cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Oncogenicity study of trifluralin in B6C3F1 mice.

Abstract B6C3F1 mice were maintained for 24 months on diets containing 0, 563, 2250 or 4500 ppm trifluralin. These dietary concentrations corresponded to daily doses of approximately 70, 285 or 570 mg/kg body weight, respectively. The control group contained 120 mice/sex and treated groups consisted of 80 mice/sex. There were no treatment-related effects on the survival, appearance or behaviour of the mice. Survival at test termination was at least 67% in each group. Compared with controls, mean body weight was significantly reduced in a dose-related manner in mice of both sexes given the 2250 and 4500 ppm diets. At 21 months, the reduction in body weight was ⩾ 15 and ⩾ 30%, respectively. At study termination, dose-related decreases in erythrocytic and leucocytic values were also observed at dietary levels of 2250 and 4500 ppm. In clinical chemistry evaluations, blood urea nitrogen levels and alkaline phosphatase activity in mice of both sexes were significantly increased at trifluralin levels of 2250 and 4500 ppm. Blood urea nitrogen also showed a marginal increase in females given the low dose of trifluralin. Alanine aminotransferase activity was significantly increased in males at all treatment levels. Although there were a number of absolute and relative organ weight changes in all three treatment groups that were significantly different from the control values, the reduced relative kidney weights in males and the increased relative liver weights in both sexes at dietary levels of 2250 and 4500 ppm were the only changes that could be correlated with altered clinical chemistry values. Apart from an increase in the incidence and severity of progressive glomerulonephritis in females of the high-dose group, there was no evidence of a treatment-related effect on any pathological condition. Chronic dietary administration of high doses of trifluralin did not cause an increase in the incidence of benign or malignant neoplasms in B6C3F1 mice.
Medical management of acute urolithiasis in one American academic emergency room

Study Type – Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4 OBJECTIVE To determine the implementation of medical expulsive therapy (MET) for ureterolithiasis in one tertiary-care emergency room (ER); referral patterns in the surgical and metabolic follow-up of ureterolithiasis were also assessed. PATIENTS AND METHODS In this retrospective review we identified 556 patients with ureterolithiasis in the ER at our centre between 2005 and 2007. Of these, 131 patients met inclusion criteria, including first-time stone formers and no urological visit within the previous 5 years. ER records were reviewed and telephone interviews conducted to determine if MET was used, if the patient was referred to a urologist, if surgery was ultimately required, and if there was ultimately a metabolic evaluation. RESULTS The mean (range) stone size was 4.2 (2–10) mm. Ten patients were admitted directly from the ER and 121 were discharged home. Of the 121 discharged patients, 48 (40%) were prescribed MET. In all, 46 patients received tamsulosin 0.4 mg and two received doxazosin 2 mg; no patient was prescribed steroids. The mean size of passed stones was statistically significantly lower than that of stones that did not pass (P < 0.05). Patients prescribed MET had a 23% chance of needing surgery, vs 32% in those not prescribed MET (P < 0.05). Seventy-one (61%) patients were followed up by a urologist, 27 (23%) by a primary-care physician, and eight (7%) had no further follow-up. Ultimately, 31 (23%) patients had a metabolic evaluation and it was abnormal in 29 (95%). CONCLUSIONS In this single-institution ER experience, 40% of patients with symptomatic ureterolithiasis were treated with MET on discharge from the ER. Our data also show that only patients referred to a urologist received a metabolic evaluation. This is notable given that the vast majority of those evaluated were found to have a correctable abnormality.
Automating Multiple Software Packages in Simulation Research for Structural Equation Modeling and Hierarchical Linear Modeling.

Simulation researchers are sometimes faced with the need to use multiple statistical software packages in the process of conducting their research, potentially having to go between software packages manually. This can be a tedious and time-consuming process that generally motivates researchers to use fewer replications in their simulations than they might have used had the entire process been automated. This article describes a process by which multiple software packages can be used by governing the study with SAS and having SAS call DOS to run other software. Because this automation process should greatly reduce the time necessary for the simulations, it is hoped that this will enable researchers to use a greater number of replications and thereby enhance the precision and accuracy of their results.
Restriction endonuclease cleavage of satellite DNA in intact bovine nuclei

Abstract We have analyzed the efficiency with which specific nucleotide sequences within nucleosomes are recognized and cleaved by DNA restriction endonucleases. A system amenable to this sort of analysis is the cleavage of the bovine genome with the restriction endonuclease EcoRI. Bovine satellite I comprises 7% of the genome and is tandemly repetitious with an EcoRI site at 1400 base pair (bp) intervals within this sequence. The ease with which this restriction fragment can be measured permits an analysis of the accessibility of this sequence when organized in a nucleosomal array. Initial studies indicated that satellite I sequences are organized in a nucleosomal structure in a manner analogous to that observed for total genomic DNA. We then examined the accessibility of the EcoRI cleavage sites in satellite to endonucleolytic cleavage in intact nuclei. We find that whereas virtually all the satellite I sequences from naked DNA are cleaved into discrete 1400 bp fragments, only 33% of the satellite I DNA is liberated as this fragment from intact nuclei. These data indicate that 57% of the EcoRI sites in nuclei are accessible to cleavage and that cleavage can occur within the core of at least half the nucleosomal subunits. Analysis of the products of digestion suggests a random distribution of nucleosomes about the EcoRI sites of satellite I DNA. Finally, the observation that satellite sequences can be cleaved from nuclei to 1400 bp length fragments with their associated proteins provides a method for the isolation of specific sequences as chromatin. Using sucrose gradient velocity centrifugation, we have isolated a 70% pure fraction of satellite I chromatin. Nuclease digestion of this chromatin fraction reveals the presence of nucleosomal subunits and indicates that specific sequences can be isolated in this manner without gross disorganization of their subunit structure.
Hot-water immersion quarantine treatment for guavas infested with Caribbean fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae).

Hot-water immersion was tested as a potential commodity treatment for guavas infested with third instars of the Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew). Infested guavas were immersed in water at 46.1 ± 0.5°C for various time periods. Probit 9 (99.9968%) mortality was estimated to occur at 32.7 min. A large-scale test with 2,450 guavas containing an estimated 181,556 larvae treated for 35 min at 46.1 ± 0.5°C produced no survivors. Hydrocooling guavas immediately after hot-water treatment until fruit center temperatures returned to 24 ± 2°C did not significantly affect mortality. Guavas tolerated 35 min at 46.1 ± 0.5°C with only slight reduction in quality. Treated guavas held at 10 ± 0.5°C maintained acceptable quality 7 d longer than guavas held at 24 ± 2°C.
Tunable Filters With Nonuniform Microstrip Coupled Lines

A basic wideband tunable filter design based on combline topology is presented. At the presence of the parasitic effects, the structure of the filter must be modified by introducing additional degrees of freedom to the geometry of the coupled line segment. A design procedure involving iterative steps will be described. This procedure is used to design two bandpass filters with more than one octave tuning range in the UHF band. The experimental results are presented for the filter prototypes implemented using printed circuit boards and PIN diodes.
On the performance of multistage cooperative networks

We propose a decode-and-forward (DF) multistage cooperation protocol wherein the transmission between source and destination takes place in T ≥ 2 equal duration and orthogonal time phases with the help of relays. In the first time phase, the source broadcasts its message which is received by all potential relays. During subsequent time phases, the relays that have successfully decoded the message using information from all previous transmitting relays, transmit a space-time code for the source's message. The non-decoding relays keep accumulating information and transmit in the later stages when they are able to decode the message. This process continues for T cooperation stages. We develop an analytical expression for end-to-end outage probability which is valid for any number of stages and relays. We consider a relay placement scenario where relays are placed at equal intervals along the straight line between source and the destination. We investigate an interesting tradeoff between an increased SNR and decreased spectral efficiency as the number of cooperation stages is increased. It is also observed that the largest multistage cooperation gain is obtained in the low and moderate SNR regime.
Conceptual design of an RFQ accelerator-based neutron source for boron neutron-capture therapy

A conceptual design of a low-energy neutron generator for treatment of brain tumors by boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is presented. The concept is based on a 2.5-MeV proton beam from a radio-frequency quadrupole (RFQ) linac, and the neutrons are produced by the /sup 7/Li(p,n)/sup 7/Be reaction. A liquid lithium target and modulator assembly are designed to provide a high flux of epithermal neutrons. The patient is administered a tumor-specific /sup 10/B-enriched compound and is irradiated by the neutrons to create a highly located dose from the reaction /sup 10/B(n, alpha )/sup 7/Li. An RFQ accelerator-based neutron source for BNCT is compact, which makes it practical to site the facility within a hospital. >
Mathematical Analysis of Learning Behavior of Neuronal Models

In this paper, we wish to analyze the convergence behavior of a number of neuronal plasticity models. Recent neurophysiological research suggests that the neuronal behavior is adaptive. In particular, memory stored within a neuron is associated with the synaptic weights which are varied or adjusted to achieve learning. A number of adaptive neuronal models have been proposed in the literature. Three specific models will be analyzed in this paper, specifically the Hebb model, the Sutton-Barto model, and the most recent trace model. In this paper we will examine the conditions for convergence, the position of convergence and the rate at convergence, of these models as they applied to classical conditioning. Simulation results are also presented to verify the analysis.
Are you watching the clock? Let criteria define discharge readiness

The primary function of the perianesthesia team is to assure that physically stable individuals are sent home with the necessary education and preparation for the transition to self-care. The use of dischange criteria provides a safe and efficient process for this transition.
Home Blood Glucose Monitoring

OBJECTIVE:To provide a review of self-monitoring blood glucose including home blood glucose meters and patient education.DATA SOURCES:A MEDLINE search (January 1966–January 1998) was conducted to identify original and review articles. Search terms included self-monitoring blood glucose and blood glucose monitoring. Owner's manuals and package inserts were reviewed to determine specific characteristics for each glucose meter.DATA EXTRACTION:All current original and review articles about self-monitoring blood glucose and home blood glucose meters were included if they contained information about benefits of self-monitoring blood glucose, technology and performance of blood glucose meters, quality control, selection characteristics of blood glucose meters, and patient education.DATA SYNTHESIS:Self-monitoring of blood glucose has become an increasingly vital component of the care of the diabetic patient. Many glucose monitors are available with various features that may be confusing to pharmacists. Pharmacist...
Characterizing and predicting which bugs get reopened

Fixing bugs is an important part of the software development process. An underlying aspect is the effectiveness of fixes: if a fair number of fixed bugs are reopened, it could indicate instability in the software system. To the best of our knowledge there has been on little prior work on understanding the dynamics of bug reopens. Towards that end, in this paper, we characterize when bug reports are reopened by using the Microsoft Windows operating system project as an empirical case study. Our analysis is based on a mixed-methods approach. First, we categorize the primary reasons for reopens based on a survey of 358 Microsoft employees. We then reinforce these results with a large-scale quantitative study of Windows bug reports, focusing on factors related to bug report edits and relationships between people involved in handling the bug. Finally, we build statistical models to describe the impact of various metrics on reopening bugs ranging from the reputation of the opener to how the bug was found.
Therapeutic hypothermia for status epilepticus: A report, historical perspective, and review

Refractory status epilepticus is a disease associated with high morbidity and mortality, which does not always respond to standard treatments, and when they fail, alternative modalities become crucial. Therapeutic hypothermia slows nerve conduction in vitro, and has been shown to abort seizures in animal models. Therapeutic hypothermia has been experimentally used in humans since 1963 for a variety of intracranial pathologies. More recently there have been multiple reports demonstrating the effectiveness of therapeutic hypothermia in treating refractory status epilepticus. We report a case of super-refractory status epilepticus successfully treated with therapeutic hypothermia, complimented by a historical and literature review of this modality. While there is limited evidence, and some risks associated with therapeutic hypothermia, it should be considered as a reasonable and potentially effective treatment option for refractory status epilepticus.
Photophysical properties of tris(bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) thin films and devices

Absorption and luminescence spectra as well as luminescence lifetimes have been measured for Ru(bpy)2+3 in solution and in thin films of varying thicknesses, and these properties have been correlated with the efficiency of organic light emitting devices (OLEDs) made of the films. The lifetimes decrease for films below about 50 nm in thickness but are relatively constant for thicknesses above about 100 nm. This behavior is consistent with a model in which quenching is caused both by intrinsic properties of the molecules and by Forster energy transfer between chromophores that carries the excitation to surface layers, where the excitation is more efficiently quenched. The external quantum efficiency of the OLEDs is also found to increase with thickness, approaching 1% for thicknesses near 200 nm.
Large deviation theorems for empirical types of Markov chains constrained to thin sets

An irreducible Markov chain with stationary transition probabilities on a finite directed graph is considered. The probability of large deviations of the random variable denoting the empirical type of the first n transitions is investigated. >
Performance analysis of MIMO MRC systems over Rician fading channels

This paper extends the Khatri distribution (see Khatri, C.G., Ann. Math. Stat., vol.35, p.1807-10, 1964) of the largest eigenvalue of central complex Wishart matrices to the non-central case. It then applies the resulting new statistical results to obtain closed-form expressions for the outage probability and the channel capacity complementary cumulative distribution function (CCDF) of multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) systems employing maximal ratio combining (MRC) and operating over Rician fading channels. When applicable, these expressions are compared to special cases previously reported in the literature dealing with the outage probability of (i) MIMO systems over Rayleigh fading channels and (ii) single-input-multiple-output (SIMO) systems over Rician fading channels. As a double check these analytical results are validated by Monte-Carlo simulations and, as an illustration of the mathematical formalism, some numerical examples for particular cases of interests are plotted and discussed. These results show that, given a fixed number of total antenna elements, (i) SIMO systems are equivalent to multiple-input-single-output (MISO) systems and (ii) it is preferable to distribute the number of antenna elements evenly between the transmitter and the receiver for a minimum outage probability performance.
A Data Processing System for Real-Time Pulse Processing and Timing Enhancement for Nuclear Particle Detection Systems

This paper presents a digital data processing system that allows real-time processing of neutron and gamma-ray pulses. The captured data are processed in real time on a field programmable gate array device. A number of pulse processing algorithms are implemented on this system including correlation-based triggering and on-the-fly pulse shape discrimination. Moreover, a timing enhancement technique using correlations is presented that allows sub-sample timing accuracy of the time-of-arrival of pulses. Finally, simulation and measurement results are presented and discussed in detail to show the system's potential.
Microbial community composition and endolith colonization at an Arctic thermal spring are driven by calcite precipitation

Summary Environmental conditions shape community composition. Arctic thermal springs provide an opportunity to study how environmental gradients can impose strong selective pressures on microbial communities and provide a continuum of niche opportunities. We use microscopic and molecular methods to conduct a survey of microbial community composition at Troll Springs on Svalbard, Norway, in the high Arctic. Microorganisms there exist under a wide range of environmental conditions: in warm water as periphyton, in moist granular materials, and in cold, dry rock as endoliths. Troll Springs has two distinct ecosystems, aquatic and terrestrial, together in close proximity, with different underlying environmental factors shaping each microbial community. Periphyton are entrapped during precipitation of calcium carbonate from the spring's waters, providing microbial populations that serve as precursors for the development of endolithic communities. This process differs from most endolith colonization, in which the rock predates the communities that colonize it. Community composition is modulated as environmental conditions change within the springs. At Troll, the aquatic environments show a small number of dominant operational taxonomic units (OTUs) that are specific to each sample. The terrestrial environments show a more even distribution of OTUs common to multiple samples.
Vocal cord palsy in an infant with myelomeningocoele

In this article we describe the case of a four-month-old male infant with myelomeningocoele, who presented with inspiratory stridor and vocal cord palsy (VCP). Hindbrain dysfunction is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in children with neural tube defects. It is important to consider the above in the differential diagnosis of infants with breathing difficulties. A discussion of myelodysplasia, Arnold-Chiari malformations, bilateral VCP and anaesthesia management is presented.
On the Innervation and Homologues of the Cephalic Appendages of the Aphroditacea (Polychaeta)

Earlier papers dealing with the innervation and homologues of the anterior end appendages of some aphroditacean families were re-studied. However valuable these earlier works may be, in some respects they proved to be insufficient for detailed comparisons with other polychaete families and some of their statements are quite contradictory. This prompted a re-investigation of the central-most parts of the nervous system of representatives of the families Polynoidae, Sigalionidae, Aphroditidae and Acoetidae. In the present paper, the brain commissures and the innervation of, inter alia, the antennae, the palps and the ommatophores (when present) in Lepidonotus squamatus, Harmothoe longisetis, Leanira (Sthenolepis) tetragona, Laetmonice producta benthaliana, and Panthalis oerstedi are described. Special attention is paid to the much-debated question about the presence or absence of a palp ganglion. The results, summarized in schematic diagrams, are compared with corresponding observations of the brains of, above all, the ‘spiomorphic’ polychaetes. Using the first Remanian criterion for identifying homologies, equivalents in the aphroditacean brain and the central nervous system of ‘sedentary’ families are proposed. By this a broader base is established for the discussion regarding the fundamental constitution of the anterior end of the polychaetes and the structure and homologues of their cephalic appendages.
HIV viral docking: model predictions for bond number and trajectory

Viruses are nano-scale pathogenic particles. Understanding viral attachment is important to understand infectivity, disease transmission, and virus propagation throughout the host. A new simulation technique has been developed to study viral docking behavior - Brownian adhesive dynamics (BRAD). BRAD couples Brownian motion algorithms with adhesive dynamic models, and incorporates the effect of virus/cell geometry - an improvement over previous models. The method is extendable to any virus/cell system as well as nanoparticle adhesion systems. Current studies have focused on the HIV/CD4 cell system. Comparison of BRAD simulation predictions with those of previous models of viral docking has shown differences in steady state bond number and bond trajectory. This indicates that geometry of the system plays a significant role in the bonding behavior of viruses. Thus, it is shown that the equivalent site hypothesis is suspect.
Multiple steady states in an isothermal, integral reactor: the catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide over platinum--alumina

Stable isothermal multiplicities were observed during carbon monoxide oxidation in an integral reactor, filled with alumina supported platinum catalysts. The multiplicities were investigated in the conversion-temperature, conversion-inlet carbon monoxide concentration and conversion-mass flow rate domains. The region of multiplicities was found to widen significantly upon catalyst aging which enhanced the pellets' diffusive resistances. Several intermediate stable steady states were found between the highest and lowest steady states, both experimentally and theoretically. All the above phenomena could be well interpreted by the interactions of the kinetics of carbon monoxide oxidation with intrapellet diffusion resistances.
An improved MAC protocol for wireless local access network

Wireless LAN has become increasingly popular as a medium to connect portable devices to the network. In such networks multiple stations share a common wireless channel. However, current media access control (MAC) protocols in these networks assume that the wireless channel capacity is time invariant for a single user and thus assign radio resources accordingly. This results in poor channel utilization particularly when channel gets assigned to stations that are in deep fading. In this paper, we devise an improved handshake procedure that assigns channel according to its fading status observed by each station and thus improve channel utilization. We give theoretical analysis of the overhead due to handshake procedure. Our analysis and simulation results show that the proposed protocol can ameliorate the contention among multiple users. This results in improving the channel throughput in the range of 43% to 850%, depending on the number of users and channel conditions.
Semiconductor Dopant Profile and Dielectric Characterization with Scanning Capacitance Microscopy

Scanning capacitance microscopy (SCM) has been commonly used to image dopant gradients in silicon and other semiconductors. As a mobile, high-resolution (to 10 nm) metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) probe, SCM also is a non-destructive, contactless tool with which to examine local variations in dielectric thin film quality and local variations in semiconductor substrate properties. Virtually any measurement that can be made with fabricated metal electrodes can also be made with SCM. Two particular applications being pursued are characterization of high-κ dielectric films on silicon for next generation integrated circuits and characterization of native and deposited insulators on wide bandgap semiconductors. Local differential capacitance (ΔC) versus tip bias (Vdc) measurements can be made with SCM using an ac voltage to generate the differential capacitance signal. These measurements differ from conventional C-V measurements due to the 3-D nature of the scanning capacitance microscope tip and the method used to generate the differential capacitance signal. Theoretical predictions and experimental measurements are made of SCM differential capacitance versus dc bias voltage (ΔC-V) curves for MOS capacitors with various levels of fixed and interface traps. The goal of this work is to determine if quantitative interface trap distributions can be made using SCM and if variations in interface density can be observed near defects or device structures. The response of the SCM MOS capacitance measurement to a local electric field stress and optical pumping from the atomic force microscope (AFM) laser will also be discussed.
Effect of argon laser trabeculoplasty on the glaucomatous diurnal curve.

Abstract Daily pressure variation occurs in all individuals. In glaucomatous patients this variation is marked and may exceed 20 mm of mercury. Argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT) lowers intraocular pressure (IOP). The effect of ALT on the glaucomatous diurnal curve was studied. Incidence and magnitude of post-trabeculoplasty pressure elevation was documented. Twenty-five patients are reported. All patients were treated according to the protocol advocated by Wise. Diurnal curves were obtained 24 hours prior to ALT, and compared to curves obtained 24 hours and 8 weeks after ALT. Eight weeks after surgery the mean IOP fell 22%; the mean peak pressure fell 25%; the mean pressure range fell 30%; and the pressure fluctuations fell 25%. All values were significant at P
Spasmogenic effects of the anti-fertility agent, zoapatanol.

Abstract The oxepane-containing diterpenoid (±)-zoapatanol, prepared by total chemical synthesis, was evaluated for its biological effects on human blood platelets, guinea-pig ileum, rabbit and rat uterus, and cat coronary artery. It had potent activity comparable to prostaglandin endoperoxide analogs in constricting coronary arteries or contracting the ileum but in contrast to the prostaglandins had no effect on platelet aggregation or the uterus. Antagonists of other known vasoactive substances had little or no effect on zoapatanol-induced constriction of coronary arteries. Zoapatanol appears to interact with yet unidentified receptors on vascular smooth muscle.
Identification of deceptive behavioral cues extracted from video

This research project investigates a novel approach for deriving behavioral deception cues from videotaped interactions. Researchers utilized inputs extracted from video to construct a set of two-dimensional spatial features. The features for thirty-eight video interactions were then analyzed using discriminant analysis and logistic regression. Through this exploratory study, the team has identified a number of promising features that help discriminate deception from truth. The techniques explored hold promise for the creation of near real time systems for transportation security professionals.
Integrating ichnofossil and body fossil records to estimate locomotor posture and spatiotemporal distribution of early sauropod dinosaurs: a stratocladistic approach

Fossil vertebrate distributions are typically based on body fossils, which are often poorly sampled at the margins of their true temporal and spatial ranges. Because vertebrate ichnofossils can be preserved in great abundance and in different environments than vertebrate body fossils, inclusion of ichnofossil data may improve sampled ranges. However, if ichnofossils are to serve as an independent source of distributional data, then their attribution to a body fossil group (i.e., trackmaker identification) cannot rely on temporal and spatial coincidence. Ichnofossils identified by synapomorphies can act as an independent source of distributional data that can modify spatial, temporal, and character distributions, which in turn may influence hypotheses of locomotor evo- lution. In this paper I evaluate the spatial, temporal, and character distributions of early sauropod di- nosaurs by using a combined ichnofossil and body fossil data set. Sauropod ichnofossils supple- ment the spatiotemporal distributions of early sauropods and provide important information on early sauropod foot posture that is rarely preserved or can only be inferred from body fossils. The presence of derived features in early-appearing ichnofossils challenges previous hypotheses of character transformation, implying either parallelism, reversal, or ghost lineages. Stratocladistics can be used to resolve conflicting character and temporal distributions from body fossils and ichnofossils. Stratocladistic analysis of a combined ichnofossil and body fossil data set suggests a richer, more widely distributed diversity of early sauropods than currently recognized in body fossils and suggests that several locomotor characters originated much earlier than implied by body fossils.
Efficacy of the classic ketogenic and the modified Atkins diets in refractory childhood epilepsy.

SummaryObjective We aimed to compare the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of a modified Atkins diet (MAD) with the classic ketogenic diet (KD) for the treatment of intractable childhood epilepsy. Methods From March 2011 to March 2014, 104 patients aged 1–18 years who had refractory epilepsy were randomly assigned to each diet group (ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT2100501). A seizure diary record was used to compare seizure frequencies with the baseline prediet seizure frequency at the third and sixth months after diet therapy initiation. Results Fifty-one patients were assigned to the KD and 53 patients to the MAD. The KD group had a lower mean percentage of baseline seizures compared with the MAD group at 3 months (38.6% for KD, 47.9% for MAD) and 6 months (33.8% for KD, 44.6% for MAD), but the differences were not statistically significant (95% confidence interval [CI] 24.1–50.8, p = 0.291 for 3 months; 95% CI 17.8–46.1, p = 0.255 for 6 months). Instead, for patients aged 1–2 years, seizure outcomes were consistently much more favorable in patients consuming the KD compared with those consuming the MAD. The rate of seizure freedom at 3 months after diet therapy initiation was significantly higher (53% for KD, 20% for MAD, p = 0.047) in these patients. The MAD had advantages with respect to better tolerability and fewer serious side effects. Significance The MAD might be considered as the primary choice for the treatment of intractable epilepsy in children, but the classic KD is more suitable as the first line of diet therapy in patients <2 years of age.
Foreword: environmental factors in asthma.

Whether you take the biblical quotation—“for dust you are and to dust you will return." Genesis 3:19, or the theory of evolution which implies that environmental changes triggered the biological evolution, it is all about environment. We biologists recognized the power of genes ever since Mendel demonstrated the principles of genetic inheritance, and Watson and Crick resolved the structure and beauty of the double helix. The driving power of genes in the expression of a phenotype is undeniable. Nonetheless, phenotype is not the same as genotype and we are yet to fully understand the complexity of the gene-environment interaction. Our simple paradigm of promoter-driven exon-based gene expression is losing its ground. We now understand that the expression of a gene is far more complex. Gene expression is controlled by proximal and distant enhancers and silencers, epigenetic modulation of the gene locus, secondary regulation by microRNA, gene splicing, single nucleotide polymorphism and etc. Many of the foregoing processes are influenced by the environment. Asthma, being a polygenic disease, is far more susceptible to environmental changes. Thus, research in the environmental aspect of asthma is very important. A comprehensive understanding of the environmental contribution to asthma requires population-based case-control and prospective epidemiological studies, which are extremely difficult to conduct. Nonetheless, significant progress has been made in this field. We have observed continued evolution of the hygiene hypothesis. We have a better understanding of indoor pollution. We recognize the complex biological effect of indoor allergens. To elaborate on the complexity of environmental factors Dr. Mark Eisner, a leader in the field, has invited some of the top experts to contribute to this volume. The issue addresses such important areas as indoor allergens, indoor and outdoor pollution, hygiene hypothesis dealing with microbial environment, social environment that includes diet and obesity, and others. This will be an exciting reading.
Pathways to Success for Students of Color in Christian Colleges: The Role of Institutional Integrity and Sense of Community

ABSTRACTThis study explored the predictors of success among 1,536 students of color from 12 Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) member institutions. Student success was measured by examining students' intent to graduate along with the degree to which they were thriving intellectually, socially, and psychologically. The study utilized an instrument that included the Thriving Quotient (Schreiner, 2012), which measures students' psychosocial well-being, along with scales that assessed students' psychological sense of community, perceptions of institutional integrity and commitment to student welfare, spirituality, and satisfaction with student–faculty interaction. The path model explained 35% of the variation in intent to graduate from their chosen CCCU institution among this sample of students of color. In addition to three factors that directly contributed to students' intent to graduate from their institutions—institutional fit, thriving in their role as students, and students' perception...
The State and Local Pay Penalty: The Effect of Skill and College Major

This paper reassesses the public sector pay gap using AFQT score and college major as measures of skill. Among the college educated, there is strong evidence that those with lower skills enter the public sector. In contrast to the private sector, for college-educated public sector workers AFQT score is not correlated with pay, and college major is only weakly predictive of pay. Furthermore, simple controls for college major explain most of the public-private sector pay gap. I conclude that public sector pay gap is much smaller than previously estimated and pay rigidities cause significant skill-based selection between the sectors.
EL QUIEBRE ÉTICO DE LA COMUNIDAD ÉTICA: LA SOCIEDAD CIVIL

The presentation of the civil society made in this paper tries to show two things: on the one hand, it ends with the broadly generalized idea about Hegel’s P...
How to Read Wittgenstein’s Later Works with Gada-merian Ontological Hermeneutics on the Subject of Learning Color Concepts?

Even though there is an ineluctable abyss between Analytic and Continental Philosophy, it is not hard to argue that in his later works Ludwig Wittgenstein draws a closer philosophical attitude to the latter in terms of that the notions developed by him, such as language-games, family resemblances, meaning-in-use or rule-following, apart from his earlier nomological approach to language, leave room for various understandings and uncertainty in language. In the present work, my primary task is to concentrate on the close relationship between the Wittgenstein’s notion of family resemblances and Gadamer’s idea of the fusion of horizons. But both philosophers, coincide in criticizing the authority of the Cartesian subject and private language and in allowing different understandings and uncertainty in language. Starting from this point of view, the linguistic turn, I will turn my remarks on the question how we learn color concepts since the structure of these concepts radically differs from the words that are able to subject to ostensive definitions. This last section will also offer a hermeneutical reading of Wittgenstein’s notion of family resemblances.
Timing the bloom season: a novel approach to evaluating reproductive phenology across distinct regional flora

Just as the timing of the vegetative growing season affects a host of ecological processes, the seasonality of floral availability impacts ecological processes from nectar availability and allergen production to competition for pollinator attention. However, no existing methodology is capable of evaluating multi-species bloom phenology in a standardized fashion across multiple ecosystems or compositionally distinct local flora. Thus, the manner in which the onset of the bloom season (during which the majority of species flower) differs along climate gradients and among distinct local flora remains largely unknown. This study evaluates differences in the timing of the bloom season throughout the western United States, and the relationship of the bloom season to the vegetative growing season and to local climate conditions. This study estimated the season during which all but the earliest and latest 5 % of local species flower (the bloom season) using digital herbarium records. Bloom season timing was compared to land surface phenology, SI-x phenoclimate metrics, and PRISM climate normals. Local differences in mean temperature of the coldest month explained 76 % of observed variation in bloom season onset. Variation in land surface phenology explained 50 % of observed variation, while SI-x Bloom estimates explained 64 % of observed variation in bloom season onset. These results confirm that bloom season phenology is distinct from the vegetative growing season, and that local temperature is a good predictor of bloom season onset. This work represents a new modality for studying multi-taxa flowering phenology at landscape and regional scales.
Quantitative Mass Spectrometry Independence from Matrix Effects and Detector Saturation Achieved by Flow Injection Analysis with Real-Time Infinite Dilution

A high-throughput quantitative analysis method is presented to determine analyte concentrations at the infinite dilution limit, where the presence and effects of matrix become null, achieving mathematical independence from the detrimental phenomenon of matrix effects. Dilution is achieved online, reproducibly and in seconds by diffusion/mixing that occurs in flow injection analysis, while analyte concentration measurements are made by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. Because of matrix effects, the measured analyte concentration (Am) was inaccurate at high matrix concentrations, but accuracy consistently improved as matrix concentration was reduced by dilution. The method provides a practical solution around the decades-long matrix effects problem in quantitative analytical chemistry without separation of analytes from the matrix (e.g., chromatography) or use of corrective procedures, such as matrix-matched standards or isotopically labeled internal standards. Broad applications were demon...
Overwintering Mortality of Caged Thistle-head Weevils, Rhinocyllus conicus , in Virginia

Overwintering mortality of caged Rhinocyllus conicus Froelich, a weevil successfully introduced from France for the biological control of Carduus thistles in Virginia, was studied over 4 consecutive winters. Mean mortality was 52.0±6.3%. Males suffered slightly lower mortality than females, but the difference was not significant. Prolonged caging as well as excessive moisture in cages caused significantly (P>0.01) increased mortality. Preferred overwintering sites were the thistle plant and its vicinity, cage corners, and excised thistle heads.
Boundary resistance and "pseudolocalization" in one-dimensional periodic systems

The resistance of a one-dimensional periodic potential with large unit cell is analyzed as a function of Fermi energy and potential strength. We demonstrate that even in the allowed energy regions the resistance can be nonzero due to the boundary contributions. The analysis of the wave functions shows that the probabilities of finding a particle in various regions within the same unit cell can differ by many orders of magnitude.
Origins of multicellular complexity: Volvox and the volvocine algae

The collection of evolutionary transformations known as the 'major transitions' or 'transitions in individuality' resulted in changes in the units of evolution and in the hierarchical structure of cellular life. Volvox and related algae have become an important model system for the major transition from unicellular to multicellular life, which touches on several fundamental questions in evolutionary biology. The Third International Volvox Conference was held at the University of Cambridge in August 2015 to discuss recent advances in the biology and evolution of this group of algae. Here, I highlight the benefits of integrating phylogenetic comparative methods and experimental evolution with detailed studies of developmental genetics in a model system with substantial genetic and genomic resources. I summarize recent research on Volvox and its relatives and comment on its implications for the genomic changes underlying major evolutionary transitions, evolution and development of complex traits, evolution of sex and sexes, evolution of cellular differentiation and the biophysics of motility. Finally, I outline challenges and suggest future directions for research into the biology and evolution of the volvocine algae.
Prelinguistic Infants' Communicative System: Role of Caregiver Social Feedback.

Infants’ prelinguistic vocalizations and gestures are rarely studied as a communicative system. As a result, there are few studies examining mechanisms of change concurrently in prelinguistic vocal...
Modification of aortic barorecptor resetting in the spontaneously hypertensive rat

Aortic barorecptor function was studied in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) of various ages and normotensive Wistar rats. The aortic arch was isolated and perfused, and the activity of the left aortic nerve was recorded. The threshold pressure to elicit barerecptor firing was 80-120 mmHg in normotensive Wistar rats. Resetting of barorecptors (threshold pressure 160-180 mmHg) was found in all untreated SHR of 35-70 wk of age. Resetting of barorecptors was prevented in SHR by starting treatment with antihypertensive agents at the age of 11 wk. Treatment of 32-wk old SHR with antihypertensive agents for 4-6 wk resulted in reversal of barorecptor resetting in 50% animals. The percentage of SHR showing complete reversal of resetting did not increase even when the duration of treatment was tripled. In 52- to 64-wk old SHR, treated with antihypertensive agents, reversal of baroceptor resetting was seen in only 30% animals. It was concluded that baroceptor resetting in SHR was secondary to hypertension. Hypertension, in turn, induced hypertrophy of the tunica media of the aorta. Histological studies showed a close correlation between aortic hypertrophy resetting. Aortic hypertrophy may, therefore, be one of the important factors involved in baroceptor resetting.
Role of EGF receptor ligands in TCDD-induced EGFR down-regulation and cellular proliferation

In cultures of normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs), 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) induces the expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor ligands transforming growth factor-α (TGF-α) and epiregulin (EREG). TCDD also down-regulates EGF receptors (EGFR), suggesting that decreases in signaling contribute to the effects of TCDD. In this study, we treated post-confluent NHEKs with 10 nM TCDD and assessed its effects on EGFR binding, EGFR ligand secretion, basal ERK activity, and proliferation. TCDD caused time-dependent deceases in [(125)I]-EGF binding to levels 78% of basal cell values at 72 h. Amphiregulin (AREG) levels increased with time in culture in basal and TCDD-treated cells, while TGF-α and epiregulin (EREG) secretion were stimulated by TCDD. Inhibiting EGFR ligand release with the metalloproteinase inhibitor batimastat prevented EGFR down-regulation and neutralizing antibodies for AREG and EREG relieved receptor down-regulation. In contrast, neutralizing TGF-α intensified EGFR down-regulation. Treating NHEKs with AREG or TGF-α caused rapid internalization of receptors with TGF-α promoting recycling within 90 min. EREG had limited effects on rapid internalization or recycling. TCDD treatment increased ERK activity, a response reduced by batimastat and the neutralization of all three ligands indicating that the EGFR and its ligands maintain ERK activity. All three EGFR ligands were required for the maintenance of total cell number in basal and TCDD-treated cultures. The EGFR inhibitor PD1530305 blocked basal and TCDD-induced increases in the number of cells labeled by 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine, identifying an EGFR-dependent pool of proliferating cells that is larger in TCDD-treated cultures. Overall, these data indicate that TCDD-induced EGFR down-regulation in NHEKs is caused by AREG, TGF-α, and EREG, while TGF-α enhances receptor recycling to maintain a pool of EGFR at the cell surface. These receptors are required for ERK activity, maintenance of total cell number, and stimulating the proliferation of a small subset cells.
Development and Applications of a Coupled CFD/CSD Methodology Using an Embedded CSD Approach

This paper describes recent algorithm developments and select applications of a program that couples parallel Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Computational Structural Dynamics (CSD) methodologies. FEFL098 is the CFD code used while DYNA3D handles the CSD portion. FEFL098 solves the time-dependent, compressible Euler and Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes equations on an unstructured mesh of tetrahedral elements. DYNA3D solves explicitly the large deformation, large strain formulation equations on an unstructured grid composed of bricks and hexahedral elements.