cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Data and monitoring needs for a more ecological agriculture

Information on the life-cycle environmental impacts of agricultural production is often limited. As demands grow for increasing agricultural output while reducing its negative environmental impacts, both existing and novel data sources can be leveraged to provide more information to producers, consumers, scientists and policy makers. We review the components and organization of an agroecological sensor web that integrates remote sensing technologies and in situ sensors with models in order to provide decision makers with effective management options at useful spatial and temporal scales for making more informed decisions about agricultural productivity while reducing environmental burdens. Several components of the system are already in place, but by increasing the extent and accessibility of information, decision makers will have the opportunity to enhance food security and environmental quality. Potential roadblocks to implementation include farmer acceptance, data transparency and technology deployment.
A role for the poly(A)-binding protein Pab1p in PUF protein-mediated repression.

PUF proteins regulate translation and mRNA stability throughout eukaryotes. Using a cell-free translation assay, we examined the mechanisms of translational repression of PUF proteins in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We demonstrate that the poly(A)-binding protein Pab1p is required for PUF-mediated translational repression for two distantly related PUF proteins: S. cerevisiae Puf5p and Caenorhabditis elegans FBF-2. Pab1p interacts with oligo(A) tracts in the HO 3′-UTR, a target of Puf5p, to dramatically enhance the efficiency of Puf5p repression. Both the Pab1p ability to activate translation and interact with eukaryotic initiation factor 4G (eIF4G) were required to observe maximal repression by Puf5p. Repression was also more efficient when Pab1p was bound in close proximity to Puf5p. Puf5p may disrupt translation initiation by interfering with the interaction between Pab1p and eIF4G. Finally, we demonstrate two separable mechanisms of translational repression employed by Puf5p: a Pab1p-dependent mechanism and a Pab1p-independent mechanism.
Geophysical surveys of earthquake-induced liquefaction deposits in the New Madrid seismic zone

We explore the effectiveness and limitations of electrical and electromagnetic methods in imaging buried, earthquake-induced liquefaction deposits. Geophysical surveys conducted at liquefaction sites in the New Madrid seismic zone (NMSZ) in the central United States demonstrate that these subsurface-imaging techniques can be useful tools in paleoseismology. Paleoseismological studies of liquefaction features provide one of the few means for estimating recurrence intervals of large earthquakes in the NMSZ, a region with widespread evidence of strong ground shaking but short instrumental record. Noninvasive geophysical methods minimize ground disturbance during these studies, an attribute of particular importance when the studies are conducted at federally protected archaeological sites. Surveys such as those described here can be used to locate buried liquefaction deposits and to site trenches for detailed geologic studies.
Magnetic measurements of curium metal, CmF3, and CmOCl

Abstract Magnetic susceptibility measurements of curium metal in the temperature range 145–550°K followed the Curie-Weiss law with an effective moment of 7·99±0·15 μ B and show the metallic valence to be approximately three. Similar measurements on tripositive curium compounds also follow the Curie-Weiss law in the temperature range 77–298°K with an effective moment of 7·65±0·10 μ B .
Reliable packaging for parylene-based flexible retinal implant

MEMS technology has been used more and more in biomedical application for neural prosthetic implantation [1, 2]. These devices, however, will have to endure harsh and corrosive body fluids [3]. Therefore, biostable and hermetic-like packaging is needed to protect the implant. This work reports the package reliability of parylene-based retinal implant using active (i.e., with electrical signals applied) and accelerated lifetime soaking test in saline. Commercial amplifier chips, dummy conduction chips, and discrete components are tested and the failure modes are examined. It is found that the proposed parylene-metal-parylene flexible composite sandwich layers indeed have longer lifetime than traditional inflexible silicone-parylene combination. In addition, the chip size effect on lifetime is observed that smaller chips have longer lifetime under the same protection.
Cone Dominance of the Human Early Receptor Potential

THE early receptor potential (ERP) of the frog and monkey retinas is generated chiefly by cone visual pigments, even though the predominant visual pigment in these retinas is rhodopsin1,2. Rhodopsin, however, is responsible for the large ERP of the rod-dominated rat retina3. The purpose of the experiments reported here was to determine whether the ERP of the rod-dominated human retina is generated primarily by cone pigments or by rhodopsin. The rate of ERP recovery after a bleaching flash was compared with the rates of rod and cone dark adaptation measured psychophysically after the same bleaching flash.
Method for the Rapid Estimation of the Total Body Drug Clearance and Adjustment of Dosage Regimens in Patients During a Constant-Rate Intravenous Infusion

A simple method is proposed to estimate the total body clearance and biological half-life of drugs in patients by determining two blood or plasma levels of drugs separated by an appropriate interval during the constant-rate intravenous infusion. The method is based on the assumptions that the drug disposition in the body can be adequately described by the linear onecompartment open model and its apparent volume of distribution can be estimated with a reasonable degree of accuracy from the literature data. The validity of this newly proposed method was demonstrated in three rabbits using theophylline as a test drug. Results of theoretical error analyses indicate that the method is potentially useful in providing an early guide for dosing adjustments for those potent drugs whose elimination rates have been shown to vary greatly in patients. The method may be particularly useful in patients with changing elimination kinetics of drugs. Effects of the accuracy in Vdestimate, plasma level assay, and sampling time interval on the error of total body clearance estimation are discussed.
Excitons, phonons, and interfaces in GaAs/AlAs quantum-well structures.

We report photoluminescence and resonant-Raman-scattering studies of single GaAs/AlAs quantum-well structures. Splittings of the exciton peaks show that there is a large-scale island structure at the interfaces. Shifts in the absolute exciton energies of quantum wells grown at different substrate temperatures and also the form of the optical-phonon energies as a function of both mode index and quantum-well width indicate that there also exists a small-scale structure on the interfaces.
Collagen mutation causes changes of the microdamage morphology in bone of an OI mouse model

Previous studies have postulated that ultrastructural changes may alter the pattern and capacity of microdamage accumulation in bone. Using an osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) mouse model, this study was performed to investigate the correlation of collagen mutation with the microdamage morphology and the associated brittleness of bone. In this study, femurs from mild OI and wild type mice were fatigued under four-point bending to create microdamage in the specimens. Then, the microdamage morphology of these specimens was examined using the bulk-staining technique with basic fuchsin. Similar with the results of previous studies, it was observed that linear microcracks were formed more easily in compression, whereas diffuse damage was induced more readily in tension for both wild-type and mild-type mice. However, less diffuse damage was found in the tensile side of mild OI mouse femurs (collagen mutation) compared with those of wild type mice, showing that the microdamage morphology is correlated to the brittleness of bone. The results of this study provide direct evidence that supports the prediction made by the previous numerical simulation studies, suggesting that microdamage morphology in bone is significantly correlated with the integrity of the collagen phase.
Effects of network trace sampling methods on privacy and utility metrics

Researchers choosing to share wireless-network traces with colleagues must first anonymize sensitive information, trading off the removal of information in the interest of identity protection and the preservation of useful data within the trace. While several metrics exist to quantify this privacy-utility tradeoff, they are often computationally expensive. Computing these metrics using a sample of the trace could potentially save precious time. In this paper, we examine several sampling methods to discover their effects on measurement of the privacy-utility tradeoff when anonymizing network traces. We tested the relative accuracy of several packet and flow-sampling methods on existing privacy and utility metrics. We concluded that, for our test trace, no single sampling method we examined allowed us to accurately measure the tradeoff, and that some sampling methods can produce grossly inaccurate estimates of those values. We call for further research to develop sampling methods that maintain relevant privacy and utility properties.
Can physical activity improve peak bone mass

The pediatric origin of osteoporosis has led many investigators to focus on determining factors that influence bone gain during growth and methods for optimizing this gain. Bone responds to bone loading activities by increasing mass or size. Overall, pediatric studies have found a positive effect of bone loading on bone size and accrual, but the types of loads necessary for a bone response have only recently been investigated in human studies. Findings indicate that responses vary by sex, maturational status, and are site-specific. Estrogen status, body composition, and nutritional status also may influence the bone response to loading. Despite the complex interrelationships among these various factors, it is prudent to conclude that increased physical activity throughout life is likely to optimize bone health.
Demolished Houses, Monumentality, and Memory in Roman Culture

This article examines the tradition of punitive house demolition during the Roman Republic, but from a sociocultural rather than institutional-legal perspective. Exploiting recent scholarship on the Roman house, on exemplarity, and on memory sanctions, I argue that narratives of house demolition constitute a form of ethically inflected political discourse, whose purpose is to stigmatize certain social actors as malefactors of a particular sort (“aspiration to kingship” being the central instance). The demolition itself is symbolically resonant, and the resultant stigma is propagated by subsequent monuments—various structures, toponyms, narratives, etc.—that attach to the housesite. These monuments are thought to bear the trace of what went before, hence transmit an account of the alleged malefactor9s deed and disgrace. Far from obliterating the doer of misdeeds, then, the discourse of punitive house demolition fixes him in cultural memory as a negative exemplum .
Pulsed Laser Deposition and Characterization of Zn1−xMnxO Films

Here we present our results of structural, optical, and magnetic measurements of Zn 1−x Mn x O thin films. These films were grown epitaxially on (0001) sapphire substrates by using pulsed laser deposition technique. The maximum Mn content (x=0.36) is found to be much higher than allowed by thermal equlibrium limit (x∼0.13) due to the non-equilibrium nature of the pulsed laser deposition. All the films investigated here were found to be single phase with orientation epitaxial relationship. A linear increase in the c-axis lattice constant was observed with increase in Mn concentration. Optical transmittance measurements showed an increase in the insulating band-gap (E g ) with increase in Mn concentration. DC magnetization measurements showed that there is no long range ferromagnetic ordering down to 10 K.
ℋ-matrices for the convection-diffusion equation

Hierarchical matrices (ℋ-matrices) provide a technique for the sparse approximation of large, fully populated matrices. This technique has been shown to be applicable to stiffness matrices arising in boundary element method applications where the kernel function displays certain smoothness properties. The error estimates for an approximation of the kernel function by a separable function can be carried over directly to error estimates for an approximation of the stiffness matrix by an ℋ-matrix, using a certain standard partitioning and admissibility condition for matrix blocks. Similarly, ℋ-matrix techniques can be applied in the finite element context where it is the inverse of the stiffness matrix that is fully populated. Here one needs a separable approximation of Green's function of the underlying boundary value problem in order to prove approximability by matrix blocks of low rank. Unfortunately, Green's function for the convection-diffusion equation does not satisfy the required smoothness properties, hence prohibiting a straightforward generalization of the separable approximation through Taylor polynomials. We will use Green's function to motivate a modification in the (hierarchical) partitioning of the index set and as a consequence the resulting hierarchy of block partitionings as well as the admissibility condition. We will illustrate the effect of the proposed modifications by numerical results.
Imaging Therapeutic Proteins in Gelatin for Controlled Drug Release

Preliminary results from this study show that x-ray microcomputed tomography can be used to image model proteins for bone inducing growth factors. Small quantities (<1 μg protein/mg gelatin) of soybean trypsin inhibitor labeled with either gold nanoparticles or nonradioactive iodine were detected using synchrotron radiation. These results could lead to a new method of measuring the release profile of therapeutic proteins.
Observations of serotonin and FMRFamide-like immunoreactivity in palp sensory structures and the anterior nervous system of spionid polychaetes.

Evidence suggests that ciliated sensory structures on the feeding palps of spionid polychaetes may function as chemoreceptors to modulate deposit-feeding activity. To investigate the probable sensory nature of these ciliated cells, we used immunohistochemistry, epi-fluorescence, and confocal laser scanning microscopy to label and image sensory cells, nerves, and their organization relative to the anterior central nervous system in several spionid polychaete species. Antibodies directed against acetylated αtubulin were used to label the nervous system and detail the innervation of palp sensory cells in all species. In addition, the distribution of serotonin (5-HT) and FMRFamide-like immunoreactivity was compared in the spionid polychaetes Dipolydora quadrilobata and Pygospio elegans. The distribution of serotonin immunoreactivity was also examined in the palps of Polydora cornuta and Streblospio benedicti. Serotonin immunoreactivity was concentrated in cells underlying the food groove of the palps, in the palp nerves, and in the cerebral ganglion. FMRFamide-like immunoreactivity was associated with the cerebral ganglia, nuchal organs and palp nerves, and also with the perikarya of ciliated sensory cells on the palps. J. Morphol., 2008. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Validation of the HITS Domestic Violence Screening Tool With Males

Background and objectives To date, screening tools for domestic violence have been validated only for use with female patients. A four-item HITS (Hurt-Insult-Threaten-Scream) screening tool is one of those instruments. The purpose of the current research was to validate the HITS screening tool in a population of male patients. Methods In Phase I of the study, 78 non-victim male subjects from an ambulatory clinic, a Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) clinic, or emergency room completed the HITS and the Conflict Tactics Scale to establish the concurrent validity of the HITS. In Phase II, Optimal Data Analysis (ODA) was used to establish the construct validity of the HITS by identifying the score that reliably differentiated Phase I non-victims from 17 self-identified male victims of domestic violence. Results Concurrent validity of the HITS was good. ODA found that the score of 11 on the HITS differentiated between non-victims and victims. Sensitivity and specificity were 88% and 97%, respectively. Predictive values were 97% for non-victims and 88% for victims. The positive and negative likelihood ratios were 34.41 and 0.12, respectively. Conclusions HITS differentiated between male victimized respondents from non-victims in clinical settings.
New study on MLE for censored lifetime data

This paper presents, a new study for censored lifetime data. Question arises frequently in engineering practice regarding the quality of reliability data analysis using the maximum likelihood estimates for the data with many suspensions such as field data. With a large number of suspensions, the predicted reliability resulted from the existing MLE is sometimes too optimistic. It is found out that, when suspensions are present, the MLE resulted from the existing sample likelihood function may not have all excellent statistical properties as claimed. A new sample likelihood function for random censored data is then proposed in this paper. The resulted ML estimators shall have all excellent statistical properties that MLE are supposed to have. A heuristic proof is given and numerical substantiation is presented.
GaAs MMIC tunable directional coupler

This paper presents a tunable GaAs MMIC directional coupler. Design equations for a hybrid coupler with ideal tunable capacitances are derived to determine the range of capacitances for the desired coupling tuning range. The 2GHz coupler is implemented in a 0.5 µm GaAs process with Schottky varactor diodes, and occupies an area of 2.2mm×1.4 mm. Over a bias range of 0V to −1.5V the coupling coefficient ranges from 6.6 to 60 dB, or 53.4 dB of dynamic range at 2 GHz. The input return loss for the device is better than 12 dB for all bias voltages and is better than 20 dB for coupling coefficients from 23 to 60 dB with isolation better than 17 dB.
Existence of relativistic stars in f ( R ) gravity

We refute recent claims in the literature that stars with relativistically deep potentials cannot exist in $f(R)$ gravity. Numerical examples of stable stars, including relativistic ($G{M}_{\ensuremath{\star}}/{r}_{\ensuremath{\star}}\ensuremath{\sim}0.1$), constant density stars, are studied. As a star is made larger, nonlinear ``chameleon'' effects screen much of the star's mass, stabilizing gravity at the stellar center. Furthermore, we show that the onset of this chameleon screening is unrelated to strong gravity. At large central pressures $Pg\ensuremath{\rho}/3$, $f(R)$ gravity, like general relativity, does have a maximum gravitational potential, but at a slightly smaller value: $G{M}_{\ensuremath{\star}}/{r}_{\ensuremath{\star}}{|}_{\mathrm{max}﻿}=0.345l4/9$ for constant density and one choice of parameters. This difference is associated with negative central curvature $R$ under general relativity not being accessed in the $f(R)$ model, but does not apply to any known astrophysical object.
Metal‐assisted esterification: glutaric acid–iron(II) complexes in the gas phase

Transition metal ions are routinely used to assist organic reactions; however, direct detection of the intermediates in such reactions is uncommon. Here, we demonstrate a transition metal ion-assisted reaction between glutaric acid (L) and methanol, using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Esterification of glutaric acid does not occur in aqueous methanol solution under ESI conditions, but the FeII-bound acid cluster, [FeII L2 - H]+, adds methanol and dehydrates to give rise to an abundant product ion with a 14 Da increased mass. The occurrence of methyl esterification is supported by collision-induced dissociation and isotopic labeling data, which indicate that the sequence by which the product ion is generated is loss of water, followed by the addition of methanol. Electrospray ionization conditions, specifically the tube lens offset voltage, strongly affect the reaction efficiency, presumably through control of the dehydration process. Other transition metal ions, such as NiII, ZnII, CoII and CuII, also show distinctive metal-assisted reactions.
Towards Teaching Software Craftsmanship

We report on the experience of the first offering of the course, "The Craft of Software Development." The purpose of the course is to identify and remediate individual weaknesses as software developers. Each student was asked to pick a personal learning focus in an area of known software development weakness for that student. Through a "maiden speech" they asked their class community for help in creating a learning plan to address their area of weakness. Learning plans typically incorporated known apprenticeship patterns such as "Find a Coach," "Breakable Toys," and "Practice, Practice, Practice." After creating their learning plan, students identified metrics to track their progress towards their goal. While executing their individual learning plans, the class performed programming katas which are specific programming exercises to work on issues relevant for the entire class. Several issues emerged in the first offering in the course and several suggestions are provided for incorporation in the next offering of the course.
Bacterial Agents Detected in a Lo-Year Study of Bovine Abortions and Stillbirths

In a lo-year survey started in 1980, specimens from 8,995 bovine abortions and stillbirths were submitted to the South Dakota Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory. Of these, 8,962 were suitable for some type of examination. Bacteria were determined to be the cause of 1,299 (14.49%). The 5 bacteria most commonly associated with bovine abortion or stillbirth were Actinomyces pyogenes, 378 (4.22%); Bacillus spp., 321 (3.58%); Listeria spp., 121 (1.35%); Escherichia coli, 98 (1.09%); and Leptospira interrogans, 79 (0.88%). Twelve other genera of bacteria were associated with ≥ 10 abortions or stillbirths, and 12 more species were associated with ≤ 10 abortions or stillbirths. A 10-year survey (1980-1989) investigated bovine abortions and stillbirths at the South Dakota Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory. The ma- terials and methods, a summary of the results, and a report of the viral agents found are published else- where 10,1l Of the specimens received from 8,995 bo- vine abortions and stillbirths, 33 were unsuitable for any type of examination. In this article, I discuss the bacteria and lesions associated with the remaining 8,962 aborted and stillborn bovine fetuses and the syndromes associated with them.
Comparison of ultracapacitor electric circuit models

Due to ultracapacitorspsila unique features, the electrical performances and reliabilities of electrical systems using ultracapacitors can be improved. It is important to have a good ultracapacitor model for simulation and assisting electrical system design and product development. Several kinds of ultracapacitor models are given these years. Especially, electric circuit models are the interested ones for electrical engineers. This paper concentrates on the electric circuit model. Three basic RC network models are discussed in detail, including modeling ideas, circuit formation, linear/nonlinear factors and evaluations of each model. The general electric circuit model considering the inductance and leakage current effects are given. Model selection depends on the specific applications of ultracapacitor. Based on the analysis in this paper, recommendations of ultracapacitor selection strategies are provided.
Instrument Reporting Practices in Second Language Research.

Second language (L2) researchers often have to develop or change the instruments they use to measure numerous constructs (Norris & Ortega, 2012). Given the prevalence of researcher-developed and -adapted data collection instruments, and given the profound effect instrumentation can have on results, thorough reporting of instrumentation is important for interpreting study results, conducting replications, forming and modifying L2 theory, and performing meta-analytic research. Transparency in instrument reporting should include information on the origins, development, piloting, and reliability of instruments as well as information about inter-rater reliability. Prior research, however, indicates gaps in L2 research transparency (Cohen & Macaro, 2010; Plonsky & Gass, 2011). The present study examined instrument reporting practices in three L2 journals over a period of 5 years. Origins were reported for 58% of the instruments, descriptions of piloting were provided for 17% of the instruments, reliability coefficients were reported for 28% of the instruments (with Cronbach's alpha being the most frequently used index: 22%), and inter-rater reliability information was provided for 42% of the instruments (with percentage agreement being the most frequently used calculation: 16%). Seventeen percent of the instruments were made available either online or in an appendix. This snapshot of current reporting practices indicates areas where transparency could be improved.
Fiber-optic gyroscopes with broad-band sources

The use of broad-band sources, polarized and unpolarized, in fiber gyroscopes with linearly birefringent fibers, is studied theoretically. Polarization-mode coupling in the fiber is modeled using one-mode coupling center. Gyroscope output equations are obtained which are useful in interpreting an origin of fiber noise in the limiting cases of low and high fiber birefringence. Interference effects in the output are shown to be related to mode coupling at particular locations in the fiber. The extent of these locations is governed by a depolarization length for which numerical estimates are given.
Loss of Col3a1, the gene for Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type IV, results in neocortical dyslamination.

It has recently been discovered that Collagen III, the encoded protein of the type IV Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) gene, is one of the major constituents of the pial basement membrane (BM) and serves as the ligand for GPR56. Mutations in GPR56 cause a severe human brain malformation called bilateral frontoparietal polymicrogyria, in which neurons transmigrate through the BM causing severe mental retardation and frequent seizures. To further characterize the brain phenotype of Col3a1 knockout mice, we performed a detailed histological analysis. We observed a cobblestone-like cortical malformation, with BM breakdown and marginal zone heterotopias in Col3a1−/− mouse brains. Surprisingly, the pial BM appeared intact at early stages of development but starting as early as embryonic day (E) 11.5, prominent BM defects were observed and accompanied by neuronal overmigration. Although collagen III is expressed in meningeal fibroblasts (MFs), Col3a1−/− MFs present no obvious defects. Furthermore, the expression and posttranslational modification of α-dystroglycan was undisturbed in Col3a1−/− mice. Based on the previous finding that mutations in COL3A1 cause type IV EDS, our study indicates a possible common pathological pathway linking connective tissue diseases and brain malformations.
Evaluation of Timing Characteristics of Industrial Ethernet Networks Synchronized by means of IEEE 1588

This paper deals with time synchronization of distributed systems over Industrial Ethernet network. A new simulation model of IEEE1588 PTP is presented and discussed. The development platform used for simulation is OPNETtrade. Architecture of the proposed model is explained in details, highlighting some special features introduced by authors: modelization of drift and rate variations in the local oscillator and packet timestamping at any level of the protocol stack. Three typical industrial application scenarios have been simulated using the proposed model. Effects of bandwidth usage and network topology have been studied and results are reported. For instance, standard deviation of time offset in the order of 5 mus can be obtained in networks with 48 nodes and cycle time of 1 ms.
Value Pluralism: A Philosophical Clarification

Patrick Overeem and Jelle Verhoef pose a serious challenge to Hendrik Wagenaar and Michael Spicer, both of whom attempt to derive prescriptive conclusions for public administration from value pluralism (VP). Wagenaar and Spicer have responded with puzzlement, adding the counter-charge that Overeem and Verhoef have misinterpreted their views. Indeed, there is misinterpretation afoot, but the culprits are Wagenaar and Spicer. Although they both claim to have adopted VP, neither demonstrates an adequate grasp of that position. Consequently, they miss the force of Overeem and Verhoef’s arguments, and their responses introduce new confusions.
Partial body weight support treadmill training speed influences paretic and non-paretic leg muscle activation, stride characteristics, and ratings of perceived exertion during acute stroke rehabilitation

Abstract Background Intensive task-specific training is promoted as one approach for facilitating neural plastic brain changes and associated motor behavior gains following neurologic injury. Partial body weight support treadmill training (PBWSTT), is one task-specific approach frequently used to improve walking during the acute period of stroke recovery ( Objective To examine the impact of four walking speeds on stride characteristics, lower extremity muscle demands (both paretic and non-paretic), Borg ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), and blood pressure. Design A prospective, repeated measures design was used. Methods Ten inpatients post unilateral stroke participated. Following three familiarization sessions, participants engaged in PBWSTT at four predetermined speeds (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mph) while bilateral electromyographic and stride characteristic data were recorded. RPE was evaluated immediately following each trial. Results Stride length, cadence, and paretic single limb support increased with faster walking speeds (p ⩽ 0.001), while non-paretic single limb support remained nearly constant. Faster walking resulted in greater peak and mean muscle activation in the paretic medial hamstrings, vastus lateralis and medial gastrocnemius, and non-paretic medial gastrocnemius (p ⩽ 0.001). RPE also was greatest at the fastest compared to two slowest speeds (p Conclusions During the acute phase of stroke recovery, PBWSTT at the fastest speed (2.0 mph) promoted practice of a more optimal gait pattern with greater intensity of effort as evidenced by the longer stride length, increased between-limb symmetry, greater muscle activation, and higher RPE compared to training at the slowest speeds.
Renal Medullary Functional Architecture and the Urinary Concentrating Mechanism

Most mammals are capable of producing urine having an osmolality that is greater than that of plasma. Production of this concentrated urine is one of the chief mechanisms by which the kidney maintains salt and water balance. Many underlying principles of fluid and solute transport in nephrons and blood vessels are understood to some extent; but how fluid and solute movements throughout the renal medulla are integrated into a unified mechanism for concentrating urine remains poorly understood. During the past two decades we have made important advances in understanding medullary architecture, tubular structure and membrane transporters associated with transepithelial solute and water fluxes within the medulla. These advances have led to identification of significant functional interactions between tubules and interstitium. Defects in expression and function of a number of the medullary membrane transporters are known to underlie several human disorders associated with Na and water imbalance and have provided new insights into the urine concentrating mechanism.
Atoms versus Bonds: How Students Look at Spectra.

Students often face difficulties when presented with chemical structures and asked to relate them to properties of those substances. Learning to relate structures to properties, both in predicting ...
Vesicular-Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Fragments as a Means of Endophyte Identification at Hydrophytic Sites

it by having smaller teliospores. More importantly, teliospores of H. nsukkaensis are adorned with two types of appendages. The appendages on the apical area of the distal cell and free portion of the proximal cell are minutely truncate while those found along the sides of the cells are elongate, tapering at the tip, and directed downwards. This rust had been collected in other locations in the Nsukka area on the same host.
Temperature and the Development of the Cabbage Looper

No development of the immature stages of Trichoplusia ni (Hubner) occurred when the insects were exposed to a temperature of 7.2°C. Also, the earlier the stage at which the insects were exposed to temperatures of 10.0 and 12.8°C, the fewer completing development to pupae. No adults were obtained after exposure of immature stages to 10.0°C, but some were obtained after exposure to 12.7°C, though most were deformed. Sometimes larvae reared at 10.0 and 12.7°C had six larval instars instead of normal five. Little development of loopers occurred at 38.3°C, regardless of the stage of development at the time of the initial exposure. Some adults were obtained at 35°C, but all were deformed. Development at 32.2°C was comparable to that at 26.7°C. However, mating and fecundity of the resulting adults were lower at 32.2°C, and none of the F1 edggs hatched.
Three-dimensional block-based restoration integrated with wide-field fluorescence microscopy for the investigation of thick specimens with spatially variant refractive index

Development of a block-based restoration (BBR) method that addresses spatially variant (SV) imaging in wide-field fluorescence microscopy of thick samples is presented. The BBR method is based on a block-based imaging model, which approximates SV imaging using an efficient orthonormal basis decomposition of multiple SV point-spread functions computed at block vertices. The effect of reducing the number of blocks needed to account for SV imaging on the restoration accuracy was investigated with simulations using a numerical lung tissue phantom relevant to biological studies. Results show that reducing the number of blocks by 82% and 98% resulted in a 19% and 27% reduction in restoration accuracy, respectively, thereby establishing a reasonable tradeoff between computational resources and accuracy. Comparison of the BBR method to existing methods (deconvolution) that do not account for SV imaging demonstrates a 90% improvement in restoration accuracy. BBR results from synthetic and experimental images of a controlled test sample with SV refractive index (RI) show consistency, providing a validation of the BBR approach. In this study, information from DIC and fluorescence images was combined to identify regions with changing RI within the imaging volume. The BBR method provides a first step toward computationally tractable reconstruction of images from thick samples.
Analysis of disinfection effect monitoring result of medical institutions in Changping district of Beijing from 2010 to 2012

Objective To investigate the disinfection status of medical institutions at various levels in Changping district of Beingjing,so as to provide scientific basis for guiding disinfection of medical institutions. Methods The disinfection effect monitoring results of medical institutions from 2010 to 2012 were conducted statistical analysis. Results The qualified rates were 90. 85%,95. 69% and 98. 48% respectively from 2010 to 2012,and the difference was statistically significant( χ2= 71. 45, P 0. 05). The qualified rates of indoor air,object surface,hand,pressure steam sterilizer,disinfectant in use and polluted water were 82. 87%,98. 14%,92. 94%,99. 07%,100% and 96. 43% respectively. The difference were statistically significant in different detection items and hospitals at different levels( χ2= 251. 36,P 0. 05,χ2= 31. 91,P 0. 05). Conclusion The disinfection quality of medical institutions were general good in Changping district,showing higher qualified rates. There was still problems need to strengthen the monitoring and management of disinfection.
Lattice study of large N c QCD

We present a lattice simulation study of large ${N}_{c}$ regularities of meson and baryon spectroscopy in $SU({N}_{c})$ gauge theory with two flavors of dynamical fundamental representation fermions. Systems investigated include ${N}_{c}=2$, 3, 4, and 5, over a range of fermion masses parametrized by a squared pseudoscalar to vector meson mass ratio between about 0.2 to 0.7. Good agreement with large ${N}_{c}$ scaling is observed in the static potential, in meson masses and decay constants, and in baryon spectroscopy.
Primary vaginal dilation for vaginal agenesis: strategies to anticipate challenges and optimize outcomes.

Purpose of review Primary vaginal dilation is patient controlled, safe, less painful, and much lower cost compared with operative vaginoplasty and is considered first-line treatment for vaginal agenesis for women with Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome and androgen insensitivity syndrome. Recent findings This review will highlight studies that assess the optimal methods of primary vaginal dilation and clarify ideal counseling, frequency of dilation, management of side-effects, and long-term physical and psychological outcomes. Summary Providers who care for women with vaginal agenesis should be prepared to not only teach the technical skill of dilation, but also to assess readiness and troubleshoot symptoms associated with dilation.
The Precarious Balance

No phenomenon in Taylor’s lifetime affected him so profoundly as did the Cold War, which dominated international relations after 1945. In consequence, he was inspired to write at length about European diplomatic relations during a period when the European states were still sovereign. The rationale was obvious. The Cold War engaged the two post-war superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union, with Britain as poor relation to America and the European continent caught in the middle. The subordination of both Britain and Europe to the superpowers, and in such a hateful context, disturbed Taylor to his bones. The Cold War ‘devastated my life’, he wrote later, adding that he had ‘dreamt of a Europe that would be free from both America and Russia’.1
Community College Teacher Education Baccalaureate Programs: Early Evidence Yields Mixed Results

Faced with declining numbers of students in teacher education programs, policymakers in many states are considering new actions that might increase teacher supply. One approach that has gained incr...
The Effects of Perceived Authority on the Decision-Making Process of Mock Jurors

The jury is one of the most important decision making small groups in the United States; however, little is known about how juries render decisions and what may potentially impact their decision making process. Of the few studies that have specifically addressed the jury decision making process, most have employed procedures that are less than realistic and even fewer have focused on the role of the foreperson in influencing the opinions of other jurors. In the present study, in order to determine the foreperson’s impact in a more realistic setting, 33 mock jurors viewed a simulated trial, completed a pre-deliberation vote, deliberated under a confederate foreperson who employed various attitudes (positive, negative, and neutral) towards the defendant, completed a post-deliberation vote, and completed a post-deliberation questionnaire. A Chi-Square analysis revealed that the attitude of the foreman had a direct statistically significant impact on the post-deliberation decisions of the other jury members. A Chi-Square analysis also revealed that the attitude exhibited by the jury foreman has a marginally significant impact on who jurors identify as being the most persuasive member of the jury during deliberations.
Making a Case for Religious Freedom: The Church of Scientology Responds to Claims Made in an Unauthorized Biography of Tom Cruise

This article examines a 14-page statement released by the Church of Scientology in response to author Andrew Morton’s unauthorized biography of Tom Cruise, one of Scientology’s most notable celebri...
Comparison of region-of-interest-averaged and pixel-averaged analysis of DCE-MRI data based on simulations and pre-clinical experiments

Differences between region-of-interest (ROI) and pixel-by-pixel analysis of dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI data were investigated in this study with computer simulations and pre-clinical experiments. ROIs were simulated with 10, 50, 100, 200, 400, and 800 different pixels. For each pixel, a contrast agent concentration as a function of time, C(t), was calculated using the Tofts DCE-MRI model with randomly generated physiological parameters (K trans and v e) and the Parker population arterial input function. The average C(t) for each ROI was calculated and then K trans and v e for the ROI was extracted. The simulations were run 100 times for each ROI with new K trans and v e generated. In addition, white Gaussian noise was added to C(t) with 3, 6, and 12 dB signal-to-noise ratios to each C(t). For pre-clinical experiments, Copenhagen rats (n = 6) with implanted prostate tumors in the hind limb were used in this study. The DCE-MRI data were acquired with a temporal resolution of ~5 s in a 4.7 T animal scanner, before, during, and after a bolus injection (<5 s) of Gd-DTPA for a total imaging duration of ~10 min. K trans and v e were calculated in two ways: (i) by fitting C(t) for each pixel, and then averaging the pixel values over the entire ROI, and (ii) by averaging C(t) over the entire ROI, and then fitting averaged C(t) to extract K trans and v e. The simulation results showed that in heterogeneous ROIs, the pixel-by-pixel averaged K trans was ~25% to ~50% larger (p < 0.01) than the ROI-averaged K trans. At higher noise levels, the pixel-averaged K trans was greater than the 'true' K trans, but the ROI-averaged K trans was lower than the 'true' K trans. The ROI-averaged K trans was closer to the true K trans than pixel-averaged K trans for high noise levels. In pre-clinical experiments, the pixel-by-pixel averaged K trans was ~15% larger than the ROI-averaged K trans. Overall, with the Tofts model, the extracted physiological parameters from the pixel-by-pixel averages were larger than the ROI averages. These differences were dependent on the heterogeneity of the ROI.
Immune Function in Critically Ill Dogs.

Background People with critical illness (CI) commonly develop various forms of immune dysfunction, however, there is limited information concerning immune dysfunction in dogs with CI. Hypothesis The immune response in CI dogs differs from that of healthy dogs. Animals Immunologic variables were compared between 14 dogs with CI, defined as APPLEfast score of >20 points, admitted to the University of Missouri Veterinary Health Center Small Animal Clinic Intensive Care Unit and healthy controls (n = 15). Methods Cohort study evaluating constitutive and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 production, phagocytosis of opsonized E. coli and respiratory burst capacity after opsonized E. coli or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) stimulation, peripheral blood lymphocyte phenotype, and monocyte expressions of HLA-DR and TLR-4. Results Lipopolysaccharide-stimulated leukocyte TNF-α (median, Q1, Q3; CI, 49, 49, 120; control, 655, 446, 1174 pg/mL; P = < 0.001), IL-6 (median, Q1, Q3; CI, 49, 49, 64; control, 100, 49, 166 pg/mL; P = 0.029), and IL-10 (CI, 49, 49, 56; control, 96, 49, 203 pg/mL; P = 0.014) production and both E. coli (median, Q1, Q3; CI, 60.5, 43, 88.5; control, 86.6, 81, 89.2%; P = 0.047) and PMA (CI, 40, 11.7, 70; control, 93, 83, 97.6%; P = < 0.001)-stimulated respiratory burst capacity significantly decreased in CI dogs. Percentage of monocytes expressing TLR-4 greater in the CI dogs (median, Q1, Q3; CI, 46.9, 24.3, 64.2; control, 16.4, 9.4, 26.2%; P = 0.005). Conclusion These findings suggest dogs with CI develop immune system alterations that result in reduced respiratory burst function and cytokine production despite upregulation of TLR-4.
Different Membrane Pathways Mediate Ca2+ Influx in Adrenal Chromaffin Cells Exposed to 150-400 ns Electric Pulses.

Exposing adrenal chromaffin cells to 5 ns electric pulses (nsPEF) causes a rapid rise in intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) that is solely the result of Ca2+ influx through voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (VGCCs). This study explored the effect of longer duration nsPEF on [Ca2+]i. Single 150, 200, or 400 ns pulses at 3.1 kV/cm evoked rapid increases in [Ca2+]i, the magnitude of which increased linearly with pulse width and electric field amplitude. Recovery of [Ca2+]i to prestimulus levels was faster for 150 ns exposures. Regardless of pulse width, no rise in [Ca2+]i occurred in the absence of extracellular Ca2+, indicating that the source of Ca2+ was from outside the cell. Ca2+ responses evoked by a 150 ns pulse were inhibited to varying degrees by ω-agatoxin IVA, ω-conotoxin GVIA, nitrendipine or nimodipine, antagonists of P/Q-, N-, and L-type VGCCs, respectively, and by 67% when all four types of VGCCs were blocked simultaneously. The remaining Ca2+ influx insensitive to VGCC inhibitors was attributed to plasma membrane nanoporation, which comprised the E-field sensitive component of the response. Both pathways of Ca2+ entry were inhibited by 200 μM Cd2+. These results demonstrate that, in excitable chromaffin cells, single 150-400 ns pulses increased the permeability of the plasma membrane to Ca2+ in addition to causing Ca2+ influx via VGCCs.
Toward a Deductive Interface

This chapter proposes a series of alterations to the traditional spreadsheet interface in order to support our deductive extension. As we do so, we strive to remain conservative with respect to the traditional spreadsheet and to make the complete set of deductive functionalities available. We rely on the cognitive tools of Chap. 8 in a prescriptive way to achieve these goals.
Induction of c-fos by prostaglandin F2 alpha in human ciliary smooth muscle cells.

Purpose To evaluate the induction of the proto-oncogene c-fos in cultured human ciliary muscle cells by prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) by 17-phenyltrinor-PGF 2 alpha. Method Human ciliary muscle cells were grown to confluency in monolayer cell culture, placed in medium containing 1% fetal bovine serum for 5 days, treated by addition of PGF2 alpha or the trinor derivative, fixed, and then immunocytochemically stained using an antibody to c-Fos, the protein product of the translation of c-fos. Results After treatment with either agonist, the mean induction score (proportion of brightly immunostained nuclei) increased to a maximal level during the first hour and returned to basal levels 4 to 8 hours after treatment. Increasing the agonist concentration increased the maximal level, but had no effect on the time course of the response. The dose responses after 1 hour of treatment with PGF2 alpha or 17-phenyltrinor-PGF2 alpha increased similarly between 1.6 x 10(-9) M and 2 x 10(-7) M. When treated with 1 x 10(-6) M of either agonist, however, the induction was half that obtained at 2 x 10(-7) M. Conclusion Exposure of ciliary smooth muscle cells to either PGF2 alpha or 17-phenyltrinor-PGF2 alpha induces an immediate early gene expression response that is similar to c-Fos induction in other cell systems. These results establish the basis for future investigations evaluating the potential role of c-fos induction in mediating the effects of PGF2 alpha on uveoscleral outflow.