cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis of the Situation of Rice Production in China

The situation of rice production was analyzed based on the statistic data of rice production of all provinces of China during 1991—2007.The results showed that there was a downward trend in planting area of rice from 1991 to 2007.The planting area of rice was reduced from 32.5901 million hm2 in 1991 to 28.9190 million hm2 in 2007 with a decreasing rate of 11.26%.However,the yield of rice was raised from 5745 kg/hm2 in 1991 to 6433 kg/hm2 in 2007 with an increasing rate of 11.98%.As a result,the production of rice remained at a relatively balanced level during 1991—2007 (187.35 million t in 1991 and 186.04 million t in 2007).In regard to the planting area of rice,it decreased sharply in the economically developed eastern part of China but did not change much in the central and western parts of China;it decreased greatly in the south of China,increased markedly in Northeast China and decreased a little in North China and Northwest China.The percentage of single cropping rice area to total rice area went up rapidly in the south of China for the alteration of planting patterns from double cropping rice to single cropping rice,which was a very important reason of the decrease in rice growing area in China.To ensure a stable development of rice production in China,it is very important to keep the rice area from decreasing in the south of China.The measures to be taken could be:1) to strengthen protection of cultivated land;2) to have a rational structural adjustment to keep a balance between food crops and non-food crops;and 3) to ensure a stable area of double cropping rice.What's most important currently is to stabilize the area of double cropping rice in such major rice growing provinces as Hunan and Jiangxi.
Determination of Urinary Mercury by Microwave Digest-Hydride Generation Atom Fluorescence Spectrometry

[Objective] To explore the optimum method for determination of urinary mercury.[Methods]Microwave digest-hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry was adopted for urinary mercury determination.[Results]Under optimum condition,the detection limit of Mercury was 0.069 1 μg/L;the recoveries of mercury was 89.4%~104.4%;RSD was 4.91%~7.98%.[Conclusion]This method is simple,rapid,sensitive and accurate with less interference and wide linear range.
Review: lipid-lowering agents reduce cardiovascular events in type 2 diabetes.

Source Citation Vijan S, Hayward RA. Pharmacologic lipid-lowering therapy in type 2 diabetes mellitus: background paper for the American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med. 2004;140:650-8. 15096337
An Experimental Approach to Study Individual Differences in Infants' Intake and Satiation Behaviors during Bottle-Feeding.

Abstract Background: As a group, bottle-fed infants are at higher risk for rapid weight gain compared with breast-fed infants. However, little is known about individual differences in feeding behaviors of bottle-feeding infants, as well as maternal and infant characteristics associated with bottle-feeding outcomes. Methods: We conducted a 2-day, within-subject study of 21 formula-feeding dyads; the within-subject factor was feeding condition: mother-led (ML; mothers were given the instruction to feed their infants as they typically would) vs. infant-led (IL; the experimenter ensured feeding began when infants signaled hunger and ended when they rejected the bottle on three consecutive occasions). Intake was determined by bottle weight; feedings were video-recorded and later analyzed to determine feeding duration and types of satiation behaviors displayed. Percent difference scores were calculated for each outcome as [((ML – IL)/IL) × 100] to standardize differences among dyads. Mothers completed questionn...
Vaccine-Induced Anti-Neuroblastoma Immunity Early after HSCT Arises in the Presence of Foxp3+CD25+CD4+ T Cells.

Abstract Effective anti-neuroblastoma immunity can be induced in mice as early as 1 week after syngeneic HSCT by vaccination with neuroblastoma cells transfected to express CD80, CD86, CD54, and CD137L. However, effective vaccination at this early time point also requires adoptive transfer of T cells (2×107 splenocytes). Previous results in non-transplanted mice showed that T-reg depletion/blockade with anti-CD25 mAb (clone PC61) increased tumor vaccine efficacy. To determine if PC61 treatment might be effective early after HSCT, we first determined if CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T-reg cells were present, derived either from host (i.e., they survived lethal TBI) or from the transferred spleen cells. Even though transferred splenocytes accelerated T cell reconstitution, HSCT recipient mice remained severely lymphopenic until 3 weeks after transplant. Furthermore, the percentage of Foxp3+ cells in the splenic CD4 fraction was significantly increased in transplanted mice, being as much as 3 times higher than that in non-transplanted mice (35% vs. 12%). During this time, the majority of CD25+Foxp3+CD4+ cells were derived from the adoptively-transferred T cells. Despite the presence of CD25+Foxp3+CD4+ T cells, protective anti-tumor immunity could still be efficiently induced. To examine whether depletion/inhibition of CD25+ T-reg cells could further enhance vaccine-induced immunity in transplanted mice, two strategies were tested: (a) physical depletion of CD25+ regulatory T cells from the adoptively-transferred T cells, and (b) anti-CD25 mAb treatment of the transplanted mice 4 days after HSCT to target both transferred and residual endogenous CD25+ cells. Immunomagnetic depletion eliminated more then 95% of the CD25+ T cells in the transferred population, but only 70% of Foxp3+CD4+ T cells. Adoptive transfer of CD25-depleted splenocytes at the time of HSCT resulted in modest increased tumor vaccine efficacy as compared to mice given non-depleted splenocytes. Two weeks after HSCT, both groups of mice contained similar percentages of Foxp3+CD4+ T cells in the blood and lymph nodes, but a lower frequency of Foxp3+CD4+ T cells was detected in the spleens of mice given CD25-depleted splenocytes (35% vs. 43%, p
Therapies Targeting HDLc Levels and HDL Function

Abstract Epidemiologic studies have shown that high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) levels are inversely associated with cardiovascular disease risk. This effect is believed to be mediated by several atheroprotective properties of HDL, including the ability to promote the reverse cholesterol transport and reduce vascular inflammation, oxidative stress and thrombosis. Thus, HDLc has been long considered a valid therapeutic target to reduce residual cardiovascular risk. Unfortunately, results obtained from large clinical trials with drugs increasing HDLc levels have been disappointing and have raised doubts on the effectiveness of this approach. With the recognition that HDLc levels may be a poor indicator of HDL atheroprotective potentials, recent strategies for drug development are focusing on enhancing HDL functions rather than HDLc levels per-se. In this chapter we will review established drugs able to raise HDLc levels as well as emerging HDL-targeting therapies currently undergoing preclinical and clinical research.
CARDIAC STRESS TESTING GUIDES SUBSEQUENT PATIENT MANAGEMENT: RATES OF CORONARY ANGIOGRAPHY BASED ON MYOCARDIAL PERFUSION IMAGING RESULTS

Cardiac stress testing is used to risk stratify patients for obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). However, its effect on subsequent patient management has been challenged, specifically its underutilization in guiding the decision to perform coronary angiography. Here, we analyzed rates of
System-level noise filtering and linearization

The performance of analog integrated circuits is often limited by the noise generated in its components. Several circuit techniques exist for suppressing the effects of the low-frequency noise. In this paper, existing techniques are described for noise mitigation. Also, a novel approach is proposed, which can suppress low-frequency noise. In addition, the new process will also reduce even-order distortion, another major limitation of analog circuits. Finally, it may allow the use of single-ended circuits in applications where usually differential structures are needed.
Actuator Placement for Symmetric Structural Controllability With Heterogeneous Costs

In this letter, we consider the problem of optimal actuator placement for networked linear time-invariant systems with underlying undirected topologies. We aim to leverage the undirected topology for the design of an actuator deployment strategy that guarantees symmetric structural controllability , i.e., generic controllability of the system subject to symmetric weights. Naturally, the objective is to make this design as cost effective and computationally efficient as possible. Therefore, we focus on two related (yet different) problems: 1) to determine the subset of state nodes that need to be actuated to ensure symmetric structural controllability at the lowest cost incurred by the actuators and 2) given a symmetrically structurally controllable system (whose input nodes may actuate on more than one state node), to determine a subset of its input nodes that still ensure symmetric structural controllability, at the lowest possible cost. We show that both problems can be solved in polynomial time by implicitly providing an efficient algorithm that determines their solutions. Several numerical experiments are provided to illustrate our main results.
CHEMOKINES, CXC | CXCL10 (IP-10)

Interferon-inducible protein of 10 kDa (IP-10, CXCL10) is the tenth member of the CXC family of small chemotactic cytokines and plays an essential role in the recruitment of T-helper-1 (Th1) cells, natural killer (NK) cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells into sites of tissue inflammation. In addition to leukocyte trafficking, CXCL10 binds to several G-protein-coupled receptors and induces a variety of cellular effects such as inhibition of endothelial cell proliferation, inhibition of growth factor-dependent hematopoiesis, and tumor necrosis. In humans, diverse cellular responses to CXCL10 are mediated through its two cell surface receptor isoforms that have distinct tissue expression patterns. CXCL10 acts as an antagonist of CCR3, a T-helper-2 (Th2) cell-specific chemokine receptor through competition with eotaxin (CCL11), a functional ligand for this receptor. Modulation of CXCL10 is implicated as a mediator of several pathological conditions of the lung such as sarcoidosis, pulmonary fibrosis, emphysema, and asthma. In mice, overexpression of CXCL10 results in exaggerated Th2 immune responses to antigen in a murine model of allergic lung disease, whereas deletion of this gene results in worsening of pulmonary fibrosis in a bleomycin-based model of acute lung injury. Excessive production of CXCL10 by human lung T cells is associated with smoking-induced emphysema. Activated human macrophages obtained from the lungs of patients with emphysema showed high expression of CXCR3, a functional CXCL10 receptor, ligation of which induced secretion of macrophage metalloelastase (matrix metalloproteinase 12; MMP-12), an elastolytic proteinase implicated in lung destruction in emphysema.
Dataset demonstrating physical properties of recycled wind turbine blade composites

Abstract Wind turbine blades that face end-of-life recycled mechanically. The recycled material was first comminuted via a hammer-mill through a range of varying screen sizes, resinated and compressed to a final thickness to manufacture second generation composites fabricated using recycled wind turbine material and a polyurethane adhesive. Physical properties (water sorption (WA), Thickness swelling (TS)) dataset of composites made from recycled wind turbine blades presented. Dataset also presented the influence of resin level, moisture content, mill screen size and density on the physical properties of composites.
The Provisional Government: A Centennial View

D. Orlovsky aims to establish the unique qualities of 1917 and the importance of the Provisional Government project. He reviews briefly the treatment of the power question and the PG in the fiftieth and eightieth anniversaries in the West. He proposes a three pronged approach for study of the PG- 1.) as an administrative/bureaucratic operational governing entity; 2.) as a political clearing house for the principal actors and leaders of the major political parties and the programs of those parties and finally, 3.) as a social entity, home of the social movement of lower middle strata occupational, proto-professional and professional groups. Finally, he argues that we take seriously both the “failed” institutions, the Democratic Conference and the Council of the Republic and the alternative of an all socialist government proposed by Martov and other Mensheviks in the endgame of the Revolution during September and October of 1917.
Incidence of Podosphaera clandestina on sweet cherries (Prunus avium) and the influence of postharvest handling practices on the survival of conidia on harvested fruit

Abstract Powdery mildew of sweet cherry in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) is caused by Podosphaera clandestina, which infects fruit and leaves. Disease symptoms are commonly observed near harvest and such infections are a major concern for offshore cherry markets due to the possibility of diseased cherries providing inoculum to establish the pathogen in a region where P. clandestina has not been reported. The present study was designed to identify periods at which fruit infections are most severe and to determine the efficacy of PNW’s industry postharvest handling practices on the survival of P. clandestina conidia on diseased fruit surfaces. Morphological characteristics and next-generation sequencing (NGS) platform was used to identify the causal agent of foliar and fruit powdery mildew found in the PNW. We combined qPCR and, the use of a viability dye, propidium monoazide (PMA), to differentiate between viable and dead (membrane-compromised) conidia. These tools helped to determine the viability of conidia in real-time. Conidia on the fruit surface naturally lost their viability within a few days of harvest. Postharvest treatments in the PNW include hydrocooling with chlorinated water and methyl bromide fumigation prior to export. These practices were extremely effective in deactivating all conidia on the fruit surface. The residual conidia recovered from the fruit surface after the postharvest treatments failed to establish consistent powdery mildew colonies on the susceptible host leaves; this confirms that diseased, treated cherries are unlikely to serve as a source of inoculum needed to establish the pathogen areas where it has not been documented. After postharvest treatments, regular sampling of conidia up to three weeks after harvest indicated that the conidia were non-viable. Results of this study indicated that the sweet cherry postharvest handling procedures in the PNW are effective for the elimination of the potential sources of P. clandestina inoculum associated with cherry fruit.
Seafood processing wastes ensiled with straw: utilization and intake by sheep.

Ensiled mixtures of seafood processing wastes and wheat straw were evaluated. Thirty-six crossbred wethers (average BW = 34 kg) were fed 1) a basal diet (hay and concentrate) alone, or a 1:1 ratio (DM basis) of basal and 2) ensiled fish waste plus straw (70:30, wet basis), 3) ensiled fish waste and straw (51:49), 4) ensiled crab waste plus straw (60:40), 5) ensiled crab waste plus straw (40:60), or 6) ensiled wheat straw (50% moisture). Dry molasses (5%) was included in all ensiled mixtures, and glacial acetic acid (16% vol/wt) was added to the crab waste mixtures. Among diets containing ensiled fish waste, DM digestibility was greater (P less than .01) for the diet containing silate with 70% fish waste than the diet containing 51% fish waste. There was no difference (P greater than .05) in DM digestibility between the two crab waste silages. Apparent digestibility of CP was greater (P less than .01) for diets containing fish than for those containing crab waste. Nitrogen retention (g/d) was positive for sheep receiving all diets but not different among treatments. Apparent absorption of P (g/d) was greater (P less than .01) by sheep fed fish waste silage diets than by those fed crab waste silage diets. Among seafood silages, DMI was greater (P less than .01) for sheep consuming the 60:40 than for those consuming the 40:60 crab waste silage diet and less (P less than .01) for sheep fed the 70:30 than for those fed the 51:49 fish waste silage diet. Seafood processing wastes potentially are valuable to ensile with crop residues for use as ruminant feedstuffs.
Association between Features of Spontaneous Late Preterm Labor and Late Preterm Birth

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the association between clinical and examination features at admission and late preterm birth. Study Design The present study is a secondary analysis of a randomized trial of singleton pregnancies at 340/7 to 365/7 weeks' gestation. We included women in spontaneous preterm labor with intact membranes and compared them by gestational age at delivery (preterm vs. term). We calculated a statistical cut-point optimizing the sensitivity and specificity of initial cervical dilation and effacement at predicting preterm birth and used multivariable regression to identify factors associated with late preterm delivery. Results A total of 431 out of 732 (59%) women delivered preterm. Cervical dilation ≥ 4 cm was 60% sensitive and 68% specific for late preterm birth. Cervical effacement ≥ 75% was 59% sensitive and 65% specific for late preterm birth. Earlier gestational age at randomization, nulliparity, and fetal malpresentation were associated with late preterm birth. The final regression model including clinical and examination features significantly improved late preterm birth prediction (81% sensitivity, 48% specificity, area under the curve = 0.72, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.68–0.75, and p-value Conclusion Four in 10 women in late-preterm labor subsequently delivered at term. Combination of examination and clinical features (including parity and gestational age) improved late-preterm birth prediction.
Rapid Synthesis of High Surface Area Imine-Linked 2D Covalent Organic Frameworks by Avoiding Pore Collapse During Isolation.

Imine-linked 2D covalent organic frameworks (COFs) form more rapidly than previously reported under Bronsted acid-catalyzed conditions, showing signs of crystallinity within a few minutes, and maximum crystallinity within hours. These observations contrast with the multiday reaction times typically employed under these conditions. In addition, vacuum activation, which is often used to isolate COF materials significantly erodes the crystallinity and surface area of the several isolated materials, as measured by N2 sorption and X-ray diffraction. This loss of material quality during isolation for many networks has historically obscured otherwise effective polymerization conditions. The influence of the activation procedure is characterized in detail for three COFs, with the commonly used 1,3,5-tris(4-aminophenyl)benzene-terephthaldehyde network (TAPB-PDA COF), the most prone to pore collapse. When the networks are activated carefully, rapid COF formation is general for all five of the imine-linked 2D COFs studied, with all exhibiting excellent crystallinity and surface areas, including the highest surface areas reported to date for three materials. Furthermore, to simplify the workup of COF materials, a simple nitrogen flow method provides high-quality materials without the need for specialized equipment. These insights have important implications for studying and understanding how 2D COFs form.
PAK4 as a cancer immune-evasion target

Immunotherapy resistance is associated with poor T cell infiltration into tumors. Tumor-cell-intrinsic oncogenic events that contribute to this defect include Wnt–β-catenin activation. PAK4 is now identified as an upstream modulator of this pathway, thus suggesting the potential of enhancing the efficacy of immunotherapy by targeting this druggable kinase.
Multi-Agent System for Threat Assessment and Action Selection under Uncertainty and Ambiguity

This paper describes an approach to designing a multi-agent decision support system, which monitors uncertain and ambiguous dynamic environments to produce probable explanations of the current situation and identify asymmetric threat as well as selects actions to prevent catastrophic consequences or mitigate their impact while acting under resource and time constraints. The proposed system incorporates decision makers' attitude toward risk and uncertainty in situations involving regular and high consequence rare events. An example scenario showing potentials of the described approach is also presented.
Individual differences in motives for regulating affect intensity: positive trait affect and the value of trait-consistent affect

We examined individual differences in the motivation to regulate affect intensity. In three samples (total n = 1082) we used structural equation modeling and found support for a serial mediation model in which positive trait affect predicted the motivation to increase the intensity of positive affect and decrease the intensity of negative affect, indirectly, through the commonality and value of positive affect. These findings indicate that trait affect drives regulation motives for multiple parameters of affect: people most value, and are motivated to feel, moods and emotions that match their typical experiences on intensity as well as valence.
Characterization of an acid rock drainage microbiome and transcriptome at the Ely Copper Mine Superfund site

The microbial oxidation of metal sulfides plays a major role in the formation of acid rock drainage (ARD). We aimed to broadly characterize the ARD at Ely Brook, which drains the Ely Copper Mine Superfund site in Vermont, USA, using metagenomics and metatranscriptomics to assess the metabolic potential and seasonal ecological roles of microorganisms in water and sediment. Using Centrifuge against the NCBI "nt" database, ~25% of reads in sediment and water samples were classified as acid-tolerant Proteobacteria (61 ± 4%) belonging to the genera Pseudomonas (2.6-3.3%), Bradyrhizobium (1.7-4.1%), and Streptomyces (2.9-5.0%). Numerous genes (12%) were differentially expressed between seasons and played significant roles in iron, sulfur, carbon, and nitrogen cycling. The most abundant RNA transcript encoded the multidrug resistance protein Stp, and most expressed KEGG-annotated transcripts were involved in amino acid metabolism. Biosynthetic gene clusters involved in secondary metabolism (BGCs, 449) as well as metal- (133) and antibiotic-resistance (8501) genes were identified across the entire dataset. Several antibiotic and metal resistance genes were colocalized and coexpressed with putative BGCs, providing insight into the protective roles of the molecules BGCs produce. Our study shows that ecological stimuli, such as metal concentrations and seasonal variations, can drive ARD taxa to produce novel bioactive metabolites.
Rapid uptake and retention of neonicotinoids in nursery citrus trees as a safeguard against Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri) infestation

Abstract There are specific regulations in the USA for the inter-state shipment of containerized citrus from production nurseries located within Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Asian citrus psyllid; ACP) quarantine zones. To ensure trees are protected from the insect, nurseries must treat trees with an approved systemic neonicotinoid at least 30 days, and not more than 90 days, before trees can be shipped. The objective of this study was to reevaluate the necessity for a 30-day pre-shipment restriction by providing regulators with further data on the uptake of imidacloprid, thiamethoxam and dinotefuran, during the days immediately following treatments. In previous studies, ACP-effective thresholds were determined for 1-year old containerized citrus trees by correlating residue concentrations in leaf tissue with ACP efficacy. In this study, we used target concentrations to compare the uptake and retention of these neonicotinoids in 4 cultivars of 1-year old containerized citrus trees. ACP-effective thresholds were achieved within 3 days of treatment with the current lowest label rate (6.43 g AI/m3 soil) of generic formulations of imidacloprid, and within 1 day of treatment with the maximum label rate (97 g AI/m3 soil) of the name brand formulation Admire Pro®. The establishment of dinotefuran at ACP-effective thresholds was erratic in citrus cultivars, and residues of both dinotefuran and thiamethoxam had largely dissipated before the 30-day pre-shipment period had expired. The uptake and retention of all three neonicotinoids were significantly compromised under excessive watering (400% ET), although ACP-effective thresholds were still achieved with all imidacloprid treatment rates and thiamethoxam within 3 days. Overall, our results strongly support shortening the 30-day pre-shipment restriction to at most 3 days for trees treated with either imidacloprid or thiamethoxam. And, dinotefuran should be removed from the list of systemic insecticides approved for quarantine treatments.
Colonic Conditions: Adenomatous Polyps

Screening for colorectal neoplasms with colonoscopy and polypectomy prevents death from colorectal cancer and has had a tremendous public health impact in recent decades. Initiatives aimed at increasing the awareness of the importance of colonoscopy have helped to improve screening rates. The evolution of our understanding of the pathways responsible in the development of colorectal cancer have allowed for early intervention and prevention. Our ability to identify and remove premalignant adenomas has also improved. The improvements in endoscope technology, development of tools and techniques which allow the performance of complex endoluminal procedures and advances in imaging all enhance our ability to prevent death from colorectal cancer. This chapter will help outline the management of colonic adenomatous polyps.
Teaching in the Time of the COVID-19 Vaccine

The development and deployment of COVID-19 vaccines for the SARS-CoV-2 novel coronavirus has generated new hope and optimism that schools, colleges, and universities can return to in-person classroom instruction and teaching sometime in 2021. This paper summarizes the key factors affecting the personal health risks that teaching faculty face from returning to in-person classroom instruction and the steps that schools should take to prepare for fall 2021 re-opening. The rate of vaccination deployment and the rate of viral mutation are the key variables that will determine whether the USA will reach herd immunity before the fall 2021 term begins. Because those variables are beyond the control of schools, investments in testing capacity and updated HVAC systems (to improve both ventilation and filtration) should be made before fall 2021.
Harnessing Social Media to Identify Homeless Youth At-Risk of Substance Use.

Homeless youth are a highly vulnerable population and report highly elevated rates of substance use. Prior work on mitigating substance use among homeless youth has primarily relied on survey data to get information about substance use among homeless youth, which can then be used to inform the design of targeted intervention programs. However, such survey data is often onerous to collect, is limited by its reliance on self-reports and retrospective recall, and quickly becomes dated. The advent of social media has provided us with an important data source for understanding the health behaviors of homeless youth. In this paper, we target this specific population and demonstrate how to detect substance use based on texts from social media. We collect ~135K Facebook posts and comments together with survey responses from a group of homeless youth and use this data to build novel substance use detection systems with machine learning and natural language processing techniques. Experimental results show that our proposed methods achieve ROC-AUC scores of ~0.77 on identifying certain kinds of substance use among homeless youth using Facebook conversations only, and ROC-AUC scores of ~0.83 when combined with answers to four survey questions that are not about their demographic characteristics or substance use. Furthermore, we investigate connections between the characteristics of people's Facebook posts and substance use and provide insights about the problem.
A Study on Applications of Systems Engineering to Holistic Didactics

The most complete theoretical framework of systems thinking is Systems Inquiry that comprises three domains of study, those of Systems Philosophy, Theory and Methodology. The last domain explores principles, methods, models, techniques and tools for the study of systems, which can be either natural or artificial ones (alias, social or human activity systems). Systems Methodology is directly related to Systems Applications, the discipline that study how the methodologies can be applied to the understanding of already existing systems, both natural and artificial ones. The branch of Systems Applications that focuses directly on the construction of artificial systems, through the utilization of the relevant models and techniques to various problems, is Systems Engineering. In this work, didactics is perceived as an artificial system that realizes teaching and learning activities in a holistic manner, namely, it includes didactic practices about any subject, at any level, with any methodology and for any human or automated machine. Teaching is a planned activity according to a set of guidelines that, depending on the scale, have the form of a curriculum or a syllabus. The objective of this study is to demonstrate, through a variety of educational applications, that Systems Engineering may facilitate the construction of didactic plans in a holistic manner, by utilizing the particular technique of “Organizational Method for Analyzing Systems”, which originates from the relevant techniques of Information Systems.
Prospects of Least Developed Countries Meeting the Graduation Criteria by 2030

The progress made for enabling LDCs to move toward graduation has not been successful enough. Fourteen countries have been able to meet the criteria for graduation during 2011-2020, only half way to meet the target specified in the IPoA: a half of LDCs meeting the graduation criteria by 2020. Without boosting the development progress of LDCs, the possibility of achieving Sustainable Development Goals of the Agenda 2030 in all countries, leaving no one behind, will be very limited. The present paper investigates the trend based on diverse scenarios, to sheds light on the possible graduation cases by 2030, and implications on how much effort is needed to accelerate the development progress of LDCs. Based on the statistical information on the historical trend, only 20-24 LDC (44-53% of the total) may meet graduation thresholds by 2030, approaching the IPoA target set for 2020. Optimistic hypothetical scenarios predict that 27-36 LDCs (60-80% of the total) may meet the graduation criteria by 2030. To achieve the optimistic scenarios, however, an unprecedented pace of progress in all LDC criteria are required — income growth needs to be at least 7 per cent for all LDCs, or the progress needs to be accelerated two or three times faster than long term trends. Only in such optimistic scenarios, a substantive share of LDCs will be able to meet the graduation criteria by 2030.
Glucosinolate Bioactivation by Apis mellifera Workers and Its Impact on Nosema ceranae Infection at the Colony Level.

The microsporidian fungus Nosema ceranae represents one of the primary bee infection threats worldwide and the antibiotic fumagillin is the only registered product for nosemosis disease control, while few alternatives are, at present, available. Natural bioactive compounds deriving from the glucosinolate–myrosinase system (GSL–MYR) in Brassicaceae plants, mainly isothiocyanates (ITCs), are known for their antimicrobial activity against numerous pathogens and for their health-protective effects in humans. This work explored the use of Brassica nigra and Eruca sativa defatted seed meal (DSM) GSL-containing diets against natural Nosema infection in Apis mellifera colonies. DSM patties from each plant species were obtained by adding DSMs to sugar candy at the concentration of 4% (w/w). The feeding was administered in May to mildly N. ceranae-infected honey bee colonies for four weeks at the dose of 250 g/week. In the treated groups, no significant effects on colony development and bee mortality were observed compared to the negative controls. The N. ceranae abundance showed a slight but significant decrease. Furthermore, the GSL metabolism in bees was investigated, and MYR hydrolytic activity was qualitatively searched in isolated bee midgut and hindgut. Interestingly, MYR activity was detected both in the bees fed DSMs and in the control group where the bees did not receive DSMs. In parallel, ITCs were found in gut tissues from the bees treated with DSMs, corroborating the presence of a MYR-like enzyme capable of hydrolyzing ingested GSLs. On the other hand, GSLs and other GSL hydrolysis products other than ITCs, such as nitriles, were found in honey produced by the treated bees, potentially increasing the health value of the final product for human consumption. The results are indicative of a specific effect on the N. ceranae infection in managed honey bee colonies depending on the GSL activation within the target organ.
The Larch Casebearer in the Intermountain Northwest

The larch casebearer, Coleophora laricella Hubner (Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae), is a small silver-gray moth whose larvae mine needles of larches, Larix spp. Apparently of European origin, this defoliator was first recorded in North America near Northampton, Massachussetts, in 1886.3 It had spread westward to Minneapolis by 195012 and, in the spring of 1957, was collected just south of St. Manes, Idaho. A survey of larch forests in the intermountain region that year indicated that about 44,000 ha (170 sq mi) were infested.1 The population spread rapidly and uniformly until, in 1970, it occupied virtually all larch stands in the intermountain regions of eastern Washington, Oregon, and northern Idaho (Fig. 1).
Chapter 28 The “Secretory Code” of the Neutrophil

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the measurements of the early kinetics of degranulation and reports a comprehensive investigation into transient changes in cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels. Past experiments involving exposure of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) to a variety of particulate and soluble stimuli evoked a series of responses, such as chemotaxis, phagocytosis, degranulation of lysosomal enzymes, hexose monophosphate stimulation, generation of reactive derivatives of oxygen, release of membrane-bound calcium, and reorganization of microtubules and microfilaments. With the use of techniques affording high time resolution, the sequence of stimulus–response coupling from PMN is now apparent. Within seconds of surface stimulation, membrane potential changes take place, along with increased influxes of Na 2+ and Ca 2+ , mobilization of membrane-bound Ca 2+ , and as yet undefined changes in membrane fluidity and viscosity. Degranulation and oxidative metabolism begin 20–60 seconds later. The biochemical and physiological processes responsible for the lag periods observed for enzyme secretion, O 2 consumption, O 2 generation, and H 2 O 2 production are yet unknown. The PMN display other early responses such as protein carboxymethylation, cellular aggregation, and chemiluminescence.
Photopolymerization, Free Radical

Free-radical photopolymerizations, which use light energy to initiate chain-producing reactions, have many advantages over thermal polymerizations, including solvent-free systems, spatial and temporal control of initiation, and high speed processing capabilities. This article provides an overview of the components, kinetics, and applications of free-radical photopolymerization systems. Two general classes of photoinitiator systems (unimolecular and bimolecular) are discussed, as well as systems that have been developed to meet the demands of specific applications. (Meth)acrylates, which are the most widely used monomers in photopolymerization processes, and other commercially important free-radical monomers, are described. The kinetic treatment of free-radical photopolymerizations is outlined, with special emphasis on the photoinitiation step and its impact on the rate of polymerization expression. Kinetic modeling concerns in reaction systems containing monomers with more than one reactive group and in systems utilizing specialized polymerization methods are also considered. Finally, applications for free-radical photopolymers in the automotive, electronic, medical, optical, graphic arts, flooring, and furniture industries are presented. This article provides the scientist or engineer with fundamental considerations of free-radical photopolymerizations, along with references for more advanced topical research. Keywords: photopolymerization; photocuring; free radical; photoinitiators; monomers; kinetics
Toxicity of Turmeric Extracts to the Termite Reticulitermes flavipes (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae)

Turmeric is an important spice crop with documented human health benefits associated with chemicals called curcuminoids. In this study, the termite Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) was exposed to different solvent extracts of turmeric to investigate potential termiticidal properties. Treating termites with hexane extracts of purified lab-grade curcuminoids had no effect on termites. However, in continuous exposure assays, the LC(50) for hexane extracts of crude turmeric powder was 9.6 mg, or 1.0 mg starting material per square centimeter of filter paper substrate. These active components were soluble in a range of polar and apolar solvents, but only hexane could selectively fractionate active components away from the inactive curcuminoids. The active constituents of turmeric separated by thin layer chromatography (TLC) fluoresced in short-wave UV light but were not visible in long-wave UV light. By re-extracting TLC-separated bands in hexane and performing bioassays and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, we demonstrated that termiticidal components of turmeric are extractable as a blend containing mainly ar-turmerone, turmerone, and curlone. This determination is consistent with findings of preceding work by other researchers that investigated insecticidal properties of turmeric in other pest insects.
Scattering of Acoustic Waves from Ocean Boundaries

Abstract : The long-term goal is the development of a physical model of high-frequency acoustic interaction with the ocean floor, including penetration through and reflection from smooth and rough water/sediment interfaces, scattering from the interface roughness and volume heterogeneities and propagation within the sediment. The model will aid in the detection and classification of buried mines and improve SONAR performance in shallow water. The objectives are: 1) Determination of the correct physical model of acoustic propagation through ocean sediments and scattering from sediment interfaces through the analysis of in situ measurements. 2) Development of predictive models that can account for the all of the physical processes and variability of acoustic propagation and scattering in ocean environments with special emphasis on propagation in shallow water waveguides and scattering from ocean sediments. 3) Development of the new experimental techniques to measure geo-acoustic parameters in the ocean.
Effective Coaching for Anxious Children (ECAC): Putting Theory into Practice

This article describes the practical application of an innovative coach training model—Effective Coaching for Anxious Children—which integrates the Mastery Approach to Coaching and Coping Cat models of coach training and psychotherapeutic treatment for anxious children, respectively. This model aims to alleviate anxiety in youth through systemic and individual interventions focused on coach behavior, awareness, and instruction regarding coping skills. Practical suggestions for application of the model are provided (i.e., examples of responses for each specified behavior, situations in which to use the model, and ways to engage youth in the model).
Neurologic, psychiatric, and cardiovascular complications in children struck by lightning

The neurologic changes following lightning injury include coma with cerebral edema, inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), seizures, cerebellar ataxia, and painful sensory disturbances. Deteriorating neurologic status may warrant the use of intracranial pressure monitoring devices. Myocardial injury and transient hypertension are generally evident at the onset. Monitoring of the cardiac rhythm may be needed for as long as a week for late onset arrythmia. Abnormalities of memory, mood, and affect noted on recovery of consciousness may persist for months, necessitating close psychiatric and neurlologic follow-up.
Gauge Freedom in Chiral Gauge Theory with Vacuum Overlap - Two-dimensional case

Dynamical nature of the gauge degree of freedom and its effect to fermion spectrum are studied for four-dimensional nonabelian chiral gauge theory in the vacuum overlap formulation. The covariant gauge fixing term and the Faddeev-Popov determinant are introduced by hand as a weight for the gauge average. At � =1, as noticed by Hata some time ago, the model is renormalizable at one-loop and the gauge fixing term turns into an asymptotically free self-coupling of the gauge freedom, even in the presence of the gauge symmetry breaking of the complex phase of chiral determinant. The severe infrared divergence occurs in the perturbation expansion and it prevents local order parameters from emerging. The Foerster-Nielsen-Ninomiya mechanism works in this perturbative framework: the small explicit gauge symmetry breaking term does not affect the above infrared structure. Based on these dynamical features, which is quite similar to the two-dimensional nonlinear sigma model, we assume that the global gauge symmetry does not break spontaneously and the gauge freedom acquires mass dynamically. The asymptotic freedom allows us to tame the gauge fluctuation by approaching the critical point of the gauge freedom without spoiling its disordered nature. Then it is argued that the disordered gauge freedom does not necessarily cause the massless chiral state in the (waveguide) boundary correlation function and that the entire fermion spectrum can be chiral.
Rights, equality, and democracy : the shift from quotas to parity in Latin America

Seven Latin American countries — Ecuador, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama — have recently shifted from quota laws to parity regimes. This paper offers the first scholarly examination of the discourses underlying this parity shift, exploring how proponents frame and justify the measure in these seven cases. I find that Latin America’s parity advocates appeal to universal human rights and the equality of outcomes (rather than the equality of opportunities); in doing so, they establish parity as a prerequisite of the democratic state. This framing is further legitimated by court decisions validating the constitutionality of affirmative action. I conclude by arguing that these discourses have significant policy implications: parity will continue to diffuse rapidly across Latin America.
Neutralizing epitopes of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus are conformational and require both glycosylation and disulfide bonds for expression

Abstract Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (Armstrong strain) bears two overlapping epitopes, GP-1A (A) and GP-1D (D), recognized by neutralizing antibodies on the major surface glycoprotein GP-1. Both are discontinuous conformational epitopes that require prior formation of disulfide bridges and addition of N-linked oligosaccharides. Using monoclonal antibodies specific for each of these epitopes, as well as for conformation-independent epitopes, we have investigated the requirements for biosynthesis and folding of the epitopes. The carbohydrate residues themselves do not appear to comprise critical informational components of these epitopes, but are required for proper folding of the nascent glycopeptide chain within the rough endoplasmic reticulum. These epitopes differ in their resistance to denaturation; epitope D is retained when denatured with SDS under nonreducing conditions, whereas epitope A is lost. Monoclonal antibodies to epitope A cross-react with several strains of LCMV. However, epitope D is detected in only a subset of isolates derived from the Armstrong strain of LCMV. By RNA sequence analysis, we have mapped a single amino acid change distinguishing those virions containing epitope D. Acquisition of binding activity of the epitope D-specific monoclonal correlates with a Thr→Ala or Thr→Lys mutation at amino acid 173 of the GP-1 molecule and concomitant disruption of a consensus N-linked glycosylation site.
Motion of an Air-Cushion Vehicle in Transforming Nearshore Head Seas

Pitching and heaving motions of an air-cushion vehicle, such as a surface effect ship (SES), in response to wave encounters as it transitions through a transforming wave-field such as in the near-shore zone are considered. The vehicle maintains a pressurized air cushion between its two side hulls and the deck hull. In head seas, the passage of waves across the length of the ship results in variations in the air cushion pressure and in associated compressibility effects. In view of the shallow draft of the vehicle, the primary forcing is considered to be due to the compressible dynamics of the air in the cushion in response to the evolving wave field. Through solution of equations governing the response of the vehicle to unsteady changes in the air cushion pressure due to encounter with transforming waves in head seas is described. Coupled unsteady equations for heave and pitch are solved to determine response to passage through transforming head seas. Complementary laboratory experiments are described. Wave transformation from deep waters to the beach is determined using the model of Dally et al. (1985) and the shallow-water SWAN model. The transformations of a regular wave over a beach slope and of an offshore JONSWAP spectrum are computed and used as incident wave fields to determine the response of the vehicle in transitioning at speed U in head seas. The heave and pitch motions for a specific SES are computed as functions of time and frequency in a coordinate system moving with the transitioning vehicle. The characteristics of the vehicle response to a regular transforming monochromatic wave and to transforming irregular waves are determined. Heave and pitch motion of a selected SES, driven by cushion dynamics suggest how the vibrational energy is spread over a range of frequencies as the vehicle proceeds through this evolving wave field. A test platform involving a scaled model SES instrumented with an inertial motion unit to measure six-degrees-of-freedom motions of the vehicle, a pressure gauge to record the air cushion pressure and a custom flex sensor to measure bow skirt deflections due to wave impacts is used to study the vehicle response to transforming waves in laboratory experiments. Results of low Froude number experiments show that the heave, pitch and air cushion excess pressure fluctuations increase as mean air cushion excess pressure increases. The results are compared with the computations described above.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Tissue culture studies of keloids.

Abstract 1. 1. Keloid tissue fragments have been cultured and studied by phase contrast microscopic techniques. 2. 2. Two unusual cell types were found in the cellular migration from the explants. 3. 3. Possible roles were assigned to these cells in the etiology of keloids.