cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biology and Co-Occurrence of Psyllobora vigintimaculata taedata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and Powdery Mildews in an Urban Landscape of California

Biological control of powdery mildew (PM) plant pathogens may offer a solution to chemical control problems such as resistance, worker safety, and effects on nontarget organisms. Unfortunately, mildew consumption by arthropods is seldom studied and poorly understood. The coccinellid tribe Halyziini is composed entirely of obligate consumers of various PM fungi and is represented in the Western Hemisphere by members of the genus Psyllobora Chevrolat. In western North America Psyllobora vigintimaculata Say feeds on PM in natural and managed systems. Here, we report the insect's biology and phenology through the use of a laboratory colony, rectangular degree-day calculation and field sampling in an urban landscape. The natural presence of this beetle in Davis, CA, has been documented over the course of 2 yr through weekly presence-absence and density sampling of native and exotic plants prone to PM. Sampling data indicates activity from late February through mid-December. The insect was observed feeding on the PM of >25 plant species in 13 different plant families. There is a positive relationship between PM severity and the relative density of insects, suggesting an aggregative numerical response. The potential of P. vigintimaculata for biological control and the possibility of using this insect as an indicator of PM in horticultural systems are both discussed.
Genetic Polymorphisms in Vitamin D Receptor VDR/RXRA Influence the Likelihood of Colon Adenoma Recurrence

Low circulating levels of vitamin D have been implicated in colorectal cancer risk. The biological actions of the hormonal form of vitamin D, 1,25(OH)2D3, are mediated by the vitamin D receptor (VDR), which heterodimerizes with retinoid X receptors (RXRs). We applied a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) tagging approach to assess the association between genetic variation in RXRA and VDR and odds of metachronous colorectal neoplasia after polypectomy in a pooled population of two studies. A total of 32 tagSNPs in RXRA and 42 in VDR were analyzed in 1,439 participants. A gene-level association was observed for RXRA and any (P = 0.04), and proximal (P = 0.03) metachronous neoplasia, but no gene-level associations were observed for VDR. Although no single SNP in VDR was related to any metachronous adenoma after correction for multiple comparisons, the association between RXRA SNP rs7861779 and proximal metachronous neoplasia was of borderline statistical significance (OR=0.68; 95% CI=0.53–0.86; unadjusted p=0.001; adjusted p=0.06). This finding was observed in both of the individual studies when examined independently. Haplotypes within linkage blocks of RXRA support an approximately 30% significant reduction in odds of metachronous neoplasia arising in the proximal colon among carriers of specific haplotypes, which was strongest (ORproximal = 0.67; 95% CI, 0.52 – 0.86) for carriers of a CGGGCA haplotype (rs1805352, rs3132297, rs3132296, rs3118529, rs3118536, rs7861779). These results represent a novel finding indicating that allelic variation in RXRA is related to metachronous colorectal neoplasia, and may be of particular importance in the development of proximal lesions.
Percutaneous cochlear implant drilling via customized frames: an in vitro study.

Abstract Objective Percutaneous cochlear implantation (PCI) surgery uses patient-specific customized microstereotactic frames to achieve a single drill-pass from the lateral skull to the cochlea, avoiding vital anatomy. We demonstrate the use of a specific microstereotactic frame, called a “microtable,” to perform PCI surgery on cadaveric temporal bone specimens. Study Design Feasibility study using cadaveric temporal bones. Subjects and Methods PCI drilling was performed on six cadaveric temporal bone specimens. The main steps involved were 1) placing three bone-implanted markers surrounding the ear, 2) obtaining a CT scan, 3) planning a safe surgical path to the cochlea avoiding vital anatomy, 4) constructing a microstereotactic frame to constrain the drill to the planned path, and 5) affixing the frame to the markers and using it to drill to the cochlea. The specimens were CT scanned after drilling to show the achieved path. Deviation of the drilled path from the desired path was computed, and the closest distance of the mid-axis of the drilled path from critical structures was measured. Results In all six specimens, we drilled successfully to the cochlea, preserving the facial nerve and ossicles. In four of six specimens, the chorda tympani was preserved, and in two of six specimens, it was sacrificed. The mean ± standard deviation error at the target was found to be 0.31 ± 0.10 mm. The closest distances of the mid-axis of the drilled path to structures were 1.28 ± 0.17 mm to the facial nerve, 1.31 ± 0.36 mm to the chorda tympani, and 1.59 ± 0.43 mm to the ossicles. Conclusion In a cadaveric model, PCI drilling is safe and effective.
Partisanship and Determination of Election Outcomes

This paper estimates how campaign expenditures, candidate incumbency, and voter registration distributions determine U.S. House of Representative vote shares using congressional election data. We quantify the magnitude of these factors using a voter discrete choice demand model similar to Berry, Levinsohn, Pakes (1995). Our methodology assumes three types of voters, registered Republicans, Democrats, and nonpartisans. We incorporate voter registration data to control for the voter heterogeneity, which allows us to estimate different preference parameters for the different types of voters. This methodology shows that nonpartisan voters are more responsive to candidate expenditures on the margin than registered Republicans or Democrats. We also obtain precise estimates with a relatively small sample.
Frequency hopping in Cognitive Radio Networks: A survey

Nowadays, with this diversity of Communication devices, the demand for accessing the spectrum is extremely increased. Cognitive Radio Network(CRN) improves the utilizing of the available spectrum efficiently and without it a considerable portion of the assigned spectrum is used intermittently. The geographical variations of using the assigned spectrum ranges remarkably with a high variance in time and place. Among Lots of the medium access control (MAC) protocols proposed, channel-hopping-based medium access control protocols enhance the capacity in decentralized multichannel CRN's without utilizing extra control channels.In order to transmit, each secondary user (SU) should stochastically follow a channel hopping sequence to establish a free channel. This paper addresses a survey on the basis of the channel hopping and reviews the channel hopping MAC in aspects of spectrum sharing ,related protocols, rendezvouses and control channel selection and so on.
Bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling: experience in 327 patients

Objective To describe findings and outcomes of 331 bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling (BIPSS) procedures performed in 327 patients evaluated for Cushing disease (CD). Materials and methods The radiology department9s electronic database was searched to identify all BIPSS procedures (1990–2013). Electronic medical records were used to identify demographics, laboratory, procedural, surgical and pathologic findings. Results A total of 331 BIPSS procedures were performed in 327 patients (254 F, 73 M), mean age 41 (range 7–81) years. The overall technical success rate was 88% for bilateral cannulation, though nearly two-thirds of the technical failures had unilateral sampling that diagnosed CD. Of the 331 BIPSS procedures, 40 were performed without, and 291 with stimulation by Acthrel or desmopressin. Sensitivity was 89–94% for unstimulated BIPSS, 96% for stimulated BIPSS, and 77% for MRI. BIPSS lateralization was accurate in about half of patients, compared with 75% accuracy for MRI. Mean inferior petrosal sinus (IPS):peripheral adrenocorticotropic hormone ratio was 17.3 (SE 1.8) at baseline, and 99.2 (SE 14.8) at 3 min, with decreasing values over time. All patients with follow-up after surgical resection for centralizing BIPSS were reported to be cured, with cortisol levels significantly decreased from 19 to 4 μg/dL (p Conclusions BIPSS remains the ‘gold standard’ for diagnosing CD. Stimulation with Acthrel or desmopressin is key to increasing specificity. When only one IPS can be successfully cannulated, results may still be diagnostic. BIPSS findings cannot be used to accurately lateralize lesions within the pituitary.
Effects of atrazine on the toxicity, penetration and metabolism of carbofuran in the house fly.

Experiments were conducted to obtain additional information relative to the effects of the herbicide atrazine on the toxicity, penetration, and metabolism of 14C-carbofuran in Musca domestica L. Topically applied carbofuran yielded, after 24h, an LD-50 at 0.16 μg/fly but dropped to 0.08 μg/fly when a nontoxic dose of 15 μg of atrazine also had been applied. In the presence of atrazine, twice as much 14C-carbofuran was left on the outside of the flies as compared to controls. Conversely, amounts of the less toxic metabolite 3-hydroxy-carbofuran in the chloroform extraction phase of fly excreta were only 30% of those excreted by control flies. Amounts of the major metabolite 3-hydroxycarbofuran in the water extraction phase of fly excreta were 2.57% of the applied radiocarbon after 14C-carbofuran plus atrazine treatment and 4.14% in excreta from control flies, thus indicating a reduction in the formation of this carbofuran metabolite due to atrazine. The respective figures were 0.38 and 0.97% for 3-hydroxycarbofuran phenol and 0.12 and 0.31% for carbofuran phenol. Data indicated that the herbicide atrazine inhibited the penetration of 14C-carbofuran into houseflies or stabilized it on the cuticle, thus making its biological activity available over longer time periods. In addition, it inhibited the metabolic detoxication of the insecticide into less insecticidal compounds, whose toxicity in turn also could be enhanced by atrazine. The increased stability of 14C-carbofuran, both outside and inside the insect body, resulted in an increased toxicity of the insecticide, thus explaining to some extent the synergism of carbofuran with atrazine in house flies.
The Diffusion of Chloride Ions in Fly Ash/Cement Pastes and Mortars

Fly ashes having three distinctly different levels of calcium, designated low-calcium (Class F), intermediate-calcium (Class F/C), and high-calcium (Class C) comprised the basic material for the present study. Pastes and mortars were made out of the three types of fly ashes and one type of cement (Type I) at various levels of replacement as well as different water/solid ratios (w/c). Chloride ion diffusion was measured by applying an electrical potential across cured cylindrical samples and measuring the amount of current passed in a certain period of time (proportional to amount of Cl− passed in this time). Other supportive measurements were made, e.g., porosity and pore size distribution, water permeability and surface area. The Cl− ion diffusivities were correlated with the chemical composition of fly ash (FA), mix proportioning, and water permeabilities of the tested hardened pastes or mortars.
[Effect of air pollution on coronary heart disease mortality in Tianjin, 2001-2009: a time-series study].

Objective To quantitatively explore the effect of air pollution on coronary heart disease mortality in Tianjin.Methods Mortality data in 2001-2009 were from Tianjin mortality surveillance system operated by the Tianjin Centers for Disease Control and Prevention while data related to meteorology and air pollution were from the Tianjin Meteorological Bureau and Tianjin Environmental Monitoring Station,respectively.Generalized Additive Model (GAM) extended Poisson regression was used to examine the relationship between air pollution and mortality in Tianjin,under the controlling of time trends,weather,the day of week and population etc.Results The crude coronary heart disease mortality in Tianjin increased from year 2001 to 2009,from 105.12/100 000 to 167.03/100 000.The standardized mortality rate of 96.07/100 000 to 105.11/100 000.Air pollutants was more strongly associated with coronary heart disease mortality.By single GAM analysis,a 10 tg/m3 increase in SO2,PM10 and NO2,which accounted for 1.25％(95％CI:0.75％-1.75％),0.65％ (95％CI:0.51％-0.79％) and 1.04％ (95％CI:0.52％-1.55％) increased in daily mortality.By multiple GAM analysis,a 10 μ g/m3 increase in SO2 and PM10 which accounted for 0.86％ (95％ CI:0.60％-1.12％) and 0.40％ (95％ CI:0.06％-0.75％) increased the daily mortality.NO2 was not significantly associated with coronary heart disease mortality rates,but factors as low temperature,low wind speed and population size were (P＜0.05).Conclusion Results from this study showed that air pollution was a risk factor for coronary heart disease mortality in Tianjin. Key words: Coronary heart disease; Air pollution; Mortality rate; Generalized additive model
Endogenous inhibitors of the Na,K pump

Evidence for a 'third factor' in the regulation of urinary sodium excretion has directed a search for a natriuretic agent which functions by inhibition of Na,K-ATPase. Such an agent may also be involved in the genesis of hypertension and provide an important pathophysiological link between increased sodium intake, reduced renal sodium excretory capacity and hypertension. Numerous lines of evidence have been developed, all supporting the possibility that third factor sodium pump inhibition may take place through the cardiac glycoside-binding site of the sodium pump. Inhibition of the sodium pump may contribute to renal mechanisms of sodium balance. Generalization of this inhibition to vascular tissue and to the neural tissue regulating vascular contraction may elevate blood pressure (and increase natriuresis) by increasing contraction. In spite of 30 years of effort, no convincing substance has been successfully identified as both a cardiac glycoside-like inhibitor of the sodium pump and an endogenous substance. However, recent work has led to the emergence and investigation of a number of interesting candidates. This review will survey the historical background of endogenous sodium pump inhibitors, examine some of the problems and requirements which must be overcome in their identification, analyze evidence obtained recently concerning a number of candidate compounds and identify problems which remain to be addressed in this field.
Sodium transport across isolated human jejunum.

To study the mechanism of Na transport in the human jejunum 20 pieces of full thickness normal jejunum were placed in a modified Ussing chamber in a bicarbonate-free, chloride-free media. In the absence of glucose, a finite transmembrane electrical potential difference, short circuit current, and net Na absorption were observed. The addition of either glucose or 3-O-methylglucose resulted in prompt increases of electrical potential difference, short circuit current, and net Na absorption. The short circuit current was almost completely accounted for by net Na absorption in both the presence and absence of glucose. These results are compatible with the presence of both active electrogenic Na transport and glucose-stimulated Na transport in the human jejunum.
Subtleties of Non-local Field Theory

Now that we have reached the subject of non-local field theory, it is important that we discuss some peculiar features that distinguish it from local field theory. This chapter is based on, and extends, Jaccard et al. (Phys. Rev. D 88:4, 044033, 2013 [1]), Dirian and Mitsou, (JCAP 10:065, 2014 [2]), Foffa et al. (Phys. Lett. B 733:76, 2014 [3]).
Insights Into Nephrolithiasis From the Nurses’ Health Studies

Objectives. To review the contributions of the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) I and NHS II to understanding the role of dietary factors, beverages, body size, and urinary factors in the development of kidney stones.Methods. We conducted a review of kidney stone–related publications of NHS I and NHS II between 1976 and 2016.Results. Studies using NHS I and NHS II data have demonstrated the importance of many factors in kidney stone formation and were the first to report that higher dietary calcium was associated with a lower risk of incident kidney stones in women. Data from these cohorts were instrumental in emphasizing that nephrolithiasis is a systemic disease and suggesting that a kidney stone or shared risk factors may lead to hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.Conclusions. Findings from the NHSs have changed the scientific understanding and the clinical practice of stone prevention and have been incorporated into widely consulted textbooks and the American Urological Association Medical M...
Hox6 genes modulate in vitro differentiation of mESCs to insulin-producing cells

The differentiation of glucose-responsive, insulin-producing cells from ESCs in vitro is promising as a cellular therapy for the treatment of diabetes, a devastating and common disease. Pancreatic β-cells are derived from the endoderm in vivo and therefore most current protocols attempt to generate a pure population of first endoderm, then pancreas epithelium, and finally insulin-producing cells. Despite this, differentiation protocols result in mixed populations of cells that are often poorly defined, but also contain mesoderm. Using an in vitro mESC-to-β cell differentiation protocol, we show that expression of region-specific Hox genes is induced. We also show that the loss of function of the Hox6 paralogous group, genes expressed only in the mesenchyme of the pancreas (not epithelium), affect the differentiation of insulin-producing cells in vitro. This work is consistent with the important role for these mesoderm-specific factors in vivo and highlights contribution of supporting mesenchymal cells in in vitro differentiation.
Swimming Microrobot Optical Nanoscopy.

Optical imaging plays a fundamental role in science and technology but is limited by the ability of lenses to resolve small features below the fundamental diffraction limit. A variety of nanophotonic devices, such as metamaterial superlenses and hyperlenses, as well as microsphere lenses, have been proposed recently for subdiffraction imaging. The implementation of these micro/nanostructured lenses as practical and efficient imaging approaches requires locomotive capabilities to probe specific sites and scan large areas. However, directed motion of nanoscale objects in liquids must overcome low Reynolds number viscous flow and Brownian fluctuations, which impede stable and controllable scanning. Here we introduce a new imaging method, named swimming microrobot optical nanoscopy, based on untethered chemically powered microrobots as autonomous probes for subdiffraction optical scanning and imaging. The microrobots are made of high-refractive-index microsphere lenses and powered by local catalytic reactions...
Quinine bonded to superficially porous particles for high-efficiency and ultrafast liquid and supercritical fluid chromatography.

Two new anion-exchange columns were prepared by bonding tert-butyl carbamoylated quinine to 2.7 μm superficially porous particle (SPP) silica to create chiral stationary phases for high-efficiency and ultrafast chromatography. Performance and retention parameters of these new columns are compared with an analogous 5 μm fully porous particle (FPP) based Chiralpak QNAX column and a 3-4 fold increase in efficiency was observed. Ultrafast separations ranging from 12 s down to sub-second are shown using 2.7 μm SPPs bonded via hydrosilation to the selector. Potential benefits of 2.7 μm SPP based columns for increased LC-MS compatibility were investigated. A van Deemter plot comparison showed 2.7 μm SPP based columns provided a lower reduced plate height and a higher optimal linear velocity compared to the 5 μm FPP based column. With geometry-independent kinetic plots, 2.7 μm SPP and 5 μm FPP based columns were assessed for their kinetic performance and the maximal number of plates each column can generate in a given analysis time. The 2.7 μm SPP based column showed remarkable performance improvements in speed and efficiency as indicated by the kinetic plots.
A DAB2IP genotype: sex interaction is associated with abdominal aortic aneurysm expansion

A faster expansion rate of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) increases the risk of rupture. Women are at higher risk of rupture than men, but the mechanisms underlying this increased risk are unknown. We investigated whether genetic variants that influence susceptibility for AAA (CDKN2A-2B, SORT1, DAB2IP, LRP1 and LDLR) are associated with AAA expansion and whether these associations differ by sex in 650 patients with AAA (mean age 70±8 years, 17% women) enrolled in the Mayo Clinic Vascular Disease Biorepository. Women had a mean aneurysm expansion 0.41 mm/year greater than men after adjustment for baseline AAA size. In addition to baseline size, mean arterial pressure (MAP), non-diabetic status, SORT1-rs599839[G] and DAB2IP-rs7025486[A] were associated with greater aneurysm expansion (all p
Marginalized Racial and Ethnic Adults with Disabilities in Rural Communities: The Role of Cultural Competence and Social Justice

Historically marginalized groups in the United States make up vast and complex groups. Although this chapter discusses historically marginalized groups broadly, we acknowledge that these groups have distinct histories, cultural contexts, and sociopolitical transitions. The intent of this chapter is to explore VR service responsiveness to persons with disabilities from historically marginalized groups in rural, frontier, and territory (RFT) settings. The discussion focuses on attitudes toward disability, access to and quality of VR services, counselor-client working alliance, counselor cultural competence, and employment outcomes. Recommendations are offered to improve service outcomes.
Predicting the Impact of cis-Regulatory Variation on Alternative Polyadenylation

Alternative polyadenylation (APA) is a major driver of transcriptome diversity in human cells. Here, we use deep learning to predict APA from DNA sequence alone. We trained our model (APARENT, APA REgression NeT) on isoform expression data from over three million APA reporters, built by inserting random sequence into twelve distinct 3′UTR contexts. Predictions are highly accurate across both synthetic and genomic contexts; when tasked with inferring APA in human 3′UTRs, APARENT outperforms models trained exclusively on endogenous data. Visualizing features learned across all network layers reveals that APARENT recognizes sequence motifs known to recruit APA regulators, discovers previously unknown sequence determinants of cleavage site selection, and integrates these features into a comprehensive, interpretable cis-regulatory code. Finally, we use APARENT to quantify the impact of genetic variants on APA. Our approach detects pathogenic variants in a wide range of disease contexts, expanding our understanding of the genetic origins of disease.
Silicon-photonics-based optical frequency synthesizer

We demonstrate silicon-photonics-based octave spanning optical frequency combs phase coherently locked to a microwave oscillator for optical frequency synthesis. This system offers capability for precision optical synthesis of CW laser over the entire C-band.
Quantifying natural seasonal variation in mutation parameters with mutation accumulation lines

Mutations create novel genetic variants, but their contribution to variation in fitness and other phenotypes may depend on environmental conditions. Furthermore, natural environments may be highly heterogeneous. We assessed phenotypes associated with survival and reproductive success in over 30,000 plants representing 100 mutation accumulation lines of Arabidopsis thaliana across four temporal environments at a single field site. In each of the four assays, environmental variance was substantially larger than mutational variance. For some traits, whether mutational variance was significantly varied between seasons. The founder genotype had mean trait values near the mean of the distribution of the mutation accumulation lines in all field experiments. New mutations also contributed more phenotypic variation than would be predicted, given phenotypic and sequence-level divergence among natural populations of A. thaliana. The combination of large environmental variance with a mean effect of mutation near zero suggests that mutations could contribute substantially to standing genetic variation.
Context-Sensitive Analysis

An input program that is grammatically correct may still contain serious errors that would prevent compilation. To detect such errors, a compiler performs a further level of checking that involves considering each statement in its actual context. These checks find errors of type and of agreement.
Steadfast Standards or Fluctuating Fancies? Stability and Change in People's Mate Criteria Over 27 Months.

Although research on mate preferences has been built on the assumption that the criteria people report at one point in time should predict their future partnering behavior, little is known about th...
The Evolution Will Not Be Broadcast (or Published): Social Capital, Assimilation, and the Changing Queer Community

Widespread technological advances, coupled with social and political success by the LGBTQ rights movement in the decades following the Stonewall uprising in 1969, have resulted in a dramatic evolut...
Over expression of DNA damage and cell cycle dependent proteins are associated with poor survival in patients with adrenocortical carcinoma

Background Adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare and aggressive malignancy with poor survival. With limited treatment options and high risk of relapse, identifying improved targets and therapies for adrenocortical carcinoma is important. We hypothesized that analysis of the database of The Cancer Genome Atlas could identify important novel biomarkers for improved therapeutic targeting of adrenocortical carcinoma. Methods We utilized the University of Alabama interactive web resource to identify novel biomarkers observed in 79 adrenocortical carcinoma patients. Identified biomarkers were then examined for prognostic correlations using the cBioPortal and analyzed for statistical significance using STATA 13.0. Results The Cancer Genome Atlas data mining in the University of Alabama interactive web resource for pathways associated with poor survival of patients with adrenocortical carcinoma revealed significant upregulation of genes involved in DNA damage and regulation of cell-cycle pathways, such as AURKA, AURKB, CDK1, CDK4, CDK6, PLK1, CHEK1, CHEK2, CDC7, BUB3, and MCM3 (P Conclusion Large data mining from the The Cancer Genome Atlas and cBioPortal databases identified overexpression of genes involved in DNA damage and those regulating pathways of the cell cycle, which correlated with poorer overall survival in adrenocortical carcinoma patients.
Filial Piety in Japan and China: Borrowing, Variation and Significance*

Filial piety has been central to Chinese social fabric since ancient times and thoroughly adopted and propagated by the Japanese since the sixth century A.D. However, it was an impediment to the in...
An empirical investigation into merge conflicts and their effect on software quality

Merge conflicts are known to cause extra effort for developers, but little is known about their effect on software. While some research has been done, many questions remain. To better understand merge conflicts and their impact we performed an empirical study about the types, frequency, and impact of merge conflicts, where impact is measured in terms of bug fixing commits associated with conflicts. We analyzed 143 open source projects and found that almost 1 in 5 merges cause conflicts. In 75.23% of these cases, a developer needed to reflect on the program logic to resolve it. We also found that the code associated with a merge conflict is twice as likely to have a bug. When the code associated with merge conflicts require manual intervention, the code is 26× more likely to have a bug.
Linear optimization for predicting material compositions in molten salt reactors

Abstract Molten salt reactors have seen a resurgence of interest in the last 20 years and yet the options available for fuel evolution modelling in these systems are few with many of them making coarse assumptions and many more being poorly documented. ADER, the Advanced Depletion Extension for Reprocessing, is a source code modification to the Serpent 2 Monte Carlo reactor physics code which seeks to improve on many of the shortcomings found in the field of nuclear material evolution modelling. Specifically, ADER provides an interface with which to define collections of elements, isotopes, and chemicals. ADER provides a means to specify how these collections should interact within a Serpent 2 material and how these collections may be moved in, out, and between Serpent 2 materials. Furthermore, ADER optimizes optional material flows based on user defined material constraints and user defined material flows. Two specific material constraints that ADER provides an interface for are limitations on the multiplication factor of a syste in Serpent 2 as well as limitations on the summed and weighted oxidation state of a material in Serpent 2. Taking all these considerations into account the optimization routines of ADER provide optimized material flows which are incorporated directly into the Serpent 2 burnup routines. ADER is expected to significantly advance the current state of molten salt reactor fuel evolution modelling and possibly other nuclear evolution modelling problems. ADER is available at github.com/ddwooten/ADER _ pub.
Distress, Grief, and Functionality following Military Unit Suicide Exposure

Given the high prevalence of suicide within the military context, there is a need to understand the impact of suicide within the military unit and assess factors that mitigate unfavorable outcomes....
The Challenges and Benefits of Using Biodiesel in Freight Railways

The recent history of biofuels, particularly biodiesel fuel, in the United States has been a turbulent one. After an initial boom in the production of biodiesel and a huge expansion in capacity in advance of expected increases in demand, the bottom fell out of the market by the end of 2010. Annual biodiesel production, which had approached 700 million gallons in 2008, fell to just over 500 million gallons by 2009 and reached the lowest point at only 340 million gallons in 2010.1 Since then, however, the boom times have returned; 2011 saw the highest-ever level of production, at almost a billion gallons.2 Much of this ebb and flow has been caused by the policy environment faced by biodiesel producers. Since the 1970s, federal efforts have broadly favoured increased production of biofuels, particularly corn-based ethanol. Since the 1990s, those encouragement efforts have expanded to include biodiesel production.3 The enactment of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and, more recently, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 have mandated increased biofuel penetration into the transportation fuel market.4 By diversifying the transportation fuel mix, federal policies aim to improve energy security and environmental performance, although the latter is more controversial than the former.5 Together, these actions have created a market for biofuels as a substitute for its petroleum counterparts. Of particular interest is the market for biodiesel, an overshadowed alternative to the more popular corn-based ethanol gasoline substitute.
Racial disparities in local therapy for early stage non-small-cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVES This study investigated disparities in the delivery of definitive therapy for early stage non-small-cell lung cancer (ESNSCLC) between Caucasian (CS) and African American (AA) populations. METHODS The National Cancer Data Base was queried for AA and CS patients, diagnosed with c stage I Non small cell lung cancer between 2004 and 2015. Trends in surgery, stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR), or external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) were compared. Kaplan-Meier and Cox hazards models were used to compare 5-year overall survival (5YOS). RESULTS A total of 174,338 (90.6%) patients were CS and 18,077 (9.4%) patients were AA. AA patients were less likely to receive surgery (60.3% vs. 66.9%; p < .001) and more likely to receive EBRT (12.4% vs. 10.6%; p < .001); however, there was no significant difference in rates of SABR (8.8% vs. 9.2%; p = .066). From 2004 to 2015, the surgery rates increased for AA patients from 44.4% to 61.8% and for CS patients from 57.6% to 65.6%. AA patients had worse 5YOS on an unadjusted analysis (46.7% vs. 47.9%; p = .009). When adjusted for definitive treatment, AA patients had improved survival (hazard ratio = 0.97, 95% confidence interval = 0.94-0.99). CONCLUSION Improvements in the delivery of surgery and equal utilization of definitive radiation therapy are at least partially responsible for closing the survival gap between AA and CS patients with ESNSCLC.
The relationship between duty cycle, tachycardia threshold and autostimulation delivery in cardio-responsive vagus nerve stimulation

Abstract Purpose Many patients with epilepsy are unable to completely control seizures with medication alone. Vagus nerve stimulation is an effective nonpharmacologic option for treatment-resistant epilepsy. AutoStim technology is a relatively new VNS feature that provides extra stimulations in response to tachycardia, which often precedes seizures. This feature adds a currently unknown number of extra stimulations per day. This study aims to evaluate that actual stimulations’ patients receive per day as a function of varying VNS settings. Methods This project was a retrospective chart review. All patients with implanted VNS devices with AutoStim technology managed at Northwestern’s epilepsy clinic were included in the study. Data were collected on duty cycle, tachycardia threshold, expected number of stimulations per day, normal mode stimulations per day, and AutoStims per day. Associations between all variables were evaluated. Results Sixty-seven patients with VNS stimulators met inclusion criteria leading to 305 unique VNS interrogation results. This study demonstrated the smallest number of extra stimulations between tachycardia thresholds of 40 and 60 with absolute minimums at 35 and 45. Our results also demonstrate a trend of decreasing extra stimulations per day with increased duty cycle at each tachycardia threshold evaluated. Conclusions These data demonstrate the effect of duty cycle and tachycardia threshold on extra stimulations per day and demonstrated the optimal settings for reducing extra stimulations. This research provides reassurance and information to patients and providers about the actual number of stimulations patients receive with AutoStim technology.
Effects of nitrogen application rate on yield and nitrogen use efficiency of rice variety Guixiang 3

【Objective】High quality conventional rice variety Guixiang 3 was used to study the effects of nitrogen(N) application rate on yield,N accumulation and distribution as well as N-use efficiency(NUE) of rice. 【Method】Field experiments with five N treatments 0,120,150,180 and 210 kg/ha were conducted to measure yield,N accumulation amount and its distribution ratio to different organs and NUE of Guixiang 3 planting in late season. 【Result】The results indicated that yield of Guixiang 3 increased with increase of N rate,but the yield decreased at rates beyond 150 kg/ha. The grain yield increments were achieved mainly through increasing the number of effective panicles and grain per panicle. There were no significant differences in seed setting rate and 1000-grain weight at different N levels. The total N uptake of Guixiang 3 increased with the increase in applied N,but excessive application of N fertilizer resulted in less N distribution to panicle at later growth stages. NPFP,NHI and NUEg decreased with increasing N rate,and more or less N fertilizer amount was not beneficial to the increase of NAE,NPE and NRE of Guixiang 3. 【Conclusion】With the rational N rate of 150 kg/ha,Guixiang 3 could obtain the highest yield with the highest N-use efficiency. The highest yield was 7374.1 kg/ha. NAE,NPE and NRE were 15.9 kg/kg,43.8 kg/kg and 36.3%, respectively.
Iteratively reweighted least squares with random effects for maximum likelihood in generalized linear mixed effects models

This article develops a new method called iteratively reweighted least squares with random effects (IRWLSR) for maximum likelihood in generalized linear mixed effects models (GLMMs). As normal dist...
Health-Based Proxy Discrimination, Artificial Intelligence, and Big Data

Insurers and employers often have financial incentives to discriminate against people who are relatively likely to experience future healthcare costs. Numerous federal and states laws nonetheless seek to restrict such health-based discrimination. Examples include the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act (GINA). But this Essay argues that these laws are incapable of reliably preventing health-based discrimination when employers or insurers rely on machine-learning AIs to inform their decision-making. At bottom, this is because machine-learning AIs are inherently structured to identify and rely upon proxies for traits that directly predict whatever “target variable” they are programmed to maximize. Because the future health status of employees and insureds is in fact directly predictive of innumerable facially neutral goals for employers and insurers respectively, machine-learning AIs will tend to produce similar results as intentional discrimination based on health-related factors. Although laws like the Affordable Care Act (ACA) can avoid this outcome by prohibiting all forms of discrimination that are not pre-approved, this approach is not broadly applicable. Complicating the issue even further, virtually all technical strategies for developing “fair algorithms” are not workable when it comes to health-based proxy discrimination, because health information is generally private and hence cannot be used to correct unwanted biases. The Essay nonetheless closes by suggesting a new strategy for combatting health-based proxy discrimination by AI: limiting firms’ capacity to program their AIs using target variables that have a strong possible link to health-related factors.
pH Triggered Synthetic Peptides: Models for Viral Fusion Sequences

Membrane fusion is an essential element of enveloped viral infectivity. Efforts to understand the molecular details of this process have focused on specific lipid interactions and more recently on protein-lipid interactions1. Enveloped viruses like influenza, are internalized into endosomes where the low pH of this compartment catalyzes a conformational change in the hemagglutinin protein rendering it fusion competent2. Although the role of specific amino acid sequences at the amino terminal of the hemagglutinin have been implicated in this process3, the molecular details remain obscure.
The Cytoskeleton in Filamentous Fungi

This chapter focuses on the microtubule and actin cytoskeletons of filamentous fungi, including the motor proteins that are integral to cytoskeletal function. Relevant results from yeasts are discussed to provide background and context. The emphasis is on more recent data from live-cell imaging as well as genetic and molecular genetic studies. It has been shown that both the microtubule and the actin cytoskeletons play roles in polarized growth of hyphae, and how these cytoskeletal elements function to support hyphal growth and organelle distribution in elongated hyphae is a topic of great interest. Dynein in filamentous fungi also participates in organizing the microtubule network by regulating microtubule dynamics and by providing force for transporting microtubules. In filamentous fungi, the actin cytoskeleton and its myosin motors are important for the delivery of cell membrane and cell wall components to the growing hyphal tip and to the septum. Myosins are a diverse superfamily of actin motor proteins that play various cellular roles. In filamentous fungi such as A. nidulans and N. crassa, four families of myosins have been found, including myosin-I, myosin-II, myosin-V, and the fungus-specific chitin synthases with myosin motor domains. Hyphal growth in filamentous fungi needs both microtubule and actin cytoskeletons, and thus, it would be important to understand how these two systems interact to coordinate vesicle transport towards the hyphal tip.
Looking Forward: The Federal Trade Commission and the Future Development of U.S. Competition Policy

This article discusses a strategy for FTC competition policy and a positive agenda to implement the strategy. The antitrust laws and the pro-competition ethic they embody serve as an organizing principle in our country's economy. Antitrust plays a major role in shaping our markets, institutions, and the relationships among market participants. Effective antitrust enforcement may preclude direct, command-and-control regulation of sectors of the economy, avoiding the significant inefficiencies such regulation entails. By spurring competition, antitrust contributes to a market system that provides lower prices, encourages greater innovation, and generates faster responses by business to changing consumer needs and desires. The first part of the article identifies two antitrust immunities that help protect and foster regulatory growth: Noerr immunity and the state action doctrine. It details FTC initiatives to limit these immunities to their proper spheres, which will ensure that the ability of antitrust to protect consumers is not unduly restricted. By contrast, expansive applications of antitrust immunities shelter under the cloak of government regulation much anticompetitive conduct that harms consumers. This part of the article also describes the Commission's competition advocacy role. Today, the FTC acts as a vigorous advocate for competition through its publication of studies and reports, as well as participation in state and federal legislative and regulatory fora. The FTC's advocacy program provides economic analysis and other informed guidance to help policymakers better understand the impact of their decisions in creating, maintaining, or forestalling competitive markets. The second section of the article states that the Commission's enforcement program should focus closely on the transactions and kinds of practices that have been shown over time to pose the greatest threat of substantial consumer injury. In particular, there is a general consensus that the practices about which we should most worry occur when competitors stop competing vigorously, making peace to benefit themselves at the expense of consumers. It offers as examples recent investigations into single-firm conduct involving the abuse of government processes. Finally, the article discusses the importance of using the FTC's full range of capabilities, such as conducting research about the economy, engaging in competition advocacy, and using administrative adjudication to resolve competition policy disputes.
Estimation of body composition of pigs.

A study was conducted to evaluate the use of deuterium oxide (D2O) for in vivo estimation of body composition of diverse types of pigs. Obese (Ob, 30) and contemporary Hampshire X Yorkshire (C, 30) types of pigs used in the study were managed and fed under typical management regimens. Indwelling catheters were placed in a jugular vein of 6 Ob and 6 C pigs at 4, 8, 12, 18 and 24 wk of age. The D2O was infused (.5 g/kg body weight) as a .9% NaCl solution into the jugular catheter. Blood samples were taken immediately before and at .25, 1, 4, 8, 12, 24 and 48 h after the D2O infusion and D2O concentration in blood water was determined. Pigs were subsequently killed by euthanasia injection. Contents of the gastrointestinal tract were removed and the empty body was then frozen and later ground and sampled for subsequent analyses. Ground body tissue samples were analyzed for water, fat, N, fat-free organic matter and ash. Pig type, age and the type X age interaction were significant sources of variation in live weight, D2O pool size and all empty body components, as well as all fat-free empty body components. Relationships between age and live weight or weight of empty body components, and between live weight, empty body weight, empty body water or D2O space and weight of empty components were highly significant but influenced, in most cases, by pig type. The results of this study suggested that, although relationships between D2O space and body component weights were highly significant, they were influenced by pig type and were little better than live weight for the estimation of body composition.
A Cone Model for Coronal Mass Ejections

As an extension of the previous study (Zhao et al., 2001, hereafter Paper I), the cone model for coronal mass ejections (CMEs) is applied to more events to infer their geometrical and kinematical properties in an effort to measure the line-of-sight speed of front-side halo CMEs and determine their geoeffectiveness. It turns out that this model is quite applicable to a variety of CMEs. By incorporating projection effects in detail, the cone model holds the potential of providing the real line-of-sight speed of halo CMEs. Based on this model, a more quantitative estimate is proposed to determine the range of the orientation for a CME to form a visible halo.
Roadmap for a Successful Transition to an Online Environment.

Tighter budgets and lower enrollment are changing traditional higher education. The popularity of the World Wide Web (WWW) coupled with faster access to information provides an opportunity for Colleges and Universities to offer online programs. In most cases, traditional universities are not well prepared for the transition to online format and many challenges prevent a successful implementation. A common mistake made by early adopters is assuming that the migration involves two steps, namely selecting the virtual learning environment, and then porting the current classroom-based courses to the online environment. That approach often leads to failure and disappointment, not to mention lower student and faculty satisfaction. Traditional delivery of course materials is done face-to-face with students present and the student/faculty interaction promotes learning. In the online environment, learning is done in an asynchronous mode and course design has to compensate for the interaction that happens in real time during traditional courses. To properly implement online courses, an adequate technical environment must be available. If the environment is available, careful planning is essential in order to proceed. Traditional course modules require revision as they are migrated to cyberspace and should take into account the interaction among students and faculty in order to promote a quality learning process. A typical approach is to include student participation in discussion forae, but this may lead to trivial postings and students responses. In this paper, we present preconditions for a migration to online education and a roadmap to transition traditional courses to cyberspace. We also discuss methods of assessing both quantity and quality of student interaction, since this is a requirement for learning in cyberspace.