cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Elevated Carbon Dioxide Alters the Relative Fitness of Taraxacum officinale Genotypes

I tested whether elevated [CO2] affected which genotypes of Taraxacum officinale had highest fitness in two field experiments. In one experiment, T. officinale plants which persisted as weeds in alfalfa plots in open top chambers at ambient and elevated [CO2] were compared. In a second experiment, T. officinale seeds collected from local habitats were mixed and scattered in open top chambers at ambient and elevated [CO2], and plants producing seeds after one and two years in monocultures were compared. In both experiments seeds produced in each chamber were collected, and many plants from the seed lot from each chamber were grown in controlled environment chambers to test whether the [CO2] of the chamber of origin affected the mean value of various plant parameters. In both experiments, the results indicated that field exposure to elevated [CO2] altered the relative fitness of genotypes. Elevated [CO2] favored genotypes which produced biomass more rapidly at elevated [CO2] in both experiments, primarily because of faster rates of leaf initiation. The results suggest that genotypes of this species vary widely in fitness at elevated [CO2] whether grown in monocultures or in mixed communities, and that this species could adapt rapidly to rising atmospheric [CO2].
Performance Optimal Online DVFS and Task Migration Techniques for Thermally Constrained Multi-Core Processors

Extracting high performance from multi-core processors requires increased use of thermal management techniques. In contrast to offline thermal management techniques, online techniques are capable of sensing changes in the workload distribution and setting the processor controls accordingly. Hence, online solutions are more accurate and are able to extract higher performance than the offline techniques. This paper presents performance optimal online thermal management techniques for multicore processors. The techniques include dynamic voltage and frequency scaling and task-to-core allocation or task migration. The problem formulation includes accurate power and thermal models, as well as leakage dependence on temperature. This paper provides a theoretical basis for deriving the optimal policies and computationally efficient implementations. The effectiveness of our DVFS and task-to-core allocation techniques are demonstrated by numerical simulations. The proposed task-to-core allocation method showed a 20.2% improvement in performance over a power-based thread migration approach. The techniques have been incorporated in a thermal-aware architectural-level simulator called MAGMA that allows for design space exploration, offline, and online dynamic thermal management. The simulator is capable of handling simulations of hundreds of cores within reasonable time.
Identification of spatially discontinuous parameters in second-order parabolic systems by piecewise regularization

A novel piecewise regularization approach has been developed for the identification of spatially discontinuous parameters in second-order parabolic systems. First, the identification approach is rigorously formulated in a functional analytic framework. Then, the theoretical results are applied to the history-matching of one-dimensional fractured reservoirs. The performance of the proposed algorithm is evaluated by numerical experiments.
Increasing Psychology Students' Satisfaction With Preparedness Through a Professional Issues Course

The current studies evaluated a capstone course, Professional Issues in Psychology, designed to prepare students for a career in psychology. The first study examined course topics and student evalu...
Studying the Historical Jesus Through Service

. Service learning pedagogy often assumes a variety of forms when connected with classroom teaching. Through a creative use of service learning pedagogy, the author constructs learning designs that foster student engagement with course content and prompts interrelated connections between the subjects and their own service learning experiences. The author highlights the importance of setting a context for service learning through creating activities linked to learning goals, integrating service learning components with classroom teaching methods, and proactively engaging student apathy, resistance, and faith perspectives through specific assignments that combine experience, analysis, and subject matter. The course described in this essay directly contributed to the author's receiving the 2004 Fortress Press Award for Undergraduate Teaching.
WOMEN'S HEALTH CARE UTILIZATION AND EXPENDITURES

This study examines women’s use and expenditures for medical care in the US. In 2000, 91% of women aged 18 years and older used any form of health care services. Overall, 82% of adult women reported an ambulatory care visit, and 11% had an inpatient hospital stay. Mean expense per person with expenses was $3219 for that year. We examined use and expenditures by sociodemographic characteristics. The most notable findings indicate that women with private insurance and those on Medicaid are more likely to use health services than uninsured women. White women, compared to black and Hispanic women, are more likely to have an ambulatory care visit, buy prescription drugs, and use preventive health care services. In addition, white and Hispanic women pay a higher proportion of medical care expenses out-of-pocket than do black women. Finally, nearly 30% of older women in fair or poor health spent 10% or more of their income on medical care. Preventable disparities in access to and receipt of care are unacceptable. To improve the quality of health care for all women, it is important for policymakers to understand the factors that influence their utilization and expenditures for medical care. Data collection, analysis, and reporting by race, ethnicity, and primary language across federally supported health programs are essential to help identify, understand the causes of, monitor, and eventually eliminate disparities.
A HAPLOTYPE OF THE ANGIOTENSINOGEN GENE IS ASSOCIATED WITH HYPERTENSION IN AFRICAN AMERICANS

1. Hypertension is a serious risk factor for myocardial infarction, heart failure, vascular disease, stroke and renal failure. The incidence of hypertension is 25-30% in the adult Caucasian population and complications due to hypertension are even greater in African Americans. 2. The renin-angiotensin system plays an important role in the regulation of blood pressure and previous studies have suggested that angiotensinogen (AGT) gene locus is linked with human essential hypertension. Earlier studies suggested that a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) that converts methionine to threonine at amino acid 235 is associated with hypertension in the Caucasian population. However, this SNP is not associated with hypertension in African American and Chinese populations. 3. We have found an A/G polymorphism at -217 of the human AGT gene promoter and have shown that the frequency of allele A at -217 is significantly increased in the genomic DNA of African American hypertensive patients. 4. We have also shown that: (i) reporter constructs containing the AGT gene promoter with nucleoside A at -217 have increased promoter activity on transient transfection; and (ii) the CCAAT box enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) family of transcription factors and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) bind preferentially to this region of the promoter when nucleoside A is present at -217. In addition, variant -217A is always present with variants -532T, -793A and -1074T in the human AGT gene promoter. 5. These data suggest that the AGT haplotype containing -217A, -532T, -793A and -1074T may be involved in increased transcription of this gene and may play a role in human hypertension.
Common processes of change in psychotherapy and seven other social interactions

This paper argues that change processes in psychotherapy can be understood more clearly by comparing them with other change-inducing social relationships. In showing how this may be done, different social interactions (e.g. religion, parenting, education, politics, coaching, and sales) are described and discussed in terms of a parsimonious set of common factors in change. The importance of the cross-fertilisation of psychotherapy and other fields is stressed, and research recommendations are offered.
The application of FDTD in hybrid methods for cavity scattering analysis

In a previous paper (see ibid., vol.41, p.1560-1569, no.11, 1993), we presented the hybrid ray-FDTD method for analyzing the electromagnetic scattering from two-dimensional cavities with complex terminations. In this paper, we present three hybrid methods for analyzing the scattering from three-dimensional (3-D) inlet cavities. In these hybrid methods, the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method is used to determine the reflection matrix associated with the termination. Modal analysis, physical optics (PO), or rays are used to analyze the remaining front section of the cavity. Representative results are presented. >
Outlook for advanced concepts in transport aircraft

Air transportation demand trends, air transportation system goals, and air transportation system trends well into the 21st century were examined in detail. The outlook is for continued growth in both air passenger travel and air freight movements. The present system, with some improvements, is expected to continue to the turn of the century and to utilize technologically upgraded, derivative versions of today's aircraft, plus possibly some new aircraft for supersonic long haul, short haul, and high density commuter service. Severe constraints of the system, expected by early in the 21st century, should lead to innovations at the airport, away from the airport, and in the air. The innovations are illustrated by descriptions of three candidate systems involving advanced aircraft concepts. Advanced technologies and vehicles expected to impact the airport are illustrated by descriptions of laminar flow control aircraft, very large air freighters and cryogenically fueled transports.
KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER THROUGH INHERITANCE: SPIN- OUT GENERATION, DEVELOPMENT, AND SURVIVAL

We investigated how the knowledge capabilities of industry incumbents affected the generation, development, and performance of “spin-outs” (entrepreneurial ventures of ex-employees). Analyses of 1977–97 data from the disk drive industry supported our hypothesis that incumbents with both strong technological and market pioneering know-how generate fewer spin-outs than firms with strength in only one of these areas. Also, an incumbent’s capabilities at the time of a spin-out’s founding positively affect the spin-out’s knowledge capabilities and its probability of survival.
Regeneration of gastric mucosa in rats.

Since Bensley's ( 1898) classical description of the specialized cell types in the gastric mucosal epithelium much uncertainty has existed concerning their life history. Grant ('45), Stevens and Leblond ('53), Hunt ('57) and Messier ('60) observed that both surface and mucous neck cells arise from the proliferation of cells in the neck region of the fundic gland and are sloughed off, the mucous neck cells at their site of origin and the surface cells after moving to the surface of the mucosa. Hunt ( '57) and Grant ('45) concluded that other cell types in the glands are also lost. Harvey ( '07), Ferguson ('28), and Hunt ('58) implied that parietal and chief cells are replaced by transformation from mucous neck cells but Stevens and Leblond ('53) and Messier ('60) denied the loss and replacement of these cell types. In order to acquire more precise information concerning the origin of the various cell types in fundic glands, numerous investigators have studied their re-appearance in gastric mucosa following surgical or thermal injury to it (Harvey, '07; Ferguson, '28; Gunter, '50; Williams, '53; Hunt, '58; Finckh and Milton, '60). These investigations revealed that (a) the first epithelial cells growing back into an injured area contain mucus and, at least in the newly-formed glands, come to resemble mucous neck cells except for their shape and nuclear structure; and (b) the newlyformed chief and parietal cells seem to arise from these mucus-containing cells. However, conclusive evidence for direct transformation of mucous cells to chief and parietal cells is lacking as is also information concerning the origin of argentophilic cells. Until such evidence is available the sources of these cells cannot be considered proven. Much of the difficulty in visualizing these transformations has arisen from the lack of techniques adequate for the demonstration of transitional forms. The objective of this study was to secure cytological evidence concerning the cellular origin of the chief, parietal and argentophilic cells as they arise in regenerating fundic stomach, utilizing newly modified staining techniques.
Tracking the nation: discourses of internationalism and transnational agricultural corporations

The main focus of this article is the discursive analysis of internationalism. Within communication scholarship, the term `international' has primarily been treated as the sum total of already existing nation formations, each understood in terms of political, economic and administrative institutions and practices. This approach neglects the practices of signification through which international communities are constructed and legitimized. Analysis of discourses of internationalism is important because they are powerfully constitutive of people's identities, and also provide important insight into the contemporary reproduction of the `nation-form'. The article illustrates this by examining how the idea of a humanitarian community of nations is deployed by transnational agricultural corporations.
Pre-asymptotic Transport Upscaling in Inertial and Unsteady Flows Through Porous Media

In most classical formulations of flow and transport through porous media Reynolds numbers are assumed to be small ( $$\mathrm{Re}<1$$ ), meaning that the role of inertia is considered negligible. However, many examples of practical relevance exist where this is not the case and inertial effects can be important leading to changes in flow structure and even giving rise to unsteady and turbulent flows as Reynolds numbers become larger. This change in flow structure can have a profound impact on how solutes are transported through the porous medium, influencing how effective large-scale transport should be modeled. Here we simulate, using high-resolution numerical models, flow and transport through an idealized porous medium for flow conditions over a range of Reynolds numbers, including steady and unsteady flows. For all these conditions we propose and test three upscaled models for transport—an advection dispersion equation, an uncorrelated spatial model (USM) and a spatial Markov model (SMM). The USM and SMM fall into the wider and more general family of continuous time random walk models. We test these models by their ability to reproduce pre-asymptotic and asymptotic plume second centered moments and breakthrough curves. We demonstrate that for steady flows where inertial effects are strong, the spatial Markov model outperforms the other two, faithfully capturing many of the non-Fickian features of transport, while for unsteady flows the uncorrelated spatial model performs best, due to the fact that unsteadiness in the flow field dampens the role of correlation on large scale transport. We conclude that correlation must be accounted for to properly upscale transport in steady flows, while it can be neglected in unsteady flows.
Olefin Synthesis by Deoxygenation of Vicinal Diols

Since the discovery in 1963 that 1,3-dioxolane-2-thiones (cyclic thionocarbonates) undergo stereospecific fragmentation to olefins on heating with trivalent phosphorus compounds (the Corey–Winter reaction), a variety of approaches have been developed for the regio- and stereospecific (or stereo-selective) deoxygenation of vicinal diols based on syn elimination from cyclic derivatives. These methods have been particularly useful in synthesizing substrates with delicate structural features such as strained and twisted olefins, unsaturated carbohydrates, macrocyclic lactones, lipids, and polyenes, as well as in establishing the stereochemistry of diol functions in natural products. This chapter deals primarily with deoxygenation of vicinal diols via cyclic species with X = C, P, Ti, W, or S (suitably functionalized). Brief coverage is given to deoxygenation processes that do not involve cyclic intermediates, whereas routes proceeding via oxiranes or vic-dihalides as separately isolated intermediates are excluded from consideration. The stereochemical equilibration of vicinal diols and the conversion of vicinal hydroxy thiols and dithiols to olefins are also covered in this chapter. Brief reviews have appeared in the literature of the Corey–Winter reaction and of the general topic of deoxygenation of vicinal diols. Keywords: olefin synthesis; deoxygenation; desulfurization; thionocarbonates; 1,3-dioxolanes; reduction-elimination; vicinal diols; cyclic phosphates; cyclic phosphoramidates; transition metals; cyclic sulfoxylates; stereochemical equilibration; scope; mechanism; experimental procedures
Supply-demand balance of subendocardial muscle: estimation from intramyocardial pressure.

The ratio of the diastolic pressure-time index (DPTI) to the systolic pressure-time index (SPTI) has been used as a predictor of subendocardial ischemia. The DPTI is thought to reflect the blood supply tox the subendocardium, and the SPTI is thought to reflect the metabolic needs. In this study, the supply-demand balance of subendocardial muscle was evaluated directly from the pressure measured within the subendocardium. The blood supply to the subendocardial muscle, estimated from the area between the aortic pressure and the subendocardial pressure in diastole (3,370 mm Hg sec min–1) (mean ± SEM) was lower than the DPTI (4,060 mm Hg sec min–1) (p
A stopping rule for scholastic American football

Michael Wininger looks to reduce the risk of injury for high school and college football players with a rule change inspired by clinical trials
Community and Ritual Within the Mississippian Center at Town Creek

This article evaluates aspects of an occupational history that was developed for the Town Creek site, a small Mississippian center in the North Carolina Piedmont that was occupied sometime between A.D. 1150–1400. Town Creek’s occupational history suggests that its Mississippian community consisted of multiple, discrete household groups, and that these groups were important throughout the center’s existence. Analyses of architectural, mortuary, and ceramic data indicate that Town Creek began as a town with a substantial domestic population, but it evolved into more of a vacant center later in time. This decline in domestic population coincided with significant evidence for site-wide ritual activity that included the construetion of a platform mound and the use of cemeteries in former house locations. Parallels between the small center at Town Creek and some of the largest Mississippian centers, especially the persistence of household-group spaces and an emphasis on ritual activities later in time, suggest that interaction among discrete social groups within a ritual context was a salient part of being Mississippian.
Degradation of Organic Pollutants

Organic pollutants, as described briefly under the heading of population growth and its by-products, consist principally of animal excreta (domestic sewage) and refuse plant and animal material. Microorganisms are estimated to account for about 90 percent of the mass of fecal discharges and for this reason are a major component of domestic sewage.
Opinion: a personal note--40 years after the signing of the Cancer Act.

The Cancer Act that was signed by President Nixon in December 1971 had a mandate “to support research and the application of the results of research, to reduce the incidence, morbidity and mortality from cancer.” It has succeeded in many of these aims, as this personal account testifies.
History of Ablative Therapies for Barrett’s and Superficial Adenocarcinoma

This chapter focuses on historical trends of endoscopic ablation of Barrett’s esophagus (BE) and intramucosal esophageal adenocarcinoma (EA). Background is provided with regard to endoscopic management using ablative therapies in nondysplastic BE as well as BE with low- and high-grade dysplasia/intramucosal EA. In-depth reviews are provided for photodynamic therapy, argon plasma coagulation, laser therapy, multipolar electrocautery, and heat probe therapy including technical endoscopic application, eradication and recurrence rates, and intermodality comparisons.
The BBC Russia Service: Britain’s White Propaganda Station (1946–53)

As noted in Chapter 2, British propaganda strategy during the early years of the Cold War focused on bolstering democratic elements in Western Europe, with far less time and effort being spent on activities aimed at undermining and destabilizing Communist control of Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. One of the major reasons the IRD endorsed this approach was its assessment that Britain lacked the ability to conduct many of the offensive propaganda operations the military was advocating. Britain’s inability to conduct propaganda operations inside the Soviet Union stemmed from the extensive control devices imposed on Soviet society by the Communist regime, which sought to eliminate all social, economic, and political contact between the Soviet Union and the West. This Iron Curtain severely limited the West’s ability to communicate with the Soviet people, let alone influence them to adopt a more favorable attitude toward British policies. The only instruments capable of breaking through these controls were the BBC Russia Service and other short-wave radio stations.
A Model Situation

However it may be with other domains of discourse, when we study religious discourse we cannot disregard the situations in which sentences are spoken or written; we have to take account of utterances of sentences as well as sentences. Yet if we are interested in specific features of some range of discourse we need some way of highlighting those features, leaving others to one side as not immediately relevant to our purpose. With these considerations in mind I shall outline a hypothetical situation as a device for studying how oppositions between doctrines of different religions are possible.
Does the Empirical Literature Inform Prevention of Dropout among Students with Emotional Disturbance? A Systematic Review and Call to Action

ABSTRACTFor the past 30 years, the dropout rate for students with emotional disturbance has hovered around 50%, a rate substantially higher than the dropout rate for students with other disabilities and the general population. This systematic review evaluated the literature published between 1990 and 2013 on the effectiveness of dropout prevention and intervention for students with emotional disturbance. Only one experimental or quasi-experimental study tested a dropout prevention program with students with emotional disturbance meeting the methodological criteria for this review. The results reveal a dearth of research-based strategies or programs to support high school completion among students with emotional disturbance, underscoring the need for rigorous intervention research to improve outcomes for these students. We discuss implications for research and practice in light of this research gap.
Interphase Positioning of Centromeres Sets Up Spindle Assembly

It has been known for many years that centromeres cluster at the spindle pole body in fission yeast. In this issue of Developmental Cell, Fernandez-Alvarez et al. (2016) reveal that the functional significance of clustering is to promote spindle assembly by modulating nuclear envelope integrity at the onset of mitosis.
The ID Database: Managing the Instructional Development Process

Management is evolving as a foundational domain to the field of instructional design and technology. However, there are few tools dedicated to the management of instructional design and development projects and activities. In this article, we describe the development, features and implementation of an instructional design database—built from a commonly available database program—to manage course design, scheduling, training, contracts, payments and other activities involved in managing a team of instructional designers and a large number of course development projects.
Diagnosis and Organic Causes of Symptomatic Hyperventilation

The term hyperventilation syndrome may be subject to variable interpretations, but hyperventilation and its hypocapnic sequelae exist as indisputable facts of respiratory psychophysiology. Hyperventilation implies an excessive stimulation to breathing, which can be due to a wide range of psychogenic, physiological, and organic disorders. Moreover, symptoms of organic disease may mimic those of hypocapnia, and hyperventilation may coexist with organic disease. It is therefore essential that full assessment for organic disease is performed in all patients with apparent hyperventilation. While Ley (Chapter 5) and Bass (Chapter 10) address directly the psychological and psychiatric aspects of hyperventilation, this chapter represents the approach of a physiologist and chest physician to this difficult and controversial subject.
Investigation of different classifiers and channel configurations of a mobile P300-based brain–computer interface

Innovative methods and new technologies have significantly improved the quality of our daily life. However, disabled people, for example those that cannot use their arms and legs anymore, often cannot benefit from these developments, since they cannot use their hands to interact with traditional interaction methods (such as mouse or keyboard) to communicate with a computer system. A brain-computer interface (BCI) system allows such a disabled person to control an external device via brain waves. Past research mostly dealt with static interfaces, which limit users to a stationary location. However, since we are living in a world that is highly mobile, this paper evaluates a speller interface on a mobile phone used in a moving condition. The spelling experiments were conducted with 14 able-bodied subjects using visual flashes as the stimulus to spell 47 alphanumeric characters (38 letters and 9 numbers). This data was then used for the classification experiments. In par- ticular, two research directions are pursued. The first investigates the impact of different classification algorithms, and the second direction looks at the channel configuration, i.e., which channels are most beneficial in terms of achieving the highest classification accuracy. The evaluation results indicate that the Bayesian Linear Discriminant Analysis algorithm achieves the best accuracy. Also, the findings of the investigation on the channel configuration, which can potentially reduce the amount of data processing on a mobile device with limited computing capacity, is especially useful in mobile BCIs.
A randomized clinical trial on the efficacy of a new oxalate-containing sensitivity relief strip following professional vs self-application.

Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of 3.14% dipotassium oxalate monohydrate-containing strip on the relief of dentinal hypersensitivity (DH). A second objective was to determine whether there was a difference in DH levels when the strip was self-applied vs applied by a dental professional. Methods Sixty subjects were randomized into self-applied, professionally applied or placebo-strip groups. Dentinal hypersensitivity was evaluated by a blinded examiner, using the Schiff Air Scale (SAS). A verbal rating scale (VRS) was also used to measure the subjects’ perception of pain. Measures were taken at baseline, 30 minutes, 4 and 8 weeks post-treatment. Results There was a significant reduction in DH in all three groups (P ≤ .05) at 30 minutes and 8 weeks post-treatment. At the 4-week follow-up, only the self- and professionally applied (active ingredient) groups had a significant reduction in DH compared to baseline. When comparing the reduction in DH levels between groups, the only significant difference occurred between the professionally applied treatment group and the placebo group at the 4-week follow-up. There were no significant differences in DH reduction levels achieved between the self- and professionally applied groups (P > .05). Conclusions This study confirmed the short-term (4 weeks) effectiveness of a single application of 3.14% dipotassium oxalate monohydrate-containing strip. Self- and professional application were not shown to be different.
Comparative Susceptibility of Channel Catfish, Ictalurus punctatus; Blue Catfish, Ictalurus furcatus; and Channel (♀) × Blue (♂) Hybrid Catfish to Edwardsiella piscicida, Edwardsiella tarda, and Edwardsiella anguillarum

Members of the genus Edwardsiella are important pathogens of cultured and wild fish globally. Recent investigations into the phenotypic and genotypic variation of Edwardsiella tarda have led to the segregation of E. tarda into three distinct taxa: E. tarda, Edwardsiella piscicida, and Edwardsiella anguillarum. In catfish aquaculture in the southeastern USA, E. piscicida has been more commonly associated with disease than E. tarda or E. anguillarum, and recent research has demonstrated E. piscicida to be more pathogenic in channel catfish than E. tarda or E. anguillarum. Anecdotal reports from industry suggest an increased prevalence of E. piscicida associated with the culture of channel (♀) × blue (♂) hybrid catfish. This work investigated the comparative susceptibility of channel catfish, blue catfish, and their hybrid cross to molecularly confirmed isolates of E. tarda, E. piscicida, and E. anguillarum. There was significantly higher mortality in hybrid catfish compared to channel catfish following intracoelomic injection of E. piscicida. To our knowledge, E. piscicida is the first bacterial pathogen to demonstrate increased pathogenicity in hybrid catfish compared to channel catfish.
Dopamine's Effects on Corticostriatal Synapses during Reward-Based Behaviors.

Summary Many learned responses depend on the coordinated activation and inhibition of synaptic pathways in the striatum. Local dopamine neurotransmission acts in concert with a variety of neurotransmitters to regulate cortical, thalamic, and limbic excitatory inputs to drive the direct and indirect striatal spiny projection neuron outputs that determine the activity, sequence, and timing of learned behaviors. We review recent advances in the characterization of stereotyped neuronal and operant responses that predict and then obtain rewards. These depend on the local release of dopamine at discrete times during behavioral sequences, which, acting with glutamate, provides a presynaptic filter to select which excitatory synapses are inhibited and which signals pass to indirect pathway circuits. This is followed by dopamine-dependent activation of specific direct pathway circuits to procure a reward. These steps may provide a means by which higher organisms learn behaviors in response to feedback from the environment.
Patterns and trends in lead (Pb) concentrations in bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) nestlings from the western Great Lakes region

Most studies examining bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) exposure to lead (Pb) have focused on adults that ingested spent Pb ammunition during the fall hunting season, often at clinical or lethal levels. We sampled live bald eagle nestlings along waterbodies to quantify Pb concentrations in 3 national park units and 2 nearby study areas in the western Great Lakes region. We collected 367 bald eagle nestling feather samples over 8 years during spring 2006-2015 and 188 whole blood samples over 4 years during spring 2010-2015. We used Tobit regression models to quantify relationships between Pb concentrations in nestling feathers and blood using study area, year, and nestling attributes as covariates. Pb in nestling feather samples decreased from 2006 to 2015, but there was no trend for Pb in blood samples. Pb concentrations in nestling feather and blood samples were significantly higher in study areas located closer to and within urban areas. Pb in feather and blood samples from the same nestling was positively correlated. Pb in feathers increased with nestling age, but this relationship was not observed for blood. Our results reflect how Pb accumulates in tissues as nestlings grow, with Pb in feathers and blood indexing exposure during feather development and before sampling, respectively. Some nestlings had Pb concentrations in blood that suggested a greater risk to sublethal effects from Pb exposure. Our data provides baselines for Pb concentrations in feathers and blood of nestling bald eagles from a variety of waterbody types spanning remote, lightly populated, and human-dominated landscapes.
Discovery and Broad Relevance May Be Insignificant Components of Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) for Non-Biology Majors.

Course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) are a type of laboratory learning environment associated with a science course, in which undergraduates participate in novel research. According to Auchincloss et al. (CBE Life Sci Educ 2104; 13:29–40), CUREs are distinct from other laboratory learning environments because they possess five core design components, and while national calls to improve STEM education have led to an increase in CURE programs nationally, less work has specifically focused on which core components are critical to achieving desired student outcomes. Here we use a backward elimination experimental design to test the importance of two CURE components for a population of non-biology majors: the experience of discovery and the production of data broadly relevant to the scientific or local community. We found nonsignificant impacts of either laboratory component on students’ academic performance, science self-efficacy, sense of project ownership, and perceived value of the laboratory experience. Our results challenge the assumption that all core components of CUREs are essential to achieve positive student outcomes when applied at scale.
Towards a Theoretical Framework of Information Systems Development Success

Information systems development (ISD) is a complicated process involving interconnected resources, objects, and outcomes. The importance of ISD has attracted long-term interests from both researchers and practitioners. Based on the input-processoutput model, this paper developed a conceptual framework of ISD success through a systematic literature review. The paper argues that ISD is a comprehensive and interactive process among individuals, teams, and organization. These factors impact ISD process, and further affect ISD success.
Experience with IMREG-1, a Leukocyte Derived Immunomodulator on Candidiasis and Progression of Disease in Patients with AIDS-Related Complex

The immunologic properties of extracts of human buffy coat leukocytes were initially described by Lawrence in the 1950’s (Lawrence 1955). These investigators were able to show that administration of dialysates prepared from the leukocytes of individuals having a strong sensitivity to a given antigen could affect the ability of the recipient to mount a delayed type hypersensitivity reaction to that antigen. The nature of this transfer phenomenon and its mediators was not clear. A series of reports appeared over the next several years which described the clinical benefits of administering leukocyte dialysates to patients with conditions in which a disordered immune system contributed to the disease process. A striking example of the effect of such treatment was seen in patients with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (Fudenberg, et al. 1972).
Mechanical Characterization of Intermetallic Compounds in SAC Solder Joints at Elevated Temperatures

Intermetallics (IMCs) in the solder joints have received a great deal of attention due to their increasing volume fraction with continuously decreasing package size. They possess very different mechanical behavior than those of the Sn rich dendrites and Cu pads in the solder joint. Understanding the behavior of interfacial IMCs has become a major concern for the researchers as fracturing near the interfacial IMC layers is often found to be the primary reason for failures caused by drop impacts. While subjected to Isothermal aging, Pb-free Sn–Ag–Cu (SAC) solder joints lead to growth of intermetallic (IMC) particles in the solder bulk as well as growth of intermetallic layers at the joint interfaces with copper bond pads. The most common IMCs found in SAC joints are Ag 3 Sn and Cu 6 Sn 5 binary compounds. Ternary IMCs like Cu-Ni-Sn can also form at the interface of Ni containing surface finish (i.e. ENIG) and SAC solder. The continuous performance demand and improvement in 3D packaging has led to increased joule heating and higher operating temperatures, which necessitate measuring the mechanical properties and time dependent deformation (creep) behaviors of these IMCs at elevated temperatures. In this study, the mechanical behaviors of IMC particles and layers in SAC solder joints have been characterized using nanoindentation. SAC solder joints extracted from BGA packages were first aged for 6 months at T = 125 °C. Nanoindentation test samples were subsequently prepared by cross-sectioning the aged solder joints, and then mounting them in epoxy mold and polishing them to prepare the joint surfaces for nanoindentation. Intermetallics formed in the bulk solder region, copper pad /SAC solder and ENIG /SAC solder interfaces were observed and detected using SEM and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) technique. They were then indented to measure their mechanical properties which includes the elastic modulus and hardness at room temperature and at elevated temperatures (50, 75, 100 and 125 °C using a heating stage. Time dependent deformation (creep) behaviors were also evaluated at room temperature and 100 °C to see the effect of high temperature on the creep rate of IMCs. The measured properties of the IMCs were found to be significantly higher than the Sn-matrix forming the solder joints. However, with the increased temperature, the elastic modulus and hardness value gradually decreased and significantly dropped at 125 °C compared to their room temperature measurements. The creep strain rate was found to increase as the temperature increases to 100 °C to for all the IMCs.
Model for End-Stage Liver Disease and Sodium Velocity Predicts Overall Survival in Nonmetastatic Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients.

Background & Aims. The significance of short-term changes in model for end-stage liver disease and Sodium (MELD-Na) following hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) diagnosis is unknown. In this report, we explore the value of the rate of short-term changes in MELD-Na as an independent predictor of mortality in patients with nonmetastatic HCC. Methods. We reviewed a cohort of patients diagnosed with nonmetastatic HCC at our institution between 2001 and 2011. We evaluated potential predictors of overall survival, including baseline MELD-Na and the change in MELD-Na over 90 days. We explored survival times of cohorts grouped by baseline MELD-Na and the change in MELD-Na. Results. 182 patients met eligibility criteria. With a median follow-up of 21 months for surviving patients, 110 deaths were observed (60%). Median MELD-Na at the time of diagnosis was 9.7 (IQR 7.5 to 13.9). The median changes in percentage of MELD-Na over 90 days were an increase of 9% (IQR -4% to 55%). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards modeling demonstrated that both baseline MELD-Na (HR=1.07 per unit increase, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.11, p<0.001) and changes in MELD-Na exceeding 40% (HR=3.69, 95% CI 2.39 to 5.69, p<0.001) were independently associated with increased mortality risk. Median survival among patients whose changes in MELD-Na were greater than 40% was 4.5 months, and median survival among the 131 other patients was 25.8 months (p<0.001). Conclusions. We identified a subset of HCC patients who have extremely poor prognosis by incorporating the rate of short-term change in MELD-Na to baseline MELD-Na score.
Maternal genitourinary infections and risk of birth defects in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study.

Background Genitourinary infections (GUIs) are common among sexually active women. Yet, little is known about the risk of birth defects associated with GUIs. Methods Using data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, a multisite, population-based, case-control study, we assessed self-reported maternal GUIs in the month before through the third month of pregnancy (periconception) from 29,316 birth defect cases and 11,545 unaffected controls. We calculated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals to estimate the risk of 52 major structural birth defects associated with GUIs. We also calculated risk of birth defects associated with each type of GUI: urinary tract infection (UTI) and sexually transmitted infection (STI). Results In our analysis, 10% (n = 2,972) of case and 9% (n = 1,014) of control mothers reported a periconceptional GUI. A GUI was significantly associated with 11 of the 52 birth defects examined (ORs ranging from 1.19 to 2.26): encephalocele, cataracts, cleft lip, esophageal atresia, duodenal atresia/stenosis, small intestinal atresia/stenosis, colonic atresia/stenosis, transverse limb deficiency, conoventricular septal defect, atrioventricular septal defect, and secundum atrial septal defect. A periconceptional UTI was significantly associated with nine birth defects (ORs from 1.21 to 2.48), and periconceptional STI was significantly associated with four birth defects (ORs ranging from 1.63 to 3.72). Conclusions While misclassification of GUIs in our analysis is likely, our findings suggest GUIs during the periconceptional period may increase the risk for specific birth defects.
Markets and Networks: Career Choices and Job Searches of New Science and Technology Graduates

Despite voluminous research indicating that initial job search strategies and job placement have significant effects on the subsequent career outcomes of young scientists and engineers, three centr...
Low-cost orthopedic shoes based on recycled materials: manufacturing, plantar correction evaluation

The paper describes a flexible and low cost method regarding the progress of improvement, in terms of foot diseases, in case of wearing orthopedic shoes containing progressive correction orthotic insoles. The research in the field aims at two purposes. The first one is to find an effective method for orthopedic shoe insoles manufacturing, with the role of progressively correcting plantar diseases by using cheap solutions based on the recycled materials. The research focused on an adaptive insole manufacturing, as to obtain a progressive correction of plantar diseases. The same shoe insole could be simply and quickly adapted, since, by wearing it, the foot degree of deformity will reduce progressively. Specifically, the insole would consist of two simple layers of biocompatible and antiperspirant materials attached to each other. Several elements of recycled rubber may be placed inside it. Inserting or removing such elements, the degree of the plantar correction evolution may be controlled. The second purpose of the research is to assess to what extent the wearing of such adaptive insoles could lead to progressive plantar correction and, both, to stability and postural improvement for subjects with any foot deformities. This involves two aspects: determining the influence of wearing such orthopedic adaptive insoles in terms of center of mass (COM) on the postural control and stability and, evaluating, in terms of measured plantar pressure, the foot deformity correction.
The tug of war between practice and technology.

Healthcare and nursing have come to terms with electronic documentation systems, and most settings have implemented one. Early implementers reduced the learning curve of migrating from paper to the computer by building electronic screens to look as much like paper forms as possible. Tabs in the elec
State-dependent self-adaptive sampling (Sas) method for vehicle trajectory data

Abstract Mobile sensors provide new opportunities for traffic monitoring and data collection, which at the same time also impose challenges on data storage and transmission from the perspectives of the sensors (users). In this paper, we present a self-adaptive sampling (SAS) method for mobile sensing data collection. It uses the estimated vehicle flow states from individual trajectory to adjust the sampling rate. The methodology uses a Hidden Markov Model (HMM) classifier to classify individual data points into one of four basic vehicle flow states (Free Flow, Stopped, Acceleration, and Deceleration) and a Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier to identify ‘stop and go’ segments in the trajectory. The identification of vehicle flow state is used for varying the sampling rate. The proposed SAS method can reduce the total amount of data by 67–77%, while keeping the most critical data points. The reduced data using SAS also show promising result in traffic modeling applications.
Energetic Charged Particles in Saturn's Magnetosphere: Voyager 1 Results

Voyager 1 provided the first look at Saturn's magnetotail and magnetosphere during relatively quiet interplanetary conditions. This report discusses the energetic particle populations of the outer magnetosphere of Saturn and absorption features associated with Titan and Rhea, and compares these observations with Pioneer 11 data of a year earlier. The trapped proton fluxes had soft spectra, represented by power laws E(-gamma) in kinetic energy E, with gamma approximately 7 in the outer magnetosphere and gamma approximately 9 in the magnetotail. Structure associated with the magnetotial was observed as close as 10 Saturn radii (R(s)) on the outbound trajectory. The proton and electron fluxes in the outer magnetosphere and in the magnetotail were variable and appeared to respond to changes in interplanetary conditions. Protons with energies >/= 2 million electron volts had free access to the magnetosphere from interplanetary space and were not stably trapped outside approximately 7.5 R(s).
Interstitial 5p15.2-p13.3 deletion in association with situs inversus, dextrocardia, L-loop of the ventricles, and transposition of great arteries in a newborn infant

We report a rare association of interstitial deletion of 5p15.2-p13.3 with situs inversus, dextrocardia, L-loop of the ventricles, and transposition of great arteries: [I, L, L] Transposition of Great Arteries. We did not find such an association reported in the medical literature.