cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Real life information retrieval: a study of user queries on the Web

We analyzed transaction logs of a set of 51,473 queries posed by 18,113 users of Excite, a major Internet search service. We provide data on: (i) queries --- the number of search terms, and the use of logic and modifiers, (ii) sessions --- changes in queries during a session, number of pages viewed, and use of relevance feedback, and (iii) terms --- their rank/frequency distribution and the most highly used search terms. Common mistakes are also observed. Implications are discussed.
Virtual worlds: fast and strategyproof auctions for dynamic resource allocation

We consider the problem of designing fast and strategyproof exchanges for dynamic resource allocation problems in distributed systems. The exchange is implemented as a sequence of auctions, with dynamically arriving requests from agents matched with each auction. Each auction is associated with some consignment of the resources from a single seller. We provide a simple Virtual Worlds (VW) construction, that extends a fast and strategyproof mechanism for a single auction to apply to this sequence-of-auctions setting. Rather than match each buyer with a single auction, the VW mechanism allows buyers to be considered for multiple auctions while retaining strategyproofness.
Putting complex systems to work

A primary objective of this paper (as well as of this symposium) is to examine concepts from the field of complex systems that can be applied to systems engineering. In this paper we focus primarily on the notions of emergence and entities and discuss their implications for systems engineering.
Antagonism of nucleus accumbens M2 muscarinic receptors disrupts operant responding for sucrose under a progressive ratio reinforcement schedule

Abstract Diverse cholinergic signaling mechanisms regulate the excitability of striatal principal neurons and modulate striatal-dependent behavior. These effects are mediated, in part, by action at muscarinic receptors (mAChR), subtypes of which exhibit distinct patterns of expression across striatal neuronal populations. Non-selective mAChR blockade within the nucleus accumbens (NAc) has been shown to disrupt operant responding for food and to inhibit food consumption. However, the specific receptor subtypes mediating these effects are not known. Thus, we evaluated effects of intra-NAc infusions of pirenzepine and methoctramine, mAChR antagonisits with distinct binding affinity profiles, on operant responding for sucrose reward under a progressive ratio (PR) reinforcement schedule. Moderate to high doses of methoctramine disrupted operant responding and reduced behavioral breakpoint. In contrast, pirenzepine failed to impact operant performance at any dose tested. Methoctramine failed to affect latencies to complete appetitive-consummatory response sequences or to impact measures of acoustic startle, suggesting that its’ disruptive effects on operant behavior were not consequent to gross motor impairment. Since methoctramine has a greater affinity for M 2 receptors compared to pirenzepine, which has a greater relative affinity for M 1 and M 3 receptors, these findings suggest that M 2 mAChRs within the NAc regulate behavioral processes underling the acquisition of reward.
Impact of aerosol liquid water on secondary organic aerosol yields of irradiated toluene/propylene/NOx/(NH4)2SO4/air mixtures

Abstract Laboratory experiments were conducted to assess whether the presence of liquid water on pre-existing submicron ammonium sulfate aerosols affects yields of condensible organic compounds. Toluene/propylene/NO x /air mixtures were irradiated in the presence of submicron ammonium sulfate aerosol for a series of relative humidities and ammonium sulfate concentrations, generating aerosols containing organic and inorganic constituents with liquid water concentrations ranging from 4 to 66 μg m −3 . Organic aerosol carbon concentrations, measured on quartz filters, were corrected for uptake of gas-phase organic compounds and converted into mass concentrations of the organic species. Concentrations of the aerosol ammonium, nitrate, sulfate, and liquid water, collected on co-located Teflon filters, were determined along with the total mass concentrations. Reasonable mass balances were found for the aerosols from summing the liquid water and the organic and inorganic components and comparing the totals to gravimetric determinations. A regression analysis showed the secondary organic aerosol yields, that were measured at near ambient concentration levels, could be expressed as a linear function of the organic mass concentration for organic aerosol masses up to 25 μg m −3 . The correlation coefficient of the regression did not improve by adding a term for aerosol liquid water concentrations in the regression. The results suggest that under these concentration conditions the presence of aerosol liquid water does not significantly increase or decrease SOA yields of the toluene oxidation products.
Limitations in the Use of Carbon-Labeled and Tritium-Labeled Thymidine in Cell Culture Studies

Experiments were performed with C/sup 14/-thymidine or unlabeled thymidine added to HeLa S3 cell cultures growing in Eagle's medium. The results show that thymidine in the culture medium causes a concentration-dependent inhibition of growth, with effects being significant at levels as low as 10 mu g/ ml, thymidine in the medium reduces the incorporation of H/sup 3/-uridine into both DNA and RNA, the effect on incorporation into RNA being unexpectedly great, and other nucleosides, added singly or together to the medium, cause effects similar to those induced by thymidine. Thirty-minute incubations with tritiated thymidine, at concentrations from 0.02 to 2.5 mu C/ml, and at two specific activities, did not affect the production of colonies of HeLa S3 cultures. (auth)
Natural history of pruritus in primary biliary cirrhosis

The natural history of pruritus in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) remains poorly defined. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate outcomes of pruritus in clinical trials for ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). In a UDCA-placebo trial begun in 1988 (n = 180), a 55% prevalence rate for pruritus was observed. Serum alkaline phosphatase level and Mayo risk score were independent risk factors for pruritus (P < 0.0001). Among placebo-treated patients (n = 91), the annual risks for development or improvement/resolution of pruritus were 27% and 23%, respectively. For UDCA-treated patients (n = 89), a trend toward improvement in pruritus was observed after 1 year compared to placebo (30% vs. 23%, P = 0.08) but not at 2 or 3 years. In a 3-dose UDCA trial begun in 1995 (n = 155), the overall prevalence of pruritus was significantly lower at 37% when compared to UDCA-placebo participants (P < 0.001). Baseline serum alkaline phosphatase level and Mayo risk score were again independent risk factors for pruritus (P < 0.0001). Among 13 (3.9%) patients with refractory pruritus, symptom resolution (n = 5) or improvement (n = 8) was associated with the use of oral rifampin (300 or 600 mg daily). Two patients treated with rifampin developed biochemical evidence for hepatotoxicity necessitating drug withdrawal. Although less prevalent among recently diagnosed individuals, more than one third of PBC patients develop pruritus. No significant risk reduction in developing pruritus with UDCA therapy was observed compared to placebo-treated patients. The long-term administration of rifampin for refractory pruritus is associated with occasional hepatotoxicity.
Flush with Success: Bathing, Defecation, Worship, and Social Change in South India

Until the 1970s, the focus of the Hindu home was the puja room, or domestic shrine, but during the past 20 years, the focus has shifted to the bathroom. Bathrooms are now the showplaces of the Hindu home where conspicuous consumption and display are the norm, whereas the puja rooms have become increasingly smaller and private. The article discusses the dynamics of this shift in the significance of domestic spaces and the underlying changes in attitudes toward purity and pollution, cleanliness and hygiene, sacredness and secularity, and the categories of public and private that these changes imply. Exploring such changes problematizes the underlying cultural changes, the phenomena of secularization and commodification, and the changes in attitudes and values among the Hindu middle classes.
Retinal pigment epithelial tear after intravitreal ranibizumab for subfoveal CNV secondary to AMD

Purpose To report a case of retinal pigment epithelial tear following intravitreal ranibizumab injection for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization.
Results of valve replacement with omniscience mechanical prostheses

Abstract Background. The Omniscience mechanical valve has been the subject of multiple clinical investigations with variable results, including reports of high complication and reoperation rates. Methods. Records of all patients who received Omniscience valves were reviewed, and follow-up interviews were conducted to determine the incidence of valve-related morbidity, mortality, and functional results. Incidence of complications was expressed as events per 100 patient-years follow-up. Survival and freedom from valve-related complications and mortality were calculated using a product limit method. Results. Between 1984 and 1988, 192 patients received 213 Omniscience valves [93 mitral (M), 79 aortic (A), and 20 multiple (D) valve replacements]. Perioperative mortality was 9%. The incidence of major valve-related morbidity was as follows: thrombosis, 1.30 M, 0.17 A, 0.72 D; endocarditis, 0.48 M, 0.18 A, 0 D; hemorrhagic, 4.67 M, 2.84 A, 5.00 D; embolic, 2.90 M, 2.27 A, 1.57 D; nonstructural dysfunction, 1.66 M, 1.08 A, 2.27 D; reoperation, 4.02 M, 1.99 A, 6.48 D. All explanted valves (n = 43) were examined, and 40% (n = 17) were found to have limited disc excursion in the absence of thrombus. Freedom from valve-related morbidity, mortality, or reoperation at 10 years was 22% for mitral, 39% for aortic, and 17% for multivalve replacements. At follow-up, only 73% of patients were New York Heart Association class I or II. Five- and 10-year estimated survivals were 72% and 55% for M, 80% and 51% for A, and 65% and 50% for D replacements. Conclusions. Use of the Omniscience valve provided poor functional improvement and a significant incidence of valve-related complications, including the need for reoperation.
A review of the 40-year history of the NSREC'S dosimetry and facilities session (1963-2003)

Year after year the Dosimetry and Facilities Session has been a fixture in the Nuclear Space and Radiation Conference (NSREC). As well as being home to subjects absolutely fundamental to dosimetry such as radiation transport, energy deposition, and X-ray photoemission, this session often included newly introduced topics such as hardness assurance and experimental techniques. This review paper describes the 40-year history of this session, whose title changed constantly over the years to reflect new developments. We have attempted to follow the logical chronological development and simultaneously give the reader a pedagogical tour through the main technical areas. Because of the wide variety of subjects in this session, this review covers first the context and background, and then four major subcategories as follows: the development of dosimetry devices and techniques; the basic physics of dosimetry and electron-photon/material interactions; neutron dosimetry and reactor facilities; and bremsstrahlung sources and other radiation facilities.
Public Procurement: Focus on People, Value for Money and Systemic Integrity, Not Protectionism

The authors assert that, in the face of severe economic challenges, efficient and effective public purchasing is critical. Governments should focus on obtaining the greatest possible value for money expended and minimizing corruption, while eschewing counter-productive and inefficient protectionist constraints on procurement regimes. Stimulus investments in strengthening the acquisition workforce - the officials responsible for spending the government's money honestly and consistent with sound, business-based, transparent practices - will pay both short- and long-term dividends.
Body Size Stigmatization in Preschool Children: The Role of Control Attributions

Objective The current study assessed preschool-age children's control attributions for weight and the relationship of these attributions to attitudes and behavioral intentions toward children of different body sizes. Methods Forty-two children (mean age = 5.2 years) were interviewed about the adjectives they attributed to figures of different sizes, their preference for size in playmates, and their beliefs about children's ability to control their own weight. Results Adjective ratings for obese figures were the most negative, with no differences found for thin and average figures; the heaviest figure was also chosen less often than other figures to be a playmate. Internal attributions of control for weight were related to less positive adjective ratings for the heavier figure but not to children's friendship selections. Conclusion Results suggest that the relationship between body size stigmatization and control attributions are consistent with attribution theory for young children. Practical implications of these results and possible interventions are discussed.
Fluorination of olefins and arenes via radical cations

Abstract We have shown that electrolysis of acetonitrile solutions of anthracene compounds that contain fluoride- providing anions results in fluorination at the meso positions in many cases. We have proposed that such reactions occur via attack of the fluoride anions on radical cations formed at the anode. Fluorination occurred when the positive charge of the radical cation was localized but did not occur when delocalization of positive charge occured as with perylene. Anodic fluorination of 1,1-diphenylethene also occurred via a radical cation intermediate yielding 1,2-difluoro-1,1-diphenylethane and 1,1,4,4-tetraphenyl- butadiene as a byproduct. The anodice fluorination of acenaphthylene gave a mixture of the cis and trans 1,2-difluoro addition product. The reaction of iodine and silver(I) fluoride in acetonitrile yields similar results with PAH. With olefins, however, divergent results were obtained. With iodine and silver fluoride in acetonitrile 1,1-diphenylethene gave 1-fluoro-2-iodo-1,1-diphenylethane, even in the presence of (CH 3 ) 4 NF·2HF Iodine and silver hydrogen difluoride, however, gave 1,1-difluoro-1,2-diphenylethane. These results are to be contrasted with those with acenaphthylene previously reported.
Aminolysis of Benzylpenicillin by Aliphatic Diamines

The kinetics of reaction of penicillin with a series of aliphatic diamines, NH2-(CH2)nNH2 (n = 2–6), show terms both first order and second order in diamine. The second-order terms are basicity dependent and account for general base-catalyzed nucleophilic attack by the monoprotonated species. The first-order term includes a contribution by both monoprotonated and unprotonated diamine. An argument in favor of intramolecular general base catalysis by the latter is given and the possible relationship between this mechanism and penicillin antigen formation is discussed.
Pole of rotation analysis of present-day Juan de Fuca Plate motion

Convergence rates between the Juan de Fuca and North American plates are calculated by means of their relative, present-day pole of rotation. A method of calculating the propagation of errors in addition to the instantaneous poles of rotation is also formulated and applied to determine the Euler pole for Pacific-Juan de Fuca. This pole is vectorially added to previously published poles for North America-Pacific and 'hot spot'-Pacific to obtain North America-Juan de Fuca and 'hot spot'-Juan de Fuca, respectively. The errors associated with these resultant poles are determined by propagating the errors of the two summed angular velocity vectors. Under the assumption that hot spots are fixed with respect to a mantle reference frame, the average absolute velocity of the Juan de Puca plate is computed at approximately 15 mm/yr, thereby making it the slowest-moving of the oceanic plates.
An Experiment in Dialectic Information Systems.

This paper describes an experiment concerned with the investigation of presentation formats for Dialectic Information Systems (DIS). DIS are information systems which generate information for a decision maker by means of intense conflict between proponents of two radically opposing positions, theories, points of view, etc. In a DIS, information is generated through the confrontation between “data” and the world-views (Weltanschauungen) of opposing experts. The particular DIS experiment under discussion investigates the effects of explicit DIS training on an individual's world-view. The perception of drama and emotion, the structure of syntehsizing contexts, and the ability to “think” dialectically are also discussed as important features of the particular experiment.
Une histoire sans fin : l'implantation des services de garde pour enfants au Canada durant les années 1970

En raison de la presence croissante des femmes sur le marche du travail depuis quelques decennies, on presse les gouvernements de participer a l'organisation de services de garde pour enfants. Dans certains pays toutefois, et le Canada est du nombre, les positions contradictoires des acteurs impliques font de la lutte pour la mise en place de services universels une « histoire sans fin ». Dans l'episode presente ici, on voit comment, apres les travaux de la Commission royale d'enquete sur la situation de la femme au Canada, les feministes ont vainement tente de faire echec a la logique assistancielle qui, deja, avait engendre des mesures ciblees sur les pauvres et les clienteles « a risque ». Neanmoins, au sein de la bureaucratie federale, un premier noyau de « feministes d'Etat » a combattu pour elargir l'acces de ces services aux classes moyennes.
Crop and field border effects on weed seed predation in the southeastern U.S. coastal plain

a b s t r a c t Weed seed predation was studied in nine organic crop fields (three each of maize, soybeans and hay; 2.5-4.0 ha each) surrounded by four experimental field border types (planted native grass and prairie flowers, planted prairie flowers only, fallow vegetation, or mowed vegetation) during the fall of 2009 and 2010 in eastern North Carolina. We used predator exclusion cages to determine the amount of weed seed removal caused by invertebrates and vertebrates. Three common agricultural weed species, red- root pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus), broadleaf signalgrass (Urochloa platyphylla), and sicklepod (Senna obtusifolia), were adhered to individual cards and placed inside the exclosure cages once a month for two weeks. Activity-density of invertebrate weed seed predators was measured with pitfall traps. Results show that field border type had no effect on seed removal rates, but that crop type heavily influenced both weed seed predation and invertebrate seed predator activity-density. Weed seed predation was highest in the dense, perennial hay fields and lowest in the more open harvested maize fields. Activity- densities for field crickets (Gryllus sp.) and the ground beetle Harpalus pennsylvanicus were also high in the hay fields and low in the maize fields, while the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) seemed to prefer the open maize fields. These results show that increasing vegetative diversity in field borders is not always an effective method for conserving weed seed predators, but that higher quality habitat inside the crop field can be achieved by increasing ground cover. © 2013 Published by Elsevier B.V.
Resolution of 90 nm (λ/5) in an optical transmission microscope with an annular condenser

Resolution of 90 nm was achieved with a research microscope simply by replacing the standard bright-field condenser with a homebuilt illumination system with a cardioid annular condenser. Diffraction gratings with 100 nm width lines as well as less than 100 nm size features of different-shaped objects were clearly visible on a calibrated microscope test slide. The resolution increase results from a known narrower diffraction pattern in coherent illumination for the annular aperture compared with the circular aperture. This explanation is supported by an excellent accord of calculated and measured diffraction patterns for a 50 nm radius disk.
Human immunoglobulin G (IgG) Fc receptor IIA (CD32) polymorphism and IgG2-mediated bacterial phagocytosis by neutrophils

Human immunoglobulin G (IgG) Fc receptor IIa (Fc gamma RIIa; CD32) is expressed on phagocytes, triggers phagocytosis, and represents the sole Fc receptor for IgG (Fc gamma R) capable of interaction with IgG2, the main IgG subclass induced in response to bacterial capsular polysaccharides. The two genetically determined structurally different allotypes of human Fc gamma RIIa, the products of the Fc gamma RIIa-R131 and IIa-H131 alleles, have functionally different reactivities with human IgG2. In humans, the Fc gamma RIIa-H131 allotype is known to interact efficiently with complexed human IgG2, whereas the IIa-H131 allotype does so only poorly. This polymorphism may therefore have implications for IgG2-mediated phagocytosis of encapsulated bacteria and susceptibility to bacterial infections. Phagocytosis of IgG2-opsonized bacteria by homozygous Fc gamma RIIa-R/R131, heterozygous IIa-H/R131, and homozygous IIa-H/H131 polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) was compared. A higher phagocytic capacity of IgG2-opsonized group B type III streptococci by PMN of homozygous H/H131 individuals compared with PMN from homozygous R/R131 individuals was observed (P = 0.001), while heterozygous IIa-H/R131 PMN showed intermediate phagocytosis. In this model system, IgG2-mediated phagocytosis was independent of the Fc gamma RIIIb-NA1/NA2 allelic polymorphism.
Evaluating a century of fire patterns in two Rocky Mountain wilderness areas using digital fire atlases

Changes in fire size, shape, and frequency under different fire-management strategies were evaluated using time series of fire perimeter data (fire atlases) and mapped potential vegetation types (P...
New algorithms for the disk scheduling problem

Processor speed and memory capacity are increasing several times faster than disk speed. This disparity suggests that disk I/O performance will become an important bottleneck. Methods are needed for using disks more efficiently. Past analysis of disk scheduling algorithms has largely been experimental and little attempt has been made to develop algorithms with provable performance guarantees. We consider the following disk scheduling problem. Given a set of requests on a computer disk and a convex reachability function which determines how fast the disk head travels between tracks, our goal is to schedule the disk head so that it services all the requests in the shortest time possible. We present a 3/2-approximation algorithm (with a constant additive term). For the special case in which the reachability function is linear we present an optimal polynomial-time solution. The disk scheduling problem is related to the special case of the asymmetric Traveling Salesman Problem with the triangle inequality (ATSP-/spl Delta/) in which all distances are either 0 or some constant /spl alpha/. We show how to find the optimal tour in polynomial time and describe how this gives another approximation algorithm for the disk scheduling problem. Finally we consider the on-line version of the problem in which uniformly-distributed requests arrive over time. We present an algorithm (related to the above ATSP-/spl Delta/) that appears to give higher throughput than previously existing head scheduling algorithms.
Simulating order fulfillment with product substitutions in an assemble-to-order supply chain

In today's competitive and dynamic business environment, companies need to continually evaluate the effectiveness of their supply chain and look for ways to transform business processes to achieve superior customer service and higher profitability. In this paper we propose a novel availability management process called Available-to-Sell (ATS) that incorporates demand shaping and profitable demand response to drive better operational efficiency through improved synchronization of supply and demand. We develop an order fulfillment simulation model to assess how the proposed availability management system affects supply chain performance, and apply the model in a server computer manufacturing environment. The simulation plays an important role in making strategic business decisions that impact customer service, revenue and profitability.
Network intrusion detection with semantics-aware capability

Malicious network traffic, including widespread worm activity, is a growing threat to Internet-connected networks and hosts. In this paper, we propose a network intrusion detection system (NIDS) with semantics-aware capability. Our NIDS segregates suspicious traffic from the regular traffic flow, extracts binary code from the suspicious traffic, and performs semantic analysis on it to identify potential threats. Our contributions in this work are threefold: (a) we believe our prototype is the first NIDS that provides semantics-aware capability, (b) our implementation is more efficient than what is reported in (M. Christodorescu et al., 2005) (c) our designed templates can capture polymorphic shellcodes with added sequences of stack and mathematic operations.
Contributors to the Overall Health of the War Fighter

to point out the possible causes of these conditions. Kraemer and Szivak stated that military physical fitness programs are out of date. 2 They also stated that “Historically, and even today, the focus of conditioning in the military has been on aerobic type endurance training. Part of this arises out of the ease of implementation of such programs and the simplicity of the exercise prescription when training large numbers of soldiers during a physical training period. Additionally, physical training has often been geared toward performance on aerobic components of annual physical fitness tests, rather than on realworld mission requirements.” Service members run long distances in boots and utilities. Some exercise programs consist of push-ups, pull-ups, and abdominal exercises to exhaustion. Some of these programs include exercises day after day with few light days to allow for recovery. Baechle and Earle stated that overuse injuries result from repeated abnormal stress, applied to a tissue by continuous training or training with too little recovery time. 3 Running everyday for long periods at a time with few recovery days and doing multiple rounds of exercises until exhaustion may contribute to musculoskeletal injuries. Kraemer and Szivak also stated that “Sequencing of workouts to limit overreaching and development of overtraining syndromes that end in loss of duty time and injury are paramount to long-term success. Allowing adequate time for rest and recovery and recognizing the negative influences of extreme exercise programs and excessive endurance training will be vital in moving physical training programs into a more modern perspective as used by elite strength-power anaerobic athletes in sports today. Because the war fighter is an elite athlete, it is time that training approaches that are scientifically based are updated within the military to match the func
Response of Multi-Degree-of-Freedom Yielding Systems

The steady-state frequency response equations for a class of multi-degree-of-freedom yielding structures are determined using approximate analytic techniques. The yield model used is a distributed element model which gives rise to a family of curved hysteresis loops. As an example of the general formulation, a three-degree-of-freedom system is considered and characteristics such as peak response amplitude, resonant frequency shift, and effective damping are analyzed.
Static Spherically Symmetric Kerr-Schild Metrics and Implications for the Classical Double Copy

We discuss the physical interpretation of stress-energy tensors that source static spherically symmetric Kerr-Schild metrics. We find that the sources of such metrics with no curvature singularities or horizons do not simultaneously satisfy the weak and strong energy conditions. Sensible stress-energy tensors usually satisfy both of them. Under most circumstances, these sources are not perfect fluids and contain shear stresses. We show that for these systems the classical double copy associates the electric charge density to the Komar energy density. In addition, we demonstrate that the stress-energy tensors are determined by the electric charge density and their conservation equations.
Algorithms in the Diagnosis and Management of Exotic Diseases. XIX. Major Tropical Viral Infections: Smallpox, Yellow Fever, and Lassa Fever

Smallpox was recognized as a disease entity in ancient times in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. The infection spread to Europe and then to the New World as it was opened up to explorers and colonists from the Old World. In modern times, since Jennerian vaccination became widespread, smallpox was eradicated from most of North America and Western Europe and from Australia and New Zealand W. It has remained as a major disease in much of the rest of the world, however, with the greatest incidence in parts of Africa and the Indian subcontinent. In 1967 the World
An Evaluation of Interior Quality of Shell Eggs Packed in the Carton While Still Warm

Abstract The interior quality of warm shell eggs packed in cartons was compared with that of eggs pre-cooled prior to cartoning. Five carton types were used for a two-week refrigerated storage period. After two weeks, there was no difference in weight loss between the two methods of packing. Eggs packed in molded pulp cartons lost more weight than those packed in plastic foam cartons. There was no difference in interior quality between pre-cooled and warm cartoned eggs after two weeks of refrigerated storage.
Rapid Detection of Salmonella in Food Samples by Real-time PCR

Objective To establish a rapid,sensitive and specific Salmonella detection method with real-time PCR. Methods Based on Salmonella fim Y gene,a pair of primers and a probe were designed.DNA extracted from Salmonella strain was used as template.Magnesium concentration,primer/probe concentration were optimized.Specificity,sensitivity and stability analyses were performed by Salmonella and 10 associated bacteria strains.The constructed real-time PCR method was primarily used for detection of Salmonella in food samples.Results The best Mg~(2+)concentration was 3 mmol/L.Primer concentration and probe concentration were 0.8μmol/L and 1.0μmol/L,respectively.Test showed that the probe was highly conservative and specific.The results of all 10 bacteria strains were negative except for strains of Salmonella.The detection limit of the method was 33 cfu/ml of pure cultures of Salmonella.Stability test showed that co-efficient variables were all less than 5% in 4 different samples.Primary application showed that real-time PCR method was more sensitive,easier and faster than conventional culture method for detection of Salmonella in food.Conclusion Real-time PCR method was easy to handle,rapid and of high sensi- tivity and specificity.It meets the need of development of food microorganism examination,and is valuble to be further extended.
Chvátal---Erdös Type Conditions for Hamiltonicity of Claw-Free Graphs

For a graph H, let $$\alpha (H)$$ź(H) and $$\alpha ^{\prime }(H)$$źź(H) denote the independence number and the matching number, respectively. Let $$k\ge 2$$kź2 and $$r>0$$r>0 be given integers. We prove that if H is a k-connected claw-free graph with $$\alpha (H)\le r$$ź(H)≤r, then either H is Hamiltonian or the Ryja cź ek's closure $$cl(H)=L(G)$$cl(H)=L(G) where G can be contracted to a k-edge-connected $$K_3$$K3-free graph $$G_0^{\prime }$$G0ź with $$\alpha ^{\prime }(G_0^{\prime })\le r$$źź(G0ź)≤r and $$|V(G_0^{\prime })|\le \max \{3r-5, 2r+1\}$$|V(G0ź)|≤max{3r-5,2r+1} if $$k\ge 3$$kź3 or $$|V(G_0^{\prime })|\le \max \{4r-5, 2r+1\}$$|V(G0ź)|≤max{4r-5,2r+1} if $$k=2$$k=2 and $$G_0^{\prime }$$G0ź does not have a dominating closed trail containing all the vertices that are obtained by contracting nontrivial subgraphs. As corollaries, we prove the following:(a)A 2-connected claw-free graph H with $$\alpha (H)\le 3$$ź(H)≤3 is either Hamiltonian or $$cl(H)=L(G)$$cl(H)=L(G) where G is obtained from $$K_{2,3}$$K2,3 by adding at least one pendant edge on each degree 2 vertex;(b)A 3-connected claw-free graph H with $$\alpha (H)\le 7$$ź(H)≤7 is either Hamiltonian or $$cl(H)=L(G)$$cl(H)=L(G) where G is a graph with $$\alpha ^{\prime }(G)=7$$źź(G)=7 that is obtained from the Petersen graph P by adding some pendant edges or subdividing some edges of P. Case (a) was first proved by Xu et al. [19]. Case (b) is an improvement of a result proved by Flandrin and Li [12]. For a given integer $$r>0$$r>0, the number of graphs of order at most $$\max \{4r-5, 2r+1\}$$max{4r-5,2r+1} is fixed. The main result implies that improvements to case (a) or (b) by increasing the value of r and by enlarging the collection of exceptional graphs can be obtained with the help of a computer. Similar results involved degree or neighborhood conditions are also discussed.
Emerging Role of Nutrition in Chronic Disease Prevention: A Look at the Data, with an Emphasis on Vitamin C

Publisher Summary Today, one is at the threshold of a great revolution, and it involves antioxidant nutrients, including vitamin C, vitamin E, and the carotenoids. Increasingly, research suggest that these nutrients are of great importance in reducing the risk of cancer and heart disease, the two major killers in Western society. However, beyond these diseases, it is increasingly apparent that antioxidants may be important in most of the diseases of aging, including age-related eye diseases such as cataracts, and impaired immune function resulting in increased susceptibility to infection. Evidence for an important role of antioxidant nutrients comes from the complete spectrum of biomedical research fields, biochemical research, animal studies, epidemiologic data, and clinical trials. Any one of these alone would be insufficient as a basis for public policy. However, in fact, all of these types of research are reaching the same conclusion, that antioxidant nutrients may be of great importance in preserving health and vigor, and in preventing disease. This chapter reviews some of that evidence, with a special emphasis on vitamin C.
Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy for children and families

AbstractObjective: This article provides information about trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), an evidence-based treatment for traumatized children, adolescents, and families. Method: The evolution of the TF-CBT model is described from the perspective of the treatment developers, including population of focus, conceptual and methodological features of the research, critical challenges and design issues that have been confronted, and how they have been addressed. Major research findings and their implications for clinical practice are also described, as well as future research challenges and directions for young researchers starting out in this field. Results: The TF-CBT model has been been tested in a variety of challenging research settings and has strong evidence for improving trauma symptoms across diverse populations of traumatized children. Conclusions: TF-CBT is an effective and widely used treatment for addressing childhood trauma.
4CeeD: Real-Time Data Acquisition and Analysis Framework for Material-related Cyber-Physical Environments

In this paper, we present a data acquisition and analysis framework for materials-to-devices processes, named 4CeeD, that focuses on the immense potential of capturing, accurately curating, correlating, and coordinating materials-to-devices digital data in a real-time and trusted manner before fully archiving and publishing them for wide access and sharing. In particular, 4CeeD consists of novel services: a curation service for collecting data from microscopes and fabrication instruments, curating, and wrapping of data with extensive metadata in real-time and in a trusted manner, and a cloud-based coordination service for storing data, extracting meta-data, analyzing and finding correlations among the data. Our evaluation results show that our novel cloud framework can help researchers significantly save time and cost spent on experiments, and is efficient in dealing with high-volume and fast-changing workload of heterogeneous types of experimental data.
Out-of-Network Emergency Department Use among Managed Medicaid Beneficiaries.

Author(s): Raven, Maria C; Guzman, David; Chen, Alice H; Kornak, John; Kushel, Margot | Abstract: ObjectiveOut-of-network emergency department (ED) use, or use that occurs outside the contracted network, may lead to increased care fragmentation and cost. We examined factors associated with out-of-network ED use among Medicaid beneficiaries.Data sources and study settingEnrollment, claims, and encounter data for adult Medi-Cal health plan members with 1+ ED visits and complete Medicaid eligibility during the study period from 2013 to 2014.Study designWe analyzed the data to identify factors associated with out-of-network ED use classified by mode of arrival (ambulance vs. nonambulance).Data extraction methodsWe extracted encounter, ambulance, and ED census data and linked them together based on ED visit date.Principal findingsOf 11,143 ED visits, 6,808 (61.1 percent) were out-of-network. The number of hours the study ED was on ambulance diversion increased the odds of out-of-network visits for the 3,365 (30.2 percent) ED visits arriving by ambulance. For all visit types, assignment to a primary care clinic at the in-network hospital and having had any primary care visit during the study period decreased the odds of out-of-network ED care. Individuals were more likely to go out-of-network for ED care if they lived in neighborhoods containing out-of-network EDs.ConclusionsThere are a number of factors related to out-of-network ED use, including the proximity and density of out-of-network EDs, race and ethnicity, a prior history of out-of-network ED use, and individuals' connection to primary care. EDs that serve Medicaid beneficiaries may need to explore alternative sites and modalities of care as alternatives to the ED, and consider their ability to absorb large numbers of out-of-network visits given already limited capacity.
ActBot: Sharing high-level robot AI scripts

Robot behaviors are often hard-coded by skilled engineers to perform specific actions in reaction to specific events. These codes are either high level and difficult to extend to new domains (for example chatbot scripts that are restricted to dialogs) or low-level and difficult to aggregate as a corpus (like robot control AIs). In this paper a general script format is proposed for event-triggered rules definition of high-level decisions systems (dialog, actuation decision, display, etc). Using such format, merging two robot AI can be done by simply concatenating two sets of rules (like in AIML Chatbot). Our proposal format is inspired by hypergraph theory and solutions several problems found in classic decision knowledge representations. We dubbed the format ActBot (in reference to ChatBot).
Fillet flap (finger)

This chapter describes in detail the surgical steps for performing a fillet flap of a digit. Fillet flaps can be performed on essentially on any extremity and their appendages, and thus, this operative note may serve as a template/concept for improvisation to be applied as such. This procedure utilizes the “spare parts” approach for reconstruction and wound coverage. Indications, surgical steps, postoperative care, an operative dictation template, coding information and suggested readings/references are included.
Gas chromatographic determination of total fat extracted from food samples using hydrolysis in the presence of antioxidant.

A method for the quantitative measurement of total fat in foodstuffs is described. Fat is extracted by hydrolysis and inter-esterified to fatty acid methyl esters for gas chromatographic analysis. Total fat and fatty acid patterns are calculated to comply with the regulations for food label declaration under the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990. Quantitative recovery of fat from soy oil is obtained in the presence of the antioxidant pyrogallol. Extraction and measurements of fat from a variety of food samples (e.g., cereal, baked goods, dairy, and fish) are also reported, and fat levels ranged from 0.8 to 95% (w/w). Coefficients of variation of < or = 5% demonstrate the efficiency of the method.
Abstract 374: Genetic Disruption of Guanylyl Cyclase/Natriuretic Peptide Receptor-AUpregulates Renal (Pro)Renin Receptor Gene Expression in Npr1 Mutant Mice

Mice carrying targeted-disruption of guanylyl cyclase/natriuretic peptide receptor-A (GC-A/NPRA) gene ( Npr1 ) exhibits hypertension, cardiac, and kidney hypertrophy, and congestive heart failure. The objective of the present study was to determine the role of (pro)renin receptor (P)RR in the kidneys of Npr1 gene-disrupted (-/-; 0-copy), and wild-type (+/+; 2-copy) mice. Disruption of Npr1 gene leads to increased systolic blood pressure by 36mmHg in 0-copy mice (138.4 ± 3.6) as compared with wild-type mice (102.2 ± 3.2 mm Hg). The renal (P)RR protein and mRNA levels were increased by 3-fold (4.8 ± 0.7 vs.1.3±0.4) and 3.5-fold (5.0 ± 0.5 vs.1.9 ± 0.3), respectively, in 0-copy mice compared with 2-copy control mice. To identify the Angiotensin II-independent mechanism of (P)RR, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, captopril and angiotensin II receptor-1 (AT1R) antagonist, losartan were administered to all Npr1 mice genotypes. The protein expression of ACE (3.9 ± 0.6 vs.1.9 ± 0.4; 2-fold) and AT1R (4.5 ± 0.4 vs.1.7; 2.5-fold) were decreased in 0-copy treated mice compared with 0-copy control mice, whereas the (P)RR expression was not altered by both inhibitors. Further, expression of phospho-extracellular regulated kinases (p-Erk1/2, 5.3 ± 0.7 vs 1.6 ± 0.5; 3-fold) and phospho-p38 (p-p38, 8.0 ± 0.8 vs. 2.1 ± 0.7; 4-fold) were increased in 0-copy mice as compared with 2-copy control mice. Treatment with Erk1/2 inhibitor U0126 and p38 inhibitor SB203580 attenuated the levels of p-Erk1/2 (6.8 ± 0.5 ± vs.1.1 ± 0.3; 6-fold) and p-p38 (4.7 ± 0.4 vs. 1.6 ± 0.5; 3-fold) in 0-copy treated mice as compared with 0-copy control mice. Captopril and losartan did not alter the expression levels of p-Erk1/2 and p-p38 in 0-copy mice as compared with 0-copy treated mice. The present results suggests that absence of NPRA/cGMP signaling causes increased expression of (P)RR and leads to MAPKs activation in the Npr1 null mutant mice.
Bond with Me If You Can! Natural Product, Covalent Ligand, and Reactivity-Based Probe Compete for Cysteine in PP2A Complex.

In this issue of Cell Chemical Biology, Grossman et al. (2017) disclose a chemoproteomics-enabled strategy to identify the cysteine-reactive target(s) of the anti-cancer natural product withaferin A and then screen a cysteine-reactive fragment library to discover a covalent ligand for the same target.
Real-world multicentre experience of the pathological features of colonic ischaemia and their relationship to symptom duration, disease distribution and clinical outcome.

AIM To determine the pathological features of colonic ischaemia (CI) and their relationship to symptom duration, disease distribution and clinical outcome in a real-world, clinical setting. METHOD A retrospective, multicentre chart review was performed in patients diagnosed with CI at Montefiore Medical Center (January 2005 to July 2015), and Yale-New Haven Hospital (January 2005 to June 2010). Patients were included if clinical presentation, colonoscopic findings and colonic pathology were all consistent with CI. RESULTS Six hundred and sixteen patients with pathologically proven CI were included. Common pathological findings included inflammation (51.1%), ulceration (38.2%), fibrosis (26.0%) and necrosis (20.4%). Infarction and ghost cells were seen in 1.6% and 0.2% of cases, respectively. There was a significant relationship between symptom duration and hyalinization of the lamina propria (P = 0.05) and cryptitis/crypt abscesses (P = 0.01). Patients with isolated right CI (IRCI) were more likely than patients with isolated left CI (ILCI) to exhibit necrosis (P < 0.01), cryptitis/crypt abscess (P < 0.01) and inflammation (P = 0.03). Patients with poor outcomes were more likely to exhibit necrosis (P < 0.01) and capillary fibrin thrombi (P < 0.01) and less likely to exhibit fibrosis (P < 0.01) and epithelial changes (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION CI is accompanied by a broad spectrum of pathological findings. The traditional pathognomonic findings of CI are rare and cannot be relied upon to exclude the diagnosis. Patients with IRCI and/or poor outcomes were more likely to have pathological findings of necrosis than patients who had ILCI and/or nonpoor outcomes.
The Archaeology of El Niño Events and Other “Natural” Disasters

Archaeological research on disasters has increased substantially since Sheets's 1980 review of the topic, and with heightened media coverage and funding for the study of such events, archaeological interest will continue to grow. This paper examines how prehistorians have incorporated disasters into their research since 1980, using the literature on El Nino as an illustrative case, and assesses this work in relation to geographical approaches to disaster as well as concepts that have been developed within the “new ecologies.”
Professional Graphic Designers Approaching Visual Interface Design

This case study involves the redesign of the visual interface for an instructional website. Three expert designers were individually asked to redesign the interface. Through stimulated-recall sessions, the participants commented on their initial design. The data patterns indicated divergences, as well as convergences, among the participants. Participants varied from a basic linear process to successive approximations. Similarities included the primary focus on an anchor graphic, the exploration of colors and typography, and the extensive use of resources.
From Family Support to Goal-Directed Behaviors: Examining the Mediating Role of Cognitive Well-Being Factors

Based on the engine of well-being model (Jayawickreme et al. in Rev Gen Psychol 16(4):327, 2012), we examined the potential mediating role of two cognitive well-being factors (i.e., hope and life satisfaction) in the relation between perceived family support and goal-directed behaviors (i.e., engagement in meaningful instrumental activity). We employed a longitudinal mediation design, using three waves of data across 3 years from a large sample of adolescents (Mage = 14.6 years, SD = 2.06). We tested the model in the full sample first and then in two racial groups via multi-group comparison. In the full sample, we found that hope fully mediated the relation between perceived family support and engagement in meaningful instrumental activity. The mediation effect of life satisfaction was non-significant. Multi-group analysis revealed that for European American adolescents, the total effect of perceived family support on goal-directed behaviors was non-significant, but hope fully mediated the relation between family support and engagement in meaningful instrumental activity. For African American adolescents, the total effect of perceived family support on goal-directed behaviors was significant, and hope fully mediated the association between family support and meaningful instrumental activity. These findings suggest that perceived family support exerts a stronger effect on positive behaviors in African American adolescents compared to European American adolescents, but hope functioned as the “engine” in the proposed model, transferring energy from perceived family support to goal-directed behaviors in adolescents, regardless of race. Future directions and implications are discussed.