cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the biogenesis of lipid bodies in ancient eukaryotes: synthesis of triacylglycerols by a Toxoplasma DGAT1-related enzyme

In mammalian cells, the main stored neutral lipids are triacylglycerol and cholesteryl esters, which are produced by two related enzymes, acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) and acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT), respectively. Very little is known about the metabolism, intracellular storage and function of neutral lipids in many pathogenic lower eukaryotes. In this paper, we have characterized the activity of an important triacylglycerol synthetic enzyme in the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. A full-length cDNA and gene encoding a T. gondii DGAT1-related enzyme were identified and designated TgDGAT1. The gene is composed of 15 exons and 14 introns, and encodes a protein with a predicted M(r) 63.5kDa, containing signature motifs characteristic of the DGAT1 family. The native protein migrates at 44kDa under reducing conditions. TgDGAT1 is an integral membrane protein localized to the parasite cortical and perinuclear endoplasmic reticulum, with the C-terminus oriented to the lumen of the organelle. When a Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutant strain lacking neutral lipid production is transformed with TgDGAT1 cDNA, a significant DGAT activity is reconstituted, resulting in triacylglycerol synthesis and biogenesis of cytosolic lipid inclusions, resembling lipid bodies in T. gondii. No production of steryl esters is observed upon TgDGAT1 expression in yeast. In contrast to human DGAT1 lacking fatty acid specificity, TgDGAT1 preferentially incorporates palmitate. Our results indicate that parasitic protozoa are also neutral lipid accumulators and illustrate the first example of the existence of a functional DGAT gene in an ancient eukaryote, demonstrating that diacylglycerol esterification is evolutionarily conserved.
Antidepressant-Like Effects of Ceftriaxone in Male C57BL/6J Mice

Background Excessive glutamatergic neurotransmission is hypothesized to be associated with depressive-like behaviors and possibly major depressive disorder (MDD). Recent evidence that β-lactam antibiotic agents stimulate uptake of glutamate suggests that this class of compounds might possess antidepressant-like activity. Methods Three-month old, male, C57BL/6J mice were administered ceftriaxone (200 mg/kg IP) for 14–18 days, then tested in the tail-suspension, forced swim, and novelty-suppressed feeding tests to determine whether ceftriaxone had similar effects to classical antidepressant compounds in these models. Results Ceftriaxone treatment had an antidepressant-like effect across models. Reduced immobility and decreased freezing were observed in the forced swim and tail suspension tests. The same trend was seen in novelty-suppressed feeding, but the effect was not statistically significant. Conclusion Ceftriaxone demonstrates antidepressant-like effects in several mouse models. This is consistent with the hypothesis that enhanced uptake of glutamate might have antidepressant-like effects.
THE POPULATION RISK AS AN EXPLANATORY VARIABLE IN RESEARCH SYNTHESIS OF CLINICAL TRIALS

The population risk, for example the control group mortality rate, is an aggregate measurement of many important attributes of a clinical trial, such as the general health of the patients treated and the experience of the staff performing the trial. Plotting measurements of the population risk against the treatment effect estimates for a group of clinical trials may reveal an apparent association, suggesting that differences in the population risk might explain heterogeneity in the results of clinical trials. In this paper we consider using estimates of population risk to explain treatment effect heterogeneity, and show that using these estimates as fixed covariates will result in bias. This bias depends on the treatment effect and population risk definitions chosen, and the magnitude of measurement errors. To account for the effect of measurement error, we represent clinical trials in a bivariate two-level hierarchical model, and show how to estimate the parameters of the model by both maximum likelihood and Bayes procedures. We use two examples to demonstrate the method.
Transient Hyperthyroidism in a Patient Taking Dietary Supplements Containing Kelp

Dietary supplements, including a variety of vitamins, minerals, herbal products, tissue extracts, and proteins and amino acids, are sold in health food stores as well as a variety of other locations, and trade in supplements has grown into a multibillion dollar industry.1 Although government regulations do not require proof of safety or efficacy for these products, they do require proper labeling and sanitary production methods.2-4 Most supplements appear to be safe, but the toxic reactions that are occasionally reported5 are a concern. Of the many Americans who consume supplements for health benefits, more than 50% typically do not consult with their physician before taking them.6•7 Kelp, or seaweed, has long been used as a dietary supplement, particularly in Asian countries, where it is often consumed as a food. 8 Kelp, which contains a large amount of iodine9 and is touted as having beneficial vitamins, minerals, and chemicals,lO is included in many of these supplements. Reported here is a casereport of probable transient hyperthyroidism induced in a patient taking kelp from two different supplements.
Advice on Advising: Improving a Comprehensive University's Program:

This article reports on a systematic revision of our psychology department's advising system. Assessment results indicate a change from 38% to 70% of our seniors endorsing advising as "good" or "high quality" from 1993 to 2003. We present the individual components of our advising plan and recommendations for improving advising.
Smart Growth and Housing Affordability: A Review of Regulatory Mechanisms and Planning Practices

This bibliography focuses on the dynamic relationships between housing affordability for the low- and moderate-income (LMI) population and smart growth management and planning practices. Smart grow...
Regularities in the Size and Orientation of Juniper Fragments Attached to the Cases of the Bagworm, Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis (Haw.)

Measurements and analyses of juniper fragments on bagworm cases reveal striking regularities that suggest the behavior that may produce them. Fragments are always attached at their extreme upper ends, and the great majority are oriented with their apical ends directed downwards towards the lower end of the bag. The proportion so oriented increases towards the cop of the bag, as does the average length of the fragments. Binomial analysis reveals no evidence of contagious orientation of adjacent fragments. It is suggested that the bagworm may not deliberately “decorate” its case, but that these fragments represent the remains of foliage anchored against the bag, so that the bagworm may feed with minimal exposure from its protecting case.
On controller tuning for a flexible‐link manipulator with varying payload

In this article experimental results are presented for system identification and control of a single-link flexible manipulator carrying an unknown, varying payload. The control objective is to maintain endpoint position accuracy in the presence of flexure effects after rapid movement due to a rigid body slew-angle commanded position. Various time-domain parameter estimation techniques are used to identify ARMA model representations to be employed in controller tuning schemes for vibration compensation. Only endpoint acceleration measurements and motor shaft angle measurements are utilized in relatively simple PID control schemes, which are tuned as dictated by a varying, unknown payload.
Refined Routing Algorithm in Hybrid Networks with Different Transmission Rates

In this paper, a low-complexity routing strategy is introduced for a hybrid network in which n wireless nodes are randomly located and multiple base stations (BSs) are used. We allow different transmission rates according to the geographic location of each source in the network. Our achievable scheme consists of the following two routing schemes: a BS-based single-hop (SH) routing in the up/downlink and conventional multi-hop transmission. Specifically, in the proposed BS-based scheme, when a source-destination (S-D) pair is inside the center region with respect to its BS, the source is allowed to transmit data to its closest BS via SH. Our results indicate that a logarithmic boost (i.e., power gain) is provided in the throughput scaling law, compared to the conventional schemes, as the number of BSs is greater than a certain threshold. The gain comes from the fact that S-D pairs in their center regions can exploit per-node transmission rates log n due to the increased received signal power from/to their closest BS.
Stability, transient behaviour and trajectory bounds of interconnected systems†

In practice, many systems are complex and of high dimension. Many such systems may be viewed as being composed of several simpler sub-systems which when connected in an appropriate fashion yield the original composite system. The stability, the transient behaviour and estimates for the trajectory bounds of certain composite systems are analysed in terms of their sub-systems. This is accomplished by defining the stability of sub-systems and of composite systems in terms of certain time-varying sub-sets of the state space which are pre-specified in a given problem. After stating definitions of stability for sub-systems which are under the influence of perturbing forces and for composite systems, theorems are stated and proved which yield sufficient conditions for stability. These theorems involve the existence of Lyapunov-like functions which do not possess any particular definiteness requirements on V and [Vdot]. The time-varying sub-sets of the state space which are utilized in the stability definitions a...
The STEREO/IMPACT Magnetic Field Experiment

The magnetometer on the STEREO mission is one of the sensors in the IMPACT instrument suite. A single, triaxial, wide-range, low-power and noise fluxgate magnetometer of traditional design—and reduced volume configuration—has been implemented in each spacecraft. The sensors are mounted on the IMPACT telescoping booms at a distance of ∼3 m from the spacecraft body to reduce magnetic contamination. The electronics have been designed as an integral part of the IMPACT Data Processing Unit, sharing a common power converter and data/command interfaces. The instruments cover the range ±65,536 nT in two intervals controlled by the IDPU (±512 nT; ±65,536 nT). This very wide range allows operation of the instruments during all phases of the mission, including Earth flybys as well as during spacecraft test and integration in the geomagnetic field. The primary STEREO/IMPACT science objectives addressed by the magnetometer are the study of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), its response to solar activity, and its relationship to solar wind structure. The instruments were powered on and the booms deployed on November 1, 2006, seven days after the spacecraft were launched, and are operating nominally. A magnetic cleanliness program was implemented to minimize variable spacecraft fields and to ensure that the static spacecraft-generated magnetic field does not interfere with the measurements.
Purification of parvalbumin from carp: a protocol that avoids heat-treatment.

UNLABELLED Parvalbumin from carp, a major allergen, was purified to homogeneity using ion exchange chromatography and size exclusion chromatography (estimated purity >95% to 98% based on SDS-PAGE and native PAGE) with a yield of 318 mg, and a number of basic biochemical characteristics were determined. The identity was confirmed by peptide-mass fingerprinting, and IgE-binding was demonstrated. The UV/Vis absorbance spectra were explained using the previously published amino acid sequences. Far UV-CD spectroscopy was used to confirm the folding character of parvalbumin. We conclude that parvalbumin from carp can be purified on a comparatively large (hundreds of milligrams) scale using a purification protocol that does not include denaturing steps. The purified protein resembles biochemical characteristics as were earlier published for carp parvalbumin, that is, a molecular weight of approximately 12 kDa, amino acid sequence identity and a secondary structure containing alpha-helices and beta-structures. The described method provides a yield sufficient to produce and characterize antibodies to construct immunochemical methods to detect parvalbumin in food, as well as for use as a standard calibrator for such assays. PRACTICAL APPLICATION Parvalbumin is a major allergen from fish. Here, we have purified a comparatively large quantity from carp that can be used to develop antisera for use in an assay method to detect fish allergens.
Compact slit-less spectrometer using cylindrical beam volume holograms

We present compact slit-less spectrometers using cylindrical beam holograms with several advantages over conventional spectrometers. We demonstrate large spectral range spectrometers using spatially multiplexed cylindrical beam holograms without adding any moving part in spectroscopic systems.
Conformal PML-FDTD schemes for electromagnetic field simulations: a dynamic stability study

We present a study on the dynamic stability of the perfectly matched layer (PML) absorbing boundary condition for finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations of electromagnetic radiation and scattering problems in body-conformal orthogonal grids. This work extends a previous dynamic stability analysis of Cartesian, cylindrical and spherical PMLs to the case of a conformal PML. It is shown that the conformal PML defined over surface terminations with positive local radii of curvature (concave surfaces as viewed from inside the computational domain) is dynamically stable, while the conformal PML defined over surface terminations with a negative local radius (convex surfaces as viewed from inside the computational domain) is dynamically unstable. Numerical results illustrate the analysis.
Integrated uncooled infrared detector imaging arrays

The authors describe a new type of infrared (IR) focal plane consisting of a 2-D array of microminiature bolometers (microbolometers) fabricated, complete with readout electronics, as a monolithic silicon chip. These focal planes require no cooling for sensitive detection of IR radiation. The authors report high-quality IR imaging obtained with such focal planes. >
Viscoelastic behavior and phase domain formation in Millar interpenetrating polymer networks of polystyrene

Millar-type interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) are composed of two identical networks. In the present case Millar IPNs of polystyrene/polystyrene were prepared where the crosslinker levels of the two networks differed by a factor of 10. Polymer network I contained 0.4% divinylbenzene (DVB) and polymer network II contained 4% DVB, the polymers having the following weight proportions: 75/25, 50/50, and 25/75. A single polystyrene network containing 2.2% DVB was synthesized for comparison with the 50/50 Millar IPN, both containing the same average amount of crosslinker. The creep behavior of the Millar IPNs was found to be dominated by polymer network I, as were the rubbery moduli and swelling behavior in toluene. These results suggested that polymer I domains are more continuous in space and polymer II domains are less continuous. The Donatelli equation predicted polymer II domain sizes of 60 A to 100 A for the Millar IPNs. Electron micrographs of specimens containing 1% isoprene in polymer II offered visual evidence for the segregation of polymer II domains from polymer I, and showed that the polymer II domains were, in fact, less continuous. Polymer II domains varied from about 50 to 100 A in size, as predicted. These results have implications for gelation processes in general.
Reconsidering the effects of sibling configuration: Recent advances and challenges

▪ Abstract Until recently, social scientists were headed to consensus over the impact of the structural parameters of the sibling group, especially size and birth order, on educational and other status outcomes. New developments challenge this conventional wisdom, thus offering an opening for dialogue on this topic. We identify the utility and implications of studying the consequences of sibling configuration within sociology, across disciplines, and for public policy. Revisiting the association between sibship size and educational advancement, we evaluate challenges to long-held beliefs regarding this relationship. We then discuss the effects of birth order, highlighting recent declarations that these effects are more profound than previously believed. We next summarize scholarship on two less-explored components of the sibling matrix: spacing and sex composition. Finally, we consider generalizability of research done mostly in the United States to other countries. We hope examining and critiquing this r...
Experimental purification of two-atom entanglement

Entanglement is a necessary resource for quantum applications--entanglement established between quantum systems at different locations enables private communication and quantum teleportation, and facilitates quantum information processing. Distributed entanglement is established by preparing an entangled pair of quantum particles in one location, and transporting one member of the pair to another location. However, decoherence during transport reduces the quality (fidelity) of the entanglement. A protocol to achieve entanglement 'purification' has been proposed to improve the fidelity after transport. This protocol uses separate quantum operations at each location and classical communication to distil high-fidelity entangled pairs from lower-fidelity pairs. Proof-of-principle experiments distilling entangled photon pairs have been carried out. However, these experiments obtained distilled pairs with a low probability of success and required destruction of the entangled pairs, rendering them unavailable for further processing. Here we report efficient and non-destructive entanglement purification with atomic quantum bits. Two noisy entangled pairs were created and distilled into one higher-fidelity pair available for further use. Success probabilities were above 35 per cent. The many applications of entanglement purification make it one of the most important techniques in quantum information processing.
Predicting student academic performance in an engineering dynamics course: A comparison of four types of predictive mathematical models

Predicting student academic performance has long been an important research topic in many academic disciplines. The present study is the first study that develops and compares four types of mathematical models to predict student academic performance in engineering dynamics - a high-enrollment, high-impact, and core course that many engineering undergraduates are required to take. The four types of mathematical models include the multiple linear regression model, the multilayer perception network model, the radial basis function network model, and the support vector machine model. The inputs (i.e., predictor variables) of the models include student's cumulative GPA, grades earned in four pre-requisite courses (statics, calculus I, calculus II, and physics), and scores on three dynamics mid-term exams (i.e., the exams given to students during the semester and before the final exam). The output of the models is students' scores on the dynamics final comprehensive exam. A total of 2907 data points were collected from 323 undergraduates in four semesters. Based on the four types of mathematical models and six different combinations of predictor variables, a total of 24 predictive mathematical models were developed from the present study. The analysis reveals that the type of mathematical model has only a slight effect on the average prediction accuracy (APA, which indicates on average how well a model predicts the final exam scores of all students in the dynamics course) and on the percentage of accurate predictions (PAP, which is calculated as the number of accurate predictions divided by the total number of predictions). The combination of predictor variables has only a slight effect on the APA, but a profound effect on the PAP. In general, the support vector machine models have the highest PAP as compared to the other three types of mathematical models. The research findings from the present study imply that if the goal of the instructor is to predict the average academic performance of his/her dynamics class as a whole, the instructor should choose the simplest mathematical model, which is the multiple linear regression model, with student's cumulative GPA as the only predictor variable. Adding more predictor variables does not help improve the average prediction accuracy of any mathematical model. However, if the goal of the instructor is to predict the academic performance of individual students, the instructor should use the support vector machine model with the first six predictor variables as the inputs of the model, because this particular predictor combination increases the percentage of accurate predictions, and most importantly, allows sufficient time for the instructor to implement subsequent educational interventions to improve student learning.
Engineering Geobacter sulfurreducens to produce a highly cohesive conductive matrix with enhanced capacity for current production

The conductive biofilms of Geobacter sulfurreducens have potential applications in renewable energy, bioremediation, and bioelectronics. In an attempt to alter biofilm properties, genes encoding proteins with a PilZ domain were deleted from the G. sulfurreducens genome. A strain, in which the gene GSU1240 was deleted, designated strain CL-1, formed biofilms much more effectively than did the wild-type strain. Increased production of pili and exopolysaccharide were associated with the enhanced biofilm production. When grown with an electrode as the electron acceptor CL-1 produced biofilms that were 6-fold more conductive than wild-type biofilms. The greater conductivity lowered the potential losses in microbial fuel cells, decreasing the charge transfer resistance at the biofilm–anode surface by ca. 60% and lowering the formal potential by 50 mV. These lower potential losses increased the potential energy of electrons reaching the biofilm–anode interface and enabled strain CL-1 to produce 70% higher power densities than the wild-type strain. Current-producing biofilms were highly cohesive and could be peeled off graphite electrodes intact, yielding a novel conductive biological material. This study demonstrates that simple genetic manipulation can yield improved bioelectronics materials with energy applications.
Regulation of triglyceride biosynthesis in adipose and intestinal tissue

The synthesis of phosphatidic acid and di- and tri- glycerides via the glycerol-3-phosphate pathway is markedly inhibited by 2-monooleyl ether in microsomal and whole cell preparations obtained from adipose and intestinal tissue. Mono- glycerides are also inhibitors under conditions in which their hydrolysis is minimized. A correlation between inhibition by, and the hydrolysis of, monoglycerides has been demonstrated. 2-Monooleyl ether is the most effective inhibitor of the several mono- and di- ethers and esters studied. The specificity of the inhibition of glycerol-3-phosphate acylation by 2-monoethers or 2-monoesters has been demonstrated because microsomal NADH- and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activities were not significantly inhibited. The reported control mechanism for triglyceride biosynthesis is discussed in relation to the regulation of fatty acid uptake and release in adipose tissue and the ab- sorption and metabolism of triglycerides by the intestinal mucosa.
Learning qualitative models by demonstration

Creating software agents that learn interactively requires the ability to learn from a small number of trials, extracting general, flexible knowledge that can drive behavior from observation and interaction. We claim that qualitative models provide a useful intermediate level of causal representation for dynamic domains, including the formulation of strategies and tactics. We argue that qualitative models are quickly learnable, and enable model based reasoning techniques to be used to recognize, operationalize, and construct more strategic knowledge. This paper describes an approach to incrementally learning qualitative influences by demonstration in the context of a strategy game. We show how the learned model can help a system play by enabling it to explain which actions could contribute to maximizing a quantitative goal. We also show how reasoning about the model allows it to reformulate a learning problem to address delayed effects and credit assignment, such that it can improve its performance on more strategic tasks such as city placement.
Are Manifest Qualities Response-Dependent?

Etude de l'image manifeste mais erronnee du monde naturel developpee par le projectivisme philosophique depuis Hume, qui consiste a projeter les aspects de la vie mentale sur l'environnement et a mentaliser la forme sensible. Definissant le projectivisme comme une ideologie emergeant de l'histoire de la metaphysique et de l'epistemologie, l'A. examine la notion lockienne de dependance de la reponse designant les caracteristiques et les proprietes manifestes des objets exterieurs saisis par la sensation, la perception et la reception dans l'espace galileen
Science Signaling Podcast for 22 September 2015: SOCS3 prevents pathological retinal neovascularization

This Podcast features an interview with Ye Sun and Lois Smith, authors of a Research Article that appears in the 22 September 2015 issue of Science Signaling , about how suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) prevents retinal neovascularization in mice. Retinal neovascularization is the abnormal growth of blood vessels in the retina and a common cause of blindness in diabetics and preterm infants. Research suggests that crosstalk between the normal blood vessels that serve the retina and the neurons, glial cells, and photoreceptors that make up the retina drives retinal neovascularization. Sun et al . found that SOCS3 prevented oxygen-induced retinal neovascularization in mice because it keeps neural and glial cells of the hypoxic retina from releasing too much vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a cytokine that stimulates blood vessel formation. SOCS3 reduced the production of VEGF in these cells by inhibiting activation of the transcription factor STAT3, an activator of vegfa expression. Listen to Podcast
Model Act for Genetic Privacy and Control (MAGPAC) (2002)

This act aims to give an individual control over the individual’s genetic material and genetic information, protect genetic privacy, and prevent discrimination while maximizing beneficial uses of genetic information and material.
Using pig die and simulation to explore probability and expected values

Summary We present a variant of the Game of Pig to introduce the concepts of probability, simulation and expected value.
New Estimates of the Sandwich Generation in the 2013 Panel Study of Income Dynamics

Purpose of the study We use the Roster and Transfers Module in the 2013 Panel Study of Income Dynamics to obtain the first estimates of the prevalence of transfers to adult children and parents for United States men and women aged 35-75. Design and methods This article extends the current understanding of the sandwich generation by comparing recent transfers of time and money to parents and adult children for men and women and across ages between 35 and 75 years of age. Results Over 30% of individuals with living parents and adult children provide transfers to two generations. The prevalence of transfers does not differ by age and the differences between men and women are small, though statistically significant. Conditional on providing time transfers, women provide more hours of help than men, particularly to their adult children. The number of hours given to children exceeds the number given to parents. Implications These findings are the first to show that both men and women are likely to provide transfers to two generations and that transfers to two generations are common across adult ages. Our findings suggest a need to rethink the notion of the sandwich generation, which has focused on women in late middle age, to include men and women across younger and older ages.
Active photos

In this paper we describe an investigation into linkages to multimedia content from individual items in photographs and other printed images. We describe prototypes for authoring and playing such "active photos", and give the results of informal trials. We conclude with lessons learned and next steps.
Middleware Techniques to Synchronize Applications across Modules using an ARINC 653 RTOS

[Abstract] During the past several years, safety critical systems have been incorporating the Aeronautical Radio, Inc. (ARINC) 653 specification into their implementation. ARINC 653 specifies the baseline-operating environment for application software used within Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA). NASA’s Constellation Program will consist of systems of systems each requiring the need for safety critical avionics. These systems normally have the requirement to be two-fault tolerant and are composed of multiple computers that either operate in parallel and vote or operate as master and backup. For either case, some form of computer synchronization is required. The Space Shuttle Program avionics use computers that operate in parallel and vote to achieve two-fault tolerance. This is accomplished primarily using an architecture that relies on software-based synchronization and has been successful over the service life of the Shuttle Program. The Shuttle approach for synchronization can be incorporated into ARINC 653 systems using the concept of partition synchronization. In this concept, the applications executing on each of the primary computers are synchronized at partition context switches. COTS RTOS products such as VxWorks and Integrity provide hooks that can be used to support this concept. These hooks are integrated with the ARINC 653 Partition Scheduler to support operations at the start of both Major and Minor Frames.
Continuing Education: An Answer to Professional Obsolescence

As many of you are probably well aware, the concept of mandatory continuing education as a requirement for practicing health professionals is currently being debated or enacted by many licensing bodies and professional organizations. This mandatory continuing education debate is not only a heated issue here in Canada and the United States, but is also an extremely important issue in many other highly developed industrialized nations of the world. It is quite safe to assume that by the end of this century most, if not all, licensed health professionals will have a mandatory continuing education requirement. What the author intends to do in this analysis is first present a brief definition of continuing education, discuss some salient variables as they relate to continuing education, and finally discuss professionalism and professional obsolescence.
Effects of Moisture on the Chorion of Eggs of Tribolium confusum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Typically, insect eggs exhibit decreased hatching in very dry air; moist air almost always enchances the hatch (Buxton 1932). Exceptions are rare. Holdaway (1932) studied the effect of various humidities on hatching of eggs of Tribolium confusum (Jacquelin du Val) and noted no hatching in a saturated environment (99% + RH). This phenomenon he attributed to a heavy growth of molds.
Respiration and Parasitism in Coleomegilla maculata lengi (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

Diapause termination was characterized by a change in respiration rate of adult Coleomegilla maculata lengi . During the winter, the respiration rate was 0.18 ¼l O2/mg body wgt/15 min. In the summer, this rate increased to 0.34 ¼l O2/mg body wgt/15 min. The O2 consumption/temperature curve indicated maximum O2 consumption occurred at the highest temperature tested (36°C). A sharp increase of parasitism of this beetle by the braconid Perilitus coccinellae occurred in August. In September, 1976, 23% of the beetles were parasitized; in September, 1975, 40% were parasitized.
Endurance fitness and orthostatic tolerance.

Background: Several lower body negative pressure studies conducted in recent years have suggested that aerobically fit individuals have poor orthostatic tolerance (OT). Hypothesis: There will be significant differences between OT of highly fit endurance runners and unfit individuals. Methods: Subjects were 17 men and 17 women aged 29-42 yr who were administered two orthostatic tests (20 min standing) before, and 5 min following a VO 2max test. There were 6 men and 6 women who were highly trained endurance runners with VO 2max of 63 and 50 ml. kg -1 . min -1 for the men and women, respectively; 6 men and 5 women had average fitness (VO 2max of 40 and 32 ml kg -1 . min -1 , respectively), and the remaining 5 men and 6 women had poor fitness (VO 2max of 32 and 26 ml. kg -1 . min -1 , respectively). Results: The trained men and women showed good OT before and after exercise, which was characterized by very low orthostatic heart rates (54 and 64 bpm before, 70 and 75 bpm after exercise, for the men and women, respectively); relatively large pulse pressures (PP); and a lack of any adverse subjective reactions. The untrained subjects' orthostatic heart rates were 30-40 bpm higher than in the trained subjects, (18 bpm higher after, vs. before exercise) their PP was narrower, and there were 7 cases of orthostatic weakness (dizziness, yawning) and 8 fainting episodes. (6 cases before, 9 cases after exercise). Conclusions: Aerobically fit individuals have good OT while unfit individuals show poor OT. Since the maintenance of good OT is important in the Space Shuttle flights, endurance training enhances crew/vehicle safety.
African-Americans and the Digital Divide

The Internet has become an integral part of America’s entertainment, communication, and information culture. Since the mid 1990s, the Internet has become prevalent in middle and upper-class American households. Companies and government agencies are increasingly offering products, services, and information online. Educational institutions are integrating technology into their curriculum and are offering courses from a distance. However, while some are advantaged by the efficiencies and convenience that result from these innovations, others may unwittingly become further marginalized by these same innovations since Internet access is not spreading to them as quickly. The ‘digital divide’ is the term used to describe this emerging disparity. Government analysts argue that historically underserved groups such as racial and ethnic minorities, rural and low-income communities, and older Americans are at a distinct disadvantage if this divide is not closed because American economic and social life is increasingly becoming networked through the Internet (National Telecommunications and Information Administration, 1995). Over the last decade access to the Internet has increased significantly. A 2006 Pew Internet and American Life survey shows that 73% of U.S. adults (about 147 million adults) are Internet users, up from 66% (about 133 million adults) in 2005. And the share of Americans who have broadband connections at home reached 42% (about 84 million), up from 29% (about 59 million) in 2005 (Madden, 2006). African-Americans are increasingly accessing the Internet via home broadband connections, with a 121% adoption rate in 2005 (Horrigan, 2006). But does this mean that the problem of the digital divide has been solved? Is further research in this area warranted or has the digital divide become passe? In this article, we take on these questions by first reviewing major issues and trends in digital divide research. We do so by reviewing the digital divide literature as it relates to one historically underserved group, namely African-Americans. Next, we present a conceptual framework that contrasts 1) social and technological access perspectives, and 2) assetbased/resource and behavioral/use perspectives. The article concludes with our recommendations for future research opportunities for examining digital divide issues. BACKGROUND
682 Novel use of electronic health records to advance research and management of paediatric concussions

Background While our understanding of concussion as an important public health issue among children has grown, broad description of paediatric concussions is limited to high school sports or those treated in an emergency department (ED). Further, non-specialist providers report inadequate training and infrastructure to systematically diagnose and manage these patients. To address these gaps, CHOP and CDC have initiated a novel collaborative effort to examine whether electronic health records (EHRs) can expand traumatic brain injury (TBI) surveillance and research–with a focus on concussion–and to assess whether EHR-based initiatives can improve TBI management. Methods All patients, age 0–17 years, with at least one clinical encounter with an ICD-9-CM diagnosis of concussion in the CHOP EHR system (7/2010−6/2014) were selected and their initial concussion-related encounter identified. Results 14,054 patients were included (average age: 12.1 years). Initial analyses indicate that: 50% of patients had their first encounter within primary care and 27% within specialty care; half of all concussions among 5–11 year olds were sports/recreation-related; and introduction of a concussion clinical support tool substantially improved documentation of concussion-specific assessment in the EHR (2% before vs. 70% after implementation in July 2012). Conclusions This collaborative program leverages the strength of a linked EHR system throughout a large healthcare network (>1 million annual visits) to provide a comprehensive system-wide assessment of paediatric concussion across the developmental age spectrum beyond the ED setting. This is the first such US assessment that included a diverse demographic and socioeconomic sample. This work highlights the potential of EHRs to guide clinical management and facilitate research that can lead to improved concussion prevention and diagnosis.
Experimental fatigue crack growth behavior and predictions under multiaxial variable amplitude service loading histories

Abstract This study presents experimental crack growth data for naturally initiated fatigue cracks in tubular specimens of 2024-T3 aluminum alloy subjected to both uniaxial and multiaxial variable amplitude flight loading spectra. Experimental crack growth behavior is compared to predictions based on two state-of-the-art analysis codes: UniGrow and FASTRAN. UniGrow is based on the idea that residual stress distributions surrounding the crack tip are responsible for causing load sequence effects in variable amplitude crack growth, while FASTRAN attributes these effects to varying degrees of plasticity induced closure in the crack wake. For variable amplitude fatigue tests performed under pure axial nominal loading conditions, both UniGrow and FASTRAN analyses were found to produce conservative growth life predictions despite good agreement with constant amplitude crack growth data. For variable amplitude torsion and combined axial-torsion crack growth analyses, however, the conservatism in growth life predictions was found to reduce. This is attributed to multiaxial nominal stress state effects, such as T-stress and mixed-mode crack growth, which are not accounted for in either UniGrow or FASTRAN, but were observed in constant amplitude crack growth tests to increase experimental crack growth rates. Additionally, by comparing experimental crack growth lives between tests performed using full and edited versions of the same loading history, it was found that a 94% reduction in loading history length resulted in differences in experimental crack growth life of less than a factor of 5. Since cracks in this study were initiated naturally, the effect of initial crack geometry assumptions on crack growth predictions was also investigated.
Head and Neck

Stereotactic approaches for head and neck cancer are evolving, with a focus on the early development of feasibility and safety parameters. The most common applications will likely be in small-volume areas of boost doses or recurrent/metastatic disease. Combinations with targeted therapy may improve response but remain under investigation.
Repeatability and steadiness of fingertip force using depth feedback

An inexpensive Kinect color/depth camera can be used to give feedback to physical therapy patients. We compare the steadiness and repeatability of finger force on a deformable object for physical therapists given no feedback, as well as for untrained subjects who are provided with feedback from force sensors, or with feedback from Kinect depth, or with no feedback. For force repeatability, it is found that untrained subjects and physical therapists perform comparably, and that both force feedback and depth feedback allow the untrained subjects to achieve a given force more repeatably than the physical therapists with no feedback. In contrast, for steadiness, physical therapists outperform untrained subjects when neither group has feedback. Force feedback, but not depth feedback, makes the untrained subjects steadier than the therapists. Objects of different deformability are also compared.
Metabolic Labeling and Recovery of Nascent RNA to Accurately Quantify mRNA Stability

Changes in the rate of mRNA decay are closely coordinated with transcriptional changes and together these events have profound effects on gene expression during development and disease. Traditional approaches to assess mRNA decay have relied on inhibition of transcription, which can alter mRNA decay rates and confound interpretation. More recently, metabolic labeling combined with chemical modification and fractionation of labeled RNAs has allowed the isolation of nascent transcripts and the subsequent calculation of mRNA decay rates. This approach has been widely adopted for measuring mRNA half-lives on a global scale, but has proven challenging to use for analysis of single genes. We present a series of normalization and quality assurance steps to be used in combination with 4-thiouridine pulse labeling of cultured eukaryotic cells. Importantly, we demonstrate how the relative amount of 4sU-labeled nascent RNA influences accurate quantification. The approach described facilitates reproducible measurement of individual mRNA half-lives using 4-thiouridine and could be adapted for use with other nucleoside analogs.
Use of a home vacuum-assisted closure device in the burn population is both cost-effective and efficacious

Abstract Introduction The vacuum assisted closure device (VAC) improves wound-healing when utilized as a bolster to secure split thickness skin grafts (STSG). Patients typically remain hospitalized for VAC therapy; however, home VACs (hVAC) are now available. Limited studies examine burns treated with hVAC as a STSG bolster. Method A retrospective study of records from an ABA verified regional burn center was conducted over 23 months. Patients included STSGs for burn. Data points included demographics, burn mechanism and location, graft characteristics, hospital length of stay (LOS), and time to heal. Results and discussion Fifty patients were included, with average age of 39 years (range 2 . The most commonly treated areas were the leg/foot, thigh, and torso (53%, 16%, and 16%, respectively). Average LOS was 1.1 ± 1.2 days. Mean graft-take was 99.2 ± 2.8% with one patient undergoing repeat STSG. Average post-operative time to heal was 16 ± 6 days. A 5-day inpatient stay with a VAC costs an average of $34,635, compared to $9134 for an hVAC over the same period. Conclusions The hVAC is a cost-effective STSG bolster in the burn population for appropriate candidates. Excellent graft-take and low morbidity rates imply that this is an efficacious alternative for STSG bolster.
Qualitative Analysis of Government Budgets

This research publication through the Ministry of Finance (Government of Karnataka) is a comparative study of national budgetary policy between India, the US, the UK, and Japan. The vast difference in their politico-economic history and these countries’ pertinence in the global economy make them particularly apt to compare and contrast. The specific areas under consideration here are the historical evolution of the budget, the legislative and constitutional background of the budget, budgetary institutions and the budgetary process, and the budget’s compositions and its changes over time. This paper also has a section on the impact of the current macroeconomic climate on each of the budgets, with a special emphasis on sovereign debt and debt management policies. The main outcomes in this paper pertain to showcasing how each budget has adapted and shaped itself based on its sociopolitical requirements, specifically after World War 2. For Japan and the US, the findings largely pertain to addressing high debt-to-GDP ratios, evaluating potential difficulties in the implementation and maintenance of American debt ceilings and the impact of foreign ownership of US treasuries. For Japan, the same system is followed in the consideration of the Fiscal Investment and Loan Program (FILP) plan and its role in combating via budgetary policy the stagnation of the Japanese economy. The UK case also touched upon the nuances of the budgetary process concerning areas like Scotland, for instance, which has its own system of law. Furthermore, the key findings for the Indian budget also discuss the labor market, discussing how the budget and economic condition stands to benefit from the changing demographic of the labor force in India between now and 2050.
Serum Fibrosis Marker Panels FIB-4 Index and Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)-to-Platelet Ratio Index (APRI) Are Equivalent to AST Alone at Predicting Liver Fibrosis in a Cohort of 1731 Patients Infected with Hepatitis C Virus.

Background: Efficient tools are needed to stage liver disease before treatment of patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Compared to biopsy, several studies demonstrated favorable performance of noninvasive multianalyte serum fibrosis marker panels [fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index] and aspartate aminotransferase (AST)-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), but suggested cutoffs vary widely. Our objective was to evaluate FIB-4 index and APRI and their component tests for staging fibrosis in our HCV-infected population and to determine practical cutoffs to help triage an influx of patients requiring treatment. Methods: Transient elastography (TE) results from 1731 HCV-infected patients were mapped to an F0–F4 equivalent scale. Each patient9s APRI and FIB-4 index were calculated. Areas under the receiver operator curve (AUROCs) and false-positive and false-negative rates were calculated to retrospectively compare the performance of the indices and their component tests. Results: The highest AUROCs for distinguishing severe (F3–F4) from mild-to-moderate (F0–F2) fibrosis had overlapping 95% CIs: APRI (0.77; 0.74–0.79), FIB-4 index (0.76; 0.73–0.78), and AST (0.74; 0.72–0.77). Cutoffs had false-negative rates of 2.7%–2.8% and false-positive rates of 6.4%–7.4% for all 3 markers. Conclusions: AST was as effective as FIB-4 index and APRI at predicting fibrosis. Published cutoffs for APRI and FIB-4 index would have been inappropriate in our population, with false-negative rates as high as 11%. For our purposes, no serum fibrosis marker was sufficiently sensitive to rule-out significant fibrosis, but cutoffs developed for AST, FIB-4 index, and APRI all had specificities of 79.2%–80.3% for ruling-in severe fibrosis and could be used to triage 1/3 of our population for treatment without waiting for TE or liver biopsy.