cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Influence of Dynamic Calcination on Crystallite Growth of Submicron Rare-Earth Oxides

The crystallite growth of rare-earth oxide powders with particle sizes of 10 to 30 A obtained by the hydrolytic decomposition of alkoxides was investigated. These powders were compared with commercially available powders with average particle sizes from 1000 A to 10 μm. Static and dynamic atmosphere tests were made, the latter by continuous tumbling during calcination. Dynamic calcination controlled crystallite growth effectively while maintaining uniform particle size. Typical arithmetic mean particle sizes were 250 A for powders calcined at 800°C for 24 h with tumbling and ∼400 A for powders calcined under identical conditions without tumbling. TGA, X-ray diffraction, and emission spectrographic analyses were used to characterize the powders. Electron microscopy and BET surface area measurements demonstrated the importance of the dynamic calcination method in the growth of primary crystallites into larger particles during the presintering stage of the processing of these powders.
Self-Efficacy Moderates the Relation Between Declines in Physical Activity and Perceived Social Support in High School Girls

Objective To test whether self-efficacy for overcoming barriers to physical activity has direct, indirect (i.e., mediated), or moderating relations with naturally occurring change in perceived social support and declines in physical activity during high school. Methods Latent growth modeling was used with measures completed in the 8th, 9th, and 12th grades by a cohort of 195 Black and White girls. Results Self-efficacy was stable and moderated the relation between changes in physical activity and perceived social support. Girls who maintained a perception of strong social support had less of a decline in physical activity if they also had high self-efficacy. However, girls having high self-efficacy had a greater decline in physical activity if they perceived declines in social support. Conclusions Randomized controlled trials of physical activity interventions based on social cognitive theory should consider that the influence of girls’ perceptions of social support on their physical activity may differ according to their efficacy beliefs about barriers to physical activity.
The effect of the various steps in the manufacture on the extent of serum protein denaturation in nonfat dry milk solids.

Summary The time and temperature relationships determining the extent of denaturation of serum proteins of fluid skimmilk have been established for temperatures ranging from 145 to 175° F. There is a ten-fold decrease in the time required for a given percentage denaturation of the serum proteins for each 13.5° F. increase in the temperature. Any application of heat to milk may be detrimental to its utility, and since heat treatments are cumulative, the successful manufacture of a product such as low-heat nonfat dry milk solids depends not only upon adequate control of the time and temperature of pasteurization but also on each of the other manufacturing processes. Such control may be based upon the turbidimetric estimation of the milk serum proteins.
What's Making that Sound?

In this paper, we investigate techniques to localize the sound source in video made using one microphone. The visual object whose motion generates the sound is located and segmented based on the synchronization analysis of object motion and audio energy. We first apply an effective region tracking algorithm to segment the video into a number of spatial-temporal region tracks, each representing the temporal evolution of an appearance-coherent image structure (i.e., object). We then extract the motion features of each object as its average acceleration in each frame. Meanwhile, Short-term Fourier Transform is applied to the audio signal to extract audio energy feature as the audio descriptor. We further impose a nonlinear transformation on both audio and visual descriptors to obtain the audio and visual codes in a common rank correlation space. Finally, the correlation between an object and the audio signal is simply evaluated by computing the Hamming distance between the audio and visual codes generated in previous steps. We evaluate the proposed method both qualitatively and quantitatively using a number of challenging test videos. In particular, the proposed method is compared with a state-of-the-art audiovisual source localization algorithm. The results demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed algorithm in spatial-temporal localization and segmentation of audio sources in the visual domain.correlation space. Finally, the correlation between an object and the audio signal is simply evaluated by computing the Hamming distance between the audio and visual codes generated in previous steps. We evaluate the proposed method both qualitatively and quantitatively using a number of challenging test videos. In particular, the proposed method is compared with a state-of-the-art audiovisual source localization algorithm. The results demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed algorithm in spatial-temporal localization and segmentation of audio sources in the visual domain.
Survey of minimally invasive general surgery fellows training in robotic surgery

Minimally invasive surgery fellowships offer experience in robotic surgery, the nature of which is poorly defined. The objective of this survey was to determine the current status and opportunities for robotic surgery training available to fellows training in the United States and Canada. Sixty-five minimally invasive surgery fellows, attending a fundamentals of fellowship conference, were asked to complete a questionnaire regarding their demographics and experiences with robotic surgery and training. Fifty-one of the surveyed fellows completed the questionnaire (83 % response). Seventy-two percent of respondents had staff surgeons trained in performing robotic procedures, with 55 % of respondents having general surgery procedures performed robotically at their institution. Just over half (53 %) had access to a simulation facility for robotic training. Thirty-three percent offered mechanisms for certification and 11 % offered fellowships in robotic surgery. One-third of the minimally invasive surgery fellows felt they had been trained in robotic surgery and would consider making it part of their practice after fellowship. However, most (80 %) had no plans to pursue robotic surgery fellowships. Although a large group (63 %) felt optimistic about the future of robotic surgery, most respondents (72.5 %) felt their current experience with robotic surgery training was poor or below average. There is wide variation in exposure to and training in robotic surgery in minimally invasive surgery fellowship programs in the United States and Canada. Although a third of trainees felt adequately trained for performing robotic procedures, most fellows felt that their current experience with training was not adequate.
Hummingbird color preference within a natural hybrid population of Mimulus aurantiacus (Phrymaceae)

Hummingbird flowers are typically red in color but the reasons for this are not well understood. Relatively few studies have examined hummingbird flower color preferences under natural conditions in which flower color varies within a species. We recorded hummingbird visitation rates to flowers that vary in color from yellow to red in a natural hybrid population between red- and yellow-flowered Mimulus aurantiacus subspecies. We also examined whether there were any correlations between color and flower size or nectar content. Finally, we reviewed the literature on hummingbird color choice tests using feeders and flowers. There were no correlations in this population between flower color and flower size, nectar volume, or sugar concentration. Nevertheless, hummingbirds undervisited the two most yellow color classes, overvisited orange flowers, and visited the two most red color classes in proportion to their frequency in the population. While Hummingbirds preferred flowers expressing red pigments to those that did not, the flowers with the most red hue were not the most attractive, as has been observed in similar studies with other species of Mimulus. While feeder studies generally fail to show hummingbird preference for red, all studies using flowers, including those that control all floral traits other than color, find consistent preference for red. Experiments are suggested that might help disentangle hypotheses for why hummingbirds exhibit this preference.
Terrain characteristics and Tai toponyms: a GIS analysis of Muang , Chiang and Viang

Tai is a family of related languages and dialects, a subgroup of the Tai-Kadai languages, spoken by more than 85 million speakers in southern China and Southeast Asia. This paper uses GIS to map the spatial distribution of Tai toponyms (Muang, Chiang and Viang) and analyzes their relationship with terrain characteristics. In Tai, Muang means flat “basin”, Chiang means “town”, and Viang provides defense for a Chiang. These Tai toponyms are found at places with a significantly higher compound topographic index (or wetness index) than others. Watershed basins with more Muang toponyms are characterized by lower elevation, gentler slope, near zero concavity. All of these are consistent with physical conditions favorable for wet rice agriculture, culture, and commerce. The transnational spatial distribution of these toponyms and associated terrain characteristics reveal a significant regional pattern that reflects not only the geomorphology of the places where Tai expanded and settled, but also a common history and culture of naming places influenced by their wet rice agriculture and associated cultural practices and commerce.
High quality rendering of compressed volume data formats

Rendering directly from packed or compressed volume data formats using graphics hardware has advantages in terms of memory consumption and bandwidth, but results in lower-quality images due to the prohibitive cost of performing interpolation and gradient-based shading on the reconstructed data. The problem with the existing method lies in its close coupling of decompression and interpolation. We demonstrate that deferred filtering overcomes this problem by using a two-pass decompression and rendering strategy. With this method interpolation and gradient calculations are very efficient, allowing high quality rendering directly from packed or compressed volume data. We evaluate the cost of creating interpolated, gradient-shaded renderings using traditional on-the-fly decompression and deferred filtering, and show that deferred filtering can provide up to twenty times speed-up for high quality rendering.
Constrained Liners in Revision THA: An Overuse Syndrome—Opposes

The introduction of the use of large modular heads in the total hip arthroplasty construct has decreased the prevalence of postoperative dislocation. However, more reports on the failure of these devices in cases of deficient abductor hip muscles, ligamentous laxity, and noncompliant patients have been published. In these cases, especially the elderly low-demand patient, tripolar constrained liners have provided stability in over 90% of cases with 10 year follow-up.
Effects of previous lateral ankle sprain and taping on the latency of the peroneus longus

The latency of the peroneus longus may be a key factor in the prevention of lateral ankle sprains (LASs). In addition, ankle taping is often applied to help prevent LASs. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a previous LAS and ankle taping on the latency of the peroneus longus after an inversion perturbation. Twenty-six participants, including 13 participants with no previous history of a LAS and 13 participants with a history of a single LAS completed the testing. Ankle taping was applied in a closed basket weave technique on one of the two testing days. The latency of the peroneus longus was determined by the onset of muscle activity exceeding 10 SD from baseline activity, after initiation of the 25 degrees inversion perturbation. A significant main effect (p 0.05) in latency between the injury groups. Ankle taping, immediately after application, reduces the latency of the peroneus longus among participants with and without a history of a LAS.
Cardiopulmonary complications of end-stage renal disease and severe refractory hyperparathyroidism.

A 46-year-old man was referred for management of dyspnoea thought due to severe calcific stenosis of his tricuspid aortic valve: mean gradient 49 mmHg; valve area 1.1 cm2 ( Panels A and B ; Supplementary material online, Video S1). He had a history of end-stage renal disease maintained on haemodialysis following transplant failure …
Spider Silk Structures as Seen with a Scanning Electron Microscope

Abstract. There are seven documented types of spider silk, all composed of proteins. Each type is synthesized in a specific gland on a spider's abdomen in a liquid crystalline form and spun through a unique spinneret where it experiences oligomerization and becomes a solid. In this study, the structures of spider silk were examined using a Scanning Electron Microscope. Spider silk was collected from a variety of species from both indoor and outdoor environments in Massachusetts and Vermont, including the genera: Achaearanea, Araneus, Argiope, Cryphoeca, Mimetus, and Pholcus as well as the family Salticidae. The silk was sputter coated with gold and visualized at magnifications up to 35,000×. Several types of silk structures were observed to be common regardless of the species. These structures included large rounded bilateral fibers averaging 1.29µm in diameter and fibers laden with equidistant silk droplets ranging from 0.22µm to 43.75µm depending on the species. Based on their consistency in appearance,...
Splenic contraction-induced increases in arterial O2 reduce requirement for CBF in conscious dogs

We investigated the extent to which sympathomimetic amines induced splenic contraction and associated increases in arterial O2 content (CaO2) and how these mechanisms affected control of the coronary circulation by sympathomimetic amines in conscious dogs. Blood hemoglobin (Hb) and CaO2 increased by 16 +/- 2 and 18 +/- 2%, respectively, during norepinephrine (NE, 0.8 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 iv) in the intact, conscious state after splenic contraction. Phenylephrine (PE) induced similar effects. After either alpha 1-adrenergic-receptor blockade or splenectomy, these effects were abolished. Isoproterenol (Iso) also decreased splenic thickness, which was abolished after ganglionic, alpha-, or beta 1/beta 2-adrenergic-receptor blockade. Direct infusions of NE and PE into the splenic artery decreased splenic thickness and increased Hb and CaO2, whereas Iso had no effect. After splenectomy, NE did not increase CaO2, but coronary blood flow (CBF) increased more (73 +/- 6%) vs. before splenectomy (49 +/- 7%) without any differences before and after splenectomy in the responses of pressures, contractility, and myocardial O2 consumption (MVO2). In contrast, renal, mesenteric, and iliac artery blood flows were not significantly different in response to sympathomimetic amines before and after splenectomy. These data indicate that sympathomimetic amines induced splenic contraction either directly or reflexly via alpha-adrenergic-receptor stimulation. The consequent increase in Hb and CaO2 allows for equivalent increases in MVO2, but at a smaller increase in CBF.
The Systems Theory of Autistogenesis: Putting the Pieces Together

The systems theory of autistogenesis accounts for genetic and environmental predisposing factors for pervasive developmental disorders. During development, regions of the brain myelinate differentially, even while neuroinflammatory events induce neurological damage. Incorrect dietary ratios of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to arachidonic acid (AA) promote developmental aberration characteristic of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and commercial infant formulae possesses DHA/AA ratios unsuitable for normal brain development in those predisposed. The aromatase gene regulates DHA/AA metabolism and represents a potential biomarker for ASD. Aromatase converts testosterone to estradiol. Estradiol is neuroprotective and a modulator of oxytocin receptors deficient in autism. Neuroprotective DHA is not well synthesized in males and is regulated by estradiol. Therefore, converging evidence indicates that any disturbance to the autistogenic system linking environment to neurobiology and genetics is capable of inducing developmental disorders with gender disparity.
Sport Events and Criminal Activity: A Spatial Analysis

This chapter investigates spatial crime patterns associated with events taking place in two downtown venues in Charlotte, NC: an open-air football stadium and an enclosed multipurpose arena. The evidence suggests neither venue’s events contribute to an overall increase in reported total, property, or violent crimes in the city. However, both venues experience an increase in crimes within one-half mile from the venue on event days relative to nonevent days. For the arena, violent crimes increase up to a mile away while property crimes decrease for up to 2 miles away on event days compared to nonevent days. For the stadium, violent crimes decrease up to 2 miles away while property crimes increase up to 1 mile away on event days compared to nonevent days. Combined, the evidence suggests that events in these two arenas shift the pattern of reported crime, but in different ways. The results help inform public safety concerns during events and contribute to the debate over public subsidies for venues.
Protein-like proton exchange in a synthetic host cavity

The mechanism of proton exchange in a metal–ligand enzyme active site mimic (compound 1) is described through amide hydrogen–deuterium exchange kinetics. The type and ratio of cationic guest to host in solution affect the rate of isotope exchange, suggesting that the rate of exchange is driven by a host whose cavity is occupied by water. Rate constants for acid-, base-, and water-mediated proton exchange vary by orders of magnitude depending on the guest, and differ by up to 200 million-fold relative to an alanine polypeptide. These results suggest that the unusual microenvironment of the cavity of 1 can dramatically alter the reactivity of associated water by magnitudes comparable to that of enzymes.
The Effects of CARD Act Disclosures on Consumers’ Use of Credit Cards

This study uses a unique data source on consumer credit card usage to examine the impact of billing disclosure changes mandated by the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act on consumers’ debt payment behaviors. Data are from the Ohio State University’s Consumer Finance Monthly, which interviews a nationally representative sample of 300 to 500 households each month. The survey provides detailed data on credit card ownership, credit terms, usage, and payment behaviors, along with data on employment, income, net worth, and demographics. Estimates using data from June 2006 through December 2011 suggest that the CARD Act disclosures were effective in inducing consumers to increase the amount of credit card debt paid off each month, with the strongest effects seen in the proportion of consumers who pay off balances in full each month. Among credit card users who continue to carry debt, there is minimal evidence of behavior changes due to the new disclosures.
Long-time predictability in disordered spin systems following a deep quench.

We study the problem of predictability, or ``nature vs nurture,'' in several disordered Ising spin systems evolving at zero temperature from a random initial state: How much does the final state depend on the information contained in the initial state, and how much depends on the detailed history of the system? Our numerical studies of the ``dynamical order parameter'' in Edwards-Anderson Ising spin glasses and random ferromagnets indicate that the influence of the initial state decays as dimension increases. Similarly, this same order parameter for the Sherrington-Kirkpatrick infinite-range spin glass indicates that this information decays as the number of spins increases. Based on these results, we conjecture that the influence of the initial state on the final state decays to zero in finite-dimensional random-bond spin systems as dimension goes to infinity, regardless of the presence of frustration. We also study the rate at which spins ``freeze out'' to a final state as a function of dimensionality and number of spins; here the results indicate that the number of ``active'' spins at long times increases with dimension (for short-range systems) or number of spins (for infinite-range systems). We provide theoretical arguments to support these conjectures, and also study analytically several mean-field models: the random energy model, the uniform Curie-Weiss ferromagnet, and the disordered Curie-Weiss ferromagnet. We find that for these models, the information contained in the initial state does not decay in the thermodynamic limit---in fact, it fully determines the final state. Unlike in short-range models, the presence of frustration in mean-field models dramatically alters the dynamical behavior with respect to the issue of predictability.
G-quartet oligonucleotide mediated delivery of proteins into photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium via intravitreal injection

There is currently no available method to efficiently deliver proteins across the plasma membrane of photoreceptor or retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells in vivo. Thus, current clinical application of recombinant proteins in ophthalmology is limited to the use of proteins that perform their biological function extracellularly. The ability to traverse biological membranes would enable the mobilization of a significantly larger number of proteins with previously well characterized properties. Nucleolin is abundantly present on the surface of rapidly dividing cells including cancer cells. Surprisingly, nucleolin is also present on the surface of photoreceptor cell bodies. Here we investigated whether nucleolin can be utilized as a gateway for the delivery of proteins into retinal cells following intravitreal injection. AS1411 is a G-quartet aptamer capable of targeting nucleolin. Subsequent to intravitreal injection, fluorescently labeled AS1411 localized to various retinal cell types including the photoreceptors and RPE. AS1411 linked to streptavidin (a ∼50 kDa protein) via a biotin bridge enabled the uptake of Streptavidin into photoreceptors and RPE. AS1411-Streptavidin conjugate applied topically to the cornea allowed for uptake of the conjugate into the nucleus and cytoplasm of corneal endothelial cells. Clinical relevance of AS1411 as a delivery vehicle was strongly indicated by demonstration of the presence of cell surface nucleolin on the photoreceptors, inner neurons and ganglion cells of human retina. These data support exploration of AS1411 as a means of delivering therapeutic proteins to diseased retina.
Designing Groundwater Supply Systems Using the Mesh Adaptive Basin Hopping Algorithm

Designing groundwater systems is a challenging problem in industrial engineering, where pumping wells have to be located in an optimal location to minimize the cost of installation and maintenance. Groundwater flows are studied using simulators, which makes difficult to standard optimization methods to find satisfactory results, since approximating the gradient is not accurate and computationally expensive. We tackle the problem using the Mesh Adaptive Basin Hopping approach, which combines a heuristic search step with a derivative-free local optimizer. We apply our method to two design problems in the ground-water supply field; the method is able to outperform the state-of-the-art algorithms, providing better solutions with a tight budget of objective function evaluations.
Removable singularities in C*-algebras of real rank zero

Abstract Let A be a C*-algebra with identity and real rank zero. Suppose a complex-valued function is holomorphic and bounded on the intersection of the open unit ball of A and the identity component of the set of invertible elements of A . We give a short transparent proof that the function has a holomorphic extension to the entire open unit ball of A . The author previously deduced this from a more general fact about Banach algebras.
Comparison between silicon photomultipliers and photomultiplier tubes for pulse shape discrimination with stilbene

A stilbene crystal was coupled to a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) to assess the performance of the detector's pulse shape discrimination (PSD) between fast neutrons and gamma rays. Pulses were digitized from a measurement of Cf-252 and digital charge comparison was used to perform PSD. The stilbene crystal was then coupled to a photomultiplier tube (PMT) and the measurement was repeated. The PSD performance when using the SiPM was compared to that of the system using the PMT. Both systems demonstrate efficient ability to discriminate between neutrons and gamma rays. While PMTs have long been the standard technology for light readout, SiPMs show similar capabilities while being less expensive, significantly more compact in size, significantly less sensitive to magnetic fields, and having lower power requirements. Potential drawbacks of SiPMs include elevated levels of noise and nonlinearity at high energies.
Uniaxial stress and ultrasonic anisotropy in a layered orthorhombic medium

Summary Studies of orthorhombic anisotropy are becoming progressively essential, especially as many sedimentary rocks are considered to have orthorhombic symmetry. To study the effect of stress in a layered orthorhombic medium, a physical modeling study using intrinsically orthorhombic phenolic boards was conducted. The experiment was designed to simulate sedimentary reservoir rocks deposited in layers with inherent orthotropic symmetry and under the influence of stress due to overlying sediments. The study also explores which geologic phenomena dominate the contortion of anisotropy under different stress tenure. The phenolic boards were coupled together with the help of a pressure device and uniaxial stress was gradually increased while time arrival and velocity measurements were repeated. Results show maximum increase in compressional and shear wave velocities ranging from 4% to 10% in different directions as a function of increasing uniaxial stress. P and S wave dependent stiffness coefficients generally increased with stress. Anisotropic parameters (extension of Thomsen’s parameters for orthorhombic symmetry) generally diminished or remained constant with increasing pressure and changes ranged from 0% to 33%. We observed anisotropic behavior a priori to both orthorhombic and VTI symmetries in different principal axes of the model. Polar anisotropy behavior is due primarily to layering or stratification and tends to increase with pressure. Certain anisotropic parameters however unveil inherent orthotropic symmetry of the composite model.
Nonnutritive Components in Foods and Cancer Risk

Cancer is a complex and multifaceted disease. Once thought to be primarily influenced by hereditary factors alone, research now suggests only 5–10 % of cancer cases can be attributed solely to hereditary causes (http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=2515569&tool=pmcentrez&rendertype=abstract). The remaining 90–95 % of cancer cases are thought to be primarily influenced by environmental factors including epigenetic alterations and dietary habits (http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=2515569&tool=pmcentrez&rendertype=abstract). It has been hypothesized that dietary patterns may account for 60 % of all cancer cases in women and 40 % of cancer cases in men (J Natl Cancer Inst 58:825–32, 1977). While significant, the risk for cancer development depends on the entire diet, type of cancer, other environmental factors, and genetic profile of the individual.
Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast

The clinical, histologic, cytologic, and ultrastructural features of three adenoid cystic carcinomas of the breast are presented. All three neoplasms occurred in postmenopausal women. One patient was treated by wide re-excision of the biopsy site. Two were treated by modified radical mastectomy; no axillary lymph node metastases were found. None of the neoplasms has recurred. Neither estrogen nor progesterone receptors were detected in any of the neoplasms. The histopathologic criteria for the diagnosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma are described, and the differential diagnosis is discussed. Since the cytopathologic features of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast appear to be distinctive, the neoplasm can be diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration based upon the presence of the following features: 1) a cellular smear; 2) a uniform population of small, basaloid tumor cells; and 3) small globules of mucoid material surrounded by a rim of neoplastic cells. Ultrastructurally, the predominant cell type has the appearance of a modified myoepithelial cell, but true lumina lined by microvillous epithelial cells are also present. The ultrastructural findings are consistent with the proliferation of neoplastic cells that have the capacity to produce all of the epithelial elements of the breast, i.e., ductal, acinar, and myoepithelial, and so recapitulate the complete ductal or acinar unit.
Monthly Estimates of Alcohol Drinking During Pregnancy: United States, 2002-2011.

Objective:Taking a step beyond prior alcohol research on pregnancy trimesters, we produced pregnancy month-specific drinking estimates for women in the United States in order to shed light on time variations of alcohol drinking during pregnancy, as might be determined by alcohol dependence. We posited that (a) pregnancy might prompt cessation of drinking soon after pregnancy status is discovered, a finding obscured in trimester-specific estimates, and (b) a possible alcohol-dependence effect on drinking persistence among pregnant women might be observed via the monthly approach.Method:Data are from the 2002–2011 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (Restricted-Data Analysis System [R-DAS]), with large nationally representative samples of U.S. civilians, including 12- to 44-year-old females stratified by pregnancy status and month of pregnancy, and with assessment of recent alcohol dependence as well as heavy episodic drinking (HED).Results:Pregnancy’s possibly protective constraints on drinking can be ...
AI-20MECHANISMS OF RESISTANCE TO EGFR INHIBITION ASSOCIATED WITH AN INVASIVE PHENOTYPE

To date, strategies targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling in glioblastoma (GBM) have had disappointing results in the clinic. One mechanism of resistance is thought to be the diversity of signaling pathways driving proliferation in GBM; however, given the heterogeneity of GBM, other mechanisms likely drive resistance as well. Using a murine model for GBM, we investigated whether altered tumor cell invasion may be one mechanism driving tumor resistance. To analyze tumor cell invasion, we employed 2D invasion chambers, 3D matrigel invasion assays and in vivo tumor growth. Using a panel of EGFR inhibitors, we demonstrate that in select tumor progenitor cells inhibition of EGFR induces a pro-invasive phenotype. Interestingly, the pro-invasive phenotype is specific to inhibition of EGFR and is not conferred by inhibition of many pathways downstream of EGFR, including Src, Akt, PI3K, and Erk. Moreover, the pro-invasive phenotype is recapitulated in vivo upon inhibition of EGFR. Our data suggest that alterations in tumor cell invasion may be an additional and unexpected consequence of inhibition of EGFR. We will present our current data investigating the molecular basis of this response and how the response might be predicted in human tumors.
Mathematical Descriptions of Oviposition and Egg and Larval Development of Liriomyza trifolii (Diptera: Agromyzidae) on Tomato Foliage

Selected biological processes of Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) were studied at four constant temperatures (13.9, 20, 25, and 32°C) on tomato foliage in the laboratory. Longevity and oviposition rates of adult leafminer females and developmental rates of eggs, small-sized larvae (>0.15 and <1.5 mm), large larvae (1.5 mm), and combined larval sizes increased linearly with increasing temperature. Fecundity of females was related quadratically to temperature. Lower temperature thresholds were estimated at ≍8.3°C for larvae, 9.5°C for eggs, 12.4°C for oviposition rate, and 1l.8°C for fecundity. The mathematical descriptions provided should aid in the prediction of population dynamics of L. trifolii based upon scouting for adults and small and large larvae.
Destiny: A Cognitive Mobile Guide for the Olympics

In this work we present Destiny a cognitive mobile guide for Olympics games in Brazil that identifies user characteristics to deliver content. It will help visitors, athletes, and athletes' parents to localize themselves and receive tailored historical, cultural and entertainment information at a particular point of interest (POI). The application will recommend places to go and show POI contents according to user context based on several attributes such as personality (closeness, curiosity, adventurous), nationality, favorite places already visited, trip length, price range and favorite sports
Dynamic scheduling on multi-objective flexible Job Shop

To solve the flexible Job Shop multi-objective dynamic scheduling problems,the mathematical model of multi-objective flexible workshop dynamic scheduling was established according to the objective function of minimizing the tardiness penalty and manufacturing time.A flexible multi-objective dynamic scheduling algorithm was proposed based on adaptive genetic algorithm aiming at the above model.The hybrid and cycle-driven rescheduling strategies were employed,and a chromosome encoding method based on the integration of sequence and processing machines was advanced.As a result,the algorithm could not only optimize the processing route and manufacturing sequence but also realize real-time dynamic scheduling required by equipment failure,temporary changes of manufacturing task,and periodic rescheduling factors.Performance of the proposed model and algorithm was evaluated through simulations,and the results demonstrated the feasibility and efficiency of the proposed model and algorithm.The influencing event factors and rescheduling cycle which affected the performance of dynamic scheduling were analyzed,and the disturbance factors,rescheduling cycle and their relationships with performances of dynamic scheduling were obtained,which could guide the manufacturing practice effectively.
P53 and Fas are sequential mechanisms of testicular germ cell apoptosis

Testicular germ cell apoptosis in the cryptorchid testis is induced by abdominal heat stress. p53-dependent apoptosis appears responsible for the initial phase of germ cell loss in experimental cryptorchidism based on a 3-day delay of apoptosis in p53-/- mice. However, the mechanisms underlying the subsequent p53-independent apoptosis have not been identified. Although studies have suggested that Fas plays a role in testicular germ cell apoptosis, no direct evidence has been shown. To test the hypothesis that Fas is involved in testicular germ cell apoptosis and is responsible for the p53-independent phase of apoptosis in the cryptorchid testis, p53-/-, lpr/lpr (a spontaneous mutation in the Fas gene, which causes autoimmune disease) double-mutant mice were generated and unilateral cryptorchidism was induced in these mice. It was found that testicular weight reduction and germ cell apoptosis were delayed by an additional 3 days, and the Fas production increased in the time frame of p53-independent apoptosis in the experimental cryptorchid testis of wild-type mice. These results suggest that Fas is involved in testicular germ cell apoptosis, and that Fas-dependent apoptosis is responsible for the p53-independent phase of germ cell apoptosis in the cryptorchid testis. The cascade of testicular germ cell apoptosis in response to heat stress implies the existence of sequential quality control mechanisms in spermatogenesis.
The Basal Ganglia in Action

The basal ganglia (BG) are the major subcortical nuclei in the brain. Disorders implicating the BG are characterized by diverse symptoms, but it remains unclear what these symptoms have in common or how they can be explained by changes in the BG circuits. This review summarizes recent findings that not only question traditional assumptions about the role of the BG in movement but also elucidate general computations performed by these circuits. To explain these findings, a new conceptual framework is introduced for understanding the role of the BG in behavior. According to this framework, the cortico-BG networks implement transition control in an extended hierarchy of closed loop negative feedback control systems. The transition control model provides a solution to the posture/movement problem, by postulating that BG outputs send descending signals to alter the reference states of downstream position control systems for orientation and body configuration. It also explains major neurological symptoms associated with BG pathology as a result of changes in system parameters such as multiplicative gain and damping.
Use Your Headedness: An Exercise in Psycholinguistic Exploitation1

Psycholinguistic research can benefit from variations in headedness that create novel types of ambiguity, raising processing issues not previously studied. Our experiments exploit the mixed headedness of Mandarin Chinese to explore the interplay between phrase structure assignment and empty category interpretation. An empty category (EC) may be interpreted via discourse (pro) or control (PRO) or binding (trace). EC differences are typically accompanied by phrase structure differences (main / complement / relative clause). Thus, on-line sentence processing can be subject to both EC interpretation pressures and structure-building pressures. Chinese offers some interesting conflicts between the two. Our experiments investigate how these conflicts are resolved by the parser. We find that the pressure to assign a referent to an EC can reverse familiar parsing preferences based on structural economy. A complement clause analysis may be preferred over a main clause analysis, or a relative clause analysis over a complement clause analysis, if they offer a better interpretation of an empty subject.
The Short-term Impact of Unconditional Cash Transfers to the Poor: Experimental Evidence from Kenya

We use a randomized controlled trial to study the response of poor households in rural Kenya to unconditional cash transfers from the NGO GiveDirectly. The transfers differ from other programs in that they are explicitly unconditional, large, and concentrated in time. We randomized at both the village and household levels; furthermore, within the treatment group, we randomized recipient gender (wife versus husband), transfer timing (lump-sum transfer versus monthly installments), and transfer magnitude (US$404 PPP versus US$1,525 PPP). We find a strong consumption response to transfers, with an increase in household monthly consumption from $158 PPP to $193 PPP nine months after the transfer began. Transfer recipients experience large increases in psychological well-being. We find no overall effect on levels of the stress hormone cortisol, although there are differences across some subgroups. Monthly transfers are more likely than lump-sum transfers to improve food security, whereas lump-sum transfers are more likely to be spent on durables, suggesting that households face savings and credit constraints. Together, these results suggest that unconditional cash transfers have significant impacts on economic outcomes and psychological well-being.
High Dietary Selenium Intake Alters Lipid Metabolism and Protein Synthesis in Liver and Muscle of Pigs

BACKGROUND Prolonged high intakes of dietary selenium have been shown to induce gestational diabetes in rats and hyperinsulinemia in pigs. OBJECTIVE Two experiments were conducted to explore metabolic and molecular mechanisms for the diabetogenic potential of high dietary selenium intakes in pigs. METHODS In Expt. 1, 16 Yorkshire-Landrace-Hampshire crossbred pigs (3 wk old, body weight = 7.5 ± 0.81 kg, 50% males and 50% females) were fed a corn-soybean meal basal diet supplemented with 0.3 or 1.0 mg Se/kg (as selenium-enriched yeast for 6 wk). In Expt. 2, 12 pigs of the same crossbreed (6 wk old, body weight = 16.0 ± 1.8 kg) were fed a similar basal diet supplemented with 0.3 or 3.0 mg Se/kg for 11 wk. Biochemical and gene and protein expression profiles of lipid and protein metabolism and selenoproteins in plasma, liver, muscle, and adipose tissues were analyzed. RESULTS In Expt. 1, the 1-mg-Se/kg diet did not affect body weight or plasma concentrations of glucose and nonesterified fatty acids. In Expt. 2, the 3-mg-Se/kg diet, compared with the 0.3-mg-Se/kg diet, increased (P < 0.05) concentrations of plasma insulin (0.2 compared with 0.4 ng/mL), liver and adipose lipids (41% to 2.4-fold), and liver and muscle protein (10-14%). In liver, the 3-mg-Se/kg diet upregulated (P < 0.05) the expression, activity, or both of key factors related to gluconeogenesis [phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK); 13%], lipogenesis [sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP1), acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (ACC), and fatty acid synthase (FASN); 46-90%], protein synthesis [insulin receptor (INSR), P70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase (P70), and phosphorylated ribosomal protein S6 (P-S6); 88-105%], energy metabolism [AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK); up to 2.8-fold], and selenoprotein glutathione peroxidase 3 (GPX3; 1.4-fold) and suppressed (P < 0.05) mRNA levels of lipolysis gene cytochrome P450, family 7, subfamily A, polypeptide 1 (CYP7A1; 88%) and selenoprotein gene selenoprotein W1 (SEPW1; 46%). In muscle, the 3-mg-Se/kg diet exerted no effect on the lipid profiles but enhanced (P < 0.05) expression of P-S6 and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR; 42-176%; protein synthesis); selenoprotein P (SELP; 40-fold); and tumor suppressor protein 53 (P53) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARG; 52-58%; lipogenesis) and suppressed (P < 0.05) expression of INSR (59%; insulin signaling); selenoprotein S (SELS); deiodinases, iodothyronine, type I (DIO1); and thioredoxin reductase 1 (TXNRD1; 50%; selenoproteins); and ACC1 and FASN (35-51%; lipogenesis). CONCLUSION Our research showed novel roles, to our best knowledge, and mechanisms of high selenium intakes in regulating the metabolism of protein, along with that of lipid, in a tissue-specific fashion in pigs.
PhasePApy: A Robust Pure Python Package for Automatic Identification of Seismic Phases

We developed a Python phase identification package: the PhasePApy for earthquake data processing and near-real-time monitoring. The package takes advantage of the growing number of Python libraries including Obspy. All the data formats supported by Obspy can be supported within the PhasePApy. The PhasePApy has two subpackages: the PhasePicker and the Associator, aiming to identify phase arrival onsets and associate them to phase types, respectively. The PhasePicker and the Associator can work jointly or separately. Three autopickers are implemented in the PhasePicker subpackage: the frequencyband picker, the Akaike information criteria function derivative picker, and the kurtosis picker. All three autopickers identify picks with the same processing methods but different characteristic functions. The PhasePicker triggers the pick with a dynamic threshold and can declare a pick with false-pick filtering. Also, the PhasePicker identifies a pick polarity and uncertainty for further seismological analysis, such as focal mechanism determination. Two associators are included in the Associator subpackage: the 1D Associator and 3D Associator, which assign phase types to picks that can best fit potential earthquakes by minimizing root mean square (rms) residuals of the misfits in distance and time, respectively. The Associator processes multiple picks from all channels at a seismic station and aggregates them to increase computational efficiencies. Both associators use travel-time look up tables to determine the best estimation of the earthquake location and evaluate the phase type for picks. The PhasePApy package has been used extensively for local and regional earthquakes and can work for active source experiments as well.
Use of Immunization Information Systems in Primary Care.

Introduction Immunization information systems (IISs) are highly effective for increasing vaccination rates but information about how primary care physicians use them is limited. Methods Pediatricians, family physicians (FPs), and general internists (GIMs) were surveyed by e-mail and mail from January 2015 to April 2015 from all states with an existing IIS. Providers were recruited to be representative of national provider organization memberships. Multivariable log binomial regression examined factors associated with IIS use (October 2015–April 2016). Results Response rates among pediatricians, FPs, and GIMs, respectively, were 75% (325/435), 68% (310/459), and 63% (272/431). A proportion of pediatricians (5%), FPs (14%), and GIMs (48%) did not know there was a state/local IIS; 81%, 72%, and 27% reported using an IIS ( p Conclusions There are substantial gaps in knowledge of IIS capabilities, especially among GIMs; barriers to interoperability between IISs and electronic medical records affect all specialties. Closing these gaps may increase use of proven IIS functions including decision support and reminder/recall.
Uncertainty in carbon allocation strategy and ecophysiological parameterization influences on carbon and streamflow estimates for two western US forested watersheds

Abstract Increasingly sophisticated process-based ecosystem models account for the ability of plants to vary the proportion of net photosynthate that is allocated to individual organs – such as leaves, stems and roots. Because the governing mechanisms are still not well understood, models differ in the strategies used to represent carbon allocation processes. Allocation schemes may have important implications for ecosystem structure and biogeochemical cycling, thus there is a need to better understand how different carbon allocation strategies influence estimates of variables that are of interest to model users. At the same time, uncertainty in other ecophysiological parameters that are commonly used in carbon cycling models may influence these estimates and interact with different carbon allocation strategies. We use a coupled ecohydrologic model to understand how uncertainty in three relatively simple allocation strategies affects carbon (C) and streamflow estimates in two case study forested mountain watersheds in the western United States: a relatively wet site located in the western Oregon Cascades, and a drier site in California’s Sierra Nevada. Ecophysiological parameters controlling productivity rates, morphology, and nutrient requirements for growth are varied as well. The influence of specific ecophysiological parameters and allocation strategies on C sequestration and streamflow estimates differed between sites. At the wetter site, uncertainty in C cycling processes resulted in a three-fold difference in potential sequestered carbon, but had a negligible effect on annual and low monthly streamflow estimates. Conversely, at the drier site, C pool estimates showed limited sensitivity to ecophysiological parameter uncertainty, but considerable difference in annual and low monthly streamflow estimates across ecophysiological assumptions. At both sites, stemwood C pool estimates exceeded literature-derived field values when branch mortality—a surrogate for density thinning—was not included in addition to background mortality. Despite using site- and species-specific information, we are unable to invalidate any of the allocation strategies considered. Our results suggest that uncertainty in parameterization of ecophysiological parameters and assumptions about carbon allocation can strongly influence model estimates of both streamflow and forest carbon sequestration potential, but that influence is likely to vary with site bioclimatic characteristics.