cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Earthquake simulator studies of cylindrical tanks

Abstract An experimental investigation on the seismic response of ground-supported, cylindrical metal tanks is described. Experimental and analytical research by other investigators over the past forty years has provided a firm basis for the computation of free- and forced-vibration behavior in ideal liquid-filled circular cylindrical shells with a variety of elementary support conditions. However, the actual seismic behavior of ground-supported tanks has not been known, and practical design methods necessarily have been based on simplifying assumptions. The present results provide the first opportunity for rational evaluation of seismic design assumptions, and suggest theoretical developments which would enhance the realism of refined seismic analyses. The aluminum scale model discussed here, 12 ft in diameter and 6 ft high, represents a 36-ft diameter steel prototype. It was tested, in anchored and unanchored base configurations, under action of a time-scaled El Centro, 1940, earthquake with peak acceleration of 0.5 g, using the Earthquake Simulator Facility of the University of California, Berkeley. Stresses and displacements of the model, in both anchored and unanchored conditions, were dominated by effects of “out-of-round” response in higher-order circumferential modes, a result which is not predicted by current seismic analysis theory, and which contradicts basic assumptions of current design practice. The experimental observations are discussed in relation to dynamic analysis theory, practical design methods, and the history of tank performance in past earthquakes.
Storage Stability and Antibacterial Activity against Escherichia coli O157:H7 of Carvacrol in Edible Apple Films Made by Two Different Casting Methods

The antimicrobial activities against Escherichia coli O157:H7 as well as the stability of carvacrol, the main constituent of oregano oil, were evaluated during the preparation and storage of apple-based edible films made by two different casting methods, continuous casting and batch casting. Antimicrobial assays of films and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of film extracts following storage up to 49 days at 5 and 25 °C revealed that (a) optimum antimicrobial effects were apparent with carvacrol levels of ∼1.0% added to the purees prior to film preparation, (b) carvacrol in the films and film weights remained unchanged over the storage period of up to 7 weeks, and (c) casting methods affected carvacrol concentration, bactericidal activity, physicochemical properties, and colors of the apple films. Carvacrol addition to the purees used to prepare the films reduced water vapor and oxygen permeability of apple films. The results indicate that carvacrol has a dual benefit. It can be used...
Mapping two new points on the tennis expertise continuum: tactical skills of adult advanced beginners and entry-level professionals during competition.

Abstract Research examining problem representations of individuals during task performance is advancing our understanding of information processing and expertise in a variety of sports. However, few studies using similar methodology have been conducted on individuals of various competitive standards in one domain in similar contexts. This study examined problem representations of adult advanced beginners and entry-level professionals accessed during singles tennis competition (n = 12). These groups were selected to represent players with performance skills that were different from those studied previously (i.e. adult beginners and varsity players). Immediate recall and planning interviews were conducted between points during singles tennis competition. Players competed within their respective expertise groups. Verbal reports were transcribed verbatim and concepts were scored according to a model of protocol structure. Several multivariate analyses of variance were conducted on rank scores for measures of ...
Data driven approaches to modeling and analysis of bioprocesses: some industrial examples

Data-generated models find numerous applications in areas where the speed of collection and logging data surpasses the ability to analyze it. This work addresses some of the challenges and difficulties encountered in the practical application of these methods in an industrial setting, and more specifically in the bioprocess industry. Neural networks and principal component models are the two topics that are covered in detail in this paper. A review of these modeling technologies as applied to bioprocessing is provided, and three original case studies using industrial fermentation data are presented that utilize these models in the context of prediction and monitoring of bioprocess performance.
Treatment of vitiligo with broadband ultraviolet B and vitamins

Background While oral psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA) remains the most popular therapeutic modality for vitiligo, recent reports have shown that narrowband ultraviolet B (UVB) also induces significant repigmentation. In this study we evaluated the efficacy of broadband UVB on actively spreading, progressive vitiligo in patients who had been followed for many months (12 or more) in our practice, who continued to depigment despite treatment. Methods Nine patients with actively spreading vitiligo were exposed to broadband UVB 2‐3 times per week at a starting dose of 20‐30 mJ/cm 2 . Radiation was increased by 10‐20 mJ/cm 2
Calculation of Total Integrated Noise in Analog Circuits

Electronic noise is a significant and fundamental issue in the design of analog circuits. In the widely used class of switched-capacitor circuits, the noise metric of interest is the so-called total integrated noise. Closed-form expressions for this quantity are unavailable in literature for all but the simplest circuit configurations that involve first- and second-order noise transfer functions. The lack of these expressions has prevented design automation and performance optimization without relying on repetitive simulations. In this paper we provide a general formula for calculating the total integrated noise in arbitrary circuits. The results are applied to two popular operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) circuits; a two-stage Miller-compensated architecture and a two-stage cascode-compensated topology. Simulations show that the calculated noise for these circuits is in close agreement with SPICE simulations.
Kinetics of capillary tear flow in the Schirmer strip.

The popular Schirmer test of tearing ability heretofore has never been analyzed kinetically and the interpretation of the results is usually based on implicit, often erroneous assumptions. We have analyzed the capillary flow of fluids in filter paper strips in vitro systems for the cases of unlimited supply and limited supply at constant rates, and in vivo using human subjects, who kinetically corresponded to limited supply having variable rates. The effects of evaporation, surface tension, viscosity, paper pore-size, and the wettability of the cellulose fibers in the paper were also studied. The results show that in the case of unlimited supply, the fluid absorption is kinetically identical to fluid uptake by a horizontal capillary. This implies that the paper strip can absorb fluids only at a certain maximum rate which decreases with time. At lower secretion rates, the rate of wetting length increase is linearly proportional to the secretion rate provided that evaporation is prevented. Evaporation incre...
Retinal hemodynamics in proliferative diabetic retinopathy. A laser Doppler velocimetry study.

Purpose. This study investigated retinal hemodynamic changes associated with different pathologic features observed on fundus color and fluorescein angiography in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Methods. Retinal circulatory characteristics were investigated in 25 eyes of 23 diabetic patients with proliferative retinopathy using a combination of bidirectional laser Doppler velocimetry and monochromatic fundus photography. Results. Eyes with severe capillary nonperfusion had 32% less average volumetric blood flow rate (Q) than eyes with less severe nonperfusion (P = 0.0005). In addition, eyes with severe vessel staining with fluorescein had 20% less average Q than eyes without staining (P = 0.0508). Eyes with severe fluorescein leakage in the macula had a 17% larger total venous cross-section than eyes with milder leakage (P = 0.027). Eyes with clinically significant macular edema had 11% larger average venous diameter than eyes without this feature (P = 0.0085). Conclusions. Severe capillary nonperfusion and vessel staining with fluorescein are associated with decreased retinal blood flow rates. Vasodilatation may be an important factor for increased vascular permeability and macular edema in proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1993;34:66-71.
A Dual Channel Fluorescence Chemosensor for Anions Involving Intermolecular Excited State Proton Transfer.

A macrocycle containing an aminocoumarin fluorophore showed two different fluorescence emission bands on binding with certain anions. Proton transfer from the fluorophore excited state occurred depending on the basicity of the bound anion (see scheme, A- : anion) and this new pathway makes more-sensitive anion sensing possible.
Global Hemispheric Temperature Trends and Co-Trending: A Shifting Mean Vector Autoregressive Analysis

This paper examines trends in annual temperature data for the northern and southern hemisphere (1850{2010) by using variants of the shifting{mean autoregressive (SM{AR) model of Gonz alez and Ter  (2008). Univariate models are rst tted to each series by using the so called QuickShift methodology. Full information maximum likelihood (FIML) estimates of a bivariate system of temperature equations are then obtained. The system is then used to perform formal tests of co{trending in the hemispheric series. The results show there is evidence of weak co{trending in the temperature data since the early 1980s.
Determination of Stopping Cross Sections by Rutherford Backscattering

The stopping cross section, e, of light ions in solids determines the accuracy of depth distribution measurements by RBS. Errors quoted for individual measurements of stopping cross section are often within 2 -3% but agreement between different authors is mostly no better than ± 10 %. Stopping cross sections have been measured by many authors by transmission of ions through thin films or by backscattering from thick targets.
Efficient Algorithms and Implementation for Error-Free Computation Using P-adic

Our research team including graduate students both in Computer Science and Mathematics has been developing P-adic Exact Scientific Computational Library (ESCL) for rational matrix operations. The effort has been focusing on converting all rational number operations to integer calculation, and fully taking the advantage of fast integer multiplication of modern computer architectures [1]. By properly selecting prime numbers as the bases and practically choosing the length r for P-adic expansion of rational numbers, we have shown some promising results for large matrix operations, such as matrix multiplication and inverse. Dixon algorithm [2] and his improved version, we call it Generalized Dixon (or Dixon-Krishnamurthy) algorithm, which combines Dixon algorithm with Krishnamurthy algorithm [3], has been developed, which can be extended to various matrix computations.
A rooftop tuned mass damper frame

This article documents the analytical study and feasibility of placing a tuned mass damper in the form of a limber rooftop moment frame atop relatively stiff structures to reduce seismic acceleration response. Six existing structures were analytically studied using a suite of time history and response spectra records. The analyses indicate that adding mass in conjunction with a limber frame results in an increase in the fundamental period of each structure. The fundamental period increase generally results in a decrease in seismic acceleration response for the same time history and response spectra records. Owing to the limber nature of the rooftop frames, non-linear analysis methods were required to evaluate the stability of the rooftop tuned mass damper frame. The results indicate the addition of a rooftop tuned mass damper frame reduces the seismic acceleration response for most cases although acceleration response can increase if the rooftop frame is not tuned to accommodate the specific structure's dynamic behaviour and localized soil conditions. Appropriate design of the rooftop tuned mass damper frame can result in decreased seismic acceleration response. This translates to safer structures if used as a retrofit measure or a more economical design if used for new construction. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Money and Modernity: State and Local Currencies in Melanesia

Money and Modernity: State and Local Currencies in Melanesia. David Akin and Joel Robbins. eds. ASAO Monograph Series, 17. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1999. 284 pp.
Colony founding by pleometrosis in the semiclaustral seed-harvester ant Pogonomyrmex californicus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Pleometrosis, or colony founding via multiple queens, occurs in a localized population of the seed-harvester ant Pogonomyrmex californicus. In an apparently unusual secondary modification, queens of P. californicus are also obligate foragers; that is, queens must forage to garner the resources necessary to rear their first brood. Laboratory experiments measured the costs and benefits of pleometrosis and queen foraging in P. californicus in terms of queen survival, mass loss by queens and brood production. In all experiments, queen survival was positively associated with number of queens. Queen survival also varied with food level: survival was higher in fed treatments compared with unfed treatments at low queen numbers, whereas survival of unfed queens increased to the level of fed queens at higher queen numbers. Total mass loss of queens varied by food level, but not queen number, with fed queens losing about 50% less mass than unfed queens. Brood production also varied with queen number and food level. Total number of brood was positively associated with number of queens; at each queen number, fed queens produced more brood than unfed queens. The number of brood produced per queen, however, was similar across queen numbers. Fed queens also produced workers that were heavier than those produced by unfed queens, whereas head width of these minims was similar. Longer-term experiments revealed that these queen associations do not undergo queen reduction upon emergence of the first workers, but rather exhibit primary polygyny.
Inhibition of gamma interferon decreases bacterial load in peritonitis by accelerating peritoneal fibrin deposition and tissue repair.

Bowel perforation can lead to significant bacterial spillage, which may then cause septic peritonitis, characterized by a systemic inflammatory response and organ dysfunction. There are several reports that have shown that the development of peritoneal adhesions is dependent on inflammatory cytokine levels and that these adhesions can reduce bacterial spread, possibly by sealing off the cecum in the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model of septic peritonitis. There have not, however, been any studies that have utilized a strategy to accelerate tissue repair in order to seal off the injured cecum and reduce bacterial spread as well as ameliorate systemic inflammation. In the present study, we demonstrate that the administration of anti-gamma interferon (IFN-γ) antibody (1.2 mg/kg of body weight, intravenously) accelerated tissue repair via increased fibrin deposition 12 and 24 h after CLP in rats. This increase in fibrin deposition was associated with peritoneal adhesion 24 h after CLP and a reduction in bacterial load compared to the bacterial load of rats given irrelevant antibody. Plasma fibrin levels, however, were not altered after IFN-γ antibody administration, suggesting that the inhibition of IFN-γ activity specifically increased fibrin deposition to the site of injury. Furthermore, plasma interleukin-6, used as a marker of systemic inflammatory response, was reduced in CLP rats given IFN-γ antibody compared to that found in those given irrelevant antibody. These results suggest that the early inhibition of IFN-γ activity in the CLP model is beneficial by accelerating fibrin deposition in cecal tissue to prevent bacterial spread and reduce the systemic inflammatory response. Importantly, increased fibrin deposition in the ceca was not associated with increased plasma fibrin whereas the latter may have detrimental effects associated with coagulation disorders.
A laser induced diagnostic technique for velocity measurements using liquid crystal thermography

Abstract Wind tunnel experiments were performed to show that wind velocity could be correlated to thermal patterns generated on a model surface. The idea makes use of the thermal patterns generated by a laser thermal tuft that was originally developed and patented (Patent #5,963,292) by researchers at the USAF Academy and the University of California, Davis. The present study quantifies this flow visualization idea by correlating the length of the thermal tuft to velocity and demonstrates that this measurement is strongly dependent on laser power. Until now, the laser thermal tuft has been used only to qualitatively characterize flow fields. By quantifying flow velocity, this extension of the patented idea may promote increased usage of this laser thermal tuft technique.
Zanamivir speeds symptom relief in influenza

Source Citation Monto AS, Fleming DM, Henry D, et al. Efficacy and safety of the neuraminidase inhibitor zanamivir in the treatment of influenza A and B virus infections. J Infect Dis. 1999 Aug;180...
Plugging Vascular Leak by Sphingosine Kinase From Bone Marrow Progenitor Cells

See related article, pages 696–704 The bone marrow is a rich reservoir of cells that are mobilized in response to physiological stress signals (hypoxia, inflammation) or pathological states (cancer, chronic inflammation).1 Although mobilization of myeloid cells that participate in innate immune responses and inflammation has been appreciated for some time, recent studies have focused on so-called bone marrow–derived progenitor cells (BMPCs).1 It is now appreciated that distinct progenitor population, which can differentiate into cells with both myeloid and vascular markers, exit the bone marrow and enter into tissues in response to chemokine cues. Indeed, BMPCs may circulate widely in the body; recent work has shown that sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) signaling is used as a egress signal for these cells to reenter the lymphatic system to eventually return to the bone marrow.2 Once in the tissue, BMPCs respond to extracellular signals to differentiate into cells that are closely associated with the vascular system. Although opinions are divided whether BMPCs are incorporated into the vascular tree or are perivascular, it is clear that their presence is functionally important for inflammation, neoplasia and angiogenesis.3 Indeed, several clinical trials are currently testing the efficacy of bone marrow cell therapy in ischemic tissues.4,5 Such bone marrow–derived cells modulate vascular and tissue responses by elaborating cytokines, chemokines and lipid mediators.1,3 Interestingly, the lipid mediator S1P has been the subject of recent interest as a regulator of vascular and immune systems.6 It is produced by the metabolism of sphingomyelin, an abundant phospholipid essential for the formation of membrane domains such as rafts and caveolae.7 Sphingomyelinase hydrolyzes sphingomyelin to form ceramide, which is further degraded by ceramidase to form sphingosine. Sphingosine levels are kept low …
Integrated radio frequency identification and wireless sensor network architecture for automated inventory management and tracking applications

We provide a system architecture that applies radio frequency identification and wireless sensor network technologies to automate inventory management and tracking of commercial assets. A set of environment parameters are considered as a result of the environment for which this application serves. To meet system design constraints and application requirements, a system architecture is proposed that automates inventory management and tracking in a large office environment. A prototype implementation applies this system architecture, and provides insight as to areas for further work in data access, network communications, distributed real-time control and monitoring, and advancements in radio frequency identification technology.
Comparison of spatial interpolation methods for the estimation of air quality data

We recognized that many health outcomes are associated with air pollution, but in this project launched by the US EPA, the intent was to assess the role of exposure to ambient air pollutants as risk factors only for respiratory effects in children. The NHANES-III database is a valuable resource for assessing children's respiratory health and certain risk factors, but lacks monitoring data to estimate subjects' exposures to ambient air pollutants. Since the 1970s, EPA has regularly monitored levels of several ambient air pollutants across the country and these data may be used to estimate NHANES subject's exposure to ambient air pollutants. The first stage of the project eventually evolved into assessing different estimation methods before adopting the estimates to evaluate respiratory health. Specifically, this paper describes an effort using EPA's AIRS monitoring data to estimate ozone and PM10 levels at census block groups. We limited those block groups to counties visited by NHANES-III to make the project more manageable and apply four different interpolation methods to the monitoring data to derive air concentration levels. Then we examine method-specific differences in concentration levels and determine conditions under which different methods produce significantly different concentration values. We find that different interpolation methods do not produce dramatically different estimations in most parts of the US where monitor density was relatively low. However, in areas where monitor density was relatively high (i.e., California), we find substantial differences in exposure estimates across the interpolation methods. Our results offer some insights into terms of using the EPA monitoring data for the chosen spatial interpolation methods.
Characterization of two biotypes of imidazolinone-resistant eastern black nightshade (Solanum ptycanthum)

Abstract Biotypes of eastern black nightshade were found in Illinois and Indiana that were not controlled by postemergence applications of imazethapyr. Greenhouse studies were conducted to determine whole-plant responses to the imidazolinone herbicides imazethapyr and imazamox and to the sulfonylurea herbicide primisulfuron-methyl. The Illinois and Indiana resistant biotypes were highly resistant to imazamox and imazethapyr but were not cross-resistant to primisulfuron-methyl. DNA sequencing of acetolactate synthase (ALS) genes showed that the molecular basis for resistance in both resistant biotypes was a single base-pair mutation within Domain C that changed an alanine to a threonine in their encoded enzymes. In vitro enzyme assays showed that the Illinois resistant biotype's ALS enzyme was 789- and 881-fold less sensitive than that of the susceptible biotype to imazamox and imazethapyr, respectively. The Indiana resistant biotype's ALS enzyme was 110- and 158-fold less sensitive than that of the suscep...
Where you say it matters: Why packages are a more believable source of product claims than advertisements

Abstract This research demonstrates that a marketing claim placed on a package is more believable than a marketing claim placed in an advertisement. In three studies, we show that the benefit of greater believability for packages is driven by perceptions of proximity. In general, consumers perceive packages, and thus the claims they offer, as closer to the product than ads and their respective claims. This perception of greater claim-to-product proximity is likely to make a claim seem more verifiable. Therefore, claim-to-product proximity is taken as a signal of the marketers' credibility, decreasing inferences of manipulative intent and thereby increasing claim believability and purchase likelihood.
Monitored Anesthesia Care Versus General Anesthesia: Experience With the Medtronic CoreValve.

Objective To compare monitored anesthesia care (MAC) and general anesthesia (GA) for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Design Retrospective, case-control study. Setting A large university-affiliated hospital system. Participants The study comprised patients who underwent TAVI with the Medtronic CoreValve (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN) between 2011 and 2015. Interventions None. Measurements and Main Results MAC (n = 44) and GA (n = 21) were compared in 65 patients who underwent TAVI. Baseline characteristics/demographics, hospital stay, intraoperative conditions, and intensive care unit (ICU)/hospital stays were compared using the chi-square test, unpaired t-test, or binomial regression where appropriate. There were no significant differences between patient populations with regard to 30-day mortality, ICU/hospital stay, and complication rates. The GA group used more blood product. The rate of ICU readmission was greater in the GA group but did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions GA provides no significant advantages over MAC during TAVI.
Natural fibre-reinforced noncementitious composites (biocomposites)

Abstract Biocomposites, natural fibre-reinforced biopolymers, are being developed as a sustainable alternative to conventional construction materials. Mechanical properties of many types of biocomposites have been measured and, with continued development, will be appropriate for use in construction. The durability of biocomposite materials may limit their application in many environments. Research efforts focused on modifying biocomposites to improve performance when exposed to varying environments must continue to achieve an impact in the construction industry.
A Rare Cause of Ischemic Colitis

60-year-old man with a history of liver transAplant 1 year prior, secondary to hepatitis C and hepatocellular carcinoma, presented with a 1-month history of abdominal pain. The pain was described as persistent, sharp, stabbing, lower abdominal pain that was severe in nature. In the past 3 months he had noted a 25-pound weight loss. On examination the patient was diffusely tender in the abdomen with severe tenderness to palpation in the left lower quadrant. One month before admission he was found to have colitis of the sigmoid colon on computed tomography (CT) imaging performed at a local emergency room. Stool testing including Clostridium difficile polymerase chain reaction and enteric pathogens (Escherichia coli, Shigella, Salmonella) were negative and he was treated with empiric antibiotics. He continued to have symptoms and repeat CT imaging showed worsening colitis. On arrival to our institution he underwent a colonoscopy, which showed localized patchy ulcerations and erythema in the sigmoid colon consistent with ischemic colitis. Pathology showed focal ulceration and fibrin deposition (Figure A, white arrows) in the superficial portion of the lamina propria, hyaline thrombi (Figure A, green arrows) noted in small vessels, and sparing of the deep portion of the colonic crypt (Figure A). These histologic findings were consistent with ischemic colitis. Given the ongoing ischemic colitis, the patient underwent a CT angiogram that showed a segment of arterial venous shunting with opacification of veins on the arterial phase noted along the left colon and sigmoid, with focal areas of large arterial venous malformations (AVM) (arrows to AVM) (Figures B and C). The brisk shunting of blood from the arterial to the
Fate of bacteriophage particles introduced into mice by various routes.

SummaryThe fate of Bacillus megatherium bacteriophage intraperitoneally inoculated into mice has been investigated. Active bacteriophage particles were recovered from spleen and liver at a time whe...
In vitro Effects of Quinine, Atabrine and Substituted Acridine Compounds upon Gram Negative Bacteria

Summary and ConclusionsIn summarizing the data presented in the tables we note the following: Rivanol, Rivanol lactate, Rivanol-azo-sulfanilamidet and preparation P-1 appear to be equally effective in their antibacterial actions, in vitro, upon organisms representative of the colon-typhoid-dysentery group. Next in order of activity are compounds P-2 and atabrine. The remaining drugs show little if any effect in inhibiting the growth of the bacteria studied.Although not indicated in the tables none of the agents tested proved to be bacteriostatic for 2 strains of Proteus vulgaris and a strain of Proteus morganii. Furthermore, with but 2 exceptions the drugs failed to inhibit growth of several strains of Pseudomonas ueruginosa. Compound P-1 and Rivanol proved to be definitely bacteriostatic for the latter organism.
Primary Human Factors Considerations in the Transfer of Large-scale Technological Systems to Developing Countries

Human and organizational factors affecting safety and accident potential of large-scale technological systems (e.g., chemical processing or nuclear power plants) in the contexts of both developed and developing countries are investigated. It is concluded that the critical areas in need of serious attention (and further research) should include: Considering local user population's attributes, considering physical environmental conditions affecting operators' safety and performance, considering the effects of cultural and religious variables, employing more adaptive managerial and organizational systems, and determining the appropriated level of needed requisite variety and other organizational control mechanism. The yields and potential applications of this type of research are enumerated.
116 A Lethal Skeletal Dysplasia Resembling Desbuquois Dysplasia.

Desbuquois dysplasia is a rare form of short limb dwarfism with autosomal recessive inheritance characterized by severe short stature of prenatal onset, joint laxity, facial dysmorphic features, spur-like projections of the proximal femora (“Swedish key” or “monkey wrench”), mild vertebral and epiphyseal abnormalities, and advanced carpal and tarsal bone age. Cases may be divided into two groups depending on whether or not typical hand abnormalities are present, which include an extra ossification center distal to the second metacarpal and/or a delta phalanx of the thumb. A recent genome-wide search in four inbred Desbuquois families with typical hand abnormalities demonstrated linkage to chromosome 17q25.3. Exclusion of the 17q25.3 locus in the clinical subtype of Desbuquois dysplasia without typical hand anomalies in three inbred families was subsequently reported. We report a new family of at least four siblings and one first cousin affected with a lethal Desbuquois-like dysplasia with typical hand abnormalities. Further genomic analysis excludes linkage to chromosome 17q25.3 in this family.
Development and Application of a PCR for the Detection of Corynebacterium Kutscheri in Mice

Objective To develop a PCR for the detection of corynebacterium kutscheri(C.kutscheri)and apply it to clinical samples.Methods Genomic DNA was extracted as template for PCR from C.kutscheri(ATCC 11306) recoveried and cultivated in brain heart infusion medium.According to the C.kutscheri 16S rRNA gene sequence available in GenBank a pair of primes were designed and synthesized in order to develop a PCR for detection of C.kutscheri.After evaluated for sensitivity and specificity the PCR method was applied to detect the C.kutscheri in clinical livers and kidneys of mice artificially infected with C.kutscheri.Results The PCR for the detection of C.kutscheri was developed successfully and were specific enough to distinguish C.kutscheri from salmonella,streptococcus pneumoniae and Pasteurella.A minimum of 100 positive plasmids could be detected,indicating a good sensitivity of the assay.Conclusion This method repoted here is specific,sensitive and provides a fast detection of C.kutscheri and could be used for C.kutscheri clinical diagnosis.
Correlated responses in reproductive and carcass traits to selection for 70-day weight in Landrace swine.

Correlated responses in reproductive and carcass traits from a line of Duroc pigs selected for increased 200-d weight along with a randomly selected control line were studied in 189 litters (116 select, 73 control) and 191 pigs (106 select, 85 control), respectively. Reproductive and maternal traits studied included litter sizes born, born alive, and alive at 21 d and litter weight at birth and at 21 d. Carcass traits studied were carcass length, longissimus muscle area, average backfat thickness, 10th rib backfat thickness, specific gravity, weights of closely trimmed ham, loin, and shoulder, belly weight, subjective scoring of the longissimus muscle for color and marbling, estimated percentage of muscle and lean gain per day. Total weighted cumulative selection differential for 200-d weight was 81.7 kg. The realized heritability for 200-d weight was .18 +/- .08, and the change in 200-d weight was 2.5 +/- 1.2 kg per generation. The regression coefficient of litter size born on generation was -.29 +/- .12 (P less than .10) pigs per generation. None of the other regression coefficients for the reproductive traits differed from zero. Average backfat thickness, 10th rib backfat thickness, and belly weight increased by .093 +/- .016 cm, .122 +/- .029 cm, and .089 +/- .040 kg, respectively, per generation. Specific gravity, ham weight, shoulder weight, color score, and percentage of muscle decreased -.00086 +/- .00024, -.165 +/- .013 kg, -.104 +/- .011 kg, -.035 +/- .015 points, and -.47 +/- .12%, respectively, per generation in response to the selection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A Supplement to “A High Status Burial from Grasshopper Ruin, Arizona”

ABSTRACTAdditional analysis of the projectile points from Burial 140 at Grasshopper pueblo indicates that some of the included projectile points may have been the personal property of the individual buried in the grave, while others were probably offerings contributed by other individuals.
The Hands of Subfossil Lemurs

Extinct lemurs exhibit tremendous heterogeneity in hand morphology, largely reflecting differences in locomotor behavior. While no extinct lemur can be described as exclusively arboreal or exclusively terrestrial, the Archaeolemuridae were likely highly terrestrial, the Megaladapidae were slow, vertical climbers, and the Palaeopropithecidae were highly suspensory. The more terrestrial archaeolemurids had short, stubby hands, while the more arboreal megaladapids and palaeopropithecids had long (or very long) hands. But variation extends well beyond differences in digit and overall hand length. The archaeolemurids show adaptations for extended, pronated, and neutral hand postures, while the others show adaptations for ulnar deviation in climbing and suspension, as well as adaptations for digital flexion (a deeper carpal tunnel and greater phalangeal curvature, particularly in the Palaeopropithecidae). Other peculiar hand adaptations, some unique among primates, appear in some of Madagascar’s extinct lemurs. Here we examine hand morphology both within and among lemur families, comparing the extinct lemurs to their closest extant relatives, and we ask to what degree the differences we observe reflect phylogenetic relationships.
Donepezil for cognitive decline following coronary artery bypass surgery: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Objective To study the effect of donepezil in treating patients with cognitive decline following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Methods Forty-four patients, with at least a 0.5 SD decline at 1 year post-CABG on at least one cognitive domain compared to their pre-CABG baseline score, were randomized to treatment with donepezil (titrated to 10 mg daily) or placebo in a 12-week double-blind, single center, randomized study. A composite cognitive change score served as the primary outcome. Secondary outcome measures included tests of memory, attention, psychomotor speed, and executive function. Results The composite cognitive outcome did not show significant treatment effects. Secondary measures varied in their sensitivity to donepezil effects with the largest effects seen on the Wechsler Visual Memory Scale-Delayed and Immediate recall tests. More than twice (52% vs. 22%) as many donepezil-treated patients showed a significant improvement compared with placebo patients on Delayed recall. Tests with weak effect sizes and minimal trends favoring donepezil were the Boston Naming and Digit Symbol. However, most of the other instruments (e.g., Digit Span, Trails B, and Controlled Word Association) showed no treatment benefits. More donepezil-treated than placebo-treated patients experienced diarrhea, but other adverse effects and safety measures did not differ between groups. Conclusion In the post-CABG mild cognitive decline setting, donepezil did not improve composite cognitive performance but improved some aspects of memory. Donepezil was well tolerated and had no significant effects on EKG parameters. Because of limitations such as small sample size and multiplicity of tests, these findings are preliminary but add to our knowledge of cholinergic effects in vascular mild cognitive decline.
Understanding the Death of "Citizen Journalist" Rami al-Sayed: Towards a New Interpretive Framework for Digital Journalism

English-language Western news coverage of the 2012 death of Syrian Rami al-Sayed, who produced both recorded videos and live feeds of civil strife in the city of Homs, exhibits discursive uncertainty about the meaning of his journalistic work. To analyze this uncertainty, this article interpolates Foucault’s discussion of parrhesia into the digital realm. Parrhesia delineates the discursive space of truth telling through duties to speak the truth, to believe that truth, and to honestly represent oneself. Risks to speakers—both reputational and existential—undergird and activate this framework. Parrhesia also offers a critical framework for understanding the discursive space of digital journalism, particularly when it is both enhanced and pressured by nontraditional journalistic actors.
Percolation theory for solute transport in porous media: geochemistry, geomorphology, and carbon cycling.

Understanding the time-dependent scaling of chemical weathering has been a significant research goal for over a decade. A percolation theoretical treatment of non-reactive solute transport that was previously shown compatible with the scaling of chemical weathering rates, is here shown to be compatible with soil formation rates, and with C and N sequestration rates in the soil as well. In this theoretical framework, the percolation backbone fractal dimensionality, which generates the long-time tail of the solute arrival time distribution, also predicts the scaling of the reaction rates, while laboratory proportionality to the fluid flow velocity translates to an analogous relevance of the vertical infiltration rate in the field. The predicted proportionality of solute transport to net infiltration generates simultaneously the variability in soil formation rates across four orders of magnitude of precipitation and 12 orders of magnitude of time scales. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Pineal and Ependymal Cysts and Infantile Spasms

A 3-month-old infant with infantile spasms and hypsarrhythmia associated with multiple pineal cysts and an ependymal cyst is reported from Marmara University Medical Center, Istanbul, Turkey.
Musculoskeletal Low Back Pain in School-aged Children: A Review

Importance Low back pain (LBP) in children and adolescents is a common problem. The differential diagnosis of LBP in this population is broad and different from that seen in the adult population. Most causes of LBP are musculoskeletal and benign in their clinical course. Clinicians should have an understanding of the relevant anatomy and the most commonly encountered etiologic factors of LBP in children and adolescents to provide effective care. Observations Low back pain is rarely seen in youth before they reach school age. Subsequently, rates of LBP rise until age 18 years, at which age the prevalence of LBP is similar to that in adults. The differential diagnosis of LBP in this population is broad, and individual etiologic factors are most often associated with musculoskeletal overuse or trauma. Sinister etiologic factors are rare. The patient’s history and physical examination are the foundation of evaluating a child with LBP. The indication for and timing of specific imaging or other studies will vary depending on the etiologic factor of concern. Most treatment of LBP in this population is centered on relative rest, rehabilitation, and identification of predisposing risk factors. Pharmacologic treatment may be used but is typically a brief course. Orthopedic, rheumatologic, and other subspecialty referrals may be considered when indicated, but most of these patients can be managed by a general pediatrician with a good understanding of the principles described in this article. Conclusions and Relevance Low back pain in children and adolescents is a common problem. It is most often nonspecific, musculoskeletal, and self-limiting. Pediatricians should recognize the importance of a proper history, physical examination, and general knowledge of the lumbar spine and pelvic anatomy relevant to the child in their evaluation with this presenting symptom.
Structured Clinical Decision Aids Are Seldom Compared With Subjective Physician Judgment, and Are Seldom Superior

Study objective We determine how often studies that evaluate the performance of an aid for decisionmaking, be it a simple laboratory or imaging test or a complex multielement decision instrument, compare the aid's performance to independent, unaided physician judgment. Methods This was a cross-sectional survey of all Original Research and Brief Research Report articles in Annals of Emergency Medicine from 1998 to 2015. We included all articles that evaluated the performance of an aid for decisionmaking in assisting a physician with a decision about testing, treatment, diagnosis, or disposition. Two authors independently characterized the intent and purpose of each aid for decisionmaking, determined whether each study had a comparison to unaided physician judgment within the article or in a separate article, and recorded the result of that comparison. Results One hundred seventy-one (8.3%) of 2,060 research articles studied the performance characteristics of an aid for decisionmaking, 48 of which were formal clinical decision instruments. Forty of the 171 studies retrospectively analyzed existing databases and therefore could not assess physician judgment. Investigators compared the aid for decisionmaking to physician judgment in 11% (15/131) of the prospective studies, including 15% (6/41) of studies that evaluated a formal clinical decision instrument. For 9 articles that had no comparison to physician judgment, we found 6 unique external publications that compared that aid to physician clinical judgment. The decision aid was superior to clinical judgment in 2 of the 21 studies that contained a comparison. Conclusion Physician judgment is infrequently assessed when the performance of an aid for decisionmaking is evaluated, and, when reported, the decision aid seldom outperformed physician judgment.
Native-language phonotactic constraints affect how well Chinese subjects perceive the word-final English /t/-/d/ contrast

A contrast between /t/ and /d/ exists in the initial but not the final position of Chinese words. This study examined identification of English word-final /t/ and /d/ tokens from which closure voicing and release burst cues had been removed. The performance of three Chinese groups was compared before, during, and after feedback training. The Cantonese subjects were expected to perform best because their L1 permits unreleased /p, t, k/ in word-final position, and the Mandarin subjects were expected to perform most poorly because their L1 permits no word-final obstruents. An intermediate level of performance was expected from the Shanghainese subjects, whose L1 permits /?/ word-finally. As predicted, the Cantonese subjects were significantly more sensitive to the English /t/–/d/ contrast than the Mandarin subjects, with the Shanghainese subjects showing an intermediate level of performance. The subjects in all three groups showed a significant increase in sensitivity as a result of the training. The increase in correct identifications averaged 25%. The results were interpreted to mean that native-language phonotactic constraints influence how syllables are processed. More specifically, it is concluded that the Cantonese subjects focused greater attention on the end of the consonant–vowel–consonant stimuli than the Mandarin subjects, which better enabled them to use remaining acoustic cues to the /t/–/d/ contrast such as F1 offset frequency.
Graphiti: Interactive Specification of Attribute-Based Edges for Network Modeling and Visualization

Network visualizations, often in the form of node-link diagrams, are an effective means to understand relationships between entities, discover entities with interesting characteristics, and to identify clusters. While several existing tools allow users to visualize pre-defined networks, creating these networks from raw data remains a challenging task, often requiring users to program custom scripts or write complex SQL commands. Some existing tools also allow users to both visualize and model networks. Interaction techniques adopted by these tools often assume users know the exact conditions for defining edges in the resulting networks. This assumption may not always hold true, however. In cases where users do not know much about attributes in the dataset or when there are several attributes to choose from, users may not know which attributes they could use to formulate linking conditions. We propose an alternate interaction technique to model networks that allows users to demonstrate to the system a subset of nodes and links they wish to see in the resulting network. The system, in response, recommends conditions that can be used to model networks based on the specified nodes and links. In this paper, we show how such a demonstration-based interaction technique can be used to model networks by employing it in a prototype tool, Graphiti. Through multiple usage scenarios, we show how Graphiti not only allows users to model networks from a tabular dataset but also facilitates updating a pre-defined network with additional edge types.
Book Review: Nancy Levit & Doug Linder, the Good Lawyer: Seeking Quality in the Practice of Law

Review of The Good Lawyer: Seeking Quality in the Practice of Law, by Nancy Levit & Doug Linder, Oxford U. Press 2014, 293 pages.
Thioamide Substitution Selectively Modulates Proteolysis and Receptor Activity of Therapeutic Peptide Hormones.

Peptide hormones are attractive as injectable therapeutics and imaging agents, but they often require extensive modification by mutagenesis and/or chemical synthesis to prevent rapid in vivo degradation. Alternatively, the single-atom, O-to-S modification of peptide backbone thioamidation has the potential to selectively perturb interactions with proteases while preserving interactions with other proteins, such as target receptors. Here, we use the validated diabetes therapeutic, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), and the target of clinical investigation, gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP), as proof-of-principle peptides to demonstrate the value of thioamide substitution. In GLP-1 and GIP, a single thioamide near the scissile bond renders these peptides up to 750-fold more stable than the corresponding oxopeptides toward cleavage by dipeptidyl peptidase 4, the principal regulator of their in vivo stability. These stabilized analogues are nearly equipotent with their parent peptide in cyclic AMP activation...