cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Why transient analysis can be de-emphasized in undergraduate simulation courses

We present the results of coverage tests performed to validate our preliminary analysis indicating that determining 'appropriate' run length is more important for obtaining coverage than performing 'proper' transient analysis. Our preliminary experiment was designed with the intention of showing students the pitfalls of performing 'bad' transient analysis when estimating steady-state parameters. However, we found that for short run lengths any transient truncation diminishes coverage; and it is only beneficial to delete transient data when long runs of the output data are available. As with the preliminary analysis, two types of systems are analyzed (M/M/1/GD/infin/infin systems and an M/M/1/GD/infin/infin); additionally, coverage tests are also conducted on 3-stage M/M/1/GD/infin/infin queuing systems. The coverage analysis supports our preliminary conclusion: when first exposing students to the subject of output analysis on non-terminating systems, strong emphasis should be placed on choosing proper run length and the time devoted to transient analysis can be reduced
Effects of vagal blockade on the counterregulatory response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia in the dog

Our aim was to determine whether vagal transmission is required for the hormonal response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia in 18-h-fasted conscious dogs. Hollow coils were placed around the vagus ne...
Missing Persons: African Americans in Dental Hygiene

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to study some of the reasons why African Americans are underrepresented in dental hygiene. The purpose was to 1) describe African American representation in dental hygiene and dental hygiene education; 2) evaluate the relationship between the percentage of hygienists and the percentage of African Americans by state; and 3) evaluate how the professional practice environment of dental hygienists relates to African American demographics by state. Methods: This descriptive study cross-linked secondary data from existing education, oral health, and population databases. This study included 1) the historical percentages of African American dental hygiene graduates over the last 10 years; 2) the percentages of dental hygienists per state, cross-referenced with race demographics by state, and 3) the Dental Hygiene Professional Practice Index (DHPPI) cross-linked with African American population statistics. (The DHPPI is a tool that summarizes the professional practice environment of dental hygienists by state.) Results: 1) Results demonstrate that based on African American dental hygiene graduation rates from 1996 through 2003, and employment projection data from the U.S. Labor Review Board, African Americans will continue to be proportionately underrepresented in dental hygiene. 2) Four of the top five states with the highest density of dental hygienists are in the 10 states with the lowest proportion of African Americans (Vermont, New Hampshire, North Dakota, and Oregon). 3) Of the 10 states (and DC) with the lowest density of dental hygienists, 3 of them have the highest proportion of African Americans (Mississippi, Louisiana, District of Columbia). 4) The 10 states with the highest proportion of African Americans had an average DHPPI score of 28.5% , which falls in the lowest “Restrictive” practice environment category. The 10 states with the lowest proportion of African Americans had an average DHPPI score of 46.9% , which scores in the “Favorable” category. 5) Of the 17 states with a higher than average African American population, (>12.1%), 14 were in the Limiting or Restrictive categories, 2 were in the Satisfactory category, 1 was in the Favorable, and none were in the Excellent category. Conclusions: African Americans are underrepresented in the dental hygiene profession. African Americans live in states that are disproportionately lacking dental hygienists. The professional practice environment for dental hygienists is more restrictive in states with high percentages of African Americans.
The ongoing search for early detection biomarkers for breast cancer

part of The early detection of breast cancer currently depends on breast imaging and physical examination. There is no US FDA-approved body fluid biomarker, despite significant research in the field. Additionally, there are racial and ethnic differences in breast cancer incidence and mortality, but the molecular reasons for these observations are uncertain. We discuss three manuscripts that address these topics. In the first, the authors evaluated gene expression arrays in women with breast cancer of various races and ethnicities. This approach did not detect significant variations in RNA or protein expression based on race/ ethnicity. In the second, the authors used a proteomic approach to determine if plasma proteins might predict the presence of either breast cancer or benign breast disease. The authors identified two proteins with a mod est predictive ability. Finally, a metabolomic approach was used to profile human breast tumors. In this study, the authors identified 2-hydroxyglutarate as a possible oncogenic molecule in breast cancer, which is more frequently present in African–Americans (AA) than European–Americans (EA).
Diffuse intestinal T cell lymphosarcoma in a yellow-naped Amazon parrot (Amazona ochrocephala auropalliata)

A 10-year-old, intact, female yellow-naped Amazon parrot (Amazona ochrocephala auropalliata) was examined because of anemia, lymphocytic leukocytosis, regurgitation, and weight loss. A positive fecal occult blood and monoclonal globulinopathy were present. A distended proventriculus and diffusely thickened loops of small intestine with irregular luminal surfaces were identified with contrast radiography and contrast computed tomography. A micro positron emission tomography scan was performed with 18 F-fluoro- deoxyglucose. Diffuse intestinal T-cell lymphosarcoma was diagnosed based on histopathology and immunohistochemistry of full thickness small intestinal biopsies. The patient was treated with a multidrug chemotherapy protocol with little to no effect. Euthanasia was elected, and intestinal lymphosarcoma was confirmed on histopathology of necropsy intestinal samples; no other organs demonstrated neoplastic infiltration. To the authors' knowledge, no reports are currently available detailing the clinical presentation or diagnosis of diffuse intestinal T-cell lymphosarcoma in any avian species.
Fourth Congress of Yugoslav Psychologists

Abstract The Fourth Congress was held from 13 to 17 October 1971 at Bled, a mountain resort in Slovenia, the northernmost of the six republics making up federated Yugoslavia.
Monozygotic Twin Pair Showing Discordant Phenotype for X-linked Thrombocytopenia and Wiskott–Aldrich Syndrome: a Role for Epigenetics?

Despite our increasing characterization of the molecular basis for many primary immunodeficiency states, significant heterogeneity in clinical and immunological phenotype exists. Epigenetic alterations have been implicated in the pathogenesis of immune dysregulation and may provide a unique paradigm to help us understand the phenotypic heterogeneity in primary immunodeficiency. The occurrence of X-linked thrombocytopenia (XLT) and Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome (WAS) in monozygotic twins is a rare occurrence which allows for the exploration of epigenetic alterations and associated phenotypic heterogeneity. We describe a pair of monozygotic twin brothers with a missense mutation in the WAS gene consistent with reduced expression of the WAS protein, a XLT phenotype, and a good prognosis. Despite this genotype and anticipated mild phenotype in both twins, a discordant phenotype has evolved in which one twin demonstrates asymptomatic thrombocytopenia and the other symptomatic thrombocytopenia, infectious complications, and autoimmunity. Characterization of the potential epigenetic contribution to the spectrum of XLT and WAS is described and the implications of these findings are discussed.
Catullus and the Di Parentes

LYING against the Alpine foothills, the land from which Catullus departed for Rome was the home of many and varied local cults. Inscriptions from the first three centuries of the Empire give laconic testimony to the names of comparatively unknown gods and goddesses or to strange divine epithets which may have been an inheritance of the original Raeti or their Celtic successors who held sway until the Roman conquest. The sphere of religious life revealed in fragmentary form in these monuments was a world removed from that illuminated by the pages of ancient belles lettres; the members of the Roman poetic coteries either exalted the official pantheon or culled less-familiar divine names from the Hellenistic tradition. The reader who expects that an author not native to the city of Rome may shed some light on the religious milieu of his place of origin is therefore fated to an early disappointment. This is a situation in which Catullus himself is no exception. At those points in his poems where the focus is on gods and their rites, he is prone to ignore the cult life of his own Transpadana and to display his knowledge of the exotic, even recherche', divinities of the neoteric literary tradition.' As a matter of fact, he is more easily identified as a poet of Cisalpine Gaul when he versifies the scandals of his neighbors than when he extols his gods. Nevertheless, there is one place in Catullus where Georg Wissowa made the offhand conjecture that the source for a reference is no other than a cult of Verona. The passage in question is at vss. 403-404 of the sixty-fourth poem: ignaro mater substernens se impia nato / impia non verita est divos scelerare parentes.2 He suggests that the divi parentes have a connection with a cult of
Utility of the NeuroTrax Computerized Battery for Cognitive Screening in Parkinson's Disease: Comparison with the MMSE and the MoCA

To determine the utility of a computerized assessment in Parkinson's disease (PD), we compared the cognitive performance of 50 PD patients on the NeuroTrax computerized battery relative to the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). The results revealed fair agreement between impairment on the NeuroTrax and the MMSE (kappa=.291, p=.031) but only slight agreement between the NeuroTrax and the MoCA (kappa=.138, p = .054) and between the MoCA and the MMSE (kappa = .168, p = .069). The NeuroTrax identified 52% of the sample as average or above, 40% as below average, and 8% as impaired. The MoCA identified 54% of the sample as impaired (28% average or above and 18% below average), while the MMSE identified 66% as average or above (20% below average and 14% impaired). Several stepwise regressions revealed that executive and verbal functions were the best predictors of cognitive functioning on the NeuroTrax, while memory recall, serial sevens, naming, and abstraction were the best predictors on the MoCA. These results suggest that although the NeuroTrax may be useful in identifying executive cognitive deficits in PD, similar to the MMSE the NeuroTrax may lack optimal sensitivity. While the MoCA is sensitive, it may be too stringent in overclassifying PD patients as impaired.
Biophysical mechanisms contributing to inking behavior in Aplysia

1. The release of ink from the ink gland of Aplysia californica in response to noxious stimuli is mediated by three electrically coupled motor neurons, L14A, L14B, L14C, whose cell bodies are located in the abdominal ganglion. The initial synaptic input to the ink motor neurons is relatively ineffective in firing the cells. As a result, a pause of 1--3 s often occurs before the cells attain their maximum firing frequency and cause the release of ink. Using current and voltage-clamp techniques we have analyzed the mechanisms underlying the firing pattern of these cells. 2. The presence of a fast transient K+ current appears to play an important role in mediating the firing pattern of the ink motor neurons. Their high resting potential (-75 mV) ensures that the steady-state level of inactivation of the conductance channels for the fast K+ current will normally be low. Thus a train of EPSPs or a depolarizing current pulse can activate this current maximally, thereby reducing the initial effectiveness of the excitatory input. 3. In addition to the fast transient K+ current, four other currents were identified: 1) a fast transient tetrodotoxin-sensitive inward current, presumed to be carried by Na+; 2) a slower tetrodotoxin-insensitive inward current, presumed to be carried by Ca2+; 3) a slow transient outward tetraethylammonium- (TEA) sensitive current; and 4) a very slow TEA-insensitive outward current. 4. A decreased conductance EPSP, which turns on over a several-second period, contributes to a late acceleration of spike discharge in the L14 cells. 5. The results suggest that a unique combination of biophysical properties of the L14 cells and the features of the synaptic input cause them to act as a low-pass filter in the reflex pathway for inking. Their high resting potential, which ensures minimal inactivation of the fast transient K+ current channel, makes these cells preferentially responsive to strong and long-lasting stimuli. The delayed recruitment of a decreased conductance EPSP augments the tendency of the L14 cells to fire in an accelerating burst pattern.
Visual Tracking via Supervised Similarity Matching

Supervised learning algorithms have been widely applied in tracking-by-detection based methods for object tracking in recent years. Most of these approaches treat tracking as a classification problem and solve it by training a discriminative classifier and exhaustively evaluating every possible target position; problems thus exist for two reasons. First, since the classifier describes the common feature of samples in an implicit way, it is not clear how well the classifier can represent the feature of the desired object against others; second, the brute-force search within the output space is usually time consuming, and thus limits the competence for real-time application. In this paper, we treat object tracking as a problem of similarity matching for streaming data. We propose to apply unsupervised learning by Locality Sensitive Hashing (LSH) and use LSH based similarity matching as the main engine for target detection. In addition, our method applies a Support Vector Machine (SVM) based supervised classifier cooperating with the unsupervised detector. Both the proposed tracker and several selected trackers are tested on some well accepted challenging videos; and the experimental results demonstrate that the proposed tracker outperforms the selected other trackers in terms of the effectiveness as well as the robustness.
Effects of Echinostoma caproni miracidia dose on the amino acid contents of Biomphalaria glabrata as determined by high-performance thin-layer chromatography

The effects of 5, 20, and 40 miracidia dose exposures of Echinostoma caproni on the amino acid contents of Biomphalaria glabrata were studied using high performance thin-layer chromatography-densitometry. Amino acids were identified and quantified in whole bodies of exposed snails and in the uninfected matched controls at 2 and 4 weeks post-exposure. Using cellulose layers with the mobile phase 2-butanol-pyridine-glacial acetic acid-deionized water (39:34:10:26) and ninhydrin detection reagent [2% ninhydrin in acetone-n-butanol (1:1)], five amino acids were identified, i.e., leucine/isoleucine, valine, alanine, glycine, and ornithine, by hRF value comparison and color differentiation. Quantitatively, there was a marked elevation in the amounts of four of these five amino acids (isoleucine/leucine, valine, alanine, and ornithine) across dose levels at 4 weeks post-infection (P<0.05). Elevation of the amino acid content in the high dose snail group suggested that some changes occurred in the amino acid metabolism of the snails in that group as a function of miracidia dose.
Boomer-Ang Eldercare: Deductible Claim?

In this article, Gerzog discusses Estate of Olivo, in which the Tax Court determined the deductibility under section 2053 of a claim against the decedent’s estate for eldercare services provided by a family member.
The Essential Instability of Systems with Threshold, and some Possible Applications to Psychiatry

Publisher Summary The widespread occurrence of threshold in the nervous system, and the importance of threshold in the details of neuronic activity, has been well known. Any large system that uses threshold as the criterion for whether transmission is to occur at each node is fundamentally unstable in its density of active points. Any increase in density, by increasing the chance that other stimuli will be successfully transmitted, tends to cause yet further increases in density. Calculation of the exact effects confirms the expectation. Were the threshold fixed, and were the conditions as assumed, any network using threshold would be erratic in action, tending continually to run away either to complete inactivity or to maximal activity. Since many processes in the nervous system are not normally seen to exhibit such runaways, there must be some factors opposing the primary instability. One is described briefly, showing that stabilization of a thresholded network is not difficult. The application of these facts to various symptoms seen in psychiatry is considered briefly.
Comparative effectiveness of 3 bariatric surgery procedures: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, laparoscopic adjustable gastric band, and sleeve gastrectomy.

Abstract Background Bariatric surgery is associated with improved co-morbidities, quality of life, and survival in severely obese patients. Common bariatric surgery procedures include Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (LAGB), and sleeve gastrectomy (SG). Currently, literature studying comparative effectiveness on different bariatric surgery procedures in veterans is limited. Objectives To compare effectiveness of 3 bariatric surgery procedures performed in veterans. Setting Veterans Affairs Loma Linda Healthcare Systems (VALLHS), Loma Linda, California, United States. Methods This study was a single-institution, retrospective cohort study. Primary outcome was weight reduction, expressed as kilograms lost, body mass index (BMI) reduction, percentage weight loss (%WL), and percentage excess weight loss (%EWL) after 12 months of bariatric surgery. Secondary outcomes were reduction in number of medications and laboratory markers for obesity-related chronic conditions. Inverse-probability weighting propensity score method was used to balance baseline characteristics among the procedures. Results A total of 162 patients were included in the study. At 12 months, the kilograms lost, BMI reduction, %WL, and %EWL were 40.7±14.5 kg, 13.4±4.1 kg/m 2 , 31.5±8.5%, and 41.4±11.6% for RYGB; 24.4±22.1 kg, 7.9±7.3 kg/m 2 , 20.2±21.5%, and 26.7±27.6% for SG; and 15.3±15.7 kg, 5.0±5.0 kg/m 2 , 12.0±11.7%, and 16.1±15.9% for LAGB, respectively (RYGB versus SG, RYGB versus LAGB, and SG versus LAGB, all P Conclusion For the short term, RYGB appears to achieve better weight reduction and management of obesity-associated co-morbid conditions compared with the SG and LAGB procedures in veteran patients. SG could be the next alternative over LAGB for the bariatric surgery procedure in patients who are not candidates for RYGB.
Being and Becoming Kachin: Histories Beyond the State in the Borderworlds of Burma. By Mandy Sadan. (Oxford, England: British Academy and Oxford University Press, 2013. Pp. xi, 512. $142.50.)

The author of this book makes a major contribution to our understanding of the Kachin in particular and the complicated dynamics shaping ethnic identity formation in Burma more generally. This erud...
LOW SPEED MULTI-POINT AIRFOIL DESIGN

Airfoil and wing optimization continues to attract strong interest. An important problem in this area is Multi-Point optimization since the same airfoil is performing over a range of operating conditions. In this paper, direct optimization of single element airfoil is attempted for two design problems; Single-Point design: cruise, and MultiPoint (Two-Point) design - cruise and takeoff. The design addresses the class of Home Built as well as General Aviation aircraft. The airfoil geometry is parameterized using Bezier Curves. The aerodynamic information is obtained using the XFOIL program. The optimization was performed using a Unix package called OptdesX. The operating conditions for the airfoil were established through a sample of existing configurations. For each case a different optimal shape was determined. The results indicate that Single-Point designs do not meet the constraints of other operating points. The Single-Point designs were generally thicker. There was an increase in camber in the forward region with the Multi-Point design. For the Home Built aircraft the MultiPoint design had better lift performance, while the Single-Point design had better drag coefficients. For the General Aviation aircraft the findings were reversed, that is the Single-Point design had better lift and higher drag, especially in the low drag region. This work also demonstrates the ability to design airfoils for a specific range of aerodynamic performance. Extending this work to include additional points or constraints is straightforward.
MoD-QM/MM Structural Refinement Method: Characterization of Hydrogen Bonding in the Oxytricha nova G-Quadruplex.

A generalization of the Moving-Domain Quantum Mechanics/Molecular Mechanics (MoD-QM/MM) hybrid method [Gascon, J. A.; Leung, S. S. F.; Batista, E. R.; Batista, V. S. J. Chem. Theory Comput. 2006, 2, 175–186] is introduced to provide a self-consistent computational protocol for structural refinement of extended systems. The method partitions the system into molecular domains that are iteratively optimized as quantum mechanical (QM) layers embedded in their surrounding molecular environment to obtain an ab initio quality description of the geometry and the molecular electrostatic potential of the extended system composed of those constituent fragments. The resulting methodology is benchmarked as applied to model systems that allow for full QM optimization as well as through refinement of the hydrogen bonding geometry in Oxytricha nova guanine quadruplex for which several studies have been reported, including the X-ray structure and NMR data. Calculations of 1H NMR chemical shifts based on the gauge independ...
Dimensions of uncertainty after stroke: Perspectives of the stroke survivor and family caregiver

Background There has been limited examination of uncertainty after stroke. The effects of stroke extend beyond the stroke survivor to impact on the family, and thus, an exploration of uncertainty with the stroke survivor-caregiver dyad is important to gain a fuller understanding. Methods Stroke survivors and their family caregivers (n = 33) participated in eight focus groups. Transcripts from the focus groups were examined for recurrent themes using content analysis. Mishel's theory of uncertainty was used as a framework to classify the themes. Results Participants reported uncertainty about (a) future events, in particular, recurrent stroke; (b) signs and symptoms of stroke; (c) stroke risk factor management; and (d) resources for poststroke care. The uncertainty was brought on by the lack of predictability of these future events, lack of information, and the complexity of poststroke care and corresponded to Mishel's four key elements of ambiguity, deficient information, lack of clarity, and unpredictability. Conclusions The fear of recurrent stroke was a pervasive theme and may represent a window of opportunity to work actively with stroke survivors in managing their risk factors. Although certain aspects of uncertainty after stroke cannot be eliminated, we can intervene with stroke survivors and family caregivers to assist them in reframing their responses to uncertainty and to foster coping and promote health.
Optimal exposure techniques for iodinated contrast enhanced breast CT

Screening for breast cancer using mammography has been very successful in the effort to reduce breast cancer mortality, and its use has largely resulted in the 30% reduction in breast cancer mortality observed since 1990 [1]. However, diagnostic mammography remains an area of breast imaging that is in great need for improvement. One imaging modality proposed for improving the accuracy of diagnostic workup is iodinated contrast-enhanced breast CT [2]. In this study, a mathematical framework is used to evaluate optimal exposure techniques for contrast-enhanced breast CT. The ideal observer signal-to-noise ratio (i.e., d’) figure-of-merit is used to provide a task performance based assessment of optimal acquisition parameters under the assumptions of a linear, shift-invariant imaging system. A parallel-cascade model was used to estimate signal and noise propagation through the detector, and a realistic lesion model with iodine uptake was embedded into a structured breast background. Ideal observer performance was investigated across kVp settings, filter materials, and filter thickness. Results indicated many kVp spectra/filter combinations can improve performance over currently used x-ray spectra.
A Portal into Biology Education: An Annotated List of Commonly Encountered Terms

Exploring a new discipline can be daunting in any field, and biology education is no exception. The authors provide a resource for those who are new to explorations of the biology education and biology education research worlds, including key terminology, brief definitions, and links to literature for further explorations.
Improved performance of 3DIC implementations through inherent awareness of mix-and-match die stacking

3D logic-logic integration is an important future lever for continued cost and density scaling value propositions in the semiconductor industry. In the 3DIC context, several works have proposed “mix-and-match” of multiple stacked die, according to binning information, to improve overall product yield. However, each of the stacked die in these works is independently designed: there is no holistic “design for eventual stacking” of any of the die. Separately, many approaches have been proposed for design partitioning and implementation with multiple die, including 3D stacked-die implementation. However, the signoff criteria used to implement such a multi-die solution must necessarily validate timing correctness for all combinations of process conditions on the multiple die. To our knowledge, no previous work has examined the fundamental issue of design partitioning and signoff specifically for mix-and-match die stacking. In this work, we study performance improvements of 3DIC implementation that leverage knowledge of mix-and-match die stacking during manufacturing. We propose partitioning methodologies to partition timing-critical paths across tiers to explicitly optimize the signed-off timing across the reduced set of corner combinations that can be produced by the stacked-die manufacturing. These include both an ILP-based methodology and a heuristic with novel maximum-cut partitioning, solved by semidefinite programming, and a signoff timing-aware FM optimization. We also extend two existing 3DIC implementation flows to incorporate mix-and-match-aware partitioning and signoff, demonstrating the simplicity of adopting our techniques. Experimental results show that our optimization flow achieves up to 16% timing improvement as compared to the existing 3DIC implementation flow in the context of mix-and-match die stacking.
Using Bayesian Nonparametric Hidden Semi-Markov Models to Disentangle Affect Processes during Marital Interaction.

Sequential affect dynamics generated during the interaction of intimate dyads, such as married couples, are associated with a cascade of effects—some good and some bad—on each partner, close family members, and other social contacts. Although the effects are well documented, the probabilistic structures associated with micro-social processes connected to the varied outcomes remain enigmatic. Using extant data we developed a method of classifying and subsequently generating couple dynamics using a Hierarchical Dirichlet Process Hidden semi-Markov Model (HDP-HSMM). Our findings indicate that several key aspects of existing models of marital interaction are inadequate: affect state emissions and their durations, along with the expected variability differences between distressed and nondistressed couples are present but highly nuanced; and most surprisingly, heterogeneity among highly satisfied couples necessitate that they be divided into subgroups. We review how this unsupervised learning technique generates plausible dyadic sequences that are sensitive to relationship quality and provide a natural mechanism for computational models of behavioral and affective micro-social processes.
Characterization of human sperm antigens and antisperm antibodies in infertile patients

Objective To identify which sperm antigens may elicit the production of functionally important antisperm antibodies. Design Immunoblot analysis was performed on 69 serum and 9 seminal plasma samples from infertile patients, using detergent extracts of pooled donor sperm as the antigen source. Serum and seminal plasma had been previously tested by an indirect immunobead binding test (IBT); 61 IBT-positive and 17 IBT-negative samples were included in the study. Proteins recognized by IBT-positive but not IBT-negative samples were most likely to be cell surface antigens, whereas proteins recognized by both IBT-positive and IBT-negative samples were probably intracellular. Antibodies directed toward surface antigens would be most likely to affect fertilization. Characterization of sperm surface proteins on both acrosome-intact and -reacted sperm used labeling of cell surface proteins with an N-hydroxysuccinimide ester of biotin, fractionation of sperm heads and tails, and lectin binding to determine glycosylation. Results Specific immunoreactivity (with respect to IBT results) was observed to 35K, 40 to 45K, 57K, 66K, and 88 to 90K MW proteins. Characterization studies identified an 88K MW glycosylated plasma membrane protein, a 66K MW inner acrosomal membrane protein, a 34K MW inner acrosomal membrane protein, and a 35K MW prominent tail protein. Conclusion Immunological infertility may involve several antigens characterized in this study. Further studies are necessary to determine if antibodies to these specific proteins interfere with sperm function.
Small topographic differences affect slash pine response to site preparation and fertilization

41)1).) 1 11c 5011 I $ 'I \$'I lgJ~t\\ I I I C , ( I \ Ill( ~ ~ l o s \ < l ~ ~ l i < l l ~ , fi~le, 1111xc(i, tI1e1 I ~ I I ( ) <in(t \'I(!I 111c. ((;lo$\'i(it~~t 11'1['lutl'llf, c 0'11 \e-\!It\ o\e1 c l'l\ t'\, llll*c.d, tllc.1 1111c) \rlt Io,rm t onlplcx ' ~ l l t l i 'I gelle~ '11 \lope of 0 t o 1 p e ~ ( ent. hl'illy "p~~tlj)le" 11101111~1~ of V I ~ I I I ~ ( ' $111 lo,irri occu13y , t t )ou~ I lj pelt etlt of the \tu(iy '11 e~ 1 he ilpper foot of t h e \ t inouriclj 15 gene1 , i l l y w e l l dl a ~ n e d .v\ ~ t h l)otll \oil 11ro1st111 e ,111tl \ el lo \~~\ l l I)ro\t n r r rot t l~r lg I I I ~ I c<l\lng n ~ t l r titptll. A less
Comparison of Star/Delta and Zig/Zag transformer based DSTATCOM for power quality improvement

Now a day's power quality improvement is an important issue in respect of increasing application for nonlinear loads. The DSTATCOM is design for improvement, performance of distribution system under linear and nonlinear loads. Especially in nonlinear load DSTATCOM inject harmonics current components into the system to improve power quality of source current and source voltage. Further in the proposed systems the rating and size of DSTATCOM is reduced with the help of Star/Delta and Zig/Zag transformer. The proposed systems is employed for the reduce rating of dc current, compensation of harmonic current, reactive power, neutral current, load balancing and the voltage regulation. In this paper comparison of proposed topology of DSTATCOM consisting of a three leg VSC with the Star/Delta and Zig/Zag transformer is employed. The performance of proposed DSTATCOM system is demonstrated under nonlinear loads in MATLAB/Simulink.
Common Sense and First Principles in Sidgwick's Methods*

What role, if any, should our moral intuitions play in moral epistemology? We make, or are prepared to make, moral judgments about a variety of actual and hypothetical situations. Some of these moral judgments are more informed, reflective, and stable than others (call these our considered moral judgments); some we make more confidently than others; and some, though not all, are judgments about which there is substantial consensus. What bearing do our moral judgments have on philosophical ethics and the search for first principles in ethics? Should these judgments constrain, or be constrained by, philosophical theorizing about morality? On the one hand, we might expect first principles to conform to our moral intuitions or at least to our considered moral judgments. After all, we begin the reflection that may lead to first principles from particular moral convictions. And some of our moral intuitions (e.g., that genocide is wrong) are more fixed and compelling than any putative first principle. If so, we might expect common moral beliefs to have an important evidential role in the construction and assessment of first principles. On the other hand, common moral beliefs often rest on poor information, reflect bias, or are otherwise mistaken. We often appeal to moral principles to justify our particular moral convictions or to resolve our disagreements. Insofar as this is true, we may expect first principles to provide a foundation on the basis of which to test common moral beliefs and, where necessary, form new moral convictions.
Stability of Tetrahydrocannabinol and Cannabidiol in Prepared Quality Control Medible Brownies

The legalization of marijuana in the USA for both medicinal and recreational use has increased in the past few years. Currently, 24 states have legalized marijuana for medicinal use. The US Drug Enforcement Administration has classified marijuana as a Schedule I substance. The US Food and Drug Administration does not regulate formulations or packages of marijuana that are currently marketed in states that have legalized marijuana. Marijuana edibles or "medibles" are typically packages of candies and baked goods consumed for medicinal as well as recreational marijuana use. They contain major psychoactive drug in marijuana, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and/or cannabidiol (CBD), which has reputed medical properties. Presented is a method for the preparation and application of THC and CBD containing brownies used as quality control (QC) material for the analysis of marijuana or cannabinoid baked medibles. The performance parameters of the assay including possible matrix effects and cannabinoid stability in the brownie QC over time are presented. It was determined that the process used to prepare and bake the brownie control material did not degrade the THC or CBD. The brownie matrix was found not to interfere with the analysis of a THC or a CBD. Ten commercially available brownie matrixes were evaluated for potential interferences; none of them were found to interfere with the analysis of THC or CBD. The laboratory baked medible QC material was found to be stable at room temperature for at least 3 months.
Optimum design of circular CMUT membranes for high quality factor in air

This paper presents optimum design of circular membrane for high quality factor. A quality factor of CMUT, we designed for resonant chemical sensor, is dominated by Qair and Qsupport. We investigated these two factors independently. We calculate Qair of circular silicon membrane analytically, and numerically. Calculated Qair is compared to measured value. In order to find Qsupport empirically, we measured quality factor of CMUT in vacuum chamber. Qair is proportional to (radius/thickness)-2 and Qsupport is proportional to (radius/thickness)3. Thus the optimum aspect ratio of membrane exists for maximum quality factor.
Osteopontin RNA aptamer can prevent and reverse pressure overload-induced heart failure.

Aims Cardiac myocyte hypertrophy, the main compensatory response to chronic stress in the heart often progresses to a state of decompensation that can lead to heart failure. Osteopontin (OPN) is an effector for extracellular signalling that induces myocyte growth and fibrosis. Although increased OPN activity has been observed in stressed myocytes and fibroblasts, the detailed and long term effects of blocking OPN signalling on the heart remain poorly defined. Targeting cardiac OPN protein by an RNA aptamer may be beneficial for tuning down OPN pathologic signalling. We aimed to demonstrate the therapeutic effects of an OPN RNA aptamer on cardiac dysfunction. Methods and results In vivo, we show that in a mouse model of pressure overload, treating at the time of surgeries with an OPN aptamer prevented cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and cardiac fibrosis, blocked OPN downstream signalling (PI3K and Akt phosphorylation), reduced expression of extracellular matrix (Lum, Col3a1, Fn1) and hypertrophy (Nppa, Nppb) genes, and prevented cardiac dysfunction. Treating at two months post-surgeries with the OPN aptamer reversed cardiac dysfunction and fibrosis and myocyte hypertrophy. While genetic homozygous deletion of OPN reduced myocardial wall thickness, surprisingly cardiac function and myocardial fibrosis, specifically collagen deposition and myofibroblast infiltration, were worse compared with wild type mice at three months of pressure overload. Conclusion Taken together, these data demonstrate that tuning down cardiac OPN signalling by an OPN RNA aptamer is a novel and effective approach for preventing cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis, improving cardiac function, and reversing pressure overload-induced heart failure.
Interactive associations of physical activity adiposity and oral contraceptive use on C-reactive protein levels in young women.

ABSTRACTOral contraceptives (OCs) are the most frequently used type of birth control among young women. OC-users have higher C-reactive protein (CRP) values, an indicator of systemic inflammation, than do non-OC-users. In addition, adiposity (percent fat) is positively associated with CRP, and physical activity (PA) is inversely associated with CRP. The present study determined the interactive associations of PA, percent fat, and OC-use with CRP. Data were collected during 2012–2015 at the University of Georgia. Objective PA was measured via pedometers. Percent fat was measured via dual X-ray absorptiometry. The current OC-use was self-reported. High-sensitivity (hs) CRP was determined using venipuncture. Multivariate linear regression determined the interactive associations of percent fat, OC-use, and PA with hs-CRP. Participants (n = 247; mean age 18.9 ± 1.4 years, 60.7 percent white) accumulated a mean of 10,075.7 ± 3,593.4 steps/day. One-third of participants were categorized as overweight/obese by BM...
Flocking ferromagnetic colloids

Assemblages of microscopic colloidal particles exhibit fascinating collective motion when energized by electric or magnetic fields. The behaviors range from coherent vortical motion to phase separation and dynamic self-assembly. Although colloidal systems are relatively simple, understanding their collective response, especially under out-of-equilibrium conditions, remains elusive. We report on the emergence of flocking and global rotation in the system of rolling ferromagnetic microparticles energized by a vertical alternating magnetic field. By combing experiments and discrete particle simulations, we have identified primary physical mechanisms, leading to the emergence of large-scale collective motion: spontaneous symmetry breaking of the clockwise/counterclockwise particle rotation, collisional alignment of particle velocities, and random particle reorientations due to shape imperfections. We have also shown that hydrodynamic interactions between the particles do not have a qualitative effect on the collective dynamics. Our findings shed light on the onset of spatial and temporal coherence in a large class of active systems, both synthetic (colloids, swarms of robots, and biopolymers) and living (suspensions of bacteria, cell colonies, and bird flocks).
Environmental contaminants in excrement of Iowa's nesting and wintering Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

ABSTRACT Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) were rare only a few decades ago but have undergone a spectacular recovery range-wide. While their numbers have increased, there is concern about exposure of Bald Eagles to environmental contaminants. We collected excrement from nesting and wintering Bald Eagles in Iowa to examine their exposure to several contaminants and tested for differences as a function of space, time, and breeding status. We detected aluminum, copper, manganese, and zinc at levels above the quantitation limit (QL) in most excrement samples. These elements are all essential micronutrients normally found in living organisms. Arsenic and selenium are essential micronutrients for which fewer samples had levels above the QL. We also detected non-essential elements barium, cadmium, lead, and mercury in excrement samples, although only one sample had a cadmium level above the QL and only 26% of samples had lead levels above the QL. Geometric mean contaminant levels in excrement samples colle...
Validation study of a new semi-automated software program for CT body composition analysis

Computed tomography (CT) has been increasingly used to quantify abdominal muscle and fat in clinical research studies, and multiple studies have shown importance of body composition in predicting clinical outcome. The purpose of study is to compare newly developed semi-automated software (BodyCompSlicer) to commercially available validated software (Slice-O-Matic) for CT body composition analysis. CT scans of abdomen at L3 level in 30 patients were analyzed by two reviewers and using two softwares (BodyCompSlicer and Slice-O-Matic). Body composition analysis using BodyCompSlicer was semi-automated. The program automatically segmented subcutaneous fat (SF), skeletal muscle (SM), and visceral fat (VF) areas. Reviewers manually corrected the segmentation using computer–mouse interface as necessary. Body composition analysis using Slice-O-Matic was performed by manually segmenting each area using computer-mouse interface (brush tool). After segmentation, SM, SF, and VF areas were calculated using CT attenuation thresholds. Inter-observer and inter-software variability of measurements were analyzed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and coefficient of variation (COV). Inter-observer ICC and COV using BodyCompSlicer were 0.997 and 1.5% for SM, 1.000 and 0.8% for SF, and 1.000 and 1.0% for VF, whereas those using Slice-O-Matic were 0.993 and 2.5% for SM, 0.995 and 3.1% for SF, and 0.999 and 2.3% for VF. Inter-software ICCs and COV were 0.995–0.995 and 2.0–2.1% for SM, 0.991–0.994 and 3.4–3.9% for SF, and 0.998–0.998 and 2.8–3.3% for VF. Time to analyze 30 cases was 70–100 min and 150–180 min using BodyCompSlicer and Slice-O-Matic, respectively. BodyCompSlicer is comparable to Slice-O-Matic for CT body composition analysis.
Professors’ Behaviors and Attributes that Promote U.S. Women’s Success in Male-Dominated Academic Majors: Results from a Mixed Methods Study

High rates of attrition of women from male-dominated academic majors may stem from both individual-level personal attributes (e.g., lower confidence in skills; Sax et al. 2015) and non-supportive environmental factors (e.g., chilly climate; Blickenstaff 2005; Hill et al. 2010). Grounded in social cognitive career theory (Lent et al. 1994), the present study utilized a mixed methods approach to identify faculty behaviors and attributes that support women in male-dominated majors and help to prevent attrition. In Study 1, data from eight focus groups involving 23 senior women in male-dominated majors at a mid-sized U.S. Midwestern university were coded to identify common themes exploring why certain professors’ behaviors/attributes are useful to women in male-dominated majors. Results indicated that professors’ behaviors led to learning experiences that helped women create personal connections within departments and provided them with department or career-related information as well as opportunities to gauge/demonstrate their skills to combat the idea that they fit the incompetent-woman stereotype. In Study 2, survey data (n = 65) examined professors’ support, academic advising time, and percentage of female faculty within a department as buffers against the negative effects of sexism on women’s academic achievement, physical health, and social belongingness. Sexist events in the department were associated with women’s reduced sense of belonging, but academic advising time served as a buffer of this association. Overall, our results indicated that proximal environments are important and that professors’ behaviors that support women without singling them out were most helpful.
Carousel: Scalable Traffic Shaping at End Hosts

Traffic shaping, including pacing and rate limiting, is fundamental to the correct and efficient operation of both datacenter and wide area networks. Sample use cases include policy-based bandwidth allocation to flow aggregates, rate-based congestion control algorithms, and packet pacing to avoid bursty transmissions that can overwhelm router buffers. Driven by the need to scale to millions of flows and to apply complex policies, traffic shaping is moving from network switches into the end hosts, typically implemented in software in the kernel networking stack.In this paper, we show that the performance overhead of end-host traffic shaping is substantial limits overall system scalability as we move to thousands of individual traffic classes per server. Measurements from production servers show that shaping at hosts consumes considerable CPU and memory, unnecessarily drops packets, suffers from head of line blocking and inaccuracy, and does not provide backpressure up the stack. We present Carousel, a framework that scales to tens of thousands of policies and flows per server, built from the synthesis of three key ideas: i) a single queue shaper using time as the basis for releasing packets, ii) fine-grained, just-in-time freeing of resources in higher layers coupled to actual packet departures, and iii) one shaper per CPU core, with lock-free coordination. Our production experience in serving video traffic at a Cloud service provider shows that Carousel shapes traffic accurately while improving overall machine CPU utilization by 8% (an improvement of 20% in the CPU utilization attributed to networking) relative to state-of-art deployments. It also conforms 10 times more accurately to target rates, and consumes two orders of magnitude less memory than existing approaches.