cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Human-modified ecosystems and future evolution

Our global impact is finally receiving the scientific attention it deserves. The outcome will largely determine the future course of evolution. Human-modified ecosystems are shaped by our activities and their side effects. They share a common set of traits including simplified food webs, landscape homogenization, and high nutrient and energy inputs. Ecosystem simplification is the ecological hallmark of humanity and the reason for our evolutionary success. However, the side effects of our profligacy and poor resource practices are now so pervasive as to threaten our future no less than that of biological diversity itself. This article looks at human impact on ecosystems and the consequences for evolution. It concludes that future evolution will be shaped by our awareness of the global threats, our willingness to take action, and our ability to do so. Our ability is presently hampered by several factors, including the poor state of ecosystem and planetary knowledge, ignorance of human impact, lack of guidelines for sustainability, and a paucity of good policies, practices, and incentives for adopting those guidelines in daily life. Conservation philosophy, science, and practice must be framed against the reality of human-dominated ecosystems, rather than the separation of humanity and nature underlying the modern conservation movement. The steps scientists can take to imbed science in conservation and conservation in the societal process affecting the future of ecosystems and human well-being are discussed.
Multiparty Competition in Israel, 1988–96

Formal models of voting usually assume that political agents, whether parties or candidates, attempt to maximize expected vote shares. ‘Stochastic’ models typically derive the ‘mean voter theorem’ that each agent will adopt a ‘convergent’ policy strategy at the mean of the electoral distribution. In this article, it is argued that this conclusion is contradicted by empirical evidence. Estimates of vote intentions require ‘valence’ terms. The valence of each party derives from the average weight, given by members of the electorate, in judging the overall competence or ‘quality’ of the particular party leader. In empirical models, a party's valence is independent of current policy declarations and can be shown to be statistically significant in the estimation. It is shown here that the addition of valence gives a very strong Bayes factor over an electoral model without valence. The formal model is analysed and shown to be classified by a ‘convergence’ coefficient, defined in terms of the parameters of the empirical model. This coefficient gives necessary and sufficient conditions for convergence. When the necessary condition fails, as it does in these empirical studies with valence, then the convergent equilibrium fails to exist. The empirical evidence is consistent with a formal stochastic model of voting in which there are multiple local Nash equilibria to the vote-maximizing electoral game. Simulation techniques based on the parameters of the empirical model have been used to obtain these local equilibria, which are determined by the principal component of the electoral distribution. Low valence parties, in equilibrium, will tend to adopt positions at the electoral periphery. High valence parties will contest the electoral centre, but will not, in fact, position themselves at the electoral mean. Survey data from Israel for the elections of 1988, 1992 and 1996 are used to compute the parameters of the empirical model and to illustrate the dependence of equilibria on the electoral principal components. The vote maximizing equilibria do not perfectly coincide with the actual party positions. This divergence may be accounted for by more refined models that either (i) include activism or (ii) consider strategic party considerations over post-election coalition bargaining.
Aspect recommendation for evolving software

Cross-cutting concerns are unavoidable and create difficulties in the development and maintenance of large-scale systems. In this paper, we present a novel approach that identifies certain groups of code units that potentially share some cross-cutting concerns and recommends them for creating and updating aspects. Those code units, called concern peers, are detected based on their similar interactions (similar calling relations in similar contexts, either internally or externally). The recommendation is applicable to both the aspectization of non-aspect-oriented programs (i.e. for aspect creation), and the evolution of aspect-oriented programs (i.e. for aspect updating). The empirical evaluation on several real-world software systems shows that our approach is scalable and provides useful recommendations.
Limits of Human Viability in the United States: A Medicolegal Review

Throughout American history, medical and legal definitions of human viability have evolved on interrelated but slightly different trajectories. In the early 19th century, although common law did not consider abortion to be a criminal offense, it was discouraged after the onset of quickening, which connected the initial delineation of viability to the sensation of fetal movement within the womb. When post–Civil War physicians campaigned to outlaw abortion, it was transformed into a criminal act, because societal attitudes had redefined human life as beginning at conception.1 In 1935, the American Academy of Pediatrics defined a premature infant as one who weighed <2500 g at birth regardless of gestational age,2 a standard first adopted in Europe in 1919.3 Although no minimum weight for viability was established, 1250 g was frequently used and corresponded to an estimated gestational age (EGA) of 28 weeks.2,4 In the mid-20th century, the addition of gestational age and crown-to-heel length to assist with the definition of viability was advocated.5,6 In the 1950s, infantile respiratory distress syndrome was described to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of the United Kingdom7 and identified as a principal cause of death in infants younger than 37 weeks' EGA. This led to a landmark distinction between “premature” and “growth-restricted” infants who weighed <2500 g at birth.8 In the ensuing decades, neonatal mechanical ventilation and parenteral nutrition became established as contemporary cornerstones of neonatal medicine. Although the mortality rate of infants born at <1800 g was not significantly altered by initial intermittent positive-pressure ventilator strategies,9 the … Address correspondence to Bonnie Hope Arzuaga, MD, Comer Children's Hospital at University of Chicago, 5721 S Maryland Ave, Chicago, IL 60637. E-mail: bonniehope{at}gmail.com
Rethinking Geminates, Long-Distance Geminates, and the OCP

Building on the analysis of long-distance geminates as reduplication, this article argues that the OCP may apply to identical consonants across an intervening vowel. This is adduced from the behavior of guttural consonants in Semitic. It is further argued that antigemination is not resistance to an OCP violation but avoidance of gemination; syncope between identical consonants avoids an OCP violation by creating a geminate. This entails that there is no surface representational distinction between true and fake geminates. Finally, cases of reduplication are examined in which the standard reduplicant is changed to avoid either gemination or an OCP violation.
Outcomes and Predictive Factors for Salvage Therapy After Local–Regional Recurrence Following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Breast Conserving Therapy

Background There are few data addressing local–regional recurrence (LRR) and salvage therapies in patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) compared to those treated with surgery first. We characterize the clinical course and predictive features of salvage treatment for LRR after breast conserving therapy (BCT) analyzed by initial treatment.
Effect of ethacrynic acid on the sodium- and potassium-activated adenosine triphosphatase activity and expression in Old Order Amish bipolar individuals.

Abstract Background There are numerous reports of abnormalities in the expression of the sodium- and potassium-activated adenosine triphosphatase (Na,K-ATPase) in response to an ionic stress with ethacrynic acid (ECA) challenge in bipolar subjects. However, all of these studies have been in out-bred populations. In an attempt to reduce the genetic variability associated with this observation, we examined this phenomenon within an isolated breeding population. Methods We studied 36 lymphoblastoid cell lines obtained from Old Order Amish individuals who had bipolar disorder, type I (16), or were unaffected siblings of the same gender (9) or unrelated normal controls(11). Cells were treated with10 − 5 M ECA for 3 days after which Na,K-ATPase alpha1 protein expression and activity ([ 3 H]-ouabain binding, 86 Rb-uptake, and intracellular sodium and potassium concentrations) were measured. Results Cells from bipolar patients expressed less Na,K-ATPase as measured by immunoblot analysis after ECA treatment (0.94 ± SD 0.13 relative units) compared to unaffected siblings (1.06 ± 0.12, P = 0.029) and Old Order Amish normal controls (1.06 ± 0.14, P = 0.0004). None of the other variables studied were different. Limitations This is a study of peripheral cells which do not express all of the Na,K-ATPase expressed in the brain. The observed difference is small. Conclusions Ethacrynic-acid-stimulated lymphoblast sodium pump expression in Old Order Amish bipolar subjects is reduced compared to Amish controls.
A User-Friendly Interactive Turbo Pascal Simulation Toolkit:

A Turbo Pascal-based simulator specifically designed for continuous-time models with time delays and hysteretic phenomena is presented and its use illustrated with examples. Delays can be time- and state-dependent.For models with hysteretic (multi-valued) behavior, use is made of a recently introduced mathematical paradigm: the differential automaton. For models defined by differ ential or delay-differential equations with jumps in the derivatives, the differential automaton formalism can be bypassed by using a switch function to indicate points of low differentiability in the model. The switch function interacts with the simulator to approximate each point of discontinuity where the numerical integrator is to be reini tialized. This interaction, transparent to the user and implemented via side effects of the switch function, replaces the explicit scheduling of state events by the user.For models with time delays, a global approximation is constructed for each delayed state variable. Each global ap proxim...
Used Nuclear Fuel Transportation Package Seal Performance in Beyond Design Basis Thermal Conditions

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is evaluating the performance of seals in used fuel transportation packages during beyond-design-basis fires, similar to the Baltimore tunnel fire that occurred in 2001. The performance of package seals is important for determining the potential for a release of radioactive material from a package during a beyond-design-basis accident. Seals generally have lower temperature limits than other package components and are often part of the containment barrier between the environment and the cask contents. The NRC’s Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES) funded the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to conduct small-scale thermal testing to obtain experimental data of the performance of seals during beyond-design basis temperature exposures. The experimental testing consisted of several small-scale pressure vessels fabricated with a modified ASME flange design, using commercial grade metallic seals, similar to those that might be used on an actual spent nuclear fuel transportation package. The vessels were heated in an electrical furnace for exposures up to 9 hours (hrs) at temperatures as high as 800°C (1472°F), which far exceeded the rated temperature of the seals in question. This paper will provide a summary of the testing completed as well as the preliminary results and conclusions of the experiments performed by NIST.
Electrophysiological correlates of rapid auditory and linguistic processing in adolescents with specific language impairment.

Brief tonal stimuli and spoken sentences were utilized to examine whether adolescents (aged 14;3-18;1) with specific language impairments (SLI) exhibit atypical neural activity for rapid auditory processing of non-linguistic stimuli and linguistic processing of verb-agreement and semantic constraints. Further, we examined whether the behavioral and electrophysiological indices for rapid auditory processing were correlated with those for linguistic processing. Fifteen adolescents with SLI and 15 adolescents with normal language met strict criteria for displaying consistent diagnoses from kindergarten through the eighth grade. The findings provide evidence that auditory processing for non-linguistic stimuli is atypical in a significant number of adolescents with SLI compared to peers with normal language and indicate that reduced efficiency in auditory processing in SLI is more vulnerable to rapid rates (200 ms ISI) of stimuli presentation (indexed by reduced accuracy, a tendency for longer RTs, reduced N100 over right anterior sites, and reduced amplitude P300). Many adolescents with SLI displayed reduced behavioral accuracy for detecting verb-agreement violations and semantic anomalies, along with less robust P600s elicited by verb-agreement violations. The results indicate that ERPs elicited by morphosyntactic aspects of language processing are atypical in many adolescents with SLI. Additionally, correlational analyses between behavioral and electrophysiological indices of processing non-linguistic stimuli and verb-agreement violations suggest that the integrity of neural functions for auditory processing may only account for a small proportion of the variance in morphosyntactic processing in some adolescents.
Sex Hormones Prolong the QT Interval and Downregulate Potassium Channel Expression in the Rabbit Heart

Background Sex hormones are known to exert direct and indirect effects on cardiovascular function, but their effects on cardiac repolarization have not been elucidated. The repolarization phase of the cardiac action potential or QT interval of the ECG is regulated largely by potassium channels such as the delayed rectifier currents HK2 and I sK . Methods and Results The effects of ovariectomy (OVX) and estradiol (E2) or dihydrotestosterone (DHT) treatment were evaluated on HK2, HERG , and I sK mRNA levels, QT duration, and quinidine-induced changes in QT interval in isolated rabbit hearts. HK2 and 0.7-kilobase I sK mRNA were downregulated in cardiac ventricular tissue from OVX rabbits treated with either E2 or DHT. The QT interval was prolonged in E2- and DHT-treated animals (OVX+vehicle, 223±6 ms; OVX+DHT, 236±10 ms; and OVX+DHT, 245±6 ms; P Conclusions The association between hormone-induced changes in baseline QT interval and the mRNA level for these channels suggests that sex hormones may play a critical role in regulating cardiac repolarization. However, the changes in baseline QT and potassium channel mRNA after hormone treatment were not concordant with the changes in QT interval after the infusion of quinidine, after which E2-treated animals responded similarly to controls (18.4±4.6% and 19.3±4.6% increase in QT interval, respectively) and DHT-treated animals exhibited less QT prolongation (11.4±3.8% increase; P
Plasticity of S2-S4 specificity pockets of executioner caspase-7 revealed by structural and kinetic analysis.

Many protein substrates of caspases are cleaved at noncanonical sites in comparison to the recognition motifs reported for the three caspase subgroups. To provide insight into the specificity and aid in the design of drugs to control cell death, crystal structures of caspase-7 were determined in complexes with six peptide analogs (Ac-DMQD-Cho, Ac-DQMD-Cho, Ac-DNLD-Cho, Ac-IEPD-Cho, Ac-ESMD-Cho, Ac-WEHD-Cho) that span the major recognition motifs of the three subgroups. The crystal structures show that the S2 pocket of caspase-7 can accommodate diverse residues. Glu is not required at the P3 position because Ac-DMQD-Cho, Ac-DQMD-Cho and Ac-DNLD-Cho with varied P3 residues are almost as potent as the canonical Ac-DEVD-Cho. P4 Asp was present in the better inhibitors of caspase-7. However, the S4 pocket of executioner caspase-7 has alternate regions for binding of small branched aliphatic or polar residues similar to those of initiator caspase-8. The observed plasticity of the caspase subsites agrees very well with the reported cleavage of many proteins at noncanonical sites. The results imply that factors other than the P4–P1 sequence, such as exosites, contribute to the in vivo substrate specificity of caspases. The novel peptide binding site identified on the molecular surface of the current structures is suggested to be an exosite of caspase-7. These results should be considered in the design of selective small molecule inhibitors of this pharmacologically important protease.
In Situ Stem Technique for Characterization of Nanoscale Interconnects During Electromigration Testing

A technique for observing microstructure and morphology changes during annealing or electromigration of 100 nm-scale and smaller interconnects is presented. The technique is based on dynamic in situ characterization using a UHV field-emission scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) and can enable full microstructural characterization (images, diffraction patterns and compositions) during electromigration testing. Initial steps in the validation of the approach include in situ electron-beam OMCVD of Al-containing wires and observation of these wires. Although the deposition conditions were not optimized, Al-containing wires, with high edge acuity, thickness uniformity, and with minimum interconnect widths as small as 15 nm have successfully been deposited. In situ imaging of the annealing of 100 nm Al films on 25 nm Si 3 N 4 substrates at 350°C demonstrates that an image resolution of 10 nm should readily be attainable in passivated nanoscale interconnects during electromigration.
A Study on the Effect of Traceability Links in Software Maintenance

In software development, stakeholders of the same project often collaborate asynchronously through shared artifacts. A traceability system links a project's artifacts and therefore provides support for collaboration among stakeholders. Different stakeholders are interested in different types of traceability links. The literature often states that traceability is useful but expensive to build and maintain. However, there is no study showing reduction in effort when traceability links among various software artifacts are provided and used during the maintenance phase. This paper presents a study evaluating the benefits of using traceability among requirements, design, code, code inspections, builds, defects, and tests artifacts in the maintenance phase. Before the study, a survey was conducted at a large industrial firm to determine the type of links that different stakeholders are interested in. Twenty-five stakeholders from this firm participated in a survey to define the type of traceability links that were of interest to them. With this result, a traceability link model is proposed that categorizes different types of traceability links based on stakeholders' roles. This link model was used in the study. Twenty-eight subjects from industry and academia participated in the empirical study that was conducted after the survey. A prototype link-tracing tool, TraceLink, was developed and used in the study to present traceability links to the experimental group, whereas the control group was not given any links to solve the tasks. Five maintenance tasks were used in the study. The results show a significant improvement in task accuracy (86.06%) when traceability links were given to the subjects. In conclusion, a traceability model based on an industrial survey provided traceability views that are based on stakeholders' roles. This empirical study provides evidence that traceability links are effective in solving maintenance tasks with higher accuracy.
A comparison of two digit serial VLSI adders

The VLSI design of two digit serial adders, one which processes operand digits and produces online result digits least-significant digit first, and one which processes operands and produces online result digits most-significant digit first, is presented. They are compared with respect to number of gates, interconnect lines, layout area, and digit and operand add time. An optimal gate level description suitable for static CMOS implementation for one of the adders is given. This gate-level description can be input to a layout tool to automatically produce the CMOS gate matrix layout of the description. Finally, word-parallel adders built out of the two digit serial adders are discussed and compared. >
Genetic line and major histocompatibility complex effects on primary and secondary antibody responses to T-dependent and T-independent antigens

Abstract The effects of MHC and nonMHC (background) genetics on the kinetics of primary and secondary antibody responses to T-cell-dependent (SRBC) and T-cell-independent [Brucella abortus (BA)] antigens were investigated. Eight genetic groups were represented, with four homozygous MHC haplotypes [B1-IrGATlow (IrGAT = immune response to GAT locus); B1-IrGAThigh; B19-Ir-GATlow; B19-IrGAThigh] on two genetic backgrounds, the S1 and G lines. Birds were injected simultaneously with BA and SRBC at 4 and 7 wk of age, and blood samples were taken weekly from 4 to 10 wk of age for measurement of total agglutinating serum antibody levels. A quadratic equation and its first derivative were computed for each bird to approximate individual curve parameters: y max, the maximum titer; t max, the time required to achieve y max; and c coefficient, the rate of decline in the titer. Curve parameters of birds from different lines were analyzed separately by using the General Linear Model procedure. A second analysis that included line effect evaluated the nonMHC gene effects and their interactions with erythrocyte antigen B locus (Ea-B) or IrGAT. In the S1 line, there was an interaction (P
The Role of Animals in the Waterborne Transmission of Viruses

Water contamination by human viruses is well established as is the waterborne transmission of human viruses to the human with resulting disease. It is also well known that forms of life other than the human carry viruses of human and non-human origin and these too in some instances are known to transmit disease to the human. What is not well understood and has not been studied in any detail is the occurrence in water of viruses derived from sources other than the human. It would appear, from the information available, that human disease as a result of water transmission of non-human viruses has been inconsequential. This review, however, probes the various sources of non-human viruses and attempts to demonstrate the potential for direct and indirect causation of human disease as well as the indirect effect on the human by virtue of possible effects on other animal and plant life. Viruses from non-human sources are described, their recognized infectivity indicated, and an attempt is made to describe the implications of these findings.
A Comparative Study of the Volatility and Efficiency of Commodity Futures Index Roll Methods

We compare the volatility and efficiency of roll methods of 5 index providers across 15 individual commodity indexes to naive rolling (rolling from nearest futures contract on its expiration date to the second nearest – “continuous futures series”). For all series and all providers, the difference in means between each index and its respective continuous futures series is not statistically significant. All indexes are consistently less volatile than their respective continuous futures series. In general, we find that roll methods are less volatile and more efficient than the continuous futures series. Implications for investors and index providers are discussed.
Nonfeed Application of Rendered Animal Proteins for Microbial Production of Eicosapentaenoic Acid by the Fungus Pythium irregulare

Rendered animal proteins are well suited for animal nutrition applications, but the market is maturing, and there is a need to develop new uses for these products. The objective of this study is to explore the possibility of using animal proteins as a nutrient source for microbial production of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids by the microalga Schizochytrium limacinum and the fungus Pythium irregulare. To be absorbed by the microorganisms, the proteins needed to be hydrolyzed into small peptides and free amino acids. The utility of the protein hydrolysates for microorganisms depended on the hydrolysis method used and the type of microorganism. The enzymatic hydrolysates supported better cell growth performance than the alkali hydrolysates did. P. irregulare displayed better overall growth performance on the experimental hydrolysates compared to S. limacinum. When P. irregulare was grown in medium containing 10 g/L enzymatic hydrolysate derived from meat and bone meal or feather meal, the performance of cell growth, lipid synthesis, and omega-3 fatty acid production was comparable to the that of culture using commercial yeast extract. The fungal biomass derived from the animal proteins had 26-29% lipid, 32-34% protein, 34-39% carbohydrate, and <2% ash content. The results show that it is possible to develop a nonfeed application for rendered animal protein by hydrolysis of the protein and feeding to industrial microorganisms which can produce omega-3 fatty acids for making omega-3-fortified foods or feeds.
Evaluation of Intact Mass Spectrometry for the Quantitative Analysis of Protein Therapeutics

Implementation of modern analytical techniques, such as intact mass spectrometry, may allow for more detailed quality assessments of protein therapeutics. The complexity of the protein therapeutic manufacturing process as well as the sensitivity of these drugs to different storage conditions can lead to the presence of several undesired products, including truncations, degradation products, byproducts, and differentially modified protein variants that are difficult to detect by peptide mapping. Intact mass spectrometry can be used to identify the intact protein composition, inclusive of post-translational modifications (PTMs) but can also generate a chemical fingerprint of the different protein species present in a given sample. In this work, we systematically evaluated the influence of multiple charge states, multiple isotopes per charge state, and operating resolution on the suitability of intact mass spectrometry for quantitative analysis using insulin and somatotropin as model systems. Standard curves...
A computational study of effects of third-body efficiencies on laminar burning velocities

Recombination reactions play an important role in combustion chemistry and their reaction rates depend on pressure, temperature, and collision efficiencies of the third-body species. The effects of third-body collision efficiencies, through their ability to change the rates of recombination reactions, on global flame parameters such as laminar burning velocities, have not been studied before. The present paper computationally evaluate and quantify the effects of third-body collision efficiencies on burning velocities of hydrogen and carbon monoxide/hydrogen flames. The computations were carried out with PREMDC flame code with chemical kinetics solver CHEMKIN from Sandia National Laboratories. Contemporary kinetic mechanisms for hydrogen/air and carbon monoxide/hydrogen/air systems were considered. It was found that uncertainties in the values of collision efficiencies can cause variations in computed burning velocities by as much as 18%, which is more than the values for typical measurement uncertainty. Therefore, uncertainty in the third-body collision efficiencies can have significant influence on the computed burning velocities and consequently, their use in validating the reaction mechanisms. Further experimental studies on the recombination reaction rates with respect to thirdbody collision efficiencies for hydrogen/air and carbon monoxide/hydrogen/air flame systems may be needed to improve contemporary reaction mechanisms.
Study on Building JLVC Confederation for Joint Training

It's an effective and economical way to improve joint training by using simulation and live training.To search for the ways of building the synthesis environment for joint training,we made a study on the JLVC federation which was developed by United States Joint Forces Command.In this paper,the definition of LVC was given.The background and status of the JLVC federation were summarized.The JLVC conceptual model was described and the architecture was analyzed.At last,we summarize the main characteristics of the JLVC federation and make a conclusion.
Study on Dynamic Truck Process Problem Based on Fuzzy Control Theory

The paper analyzes the problems existing in the traditional dispatching mode of container terminals,proposes the dynamic truck process(DTP) mode that breaks the confinement of activity lines.In view of the limitations of classic control theories in the field of fuzzy control,the paper studies the fuzzy control theory,applies it in the DTP problem,establishes the DTP evaluation algorithm based on fuzzy reasoning,and uses the software Matlab to its actualization.
Comparison of two forms and two levels of lasalocid with monensin on feedlot cattle performance.

One growth and two finishing trials were conducted with beef steers to compare lasalocid sodium and monensin sodium. Pure lasalocid, mycelia-cake lasalocid and monensin, each added individually to commercial protein supplement blocks at 880 mg/kg, depressed (P greater than .05) block intake so that approximately 100 mg of each additive were consumed daily by each animal. Daily gain, feed intake and feed efficiency for steers receiving blocks containing additives did not differ from the corresponding measures for steers receiving control blocks. No differences were observed in diet dry matter digestibility, as determined with acid-insoluble ash as an internal marker. Both forms of lasalocid and monensin reduced (P greater than .05) the incidence and concentration of coccidia oocysts. By day 40, only one steer on each of the additive treatments was shedding oocysts (4.2% of additive-supplemented animals), compared with 41.5% of the control steers. During trial 2, steers fed pure lasalocid gained faster and more efficiently (P greater than .05) than those fed the mycelia-cake lasalocid, monensin or control diets. The improvement in feed efficiency over the control value was 10.0, 3.4 and 4.0% with pure lasalocid, mycelia-cake lasalocid and monensin, respectively (P greater than .05). Steers fed mycelia-cake lasalocid had higher (P greater than .05) dressing percentages than those fed pure lasalocid or monensin. Dressing percentage was the only carcass measurement affected. In trial 3, lasalocid at 30 and 45 g/ton and monensin at 30 g/ton improved (P greater than .05) feed efficiency by 7.5, 11.0 and 8.2%, respectively. No significant differences in incidence or concentration of oocysts were observed between treatment groups in trial 3, probably because steers were in slatted floor pens.
The Fungal Biome of the Oral Cavity

Organisms residing in the oral cavity (oral microbiota) contribute to health and disease, and influence diseases like gingivitis, periodontitis, and oral candidiasis (the most common oral complication of HIV-infection). These organisms are also associated with cancer and other systemic diseases including upper respiratory infections. There is limited knowledge regarding how oral microbes interact together and influence the host immune system. Characterizing the oral microbial community (oral microbiota) in health and disease represents a critical step in gaining insight into various members of this community. While most of the studies characterizing oral microbiota have focused on bacterial community, there are few encouraging studies characterizing the oral mycobiome (the fungal component of the oral microbiota). Our group recently characterized the oral mycobiome in health and disease focusing on HIV. In this chapter we will describe the methods used by our group for characterization of the oral mycobiome.
Accurate Estimation of Protein Folding and Unfolding Times: Beyond Markov State Models

Because standard molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are unable to access time scales of interest in complex biomolecular systems, it is common to “stitch together” information from multiple shorter trajectories using approximate Markov state model (MSM) analysis. However, MSMs may require significant tuning and can yield biased results. Here, by analyzing some of the longest protein MD data sets available (>100 μs per protein), we show that estimators constructed based on exact non-Markovian (NM) principles can yield significantly improved mean first-passage times (MFPTs) for protein folding and unfolding. In some cases, MSM bias of more than an order of magnitude can be corrected when identical trajectory data are reanalyzed by non-Markovian approaches. The NM analysis includes “history” information, higher order time correlations compared to MSMs, that is available in every MD trajectory. The NM strategy is insensitive to fine details of the states used and works well when a fine time-discretization (i...
Medical treatment of endometriosis: a comparison of the suppressive effects of danazol and nafarelin on reproductive hormones.

Objective Patients with endometriosis were studied to investigate hormonal suppression by the gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist nafarelin acetate compared with danazol. We hypothesized that the pattern, time course, and degree of gonadotropin and ovarian suppression would be different. Design The study included 16 patients who were randomized into one of three 6-month treatment protocols. Setting Patients were recruited from a university hospital setting. Patients Eligible candidates were 18 to 45 years of age, with regular menses and documented pelvic endometriosis. Intervention Six-month treatment protocols included nafarelin 800 or 400 μg / d , or danazol 800 mg/d. Main Outcome Measures Serum estradiol (E 2 ), progesterone (P), luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone were determined before treatment and then monthly. Thirteen patients consented to a 12-hour hospital admission during the 5th and 6th month of treatment to determine LH pulse frequency and amplitude. Results Estradiol and P were suppressed in all groups, but E 2 significantly more by nafarelin than danazol ( P ≤ 0.01). Nafarelin, 800 μg , significantly depressed LH pulse amplitude compared with danazol (P ≤ 0.05). Two patients in the nafarelin group had the administration of their medication observed, and both demonstrated single, high-amplitude pulses immediately after administration. Conclusion Nafarelin is a more potent LH and E 2 suppressor than danazol, and the agonist effect of nafarelin may continue to provoke transient gonadotropin responses despite long-term therapeutic suppression.
Status of diagnostics for three arbovirus infections in resource-limited settings

Climate change, travel, and urbanization contribute to increasing exposure to Zika, Dengue and Chikungunya. Lab-based diagnostics are required because of overlapping clinical presentations. Here we review the current diagnostic methods, and find them poorly adapted to point of care use in resource-limited settings: generally, serologic assays are hindered by cross-reactivity while molecular assays require laboratory conditions. We conclude that a differential diagnostic device is critically needed, requiring a simpler molecular assay kit that maintains high sensitivity and specificity.
Voter Reaction to Multiple-Use Drainage Projects

A survey was conducted to study the reasons why a drainage bond referendum in DeKalb County, Ga. was defeated and the political feasibility of using a multiple-use concept as a replacement. The results of the survey confirmed two important points: (1)The more directly people perceive themselves to be affected by a problem, the more likely they are to support a government program to correct that problem; and (2)a significant number of voters will not support a government program they perceive to be poorly planned even though they may support the goals of the program. Both of these points support the concept behind the multiple-use concept, which received much greater support in the survey than the single-purpose concept that was defeated. A summary of survey results is presented to document discussions and conclusions.
The life and time of clams: Derivation of intra-annual growth rates from high-resolution oxygen isotope profiles

Abstract The paired analysis of subannual microincrements and serially-sampled oxygen isotope data affords insights into the physiological and environmental conditions controlling bivalve growth. However, daily microincrements are faint or absent in many taxa, difficult or ambiguous to count under the best conditions, and are often constrained to the earliest years of ontogeny, limiting the practicality of intra-annual comparisons between growth rate and environmental parameters. We present a computational approach to derive growth rates using only serially-sampled oxygen isotope data, thereby allowing for broader application of bivalve growth rate studies. Variation in the isotopic composition of shell carbonate along an ontogenetic sampling profile reflects temporal variation in ambient water temperatures, while variation in the position of isotope values in the distance domain reflects intra-annual variation in rates of shell accretion. Thus, the shape of the isotope profile in distance space over a given year records the concomitant influence of subannual variation in temperature (y-axis) and growth rate (x-axis). Presumption that annual variation in temperature is sinusoidal allows for the determination of an intra-annual growth rate function that best approximates observed δ18Ocarb data. The fidelity of the approach is affirmed using synthetically generated isotope datasets and previously published isotope profiles. The method offers a variety of applications to sclerochronologic studies. Using only oxygen isotope values determined along an ontogenetic trajectory, the approach can be used to quantify spatial and temporal patterns of intra-annual accretion within populations. Additionally, the model can be applied to long time series such that year-to-year variations in the growth profiles can be used to identify ontogenetic and climatic trends. While we focus here on isotope-distance records from bivalve shell carbonate, this method is equally applicable to similar data from other accretionary biogenic skeletal materials.
Implementing Mathematical Modelling: The Challenge of Teacher Educating

This chapter reports efforts to assist a group of intermediate and high school mathematics teachers in developing knowledge of mathematical modelling and its implementation in the school curriculum. Over nine academic months, the teachers engaged in 25 h of professional development during which they worked on modelling tasks and discussed implementation issues. Results indicate that teachers’ level of comfort with mathematical modelling increased though they remained concerned about how to manage short- and long-term demands of curriculum, prepare students for skills-based standardized tests, and guide learners’ discussions without violating their autonomy. Challenges faced by the teacher educators included managing teachers’ diverse mathematical backgrounds and limiting direct instruction on mathematics.
A tool for rapid assessment of product usability and universal design: Development and preliminary psychometric testing

Background: While there are many available tools and methods to evaluate product usability, few have been tested on user groups with disabilities and even fewer systematically consider universal design principles. Objective: This paper describes the development and preliminary psychometric testing of the Rapid Assessment of Product Usability & Universal Design (RAPUUD), a 12-item user-report tool based on the seven principles of universal design. Method: A preliminary set of items was created to elicit ratings of diverse product characteristics (e.g., physical effort, cognitive effort, assistance required, safety). Data were gathered from 61 participants who rated the usability of products they use in their own environments. Results: Each item elicited a full range of responses, with no apparent floor or ceiling effects. Collectively, the 12 items achieved a high internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.80). The data indicate that the tool was sensitive to differences in functional abilities, as well as differences in product characteristics. The instrument was usable for a range of consumer products, though not all items were appropriate for each and every product. Conclusion: The results suggest that the instrument could become a pragmatic tool for designers to identify usability problems experienced by a diversity of user populations.
The β-Lactam Antibiotics: Their Future in the Face of Resistance

The search for new β-lactam antibacterial agents is a major challenge in medicinal and pharmaceutical chemistry. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), pan-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, and pan-resistant nonfermenter bacteria are present day clinical scourges. New cephalosporins and carbapenems may solve this problem, but new monosulfactams and monocarbams also show promise. High-molecular-mass PBPs are envisioned as β-lactam targets. Further research keeps revealing interesting aspects about β-lactam resistance by β-lactamases, the existence of sentinel proteins, and the complexity of the cell envelope.
Preparing Hydra for Scanning Electron Microscopy

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is used predominantly to study cell surfaces, although slices of tissue or fractured surfaces of fixed or frozen specimens can also reveal some features of internal organelles. Conventional scanning instruments are limited in resolution to approximately 150 A with most biological material (Everhart and Hayes, 1972). Field emission instruments now coming into more general use are expected to improve this Figure significantly (Crewe, 1971). The scanning electron microscope can also be used for x-ray microanalysis. When used with the scanning transmission mode of operation, important information concerning the presence and distribution of specific elements of biological significance can be obtained (Marshall, 1975).
Abraham Flexner and the development of the Yale School of Medicine.

Abraham Flexner first toured the Yale University School of Medicine in preparation for his report of 1910, but it was just the beginning of his relationship with the school. While his review of Yale in his report was generally favorable, he mentioned several shortfalls that needed to be improved to make the school acceptable. Throughout the next twenty-five years, Flexner worked with Deans George Blumer and Milton C. Winternitz to improve the school’s finances, infrastructure, and quality of education through his work with the Carnegie Foundation and General Education Board. Flexner has been given great accolades for his work on medical education for the country, but little mention is made of him at Yale, even though he was one of the most influential figures in the development of Yale in the last century.
Using Child Indicators to Influence Policy: A Comparative Case Study

Economic indicators have guided economic policymaking for almost a century. A wide range of social indicators have become increasingly important to policy debates over the last half century. But child indicators are only recently having impact on the policy process. This is likely due to the relative recency of children’s issues as a formal focus of policy making and to the relative conceptual and methodological immaturity of child indicator data systems. But, as evidenced by new journals, books, data series and practices, the child indicator movement and its relevance to policymaking is undergoing rapid transformation and change. Increasingly, governments and non-governmental organizations throughout the world recognize that children are their nation’s (and the world’s) future. And indicators of children’s welfare and well-being, if designed and used in particular ways (Aber & Jones, 1997; Ben-Arieh, 2008; Moore & Brown 2006), are increasingly influential in the policy formulation, implementation and evaluation processes.
A Multilevel Theoretical Framework Integrating Diversity and Emotional Labor

Science designed to understand the effects of diversity in organizations and science designed to understand the processes and outcomes of emotional labor have accumulated with increased rapidity, b...
Determination of Saccade Latency Distributions using Video Recordings from Consumer-grade Devices

Quantitative and accurate tracking of neurocognitive decline remains an ongoing challenge. We seek to address this need by focusing on robust and unobtrusive measurement of saccade latency - the time between the presentation of a visual stimulus and the initiation of an eye movement towards the stimulus - which has been shown to be altered in patients with neurocognitive decline or neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we present a novel, deep convolutional-neuralnetwork-based method to measure saccade latency outside of the clinical environment using a smartphone camera without the need for supplemental or special-purpose illumination. We also describe a model-based approach to estimate saccade latency that is less sensitive to noise compared to conventional methods. With this flexible and robust system, we collected over 11,000 saccade-latency measurements from 21 healthy individuals and found distinctive saccade-latency distributions across subjects. When analyzing intra-subject variability across time, we observed noticeable variations in the mean saccade latency and associated standard deviation. We also observed a potential learning effect that should be further characterized and potentially accounted for when interpreting saccade latency measurements.
Cultivating a career: Effects of television binge-watching and character identification on college students’ goal occupations

This paper focuses on the effects that heavy television viewing can have on viewers’ life choices. Specifically, it investigates how television can influence their desires to be like favorite characters and to obtain a goal occupation that aligns with that of their favorite characters. This study surveyed undergraduate students at Indiana University to see if their favorite characters on popular career-based television shows could have influenced their major and career choice. Respondents were also surveyed to see if the act of binge watching heightened the likelihood of a viewer’s goal occupation that corresponding with the career of their favorite character. The results showed that there was some correspondence between favorite characters’ careers and viewers’ goal occupations. However, the results showed no significant difference in the effects of binge watching.