cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Computational modeling to predict pilot's expectation of the aircraft state given vestibular and visual cues

Loss of Control (LOC) accidents are a major threat for aviation, and contribute the highest risk for fatalities in all aviation accidents. The major contributor to LOC accidents is pilot spatial disorientation (SD), which accounts for roughly 32% of all LOC accidents. A pilot experiences SD during flight when he/she fails to sense correctly the motion, and/or attitude of the aircraft. In essence, the pilot's expectation of the aircraft's state deviates from reality. This deviation results from a number of underlying mechanisms of SD, such as distraction, failure to monitor flight instruments, and vestibular illusions. Previous researchers have developed computational models to understand those mechanisms. However, the models are limited in scope, as they do not model pilot expertise and have a small span of flight regimes to test with. This research proposes a new pilot model to predict the best-possible-pilot-expectation of the aircraft state given vestibular and visual cues. The proposed pilot model is in the form of a model-based observer (MBO), which provides the infrastructure needed to establish an expert pilot model. Experts are known to form an internal model of the operated system due to training/experience, which allows the expert to generate internal expectations of the system states. Pilot's internal expectations are enhanced by the presence of information fed through the pilot's sensory systems. The proposed pilot model integrates a continuous vestibular sensory model and a discrete visual-sampling sensory model to take account for the influence of the pilot's sensory system on his/her expectation of the aircraft state. The computational model serves to investigate the underlying mechanisms of SD during flight and provide a quantitative analysis tool to support flight deck and countermeasure designs.
Magnetically-powered implantable Doppler blood flow meter

Implantable active devices use batteries for power, requiring expensive and unwieldy metal enclosures. Some such devices are re-charged via magnetic fields, but require external coils to be close to and well aligned with internal coils. We show here a different method: powering a device using segmented Helmholtz coils, allowing much greater leeway in internal coil location; and transmitting magnetically wide-bandwidth data. A proof-of-concept experiment demonstrates practicality.
On the Henyey-Greenstein approximation to scattering phase functions

Abstract Several aspects of using the Henyey-Greenstein phase function to approximate the true scattering phase function are discussed.
Case Report Cerebrotendinous Xanthomatosis: A Cause of Cataracts and Tendon Xanthoma

Patients with cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis may present with adolescent-onset cataracts and tendon xanthomas, and can have progressive neurological, myocardial, pulmonary, and endocrine dysfunction leading to death. The disease is inherited as an autosomal recessive and results in increasing deposition of cholesterol and cholestanol in vital organ systems; the primary biochemical abnormality is a block in bile acid synthesis which is manifested by a diminished pool of chenodeoxycholic acid. Replacement therapy with chenodeoxycholic acid may reduce cholesterol and cholestanol production.
In-vivo light dosimetry for HPPH-mediated pleural PDT

This study examines the light fluence (rate) delivered to patients undergoing pleural PDT as a function of treatment time, treatment volume and surface area. The accuracy of treatment delivery is analyzed as a function of the calibration accuracies of each isotropic detector and the calibration integrating sphere. The patients studied here are enrolled in a Phase I clinical trial of HPPH-mediated PDT for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer with pleural effusion. Patients are administered 4mg per kg body weight HPPH 24-48 hours before the surgery. Patients undergoing photodynamic therapy (PDT) are treated with light therapy with a fluence of 15-60 J/cm2 at 661nm. Fluence rate (mW/cm2) and cumulative fluence (J/cm2) is monitored at 7 different sites during the entire light treatment delivery. Isotropic detectors are used for in-vivo light dosimetry. The anisotropy of each isotropic detector was found to be within 15%. The mean fluence rate delivery and treatment time are recorded. A correlation between the treatment time and the treatment volume is established. The result can be used as a clinical guideline for future pleural PDT treatment.
Direct In Vivo Visualization of Right Cardiac Anatomy by Fiberoptic Endoscopy Hemodynamic Effects and Image Validation

The authors tested the ability of a balloon-tipped fiberoptic endoscope to accurately visualize and identify right-heart anatomy in 7 anesthetized dogs. A 3.6-mm-diameter fiberoptic endoscope with a latex balloon covering the distal tip was inserted into the right atrium, where the balloon was inflated with air in 5 mL increments. Heart rate did not show changes. Mean arterial pressure and cardiac output started to show significant decreases with a balloon volume at 25 and 20 mL, respectively (n = 7). Visual image quality was excellent with a balloon volume of 10 mL or greater. With a balloon volume of 7-10 mL, the visual field was 15-20 mm in diameter. Right-heart anatomy including the right free wall, ostium of the coronary sinus, atrioventricular node area, tricuspid valve, right ventricular structures, and pulmonary arteries was clearly and accurately identified. Additionally, spatial relationships among these structures could be established. Furthermore, there was an excellent concordance between endoscopically observed images and postmortem findings. In conclusion, balloon-tipped fiberoptic endoscopy can accurately visualize normal intracardiac structures with no or minimal hemodynamic compromise.
Group V Phospholipase A2-dependent Induction of Cyclooxygenase-2 in Macrophages

When exposed for prolonged periods of time (up to 20 h) to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) murine P388D(1) macrophages exhibit a delayed prostaglandin biosynthetic response that is entirely mediated by cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Both the constitutive Group IV cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2)) and the inducible Group V secretory phospholipase A(2) (sPLA(2)) are involved in the cyclooxygenase-2-dependent generation of prostaglandins in response to LPS. Using the selective sPLA(2) inhibitor 3-(3-acetamide-1-benzyl-2-ethylindolyl-5-oxy)propane sulfonic acid (LY311727) and an antisense oligonucleotide specific for Group V sPLA(2), we found that induction of COX-2 expression is strikingly dependent on Group V sPLA(2), which was further confirmed by experiments in which exogenous Group V sPLA(2) was added to the cells. Exogenous Group V sPLA(2) was able to induce significant arachidonate mobilization on its own and to induce expression of the COX-2. None of these effects was observed if inactive Group V sPLA(2) was utilized, implying that enzyme activity is crucial for these effects to take place. Therefore, not only delayed prostaglandin production but also COX-2 gene induction are dependent on a catalytically active Group V sPLA(2). COX-2 expression was also found to be blunted by the Group IV cPLA(2) inhibitor methyl arachidonyl fluorophosphonate, which we have previously found to block Group V sPLA(2) induction as well. Collectively, the results support a model whereby Group IV cPLA(2) activation regulates the expression of Group V sPLA(2), which in turn is responsible for delayed prostaglandin production by regulating COX-2 expression.
Regulation of Estrogen Receptor α N-Terminus Conformation and Function by Peptidyl Prolyl Isomerase Pin1

Estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), a key driver of growth in the majority of breast cancers, contains an unstructured transactivation domain (AF1) in its N terminus that is a convergence point for growth factor and hormonal activation. This domain is controlled by phosphorylation, but how phosphorylation impacts AF1 structure and function is unclear. We found that serine 118 (S118) phosphorylation of the ERα AF1 region in response to estrogen (agonist), tamoxifen (antagonist), and growth factors results in recruitment of the peptidyl prolyl cis/trans isomerase Pin1. Phosphorylation of S118 is critical for Pin1 binding, and mutation of S118 to alanine prevents this association. Importantly, Pin1 isomerizes the serine118-proline119 bond from a cis to trans isomer, with a concomitant increase in AF1 transcriptional activity. Pin1 overexpression promotes ligand-independent and tamoxifen-inducible activity of ERα and growth of tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells. Pin1 expression correlates with proliferation in ERα-positive rat mammary tumors. These results establish phosphorylation-coupled proline isomerization as a mechanism modulating AF1 functional activity and provide insight into the role of a conformational switch in the functional regulation of the intrinsically disordered transactivation domain of ERα.
Rapamycin inhibits proliferation of estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer cells.

Background Estrogen-receptor (ER)-positive breast cancers comprise the majority of sporadic breast cancers. Although 50% respond to antihormonal treatment, both primary and acquired resistance limit the utility of this therapy, and other agents are needed. Rapamycin, an inhibitor of the mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR), possesses antitumor activity against many tumors including breast tumors, and particularly against ER-positive breast cancer cell lines. The sensitivity of these cells to rapamycin has been attributed to activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway by nongenomic ER signaling. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of rapamycin against ER-positive breast cancer, particularly under 17β-estradiol (E2)-dependent conditions, and to investigate mechanisms of rapamycin-sensitivity in ER-positive cells. Materials and methods Breast cancer cell lines were tested for sensitivity to rapamycin. Antiproliferative effects of rapamycin, alone and in combination with tamoxifen, were assessed under E2-dependent conditions. Western blot analysis was used to detect activation of mTOR by nongenomic ER signaling. Results Rapamycin effectively inhibits proliferation of the ER-positive MCF-7 cell line. In our system, this sensitivity is probably not due to nongenomic ER activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway; rapid stimulation of mTOR occurred nonspecifically after medium replacement, and addition of E2 stimulated mTOR only after 1 h. Combining rapamycin and tamoxifen under E2-dependent conditions yielded additive/synergistic effects at effective concentrations. Conclusions These results suggest that rapamycin may be an effective treatment for ER-positive breast cancer, either alone or in combination with tamoxifen, and also may be a potential therapy for tamoxifen-resistant cancers.
52.2: Invited Paper: Development and Manufacturing of OLED Lighting Panels for Health Care Application

OLEDWorks has started production operations for manufacturing OLED lighting panels. Compared to OLED displays, affordability is much more important for market adoption of OLED lighting. To this end, we have developed a unique approach in both product design and manufacturing processes. These elements are embodied in our first product, amber lighting for the health care market.
Assessing quality of life in stuttering treatment outcomes research.

Abstract Stuttering can affect many aspects of a person's life. People who stutter report that they experience negative reactions to stuttering, difficulty communicating in key situations, diminished satisfaction with life, and a reduced ability to achieve their goals in life. Unfortunately, most treatment outcomes studies have focused on changes in the observable characteristics of stuttering, with significantly fewer studies examining the broader consequences of stuttering. This paper proposes that evaluation of stuttering treatment outcomes can be enhanced through assessment of impact of stuttering on a speaker's quality of life. A means of assessing quality of life is described, based on the Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering (OASES; Yaruss and Quesal, 2006 , Yaruss and Quesal, 2008 ). The OASES is a multi-dimensional assessment instrument built upon the World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF; WHO, 2001 ; see also Yaruss & Quesal, 2004 ). One section of the OASES is designed to assess specific aspects of quality of life in individuals who stutter. Preliminary data from two ongoing studies involving the OASES are briefly summarized in order to demonstrate: (a) that individuals who stutter do report an adverse impact on their quality of life as a result of stuttering and (b) that quality of life can improve following treatment for stuttering. It is recommended that future stuttering treatment outcomes studies directly examine the broader consequence of stuttering by focusing, in part, on quality of life. Educational objectives: After reading this article, the participant will be able to: (1) describe some of the adverse consequences of stuttering reported by individuals who stutter; (2) define quality of life as it relates to the study of the stuttering disorder; (3) explain the value of assessing quality of life in stuttering treatment outcomes research.
Creating visual domain-specific modeling languages from end-user demonstration

Domain-Specific Modeling Languages (DSMLs) have received recent interest due to their conciseness and rich expressiveness for modeling a specific domain. However, DSML adoption has several challenges because development of a new DSML requires both domain knowledge and language development expertise (e.g., defining abstract/concrete syntax and specifying semantics). Abstract syntax is generally defined in the form of a metamodel, with semantics associated to the metamodel. Thus, designing a metamodel is a core DSML development activity. Furthermore, DSMLs are often developed incrementally by iterating across complex language development tasks. An iterative and incremental approach is often preferred because the approach encourages end-user involvement to assist with verifying the DSML correctness and feedback on new requirements. However, if there is no tool support, iterative and incremental DSML development can be mundane and error-prone work. To resolve issues related to DSML development, we introduce a new approach to create DSMLs from a set of domain model examples provided by an end-user. The approach focuses on (1) the identification of concrete syntax, (2) inducing abstract syntax in the form of a metamodel, and (3) inferring static semantics from a set of domain model examples. In order to generate a DSML from user-supplied examples, our approach uses graph theory and metamodel design patterns.
What, if anything, is sympatric speciation?

allopatry; biogeography; migration; parapatry; population genetics; selection; speciation; sympatry. Abstract Sympatric speciation has always fascinated evolutionary biologists, and for good reason; it pits diversifying selection directly against the tendency of sexual reproduction to homogenize populations. However, different investi- gators have used different definitions of sympatric speciation and different criteria for diagnosing cases of sympatric speciation. Here, we explore some of the definitions that have been used in empirical and theoretical studies. Definitions based on biogeography do not always produce the same conclu- sions as definitions based on population genetics. The most precise definitions make sympatric speciation an infinitesimal end point of a continuum. Because it is virtually impossible to demonstrate the occurrence of such a theoretical extreme, we argue that testing whether a case fits a particular definition is less informative than evaluating the biological processes affecting divergence. We do not deny the importance of geographical context for understanding divergence. Rather, we believe this context can be better understood by modelling and measuring quantities, such as gene flow and selection, rather than assigning cases to discrete categories like sympatric and allopatric speciation.
Subchronic toxicity of a fluoroalkylethanol mixture in rats.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the subchronic toxicity of a commercial fluoroalkylethanol mixture, which is an intermediate in the production of fluoroorganic compounds that are used as protectants and surfactants. The test substance was administered daily by gavage to Sprague–Dawley rats as a suspension in aqueous methylcellulose. The dosages were 0, 25, 100, or 250 mg kg− 1 day− 1. A 1- and 3-month recovery period was included to evaluate the reversibility of toxic effects. No test substance–related mortality or neurotoxicity occurred. Body weights and/or nutritional parameters were significantly reduced at 100 and 250 mg kg− 1 day− 1, and these effects were reversible. Broken and absent teeth were observed in rats dosed with 250 mg kg− 1 day− 1, and microscopic tooth lesions (ameloblast degeneration/disorganization) occurred at 100 and 250 mg kg− 1 day− 1 and persisted with decreased severity throughout recovery. Decreased red cell mass parameters occurred at 90 days in the 250 mg kg− 1 da...
Dual product codes for correction of multiple low-density burst errors

In many communication channels noise disturbances occur in the form of low-density bursts. Codes capable of correcting multiple bursts of low density are efficient tools of error control for such channels. One such class of codes is presented ia this paper. This Class of codes can be decoded by simple majority logic. The approach is to use codes which are the duals of product codes whose component codes are majority-logic-decodable cyclic codes.
Enabling Pervasive Collaboration with Platform Composition

Emerging pervasive computing technologies present many opportunities to aid ad-hoc collocated group collaboration. To better understand ad-hoc collaboration using pervasive technologies, or Pervasive Collaboration , a design space composed of three axes(composition granularity, sharing models, and resource references) is outlined, highlighting areas that are only partially covered by existing systems. Addressing some of these gaps, Platform Composition is a technique designed to overcome the usability limitations of small mobile devices and facilitate group activities in ad-hoc environments by enabling users to run legacy applications on a collection mobile devices. The associated Composition Framework prototype demonstrates a concrete implementation that explores the applicability of existing technologies, protocols, and applications to this model. Overall, Platform Composition promises to be an effective technique for supporting collaborative work on mobile devices, without requiring significant changes to the underlying computer platform or end-user applications.
Immediate Effects of Repeated and Non-Repeated Instructions and Task Difficulty on Task, Cardiovascular, and Respiratory Performance

To assess the effects of instructions and task difficulty on task, cardiovascular, and respiratory behavior in a situation where the instructions were either given once or repeated on the second day, a 3 by 3 by 2 experimental design was employed. Three sets of instructions (POSITIVE, CONTROL, NEGATIVE) were compared factorially with three difficulty levels (EASY, MODERATE, HARD) of a slide identification task, and observations were carried out over 2 consecutive daily sessions in which the initial instructions were repeated for only half of the subjects on the second day. Thirty-six undergraduates served as subjects and simple reaction time, error rate, heart rate, respiration rate, respiration amplitude, skin temperature (hand and forehead), and diastolic blood pressure were recorded simultaneously. That task conditions were different from one another was confirmed by comparisons of reaction time and errors during the tasks, with the EASY groups exhibiting the best performance and the HARD groups showing the longest reaction times and the most errors. That the differential instructions influenced cardiovascular performance was evident when comparisons were made among finger pulse amplitude, diastolic blood pressure, and hand temperature. Reaction times and error rates were unaffected by the differential instructions. With the exception of diastolic blood pressure, comparisons between days 1 and 2 revealed that instructional differences which emerged on day 1 were either attenuated or eliminated by day 2. Comparisons between repeated and non-repeated instruction groups failed to yield any reliable differences.
"The XX files": demographics of women cardiothoracic surgeons.

Ihope to have a little fun with this talk and would first like to voice my appreciation for being a token women on a female symposium for the very first time. Second, to provide you with the thoughts of women cardiothoracic (CT) surgeons themselves (I was able to interview almost 90% of American Board of Thoracic Surgery [ABTS]certified women by phone or by questionnaire) I will intersperse many of their direct comments (unattributed) throughout the presentation. Thus, the data itself will be supplemented by additional, perhaps just as powerful, subliminal messages. It’s nice to showcase the women but have we really done much? Few women advance in cardiac surgery in a meaningful wa y... some progress in thoraci c... academic progress unacceptable, and women have not been properly prepared for the politics.
Un cadre pour les contributions conceptuelles en marketing

Les avancees conceptuelles sont essentielles a la vitalite de la discipline marketing d'autant plus que des travaux recents suggerent que les avancees conceptuelles dans le domaine sont en train de...
Back pain and leg complaints that revealed non–small cell carcinoma: a case study

Objective The purpose of this case study is to describe the clinical presentation of a patient with a chief complaint of low back and leg pain with no prior diagnosis of lung cancer.
Neuroanatomy of human appetitive function: A positron emission tomography investigation

Objective The mediating neuroanatomy of human appetitive function is poorly understood. A state induction paradigm was employed, in conjunction with positron emission tomography, to test the hypothesis that limbic/paralimbic regions respond to the desirability of food stimuli. Methods Eight normal subjects were studied during each of three conditions, involving visual exposure to high-caloric food, low-caloric food, and nonfood stimuli. Subjective indices of hunger were measured via analog scales. Results Planned contrasts demonstrated significant increases in desire to eat and decreases in left temporoinsular cortical blood flow during the high-caloric versus control conditions. Discussion Results implicate the temporo-insular cortex in normal appetitive function, suggesting that activity within this region is associated with the desirability or valence of food stimuli, prior to ingestion. These data will provide a broad foundation for future studies of patients with eating disorders. © 2000 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 27: 163–171, 2000.
Natural selection and the function of genome imprinting: beyond the silenced minority

Most hypotheses of the evolutionary origin of genome imprinting assume that the biochemical character on which natural selection has operated is the expression of the allele from only one parent at an affected locus. We propose an alternative - that natural selection has operated on differences in the chromatin structure of maternal and paternal chromosomes to facilitate pairing during meiosis and to maintain the distinction between homologues during DNA repair and recombination in both meiotic and mitotic cells. Maintenance of differences in chromatin structure in somatic cells can sometimes result in the transcription of only one allele at a locus. This pattern of transcription might be selected, in some instances, for reasons that are unrelated to the original establishment of the imprint. Differences in the chromatin structure of homologous chromosomes might facilitate pairing and recombination during meiosis, but some such differences could also result in non-random segregation of chromosomes, leading to parental-origin-dependent transmission ratio distortion. This hypothesis unites two broad classes of parental origin effects under a single selective force and identifies a single substrate through which Mendel's first and second laws might be violated.
Seizure incidence during single- and paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in individuals with epilepsy

Objective: We reviewed published data and our own data to determine a quantitative incidence of seizure in subjects with epilepsy undergoing single- and paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (spTMS and ppTMS) and to explore conditions that may increase this risk. Methods: A PubMed literature search was performed, and articles from this search were reviewed. Subjects from our institution also were included. Results: The crude risk of a TMS-associated seizure ranges from 0.0 to 2.8% for spTMS and 0.0–3.6% for ppTMS. Medically intractable epilepsy and lowering antiepileptic drugs were associated with increased incidence. There was significant center-to-center variability that could not be explained by differences in patient population or by differences in reported stimulation parameters. In all cases, seizures were similar to each subject’s typical seizure and without long-term adverse outcome. In most cases, doubt was expressed in the original reports as to whether the seizures were induced by TMS or merely coincidental. Conclusions: The incidence of seizure in a subject with epilepsy during spTMS and ppTMS appears to be small and not associated with long-term adverse outcome. The incidence is higher under the specific conditions mentioned above. Significance: These findings may enable researchers to more accurately inform subjects of seizure risk during TMS. q 2004 International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
PRECURSORS AND CORRELATES OF WOMEN'S VIOLENCE: CHILD ABUSE TRAUMATIZATION, VICTIMIZATION OF WOMEN, AVOIDANCE COPING, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS

Path modeling assessed (a) the influence of child abuse traumatization on women's use of violence and their experiences of being victimized, (b) the association of these three variables to depressive and posttraumatic stress symptoms, and (c) the indirect pathways from women using violence and their being victimized to psychological symptoms through avoidance coping. Among 108 primarily African American women recruited from the community who used violence with a male partner, women's use of violence, but not their experiences of being victimized, was predicted by child abuse traumatization. Women's use of violence did not directly or indirectly predict symptomatology. In contrast, child abuse traumatization and women's experiences of being victimized were predictive of both depressive and posttraumatic stress symptoms, and being victimized also was related indirectly to depressive symptoms through avoidance coping.
Review Functional morphology as an aid in determining trophic behaviour: the placement of astigmatic mites in food webs of water-filled tree-hole communities

The arthropod communities of phytotelmata (plant-held waters) are considered excellent subjects for studying and testing community theory. Food webs constructed for phytotelm communities, however, usually exclude mites or determine their placement based on little, if any, actual knowledge of their trophic behaviour. Although individually small, many acarine species attain high population levels and therefore may be important as prey for other inhabitants, as processing chain species in commensal relationships and as competitors of the larger tree-hole inhabitants. An understanding of the trophic relationships of acarine inhabitants is therefore essential to an understanding of the dynamics of phytotelm communities. Studies emphasizing the functional morphology of mouth parts of astigmatic species inhabiting water-filled tree holes in the eastern USA and in Queensland, Australia, reveal a diversity of trophic groups. Among these are 'shredders' who ingest leaf material and associated microbes by biting off chunks of leaves, 'scrapers' (= grazers) who crop fungal hyphae and/or other microbes and detritus from the substrate surface and 'collectors' who filter microbes and fine particulate matter from the water. This information allows for the more exact placement of acarine inhabitants in food webs of water-filled tree holes.
4.2: TFT AMOLED Pixel Circuits and Driving Methods

Active matrix organic light emitting diode AMOLED displays are now entering the market place. TFT active matrix allow OLED displays to be larger in size, higher in resolution and lower in power dissipation than is possible using a passive matrix. A number of TFT active matrix pixel circuits have been developed for luminance control while correcting for TFT parameter variations. The circuits and driving methods are reviewed. A new driving method is presented
Harnessing ant defence at fruits reduces bruchid seed predation in a symbiotic ant–plant mutualism

In horizontally transmitted mutualisms, mutualists disperse separately and reassemble in each generation with partners genetically unrelated to those in the previous generation. Because of this, there should be no selection on either partner to enhance the other's reproductive output directly. In symbiotic ant–plant mutualisms, myrmecophytic plants host defensive ant colonies, and ants defend the plants from herbivores. Plants and ants disperse separately, and, although ant defence can indirectly increase plant reproduction by reducing folivory, it is unclear whether ants can also directly increase plant reproduction by defending seeds. The neotropical tree Cordia alliodora hosts colonies of Azteca pittieri ants. The trees produce domatia where ants nest at stem nodes and also at the node between the peduncle and the rachides of the infloresence. Unlike the stem domatia, these reproductive domatia senesce after the tree fruits each year. In this study, I show that the tree's resident ant colony moves into these ephemeral reproductive domatia, where they tend honeydew-producing scale insects and patrol the nearby developing fruits. The presence of ants significantly reduced pre-dispersal seed predation by Amblycerus bruchid beetles, thereby directly increasing plant reproductive output.
High-frequency asymptotic solutions for backscattering by cylinders with conic section directrixes

High-frequency asymptotic expansions are derived for electric and magnetic fields backscattered from a perfectly conducting smooth two-dimensional surface illuminated by a plane incident wave in two cases of TE and TM linear polarizations. Diffraction corrections up to the second order of the inverse large parameter p=ak (where a is a curvature radius at the specularly reflecting point, and k is a field wave number) to the geometrical optics fields, and specifically to their phases, backscattering cross sections (HH and VV for TE and TM polarizations, correspondingly), as well as the polarization ratio HH/VV, are derived for the specular points of a general form. These general results are applied to backscattering from cylinders with conical section directrixes (circle, parabola, ellipse, and hyperbola), and a number of new compact explicit equations are derived, especially for elliptic and hyperbolic cylinders illuminated at an arbitrary incidence angle relative to their axes of symmetry.
Within-session communication patterns predict alcohol treatment outcomes.

Abstract Background Within-session client speech is theorized to be a key mechanism of behavior change in motivational interviewing (MI), a directional, client-centered approach to behavior change. Client change talk (CT: speech indicating movement toward changing a problematic health behavior) and sustain talk (ST: speech supporting continuing a problematic health behavior) have each shown relationships with outcomes. However, it may be the case that patterns of within-session client speech, rather than counts of client speech, are important for producing change. Methods Recorded initial MI/MET psychotherapy sessions from Project MATCH had been previously rated using the Motivational Interviewing Sequential Code for Observing Process Exchange (MI-SCOPE), a mutually exclusive and exhaustive sequential coding system. From these existing data, session conditional probabilities for transitions of interest (the transition from CT to more CT, and the transition from reflections of CT to CT) were analyzed as empirical Bayes estimates of log-normalized odds ratios. Results CT frequencies and these log-normalized odds ratios were entered as independent variables into longitudinal generalized estimating equation (GEE) models predicting within-treatment and post-treatment drinking. While all variables were significant predictors of within-treatment drinking, only the CT–CT transition emerged as a significant predictor of decreased drinking after treatment. Conclusions The momentum of a client's speech about change during an MI session may be a better predictor of outcome than is a simple frequency count of it. Attending not only to the mere occurrence of CT, but also recognizing the importance of consecutive client statements of CT, may improve treatment outcomes.
Cholesterol increases the open probability of cardiac KACh currents

Cholesterol is one of the major lipid components of membranes in mammalian cells. In recent years, cholesterol has emerged as a major regulator of ion channel function. The most common effect of cholesterol on ion channels in general and on inwardly rectifying potassium (Kir) channels in particular is a decrease in activity. In contrast, we have recently shown that native G-protein gated Kir (GIRK or Kir3) channels that underlie atrial KACh currents are up-regulated by cholesterol. Here we unveil the biophysical basis of cholesterol-induced increase in KACh activity. Using planar lipid bilayers we show that cholesterol significantly enhances the channel open frequency of the Kir3.1/Kir3.4 channels, which underlie KACh currents. In contrast, our data indicate that cholesterol does not affect their unitary conductance. Furthermore, using fluorescent and TIRF microscopy as well as surface protein biotinylation, we also show that cholesterol enrichment in vitro has no effect on surface expression of GFP-tagged channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes or transfected into HEK293 cells. Together, these data demonstrate for the first time that cholesterol enhances Kir3-mediated current by increasing the channel open probability.
Food Allergy Knowledge, Attitudes, and Preparedness Among Restaurant Managerial Staff

This study surveyed 110 restaurant managerial staff in the United States to investigate their levels of food allergy knowledge, awareness, and preparedness in serving clients with food allergies. Mean food allergy knowledge score was 19.7 ± 4.6 of max 28. Most participants would modify recipes for clients with allergies (n = 85), but perceived customers should be responsible to request special meals (4.1 ± 0.9). Seventy-six participants have provided employee food allergy training. Participants identified that employee lack of commitment (3.9 ± 0.9) and time constrains (3.7 ± 1.0) were barriers to provide training. Restaurants should establish safe dining environment through well-planned food allergy policies and regular employee food allergy training.
Hierarchical stochastic simulation of genetic circuits

This paper describes a hierarchical stochastic simulation algorithm which has been implemented within iBioSim, a tool used to model, analyze, and visualize genetic circuits. Many biological analysis tools flatten out hierarchy before simulation, but there are many disadvantages associated with this approach. First, the memory required to represent the model can quickly expand in the process. Second, the flattening process is computationally expensive. Finally, when modeling a dynamic cellular population within iBioSim, inlining the hierarchy of the model is inefficient since models must grow dynamically over time. This paper discusses a new approach to handle hierarchy on the fly to make the tool faster and more memory-efficient. This approach yields significant performance improvements as compared to the former flat analysis method.
Fibroblast-Macrophage Interactions: Regulation by Modification of Extracellular Matrix

Inflammation is associated with modifications of the extracellular matrix (ECM) that are recognized by receptors expressed by a variety of inflammatory cells. During inflammation, fibroblasts are a...
New Emerging Self-lubricating Metal Matrix Composites for Tribological Applications

Self-lubricating metal matrix composites (SLMMCs) are an important category of engineering materials that are increasingly replacing a number of conventional materials in the automotive, aerospace, and marine industries due to superior tribological properties. Implementing self-lubricating composites into different operating systems is a solution to reduce the use of external toxic petroleum-based lubricants at sliding contacts in a way to help the environment and to reduce energy dissipation in industrial components for strategies toward energy efficiency and sustainability. In SLMMCs, solid lubricant materials including carbonous materials, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) are embedded into the metal matrices as reinforcements to manufacture a novel material with an attractive self-lubricating properties. Due to their lubricious nature, these solid lubricant materials have attracted researchers to synthesize lightweight self-lubricating metal matrix composites with superior tribological properties. This chapter focuses on the recent development in tribological behavior of self-lubricating metal matrix (aluminum, copper, magnesium, and nickel) composites. It is important to note that the tribological parameters, such as normal load, sliding speed, and temperature vary on a wide range and also the counterface materials differ in different experimental tests, comparing the results of tribological behavior of different self-lubricating composites is extremely difficult. In this chapter, attempts have been made to summarize the tribological performance of various SLMMCs as a function of several tribological parameters. These parameters include material parameters (size, shape, volume fraction, and type of the reinforcements), mechanical parameters (normal load and sliding speed), and physical parameters (temperature and environment). The mechanisms involved for the improved mechanical and tribological performances are discussed.
Identifying Barriers and Facilitators to Future Nurse Faculty Careers for DNP Students

Increasing the pool of doctorally educated nurses pursuing faculty careers is imperative in the development of the nurse faculty workforce. This cross-sectional study aims to identify barriers and facilitators to academic careers for doctor of nursing practice (DNP) students. One thousand five hundred DNP students were randomly selected from nursing schools across the country to participate in our survey, and a 56.9% response rate was achieved. The study found that 32% of respondents planned to pursue faculty careers after graduating. Students with postgraduation plans for academic careers, nonacademic careers, and undecided careers did not show distinct differences in demographic and academic characteristics, except that students who planned to pursue academic careers were more likely to have full-time and part-time faculty status. However, students in the 3 groups perceived facilitators and barriers to academic careers differently. The most influential facilitators were interest in teaching and an appreciation of the impact of nursing research on patient care, and the most considered barriers were poor financial compensation and a negative perception of academia. In terms of academic preparation, a large percentage of DNP students who planned to pursue a faculty career reported that they were not confident in teaching informatics. These findings are also consistent for DNP students who were not a faculty member. The impact of DNP education appeared to have a small, although positive, impact on students' decisions to pursue academic careers.
Psychosocial Correlates of Body Mass Index in the United States: Intersection of Race, Gender and Age.

Background: Studies on the association between psychosocial factors and obesity have provided mixed findings. Objectives: Current study used a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults to investigate how intersection of race, gender and age alters the psychosocial correlates of body mass index (BMI). Materials and Methods: Data came from the national health measurement study (NHMS), a cross-sectional study with nationally representative sample of Black and White (n = 3,648) adults ages 35 - 89. We tested bivariate correlations between BMI and physical and mental quality of life, purpose in life, number of chronic medical conditions, and discrimination across race × gender × age groups. Results: Higher purpose in life was associated with lower BMI among middle aged and older White women, middle aged Black men, middle aged Black women, and older Black women but not middle aged or older White men and older Black men. There was a positive association between multi-morbidity and BMI in all groups other than older White men. High BMI was associated with poor mental quality of life among older White women, older Black men and women, but not any of middle aged groups, and older White men. High BMI was associated with poor physical quality of life among all groups. Everyday discrimination was positively associated with BMI among older White women but not any other group. Lifetime discrimination was not associated with BMI among any of the groups. Conclusions: Race, gender, and age shape psychosocial and health related correlates of BMI. There is a need for further research on group differences in psychosocial correlates of obesity.
HHV-6A and HHV-6B in Cancer

Human herpesvirus 6A (HHV-6A) and HHV-6B have been detected in a wide variety of human cancers to include lymphoma, leukemia, cervical carcinoma, and brain tumors. The high seroprevalence rate among the general population argues against a direct oncogenic role for HHV-6A and HHV-6B in cancer. However, oncomodulatory and other epigenetic mechanisms associated with latent or reactivation of HHV-6A and HHV-6B may indicate a significant role in oncogenesis either alone or through co-infection with other viruses. HHV-6A and HHV-6B DNA has been detected in up to 80% of patients with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and it appears to be more specific for the nodular sclerosis variant. Many of these cases are co-infected with the well-established oncogenic Epstein–Barr virus (EBV). Likewise, similar high rates of HHV-6A and HHV-6B co-infection have been found with oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) variants in cervical carcinoma. In central nervous system tumors, HHV-6A and HHV-6B DNA and viral antigens have been detected in a wide array of adult and pediatric tumor subtypes, yet the presence of HHV-6A and HHV-6B has no effect on survival. This comprehensive review analyzes the association of HHV-6A and HHV-6B with human cancer, explores potential disease regulatory mechanisms, and proposes future directions in this controversial area of cancer research.
Discovery and Chemistry of Pyrantel, Morantel and Oxantel

Abstract The discovery of the Tetrahydropyrimidines began with in vivo screening programs in the late-1950s leading to the synthesis of pyrantel, morantel, and oxantel. Each of these anthelmintics and their salts possessed anthelmintic activities that were commercially developed into veterinary and, eventually, human medicines. This chapter describes the discovery and chemistry of pyrantel, morantel, and oxantel, along with the various anthelmintic applications of the Tetrahydropyrimidines and their salts.
5-ASA in Ulcerative Colitis

5-ASA, the active moiety of sulfasalazine, offers the advantages of “targeted” delivery of a mucosal anti-inflammatory agent with equal or enhanced therapeutic potency and a markedly reduced side-effect profile in IBD. Although the mechanism(s) of action remain uncertain, the compound can be used as a model to study both anti-inflammatory mediators and intestinal delivery systems for alternative non-systemic therapies.
The cellular autophagy/apoptosis checkpoint during inflammation

Cell death is a major determinant of inflammatory disease severity. Whether cells live or die during inflammation largely depends on the relative success of the pro-survival process of autophagy versus the pro-death process of apoptosis. These processes interact and influence each other during inflammation and there is a checkpoint at which cells irrevocably commit to either one pathway or another. This review will discuss the concept of the autophagy/apoptosis checkpoint and its importance during inflammation, the mechanisms of inflammation leading up to the checkpoint, and how the checkpoint is regulated. Understanding these concepts is important since manipulation of the autophagy/apoptosis checkpoint represents a novel opportunity for treatment of inflammatory diseases caused by too much or too little cell death.
Iowa wetlands outdoor recreation visitors’ decision-making process: An extended model of goal-directed behavior

Abstract While wetlands are recognized to be a potential nature-based tourism destination, little information has been known regarding wetlands visitors for outdoor recreation activities. This study developed an extended model of goal-directed behavior to examine the impact of perceived benefits of wetlands on the decision-making process and to identify differences between residents and non-residents. An online survey was conducted to outdoor recreationists in Iowa and 462 responses were used for data analysis. The structural equation modeling revealed that perceived benefits of wetlands were significant in the decision-making process. Desire was an important key element, conceptually different from behavioral intention, to link attitude, anticipated emotions, and frequency of past behavior to behavioral intention. Compared to non-residents, residents showed that positive attitude and past experience were significant in forming desire and intention to visit wetlands. The research contributes to highlighting the importance of wetlands benefit and group differences, extending the literature on decision-making process in the outdoor recreation context. This study suggests wetland operators develop differentiated marketing promotions by recognizing complicated decision-making processes and group differences by residential status. Management implications 1. This study shows that the perceived benefits of wetlands play a vital role in strengthening the decision-making process to visit wetlands. Wetlands management are suggested to recognize the essential values of wetlands and develop promotional programs based on the environmental, educational, and recreational resources in wetlands. 2. Furthermore, this study suggests marketing managers should consider differences between residents and non-residents in the decision-making process for planning effective advertisements or promotions. 3. Residents showed that a positive attitude toward wetlands played a significant role in forming a strong desire to visit wetlands. And they were more likely to revisit wetlands if they were frequent visitors in the past, compared to non-residents. Therefore, tourism organizers are suggested to recognize frequent visitors as an important market among residents and to develop an appropriate marketing program, meeting the corresponding needs and demands of the consumers.