cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prioritizing local inter-domain communication in Xen

As computer hardware becomes increasingly powerful, there is an ongoing trend towards integrating QoS-critical systems as virtual machines (domains) on a common, virtualized computing platform. Given the lower latency of local inter-domain communication (IDC) on the same host (compared to inter-host communication), system administrators may preferably colocate domains so that they can communicate locally. When multiple IDC flows contend on the same host, it is important to properly prioritize IDC flows among domains to meet their respective QoS requirements. This paper examines the limitations of IDC in Xen, a widely used open-source virtual machine monitor (VMM) that recently has been extended to support real-time domain scheduling. We find that both the VMM scheduler and the manager domain can significantly impact IDC QoS under different conditions, and show that improving the VMM scheduler alone cannot effectively prevent priority inversion for local IDC. To address those limitations, we present RTCA, a Real-Time Communication Architecture within the manager domain in Xen, along with experimental results that demonstrate the latency of high-priority IDC can be improved dramatically from ms to μs by a combination of the RTCA and a real-time VMM scheduler.
Myocardial fibrosis associated with aldosterone or angiotensin II administration: attenuation by calcium channel blockade.

Chronic administration of either angiotensin II (Ang II) or aldosterone (ALDO) leads to myocardial fibrosis. Myofibroblasts (myoFb) play a major role in collagen accumulation at sites of tissue repair. Pathophysiologic bases of cardiac fibrosis in such chronic primary or secondary hyperaldosteronism are under investigation. In vitro studies have shown that Ang II and ALDO each increase intracellular calcium and this second messenger is involved in altered fibroblast collagen turnover and growth. In the present study, we tested our hypothesis that calcium channel blockade would attenuate myocardial fibrosis that accompanies administration of either circulating Ang II or ALDO. Five animal groups were studied: (1) untreated age- and sex-matched control rats; (2) intact rats receiving Ang II (75 ng/min) for 2 weeks; (3) rats receiving Ang II plus mibefradil (30 mg/kg/day p.o.), a calcium channel blocker, for 2 weeks; (4) uninephrectomized rats receiving ALDO (0.75 microgram/h) together with a high salt diet for 6 weeks; and (5) uninephrectomized rats receiving ALDO and high salt diet plus mibefradil. Myocardial fibrosis was assessed by hydroxyproline concentration and interstitial and perivascular collagen volume fraction examined by videodensitometry on heart sections stained with collagen-specific picrosirius red. MyoFb were identified by immunohistochemical alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA) labeling. ACE binding was determined by in vitro quantitative autoradiography. Compared to controls, in rats receiving either Ang II or ALDO we found: (1) myocardial fibrosis, expressed as microscopic scars, and perivascular fibrosis in both right and left ventricles with increased (P<0.05) hydroxyproline concentration and collagen volume fraction; (2) myoFb at sites of fibrosis, where high ACE binding density was also present; and (3) hydroxyproline concentration and collagen volume fraction were significantly (P<0.05) attenuated and the extent of alpha-SMA labeling and ACE binding density were each markedly (P<0.01) reduced in rats receiving either hormone plus mibefradil. This study therefore suggests calcium may modulate fibrous tissue formation in rat models of hyperaldosteronism by altering MyoFb collagen turnover and cell growth. It further is our contention that these findings implicate calcium as a signal used by effector hormones of the RAAS to promote tissue repair and that calcium channel blockade may offer advantage as a cardioprotective strategy in this setting.
Dendrimer‐based metal chelates: A new class of magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents

We have developed a new class of magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents with large proton relaxation enhancements and high molecular relaxivities. The reagents are built from the polyamidoamine form of Starburst dendrimers in which free amines have been conjugated to the chelator 2-(4-isothiocyanatobenzyl)-6-methyl-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid. The dendrimer gadolinium poly-chelates have enhancement factors, i.e., the ratio of the relaxivity per Gd(III) ion to that of Gd(III)-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, of up to 6. These factors are more than twice those observed for analogous metal-chelate conjugates formed with serum albumins, polylysine, or dextran. One of the dendrimer-metal chelate conjugates has 170 gadolinium ions bound, which greatly exceeds the number bound to other macromolecular agents reported in the literature, and has a molecular relaxivity of 5,800 (mM.s)-1, at 25 MHz, 20 degrees C, and pH of 7.4. We observed that these dendrimer-based agents enhance conventional MR images and 3D time of flight MR angiograms, and that those with molecular weights of 8,508 and 139,000 g/mole have enhancement half lives of 40 +/- 10 and 200 +/- 100 min, much longer than the 24 +/- 4 min measured for Gd(III)-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid. Our results suggest that this new and powerful class of contrast agents have the potential for diverse and extensive application in MR imaging.
Extended photoionization calculations for xenon

Partial photoionization cross sections and angular distribution asymmetry parameters for atomic xenon have been calculated in the relativistic random-phase approximation for 26 jj-coupled channels over a wide range of energies (0--1 keV). The effects of relaxation on the 4d and 3d cross sections are examined by using a modification of the relativistic random-phase approximation that calculates excited-state orbitals in the potential of the relaxed ion. Results are compared with Hartree-Fock theory, with the nonrelativistic random-phase approximation, and with recent photoemission experiments.
Ready-to-eat cereal used as a meal replacement promotes weight loss in humans.

Objectives: The primary aim was to determine whether ready-to-eat cereal used as a portion-controlled, meal replacement promotes weight loss. Additional aims were to determine whether weight loss differed if the cereal was provided as a single brand or variety of brands and whether this use of ready-to-eat cereal promotes continued weight loss following transition to a high-fiber, high-volume (Volumetric) diet.Methods: Body composition was measured and diet records, appetite questionnaires and activity logs were completed during baseline and end of intervention weeks 2 and 6. Participants were assigned to one of four treatment groups. Group 1 (6 M, 22 F, mean age 43.0 ± 1.9 years, mean initial BMI 28.9 ± 0.4 kg/m2) consumed a serving of a single brand of ready-to-eat cereal with 2/3 C skim milk and a 100 Kcal portion of fruit for breakfast and as a replacement for either lunch or dinner for weeks 1 and 2. No restrictions were placed on the non-cereal meal. They then followed the Volumetric diet for weeks ...
Chromatin remodelling: the industrial revolution of DNA around histones

Chromatin remodellers are specialized multi-protein machines that enable access to nucleosomal DNA by altering the structure, composition and positioning of nucleosomes. All remodellers have a catalytic ATPase subunit that is similar to known DNA-translocating motor proteins, suggesting DNA translocation as a unifying aspect of their mechanism. Here, we explore the diversity and specialization of chromatin remodellers, discuss how nucleosome modifications regulate remodeller activity and consider a model for the exposure of nucleosomal DNA that involves the use of directional DNA translocation to pump 'DNA waves' around the nucleosome.
The transcriptional activator LdtR from 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus' mediates osmotic stress tolerance.

The causal agent of Huanglongbing disease, ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’, is a non-culturable, gram negative, phloem-limited α-proteobacterium. Current methods to control the spread of this disease are still limited to the removal and destruction of infected trees. In this study, we identified and characterized a regulon from ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ involved in cell wall remodeling, that contains a member of the MarR family of transcriptional regulators (ldtR), and a predicted L,D-transpeptidase (ldtP). In Sinorhizobium meliloti, mutation of ldtR resulted in morphological changes (shortened rod-type phenotype) and reduced tolerance to osmotic stress. A biochemical approach was taken to identify small molecules that modulate LdtR activity. The LdtR ligands identified by thermal shift assays were validated using DNA binding methods. The biological impact of LdtR inactivation by the small molecules was then examined in Sinorhizobium meliloti and Liberibacter crescens, where a shortened-rod phenotype was induced by growth in presence of the ligands. A new method was also developed to examine the effects of small molecules on the viability of ‘Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus’, using shoots from HLB-infected orange trees. Decreased expression of ldtRLas and ldtPLas was observed in samples taken from HLB-infected shoots after 6 h of incubation with the LdtR ligands. These results provide strong proof of concept for the use of small molecules that target LdtR, as a potential treatment option for Huanglongbing disease.
A retrospective study of polyallergy as a marker of nonepileptic seizures in the epilepsy monitoring unit.

Background Distinguishing epileptic seizures from nonepileptic seizures (NES) can be difficult, given their similar motoric manifestations and a common comorbidity. Although video electroencephalography in an epilepsy monitoring unit ideally remains the gold standard for the identification of NES, a number of "soft signs" have been proposed to indicate a greater likelihood that convulsive episodes are NES rather than epileptic in nature. Trainees at our institution have cited the presence of multiple listed allergies as indicative of a higher likelihood of NES. Objective The goal of this study was to provide a statistical analysis of polyallergy and its association with patients with NES admitted for video electroencephalograph monitoring. Methods Records of all epilepsy monitoring unit patients at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center between 2006 and 2012 were reviewed for age, sex, electroencephalograph diagnosis, antiepileptic drugs previously tried, and allergy number. Results A total of 1834 patient records were used for analysis. The group classified as nonepileptic had the highest average number of allergies at 1.56, whereas the group classified as epileptic had the lowest average number of allergies at 0.70. A logistic regression model revealed that for every increase in the number of allergies greater than zero, the odds of being nonepileptic increases by 1.38 times. Conclusions This study supports polyallergy as a predictive sign for NES. Based on a logistic regression model, we claim that each additional allergy is associated with an increase in the likelihood of a nonepileptic diagnosis by 38%.
Recovery of loss of spatial resolution at depth in planar images

Abstract Resolution and contrast recovery in planar nuclear images at depth with a high purity germanium (HPGe) camera has been achieved through use of a weighted back projection (WBP) method. The algorithm is derivable from Bayes' theorem using the point spread function of the camera. Three variations in the formulation of WBP are presented. The characteristics and performance of each method are discussed. Application of WBP is shown to increase spatial resolution and contrast without a concomitant reduction in signal to noise. The algorthm has been applied to the scintillation camera, yielding significant resolution and contrast recovery despite the presence of scatter and textured noise not present in the HPGe images.
Synthesis of Stable Derivatives of Cycloprop-2-ene Carboxylic Acid

Large-scale syntheses of 3-(cycloprop-2-en-1-oyl)oxazolidinones from acetylene and ethyl diazoacetate are described. Unlike other cyclopropenes that bear a single substitutent at C-3, these compounds are stable to long-term storage. Although the cyclopropene derivatives are unusually stable, they are reactive toward cyclic and acyclic dienes in stereoselective Diels−Alder reactions.
A Technique and a Model for Multi-Dimensional Attitude Scaling

HE MAJORITY of techniques for scaling attitudinal judgments or responses produce scales which are one-dimensional. The scale consists of a single continuum of opinion along which are located a succession of opinion items (or of people). This continuum generally ranges between proand antithe attitudinal object. Examples of such one-dimensional techniques are Thurstone scales1, Likert scales2, paired comparisons scales3, successive intervals scales4, and Guttman scales.5 It is apparent
Non-innocent ligand reservoirs for reducing or oxidizing equivalents in carbonylrhenium(I) complexes: 1,1′-Bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (dppf) and bis-triazinyl-pyridine (BTP)

Abstract Organometallic complexes of Re(I) with ligands having opposite redox properties have been synthesized and structurally characterized. X-ray crystal structures of the complexes show typical fac-ReI(CO)3 coordination to the redox active ligands. Complete electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical studies on the ligands and the metal complexes were performed. The IR-spectroelectrochemical responses were monitored using the fac-Re(CO)3 unit as a probe. The 15–20 cm−1 hypsochromic or bathochromic shift of the νCO bands upon reduction or oxidation is attributed to ligand-centered processes.
Brain Machine Interface and Limb Reanimation Technologies: Restoring Function After Spinal Cord Injury Through Development of a Bypass System

Functional restoration of limb movement after traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) remains the ultimate goal in SCI treatment and directs the focus of current research strategies. To date, most investigations in the treatment of SCI focus on repairing the injury site. Although offering some promise, these efforts have met with significant roadblocks because treatment measures that are successful in animal trials do not yield similar results in human trials. In contrast to biologic therapies, there are now emerging neural interface technologies, such as brain machine interface (BMI) and limb reanimation through electrical stimulators, to create a bypass around the site of the SCI. The BMI systems analyze brain signals to allow control of devices that are used to assist SCI patients. Such devices may include a computer, robotic arm, or exoskeleton. Limb reanimation technologies, which include functional electrical stimulation, epidural stimulation, and intraspinal microstimulation systems, activate neuronal pathways below the level of the SCI. We present a concise review of recent advances in the BMI and limb reanimation technologies that provides the foundation for the development of a bypass system to improve functional outcome after traumatic SCI. We also discuss challenges to the practical implementation of such a bypass system in both these developing fields.
Poverty, gender and literary criticism Reassessing Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth

Attention to the neglected theme of poverty in The House of Mirth offers a perspective on Edith Wharton that contravenes the leisure-class ethos in which critics tend to place her. Wharton's novel ...
Interaction of growth hormone and calorie restriction

Sustaining health and extending longevity have been perpetual goals of all human societies. For almost as long, there has been an ongoing effort to develop treatments that could prevent aging and, more importantly, make us live longer and more healthily. At present, there is one known intervention that delays aging, increases lifespan and prevents diseases in many animal species: calorie restriction. There are other physiological factors that are believed to have corresponding impacts on longevity and aging, including growth hormone and the insulin/insulin-like growth factor 1 signaling pathway. However, there is still much debate regarding the complex action of growth hormone on lifespan and aging.
My Stepfather Is a She

Homosexual marriages in which children are reared are increasingly in evidence as one of the proliferating new family forms. Mental health practitioners will be called on to involve themselves professionally with such families and to develop skills appropriate to support the functioning of such unions, as well as to alleviate their distress. This article consists of the treatment of a lesbian couple and their two sons.
Localized Data Fusion for Kernel k-Means Clustering with Application to Cancer Biology

In many modern applications from, for example, bioinformatics and computer vision, samples have multiple feature representations coming from different data sources. Multiview learning algorithms try to exploit all these available information to obtain a better learner in such scenarios. In this paper, we propose a novel multiple kernel learning algorithm that extends kernel k-means clustering to the multiview setting, which combines kernels calculated on the views in a localized way to better capture sample-specific characteristics of the data. We demonstrate the better performance of our localized data fusion approach on a human colon and rectal cancer data set by clustering patients. Our method finds more relevant prognostic patient groups than global data fusion methods when we evaluate the results with respect to three commonly used clinical biomarkers.
Improving the credibility of child sexual assault victims in court: the impact of a sexual assault nurse examiner

The present study investigated the influence of a sexual assault nurse examiner's (SANE's) testimony on mock juror perceptions of a child or adolescent victim of child sexual assault. Community members (N = 252, 156 females) read a fictional criminal trial summary of a child sexual assault case in which the victim was 6 or 15 years old and the prosecution presented medical testimony from a SANE or a traditional registered nurse (RN), or did not present medical testimony. Mock jurors were more likely to render guilty verdicts when a SANE testified compared with the other two testimony conditions. In addition, pro-victim judgments (e.g., sympathy toward the victim) and negative defendant judgments (e.g., anger toward the defendant) mediated this relation. Finally, cognitive network representations of the case demonstrated that the RN and no-medical-testimony groups were similar and the SANE group was distinct from the other two conditions. We discuss these results in terms of the implications of SANE testimony in child sexual assault court cases.
MedTime: A temporal information extraction system for clinical narratives

Temporal information extraction from clinical narratives is of critical importance to many clinical applications. We participated in the EVENT/TIMEX3 track of the 2012 i2b2 clinical temporal relations challenge, and presented our temporal information extraction system, MedTime. MedTime comprises a cascade of rule-based and machine-learning pattern recognition procedures. It achieved a micro-averaged f-measure of 0.88 in both the recognitions of clinical events and temporal expressions. We proposed and evaluated three time normalization strategies to normalize relative time expressions in clinical texts. The accuracy was 0.68 in normalizing temporal expressions of dates, times, durations, and frequencies. This study demonstrates and evaluates the integration of rule-based and machine-learning-based approaches for high performance temporal information extraction from clinical narratives.
A new T2 preparation technique for ultrafast gradient‐echo sequence

The T2 contrast in images obtained with driven equilibrium (90degreesx-180degreesx-90degreesx) prepared ultrafast gradient-echo sequence is compromised by the longitudinal magnetization build-up after the second 90degreesx pulse, which does not carry T2 information. This paper describes a new T2 contrast preparation technique for ultrafast gradient-echo sequence that suppresses the signal arising from the build-up. By dephasing in the preparation and rephasing in the acquisition of the gradient echoes, the new technique eliminates signals that are not dictated by the T2 contrast in a driven-equilibrium approach. Consequently, it generates an image that is essentially T2-weighted. Phantom and in vivo experiments were conducted to validate the technique and to demonstrate its clinical utility. These studies indicate that the technique works properly and can be used for in vivo studies.
Automating the selection of expansion modes using the principal components of time method for solving the inverse problem of electrocardiography

A common approach for estimating epicardial potentials from measured body sutface potentials is to solve the problem using some type of regularization at each point in time independently. Greensite and Huiskamp huve previously proposed a solution based on expanding the solution in the principle time components of the data. However; their proposed method did not indicate how many modes to use in this expansion, or indicate how to automate it. In this paper; we examined an automated solution to this problem. This automated procedure was applied to data obtained during a study on swine. For first order Ekhonov regularization, the new method produced an averuge relative error of 0.56 over all six depolarization sequences, compared with 0.61 for the traditional approach. While the new automated method is not necessarily optimal, it does consistently produce smaller relative errors than the traditional approach.
Low-power self-equalizing driver for silicon carrier interconnects with low bit error rate

This paper demonstrates and compares the power efficiency of a standard differential current mode driver operating over an FR-4 channel with an improved driver with pre-emphasis operating over a silicon carrier channel. The drivers were designed for a 45 nm process, and both achieved a bit error rate of 10−15 errors per bit while operating at 4 Gbps. The power of the improved driver was reduced to one-fourth that of the standard driver through the utilization of the silicon carrier channels and pre-emphasis.
Pedagogies for Developing Cross-Cultural Communication Competencies in an Era of Virtual Collaboration

This paper analyzes data from two different approaches to teaching cross-cultural communication skills to engineering students. U.S. students in a junior-level professional development course received classroom instruction in cross-cultural communication and enacted case study simulations; U.S. students in a senior-level capstone design course partnered with Swedish students in a digital media course to develop white papers and interactive web sites about the capstone projects. Research data includes pre- and post-course surveys, student presentations, focus groups, and transcripts of all exchanges (phone and electronic) between U.S. and Swedish students. Preliminary analysis suggests that although the capstone partnership provided direct experience of cross-cultural communication, the complexity of this real collaboration in fact limited the degree of meta-knowledge students developed in comparison to the in-class simulation.
Mob1p interacts with the Sid2p kinase and is required for cytokinesis in fission yeast

Abstract A great deal is now known about how cells regulate entry into mitosis, but only recently have the mechanisms controlling exit from mitosis and cytokinesis begun to be revealed. In the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae , Mob1p interacts with the Dbf2p kinase and cells containing mutations in these genes arrest in late anaphase [1,2]. Proteins related to Mob1p are present in both plants and animals, but information about Mob1p function has been obtained only from budding yeast. Here, we describe the identification and characterization of Mob1p from Schizosaccharomyces pombe . Mob1p associates with the Sid2p kinase and like Sid2p, Mob1p is required for the initiation of cytokinesis, but not for mitotic exit. Mob1p localizes to the spindle pole body (SPB) and to the cell-division site during cell division, suggesting that it might be involved in transducing the signal to initiate cell division from the SPB to the division site. Mob1p is required for Sid2p localization, and Mob1p localization requires the function of the cdc7, cdc11, cdc14, spg1, sid1, sid2, and sid4 genes, suggesting that together with Sid2p, Mob1p functions at the end of the signaling cascade required to regulate the onset of cytokinesis at the end of mitosis.
What Do You Need to Know to Use a Search Engine? Why We Still Need to Teach Research Skills

For the vast majority of queries (for example, navigation, simple fact lookup, and others), search engines do extremely well. Their ability to quickly provide answers to queries is a remarkable testament to the power of many of the fundamental methods of AI. They also highlight many of the issues that are common to sophisticated AI question-answering systems. It has become clear that people think of search programs in ways that are very different from traditional information sources. Rapid and ready-at-hand access, depth of processing, and the way they enable people to offload some ordinary memory tasks suggest that search engines have become more of a cognitive amplifier than a simple repository or front-end to the Internet. Like all sophisticated tools, people still need to learn how to use them. Although search engines are superb at finding and presenting information—up to and including extracting complex relations and making simple inferences—knowing how to frame questions and evaluate their results for accuracy and credibility remains an ongoing challenge. Some questions are still deep and complex, and still require knowledge on the part of the search user to work through to a successful answer. And the fact that the underlying information content, user interfaces, and capabilities are all in a continual state of change means that searchers need to continually update their knowledge of what these programs can (and cannot) do.
Stereochemical Control in Hex-5-Enyl Radical Cyclizations

The Wittig reaction of the sugars readily provide hex-5-ene-1-ols which were converted to hex-5-enyl radicals via one of the variations of the Barton deoxygenation reaction (equation 1)1.
Peroxide vulcanization of elastomers

Abstract This paper discusses the competing chemical reactions involved in the peroxide vulcanization of elastomers. Each of these reactions can have a profound effect on the cure characteristics a...
Metal Contacts to n- AlxGa1-xN

In this paper we report on the formation of ohmic contacts to n- AlxGa1-xN alloys. The films were produced by plasma-assisted MBE and doped n-type with silicon at doping levels between 1018 to 1019 cm−3. Contacts were formed by sequential deposition of 200 A of Ti and 2000 A of Al and the contact resistivities were determined from TLM measurements. For low Al- content (x<. 10) the I-V characteristics are linear with contact resistivities of between 10−4 to 10−5 cm2. The contacts become progressively non-ohmic at Al concentrations greater than 10%. There results are consistent with the Schottky limit being applicable to these alloys and thus the Ti/Al contact forms Schottky barriers with higher barrier height as the conduction band of the alloy moves towards the vacuum level.
In situ and Ex situ Measurements of Stress Evolution in the Cobalt-Silicon System

The biaxial stress in Co thin-films has been investigated in situ by measuring changes in substrate curvature that occurred during deposition and annealing.Films of Co, 35 to 500 nm in thickness, were deposited by UHV magnetron sputtering at room temperature on Si (100) and poly-Si substrates.Results show that during Co deposition the bending force increased linearly with film thickness; a signature of constant stress.In addition, the stress evolution during silicide formation was measured under constant heating rate conditions from room temperature up to 700°C. The stress-temperature curve was correlated with Co2Si, CoSi, and CoSi2 phase formation using in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction measurements.The room temperature stress for the CoSi2 phase was found to be ∼0.8 GPa (tensile) in the films deposited on Si (100) and ∼1 GPa (tensile) on the films deposited on poly-Si.The higher tensile stress in the poly-Si sample could be a result of Si grain growth during annealing.
Scalable Fabrication of Polymer Membranes with Vertically Aligned 1 nm Pores by Magnetic Field Directed Self-Assembly

There is long-standing interest in developing membranes possessing uniform pores with dimensions in the range of 1 nm and physical continuity in the macroscopic transport direction to meet the needs of challenging small molecule and ionic separations. Here we report facile, scalabe fabrication of polymer membranes with vertically (i.e., along the through-plane direction) aligned 1 nm pores by magnetic-field alignment and subsequent cross-linking of a liquid crystalline mesophase. We utilize a wedge-shaped amphiphilic species as the building block of a thermotropic columnar mesophase with 1 nm ionic nanochannels, and leverage the magnetic anisotropy of the amphiphile to control the alignment of these pores with a magnetic field. In situ X-ray scattering and subsequent optical microscopy reveal the formation of highly ordered nanostructured mesophases and cross-linked polymer films with orientational order parameters of ca. 0.95. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging provides direct...
Advance of Research on Utilization Coefficient of Irrigation water

Utilization coefficient of irrigation water is an indicator of quantitative evaluation on utilization of irrigation water.Correctly determining the utilization coefficient of irrigation water and using utilization coefficient of irrigation water to manage irrigation water are critical for agricultural water conservation and sustainable use of water resources.In this paper,the domestic and abroad research on utilization coefficient of irrigation water is reviewed and evaluated.Meanwhile,the forefront research in this field is discussed.
Ontogeny of renal renin release in spontaneously hypertensive rat and Wistar-Kyoto rat

The role of renin-angiotensin system in generation of genetic hypertension is unclear. Renal renin secretion was examined in renal superficial cortical slices from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) at 4 wk (prehypertensive), 6 wk (early hypertensive), and 12 wk (established hypertension) of age. Basal renin release in SHR was greater at 4 wk (749 +/- 55 vs. 480 +/- 50 ng/mg, P less than 0.005) and at 6 wk (428 +/- 70 vs. 266 +/- 60 ng/mg, P less than 0.02). Basal renin release declined by 43% between 4 and 6 wk and by 34% between 6- and 12-wk time periods in SHR. In SHR and WKY at all ages, renin responses to stimulation with isoproterenol (ISO, 10(-5) and 10(-6) M, respectively) were similar. Angiotensin II (ANG II) resulted in a significant reduction in renin release in both SHR and WKY at 10(-7) M in all age groups. The ANG II-induced percent change in renin release from control of SHR was less compared with WKY rats at 10(-8) and 10(-9)M at 4 wk of age. When ANG II was tested in presence of beta-adrenergic stimulation, a comparable renin inhibitory response was observed in both SHR and WKY. The number of ANG II-binding sites in proximal tubular brush-border membrane (BBM) was increased in SHR vs. WKY rats (458 +/- 18 vs. 235 +/- 12 fmol ANG II/mg BBM protein, P less than 0.001) at 4 wk of age. These data document increased basal renin release and ANG II-binding sites in proximal tubular BBM in 4 wk SHR compared with age-matched WKY rat.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Early childhood diet: Recommendations of pediatric health care providers

With the abundance of literature on cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention during childhood, recommendations for restricted dietary sodium and fat intakes during infancy and childhood are both advocated for preventive health care and criticized because the safety is undetermined. Dietitians, nurse practitioners, and pediatricians were surveyed to determine what dietary recommendations they give to parents and what source of information most influenced their decisions. A fourth group, pediatricians with particular expertise in nutrition, were surveyed as well. The overall response rate was 76%, with a total usable sample of 252. In all professional groups, 54% had no preference for any one commercially prepared formula. More importance was given to sodium content than to fat composition of formulas. On the choice of whole, low-fat, or non-fat milk for both 1- and 6-year-old children, professional groups differed significantly. Dietitians and the subgroup of pediatricians with nutrition expertise were more likely to recommend milk with higher fat content than other professional groups. Recommendations for both sodium- and fat-modified diets for children depended on CVD risk, and opinions varied between groups. Pediatricians and nurse practitioners were more likely to recommend dietary modifications for children with higher CVD risk. The variation in dietary recommendations within and between professional groups strongly indicates the need for research on the safety and efficacy of dietary restrictions in childhood.
Helpful behaviors in groups of mental health professionals and undergraduates.

(1976). Helpful Behaviors in Groups of Mental Health Professionals and Undergraduates. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy: Vol. 26, No. 2, pp. 173-189.
Diuron Resistance in the PSBA Multigene Family of Anacystis Nidulans R2

Atrazine-resistant strains of many higher plants (1, 2, 3) and algae (4, 5) have been isolated. In Amaranthus hvbridus (2), Solanum nigrum (3), and Chlamvdomonas reinhardtii (4) resistance has been correlated with a single basepair change at nt 790 of the psbA gene which corresponds to a ser→ gly or ser→ ala change at aa 264 of the psbA gene product— the QB protein. The QB protein, also known as the 32 kilodalton or D1 jprotein, is thought to provide a binding pocket for plastoquinones involved in QA→ QB electron transfer of photosystem II. Anacvstis nidulans R2 (PCC# 7942) is a transformable cyanobacterium which performs oxidative photosynthesis similar to higher plants. Diuron-resistant, (Dr), strains of A. nidulans. which are also resistant tc atrazine, have been isolated after nitrosoguanidine mutagenesis (6). These strains have the analogous mutation in the psbAI gene resulting in a ser→ ala change at aa 264 of the QB protein. Transformation of wild type A. nidulans with an internal uNA fragment of this resistant psbA gene yields Dr strains, demonstrating that the change at aa 264 of the QB protein is sufficient to confer diuron-resistance. In A. nidulans there are three functional copies of the psbA gene (Golden, S.S., Brusslan, J.A., and R. Haselkom, submitted). The original Dr strain isolated by S. S. Golden (6) contains a mutant psbAI gene, while psbAII and psbAIH remain wild type, diuron-sensitive (Ds). The psbAI transcript accounts for 95% of the total psbA mRNA (Golden et al, submitted) so it might be expected that mutation of this copy, alone, could confer a Dr phenotype because most of the reaction centers would contain Dr QB proteins.
Abstract 3472: Does being married independently predict survival in patients with head and neck cancer? Results from a single institution

Purpose/Objectives An important factor in cancer survivorship is social support, often coming from a spouse. There is an emerging literature on the role of spousal support in head and neck cancer (HNC) outcomes; however most are based on results from national databases. While more generalizable, these studies may not always capture the unique variation in different patient populations. This single institution study aimed to describe the association between marital status and outcomes of HNC; and to determine if marital status independently predicts survival in a local patient population. Materials/Methods We identified 460 patients aged 20 to 91 (59.31 ± 11.42) years diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck at an academic tertiary referral center between 1997 and 2012 in this retrospective cohort study. Cox proportional hazards model assessed the effect of marital status on survival. Results are based on the final model constructed after accounting for covariates in the data. Results Our study population was made up of 73% males, and 82.2% Whites. We found an association between marital status and HNC survival. Unmarried HNC patients had a 66% increase in the hazard of death compared to married HNC patients (HR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.23 - 2.23). This was after controlling for covariates, which included sociodemographic variables (age, race, sex, and health insurance status), social habits (tobacco and alcohol), primary anatomical subsite (oral cavity, oropharyngeal, laryngeal, and others), stage at presentation (early vs. late stage), and treatment modality (surgery, surgery with adjuvant therapies, other single modality therapy, and palliative care). Other factors found to be associated with an increased hazard of death were age (≥ 50 years), current tobacco use, late stage of presentation, palliative care, and laryngeal subsite. Conclusion Marital status is associated with head and neck cancer outcomes, and being married is an independent predictor of survival among patients. This result, found in previous national studies, held true in our local patient population. This underscores the need for the multidisciplinary HNC team to recognize this aspect of survivorship and to emphasize the need for social support among unmarried HNC patients. It could be that it is necessary to add social support to the clinical practical guidelines for managing head and neck cancer beyond palliative care. Citation Format: Nosayaba Osazuwa-Peters, Kara M. Christopher, Sean T. Massa, Lauren Cass, Ronald J. Walker, Mark A. Varvares. Does being married independently predict survival in patients with head and neck cancer? Results from a single institution. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 3472.
Modeling Solar PV Adoption: A Social-Behavioral Agent-Based Framework

Behavioral scientists contend that individuals, and organizations rarely make decisions solely on the basis of economic factors. Decisions are also shaped by perceived risk, social interactions, currency and salience of information, and other value propositions. Social diffusion of information on consumer experiences, entrance of new business models better aligned with customers’ concerns when evaluating investments, and perceived improving economic conditions are all factors in consumers’ decisions to adopt a new technology, such as solar photovoltaics (PV). We describe a new conceptual agent-based model, BE-Solar, that incorporates a social and behavioral decision framework for technology adoption decisions. We demonstrate the feasibility of including heterogeneity and behavioral factors into an agent-based model of the solar PV market, which is being applied to the Southern California market.
Phase equilibria in the calcia-gadolinia-silica system

Abstract The phase equilibria in the CaO-Gd2O3-SiO2 system were investigated by heat treating precursor-derived powders at 1400 °C and 1600 °C, determining the resulting phase assemblages, and measuring the compositions of the liquid and solid solution phases. The stable ternary phases at 1400 °C include silico-carnotite (Ca3Gd2Si3O12), Ca/Gd-cyclosilicate (Ca3Gd2Si6O26), and the apatite solid solution field extending from Gd9.33(SiO4)6O2 to Ca2.75Gd7.25(SiO4)6O1.625. Of these, only apatite remains stable to 1600 °C. The high-temperature α- and α′-Ca2SiO4 polymorphs exhibit moderate Gd2O3 solubility. The results are compared to the equilibria for the related CaO-Y2O3-SiO2 system. The implications for understanding the interaction between rare earth containing thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) and silicate deposits (CMAS) are discussed.
Differential Predictors of Nighttime and Daytime Sleep Complaints in Older Adults with Comorbid Insomnia and Osteoarthritis Pain

Objectives Osteoarthritis (OA) is extremely common in older adults, affecting 50% of people aged 65 or older, and more than half of older adults with OA complain of significantly disturbed sleep. This study compared predictors of nighttime sleep complaints and daytime sleep-related consequences as measured by the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) in older adults with comorbid OA pain and insomnia.
Ionic Liquids: Recent Advances and Applications in Boron Chemistry

Ionic liquids are a type of low melting salts, which are generally non-volatile with low vapour pressure, very high boiling points and excellent thermal stability. In addition, they have unique physical and chemical properties including high variable viscosity in comparison with common inorganic salts and organic liquids. Consequently, they have found potential applications in a broad area of green chemistry and as electrolytes. Recently, advanced development of ionic liquid has been made in boron chemistry and as such various boron containing ionic liquids have been reported and their applications in classic organic synthesis have been explored. Interestingly, many boron related reactions, such as hydroboration, were explored in ionic liquid media. This mini review mainly focuses the progress of boron-containing ionic liquids and the reactions involving boron compounds in ionic liquids.
a-Gaussian Polynomials and Finite Rogers-Ramanujan Identities

Classical Gaussian polynomials are generalized to two variable polynomials. The first half of the paper is devoted to a full account of this extension and its inherent properties. The final part of the paper considers the role of these polynomials in finite identities of the Rogers-Ramanujan type.
Studies on coordination polymers

Abstract Coordination polymers of 1, 6-dihydroxyphenazine (I) with Cu(II), Zn(II), Ni (II), Co(II) and Hg(II) were prepared and studied. All the polymers formed were dark blue to black powders, very insoluble in the common solvents, apparently of low molecular weight, and decomposed at temperatures ranging from 200 to 280°. The zinc polymer was the most stable, mercury the least. Infrared studies confirmed the proposed chelation reaction between the metal ion and (I). The polymers of Co and Hg were amorphous, whereas those of Cu, Zn, and Ni were crystalline. When used as a spot test reagent, (I) gave instant color reactions with 15 common ions but neither the sensitivity nor selectivity of the reagent is impressive.
Pointwise Estimation of Material Parameters for Heterogeneous Nonlinear Hyperelastic Membranes: Computational Development

Material parameter estimation plays a crucial role in the physical characterization of biological structures. However, identification of parameters in living organs presents considerable challenge. Take for example human aneurysms. Aneurysmal tissues are anisotropic, heterogeneous and most notably, patient-specific. More often than not, methods of characterizing the tissues need to be non-invasive. Obviously, the traditional controlled specimen experiments (e.g. uni-axial and bi-axial tests) are not suited to such applications.
Review of the microgastrine braconid wasp genus Exoryza, with description of a new species, E. monocavus, from Central America

A new species of the rarely collected microgastrine braconid wasp genus Exoryza Mason, E. monocavus n. sp., is described and illustrated. With this finding, the geographical range for the genus is extended to Central America in the New World, from a previous known distribution including only North America (E. minnesota Mason) and Asia (E. schoenobiii (Wilkinson)). The two previously described species are redescribed, and an illustrated key for all three species is presented.
Detection and Estimation of Unmodeled Chirps

The detection and estimation of transient chirp signals with unmodeled amplitude envelope and instantaneous frequency evolution is a significant challenge in gravitational wave (GW) data analysis. We review a recently introduced method that addresses this challenge using a spline-based approach. The applicability of this method to the important problem of removing non-transient chirps in GW data, namely narrowband noise of instrumental and terrestrial origin, is investigated.
Opportunities to improve fisheries management through innovative technology and advanced data systems

Fishery‐dependent data are integral to sustainable fisheries management. A paucity of fishery data leads to uncertainty about stock status, which may compromise and threaten the economic and food security of the users dependent upon that stock and increase the chances of overfishing. Recent developments in the technology available to collect, manage and analyse fishery‐relevant data provide a suite of possible solutions to update and modernize fisheries data systems and greatly expand data collection and analysis. Yet, despite the proliferation of relevant consumer technology, integration of technologically advanced data systems into fisheries management remains the exception rather than the rule. In this study, we describe the current status, challenges and future directions of high‐tech data systems in fisheries management in order to understand what has limited their adoption. By reviewing the application of fishery‐dependent data technology in multiple fisheries sectors globally, we show that innovation is stagnating as a result of lack of trust and cooperation between fishers and managers. We propose a solution based on a transdisciplinary approach to fishery management that emphasizes the need for collaborative problem‐solving among stakeholders. In our proposed system, data feedbacks are a key component to effective fishery data systems, ensuring that fishers and managers collect, have access to and benefit from fisheries data as they work towards a mutually agreed‐upon goal. A new approach to fisheries data systems will promote innovation to increase data coverage, accuracy and resolution, while reducing costs and allowing adaptive, responsive, near real‐time management decision‐making to improve fisheries outcomes.
26 Ecological Demography

Ecology may be defined as the “study of the interrelationships of organisms with their environment and each other.” The term human ecology was first used in 1924 by Robert Park and Ernest Burgess in their Introduction to the Science of Sociology. However, Amos Hawley’s 1950 book, Human Ecology: A Theory of Community Structure, is the definitive exposition of the field, and sets out the subject matter of human ecology and its approach. In this chapter we review and discuss the four referential constructs of population, organization, environment, and technology, sometimes referred to as the POET complex. The unit of ecological analysis is the human population, circumscribed more or less in a territorial fashion. Since much of the empirical literature of human ecology in recent decades has focused on demographic applications, we then outline the focus of ecological demography, as an aggregate perspective for undertaking analyses of fertility, mortality and migration.
Pediatricians Awakened: Addressing Family Immigration Status as a Critical and Intersectional Social Determinant of Health.

As family separation policies, termination of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), and deaths of migrant children detained in federal custody dominated headlines in 2018, the ethics of im...