scene fusion, and evaluation fusion are proposed to provide guidance and reference for the effective integration of learning space.
Systematic Review of Endoscopic Ear Surgery Outcomes for Pediatric Cholesteatoma.

Objective Endoscopic ear surgery (EES) has been increasingly adopted to enhance visualization during otologic surgery including pediatric cholesteatoma resection. The purpose of this study is to systematically review the current literature reporting rates of residual cholesteatoma to evaluate outcomes of EES in the pediatric population. Data sources PubMed, Embase, Cochrane. Study selection Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis recommendations (PRISMA), we systematically reviewed studies that reported outcomes for cholesteatoma surgery in children using the endoscope. Studies were included if they described the use of the endoscope for middle ear surgery and measured outcomes following cholesteatoma resection in pediatric patients. Data extraction Identified articles were assessed for study design, sample size, inclusion of pediatric population, the presence of a comparison group, outcomes measured such as: residual disease rate, recurrent cholesteatoma, audiologic outcome, quality of life measures, and complications. Data synthesis Fourteen articles in the literature discussed cholesteatoma outcomes in children when the endoscope was employed. Residual disease rate ranged from 0 to 22% when endoscope was used for dissection compared with 11 to 55% when endoscope was used for inspection or not at all. A meta-analysis was conducted on 11 studies. There was a significant risk reduction in residual disease rates for endoscopic dissection when compared with microscope (RR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.37-0.63, p Conclusion Among the studies included in this review, EES was associated with lower rates of residual cholesteatoma compared with traditional microscopic techniques. Additional prospective studies are needed to further assess these findings.
1110. Very Late Onset Infections Amongst Long Term Survivors of Kidney Transplantation

Background Kidney transplant recipients (KTR) are at increased risk for infections immediately post-transplant due to intense immunosuppression. However, this risk decreases over time as immunosuppression is tapered. The incidence of infection in KTR many years after transplant is not well characterized. The aim of this study was to describe these “very-late onset infections” (VLIs) ≥ 10 years after KT.
Systematics of the Early Ordovician (late Tremadocian; Stairsian) trilobite Gonioteloides Kobayashi, with species from the Great Basin, western USA

The Early Ordovician (late Tremadocian; Stairsian) trilobite Gonioteloides Kobayashi has long been known from a small number of pygidia assigned to a single formally named species, and its affinities have not been assessed. Silicified material from western Utah and southeastern Idaho includes six distinct species assigned to the genus, one of which is the type species. Two others (G. moffitti and G. pankowskii) are new and formally named. An additional three species that are clearly new but known from sparse material are described in open nomenclature. Gonioteloides has a stratigraphic distribution through five consecutive trilobite zones in the mid-Stairsian Stage (upper Tremadocian). Although exoskeletal morphology of three species is almost completely known, the phylogenetic affinity of the taxon remains difficult to determine. It is tentatively assigned to Dimeropygidae Hupe.
Solutions of Problems: Real Number Systems, Exponents and Radicals, and Absolute Values and Inequalities

In this chapter, the problems of the first chapter are fully solved, in detail, step-by-step, and with different methods.
Impact of switching to tenofovir alafenamide on weight gain as compared to maintaining a non-tenofovir alafenamide containing regimen.

ABSTRACT Evaluate the impact of switching to an anti-retroviral regimen containing tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) on weight and the development of metabolic complications compared to remaining on a non-TAF containing regimen.Single-center retrospective case-control study.We evaluated people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) who were on an anti-retroviral regimen not containing TAF and were switched to a regimen containing TAF between January 1, 2016 and September 30, 2018. The control group included PLWH on a TAF free regimen throughout the study period. The primary outcome was change in weight from baseline to 12 months postswitch. Secondary outcomes included percent change in weight, change in body mass index (BMI), change in BMI class, and new diagnoses of diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia (HLD) during the study period.PLWH switched to TAF (n = 446) demonstrated significantly greater mean increase in weight compared to the control group (n = 162) (1.97 vs 0.88 kg, P = .01), however the effect was only seen in those switched from tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. Those that switched to TAF also had a significantly higher percent increase in weight, increase in BMI, and BMI class. We observed a higher rate of new diagnosis of HLD in the control group compared to the TAF switch group during the study period.PLWH switched to TAF had greater increases in weight after 1 year as compared to those continuing on a TAF free regimen. However, this did not translate to higher rates of obesity related illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, and HLD during the follow up period.
SU-E-J-48: Imaging Origin-Radiation Isocenter Coincidence for Linac-Based SRS with Novalis Tx

Purpose To implement and evaluate an image-based Winston-Lutz (WL) test to measure the displacement between ExacTrac imaging origin and radiation isocenter on a Novalis Tx system using RIT V6.2 software analysis tools. Displacement between imaging and radiation isocenters was tracked over time. The method was applied for cone-based and MLC-based WL tests. Methods The Brainlab Winston-Lutz phantom was aligned to room lasers. The ExacTrac imaging system was then used to detect the Winston- Lutz phantom and obtain the displacement between the center of the phantom and the imaging origin. EPID images of the phantom were obtained at various gantry and couch angles and analyzed with RIT calculating the phantom center to radiation isocenter displacement. The RIT and Exactrac displacements were combined to calculate the displacement between imaging origin and radiation isocenter. Results were tracked over time. Results Mean displacements between ExacTrac origin and radiation isocenter were: VRT: −0.1mm ± 0.3mm, LNG: 0.5mm ± 0.2mm, LAT: 0.2mm ± 0.2mm (vector magnitude of 0.7 ± 0.2mm). Radiation isocenter was characterized by the mean of the standard deviations of the WL phantom displacements: σVRT: 0.2mm, σLNG: 0.4mm, σLAT: 0.6mm. The linac couch base was serviced to reduce couch walkout. This reduced σLAT tomore » 0.2mm. These measurements established a new baseline of radiation isocenter-imaging origin coincidence. Conclusion The image-based WL test has ensured submillimeter localization accuracy using the ExacTrac imaging system. Standard deviations of ExacTrac-radiation isocenter displacements indicate that average agreement within 0.3mm is possible in each axis. This WL test is a departure from the tradiational WL in that imaging origin/radiation isocenter agreement is the end goal not lasers/radiation isocenter.« less
Osteoblast Adhesion of Breast Cancer Cells with Scanning Acoustic Microscopy

Conditioned medium was collected from a bone-metastatic breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-231, and cultured with an immature osteoblast cell line, MC3T3-E1. Under these conditions the osteoblasts acquired a changed morphology and appeared to adhere in a different way to the substrate and to each other. To characterize cellular adhesion, MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts were cultured with or without MDA-MB-231 conditioned medium for two days. With mechanical scanning acoustic reflection microscopy, we were able to detect a change in the adhesive condition of the interface between the cell and the substrate, but not with optical microscopy
Extension of self-modeling curve resolution to mixtures of more than three components: Part 1. Finding the basic feasible region

Abstract Henry, R.C. and Kim, B.M., 1990. Extension of self-modeling curve resolution to mixtures of more than three components. Part 1. Finding the basic feasible region. Chemometrics and Intelligent Laboratory Systems , 8: 205–216. Self-modeling curve resolution attempts to find all possible solutions to a mixture problem which obey certain natural physical constraints expressed as linear inequalities in an eigenspace. The basic feasible region is the region of the eigenspace defined by the intersection of these constraints. A method is given to determine this region for a mixture of any number of components. The outer boundary of the region is found using linear programming methods to determine all its vertices. The vertices of the inner boundary are also found by linear programming; however, the constraints are formulated in a different eigenspace. The method is demonstrated on a set of simulated airborne particulate composition data. A more complete solution to the mixture problem requires additional physical constraints on the solutions. Incorporating these in the model will be the subject of a later paper. The effects of random errors in the data will also be considered at a later time.