cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Patterns of human–coyote conflicts in the Denver Metropolitan Area†

In many cities throughout North America, human–coyote conflicts are an emerging problem. Little research has described temporal and spatial patterns of human–coyote conflicts, although such information can be an important step in developing and optimizing management efforts. We used reports from 22 entities within the Denver Metropolitan Area (DMA) in Colorado that provided information on coyote observations (signs, sightings, and encounters) and conflicts (incidents, pet-attacks, and human-attacks). Our objectives were to 1) define, quantify, and map categories of coyote observations and conflicts, and 2) investigate temporal and spatial patterns of conflicts, particularly related to land cover types and housing density classes. We compiled 4,006 coyote reports, including 78 signs (1.9%), 3,023 sightings (75.5%), 395 encounters (9.9%), 26 incidents (0.6%), 471 pet-attacks (11.8%), and 13 human-attacks (0.3%). We found a strong seasonal pattern with reports of both observations and conflicts highest during December–March and lowest during July–September. Numbers of coyote conflicts were disproportionately greater in open space and development land cover types (in contrast to natural and agricultural land cover) and in suburban housing areas (in contrast to urban, exurban, and rural areas). Hotspots of coyote conflicts were apparent in the southern region of the DMA, possibly because coyotes had better access to development, and hence interaction with residents, via natural areas bordering urban areas; reporting bias may have also influenced this outcome. Our results will help target management efforts, particularly those focused on people (e.g., education), but also highlight the critical need for improved methods of collecting conflict information via a standardized reporting mechanism to help reduce bias. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.
Randomized comparative trial of a social cognitive skills group for children with autism spectrum disorder.

Objective This study evaluated the efficacy of a targeted social skills training group in school-aged children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The intervention, Seaver-NETT ( Nonverbal communication, Emotion recognition, and Theory of mind Training), is a 12-session cognitive-behavioral intervention (CBI) for verbal, school-aged children targeting ASD-specific social behavioral impairments. Method Sixty-nine children with ASD, 8 to 11 years of age, with verbal IQs greater than 70, participated in a randomized comparative trial to examine the efficacy of NETT relative to a facilitated play group. Treatment outcomes included caregiver reports of social behavior and neuropsychological assessments of social cognition conducted by blinded raters. Outcomes were collected at baseline, endpoint, and 3 months posttreatment. Results Significant improvements were found on social behavior outcomes such as nonverbal communication, empathic responding, and social relations in the NETT condition relative to the active control at endpoint. Verbal IQ moderated the interaction effect on social behavior, with higher verbal IQ associated with improvements in the CBI condition. No significant improvements were found on social cognitive outcomes. No significant group differences were found at 3-month follow-up conducted with approximately half the sample (n = 34). Conclusion These data indicate that targeted CBI social skills groups such as NETT improve social communication deficits in verbal, school-aged children with ASD. The moderating effects of high verbal IQ suggest a need to consider participant and treatment characteristics associated with outcomes in future studies. Clinical trial registration information —Neural and Behavioral Outcomes of Social Skills Groups in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder; https://clinicaltrials.gov; NCT01190917.
Selective antagonism of the ataxic effects of zolpidem and triazolam by the GABAA/alpha1-preferring antagonist beta-CCt in squirrel monkeys.

Abstract Rationale. Delineation of the receptor mechanisms underlying the behavioral effects of benzodiazepines should allow for the development of drugs with improved clinical utility and reduced side effects. Objectives. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the role of GABAA/α1 receptors in the sedative and motor-impairing effects of benzodiazepines. Methods. Squirrel monkeys were tested with the GABAA/α1-preferring agonist zolpidem and the nonselective benzodiazepine agonist triazolam alone and in combination with the GABAA/α1-preferring antagonist β-CCt and the nonselective benzodiazepine antagonist flumazenil. During 30-min experimental sessions, all occurrences of normal behaviors like locomotion, environment- and self-directed behaviors, as well as side effects such as ataxia, rest and procumbent postures were scored. Results. Zolpidem and triazolam produced dose-dependent reductions in locomotion and environment-directed behavior and increased ataxia and procumbent posture. Triazolam, but not zolpidem, also engendered species-typical rest posture at some doses. Flumazenil antagonized all of the behavioral effects of zolpidem and triazolam, whereas β-CCt antagonized only zolpidem- and triazolam-induced ataxia. Conclusions. GABAA/α1 receptor mechanisms appear to play a key role in the ataxic effects of benzodiazepine agonists in squirrel monkeys, similar to recent results with transgenic mice. In contrast to the findings of these recent studies, GABAA mechanisms other than or in addition to those mediated at the α1 subunit may play a more important role in the sedative/hypnotic effects of benzodiazepines in squirrel monkeys.
Lessons learned from the study of soft tissue sarcoma

Soft tissue sarcoma is a rare disease. We began a prospective database for in-patients treated on the surgical service at Memorial Sloan-Kettering in 1982. We now celebrate 30 years of this database which has been reviewed and cataloged constantly on a weekly basis. We approach 10,000 treated patients. The study of this heterogeneous group of diverse pathology rising in the soft tissue has been fascinating. We have learned about demographics, prevalence, incidence, and have recognized the value of such databases in describing not just outcome but biology. Site is an important determinant of outcome and illustrates the complexities of including all sites in any staging system. For example, local recurrence in the extremity, while associated with a decrease in survival, is clearly not causative. Conversely, retroperitoneal sarcoma, particularly liposarcoma, is a common locally recurring disease with local progression often the cause of disease-specific mortality. Genetic predispositions have been defined. Radiation therapy and lymphedema, both alone and in combination, predispose to the development of sarcoma. These observations have important relevance as we increasingly utilize radiation therapy to minimize local recurrence in early stage breast cancer and ductal carcinoma in situ. It is clear that outcome is histology specific and wide variations in outcome, depending on the underlying histological types and subtypes, are evident. We have established very clearly that limb preservation as opposed to amputation is equally efficacious and does not diminish survival. Radiation therapy can limit local recurrence but must be balanced against side effects. Unfortunately, the majority of chemotherapeutic regimens have had minimal benefit.
Endovascular stent grafting of thoracic aortic aneurysms: technological advancements provide an alternative to traditional surgical repair

The use of endovascular stent grafts is a leading technological advancement in the treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysms, and is being trialed in the United States as an alternative to medical management and traditional surgical repair. Aortic stent grafts, initially used only for abdominal aortic aneurysms, have been used for over 10 years in Europe and are currently under United States Food and Drug Administration investigation for the treatment of chronic and acute aortic aneurysms. Diseases of the thoracic aorta are often present in high-risk individuals, and, as a result, there is a high morbidity and mortality rate associated with both medical and surgical management of these patients. The development and refinement of endovascular approaches have the potential to decrease the need for traditional surgical repair, especially in high-risk populations such as the elderly and those with multiple comorbidities. Endovascular technology for thoracic repair has only been used in Europe for the last 10 years, with no long-term outcomes available; however, preliminary research demonstrates favorable early and midterm outcomes showing that endovascular stent graft placement to exclude the dilated, dissected, or ruptured aorta is both technically feasible and safe for patients. The article highlights the historical perspective of endovascular stent grafting as well as a description of patient selection, the operative procedure, benefits, risks, and unresolved issues pertaining to the procedure. A brief review of aneurysm and dissection pathophysiology and management is provided, as well as postoperative management for acute care nurses and recommendations for clinical practice.
The pediatrician and congenital heart disease.

Cooperation between the pediatrician and the cardiologist is essential if patients with congenital heart disease are to be well cared for and adequately supervised during infancy and childhood. The purpose of this article is to elaborate on the role of the practicing pediatrician in recognizing and caring for the child with this disease and to set forth the required facts for his effective participation.
Addressing security, collaboration, and usability with tactical edge mobile devices and strategic cloud-based systems

Success in the future battle space is increasingly dependent on rapid access to the right information. Faced with a shrinking budget, the Government has a mandate to improve intelligence productivity, quality, and reliability. To achieve increased ISR effectiveness, leverage of tactical edge mobile devices via integration with strategic cloud-based infrastructure is the single, most likely candidate area for dramatic near-term impact. This paper discusses security, collaboration, and usability components of this evolving space. These three paramount tenets outlined below, embody how mission information is exchanged securely, efficiently, with social media cooperativeness. Tenet 1: Complete security, privacy, and data integrity, must be ensured within the net-centric battle space. This paper discusses data security on a mobile device, data at rest on a cloud-based system, authorization and access control, and securing data transport between entities. Tenet 2: Lack of collaborative information sharing and content reliability jeopardizes mission objectives and limits the end user capability. This paper discusses cooperative pairing of mobile devices and cloud systems, enabling social media style interaction via tagging, meta-data refinement, and sharing of pertinent data. Tenet 3: Fielded mobile solutions must address usability and complexity. Simplicity is a powerful paradigm on mobile platforms, where complex applications are not utilized, and simple, yet powerful, applications flourish. This paper discusses strategies for ensuring mobile applications are streamlined and usable at the tactical edge through focused features sets, leveraging the power of the back-end cloud, minimization of differing HMI concepts, and directed end-user feedback.teInput=
Variation of Morphology among Juvenile Chinook Salmon of Hatchery, Hybrid, and Wild Origin

Abstract Body morphology differed significantly between juvenile hatchery Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha that have experienced five generations of hatchery culture and juveniles derived from the wild founding stock and cultured in the same environment. All lines tested were raised in a similar hatchery environment. Thin-plate spline analysis was used to characterize the morphometric variation among these lines of fish. Hatchery fish had a more compressed body, a narrower head, shorter maxillae, and a longer and narrower caudal peduncle than wild fish. Canonical discriminant analysis was able to correctly classify 88% of hatchery fish and 90% of wild fish. Second-generation hybrids of the two lines were morphologically intermediate to but significantly different from both the hatchery and wild lines, and they appeared to be more similar to the wild line. These results suggest that the differences observed between lines are largely genetic in origin and may be a result of the divergence of the hatc...
Mode-splitting and quasi-degeneracies in circular plate vibration problems: The example of free vibrations of the stator of a traveling wave ultrasonic motor

Abstract In systems with rotational symmetry, bending modes occur in doubly-degenerate pairs with two independent vibration modes for each repeated natural frequency. In circular plates, the standing waves of two such degenerate bending modes can be superposed with a 1/4 period separation in time to yield a traveling wave response. This is the principle of a traveling wave ultrasonic motor (TWUM), in which a traveling bending wave in a stator drives the rotor through a friction contact. The stator contains teeth to increase the speed at the contact region, and these affect the rotational symmetry of the plate. When systems with rotational symmetry are modified either in their geometry, or by spatially varying their properties or boundary conditions, some mode-pairs split into singlet modes having distinct frequencies. In addition, coupling between some pairs of distinct unperturbed modes also causes quasi-degeneracies in the perturbed modes, which leads their frequency curves to approach and veer away in some regions of the parameter space. This paper discusses the effects of tooth geometry on the behavior of plate modes under free vibration. It investigates mode splitting and quasi-degeneracies and derives analytic expressions to predict these phenomena, using variational methods and a degenerate perturbation scheme for the solution to the plate’s discrete eigenvalue problem; these expressions are confirmed by solving the discrete eigenvalue problem of the plate with teeth.
Creative writing is Greek to me: the continuing education of a language teacher

Most language teachers improve their teaching skills through classroom work, journals, and conferences, but a more dramatic eye-opener is to start studying another language. Useful and beneficial outcomes of further language study are that teachers relive the frustrations of beginning language students, reconsider their own teaching principles, and experience another instructor's methods at first hand.
Regime Design Matters: The CTBT and India's Nuclear Dilemma

This paper argues that it was the flawed design of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) rather than the conventionally ascribed reasons of security, international status, or domestic imperatives that provided the necessary incentive for India to conduct nuclear tests in 1998 before the treaty foreclosed such an option altogether. The mandatory nature of the entry-into-force (EIF) clause of the CTBT was a departure from other international agreements in that membership was not voluntary. This suggests that any regime that impinges on a state's sovereign right to make security decisions on behalf of its people is likely to meet failure by formal or informal defections.
Sheared polymer network liquid crystal for fast-response variable optical attenuators

A variable optical attenuator (VOA) at λ=1.55 μm using a sheared polymer network liquid crystal (SPNLC) is demonstrated. SPNLC is fabricated by mixing ~15 wt % photo-polymerizable monomer in a LC host. To polymerize the SPNLC cell, a two-step UV curing process was adopted. Before shearing, the cell scatters light strongly, but after shearing the cell becomes highly transparent in the near IR region. Using an E7-based SPNLC, the attenuation of our VOA is rather insensitive to wavelength over the ITU C-band. The rise time and decay time were measured to be 35 μs and 205 μs, respectively, at room temperature. Such a response time is at least one order magnitude faster than the state-of-the-art nematic competitors. Comparing with other polymer-stabilized liquid crystals, the SPNLC exhibits a lower driving voltage and negligible light scattering loss in the IR spectral region. A reflection type, polarization-independent VOA with ~240 μs response time and -32 dB dynamic range was demonstrated at room temperature and 35 V rms voltage.
Neurocognitive Effects of Hormonal Replacement Therapy: Key Advances from Nonhuman Primate Research

Copyright: © 2012 Lacreuse A. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Biomedical research often turns to nonhuman primates to answer crucial questions about the causes of a human disorder or the effectiveness of a specific treatment. Though primate research is currently enduring unprecedented criticisms, it has led to key advances in a number of areas important for public health. One of these areas is cognitive aging. In face of the markedly rising proportion of older people in the world [1], finding interventions to reduce cognitive aging has become one of the most important challenges of our time. Nonhuman primate (NHP) models of human cognitive aging are unique tools to develop and test new therapeutics against age-related cognitive decline. This editorial focuses on one promising -yet still highly debatedtherapy, hormonal replacement therapy (HRT). The concept behind the use of HRT to reduce cognitive aging is simple: As sex hormones decline with aging in both men and women, replacing these hormones may rejuvenate the cognitive abilities of the older individual. Once dubbed a “fountain of youth”, HRT quickly fell from grace following the publication of results of the Women’s Health Initiative study, which suggested that HRT may actually be harmful to older postmenopausal women, including for cognitive function [2]. In the context of the widespread negative press that ensued, and in spite of overwhelming evidence for positive effects of HRT on brain and cognition in animal models [3], HRT remains even today an uncertain avenue for menopausal women and older men. In this editorial, I briefly summarize the unique contribution of basic and translational research in NHP towards understanding the effects of HRT in the human brain.
A Design and Analysis of a Hybrid Multicast Transport Protocol for the Haptic Virtual Reality Tracheotomy Tele-Surgery Application

Nowadays, distributed collaborative virtual environments are used in many scenarios such as tele-surgery, gaming, and industrial training, however several challenging issues remain to be resolved before haptic virtual reality based class of applications become a common place. In this paper, we focus upon a tracheotomy tele-surgery application that is based on closely coupled and highly synchronized haptic tasks that require a high-level of coordination among the participants. We also propose a hybrid protocol that is able to satisfy all the collaborative and haptic virtual environment requirements in general and tracheotomy tele-surgery in particular. We discuss our C-HAVE tracheotomy tele-surgery framework and report on the performance results we have obtained to evaluate our protocol using an extensive set of experiments.
PubChemSR: a search and retrieval tool for PubChem.

Recent years have seen an explosion in the amount of publicly available chemical and related biological information. A significant step has been the emergence of PubChem, which contains property information for millions of chemical structures, and acts as a repository of compounds and bioassay screening data for the NIH Roadmap. There is a strong need for tools designed for scientists that permit easy download and use of these data. We present one such tool, PubChemSR. PubChemSR (Search and Retrieve) is a freely available desktop application written for Windows using Microsoft .NET that is designed to assist scientists in search, retrieval and organization of chemical and biological data from the PubChem database. It employs SOAP web services made available by NCBI for extraction of information from PubChem. The program supports a wide range of searching techniques, including queries based on assay or compound keywords and chemical substructures. Results can be examined individually or downloaded and exported in batch for use in other programs such as Microsoft Excel. We believe that PubChemSR makes it straightforward for researchers to utilize the chemical, biological and screening data available in PubChem. We present several examples of how it can be used.
Improved noise stability multiresolution filters based on a class of wavelets

Signal detection in the presence of additive noise is a central problem in signal processing. Multiresolution filters based on wavelets are introduced. An analytic solution for the scale parameter "a" in a way that guarantees high stability relative to the level of additive noise is presented. The filter performance is examined in detection of monochromatic signals in white noise. Our results are shown to be competitive with matched filters.
A Comparison of Intellectually Superior Male Reading Achievers and Underachievers from A Neuropsychological Perspective

Research with intellectually average underachievers indicates that reading problems are often associated with neuropsychological deficits. The present study investigated this relationship for intellectually superior (IQ ≥ 120) males. Twenty reading achievers and twenty reading underachievers, controlled for age (8 to 12), socioeconomic status (SES), medical history, and emotional problems were compared on a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests. The results revealed significant global (p < .01) and specific (p < .05) differences in favor of achievers. These findings indicate that neuropsychological deficits are associated with reading underachievement among intellectually superior male underachievers. Practical implications are discussed.
Optimizing large networks by repeated local optimization using a windowing scheme

Describes a windowing scheme for optimizing large networks. Instead of actually breaking up a network into smaller, disjoint subnetworks, optimizing them separately, and then splicing them back together afterwards, the authors partition the network into overlapping regions and use a varying size window to sweep through these regions, each time making only the gates within a region visible to the logic optimizing algorithm, SYLON-REDUCE. To enhance opportunities for optimization, some partial don't care information is considered for the outputs of each region. Using this scheme, considerable reduction in network size was achieved for several large multilevel benchmarks within a reasonable amount of time. The results were better than or comparable to existing logic optimizers such as MIS. The windowing scheme also allows effective timing optimization to be performed on large networks. >
Automatic Detection of Swallowing Events by Acoustical Means for Applications of Monitoring of Ingestive Behavior

Our understanding of etiology of obesity and overweight is incomplete due to lack of objective and accurate methods for monitoring of ingestive behavior (MIB) in the free-living population. Our research has shown that frequency of swallowing may serve as a predictor for detecting food intake, differentiating liquids and solids, and estimating ingested mass. This paper proposes and compares two methods of acoustical swallowing detection from sounds contaminated by motion artifacts, speech, and external noise. Methods based on mel-scale Fourier spectrum, wavelet packets, and support vector machines are studied considering the effects of epoch size, level of decomposition, and lagging on classification accuracy. The methodology was tested on a large dataset (64.5 h with a total of 9966 swallows) collected from 20 human subjects with various degrees of adiposity. Average weighted epoch-recognition accuracy for intravisit individual models was 96.8%, which resulted in 84.7% average weighted accuracy in detection of swallowing events. These results suggest high efficiency of the proposed methodology in separation of swallowing sounds from artifacts that originate from respiration, intrinsic speech, head movements, food ingestion, and ambient noise. The recognition accuracy was not related to body mass index, suggesting that the methodology is suitable for obese individuals.
Nonvisual Arrestin Oligomerization and Cellular Localization Are Regulated by Inositol Hexakisphosphate Binding

Interactions between arrestins and phosphoinositides have been reported to regulate multiple membrane-associated signaling and trafficking events including clathrin-mediated endocytosis and light adaptation in Drosophila. Arrestins have been proposed to have nuclear and cytosolic functions as well, although the ligand dependence of these functions has not been investigated. Here we characterize the structural, molecular, and cellular interactions between arrestin-2 and inositol hexakisphosphate (inositol 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexakisphosphate (IP(6))). The crystal structure of the arrestin-2.IP(6) complex was solved to 2.9 A with crystal lattice contacts suggesting two sites on a protein monomer mediating IP(6) binding. Mutagenesis coupled to isothermal titration calorimetry and tritiated IP(6) binding assays confirmed two-site binding with a low affinity IP(6)-binding site in the N-domain and a high affinity site in the C-domain. Native gel electrophoresis, gel filtration, and analytical ultracentrifugation demonstrated the ability of IP(6) to promote arrestin-2 oligomerization via the two crystallographically defined ligand-binding locations. In addition, analysis in mammalian cells revealed that arrestin-2 not only undergoes homo-oligomerization, but it can also hetero-oligomerize with arrestin-3 in a manner that depends on IP(6)-binding sites. Mutation of either IP(6)-binding site in arrestin-2 disrupted oligomerization while interactions with known binding partners including clathrin, AP-2, and ERK2 were maintained. Subcellular localization studies showed that arrestin-2 oligomers are primarily cytoplasmic, whereas arrestin-2 monomers displayed increased nuclear localization. Thus, by promoting cytosolic oligomerization, IP(6) binding is proposed to be a negative regulator of interactions of arrestin with plasma membrane and nuclear signaling proteins.
Why Inflation Rose and Fell: Policy-Makers' Beliefs and U. S. Postwar Stabilization Policy

This paper provides an explanation for the run-up of U.S. inflation in the 1960s and 1970s and the sharp disinflation in the early 1980s, which standard macroeconomic models have difficulties in addressing. I present a model in which rational policymakers learn about the behavior of the economy in real time and set stabilization policy optimally, conditional on their current beliefs. The steady state associated with the self-confirming equilibrium of the model is characterized by low inflation. However, prolonged episodes of high inflation ending with rapid disinflations can occur when policymakers underestimate both the natural rate of unemployment and the persistence of inflation in the Phillips curve. I estimate the model using likelihood methods. The estimation results show that the model accounts remarkably well for the evolution of policymakers’ beliefs, stabilization policy and the postwar behavior of inflation and unemployment in the United States.
Sheath motion in a capacitively coupled radio frequency discharge

The sheath motion in a capacitively coupled RF discharge is highly nonlinear. The voltage waveform on a cylindrical probe placed in the sheath region is measured as a function of position and time. A circuit model of the probe-discharge system relates the observed probe voltage to the sheath motion. The equations derived from this circuit model are solved numerically with varying nonlinear sheath motions; the resulting waveforms are compared with the experimental observations to determine the actual sheath motion. The time-varying plasma potential is also determined, indirectly, from the comparison. The authors also report observation of oscillations related to the plasma frequency, whose peak harmonic component can be calculated from a single plasma model. These oscillations can be a useful plasma diagnostic for determining plasma density. The presence of these high-frequency oscillations may significantly enhance the rate of stochastic heating of electrons. >
A comparison of related donor peripheral blood and bone marrow transplants: Importance of late-onset chronic graft-versus-host disease and infections

Abstract Peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cell (PBSC) transplants have been shown to result in more rapid engraftment than standard bone marrow transplants (BMTs). Little comparative data exist regarding complications in patients receiving transplants using these stem cell sources. In our study, 97 adults with advanced hematologic malignancies who received allogeneic PBSC transplants were compared with 97 adults who received allogeneic BMTs using identical preparative regimens and support parameters. The incidence of systemic infections and other major complications occurring within the first year after transplantation were calculated in both groups. Proportional hazard analysis was used to examine risk factors for death and complications in both groups. Patients receiving PBSC transplants had more rapid neutrophil (17 days versus 24 days; P Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation 9:52-59 (2003)
The hepatitis B virus receptor: book'em, Dano?

In a previous study, we have identified endonexin II (E-II) on human liver plasma membranes as a specific, Ca-dependent, small hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-binding protein. In this article, we describe the spontaneous development of anti-HBs antibodies in rabbits immunized with native or recombinant human liver E-II and in chickens immunized with the F(ab′)2 fragment of rabbit anti-human liver E-II immunoglobulin G. Anti-HBs activity was not observed in rabbits immunized with rat liver E-II. Cross-reactivity of anti-E-II antibodies to HBsAg epitopes was excluded, since anti-HBs and anti-E-II activities can be separated by E-II affinity chromatography. The existence of an anti-idiotypic antibody is further demonstrated by competitive binding of human liver E-II and this antibody (Ab2) to small HBsAg, suggesting that Ab2 mimics a specific E-II epitope that interacts with small HBsAg. In addition, it was demonstrated that anti-HBs antibodies developed in rabbits after immunization with intact human liver E-II or in chickens after immunization with F(ab′)2 fragments of rabbit anti-human liver E-II immunoglobulin G recognize the same epitopes on small HBsAg. These findings strongly indicate that human liver E-II is a very specific small HBsAg-binding protein and support the assumption that human liver E-II is the hepatitis B virus receptor protein. Binding of viral envelope proteins to specific receptors on human hepatocytes is considered to be an important step in HBV infection. In this study, we demonstrate that a 34-kDa human liver plasma membrane protein specifically binds to small HBsAg in a Ca2+-dependent manner. By partial amino acid sequence analysis of preparatively isolated 34-kDa protein comigrating with HBsAg-binding protein obtained from binding assay on IEF/SDS-PAGE, we have identified this HBsAg-binding protein as Endonexin II (E-II). Native human liver E-II inhibits binding of HBsAg to intact human hepatocytes and shows specific binding to small HBsAg. This binding can be inhibited by human liver plasma membrane proteins, recombinant E-II, or anti-E-II antibodies. Despite 90% sequence homology, rat liver E-II does not bind to small HBsAg and does not inhibit significantly (less than 20%) binding of HBsAg to intact hepatocytes. Cross-linking of small HBsAg and radiolabeled human liver E-II resulted in a specific additional protein complex on PAGE with an apparent molecular weight of 90 kDa, corresponding to a complex of E-II and small HBsAg with a ratio of 2 to 1 or 1 to 2. These findings indicate that E-II, found in human liver, is a specific HBsAg-binding protein and might play an important role in the initiation of HBV infection.
Comparative inter-species pharmacokinetics of phenoxyacetic acid herbicides and related organic acids Evidence that the dog is not a relevant species for evaluation of human health risk

Phenoxyacetic acids including 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid (MCPA) are widely utilized organic acid herbicides that have undergone extensive toxicity and pharmacokinetic analyses. The dog is particularly susceptible to the toxicity of phenoxyacetic acids and related organic acids relative to other species. Active renal clearance mechanisms for organic acids are ubiquitous in mammalian species, and thus a likely mechanism responsible for the increased sensitivity of the dog to these agents is linked to a lower capacity to secrete organic acids from the kidney. Using published data describing the pharmacokinetics of phenoxyacetic and structurally related organic acids in a variety of species including humans, inter-species comparative pharmacokinetics were evaluated using allometic parameter scaling. For both 2,4-D and MCPA, the dog plasma half-life (t(1/2)) and renal clearance (Clr; mL/h) rates did not scale as a function of body weight across species; whereas for all other species evaluated, including humans, these pharmacokinetic parameters reasonably scaled. This exceptional response in the dog is clearly illustrated by comparing the plasma t(1/2) at comparable doses of 2,4-D and MCPA, across several species. At a dosage of 5mg/kg, in dogs, the plasma t(1/2) for 2,4-D and MCPA were approximately 92-106 and 63 h, respectively, which is substantially longer than in the rat (approximately 1 and 6 h, respectively) or in humans (12 and 11 h, respectively). This longer t(1/2), and slower elimination in the dog, results in substantially higher body burdens of these organic acids, at comparable doses, relative to other species. Although these results indicate the important role of renal transport clearance mechanisms as determinants of the clearance and potential toxicity outcomes of phenoxyacetic acid herbicides across several species, other contributing mechanisms such as reabsorption from the renal tubules is highly likely. These findings suggest that for new structurally similar organic acids, a limited comparative species (rat versus dog) pharmacokinetic analysis early in the toxicology evaluation process may provide important insight into the relevance of the dog. In summary, the substantial difference between the pharmacokinetics of phenoxyacetic acids and related organic acids in dogs relative to other species, including humans, questions the relevance of using dog toxicity data for the extrapolation of human health risk.
Using Information about Spatial Variability to Improve Estimates of Total Soil Carbon

Changes in soil C as a result of changes in management are relatively slow, and several years of experimentation are needed before differences in management practices can be detected using traditional statistical procedures such as randomized complete block design (RCBD). Using spatial analyses (SA) that take into account spatial variability between plots has a potential for faster and more efficient detection of soil C differences. We hypothesize that for variables with strong spatial continuity, such as total soil C, accurate spatial variability assessment can be obtained even in relatively small experiments. Thus, SA can significantly improve the statistical efficiency of even these experiments. The objective of this study is to test this hypothesis by comparing performances of RCBD analysis and SA for simulated small-sized experiments where soil C is the response variable. Total soil C data collected from 11 field sites at the Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) experiment in Michigan were used as an input for simulated experiments. Performance of SA depended on the strength of spatial correlation in soil C and was found to be related to topographical diversity of the experimental sites. In the sites with more diverse topography and stronger spatial correlation of soil C the SA produced lower standard errors for treatment means than those of the RCBD analysis (8 out of 11 sites). In two sites with the flattest topography and weak spatial correlation, SA did not have advantages over RCBD.
An introduction to radar image processing in ecology

Summary Use of radar in ornithology, chiropterology and entomology continues to increase, driven in part by widespread online data availability. In addition to research applications, rapid growth in areas such as wind energy and aviation has prompted the use of radar for conservation. While a variety of research applications motivate ecologists to gain basic radar literacy, the ability to process and analyse radar data sets can be a daunting task that may dissuade inexperienced ecological radar users. This effect is exacerbated by vague radar methodologies in the ecology literature, as well as the combination of complex techniques and unfamiliar terminology in other radar-focused disciplines. While radar data come in many formats and levels of detail, a common type is the two-dimensional radar image. As rasters of data with associated spatial coordinates, radar images are relatively easy to manipulate, especially for those familiar with basic raster computations. Furthermore, because radar image data require relatively small storage space, they can be readily downloaded from a number of online sources. With this in mind, radar images provide a convenient foundation for ecological applications. A primer on radar image interpretation and processing is presented, with a focus on image composition for typical atmospheric surveillance radar scans. Additionally, a selection of existing ecological radar image processing methods are overviewed. As a starting point, a basic algorithm for automated image processing is outlined that may be modified to create specialized workflows. Three examples of the application of this algorithm are included, illustrating its modification and use for automated feature extraction. By outlining a basic algorithm, we hope to provide a clear starting point for the beginning radar user. When combined with additional existing methods, this algorithm provides a wide range of refinements and modifications that can pave a path towards sophisticated radar processing workflows. In the long term, the ability of ecologists to independently analyse radar data will lead to better ecological interpretation of radar data and a more informed application to conservation policy.
Design of a Dual-Band Implantable Antenna and Development of Skin Mimicking Gels for Continuous Glucose Monitoring

In this study, we present a small-size dual medical implant communications service (MICS) (402-405 MHz) and industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) (2.4-2.48 GHz) band implantable antenna for continuous glucose-monitoring applications. The antenna is optimized for dual-band operation by combining an in-house finite-element boundary integral electromagnetic simulation code and particle swarm optimization algorithm. In order to test the designed antenna in vitro, gels mimicking the electrical properties of human skin are also developed. The optimized antenna is fabricated and measured in the gel. The simulated and measured bandwidths are found to be 20.4% MICS, 4.2% ISM, and 35.3% MICS, and 7.1% ISM, respectively. Although we have emphasized continuous glucose monitoring throughout this paper, the antenna and skin mimicking gels presented here can be used for many other wireless telemetry applications.
Parental perception of children's weight in a paediatric primary care setting.

Objective To determine how parents of overweight children perceived their children's weight status compared with actual body mass index (BMI). Methods This descriptive, cross-sectional study assessed parental perception of and concern about weight, diet and physical activity of 3–12-year-olds. BMI values ≥85th and <95th percentile and ≥95th percentile were considered at risk for overweight and overweight respectively. Differences between groups were tested with chi-squared analyses or Fishers exact test as appropriate and further explored using logistic regression analysis. Results Questionnaires were completed at 612 health maintenance visits (278 girls). Overall, 15% of both boys and girls were at risk for overweight and 22% of boys and 24% of girls were overweight. Forty-nine per cent of parents recognized their overweight children as overweight. Perceptions were more often correct for parents of girls than boys (63% versus 36%, P < 0.001) and for older compared with younger children (61.7% versus 17.5%, P < 0.001). Conclusions Parents of overweight children frequently did not perceive their children as exceeding healthy weight standards. Targeting parental perception as a point of intervention is necessary.
Hybrid Control for a Class of Switched Singular Systems with State Jumps

The stabilization problem is addressed for a class of switched singular systems with state jumps. Firstly, we introduce a new class of systems, so called switched singular systems with state jumps, by adopting a definition on initial instantaneous jumps of singular systems. Then, multiple Lyapunov function techniques are extended to this class of switched singular systems and a hybrid switching law is designed based on a partition of state space by using S-procedure method. A sufficient condition for the system to be asymptotically stable is formulated by solving a set of LMIs and the state feedback controllers are designed as well. Finally, an example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of our approach for this kind of switched singular systems with state jumps.
Implementation of the Connective Tissue Screening Questionnaire in northeast Pennsylvania to identify comorbidities of connective tissue diseases in subjects with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Previous studies have described an increased risk of developing an additional connective tissue disease (CTD) when one such ailment is present. We examine here the likelihood that individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) screen positive for one or more of the following five autoimmune CTDs: Sjogren's syndrome, scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis, dermatomyositis/polymyositis, and mixed connective tissue disorder. Five hundred SLE-diagnosed subjects were asked to complete a CTD screening questionnaire (CSQ). The results were analyzed according to the set of diagnostic criteria given by the American College of Rheumatology to identify probable cases of each CTD. Significant standardized prevalence ratios and comorbidities indicate an increased risk for the other autoimmune CTDs. In all, 96% of the subjects screened positive for at least one additional CTD, and 13% screened positive for at least two additional CTDs. We see that the SLE-diagnosed population may benefit from further attention regarding the presence of additional CTDs, which may further inform treatment strategies. We also see the application of the CSQ as a potentially important tool for clinical practice, and we describe the present study's limitations along with possible ways that these can be addressed.
Estimating effective shale area distributions from subsurface data

Abstract Estimation of shale bed continuity is needed in reservoir modeling and simulation as these constitute permeability barriers and baffles. However, efforts to characterize continuity of shale beds from 2D outcrop or well log sections lack critical 3D geometry and areal dimensions. A different approach is to estimate shale bed continuity by measuring the “effective shale area”. While it is a more indirect measure of shale bed continuity as it relies upon the sealing capacity of shales in selected, well-documented field examples, it eliminates the problem of the unknown but critical third dimension. Analyses of effective shale area distributions are made within structurally simple fields where hydrocarbon contacts were directly controlled by the sealing shales being measured, and faulting is limited. Datasets are exclusive to siliciclastic reservoirs formed in paleoenvironments ranging from non-marine to shallow water marine. Results show that effective shale areas are separated into two distinct distributions of fully marine versus non-marine/marginal marine origin. Shales deposited in non-marine to marginal marine paleoenvironments display smaller areas where effective sealing capacity is reduced by channel body incision. In fields where hydrocarbon columns are sealed by fully marine shale, larger areas are supported, often but not always, approaching structural spill points. In the case of reservoirs capped by these marine flooding shales, one can logically infer an abrupt decrease in channelization and resulting sizeable increase in continuity of shale bed seals. Similar shale types in traps formed in different structural regimes (e.g. extensional versus contractional domains) show comparable areal distributions, supporting use of data from different locations where the controls on hydrocarbon seal areas are well known. All shales measured here are areally large and would probably be accommodated in reservoir simulation deterministically, but use of the dimensions provided here would clearly be an aid in situations where a limited number of field appraisal wells are available. Discriminating between deterministic shales and stochastic shales, which are several orders of magnitude smaller in size, is also important for reservoir modeling and simulation. Results shown here should also be of great utility as input into discovery appraisal and field development scenario construction.
The Intersection of Urban Planning, Art, and Public Health: The Sunnyside Piazza

Deteriorating physical features of urban environments can negatively influence public health. Dilapidated environments and urban blight tend to promote alienation and can be associated with social disorder, vandalism, crime, drug abuse, traffic violations, and littering, which in turn affects health and well-being. In the late 1990s, the Sunnyside neighborhood in Portland, Ore, was plagued by many of these problems. In an attempt to invigorate neighborhood stewardship, the community organized and created a public gathering place; together, they painted a gigantic sunflower in the middle of an intersection and installed several interactive art features. As a result of these collective actions of “place-making,” social capital has increased, thus revitalizing the community, and expanded social networks among residents have stimulated a sense of well-being.
Small-Volume Analysis of Rabbit Tears and Effects of a Corneal Wound on Tear Protein Spectra

Tears are a complex fluid composed of secretory products from several sources, such as the orbital lacrimal gland, accessory lacrimal glands, goblet cells, meibomian glands, and perhaps other cells of the conjunctiva and cornea. Previous studies have shown that the lacrimal fluid contains growth factors, as well as a number of other proteins, that may act to protect the ocular surface.1–3 A compilation of known tear proteins of laboratory animals is shown in Table 1.4–23
Test cases: emergent generalizations in the Athena and the Rumelhart's neural net models

The performances of Rumelhart's nonlinear feedforward (NLFF) model and Athena are compared with respect to their generalization capabilities. The evaluation is based on a number of actual test cases. Evaluations are provided for the specific characteristics of the problems and the models involved, explaining the variations of their performances. The test cases presented illustrate the general type of problems which are particular to each model. The models have been applied on a few different types of learning tasks. >