cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The New Jersey Toxics Reduction Workplan for Ny-Nj Harbor: Distribution of Pcdd/Fs in Ambient Waters

As part of the NJ Toxics Reduction Workplan for NY-NJ Harbor, ambient water samples were collected at fifteen locations along the tidal portions of the Hackensack, Passaic, Raritan, Rahway and Elizabeth Rivers, and in Newark Bay, the Arthur Kill, and Kill van Kull. A Trace Organics Platform Sampler was used to collect a total of 75 suspended sediment phase samples between June 2000 and May 2002. These samples were analyzed for spatial and wet vs. dry weather trends in the 17 polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs; modified USEPA Method 1613b). Mean total PCDD/F (tPCDD/F) concentrations at the sampling locations ranged between 3.8 and 41.5 ng/g. On average, OCDD accounted for almost 80% of the tPCDD/F concentrations; mean total [PCDD/F – OCDD] concentrations ranged between 0.84 and 5.20 ng/g at the sampling locations. Mean 2,3,7,8-TCDD concentrations ranged between 0.003 and 0.28 ng/g, with the highest concentrations (> 0.10 ng/g) along the tidal Passaic and lower Hackensack Rivers, and in upper Newark Bay. Mean tPCDD/F Toxic Equivalency Quotients (TEQ) ranged between 45 and 344 TEQ pg/g, with the highest levels found in the lower Passaic River. Toxicity was primarily driven by 2,3,7,8-TCDD concentrations in the Passaic and Hackensack Rivers, and in Newark Bay. Examples of congener distribution patterns at some of the sampling locations are also presented.
Effect of Irradiation on Mexican Leafroller (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) Development and Reproduction

The effects of irradiation on egg, larval, and pupal development, and adult reproduction in Mexican leafroller, Amorbia emigratella Busck (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), were examined. Eggs, neonates, early instars, late instars, early pupae, and late pupae were irradiated at target doses of 60, 90, 120, or 150 Gy, or they were left untreated as controls in replicated factorial experiments. Survival to the adult stage was recorded. Tolerance to radiation increased with increasing age and developmental stage. A radiation dose of 90 Gy applied to neonates and early instars prevented adult emergence. A dose of 150 Gy was not sufficient to prevent adult emergence in late instars or pupae. The effect of irradiation on sterility was examined in late pupae and adult moths. For progeny produced by insects treated as late pupae, a total of three out of 3,130 eggs hatched at 90 Gy, 0 out of 2,900 eggs hatched at 120 Gy, and 0 out of 1,700 eggs hatched at 150 Gy. From regression analysis, the dose predicted to prevent egg hatch from the progeny of irradiated late pupae was 120 Gy, with a 95% confidence interval of 101-149 Gy. The late pupa is the most radiotolerant stage likely to occur with exported commodities; therefore, a minimum absorbed radiation dose of 149 Gy (nominally 150 Gy) has potential as a quarantine treatment. Reciprocal crosses between irradiated and unirradiated moths demonstrated that males were more radiotolerant than females. Irradiation of female moths at a target dose of 90 Gy before pairing and mating with irradiated or unirradiated males resulted in no viable eggs, whereas irradiated males paired with unirradiated females produced viable eggs at 90 and 150 Gy.
An Evidence-Based Videotaped Running Biomechanics Analysis

Running biomechanics play an important role in the development of injuries. Performing a running biomechanics analysis on injured runners can help to develop treatment strategies. This article provides a framework for a systematic video-based running biomechanics analysis plan based on the current evidence on running injuries, using 2-dimensional (2D) video and readily available tools. Fourteen measurements are proposed in this analysis plan from lateral and posterior video. Identifying simple 2D surrogates for 3D biomechanic variables of interest allows for widespread translation of best practices, and have the best opportunity to impact the highly prevalent problem of the injured runner.
Disparate Treatment of the Allocation of Power between Judge and Jury in Legal and Medical Malpractice Cases

The allocation of decisionmaking power between judge and jury has always been an important theme in tort law. This article explores the extent to which courts and judges reserve for themselves the decisionmaking authority on malpractice issues rather than submitting them for jury determination. After examining legal and medical malpractice cases from the perspective of the allocation of decisionmaking power between judge and jury, this article concludes that physicians’ conduct is more likely than attorneys’ conduct to receive jury scrutiny.
Biochemistry: A Cross-Disciplinary Endeavor That Discovered a Distinctive Domain

While the quest to explain physiological phenomena in chemical terms has a long history, the development of a distinct cross-disciplinary research area in physiological chemistry was a product of the later part of the 19th century that came to full fruition only at the beginning of the 20th century. There are several factors that led to biochemistry becoming a flourishing area of science at this time. One of these was the intense effort directed toward discipline building by some of the original pioneers (see Kohler, 1982). Another was the development of a clear conception of the kind of process that was thought to be involved in intermediary metabolism. The idea that intermediary metabolism consisted of a sequence of basic chemical reactions opened up a domain of inquiry that was of significance to researchers from a variety of disciplinary orientations. In the previous paper Holmes has explored this issue in some depth, showing how the idea of a metabolic pathway emerged and researchers committed their efforts to identifying the intermediate reactions constitutive of metabolic processes.
A phase II study of gemcitabine (GEM) given at fixed-dose rate (FDR) infusion, low-dose cisplatin (CDDP), and bevacizumab (BEV) for metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas (PanCa): Update with completion of study accrual

4548 Background: The objectives of this study are to determine safety and efficacy in pts with metastatic PanCa treated with a novel combination consisting of FDR GEM, low-dose CDDP, and BEV. We pr...
Beautiful Dreamer: A Book Review of Nicola Lacey, a Life of H.L.A. Hart: The Nightmare and the Noble Dream

This essay reviews Nicola Lacey's recent biography of H.L.A. Hart. The essay claims that Hart's jurisprudence is fraught with unacknowledged psychoanalytic content. Lacey's book shows that Hart's life is equally as fraught as the jurisprudence is.
A Model for Dopant Pile-Up at the Interface in a Self-Aligned Polysilicon-Emitter Process

A model for dopant pile-up in conjunction with a self-aligned polysilicon-emitter process model is presented that accurately predicts the total dopant profiles of the polysilicon layer, the interfacial pile-up and the underlying emitter, taken from SIMS measurements. The pile-up model assumes that, after the dopant is implanted into the polysilicon layer and instantaneously redistributes there during the anneal, the dopant diffuses from its polysilicon source into the interfacial and underlying base region. In the disordered interfacial region, the dopant transport occurs by hopping, with a, certain fraction of dopant sticking in vacant sites. The model for dopant pile-up is implemented into SUPREM III. As further support, device simulations, using the respective electrically active dopant profiles, are found to be in good agreement with measurements on self-aligned phosphorus-implanted transistors.
Bednar Tumor Pattern in Recurring Giant Cell Fibroblastoma

Giant cell fibroblastoma (GCF) and Bednar tumor (BT) have been perceived as two rare, not directly related, soft tissue neoplasms. Recent studies, separately conducted on each process, have presented evidence indicating that, in each instance, the tumor seemed to be related to the dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. The case being reported provides additional evidence supporting those previous results and, for the first time, documents a direct link between GCF and BT, as seen in this girl who had a vulvar GCF resected at 1-year of age, with recurrence, 1.5 years later, as a mixed BT-GCF.
Correction of the well-known model of temperature flashes

It is shown that the inaccuracies made in the Chichinadze model of temperature flashes considerably decrease the limits of its applicability. By using various (Blok, Jaeger, and Sharron) formulas for the coefficients of distribution of heat flows between the friction bodies, we propose new relations for the evaluation of the level of temperature flashes.
Gas phase adduct reactions in MOCVD growth of GaN

Gas phase reactions between trimethylgallium (TMG) and ammonia were studied at high temperatures, characteristic to MOCVD of GaN reactors, by means of insitu mass spectroscopy in a flow tube reactor. It is shown, that a very fast adduct formation followed by elimination of methane occurs. The decomposition of TMG and the adduct - derived compounds are both first order and have similar apparent activation energy. The pre-exponential factor of the adduct decomposition is smaller, and hence is responsible for the higher full decomposition temperature of the adduct relative to that of TMG.
Evaluator Training: Content and Topic Valuation in University Evaluation Courses.

Quality training opportunities for evaluators will always be important to the evaluation profession. While studies have documented the number of university programs providing evaluation training, additional information is needed concerning what content is being taught in current evaluation courses. This article summarizes the findings of a survey administered to university faculty who provide such courses, including (a) topics taught, (b) time spent on topics, and (c) instructors perceptions of topic importance. Study results show considerable diversity in the training of new evaluators. This diversity is often complicated by the range of contexts, purposes, and situations involved.
Regional forebrain patterning and neural subtype specification: implications for cerebral cortical functional connectivity and the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases.

During the early embryonic period, dorsal telencephalic progenitor cells within the cortical ventricular zone (VZ) undergo radial migration and give rise to excitatory (glutamatergic) projection neurons that comprise the majority of cerebral cortical neurons and contribute to regional morphogenesis. By contrast, during perinatal life, current developmental models suggest that cortical oligodendrocytes (OLs) and astrocytes are generated from multipotent progenitors present within the cortical subventricular zone (SVZ). However, recent studies have shown that progenitor cells within the medial and lateral ganglionic eminences (MGE, LGE) of the ventral telencephalon can give rise to OLs and are also known to generate GABAergic neurons following tangential cortical migration. Although the majority of these ventral telencephalic progenitors disperse directly into the neocortex after migration, a subset of these LGE progenitors are destined for the cortical SVZ, where they give rise to both neuronal progenitors and to additional cells that become mitotically active within the cortical SVZ during the period of perinatal gliogenesis. Preliminary observations suggest that these cortical SVZ cells are derived from progenitors of the ganglionic eminences that are capable of generating both OLs and GABAergic neurons.
Method to Determine the Quantity of Internal Nodes of Back Propagation Neural Networks and Its Demonstration

A new scheme is proposed based on the experiential formula to determine the quantity of internal nodes of a ANN.The method uses the experiential formula to determine the range,to expand it and then find the best one.Traffic flow prediction by using BP neural network is shown as an example to show the effectiveness of the method to determine the quantity of internal nodes and explain the effect of the choices.As a result,16 is the best choice as the internal nodes.
THE EXISTENCE OF FOUR CENTRAL CONFIGURATIONS FOR N-BODY PROBLEM

We present a study here on the existence of four central configurations.Dynamic equation analysis for the N-body problem indicated that this existence can be ruled out.We also comment on the reason for this conclusion.
Modulation of contractions to and receptors for endothelins in canine veins

Experiments were designed to characterize endothelin receptors in canine femoral veins and to determine whether their distribution or sensitivity could be altered by chronic changes in blood flow and oxygen tension in veins proximal to an arteriovenous fistula. Endothelium was removed from unoperated or fistula-operated femoral veins of anesthetized dogs. Veins were cut into rings and suspended in organ chambers for the measurement of isometric force or frozen for isolation of membrane proteins. Endothelin-1, endothelin-3, and sarafotoxin S6c caused concentration-dependent increases in tension in all rings. In rings of unoperated veins, maximal tensions were significantly less to endothelin-3 and sarafotoxin S6c than to endothelin-1. In rings of fistula-operated veins, maximal tensions to endothelin-1 and endothelin-3 were the same. Contractions to endothelin-1 or endothelin-3 in unoperated veins were not inhibited by an antagonist of endothelin-A receptors, BQ-123. Binding of 125I-labeled endothelin-1 (125I-endothelin-1) to membranes from veins without endothelium increased as a function of membrane protein. Affinity of receptors, as determined by competitive inhibition of 125I-endothelin-1 was as follows: endothelin-1 > endothelin-3 > sarafotoxin S6c. Competitive inhibition of 125I-endothelin-1 by endothelin-3 and sarafotoxin S6c was significant for a two-site binding model in all veins. The total number of binding sites was reduced significantly in fistula-operated veins; the relative proportions of high- and low-affinity binding sites did not change. Affinity of high- and low-affinity receptors increased in fistula-operated veins.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Affinity Purification and Immunoassay of Anti-Ro/SSA

Abstract The affinity purification of anti-Ro/SSA is described. The method is a modification of the procedure used to purify the Ro/SSA autoantigen and likewise relies upon the construction of an affinity column containing anti-Ro/SSA activity. After allowing the Ro/SSA from a crude extract to bind the column followed by a plasma containing anti-Ro/SSA antibody, the Ro/SSA-anti-Ro/SSA complexes are eluted, and digested with pepsin. Pepsin destroys Ro/SSA immunogenicity and permits anti-Ro/SSA F(ab') 2 fragments to be purified. In turn, the affinity purified anti-Ro/SSA F(ab') 2 has made possible an ELISA to detect anti-Ro/SSA IgG which produces results similar to an ELISA for anti-Ro/SSA which uses purified Ro/SSA. This approach may be adapted not only for the affinity purification of antibodies whose antigens are not available in large quantities but also to develop analgous sensitive assays for antigen and antibody.
Big biomedical image processing hardware acceleration: A case study for K-means and image filtering

Most hospitals today are dealing with the big data problem, as they generate and store petabytes of patient records most of which in form of medical imaging, such as pathological images, CT scans and X-rays in their datacenters. Analyzing such large amounts of biomedical imaging data to enable discovery and guide physicians in personalized care is becoming an important focus of data mining and machine learning algorithms developed for biomedical Informatics (BMI). Algorithms that are developed for BMI heavily rely on complex and computationally intensive machine learning and data mining methods to learn from large data. The high processing demand of big biomedical imaging data has given rise to their implementation in high-end server platforms running software ecosystems that are optimized for dealing with large amount of data including Apache Hadoop and Apache Spark. However, efficient processing of such large amount of imaging data running computational intensive learning methods is becoming a challenging problem using state-of-the-art high performance computing server architectures. To address this challenge, in this paper, we introduce a scalable and efficient hardware acceleration method using low cost commodity FPGAs that is interfaced with a server architecture through a high speed interface. In this work we present a full end-to-end implementation of big data image processing and machine learning applications in a heterogeneous CPU+FPGA architecture. We develop the MapReduce implementation of K-means and Laplacian Filtering in Hadoop Streaming environment that allows developing mapper functions in non-Java based languages suited for interfacing with FPGA-based hardware accelerating environment. We accelerate the mapper functions through hardware+software (HW+SW) co-design. We do a full implementation of the HW+SW mappers on the Zynq FPGA platform. The results show promising kernel speedup of up to 27× for large image data sets. This translate to 7.8× and 1.8× speedup in an end-to-end Hadoop MapReduce implementation of K-mean s and Laplacian Filtering algorithm, respectively.
Bench-Top Feasibility Testing of a Novel Percutaneous Renal Access Technique: The Laser Direct Alignment Radiation Reduction Technique (DARRT)

Abstract Introduction: Traditional techniques for obtaining percutaneous renal access utilize continuous fluoroscopy. In an attempt to minimize radiation exposure, we describe a novel laser direct alignment radiation reduction technique (DARRT) for percutaneous access and test it in a bench-top model. Methods: In this randomized-controlled bench-top study, 20 medical personnel obtained renal accesses using both the conventional bullseye technique and the laser DARRT. The primary endpoint was total fluoroscopy time. Secondary endpoints included insertion time, puncture attempts, course corrections, and subjective procedural difficulty. In the laser DARRT, fluoroscopy was used with the C-arm positioned with the laser beam at a 30° angle. The access needle and hub were aligned with the laser beam. Effective caliceal puncture was confirmed with fluoroscopy and direct vision. The Paired samples Wilcoxon signed rank test was used for statistical analysis with significance at p < 0.05. Results: A total of 120 ne...
Characteristics to Consider when Choosing an Animal Model for the Study of Lead Bioavailability

Most animal studies conducted to determine the bioavailability of lead have, in the past, employed rodents or lagomorphs as experimental models. In this paper issues and data are presented which ra...
Cascading community and ecosystem consequences of introduced coconut palms (Cocos nucifera) in tropical islands1

Biological invasions are a pervasive and dominant form of anthropogenic disturbance. However, we seldom have the opportunity to evaluate the long-term, indirect, and often slow-moving cascading effects of invasions at the community and ecosystem scale. Here we synthesize the collective knowledge from 10 years of study on the influence of the deep historical introduction of coconut palms (Cocos nucifera L.) across a series of islets at Palmyra Atoll. Through a suite of pathways, we find this palm drives near-complete ecosystem state change when it becomes dominant. Abiotic conditions are transformed, with major soil nutrients 2.7–11.5 times lower and water stress 15% elevated in palm-dominated forests compared with native forest. Faunal communities are likewise dramatically altered, not only in composition but also in behavior, body size, and body condition. Biotic interactions, including herbivory rates, palatability, and seed predation, are likewise changed. Cumulatively, these changes transform food web...
Pro-Secretory Activity and Pharmacology in Rabbits of an Aminophenyl-1,3,5-Triazine CFTR Activator for Dry Eye Disorders.

Author(s): Felix, Christian M; Lee, Sujin; Levin, Marc H; Verkman, Alan S | Abstract: PurposePharmacological activation of ocular surface cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) chloride channels is a potential pro-secretory approach to treat dry eye disorders. We previously reported the discovery of aminophenyl-1,3,5-triazines, one of which, N-methyl-N-phenyl-6-(2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropoxy)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine (herein called CFTRact-K267), fully activated human wildtype CFTR with EC50 ∼ 30 nM and increased tear volume for 8 hours in mice. Here, functional and pharmacological studies of CFTRact-K267 were done in adult New Zealand white rabbits.MethodsCFTR chloride conductance was measured in vivo by ocular surface potential differences and in ex vivo conjunctiva by short-circuit current. Tear volume was measured by the Schirmer tear test II and CFTRact-K267 pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Toxicity profile was studied for 28 days with twice-daily topical administration.ResultsElectrophysiological measurements in vivo and in ex vivo conjunctiva demonstrated CFTR activation by CFTRact-K267. A single topical dose of 3 nmol CFTRact-K267 increased tear production by g5 mm for 9 hours by the Schirmer tear test, with predicted therapeutic concentrations maintained in tear fluid. No tachyphylaxis was seen following 28-day twice-daily administration, and changes were not observed in corneal surface integrity or thickness, intraocular pressure, or ocular histology. At day 28, CFTRact-K267 was concentrated in the cornea and conjunctiva and was not detectable in blood or peripheral organs.ConclusionsThese studies support the development of CFTRact-K267 as a pro-secretory therapy for dry eye disorders.
Effect of police mobile computer terminal interface design on officer driving distraction

Several crash reports have identified in-vehicle distraction to be a primary cause of emergency vehicle crashes especially in law enforcement. Furthermore, studies have found that mobile computer terminals (MCTs) are the most frequently used in-vehicle technology for police officers. Twenty police officers participated in a driving simulator-based assessment of visual behavior, performance, workload and situation awareness with current and enhanced MCT interface designs. In general, results revealed MCT use while driving to decrease officer visual attention to the roadway, but usability improvements can reduce the level of visual distraction and secondary-task completion time. Results also suggest that use of MCTs while driving significantly reduces perceived level of driving environment awareness for police officers and increases cognitive workload. These findings may be useful for MCT manufacturers in improving interface designs to increase police officer and civilian safety.
Case Study: Fatal Exertional Rhabdomyolysis Possibly Related to Drastic Weight Cutting

Rapid weight loss or “weight cutting” is a dangerous practice that is ubiquitous in modern combat sports yet underrepresented in the medical literature. We present a case of exertional rhabdomyolysis in a mixed martial artist with sickle cell trait to illustrate the hazards of weight cutting and ensuing critical illness. Sickle cell trait is known to predispose patients to exertional rhabdomyolysis, and multiple fatal cases have been reported in the setting of strenuous exercise. Dehydration and consequent electrolyte abnormalities make combat sport athletes with sickle cell trait particularly vulnerable to this entity. This case suggests a potential role for sickle cell trait screening in this population and underscores the need for safer weight-control practices and monitoring among all combat sport athletes.
Tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases-3 (TIMP-3) lacks involvement in bacterial collagenase-induced intracerebral hemorrhage in mouse

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) leads to delayed cell death in the regions around the hemorrhagic mass. Apoptosis has been identified in the dying cells, but the mechanism involved is unclear. Others and us have shown that matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are increased in ICH and could directly contribute to cell death. Tissue inhibitor to metalloproteinases-3 (TIMP-3) facilitates apoptosis in cancer cells and neurons by inhibiting the shedding of tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) death receptors, Fas and p55TNF receptor 1, by MMP-3 and TNF-a converting enzyme (TACE), respectively. Therefore, TIMP-3 may contribute to cell death in ICH. We adapted the bacterial collagenase-induced hemorrhage (CIH) model to the mouse. Adult C57Bl=6 and Timp- 3 knockout mice had CIH. Expression of mRNA for TIMP-3 was determined by real-time PCR. Hemorrhage volume and numbers of apoptotic cells were measured by unbiased stereology. Timp- 3 mRNA was similar in the knockout and wild-type mice prior to injury and induction of CIH failed to cause an increase in Timp-3 mRNA in the wild-type. Furthermore, there were no differences found in the hemorrhage size or in the numbers of apoptotic cells between the Timp- 3 knockout or wild-type. We were unable to prove the hypothesis that TIMP-3 is involved cell death in CIH in the mouse.
Two Degree of Freedom Forced Vibration

Let’s extend the two degree of freedom free vibration analysis from Chap. 4 to include externally applied forces so that we can analyze two degree of freedom forced vibration. The general case is that a separate harmonic force is applied at each coordinate; see Fig. 5.1. However, we are considering only linear systems, so we can apply superposition. This means that we can determine the system response due to each force separately and then sum the results to find the combined effect.
GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATION AND DESIGN OF ANNULAR TUNNELS FOR ENERGY STORAGE

We are engaged in siting and designing a rock tunnel system to house superconductive magnets for energy storage. Such magnets are competitive with pumped storage due to their higher efficiency and independence of topography. The major design problem, however, is the containmnent of loads from the conductor caused by the magnetic field. In evaluating a potential granite site in Wisconsin, we have combined a program of geological, geophysical, hydrological, and rock mechanics studies with a finite element analysis to evaluate the stresses and deformation about the tunnel system. Problem zones in the tunnel system are highly dependent on the in situ stresses; however, these zones can be stabilized using rock bolts, which we have modeled using the Dirac delta function. Nous etudions la forme et l'emplacement d'un systeme de tunnels en roche pour recevoir un aimant superconductif pour l'emmagasinage de l'energie. Ces aimants sont tout aussi economiques que l'emmagasinage par pompage, par suite de leur plus haute efficacite et de leur independence des contraintes topographiques. Dans cette etude la principale difficulte vient du besoin de contenir les charges creees par le conducteur a cause du champ magnetique. Pour evaluer un site possible dans un granite du Wisconsin, nous avons combine un programme d'etudes geologiques, geophysiques, hydroliques et de mecaniques des roches, avec une etude des elements finis pour evaluer les contraintes et deformations autour du systeme de tunnels. Dans ce systeme de tunnels, les zones problematiques dependent beaucoup des contraintes in situ. Cependant la stabilite de ces zones peut etre assuree par l'utilization de boulonnage, que nous avons simule en utilisant la fonction delta de Dirac. Die Bestimmung der Lage und der Entwurf eines Steintunnel system fur supraleitende Magnete fur Energiespeicherung wird untesucht. Solche Magnete bewerben sich mit Pumpspeicherung wegen ihrer grosseren Leistungsfahrigkeit und Unabhangigkeit der Topographie. Das grosste Konstructionsprobleme is die Einhaltung der Last die von dem magnetische Feld entsteht. Wir haben geologische, geophysicalische, hydrologische, und Felsmechenische Ergebnisse mit einander verbunden in einem finite-element Verfahren um die Stresse und Deformationen eines Tunnelsystems in einer Granitlage in Wisconsin auszuwerten. Problemzonen des Tunnelsystems sind von in situ Stressen sehr abhangig; aber diese zonen konnen mit Steinbolzen, welche in der Rechnung mit der Dirac delta Funktion beschrieben sind, stabilisiert werden.
Exercise During Pregnancy: Obstetricians' Beliefs and Recommendations Compared to American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' 2015 Guidelines.

Purpose Obesity and excessive weight gain during pregnancy is a growing problem, conferring severe health risks for both mother and fetus. Exercise can help combat this epidemic. However, many pregnant women are not meeting the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ (ACOG’s) 2015 guidelines for exercise during pregnancy. The objective of this study was to evaluate obstetricians’ beliefs and recommendations regarding exercise during pregnancy compared to ACOG’s 2015 recommendations. Method Obstetricians were recruited via three different forums to complete a twenty-question survey: at a regional conference for Alabama and Mississippi ACOG members, at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Obstetrics and Gynecology Department’s Grand Rounds, and via telephone. Univariate statistical analysis was conducted with RedCap. Results Seventy-one surveys were completed: 33 from the ACOG conference, 27 from Grand Rounds, and 11 from those recruited by telephone. Eighty-eight percent (n=60) of respondents correctly identified ACOG’s recommendation of unrestricted exercise for women with uncomplicated pregnancies. One-fourth (24%; n=16) regularly discuss exercise with most (76%-100%) pregnant patients. Most (57%; n=59) do not consistently (“never,” “rarely,” or “sometimes”) recommend sedentary patients begin exercising during pregnancy. Nearly all (97%; n=66) advise first-trimester patients to perform aerobic exercise two to five days per week, but the recommended duration varies. One-fourth (24%; n=16) do not recommend strength-training exercise during the first trimester. Twenty-five percent (n=17) and 32% (n=22) recommend decreased aerobic or strength-training exercise, respectively, in the third trimester. More than half (54%; n=37) recommend pregnant patients limit exercise by heart rate, most commonly 121-140 bpm (25%; n=17) or 141-160 bpm (24%; n=16). Sixty-eight percent (n=46) feel “comfortable” or “very comfortable” providing advice on exercise during pregnancy. Conclusion Despite believing exercise benefits pregnant women, knowing ACOG’s 2015 guidelines endorse unrestricted exercise for women with uncomplicated pregnancies, and feeling comfortable discussing this topic with patients, obstetricians are not consistently counseling their pregnant patients on exercise. Notably, physicians are not instructing their sedentary pregnant patients to exercise. While most physicians provide appropriate advice on aerobic exercise, their advice on resistance training, maximum heart rate during exercise and third-trimester exercise are often discordant with ACOG’s guidelines.
Sensorimotor adaptation compensates for distortions of 3D shape information

Visual perception often fails to recover the veridical 3D shape of objects in the environment due to ambiguity and variability in the available depth cues. However, we rely heavily on 3D shape estimates when planning movements, for example reaching to pick up an object from a slanted surface. Given the wide variety of distortions that can affect 3D perception, how do our actions remain accurate across different environments? One hypothesis is that the visuomotor system performs selective filtering of 3D information to minimize distortions. Indeed, some studies have found that actions appear to preferentially target stereo information when it is put in conflict with texture information. However, since these studies analyze averages over multiple trials, this apparent preference could be produced by sensorimotor adaptation. In Experiment 1, we create a set of cue-conflict stimuli where one available depth cue is affected by a constant bias. Sensory feedback rapidly aligns the motor output with physical reality in just a few trials, which can make it seem as if action planning selectively relies on the reinforced cue--yet no change in the relative influences of the cues is necessary to eliminate the constant errors. In contrast, when one depth cue becomes less correlated with physical reality, variable movement errors will occur, causing canonical adaptation to fail as the opposite error corrections cancel out. As a result, canonical adaptation cannot explain the preference for stereo found in studies with variable errors. However, Experiment 2 shows that persistent errors can produce a novel form of adaptation that gradually reduces the relative influence of an unreliable depth cue. These findings show that grasp control processes are continuously modified based on sensory feedback to compensate for both biases and noise in 3D visual processing, rather than having a hardwired preference for one type of depth information.
National survey of chief pediatric residents’ attitudes, practices, and training in collaborating with schools

Abstract The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that pediatricians be trained to collaborate with school personnel and has stated that inadequate collaboration across systems is a contributor to suboptimal health care. Mail-based surveys were used to target chief residents of all pediatric residency programs in the United States (N = 214). Participants completed a 25-item survey inquiring about training, attitudes, and practices in collaborating with schools. A 68.6% response rate was obtained. The majority of respondents (73.5%) view collaboration with school personnel as important or very important and believe it improves overall patient care. However, 30.7% of respondents reported to never have collaborated with school personnel, and 47.8% reported doing so only once or twice a year. Further, 41.3% of respondents felt that school collaboration is not feasible for most pediatricians due to barriers including limited time, scheduling issues, and knowing how to contact relevant school personnel. Most respondents reported that school collaboration was rarely addressed in residency training.
iDFlakies: A Framework for Detecting and Partially Classifying Flaky Tests

Regression testing is increasingly important with the wide use of continuous integration. A desirable requirement for regression testing is that a test failure reliably indicates a problem in the code under test and not a false alarm from the test code or the testing infrastructure. However, some test failures are unreliable, stemming from flaky tests that can nondeterministically pass or fail for the same code under test. There are many types of flaky tests, with order-dependent tests being a prominent type. To help advance research on flaky tests, we present (1) a framework, iDFlakies, to detect and partially classify flaky tests; (2) a dataset of flaky tests in open-source projects; and (3) a study with our dataset. iDFlakies automates experimentation with our tool for Maven-based Java projects. Using iDFlakies, we build a dataset of 422 flaky tests, with 50.5% order-dependent and 49.5% not. Our study of these flaky tests finds the prevalence of two types of flaky tests, probability of a test-suite run to have at least one failure due to flaky tests, and how different test reorderings affect the number of detected flaky tests. We envision that our work can spur research to alleviate the problem of flaky tests.
Decitabine Increase Platelet Count by Two Mechanisms.

Abstract Abstract 3507 Poster Board III-444 Thrombocytopenia is frequently associated with the myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (Decitabine) has been used to treat MDS with an approximately 20% response rate in thrombocytopenia. In this study, we have investigated the effect of Decitabine on platelet count in mouse. We report here that enhanced platelet release and maturation of megakaryocyte are two mechanisms involved in Decitabine induced elevation of platelet count. We first noted that a 30% of platelet count increase was found in the Balb/c mice 12 hours after the injection of Dectiabine at a clinically relevant dose (15 mg/m2) suggesting an instant platelet release from spleen or from megkaryocyte of bone marrow. The effect of Decitabine on megakaryocyte maturation was studied in in vitro differentiation of mouse bone marrow cells and megakaryoblastic cell line L8057. Decitabine (2.5 mm) is able to induce L8057 cells to differentiate into a megakaryocyte like polyploidy cells with positive marker of acetylcholinesterase and αIIb integrin. High expression of αIIb integrin was also found in the primary bone marrow cells cultured with both thrombopoietin and Decitabine as compared to thrombopoietin alone. The demethylation-induced transcription of GP6 has been reported in thrombopoietin induced megakaryocyte differentiation. Since Decitabine is a DNA demethylation reagent, we have investigated the GP6 expression in Decitabine treated L8057 cells and have found upregualtion of GP6 expression. Although the role of DNA demethylation in megkaryoctye differentiation still needs to be verified, our current data support that Decitabine is able to drive magakaryocyte maturation. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Imaging neuronal activity in the central and peripheral nervous systems using new Thy1.2-GCaMP6 transgenic mouse lines.

Abstract Background The genetically encoded calcium (Ca2+) sensor GCaMP6 has been widely used for imaging Ca2+ transients in neuronal somata, dendrites, and synapses. New method Here we describe five new transgenic mouse lines expressing GCaMP6F (fast) or GCaMP6S (slow) in the central and peripheral nervous system under the control of theThy1.2 promoter. Results These transgenic lines exhibit stable and layer-specific expression of GCaMP6 in multiple brain regions. They have several unique features compared to existing Thy1.2-GCaMP6 mice, including sparse expression of GCaMP6 in layer V pyramidal neurons of the cerebral cortex, motor neurons in the spinal cord, as well as sensory neurons in dorsal root ganglia (DRG). We further demonstrate that these mouse lines allow for robust detection of Ca2+ transients in neuronal somata and apical dendrites in the cerebral cortex of both anesthetized and awake behaving mice, as well as in DRG neurons. Comparison with existing method(s) These transgenic lines allows Ca2+ imaging of dendrites and somas of pyramidal neurons in specific cortical layers that is difficult to achieve with existing methods. Conclusions These GCaMP6 transgenic lines thus provide useful tools for functional analysis of neuronal circuits in both central and peripheral nervous systems.
Effect of Unweighting Assistance on Sit-to-Stand Mechanics in Healthy Older Adults

Aims: To assess the specificity of assistance provided by a sit-to-stand training device compared to unassisted sit-to-stand by quantifying the change in kinematic strategies and joint kinetic dema...
Pre-therapy visceral metastases in castrate resistant metastatic prostate cancer: Role in tumor progression.

e17586Background: Visceral metastases in castrate resistant metastatic prostate cancer (mCRPC) are known to develop late in the course of disease and portend a poor prognosis. As patients with visc...
Scale-Independent Aggression: A Fractal Analysis of Four Levels of Human Aggression

Using fractal analyses to study events allows us to capture the scale-independence of those events, that is, no matter at which level we study a phenomenon, we should get roughly the same results because events exhibit similar structure across scales. This is demonstrably true in mathematical fractals but is less assured in behavioral fractals. The current research directly tests the scale-independence hypothesis in the behavioral domain by exploring the fractal structure of aggression, a social phenomenon comprising events that span temporal scales from minutes of face-to-face arguments to centuries of international armed conflicts. Using publicly available data, we examined the temporal fractal structure of four scales of aggression: wars (very macrolevel, worldwide data), riots (macrolevel, worldwide data), violent crimes (microlevel, data gathered from cities and towns in the United States of America), and body movement during arguments (very microlevel, data gathered on American participants). Our results lend mixed support to the scale-independence hypothesis and provide insight into the self-organization of human interactions.
Cross-matching of allogeneic mesenchymal stromal cells eliminates recipient immune targeting

Allogeneic mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have been used clinically for decades, without cross-matching, on the assumption that they are immune-privileged. In the equine model, we demonstrate innate and adaptive immune responses after repeated intra-articular injection with major histocompatibility complex (MHC) mismatched allogeneic MSCs, but not MHC matched allogeneic or autologous MSCs. We document increased peri-articular edema and synovial effusion, increased synovial cytokine and chemokine concentrations, and development of donor-specific antibodies in mismatched recipients compared with recipients receiving matched allogeneic or autologous MSCs. Importantly, in matched allogeneic and autologous recipients, but not mismatched allogeneic recipients, there was increased stromal derived factor-1 along with increased MSC concentrations in synovial fluid. Until immune recognition of MSCs can be avoided, repeated clinical use of MSCs should be limited to autologous or cross-matched allogeneic MSCs. When non-cross-matched allogeneic MSCs are used in single MSC dose applications, presensitization against donor MHC should be assessed.
Combined effect of different teaching strategies on student performance in a large-enrollment undergraduate health sciences course

Students' course performance is fundamental for any institution to carry out its academic mission. Often, in-class disengagement and lack of after-class course support in large-enrollment classes trigger academic problems for students. This leads to poor exam performance and an increased rate of final letter grade of a D or F or student withdrawal (DFW), an indicator of students' poor academic success. Changing teaching strategies by using interventions that incorporate student-student interaction and student-faculty interaction may offer the opportunity to improve course performance. In this retrospective study, we examined the effect of changing teaching strategies on student course performance of 5,553 students enrolled in an undergraduate health sciences course over a span of 20 semesters. Three different interventions namely 1) daily low-stake in-class quizzes, 2) team-based learning, and 3) after-class review sessions were incorporated as teaching strategies. To assess the combined effect of these strategies' students' performance in the intervention period (12 semesters) was compared with control period (8 semesters). Student performance in the course was measured by exam grades; overall score; percentage of students receiving letter grades and A, B, C; and DFW rates. The data indicated that in the intervention period, exam scores increased by 6.6%, overall course score increased by 6.2%, percentage of students receiving letter grade A/B increased by 21.3%, percentage of students receiving letter grade C decreased by 6.9%, and the DFW rates decreased by 14.5%. Overall, changing teaching strategies through incorporation of these interventions improved students' performance in the course.
Effect of adjustment for case misclassification and infection date uncertainty on estimates of COVID-19 effective reproduction number.

BACKGROUND Surveillance data captured during the COVID-19 pandemic may not be optimal to inform a public health response, because it is biased by imperfect test accuracy, differential access to testing, and uncertainty in date of infection. METHODS We downloaded COVID-19 time-series surveillance data from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment by report and illness onset dates for 9 March 2020 to 30 September 2020. We used existing Bayesian methods to first adjust for misclassification in testing and surveillance, followed by deconvolution of date of infection. We propagated forward uncertainty from each step corresponding to 10,000 posterior time-series of doubly adjusted epidemic curves. The effective reproduction number (Rt), a parameter of principal interest in tracking the pandemic, gauged the impact of the adjustment on inference. RESULTS Observed period prevalence was 1.3%; median of the posterior of true (adjusted) prevalence was 1.7% (95% credible interval [CrI]: 1.4%, 1.8%). Sensitivity of surveillance declined over the course of the epidemic from a median of 88.8% (95% CrI: 86.3%, 89.8%) to a median of 60.8% (95% CrI: 60.1%, 62.6%). The mean (minimum, maximum) values of Rt were higher and more variable by report date, 1.12 (0.77, 4.13), compared to those following adjustment, 1.05 (0.89, 1.73). The epidemic curve by report date tended to overestimate Rt early on and be more susceptible to fluctuations in data. CONCLUSION Adjusting for epidemic curves based on surveillance data is necessary if estimates of missed cases and the effective reproduction number play a role in management of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Goat and Llama Trace Mineral Nutrition

The authors have observed nutritional associated diseases of goats and llamas only in cases of copper, iodine, iron, selenium and zinc deficiency.
An assessment of function, intraspecific variation, and taxonomic reliability of eremobatid ctenidia (Arachnida: Solifugae)

Abstract Camel spiders, members of the order Solifugae, are a diverse but poorly understood order of arachnids. The conserved morphology within many groups in the order makes species delimitation and identification challenging. In the North American family Eremobatidae, swollen setae called ctenidia are a common character employed in species delimitation, diagnoses, and identification. Unlike many other arachnid systems, the traditional use of ctenidia characters in eremobatid taxonomy and species identification does not allow for intraspecific variation, despite variation being common in this character system. To access and document the extent of intraspecific variation in this system, a combination of light microscopy and scanning electron micrographs (SEM) were used to survey and document the inter- and intraspecific variation of ctenidia shaft number, shape, and relative length. Additionally, these characters were also evaluated for species-group level and/or genus level taxonomic utility by evaluating the phylogenetic signal for each using a previously published molecular phylogeny as a context. Lastly, as ctenidia have no known biological function, we also assessed ctenidia shaft morphology for evidence of mechano- and/or chemoreceptive function. Observations from nearly 800 museum specimens indicate that ctenidia characteristics are generally far more variable within individual species than previous taxonomic literature indicates, necessitating increased caution for utilization in species diagnoses, delimitation and identifications. Phylogenetic signal was detected for shaft number and shape, but shaft length was not constrained by phylogenetic proximity. Scanning electron micrographs did not reveal morphology consistent with arachnid mechano- or chemoreception, as evidenced by a lack of pores or shaft mobility. Although the biological function of ctenidia remains elusive, the presence of phylogenetic signal and shifts in shaft number and shape may indicate some functional significance yet undiscovered.