cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The use of breast stimulation to prevent postdate pregnancy

Postdate pregnancy is estimated to occur in 3% to 12% of all gestations. Morbidity and mortality rates associated with this common obstetric problem are higher than those with term gestation. The incidence of fetal distress, birth injury, meconium aspiration, congenital malformations, macrosomia, and oligohydramnios is also greater in postdate pregnancy. We prospectively evaluated breast self-stimulation to determine its effect on the incidence of postdate pregnancy. Two hundred low-risk patients at 39 weeks' gestation were randomly assigned to either a control group or a breast-stimulation group. Results showed that breast stimulation reduced the number of pregnancies managed as postdates from 17 per 100 (17%) to five per 100 (5%) (p less than 0.01), a 70% reduction. It is concluded that breast stimulation in postdates pregnancies can decrease significantly the number of patients that must be monitored by biochemical or biophysical means.
Crazy Quilt: Cloning Collaborations

Human Cloning in the Media: From Science Fiction to Science Practice, by Joan Haran, Jenny Kitzinger, Maureen McNeil and Kate O'Riordan, London and New York: Routledge, Genetics and Society series ...
Use of the Japanese Medaka (Oryzias latipes) and Guppy (Poecilia reticulata) in Carcinogenesis Testing Under National Toxicology Program Protocols

A need exists for whole animal toxicity, mutagenesis, and carcinogenesis models that are alternative to the traditional rodent test models and that are economical, sensitive, and scientifically acceptable. Among small fish models, the Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) is preeminent for investigating effects of carcinogenic and/or toxic waterborne hazards to humans. The guppy (Poecilia reticulata), although less widely used, is valuable as a comparison species. Both species are easy to maintain and handle in the laboratory and there is a large body of background information on their responsiveness to a range of classes of carcinogens. There are considerable data on the occurrence of background diseases and on spontaneous neoplastic lesions, both of which occur relatively rarely. With few modifications, the medaka and guppy are amenable to carcinogenicity testing under the rigid standards established by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) for rodent tests. The advantages of the small fish in carcinogenesis studies are best realized in long-term studies that involve environmentally realistic exposures. Studies to identify chronic effects can be conducted in about 12 months, near the life span of medaka in our laboratory. Practically, 9-month studies are optimal but shorter study cycles and a variety of exposure/growout and initiation/promotion scenarios are available. Studies on 3 compounds tested in medaka under NTP protocols are under review and preliminary analysis indicates that chronic carcinogenicity bioassays with medaka, guppy, and potentially with other small fish species are feasible and scientifically valid.
Kit ligand cytoplasmic domain is essential for basolateral sorting in vivo and has roles in spermatogenesis and hematopoiesis.

Abstract Juxtamembrane signaling via the membrane growth factor KitL is critical for Kit mediated functions. KitL has a conserved cytoplasmic domain and has been shown to possess a monomeric leucine-dependent basolateral targeting signal. To investigate the consequences in vivo of impaired basolateral KitL targeting in polarized epithelial cells, we have mutated this critical leucine to alanine using a knock-in strategy. KitLL263A/L263A mutant mice are pigmented normally and steady-state hematopoiesis is unaffected although peritoneal and skin mast cell numbers are significantly increased. KitL localization is affected in the Sertoli cells of the KitLL263A/L263A testis and testis size is reduced in these mice due to aberrant spermatogonial proliferation. Furthermore, the effect of the KitL L263A mutation on the testicular phenotype is dosage dependent. The tubules of hemizygous KitLL263A/Sl mice completely lack germ cells in contrast to the weaker testicular phenotype of KitLL263A/L263A mice. The onset of the testis phenotype coincides with the formation of tight junctions between Sertoli cells during postnatal development. Thus, the altered sorting of KitL is dispensable for hematopoietic and melanogenic lineages, yet is crucial in the testicular environment, where the basal membranes of adjacent polarized Sertoli cells form a niche for the proliferating spermatogonia.
Widespread Occurrence of Bisphenol A in Paper and Paper Products: Implications for Human Exposure

Bisphenol A (BPA) is used in a variety of consumer products, including some paper products, particularly thermal receipt papers, for which it is used as a color developer. Nevertheless, little is known about the magnitude of BPA contamination or human exposure to BPA as a result of contact with paper and paper products. In this study, concentrations of BPA were determined in 15 types of paper products (n = 202), including thermal receipts, flyers, magazines, tickets, mailing envelopes, newspapers, food contact papers, food cartons, airplane boarding passes, luggage tags, printing papers, business cards, napkins, paper towels, and toilet paper, collected from several cities in the USA. Thermal receipt papers also were collected from Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. BPA was found in 94% of thermal receipt papers (n = 103) at concentrations ranging from below the limit of quantitation (LOQ, 1 ng/g) to 13.9 mg/g (geometric mean: 0.211 mg/g). The majority (81%) of other paper products (n = 99) contained BPA at conce...
Does massage therapy reduce cortisol? A comprehensive quantitative review

Summary Objectives It is frequently asserted that massage therapy (MT) reduces cortisol levels, and that this mechanism is the cause of MT benefits including relief from anxiety, depression, and pain, but reviews of MT research are not in agreement on the existence or magnitude of such a cortisol reduction effect, or the likelihood that it plays such a causative role. A definitive quantitative review of MT's effect on cortisol would be of value to MT research and practice. Methods After first performing a comprehensive literature search and retrieval, we use rigorous and conventional meta-analytic methods for calculating between-groups effect sizes. As a point of comparison, we also replicate an unconventional approach taken by other reviewers, in which MT recipients' within-group cortisol reductions are quantified as a percentage of change, despite the fact that this introduces numerous confounds not addressed by the first approach. Results Resultant between-groups effect sizes are almost all small ( d s = 0.05–0.30) and nonsignificant. The lone exception is MT's multiple-dose effect in children, which is larger ( d = 0.52) and statistically significant, but which is based on only three studies and vulnerable to the file-drawer threat. Within-group percentage reductions of cortisol in MT recipients are generally smaller than those found by other reviewers, and are generally inconsistent with the more rigorous between-groups results, which illustrates the unsuitability of this unconventional approach to assessment of treatment effects. Conclusions MT's effect on cortisol is generally very small and, in most cases, not statistically distinguishable from zero. As such, it cannot be the cause of MT's well-established and statistically larger beneficial effects on anxiety, depression, and pain. We conclude that other causal mechanisms, which are still to be identified, must be responsible for MT's clinical benefits.
Regulation of B lymphocyte differentiation.

Learning objectives Type I hypersensitivity reactions uniquely involve the IgE class of immunoglobulins (Ig). IgE differs from other classes of Ig in that the majority of the antibodies are bound to high affinity IgE FcɛRs that are expressed on a variety of cell types. Some of these cell types, most notably, mast cells and basophils, are triggered to undergo rapid activation, degranulation, and release of bioactive mediators following binding of antigen to FcɛRI-bound IgE. Because of the central role that IgE antibodies and these mediators play in the tissue injury typical of type I hypersensitivity, this article will review the various stages of B lymphocyte development, activation, and differentiation and comment, where appropriate on potential sites of deregulation in allergic disease. Data Sources A literature search of the stages of B lymphocyte differentiation with emphasis on events that concern IgE expression was performed. Results B lymphocyte differentiation into IgE expressing cells is dependent upon three types of signals. The first signal is delivered through the B cell antigen receptor and is pivotal in determining the antigenic specificity of the response. The second signal is provided primarily by cytokines derived from T helper 2 (TH2) cells, ie, interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13. These cytokines are under tight regulation and their role appears to be the stimulation of transcription through the Ig constant region genes. Finally, the third signal is provided via the interaction between the constitutively expressed CD40 molecule on B lymphocytes and CD154 (CD40 ligand), a molecule expressed on T lymphocytes following activation. Elevated levels of IgE in atopic individuals may result from the preferential activation of TH2 cells. Conclusions A greater understanding of the regulation of IgE expression may be central to the development of more effective immunotherapy strategies designed to attenuate IgE synthesis.
A CCD camera probe for a superconducting cyclotron

The authors developed a probe for a K1200 superconducting cyclotron based on a charge coupled device (CCD) TV camera that works in a 6 T magnetic field. The camera looks at the beam spot on a scintillating screen. The TV image is processed by a frame grabber that digitizes and displays the image in pseudocolor in real time. This probe has much better resolution that traditional probes. Beams can be seen with total currents as low as 0.1 pA, with a position resolution of about 0.05 mm. >
Effects of operating speed on production quality and throughput

A key determinant of a manufacturing system's performance is its operating speed. While it is generally assumed that overall production throughput increases with operating speed, this is not necessarily the case where quality deteriorates as a result of the higher speed. In this paper we derive a representative quality–speed relationship and examine the productivity implications. We develop models to capture the effects of rework, repair, and scrap on system throughput and illustrate the resulting trade-off between higher productivity and the need for additional processing. Empirical evidence is also presented to motivate the work.
Costs of pediatric stroke care in the United States: a systematic and contemporary review.

A substantial literature exists regarding cost-of-care outcomes in adult stroke, however less is known about pediatric stroke. The objective of this review of the literature was to examine studies of costs associated with pediatric stroke care. Six studies reporting data from individuals who experienced a pediatric stroke were included in the review. Cost data (charges and payments) were generally limited to one year and ranged from approximately US$15,000–140,000 depending upon stroke type. Pediatric stroke is linked to substantial costs but studies primarily emphasize the direct cost of care during the first year post-stroke onset. However, since many pediatric stroke survivors experience normal lifespans, they can also accumulate a significantly greater long term cost of care than strokes that occur in adulthood. Future studies are needed to examine long term direct costs, short and long term indirect costs and other economic outcomes in this population.
CONCENTRATED ACID CONVERSION OF PINE SOFTWOOD TO SUGARS. PART I: USE OF A TWIN-SCREW REACTOR FOR HYDROLYSIS PRETREATMENT

The first stage of a two-step concentrated sulfuric acid process that converts softwood sawdust to sugars has been explored. The research focuses on the ability of an in-house custom fabricated corotating twin-screw reactor (TSR) to effectively break down and solubilize crystalline cellulose into low molecular weight carbohydrates. Based on design of experiment (DOE) screening results, a four-level, two-factor experimental model building DOE was undertaken. Solid sawdust conversion to liquid, screw torque, and TSR exit pressure were measured or recorded at each experimental condition to yield percent conversion of solids, processed material viscosity, and material energy requirements. Thereafter, model quadratic equations were fitted to the experimental data and found to be statistically significant. Based on data obtained in the DOE the process was optimized to establish a base case operating condition. The acid-treated product made at base case twin-screw operating conditions showed a 38.2% conversion o...
Relaxation of superfluid vortex bundles via energy transfer to the normal fluid

We apply numerical and computational analyses to the decay of a topologically nontrivial, bundle-structured superfluid vortex tangle via mutual friction effected energy transfer to an initially stationary, viscous normal fluid. We demonstrate that, as long as the coherent superfluid vorticity structures remain intact, the induced normal-fluid vorticity acquires a similar to the superfluid vorticity morphology, and the normal-fluid energy spectrum mimics the superfluid energy spectrum presenting a low-wavenumber scaling regime. After a (smaller than the integral advective time scale) transient, the superfluid vorticity bundles disintegrate; this is followed by the decay of normal-fluid energy. The kinetic energies of the two fluids are mismatched throughout the decay period, and the dismantling of coherent vorticity destroys the low-wavenumber energy spectrum scaling in both fluids. At the point of maximum normal-fluid energy, the circulation of the induced normal-fluid vortices is comparable to the ''macroscopic'' circulation of the superfluid vorticity bundles. We show that the superfluid dynamics are dominated throughout the decay period by inertial rather than mutual friction effects, that the formation of bundlelike coherent superfluid vortices cannot be the outcome of pure (reconnecting) Biot-Savart dynamics, and that superfluid vortex length dynamics are not analogous to superfluid energy dynamics. We conjecture that themore » dynamics of fully developed, turbulent thermal superfluid flow could be described in terms of interactions of cyclic coherent vorticity patterns in both fluids.« less
Impact of Early Postoperative Hydrocortisone Administration in Cardiac Surgical Patients After Cardiopulmonary Bypass

BACKGROUND:The usefulness of glucocorticoids after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass has been a matter of debate for many years. Exposure to cardiopulmonary bypass evokes the systemic inflammatory response syndrome in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Intravenous glucocorticoids have been used to reduce proinflammatory cytokine release, slow leukocyte migration, and decrease capillary leak associated with cardiopulmonary bypass.OBJECTIVE:To assess the impact of early postoperative hydrocortisone administration on duration of vasoactive medication administration and the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation in cardiac surgical patients after cardiopulmonary bypass.METHODS:A retrospective cohort study (between July 1, 2004, and June 30, 2008) was conducted at a large, university-affiliated, tertiary-care medical center. One-hundred forty-seven patients who underwent cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass, 72 of whom received at least 1 dose of hydrocortisone (treatment), and 75 si...
Optimal small kernels for edge detection

An algorithm is developed for defining small kernels that are conditioned on the important components of the imaging process: the nature of the scene, the point-spread function of the image-gathering device, sampling effects, noise, and post-filter interpolation. Subject to constraints on the spatial support of the kernel, the algorithm generates the kernal values that minimize the expected mean-square error of the estimate of the scene characteristic. This development is consistent with the derivation of the spatially unconstrained Wiener characteristic filter, but leads to a small, spatially constrained convolution kernel. Simulation experiments demonstrate that the algorithm is more flexible than traditional small-kernel techniques and yields more accurate estimates. >
Evolving video skims into useful multimedia abstractions

This paper reports two studies that measured the effects of different “video skim” techniques on comprehension, navigation, and user satisfaction. Video skims are compact, content-rich abstractions of longer videos, condensations that preserve frame rate while greatly reducing viewing time. Their characteristics depend on the image- and audio-processing techniques used to create them. Results from the initial study helped refine video skims, which were then reassessed in the second experiment. Significant benefits were found for skims built from audio sequences meeting certain criteria.
The Association Between Depression and Diabetes in the Perinatal Period

Both depression and diabetes are common in the perinatal period and result in serious consequences for mother and fetus. Although the association between depression and diabetes is well established, few studies have examined the association between these disorders during the perinatal period, when the etiology of depression and diabetes may differ from other periods over the life course. This article reviews the four most relevant epidemiologic papers that examined the association between depression and diabetes in the perinatal period and makes recommendations for future studies about how best to examine the association between these disorders during the perinatal period.
Preoperative statin therapy is associated with improved outcomes and resource utilization in patients undergoing aortic aneurysm repair

Introduction This study hypothesized that preoperative statin therapy would have a protective effect on patients undergoing elective abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair and that the risk-reduction effect of these agents would result in a reduction in subsequent total hospital costs. Methods All patients who underwent an elective endovascular AAA repair (EVAR) or open AAA repair (OAR) between 2004 and 2007 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical end points included postoperative days, length of hospital stay, postoperative complications (myocardial infarction, stroke, renal failure, hemorrhage, pneumonia, urinary tract infection, wound infection), and 30-day mortality. The financial end point was total hospital cost associated with the procedure. Results We identified 401 patients, consisting of 173 EVAR patients (43%) and 228 OAR (57%). Despite a higher Society for Vascular Surgery risk score, the EVAR statin cohort had significantly reduced postoperative days (1.9 ± 0.2 vs 2.3 ± 0.3, P P P P P Conclusion With respect to both clinical outcome measures and subsequent resource utilization, statin therapy is associated with a beneficial effect in patients undergoing elective AAA repair. These data suggest that preoperative statin therapy should be an integral part of the risk optimization for patients undergoing AAA repair.
De elephant man en zijn kaken

Afschuwwekkend en raadselachtig was de aandoening van John Merrick, niet in het minst wat betrof het orale gebied. De oplossing van dit medische raadsel is hopelijk in een van zijn tanden te vinden.
The Impact of Coal Combustion Residue Effluent on Water Resources: A North Carolina Example

The combustion of coal to generate electricity produces about 130 million tons of coal combustion residues (CCRs) each year in the United States; yet their environmental implications are not well constrained. This study systematically documents the quality of effluents discharged from CCR settling ponds or cooling water at ten sites and the impact on associated waterways in North Carolina, compared to a reference lake. We measured the concentrations of major and trace elements in over 300 samples from CCR effluents, surface water from lakes and rivers at different downstream and upstream points, and pore water extracted from lake sediments. The data show that CCR effluents contain high levels of contaminants that in several cases exceed the U.S. EPA guidelines for drinking water and ecological effects. This investigation demonstrates the quality of receiving waters in North Carolina depends on (1) the ratio between effluent flux and freshwater resource volumes and (2) recycling of trace elements through adsorption on suspended particles and release to deep surface water or pore water in bottom sediments during periods of thermal water stratification and anoxic conditions. The impact of CCRs is long-term, which influences contaminant accumulation and the health of aquatic life in water associated with coal-fired power plants.
A SURVEY OF OBJECT-SPACE HIDDEN SURFACE REMOVAL

We present a survey of the hidden surface removal literature, focusing on object-space algorithms. We give a brief definition and history of the problem, followed by a discussion of problems and algorithms associated with the priority ordering of faces. We go on to examine object-space algorithms in order of increasing object complexity: xy-parallel rectangles, ordered triangles, c-oriented faces, c-oriented polyhedra, polyhedral terrains, and general polyhedra. We also review recent work on merging visibility maps and moving viewpoints. Finally, we present a list of open problems.
Sclerosing cholangitis: Diagnosis and management

Primary sclerosing cholangitis is a chronic cholestatic liver disease that usually involves both the intrahepatic and extrahepatic biliary tree. It is often associated with underlying inflammatory bowel disease, especially ulcerative colitis. After secondary causes of sclerosing cholangitis are eliminated, biochemical tests, clinical presentation, and histology suggest the diagnosis. Cholangiography remains the gold standard for diagnosis. Typical cholangiographic features include diffuse multifocal strictures in both the intrahepatic and extrahepatic systems. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography has a niche as a noninvasive screening technique, but is limited by the inability to perform therapeutic maneuvers. Fifteen percent to 20% of patients will experience obstruction from dominant strictures. Management is predominantly supportive until the disease has progressed to the need for transplantation. Endoscopic therapy with sphincterotomy, stricture dilatation, and endoprostheses placement can relieve jaundice, improve biochemical parameters, and decrease the risk for cholangitis. Cholangiocarcinoma is the leading cause of death, occurring in 10% to 15% of patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis. Unfortunately, diagnosis is difficult. Combining clinical deterioration with radiologic imaging, tumor markers, and brush cytology can increase diagnostic yield.
Solution structure and design of dithiophosphate backbone aptamers targeting transcription factor NF-κB

A variety of monothio- and dithiosubstituted duplex aptamers targeting NF-kappaB have been synthesized and designed. The specificity and affinity of the dithioate aptamers of p50 and RelA(p65) NF-kappaB homodimers was determined by gel shift experiments. The NMR solution structures for several unmodified and dithioate backbone modified 14-base paired duplex aptamers have been determined by a hybrid, complete matrix (MORASS)/restrained molecular dynamics method. Structural perturbations of the dithioate substitutions support our hypothesis that the dithioate binds cations less tightly than phosphoryl groups. This increases the electrostatic repulsion across the B-form narrow minor groove and enlarges the minor groove, similar to that found in A-form duplexes. Structural analysis of modeled aptamer complexes with NF-kappaB homo- and heterodimers suggests that the dithioate backbone substitution can increase the aptamer's relative affinity to basic groups in proteins such as NF-kappaB by helping to "strip" the cations from the aptamer backbone.
Voting and the Cognitively Impaired

This paper addresses an emerging policy problem: participation in the electoral process by citizens with dementia. At present, health care professionals, family caregivers, and long-term care staff lack adequate guidance to decide whether individuals with dementia should be precluded from, or assisted in, casting a ballot. Voting by persons with dementia raises a series of important questions about the autonomy of individuals with dementia, the integrity of the electoral process, and the prevention of fraud. Three subsidiary issues warrant special attention: development of a method to assess the capacity to vote; identification of the appropriate kinds of assistance to enable persons with cognitive impairment to vote; and formulation of uniform and workable policies for voting in long-term care settings. In some instances, extrapolation from existing policies and research permits reasonable recommendations to guide policy and practice. However, in other instances additional research is necessary.
Comparison of clinical outcomes in patients with acute ischemic strokes treated with mechanical thrombectomy using either Solumbra or ADAPT techniques

Purpose To compare rates of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (SICH) and good clinical outcome at 90 days in patients with ischemic strokes from anterior circulation emergent large vessel occlusions (ELVO) treated with mechanical thrombectomy using either Solumbra or A Direct Aspiration first-Pass Thrombectomy (ADAPT) techniques. Methods We compared clinical characteristics, procedural variables, and clinical outcomes in patients with anterior circulation ELVOs treated with mechanical thrombectomy using either a Solumbra or ADAPT technique at our institution over a 38-month period. SICH was defined using the SITS-MOST criteria. A good clinical outcome was defined as a modified Rankin Scale score of 0–2 at 90 days. Results One hundred patients were included, 55 in the Solumbra group and 45 in the ADAPT group. Patients in the ADAPT group had higher National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) (19.2 vs 16.8, p=0.02) and a higher proportion of internal carotid artery terminus thrombi (42.2% vs 20%, p=0.03) than patients in the Solumbra group. Patients in the ADAPT group had a trend toward a lower rate of SICH than patients in the Solumbra group (2.2% vs 12.7%, p=0.07). Patients in the ADAPT group had a significantly higher rate of good clinical outcome at 90 days than patients in the Solumbra group (55.6% vs 30.9%, p=0.015). Use of the ADAPT technique (OR 6 (95% CI 1.0 to 31.2), p=0.049) was an independent predictor of a good clinical outcome at 90 days in our cohort. Conclusions In our cohort, the ADAPT technique was associated with significantly higher good clinical outcomes at 90 days in patients with acute ischemic stroke due to anterior circulation ELVOs treated with mechanical thrombectomy.
Identifying high-priority quality measures for breast cancer quality improvement using data from a nationally representative sample

6507 Background: We previously developed a simple, data-based strategy for selecting high-priority quality measures, and applied it to practice performance data from eight National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) centers to identify high-priority measures for breast cancer care. We now seek to evaluate the generalizability of these results by identifying which measures rank highly when practice performance data from a nationally representative sample, rather than a select group of cancer centers, are used. Methods: Using SEER-Medicare data, we assessed practice performance for 9933 women 65–70 years old diagnosed 1998–2002 with non-metastatic invasive breast cancer. For each quality measure, we determined the number of eligible patients, the number who did not receive recommended therapy, and the overall and target (goal) concordance values. We entered these data into a previously described algorithm to derive a numerical prioritization score for each measure. Spearman correlations were used to analyz...
Valuing Assets in Financial Markets

This note provides an overview of techniques used to value assets, including multiples, arbitrage pricing, and discounted cash flow. The note emphasizes the basic nature of valuation approaches and their logical underpinning, focusing on how techniques are applied to assets that are or might be traded in financial markets. The note sets the stage for specific (and often complicated) applications of the pricing techniques.
Magnetic decoupling of 129 Xe nuclear spin relaxation due to wall collisions with RbH and RbD coatings

Data are presented on the wall-induced nuclear spin-relaxation rate of ${}^{129}$Xe in glass cells in which the interior walls are coated with either rubidium hydride (RbH) or rubidium deuteride (RbD). The relaxation rates have been measured as a function of both magnetic field $(0.08lBl1.0\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\text{T})$ and temperature $(205lTl323\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\text{K})$. Spin relaxation was observed to decrease significantly with increasing magnetic field in both RbH- and RbD-coated cells at all temperatures studied. At temperatures above roughly 250 K, there is strong evidence that relaxation is due to long-range dipolar interactions with paramagnetic sites.
Seasonal incidence and attachment sites of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) on domestic dogs in southeastern Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas, USA.

Between 1 April 1980 and 31 March 1981, a total of 74,865 ticks were collected from 870 domestic dogs in southeastern Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas. A total of 754 dogs were infested with either lone star ticks, Amblyomma americanum (71.8%), brown dog ticks, Rhipicephalus sanguineus (70.6%), American dog ticks, Dermacentor variabilis (23.6%), black-legged ticks, Ixodes scapularis (20.9%). The average number of R. sanguineus per dog was greatest (53.6) followed by A. americanum (30.7), I. scapularis (1.1), and D. variabilis (0.8). The Gulf Coast tick, Amblyomma maculatum , and Ixodes cookei found occasionally. Brown dog ticks were observed on dogs in all months except December and the first engorged females were observed in February. Most adult ticks were found attached to the head, neck, and back; nymphs were most common on the ears, and most larvae were found on the rump, hind legs, and tail. Lone star ticks were observed attached to dogs in every month. Engorged females were also first noted in early February, but few adults were found after July. Adults were generally evenly distributed over the body, with fewest ticks on the back. Larvae were most abundant on the ears, whereas nymphs were most abundant on the chest and front legs. American dog ticks were found attached to dogs only from March to September. Adults were most common on the ears, head and neck; no immatures were found. Black-legged ticks first appeared in early October and were common on dogs through early May. Adults were most common on the head and neck, and, as with D. variabilis , no immatures were found. Over 62% of the dogs examined in this survey had 2 or more tick species attached simultaneously.
STABILITY ANALYSIS OF CLOSED-LOOP INPUT SHAPING CONTROL

Abstract Input shaping is a vibration control technique that operates by filtering reference commands so that the modified (or shaped) command does not excite the system's natural frequencies. Usually input shaping is limited to a filtering operation outside of any feedback loops. However, this implementation prevents input shaping from effecting some vital control applications including disturbance rejection, initial condition response, etc. Therefore, some research has suggested using input shapers within feedback loops. This paper will present some initial investigations toward the fundamental understanding of how input shapers utilized within feedback loops affect closed loop stability.
Antirachitic properties imparted to lettuce and to growing wheat by ultraviolet irradiation.

Wheat which was grown in the dark (etiolated) was found to have no antirachitic potency. Wheat which was grown in the light and irradiated with mercury vapor lamp conferred protection when fed to rats (10 gm. daily).The same difference in regard to protective action against rickets was observed in vegetables which were irradiated after they had been plucked. Green lettuce leaves from the market were of no value in preventing rickets, whereas after irradiation when fed in same amounts (10 gm.) they had become antirachitic.Therefore, in the plucked as well as in the growing green vegetable, irradiation led to the formation of an antirachitic factor.
Dust Containing Bacillus thuringiensis for Control of Chicken Body, Shaft, and Wing Lice

Dusts containing commercially prepared Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner reduced the numbers of chicken body lice, Menacanthus stramineus (Nitzsch); shaft lice, Menopon gallinae (L.); and wing lice, Lipeurus caponis (L.), on white leghorn hens treated by direct application or by using dust-bath boxes. One or more direct applications of 3.5 g of dust per bird controlled lice effectively; dust-bath boxes containing 75 g B. thuringiensis per 5.5 kg sand provided incomplete control.
Exploring NIRSA Championship Series Professional Development Opportunities: Understanding Their Perceived Value to the Association

The NIRSA Championship Series (Series) is a significant component of NIRSA: Leaders in Collegiate Recreation (NIRSA). Demonstrated, in part, by the fact that many campus recreational professionals contend the events directly relate to both their institution and the association’s mission. The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of how NIRSA professionals perceive the value of volunteer experiences at Series events. The research team conducted semistructured interviews with thirteen campus recreation directors. The participants had a median of 28 years in the profession, (SD = 7.4), and represented all six NIRSA regions. In describing the benefits of volunteerism at Series events, the directors identified three broad themes, each with numerous subthemes: Personal Experience (Lifelong learner, Mentors, and Networking), Professional Development (Teamwork, Leadership, Communication, and Training), and Ideal Job Characteristics (Attitude and Organizational Citizenship Behaviors). The themes, subt...
Heat generation of mechanically abused lithium-ion batteries modified by carbon black micro-particulates

In the current study, we experimentally investigated the effects of carbon black micro-particulates (CBMP) on the temperature increase of lithium-ion battery coin cells subjected to nail penetration and blunt impact. The major difference between CBMP and regular carbon black additives is in particle size. The testing data showed that addition of 1 wt% of CBMP in the cathode and anode does not influence the cycle life, while can reduce the heat generation rate by nearly 50%, after the peak temperature is reached. Thermal treatment of the modified cells at 100 °C would further reduce the heat generate rate. The initial temperature increase rate, the maximum temperature, as well as the total energy dissipation are not affected. These findings shed light on thermal runaway mitigation of high-energy batteries.
Mortality and illicit drug dependence among hemodialysis patients in the United States: a retrospective cohort analysis

Illicit drug use is common and known to cause and exacerbate a wide spectrum of kidney disease, often leading to end-stage renal disease (ESRD), but little is known about its prevalence or associated mortality among incident hemodialysis patients. This study is a retrospective cohort analysis using data obtained from the United States Renal Data System. We assembled a cohort of 511,821 incident hemodialysis patients age 20 years and older who initiated hemodialysis between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2010. Illicit drug dependence was defined by comorbidity on the ESRD Medical Evidence Report (Form CMS-2728). We performed survival analysis to examine the association of drug dependence with overall mortality and mortality due to diagnoses that can be associated with intravenous drug use (drug-sensitive diagnoses) in the first year after initiating hemodialysis. Drug dependence was recorded for 1.5 % (n = 7,461). Drug dependence was independently associated with a 1.3-fold and 2.5-fold higher hazard of overall mortality and mortality due to a potentially drug-sensitive diagnosis [adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) 1.34 (1.27–1.41) and 2.54 (2.05–3.14), p < 0.001, respectively]. This association varied significantly by age (pinteraction < 0.001), with a 9-fold higher hazard of mortality due to a potentially drug-sensitive diagnosis among the youngest patients with drug dependence [AHR 9.21 (5.15–16.44), p < 0.001]. Illicit drug dependence is a burden within the ESRD program and is strongly associated with premature mortality, particularly among younger patients. Targeted intervention is needed to help reduce this burden.
Ethylene Signal Transduction in Fruits and Flowers

Persons reading this book will appreciate that phytohormones have vital roles in assimilating many aspects of plant growth and development. While it is well established that hormonal action is regulated at the level of synthesis, many developmental processes are also regulated at the level of hormone perception (8). Sensitivity to hormones is regulated both spatially and temporally during growth and development. For example, adjacent cell layers respond differentially to hormones during organ abscission. Likewise, sensitivity of an organ can change over time as occurs during fruit ripening. How such alterations in hormone responses are regulated is not well understood. However, as the individual components of signaling pathways are identified, a basic understanding of hormone responsiveness is emerging. In the context of this article, the term “sensitivity” refers to the response of a tissue or organ to the hormone. A change in sensitivity indicates that the concentration of hormone that is able to initiate a set response is altered.
ANDRÉ–OORT CONJECTURE AND NONVANISHING OF CENTRAL -VALUES OVER HILBERT CLASS FIELDS

Let be a totally real field and a complex multiplication (CM) quadratic extension. Let be a cuspidal Hilbert modular new form over . Let be a Hecke character over such that the Rankin–Selberg convolution with the -series associated with is self-dual with root number 1. We consider the nonvanishing of the family of central-critical Rankin–Selberg -values , as varies over the class group characters of . Our approach is geometric, relying on the Zariski density of CM points in self-products of a Hilbert modular Shimura variety. We show that the number of class group characters such that increases with the absolute value of the discriminant of . We crucially rely on the Andre–Oort conjecture for arbitrary self-product of the Hilbert modular Shimura variety. In view of the recent results of Tsimerman, Yuan–Zhang and Andreatta–Goren–Howard–Pera, the results are now unconditional. We also consider a quaternionic version. Our approach is geometric, relying on the general theory of Shimura varieties and the geometric definition of nearly holomorphic modular forms. In particular, the approach avoids any use of a subconvex bound for the Rankin–Selberg -values. The Waldspurger formula plays an underlying role.
GABA-producing Bifidobacterium Dentium Modulates Visceral Sensitivity in the Intestine

Background Recurrent abdominal pain is a common and costly health-care problem attributed, in part, to visceral hypersensitivity. Increasing evidence suggests that gut bacteria contribute to abdominal pain perception by modulating the microbiome-gut-brain axis. However, specific microbial signals remain poorly defined. γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a principal inhibitory neurotransmitter and a key regulator of abdominal and central pain perception from peripheral afferent neurons. Although gut bacteria are reported to produce GABA, it is not known whether the microbial-derived neurotransmitter modulates abdominal pain. Methods To investigate the potential analgesic effects of microbial GABA, we performed daily oral administration of a specific Bifidobacterium strain (B. dentiumATCC 27678) in a rat fecal retention model of visceral hypersensitivity, and subsequently evaluated pain responses. Key Results We demonstrate that commensal Bifidobacterium dentium produces GABA via enzymatic decarboxylation of glutamate by GadB. Daily oral administration of this specific Bifidobacterium (but not a gadB deficient) strain modulated sensory neuron activity in a rat fecal retention model of visceral hypersensitivity. Conclusions & Inferences The functional significance of microbial-derived GABA was demonstrated by gadB-dependent desensitization of colonic afferents in a murine model of visceral hypersensitivity. Visceral pain modulation represents another potential health benefit attributed to bifidobacteria and other GABA-producing species of the intestinal microbiome. Targeting GABAergic signals along this microbiome-gut-brain axis represents a new approach for the treatment of abdominal pain.
A preliminary communication-assisted hybrid control strategy for maximum reliability and efficiency in smart grids

The grid is becoming smart by adding sensing and communication technologies to it with a certain degree of operability and flexibility in topology. The hallmark of modern power systems is a highly integrated, flexible networked and communicative cyber-physical infrastructure having both continuous and discrete dynamics. Issues arising due to the complexity of these systems can be potentially solved by designing power control algorithms based on the information available at any instant of time. One of the developing technique is hybrid control which is mainly featured for a system under different operating conditions and in different operating states. This paper presents a unique approach for modeling and control of a smart grid considering its hybrid and complex nature. A model of smart grid has been developed with communication-assisted hybrid control strategy. The information on power flow management is updated to the operator through a feedback mechanism in order to meet desirable efficiency and reliability standards.
Using maple, maple 3D graphics, and tablet PC to teach calculus II and III

This paper presents a project that is in its preliminary stage at the University of North Georgia, which aims to efficiently increase student engagement and support teachers' instructional needs. The ultimate goal of the project is to create engaging math learning models that will make the learning environment fun and attractive. The main goal of the project is to develop effective math learning models and use them to enhance students' performance. By applying Maple, a cutting-edge Computer Algebra Systems (CAS), and other digital tools (Tablet PC's) for teaching and learning of mathematics, these models can: (1) make mathematics learning interesting and meaningful while still covering the original contents; (2) simplify abstract mathematics concepts and make them easy to understand; and (3) bridge mathematics and science and motivate students to seek science careers. In class room we use Microsoft OneNote on the Tablet PC and combine it with a Digital Projector. Maple 3D graphs are easily imported to class notes and we can archive and share our lecture notes. The models are carefully designed to provide students with the chance to explore mathematical issues that are infeasible to address in the classroom and improve their performance in mathematics and prepare them to for advanced science and engineering courses. The model also balances this capability by allowing students to modify selected parts of the MPLE worksheet for a given problem and guide them to design new procedure, and are thus get them to use Maple features to perform application tasks. We also explore whether using these tools will positively affect student engagement in the classroom in addition to aiding them in the long term development of a deep conceptual understanding of mathematics.
Feasibility of Non-invasive Brain Modulation for Management of Pain Related to Chemoradiotherapy in Patients with Advanced Head and Neck Cancer.

Patients with head and neck cancer often experience a significant decrease in their quality of life during chemoradiotherapy (CRT) due to treatment-related pain, which is frequently classified as severe. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a method of non-invasive brain stimulation that has been frequently used in experimental and clinical pain studies. In this pilot study, we investigated the clinical impact and central mechanisms of twenty primary motor cortex (M1) stimulation sessions with tDCS during seven weeks of CRT for head and neck cancer. From 48 patients screened, seven met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled. Electroencephalography (EEG) data were recorded before and after tDCS stimulation as well as across the trial to monitor short and long-term impact on brain function. The compliance rate during the long trial was extremely high (98.4%), and patients mostly reported mild side effects in line with the literature (e.g., tingling). Compared to a large standard of care study from our institution, our initial results indicate that M1-tDCS stimulation has a pain relief effect during the CRT that resulted in a significant attenuation of weight reduction and dysphagia normally observed in these patients. These results translated to our patient cohort not needing feeding tubes or IV fluids. Power spectra analysis of EEG data indicated significant changes in α, β and γ bands immediately after tDCS stimulation and, in addition, α, δ and θ bands over the long term in the seventh stimulation week (p < 0.05). The independent component EEG clustering analysis showed estimated functional brain regions including precuneus and superior frontal gyrus (SFG) in the seventh week of tDCS stimulation. These areas colocalize with our previous positron emission tomography (PET) study where there was activation in the endogenous μ-opioid system during M1-tDCS. This study provides preliminary evidence demonstrating the feasibility and safety of M1-tDCS as a potential adjuvant neuromechanism-driven analgesic therapy for head and neck cancer patients receiving CRT, inducing immediate and long-term changes in the cortical activity and clinical measures, with minimal side-effects.
Spectroelectrochemical Measurement of Surface Electrostatic Contributions to Colloidal CdSe Nanocrystal Redox Potentials

Understanding and controlling the redox properties of colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals is critical for application of this class of materials in many proposed technologies. Here, we use spectroelectrochemical potentiometry to analyze the redox potentials of free-standing colloidal n-type CdSe nanocrystals. We show that both the redox potentials and the maximum number of conduction-band electrons that can be accumulated through photodoping are strongly affected by the nanocrystal’s surface stoichiometry, varying reproducibly by over 400 meV with changes in relative Cd2+:Se2– surface concentration. The data suggest that Se2– enrichment generates electric dipoles at the nanocrystal surfaces that shift the CdSe nanocrystal band-edge potentials to more negative values, and these generated dipoles are largely eliminated upon Cd2+ binding. These results demonstrate the importance of nanocrystal surface stoichiometry in applications involving tuned nanocrystal redox potentials, band-edge alignment, or electro...