cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis of the plague surveillance results in Qianxi'nan Prefecture, Guizhou Province from 2006 to 2015

Objective To analyze the monitoring results of plague in Qianxi'nan Prefecture in Guizhou Province from 2006 to 2015, and to provide a reference for prevention and control of plague. Methods Using a retrospective analysis method, plague epidemic reports, epidemic source investigations, and animal plague surveillance data from 3 monitoring sites in Xingyi City, Anlong County, and Yilong Experimental Area in Qianxi'nan Prefecture from 2006-2015 were collected and analyzed. Results In 2006-2015, no rat plague and human plague occurred in Qianxi'nan Prefecture. There was no Yersinia pestis, and a total of 1 plague antigen F1 positive rat was detected in Xingyi City in 2006. The density of indoor rat was 2.28% (3 580/157 192), the density of indoor Rattus flavipectus was 1.31% (2 052/157 192), ranging from 0.90% to 1.82%, the differences were statistically significant between different years (χ2=91.110, P < 0.05); and the density of outdoor rat was 1.52% (2 358/154 732), the density of outdoor Rattus flavipectus was 0.58% (905/154 732), ranging from 0.39% to 0.90%, the differences were statistically significant between different years (χ2=63.428, P < 0.05). In the composition of rodents, Rattus flavipectus was the dominant species, Rattus norvegicus and Mus musculus were common species. The musk deer index was 1.19. In the composition of flea species, the Xenopsylla cheopis was the dominant species with an index of 0.64, Leptopsylla segnis and Monopsyllus anisus were common species. Conclusions Rattus flavipectus and Xenopsylla cheopis was the dominant rodent and flea species in Qianxi′nan Prefecture. The density of indoor Rattus flavipectus and the index of flea are higher than those of the national standard of plague control(1.0%, 0.5). In the future, densities of Rattus flavipectus should be closely monitored, and the rodent and flea killing activities should be carried out in time. Key words: Plague; Monitorings; Analysis
Ligand architecture for triangular metal complexes: a high oxidation state Ni3 cluster with proximal metal arrangement.

A new multidentate tetraanionic ligand platform for supporting trinuclear transition metal clusters has been developed. Two trisphenoxide phosphinimide ligands bind three Ni centers in a triangular arrangement. The phosphinimide donors bridge in μ3 fashion and the phenoxides complete a pseudo-square planar coordination sphere around each metal center. Electrochemical studies reveal two pseudo-reversible oxidation events at notably low potentials (−0.80 V and +0.05 V). The one electron oxidized species was characterized structurally, and it is assigned as a NiIII-containing cluster.
Resilient peripheralisation through authoritarian communication against energy democracy in South Korea

To understand anti-democratic barriers to accomplishing energy democracy, I examine how and why a centralised energy system can maintain itself based on an ethnographic analysis of the local protes...
Evaluation of Sticky Traps for Monitoring Scolothrips sexmaculatus (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and Stethorus punctum (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) as Predators of Spider Mites in California Almonds.

Changes in almond production practices have caused sixspotted thrips, Scolothrips sexmaculatus Pergande, and the coccinellid beetle, Stethorus punctum LeConte, to replace phytoseiid mites as the dominant predators of spider mites in California almonds. We conducted a series of field studies to evaluate nine commercially available adhesive traps for S. sexmaculatus and S. punctum and found that the yellow strip trap was the most effective, least expensive, and easy to use. At peak population levels, individual cards routinely caught >1,000 S. sexmaculatus and >100 S. punctum trap-1 week-1. We documented that larger traps collected more S. sexmaculatus, and more S. sexmaculatus per square area, suggesting that the trap surface was attractive. We determined the number of traps needed to have 50, 70, and 90% confidence that the averages of trap captures were within 10, 30, and 50% of the population mean. Two yellow strip traps per orchard provided 90% confidence that trap captures were within 50% of the population mean if there were an average of 16.0 S. sexmaculatus trap-1 week-1 or 7.9 S. punctum trap-1 week-1. Populations required to attain the same levels of confidence using four traps per orchard were 3.9 S. sexmaculatus and 2.9 S. punctum trap-1 week-1. We conclude that use of the yellow strip trap to monitor for natural enemies, in combination with leaf samples for spider mites, has the potential to improve integrated pest management programs for spider mites, and assist future research to understand the biology and phenology of both predator species.
Random copolymer of poly(polyethylene glycol methyl ether)methacrylate as tunable transition temperature solid-solid phase change material for thermal energy storage

Abstract Polymer based phase change materials (PCM) for thermal energy storage (TES) applications have gained some attention recently due to their high stability and potential solid to solid phase transition. Here, we are the first to utilize a simple copolymerization strategy for static tunability transition temperature (Tt) of polymeric PCM. The copolymerization between short and long side chain polyethylene glycol based methacrylate polymers was designed to tune Tt with minimum impact on their energy density. Polarized optical microscope and x-ray techniques were also used to understand the relationship between crystal structure and Tt of different copolymer composition which was discussed in the context. The solid to solid transition polymeric PCM were successfully developed with tunable Tt ranged from 18 °C to 35 °C which is suitable toward building envelop applications.
The Third Eye Sees Double: Cohort Study of Clinical Presentation, Histology, Surgical Approaches, and Ophthalmic Outcomes in Pineal Region Germ Cell Tumors.

Background Intracranial germ cell tumors (GCTs) predominantly occur in the adolescent and young adult population and are most frequently located at the pineal gland. Tumor masses in the pineal region may cause ophthalmic symptoms due to compression to the midbrain, frequently presenting with Parinaud syndrome and hydrocephalus due to aqueductal compression. Methods We conducted a single-institution cohort study of primary, pineal region GCTs to characterize the clinical presentation, as well as associated ophthalmic and hydrocephalus outcomes. Results Fifty-six primary pineal GCTs were identified. Among the 40 isolated pineal region GCTs, 15 were germinomas while 25 were nongerminomatous GCTs. Among 43 cases of hydrocephalus, endoscopic third ventriculostomy was the primary treatment in 27 cases, which was successful in 23 but failed and required additional treatment for the rest. Pineal tumor mass was significantly larger in cases with hydrocephalus compared with those without, and the 20-mm diameter of the tumor was the crucial point for obstructive hydrocephalus. Ophthalmic symptoms were commonly observed at presentation, which included diplopia (74.3%), upward-gaze palsy (69.7%), and Argyll Robertson pupil (40%). These symptoms tended to remain, and the existence of these symptoms at presentation predicted the remaining symptoms in the follow-up. Conclusions Intracranial GCTs presenting with ophthalmic abnormalities appear to be at increased risk of residual posttreatment symptoms, while second-look surgery presents a significant risk factor for the development of new deficits. Hydrocephalus often accompanies pineal region GCTs, and in most cases both cerebrospinal fluid diversion and tissue diagnosis can be successfully achieved via endoscopic third ventriculostomy.
Gas chromatographic analysis of emerging and persistent environmental contaminants

Abstract Gas chromatography is a prominent technique for the separation and detection of emerging and persistent environmental contaminants. It is generally the preferred technique for the analysis of volatile and semivolatile organic compounds including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (dioxins) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (dioxins), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), halogenated flame retardants, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Their environmental impact assessment frequently requires high resolution separation of isomers and congeners and selective and sensitive detection, typically by mass spectrometry. This chapter describes the main approaches to extraction from typical matrices, selection of appropriate separation and confirmation techniques, and detection strategies.
Mapping salt marsh along coastal South Carolina using U-Net

Abstract Coastal wetland mapping is often difficult because of the heterogeneous vegetation compositions and associated tidal effects. In this study, we employed the U-Net and developed an adaptive deep learning approach to map statewide salt marshes in estuarine emergent wetlands of South Carolina (SC), USA, from 20 Sentinel-2A&B images. Considering the spatial heterogeneity of the coastal environment, two NOAA National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERRs) in SC were examined, the North Inlet-Winyah Bay (NIWB) NERR for model training and the ACE Basin NERR for testing. A high-resolution land cover map in the NIWB was downloaded for the training process. Ground reference points recorded by the NERR, as well as Google Earth were utilized during the accuracy assessment. The highest overall accuracy (90%) was achieved when all scenes with 10 Sentinel bands and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) were included. The time used to train the model was 5 h, while then the statewide classification was performed in 20 min. Low marsh and high marsh distributions were successfully delineated. Compared to the national marsh maps from the NOAA Coastal Change Analysis Program (C-CAP), this study refined the land cover details concerning low marsh and high marsh distributions on the SC coast. Owing to the computational power of the U-Net, the seasonality and tide influence on marsh classification were mitigated by using multi-temporal images. With images available, the deep learning approach developed in this study could be easily adopted in other coastal areas.
Culturable E. coli as Surrogate for Culturable V. cholerae in Surface Disinfection Testing with Chlorine

AbstractDuring outbreaks, contaminated surfaces can contribute to the spread of cholera; as such, surface disinfection with chlorine is widely recommended. However, confirmation of surface disinfec...
Exploring the Recovery of Non-offending Parents after a Child’s Sexual Abuse Event

A variety of factors influence a child’s recovery from a child sexual abuse (CSA) event including the non-offending parent’s role in the healing process of their child. The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of how non-offending parents recuperate from a CSA occurrence. By better understanding non-offending parents’ perspectives related to the healing process, health professionals can provide effective supports, programs, and services. We recruited and conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with 16 non-offending parents to explore their risk factors, protective factors, stressors, coping strategies, and perceptions of healing following their child’s sexual abuse event. We also invited parents to contribute specific ideas to improve programs and services offered to families of sexual abuse served by a child advocacy center located in an urban pediatric hospital. Our findings included five themes: (1) a variety of emotions are present; (2) family context influences recovery; (3) coping is different for everyone; (4) navigating the justice system is frustrating; and (5) healing is a process. The results of our study revealed that the non-offending parents that were managing their child’s sexual abuse event more productively were further along in the healing process (as compared with their counterparts) and had successfully processed their emotions, described less chaos in their family unit, employed positive coping strategies, and had found a way to move forward and accept a “new normal”. The findings of our study can be used to promote recovery and provide better services to non-offending parents following a CSA event.
Chronic Hypoxia Inhibits Respiratory Complex IV Activity and Disrupts Mitochondrial Dynamics in the Fetal Guinea Pig Forebrain

Mitochondrial dysfunction is an underlying cause of childhood neurological disease secondary to the crucial role of mitochondria in proper neurodevelopment. We hypothesized that chronic intrauterine hypoxia (HPX) induces mitochondrial deficits by altering mitochondrial biogenesis and dynamics in the fetal brain. Pregnant guinea pigs were exposed to either normoxia (NMX, 21%O2) or HPX (10.5%O2) starting at 28-day (early onset, EO-HPX) or 50-day (late onset, LO-HPX) gestation until term (65 days). Near-term male and female fetuses were extracted from anesthetized sows, and mitochondria were isolated from excised fetal forebrains (n = 6/group). Expression of mitochondrial complex subunits I–V (CI–CV), fission (Drp-1), and fusion (Mfn-2) proteins was measured by Western blot. CI and CIV enzyme activities were measured by colorimetric assays. Chronic HPX reduced fetal body wts and increased (P < 0.05) brain/body wt ratios of both sexes. CV subunit levels were increased in EO-HPX males only and CII levels increased in LO-HPX females only compared to NMX. Both EO- and LO-HPX decreased CIV activity in both sexes but had no effect on CI activity. EO-HPX increased Drp1 and decreased Mfn2 levels in males, while LO-HPX had no effect on either protein levels. In females, both EO-HPX and LO-HPX increased Drp1 but had no effect on Mfn2 levels. Chronic HPX alters abundance and activity of select complex subunits and shifts mitochondrial dynamics toward fission in a sex-dependent manner in the fetal guinea pig brain. This may be an underlying mechanism of reduced respiratory efficiency leading to disrupted metabolism and increased vulnerability to a second neurological injury at the time of birth in HPX fetal brains.
Frontal Sinus Fractures

Frontal sinus fracture mismanagement can lead to significant morbidity and can be life threatening. Treatment paradigms for frontal sinus fractures are continuing to evolve. Past surgical modalities that removed the anterior bony frontal surface resulted in life-long disfiguring defects and have been replaced with the advent of modern endoscopic sinus surgery and imaging techniques. New treatment paradigms for the management of frontal sinus trauma reflect these advances.
Asymmetry in semicircular canal diameters may account for circling behavior in EphB-deficient mice.

Objectives/Hypothesis Determine if differences in right and left semicircular size account for phenotypic behavior, indicating vestibulopathy in EphB deficient mice. Study Design The diameters of the superior semicircular canals (SCC) were measured. The differences in the right and left superior SCC diameters were analyzed in homozygous EphB2 and EphB3 double knockout mice known to have head bobbing and circling behavior. Results were compared to similar analysis in wild type controls that displayed no signs of vestibulopathy. Methods Axial frozen sections through the superior (SCC) were analyzed by light microscopy; and the diameters of the left and right canals were measured in μm for both EphB2 and EphB3 double knockout mice, as well as in wild type control mice. The differences in diameter between the left and right superior SCC was determined for each animal. Results Overall, the EphB2 and EphB3 double knockout mice had smaller superior SCC diameters compared to wild type (109.0 ± 21.4 μm vs. 185.0 ± 5.2 μm (P < 0.0001). The mean difference in left and right diameter of the superior SCC of EphB2/EphB3 double knockout mice was 29.0 ± 8.7 μm; in wild-type controls this difference was 6.0 ± 5.1 μm (P = 0.002). In addition, the direction of circling appeared to be independent of the laterality of the smaller (or larger) superior SCC. Conclusion Mice deficient in EphB2/EphB3 signaling have smaller superior SCC and asymmetry in lumen sizes between the left and right sides. The laterality of the larger versus smaller is not correlated with the direction of circling behavior. Level of Evidence N/A. Laryngoscope, 124:E278–E282, 2014
A Word from a Black Female Relativistic Astrophysicist: Setting the Record Straight on Black Holes

This Letter is written to clear up a situation, and hopefully we will learn something from it: scientifically and morally. Herein is presented a true ``historical'' scenario of events, that led to my being the first person (Williams 1991) to successfully work out the Penrose mechanism in four-dimensions (three-space momenta and energy). Before working out a solution to the Penrose mechanism: to extract energy from a rotating black hole, the Penrose mechanism (since first proposed by Roger Penrose in 1969) had been attempted by scientists over the world for nearly two decades, with little success, although making some progress. In the Penrose analysis of Williams (1991, 1995) details of the behavior of efficient Penrose relativistic scattering processes in the ergosphere are described. The reason a solution eluded other scientists before me is that there was very little known about orbits inside the ergosphere, where space and time are no longer separable, as measured by an observer at infinity (i.e., far away from the Kerr black hole). In this Letter, I describe how analytic derivations of the conserved energy and azimuthal angular momentum of particle orbits not confined to the equatorial plane allowed me to succeed where others, whose ``shoulders'' I stood on, had failed. Also, I will mention some well known scientists in the astrophysics community by name, as I discuss their involvement, and outline the facts behind an author feeling the need to set the record straight.
Stock Prices and Social Wealth

A rise in the price of a company's stock is commonly believed to signal an equivalent rise in both the value of the company and in aggregate social wealth. This belief can be traced to three influential ideas in modern finance: the Efficient Capital Market Hypothesis (ECMH), the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), and what might be called the principal-agent or shareholder primacy model of the firm. In the decades since these ideas were first developed, scholars have produced an extensive body of theoretical and empirical work that revises, extends, and in some cases challenges them. This article reviews some of that work and concludes that the relationship between stock prices and social wealth is far more indirect and complex than generally understood, even if investors are assumed to be rational. It offers examples of a variety of situations in which stock prices predictably will fail to capture corporate value and suggests a research agenda for developing more accurate means of measuring the corporate sector's capacity to generate social wealth.
Diode pumping of a blue (473 nm) Nd:YAG/KNbO/sub 3/ microchip laser

Summary form only given. All-solid-state compact blue and green lasers are required for low-power applications in the medical and reprographics industries. Our group recently reported 13 mW of green and 1 mW of blue radiation generated from diode-pumped composite-material microchip devices. In addition Zarrabi et al. generated 15 mW of blue radiation from a Ti:sapphire laser-pumped Nd:YALO/KNbO/sub 3/ microchip. We report here on a diode-array-pumped Nd:YAG/KNbO/sub 3/ blue microchip laser generating over 25 mW and 5 mW of 473 nm radiation using a 1.2 W and 0.5 W diode array respectively.
Women's health and human rights : public spending on health and the military one decade after the African Women's Protocol : focus : sexual and reproductive health rights and the African Women's Protocol

The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa has been hailed for its efforts to promote women's health and rights. The Protocol has now been signed and ratified by approximately two-thirds of African Union member states, from the most populous and largest to the smallest countries on the continent. The Protocol envisages major steps to improve the status of women on the continent, from economic opportunities and food security through to marriage and the rights of widows. This article seeks to contribute to the emerging literature on gender, health and rights, by exploring how government commitments to the health mandates of the Women's Protocol have transpired in practice, one decade after its enactment, with a focus on resource allocations. The article's scope includes a review of why sexual and reproductive rights matter, intrinsically, as rights, and evidence about their instrumental importance for development. Available evidence about status and trends in women's health in Africa is presented, highlighting some advances as well as major shortcomings. This is the important empirical background against which to explore the human rights obligations of African states on this front, in particular the right to sexual and reproductive health and the potential contribution of the African Women's Protocol. New analysis is undertaken of the extent to which governments have responded to the Protocol's specific mandates with respect to military spending and social development, which suggests some promising trends. The conclusions highlight the finding that resource allocations in favour of health have significantly improved in countries that have ratified the Protocol, while underlining the importance of appropriate indicators and monitoring, and actions to ensure state accountability.
Zero-intelligence agents in prediction markets

We construct a novel agent-based model of prediction markets in which putative human qualities like learning, reasoning, and profit-seeking are absent. We show that the prices which emerge from a market populated by a class of distinctly inhuman agents, Zero-Intelligence agents with diffuse beliefs, replicate the findings of empirical market studies. We use this result to argue against the prevailing descriptive theories of price formation in prediction markets, which have stressed the role of expert, rational participants.
Information Dynamics and Aspects of Musical Perception

Musical experience has been often suggested to be related to forming of expectations, their fulfillment or denial. In terms of information theory, expectancies and predictions serve to reduce uncertainty about the future and might be used to efficiently represent and “compress” data. In this chapter we present an information theoretic model of musical listening based on the idea that expectations that arise from past musical material are framing our appraisal of what comes next, and that this process eventually results in creation of emotions or feelings. Using a notion of “information rate” we can measure the amount of information between past and present in the musical signal on different time scales using statistics of sound spectral features. Several musical pieces are analyzed in terms of short and long term information rate dynamics and are compared to analysis of musical form and its structural functions. The findings suggest that a relation exists between information dynamics and musical structure that eventually leads to creation of human listening experience and feelings such as “wow” and “aha”.
Whose Immigration Story?: Attending to Hidden Messages of Material in Social Studies

Sometimes materials used in schools with good intentions can have effects opposite from those stated. Through the microscopic analysis of a parentstudent immigration interview assignment on a social studies unit on immigration, this article aims to uncover the hidden story that underlies the questions asked. In so doing, it intends not only to problematize the promotion of a simplistic and outdated narrative but also to use this analysis as a foundation for the development of a counter-narrative of complex and up-to-date attention to immigration. The article concludes with a developing checklist for evaluating existing and new material related to immigration.
Response to Commentators

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Dynamic format specifications

The use and implementation of two new FORTRAN format conversions are discussed. These format types give the FORTRAN programmer control of input/output specifications at execution time.
Nanoparticle-Induced Packing Transition in Mesostructured Block Dendron−Silica Hybrids

Silica type nanostructured hybrid materials have been prepared by co-assembly of sol-gel materials and an extended amphiphilic dendron consisting of a hydrophilic aliphatic polyether block and hydrophobic docosyl chains. As confirmed by small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS and WAXS) experiments, the hybrid preparation method employing simple solvent evaporation resulted in macroscopically oriented lamellar structures in which the docosyl groups crystallize normal to the lamellar plane. Contrary to a bilayer lamellar crystalline structure in the parent extended dendron, the hybrids show lamellar crystalline morphologies with an interdigitated monolayer packing of hydrophobic docosyl groups. This unusual structural transformation upon adding sol nanoparticles can be explained by alleviating an interfacial steric barrier for hydrophilic linear polyethers.
Magnetic Resonance Correlate of Hemiparesis in Posterior Cerebral Artery Infarction

Background Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of posterior cerebral artery infarction with hemiparesis (PCAH) is limited to case reports with T2-weighted lesions involving the cerebral peduncle. Objective We sought to extend the MR imaging correlate of PCAH. Methods The case histories and MR/MR angiography findings of 4 patients with PCAH were examined. Results Distinct from previously described MR imaging findings with PCAH, diffusion-weighted imaging and/or FLAIR changes were noted in the thalamogeniculate artery (TGA) territory in one patient; in the distribution of the TGA and lateral posterior choroidal artery (PChA) in two patients; and in the TGA and lateral PChA combined with the peduncular perforating arteries of the cerebral peduncle in one patient. Conclusion Diffusion-weighted imaging changes of infarction in the distribution of the TGA alone or combined with lateral PChA involvement with or without cerebral peduncle infarction correlate with PCAH.
Prevalence of Palpebral Fissure Asymmetry in White Persons

Purpose Because palpebral fissure asymmetry in horizontal gaze is reportedly common in otherwise normal persons, we determined the prevalence of physiologic palpebral fissure asymmetry for primary and horizontal gazes. Methods We measured the palpebral fissure height of both eyes of 88 healthy white subjects. Measurements were obtained with high-resolution videography, with the eyes in primary position, in 45-degree right gaze, and in 45-degree left gaze. Results Of the 88 subjects, 36 (41%) were male and 52 (59%) were female. The ages ranged from 12 to 50 years, with a mean of 32.5 ± 9.0 years. When a criterion of equal to or greater than 1 mm was used, the prevalence of physiologic palpebral fissure asymmetry was 5.7% (five of 88) in primary gaze, 18.2% (16 of 88) in right gaze, and 14.8% (13 of 88) in left gaze. The largest observed palpebral fissure asymmetry was 2.1 mm. After correcting for any existing fissure asymmetry in primary gaze, two-tailed trivariate analysis of variance showed that the fissure of the adducting eye tended to be wider. The mean increase in the palpebral fissure of the adducting eye was 0.12 mm for right gaze (P = .052) and 0.13 mm for left gaze (P = .034). Additionally, a χ 2 test indicated that the occurrence of wider adducting eye in both right and left gazes was highly significant (P = .0023). Conclusions In this sample of white subjects, palpebral fissure height asymmetry increased in horizontal gaze to the right and to the left, which is in part because of a tendency of the adducting eye to widen slightly. In contrast to previous reports, the prevalence of palpebral fissure asymmetry was low, and the abducting eye did not widen significantly.
New Centroid Algorithm Based upon Amplitude-Angle Signature

A method of estimating the centroid location of a target utilizing radar scan return amplitude versus angle information is presented. The method is compared with three thresholding estimators and a first moment estimator in a computer-simulated automatic landing system. This new method is the most robust and accurate during periods of low signal-to-noise ratio. In periods of high signal-to-noise ratio the method has less error than the thresholding methods and is similar in accuracy to the first moment estimator. Furthermore, the number of pulse transmissions required to obtain a desired level of performance in noise is much less than that needed for the thresholding methods and the first moment estimator employed in this simulation.
Radiation effects of carbon-14 and tritium on growth of soybeans

Abstract Soybean plants (Chief variety) were labeled with C 14 or H 3 by growing the plants from seedlings to maturity in hermetically sealed growth chambers containing either tritiated water or radiocarbon dioxide. Plants cultured for approximately 90 days were labeled at 86·2 μc of C 14 and 337·8 μc of H 3 /g of carbon and hydrogen, respectively. C 14 plants developed a significantly greater number of visible main axis nodes than controls while H 3 plants developed fewer. C 14 and H 3 plants yielded significantly fewer pods and seed than controls. H 3 plants developed tumor-like enlargements at the stem-tip regions; the youngest leaves exhibited yellow or white chlorophyll-deficient areas. Roots of C 14 plants developed numerous nodule-like structures. The C 14 and H 3 seed did not differ from the control seed in fatty acid composition and in percent oil. C 14 and H 3 seed planted shortly after harvest developed into normal-looking plants. After storage for 44 weeks, both the C 14 and the H 3 seed lots germinated but the former failed to survive. Seedlings from H 3 seed stored for 44 weeks grew normally except for some leaf-pigment anomalies in the primary leaves.
Ethics and Aesthetics: Replies to Dickie, Stecker, and Livingston

Both my deflationary approach to aesthetic experience and what I call moderate moralism have been challenged recently in the pages of the British Journal of Aesthetics by Paisley Livingston, Robert Stecker, and George Dickie. In this essay, I attempt to deal with their objections while also trying to move the debate to new ground.
Attentional dysfunction in children with encopresis.

ABSTRACT. Encopresis and attentional dysfunction are common neurobehavioral disorders of childhood. The extent to which these disorders occur in association is unknown. The purpose of this study is to document the comorbidity of attentional dysfunction in a clinically identified population of encopr
SUPERSONIC FLUTTER OF SHEAR DEFORMABLE LAMINATED COMPOSITE FLAT PANELS

Abstract Flutter-type instability of cross-ply shear deformable composite flat panels exposed to a supersonic flow is analyzed. The two-dimensional static aerodynamic approximation and a higher order transverse shear deformation theory for the structural plate model are used. Comparisons of the results obtained in this framework with those derived within their first order transverse shear deformation and classical (Kirchhoff) counterparts are presented and a number of conclusions concerning their range of applicability are outlined. The results underline the strong effect played by transverse shear deformation and transverse normal stress, as well as by the higher order effects on the flutter instability of panels made of advanced composite materials.
Membranous glomerulonephritis: treatment response and outcome in children

The aim of this study was to characterize clinical features, treatment response, and outcome of idiopathic membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN) in a single-center cohort of children. A retrospective review of biopsy-proven idiopathic MGN in 12 children (mean age 11.9 years) was undertaken. Presentation was nephrotic syndrome (NS) (75%), hematuria/proteinuria (17%), and asymptomatic proteinuria (8%). Ten patients (83%) with NS and nephrotic range proteinuria (NRP) were treated with prednisone, and two patients with non-NRP were not treated with immunosuppressive medications. Steroid response in the treated patients was complete (10%), partial (40%), and absent (50%), respectively. Oral cyclophosphamide was used in seven patients of whom five were steroid resistant, one was steroid dependent, and one was partially responsive. At the mean follow up of 27 months, outcome parameters included an estimated glomerular filtration rate of 128 cc/min per 1.73 m2, albumin of 4.2 gm/dL, and a urine protein/creatinine ratio of 0.87 [median 0.16 (range 0.02–6.52)]. Remission was complete in 75% of the patients and partial in 17%. One patient (8%) with chronic kidney disease (stage 2) was unresponsive to therapy. Complete remission was significantly associated with the absence of chronic histological changes (p = 0.03). In conclusion, children with NS and/or NRP associated with MGN appear to have a good prognosis when treated with a combination of corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide.
Newborn circumcision outcomes: are parents satisfied with the results?

Although physician-reported complications following circumcision are very low, parental satisfaction is not well documented. This study examined parental opinions and compared these with those of the medical professional. Physicians independently assessed complications and cosmetic outcome following the circumcision. Six weeks post-circumcision, parental report of complications, cosmetic outcome, and overall satisfaction were assessed. Newborn infants (n = 710) were prospectively recruited and underwent either a Gomco [n = 552 (78 %)] or Plastibell® [n = 158 (22 %)] circumcision. Physician assessed complication rates were equivalent (Gomco 4.3 % versus Plastibell 5.1 %; p = 0.67), however, parental assessment found a much lower complication rate for Gomco 5.6 % versus Plastibell 12.0 % (p < 0.001). There was no difference between who performed the procedure nor between the techniques in regards to parental rating of overall satisfaction (excellent/good: Gomco 96.9 % versus Plastibell 95.6 %, p = 0.45). However, perceived post-operative pain as scored by parents was significantly higher in patients undergoing Plastibell procedure (6.4 % too much pain) versus Gomco (2.7 %; p = 0.05). Gomco accounted for 72.7 % of parental cosmetically unsatisfactory cases. Clinicians and parents differed considerably in terms of opinion of cosmetic outcome and occurrence of post-operative complications. This study emphasizes the need for clinicians to better understand and address parental concerns before and after circumcision.
Treatment decision aids are unlikely to cut healthcare costs.

We should be asking broader questions about quality and effectiveness The growing emphasis on patient centered care is increasing the demand on physicians’ time and effort to engage patients and their families in decision making regarding treatment. At the same time, the clinical encounter is becoming more challenging because evaluative testing strategies and decisions about disease management are increasingly complex.1 In this context, growing interest in decision aids is motivated by expectations that they can increase the efficiency and effectiveness of decision making regarding treatment and improve patients’ experiences. Indeed, there is compelling evidence that decision aids can increase a patient’s knowledge, satisfaction with the clinical encounter, and engagement with clinicians.2 More recently, decision aids have been advocated as a tool for dealing with the growing concerns about overtreatment and cost inflation.3 The argument is anchored on the assumption that a better informed and more engaged patient would be less likely to choose a management plan as extensive as that recommended by their clinician. The linked paper by Walsh and colleagues (doi:10.1136/bmj.g188) reviews the suggestion that decision aids could reduce costs,4 which has permeated policy statements and commentaries on both sides …
Genetic diversity at isozyme and RFLP loci in Brassica campestris as related to crop type and geographical origin.

Twenty accessions of Brassica campestris, representing the major crop types and their geographical origin, were tested for gene frequency at five isozyme and four RFLP loci. The majority of alleles (67%) were found in all geographic regions. Nearly 3 times more alleles were detected at RFLP loci than at isozyme loci. Genetic diversity among crop types (with the exception of turnip) was similar to diversity estimates of geographical regions, implying that crops used for similar purposes (i.e., oilseed or leafy vegetable) are derived from geographically differentiated populations. Geographically, Central Asian and Indian types showed the highest level of heterozygosity (excluding self-fertile sarson oilseed types), followed closely by European varieties, and Asian varieties showed the greatest gene diversity. Phenetic dendrograms indicated that sarson and Chinese cabbage have diverged considerably from other types, perhaps due to consequences of their breeding habit or origin.
p62 overexpression in breast tumors and regulation by prostate-derived Ets factor in breast cancer cells

p62 is a multifunctional cytoplasmic protein able to noncovalently bind ubiquitin and several signaling proteins, suggesting a regulatory role connected to the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. No studies to date have linked p62 protein expression with pathological states. Here we demonstrate the overabundance of p62 protein in malignant breast tissue relative to normal breast tissue. The proteasome inhibitor PSI increased p62 mRNA and protein; however, PSI treatment of breast epithelial cells transfected with the p62 promoter did not affect promoter activity. High levels of prostate-derived Ets factor (PDEF) mRNA have been identified in breast cancer compared to normal breast. Only the PSA and maspin promoters have been identified as targets of this transcription factor. Here we show that PDEF stimulates the p62 promoter through at least two sites, and likely acts as a coactivator. PSI treatment abrogates the PDEF-stimulated increase of p62 promoter activity by 50%. Thus, multiple mechanisms for the induction of p62 exist. We conclude that (1) p62 protein is overexpressed in breast cancer; (2) p62 mRNA and protein increase in response to PSI, with no change of basal promoter activity; (3) PDEF upregulates p62 promoter activity through at least two sites; and (4) PSI downregulates PDEF-induced p62 promoter activation through one of these sites.
Extrahepatic 25-Hydroxylation of Vitamin D3 in an Engineered Osteoblast Precursor Cell Line Exploring the Influence on Cellular Proliferation and Matrix Maturation during Bone Development

Osteoblastic precursors experience distinct stages during differentiation and bone development, which include proliferation, extracellular matrix (ECM) maturation, and ECM mineralization. It is well known that vitamin D plays a large role in the regulation of bone mineralization and homeostasis via the endocrine system. The activation of vitamin D requires two sequential hydroxylation steps, first in the kidney and then in the liver, in order to carry out its role in calcium homeostasis. Recent research has demonstrated that human-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and osteoblasts can metabolize the immediate vitamin D precursor 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (25OHD3) to the active steroid 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25OH2D3) and elicit an osteogenic response. However, reports of extrahepatic metabolism of vitamin D3, the parental vitamin D precursor, have been limited. In this study, we investigated whether osteoblast precursors have the capacity to convert vitamin D3 to 1,25OH2D3 and examined the potential of vitamin D3 to induce 1,25OH2D3 associated biological activities in osteoblast precursors. It was demonstrated that the engineered osteoblast precursor derived from human marrow (OPC1) is capable of metabolizing vitamin D3 to 1,25OH2D3 in a dose-dependent manner. It was also demonstrated that administration of vitamin D3 leads to the increase in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity associated with osteoblast ECM maturation and calcium deposits and a decrease in cellular proliferation in both osteoblast precursor cell lines OPC1 and MC3T3-E1. These findings provide a two-dimensional culture foundation for future three-dimensional engineered tissue studies using the OPC1 cell line.
SCATTERING OF TRANSIENT WAVES BY FINITE CRACKS IN AN ANTI-PLANE STRAIN ELASTIC SOLID

The transient problem of finite cracks with vanishing thickness in an anti-plane strain solid is investigated by finite element method. The infinitesimally thin crack with traction free on both faces of the crack is simulated by the energy-sharing-node technique. The following cases are considered: (a) One finite line crack in a whole space subjected to (i) a concentrated line source and (ii) an inclined incident SH plane wave. (b) Two cracks in a whole space subjected to an inclined incident SH plane wave. Emphasis has been laid on the quantitative evaluation of the dynamic disturbances for the problem in the interference stage, which is generally difficult to be obtained by analytical approaches. The synthetic seismograms for displacements along the crack surfaces, which cover a period up to an instant of time during which the second order scattering from crack tips can be observed, are presented. Snapshots of the scattered displacement field for each case are also displayed so that the generations of the scatterings and the processes of the wave propagations can be clearly visualized. The two-dimensional wave propagation for transient acoustic problem and electromagnetic problem with the same nature of boundaries can be analogously obtained.
Fatigue crack propagation under variable-amplitude loading

A finite-element analysis has been performed to investigate quantitatively the level at which fatigue crack surfaces come into contact during fatigue cycles. The results agreed well with experimental observations and suggest that quantitative design rules may be developed, based upon the crack-closure hypothesis.
A bioenergetic model for simulating athletic performance of intermediate duration.

Abstract Simulating factors affecting human athletic performance, including fatigue, requires a dynamic model of the bioenergetic capabilities of the athlete. To address general cases, the model needs inputs, outputs, and states with a set of differential equations describing how the inputs affect the states and outputs as functions of time. We improve an existing phenomenological muscle model, removing unnecessarily fast dynamic behavior, adding force–velocity dependence, and generalizing it to task level activities. This makes it more suitable for simulating and calculating optimal strategies of athletic events of medium duration (longer than a sprint but shorter than a marathon). To examine the validity and limitations of the model, parameters have been identified from numerical fits to published experimental data.
EFFECTS OF ALTERATIONS IN HORMONAL STATUS ON RIBOSOMES OF RAT UTERUS.

Abstract A ribosome-supernatant system capable of active amino acid incorporation into protein in vitro was prepared from rat uterus. Requirements and properties of this system do not differ markedly from those of similar preparations from other rat tissues. Manipulation of estrogen levels in vivo primarily affected the ribosome component of the system. Following ovariectomy, the incorporating activity of the ribosomes at 1 day was transiently lowered but was restored to normal in the second and subsequent days. The lowered activity of ribosomes was associated with an increased response to addition of polyuridylic acid, whereas a short (4 hours before killing) treatment with estrogen increased ribosomal activity while decreasing the response to the synthetic messenger. The yield of ribosomes obtained in a standard fractionation dropped sharply after ovariectomy, and was restored by a short-term treatment with estrogen. The results are interpreted as indicating that both the number and the capacity of the ribosomes are estrogen-dependent.
Amino acid diagenesis and adsorption in nearshore anoxic sediments1

Amino acid diagenesis and free amino acid adsorption by sediments were studied in cores of nearshore anoxic sediments from Long Island Sound, Florida Bay, and Pettaquamsclltt River (Rhode Island). Both organic nitrogen and amino acid content decreased by a factor of about two in the top meter of the sediment. Individual amino acid profiles showed that the acidic and neutral amino acids, despite their different chemical composition, appeared to be equally utilized in both elastic and carbonate sediments. This result differs from the preferential utilization of certain amino acids generally found in deep-sea sediments. The results of laboratory adsorption experiments suggest that in clay sediments, free amino acids are predominantly adsorbed by the organic matter in the sediment rather than by the clay minerals. However. in the carbonate sediments. the organic matter seems to inhibit the adsorption
Line-focus acoustic microscopy measurements of Nb/sub 2/O/sub 5//MgO and BaTiO/sub 3//LaAlO/sub 3/ thin-film/substrate configurations

Line-focus acoustic microscopy has been used to measure the phase velocities of surface acoustic waves on bare MgO and bare LaAlO/sub 3/, and on Nb/sub 2/O/sub 5//MgO and BaTiO/sub 3//LaAlO/sub 3/ thin-film/substrate configurations. The thin films are polycrystalline materials. The substrates are anisotropic single-crystals. The measured angular variation of the surface acoustic wave velocities has been used to determine the elastic constants of MgO substrate and Nb/sub 2/O/sub 5/ thin-film. It has been assumed that the Nb/sub 2/O/sub 5/ films may be considered as essentially isotropic. The measurements for LaAlO/sub 3/ and BaTiO/sub 3//LaAlO/sub 3/ show anomalies which are attributed to twinning in the LaAlO/sub 3/ substrate. >