cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Formation of a Reservoir of Sperm in the Oviduct

Contents A reservoir of sperm in the initial segment of the oviduct has been found in several species of domestic and laboratory mammals. Evidently, the reservoir serves to ensure successful fertilization by providing the appropriate number of sperm in the appropriate physiological state for fertilizing oocytes soon after they enter the oviduct. Recent evidence indicates that sperm are trapped in the reservoir by binding to specific carbohydrate moieties on the surface of the mucosal epithelium of the oviduct. A bovine seminal plasma protein has been identified that associates with sperm and confers on them the capacity to bind to the carbohydrate moiety.
John Lennox Monteith. 3 September 1929 — 20 July 2012

John Monteith fundamentally changed the way in which physical and biological scientists explore the interactions between living organisms and their environments. Trained in physics and meteorology, he pioneered innovative ways of measuring and analysing exchanges of heat, water vapour and carbon dioxide between leaves, crops, animals and the atmosphere. Building on the work of Howard Penman, with whom he worked for almost two decades, he developed the Penman–Monteith equation that is widely used in planning irrigation and water resource development. Subsequently, as the first Professor of Environmental Physics at the University of Nottingham, he brought together multidisciplinary groups to study the growth of temperate and tropical crops and the heat balance of animals. His Environmental Physics group trained graduates and postdoctoral scientists who have joined research establishments and universities worldwide. The final phase of his long career was spent at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, where he directed teams applying his experimental methods and analyses to benefit crop production in developing countries—a topic that epitomized his desire to have his science make an impact for the good of mankind. In addition to his exceptional ability in research and teaching, John Monteith was an outstanding communicator and leader who made substantial contributions to many national and international organizations.
GENDER, STRUCTURAL DISADVANTAGE, AND URBAN CRIME: DO MACROSOCIAL VARIABLES ALSO EXPLAIN FEMALE OFFENDING RATES?*

Building on prior macrosocial-crime research that sought to explain either total crime rates or male rates, this study links female offending rates to structural characteristics of U.S. cities. Specifically, we go beyond previous research by: (1) gender disaggregating the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) index-crime rates (homicide, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny-theft) across U.S. cities; (2) focusing explicitly on the effects of structural disadvantage variables on the index-offending rates of females; and (3) comparing the effects of the structural variables on female rates with those for male rates. Alternative measures of structural disadvantage are used to provide more theoretically appropriate indicators, such as gender-specific poverty and joblessness, and controls are included for age structure and structural variables related to offending. The main finding is consistent and powerful: The structural sources of high levels of female offending resemble closely those influencing male offending, but the effects tend to be stronger on male offending rates.
Effect of developmental exposure to chlorpyrifos on the expression of neurotrophin growth factors and cell-specific markers in neonatal rat brain.

Chlorpyrifos (CPS), a known neurotoxicant, is a widely used agricultural organophosphorus insecticide. The effects of postnatal exposure to CPS on the expression of mRNA for two factors critical to brain development, nerve growth factor (NGF) and reelin, were investigated in the forebrain of rats. In addition, the expression of mRNA for the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) M1 subtype and cell-specific markers for developing neurons (b-III tubulin), astrocytes (glial fibrillary acidic protein, GFAP), and oligodendrocytes (myelin-associated glycoprotein, MAG) was also investigated. Oral administration of CPS (1.5 or 3.0 mg/kg) or the corn oil vehicle was performed daily from postnatal days (PNDs) 1 through 6. No signs of overt toxicity or of cholinergic hyperstimulation were observed after CPS administration. Body weight was significantly different from controls on PND7 in both males and females exposed to 3.0 mg/kg CPS. Quantitative PCR was performed on the forebrain. The expression of NGF, reelin, and M1 mAChR mRNA was significantly reduced with both dosages of CPS in both sexes. b-III Tubulin mRNA expression remained unchanged after exposure, whereas MAG mRNA expression was significantly decreased with both dosages of CPS in both sexes, suggesting effects on the developing oligodendrocytes. In contrast, GFAP mRNA levels were significantly increased with both dosages of CPS in both sexes, suggesting increased astrocyte reactivity. Our findings indicate that dosages of CPS which cause significant cholinesterase inhibition but do not exert overt toxicity can adversely affect the expression levels of critical genes involved in brain development during the early postnatal period in the rat.
MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT CLASSICAL PSYCHOPHYSICS AND THE MEASUREMENT OF RESPONSE BIAS

Summnary.-Misconceptions exist about the ability of classical psychophysical techniques to measure separately the sensory and nonsensory (response bias) factors in a discrimination task. The views of he early researchers in psychophysics are reviewed. The manner in which the method of constant stimuli gives separate measures of sensory sensitivity and response bias is illustrated. Modern derivatives of classical psychophysical techniques which estimate both sensory and nonsensory components are described. Finally, data indicaring a correspondence between sensory and nonsensory factors obtained with various psychophysical techniques are reviewed. It is a basic tenet of psychology that both sensory and nonsensory factors influence behavior in most s individual rats, for example, usually have a bias toward turning right or left in a T-maze. Response bias is a potent factor in ambiguous situations where we must make a decision about a stimulus. Presented a tone of 100 dB against a quiet background, all subjects with normal hearing d report its presence. Ln this situation, the detectability of the stimulus is determined by sensory input and the effects of response bias are insignificant. If a weaker tone is presented such that the subject is in doubt as to whether it was heard, then nonsensory variables may become important in the decision to report whether or not it was heard. The respective roles of sensory and nonsensory factors were recognized by some of the earliest researchers in psychology. James noted: "Whilst part of what we perceive comes through our senses from the object before us, another part (and it may be the larger part) always comes. . . out of our own 'Send reprint requests to Rick M. Gardner, Deparment of Psychology, Universiry of Colorado at Denver, Cam us Box 173, P 0 Box 173364, Denver, Colorado 80217-3364 or e-mail (Rgardner@~arbon.cu$enver.edu). ' '
The Early Structural Evolution and Anisotropy of the Oceanic Upper Mantle

Summary The dispersion of Love and Rayleigh waves in the period range 17–167 s is used to detect the change in the structure of the upper mantle as the age of the sea-floor increases away from the mid-ocean ridge. Using the single station method, the group and phase velocities of Rayleigh waves were measured for 78 paths in the east Pacific. In order to describe the observed Rayleigh wave dispersion, both a systematic increase in velocities with the age of the sea-floor and anisotropy of propagation are required. The maximum change in velocity with age is about 5 per cent, with the contrast between age zones decreasing with increasing period. The greatest change occurs in the first few million years, due to the rapid cooling and solidification of the upper part of the lithosphere. In the 0–5 My age zone, the average thickness of the lithosphere can be no greater than 30 km, including the water and crustal layers. Within 10 My after formation, the lithosphere reaches a thickness of about 60 km. As the mantle continues to cool, the shear velocity within the lithosphere increases. Within the area of this study, no change occurs in the upper mantle deeper than about 80 km. Rayleigh waves travel fastest in the direction of spreading. The degree of anisotropy in Rayleigh wave propagation is frequency-dependent, reaching a maximum of 2–0±0–2 per cent at a period of about 70 s. Several models are constructed which can reproduce this frequency-dependent anisotropy. The regional phase velocities of the fundamental and first higher Love modes have been simultaneously measured using a new technique. The Love wave data is inconsistent with the Rayleigh wave data unless SH velocity is higher than SV velocity within the uppermost 125 km of the mantle. Anisotropy deeper than 250 km is suggested, but not required, by the data.
Allegro: noise performance and the ongoing search for gravitational waves

The noise performance of Allegro since 1993 is summarized. We show that the noise level of Allegro is, in general, stationary. Non-Gaussian impulse excitations persist despite efforts to isolate the detector from environmental disturbances. Some excitations are caused by seismic activity and flux jumps in the SQUID. Algorithms to identify and automatically veto these events are presented. Also, the contribution of Allegro to collaborations with other resonant-mass detectors via the International Gravitational Event Collaboration and with LIGO is reviewed.
Fractional q-Calculus on a time scale

Abstract The study of fractional q-calculus in this paper serves as a bridge between the fractional q-calculus in the literature and the fractional q-calculus on a time scale , where to ∈ ℝ and 0 < q < 1. By use of time scale calculus notation, we find the proof of many results more straight forward. We shall develop some properties of fractional q-calculus, we shall develop some properties of a q-Laplace transform, and then we shall employ the q-Laplace transform to solve fractional q-difference equations.
Gender Differences and Developmental Change in Externalizing Disorders From Late Adolescence to Early Adulthood: A Longitudinal Twin Study

Using data from over 1,000 male and female twins participating in the Minnesota Twin Family Study, the authors examined developmental change, gender differences, and genetic and environmental contributions to the symptom levels of four externalizing disorders (adult antisocial behavior, alcohol dependence, nicotine dependence, and drug dependence) from ages 17 to 24. Both men and women increased in symptoms for each externalizing disorder, with men increasing at a greater rate than women, such that a modest gender gap at age 17 widened to a large one at age 24. Additionally, a mean-level gender difference on a latent Externalizing factor could account for the mean-level gender differences for the individual disorders. Biometric analyses revealed increasing genetic variation and heritability for men but a trend toward decreasing genetic variation and increasing environmental effects for women. Results illustrate the importance of gender and developmental context for symptom expression and the utility of structural models to integrate general trends and disorder-specific characteristics.
Succimer and the reduction of tissue lead in juvenile monkeys.

The extent to which succimer (2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid, DMSA) chelation reduces target organ lead (Pb) levels, including the skeleton, relative to the cessation of Pb exposure is a primary consideration in evaluating its efficacy for reducing toxicity in children. Here, we utilized a rhesus monkey model of childhood Pb exposure and a sensitive stable (204)Pb isotope tracer methodology to determine the efficacy of succimer for reducing Pb in blood, liver, and skeletal tissues from chronic (>/=1 year) versus short-term (3-4 days) Pb exposures. Specific attention was paid to the efficacy of succimer treatment compared to the cessation of Pb exposure. Infant rhesus monkeys (n = 48) were exposed to Pb daily for 1 year or >1 year postpartum to reach and maintain a target blood Pb level of 35-40 microg/dL. Two successive 19-day succimer treatment regimens were administered at 53 and 65 weeks of age (30 mg/kg/day x 5 days followed by 20 mg/kg/day x 14 days). Blood was collected over the course of treatment, and liver and bone biopsy samples were collected on days 0, 5, and 20, relative to the start of treatment (day 0). Complete 24-h urine collections were conducted over the course of treatment. Results of the first chelation indicate that a single regimen of succimer treatment led to significant reductions in blood and liver Pb levels, relative to the placebo group. However, the cessation of Pb exposure alone (i.e., placebo) also led to significant reductions in blood and liver compared to pretreatment levels. Neither succimer nor the cessation of Pb exposure had a significant impact on bone lead levels. Blood Pb levels in the succimer-treated group rebounded within 5 days after treatment ended, becoming comparable with levels in the placebo group from that point on. Results from the second chelation indicate that succimer treatment is essentially equally efficacious in reducing blood Pb at moderate (20 microg/dL) levels where exposures ended >3 months previously and more elevated (40-50 microg/dL) levels where exposures ended just prior to treatment, relative to the placebo treatment. Finally, similar overall outcomes were observed for tissue Pb from recent exposures (i.e., (204)Pb tracer levels), indicating little or no apparent difference in the chelation of Pb from recent (3-4 days) versus long-term exposures. These data demonstrate that succimer does not reduce skeletal Pb levels, and they show that the efficacy of succimer for reducing blood Pb levels does not persist beyond the completion of treatment due to posttreatment rebounds in blood Pb from endogenous sources. They also demonstrate the relative benefit of eliminating Pb exposures, which serves to underscore the importance of primary prevention of Pb exposure. The extent to which these data reflect the efficacy of succimer for reducing neurocognitive impairment is not yet known, although those data are forthcoming.
Automatic verification of safety and liveness for pipelined machines using WEB refinement

We show how to automatically verify that complex pipelined machine models satisfy the same safety and liveness properties as their instruction-set architecture (ISA) models by using well-founded equivalence bisimulation (WEB) refinement. We show how to reduce WEB-refinement proof obligations to formulas expressible in the decidable logic of counter arithmetic with lambda expressions and uninterpreted functions (CLU). This allows us to automate the verification of the pipelined machine models by using the UCLID decision procedure to transform CLU formulas to Boolean satisfiability problems. To relate pipelined machine states to ISA states, we use the commitment and flushing refinement maps. We evaluate our work using 17 pipelined machine models that contain various features, including deep pipelines, precise exceptions, branch prediction, interrupts, and instruction queues. Our experimental results show that the overhead of proving liveness, obtained by comparing the cost of proving both safety and liveness with the cost of only proving safety, is about 17p, but depends on the refinement map used; for example, the liveness overhead is 23p when flushing is used and is negligible when commitment is used.
Ending the Turf War: Circulation, Reference, and Instruction on One Team

In January 2008, the Belk Library & Information Commons at Appalachian State University combined the Access Services staff members of the Circulation and Lower Level Service Desks with the Reference and Instruction team as part of a library-wide reorganization effort. The new team balanced what had been a staff-dominated Access Services team with a library faculty-dominated Reference and Instruction team. This article describes Belk Library's efforts to end the turf war between circulation and reference service models and is based on a presentation given by Johnson and Jennings at the 2010 Access Services Conference in Atlanta, GA.
AVARE: aggregated vulnerability assessment and response against zero-day exploits

In this paper we propose an automated approach for determining recently published vulnerabilities pertinent to the current network/system configuration using the information aggregated from different bug tracking communities. Such vulnerability assessment and indication mechanisms significantly alleviate the system administrator's burden of manual content digging for vulnerabilities in his/her own configuration context. Furthermore, we propose an extensible defense oriented representation schema (EDORS) for vulnerability representation, which is consequently used by the policy engine to generate appropriate IDS signatures. As a result, the generated signatures can be viewed as a preventive stop-gap security measure against zero-day exploits until its patch is released. In the absence of precise detection signatures, we extend our framework to perform forensic analysis on the alerts generated, by constructing Bayesian causality graphs to assess the impact and extent of the attack. The preliminary experiments carried out suggest that our approach is able to analyze the system/network for even the most recent zero-day vulnerabilities and generate their corresponding signatures with very minimal performance and administrative overhead.
User contribution and trust in Wikipedia

Wikipedia, one of the top ten most visited websites, is commonly viewed as the largest online reference for encyclopedic knowledge. Because of its open editing model -allowing anyone to enter and edit content- Wikipedia's overall quality has often been questioned as a source of reliable information. Lack of study of the open editing model of Wikipedia and its effectiveness has resulted in a new generation of wikis that restrict contributions to registered users only, using their real names. In this paper, we present an empirical study of user contributions to Wikipedia. We statistically analyze contributions by both anonymous and registered users. The results show that submissions of anonymous and registered users in Wikipedia suggest a power law behavior. About 80% of the revisions are submitted by less than 7% of the users, most of whom are registered users. To further refine the analyzes, we use the Wiki Trust Model (WTM), a user reputation model developed in our previous work to assign a reputation value to each user. As expected, the results show that registered users contribute higher quality content and therefore are assigned higher reputation values. However, a significant number of anonymous users also contribute high-quality content.We provide further evidence that regardless of a user s' attribution, registered or anonymous, high reputation users are the dominant contributors that actively edit Wikipedia articles in order to remove vandalism or poor quality content.
The ETS domain factor Pet-1 is an early and precise marker of central serotonin neurons and interacts with a conserved element in serotonergic genes.

Serotonin (5-HT) plays a crucial neuromodulatory role in numerous physiological and behavioral functions, and dysfunction of the serotonergic system has been implicated in several psychiatric disorders. Despite the widespread importance of the central serotonergic neurotransmitter system, little is known about the molecular mechanisms controlling the development of 5-HT neurons. We previously identified an ETS domain transcription factor, Pet-1, that is expressed in a small number of tissues, including the brain. Here, we show that expression of Pet-1 RNA in the brain is restricted to, and marks, the entire rostrocaudal extent of rat serotonergic hindbrain raphe nuclei. Remarkably, Pet-1 RNA colocalizes with tryptophan hydroxylase-positive neurons in raphe nuclei but not with their nonserotonergic neuron or non-neuronal neighbors. Pet-1 RNA is limited to two domains in the developing hindbrain, which precedes the appearance of 5-HT in each domain by approximately a half day. Conserved Pet-1 binding sites are present in or near the promoter regions of the human and mouse 5-HT1a receptor, serotonin transporter, tryptophan hydroxylase, and aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase genes whose expression is characteristic of the serotonergic neuron phenotype. These sites are capable of supporting transcriptional activation through interactions with the Pet-1 ETS domain and can function as enhancers. Together, our findings establish Pet-1 as an early and precise marker of 5-HT neurons and suggest that it functions specifically in the differentiation and maintenance of these neurons.
Lithium Ion Batteries for Space Applications

Interplanetary missions require rechargeable batteries with unique performance characteristics: high specific energy, wide operating temperatures, demonstrated reliability, and safety. Li-ion batteries are fast becoming the most common energy storage solution for these missions, as they are able to meet the more demanding technical specifications without being excessively massive. At JPL, we have undertaken materials development studies on both cathodes and electrolytes with the goal of further enhancing battery specific energy, discharge and charge capability, and functional temperature range. Results of these studies are described below.
dFezf/Earmuff Maintains the Restricted Developmental Potential of Intermediate Neural Progenitors in Drosophila

Summary To ensure normal development and maintenance of homeostasis, the extensive developmental potential of stem cells must be functionally distinguished from the limited developmental potential of transit amplifying cells. Yet the mechanisms that restrict the developmental potential of transit amplifying cells are poorly understood. Here we show that the evolutionarily conserved transcription factor dFezf/Earmuff (Erm) functions cell-autonomously to maintain the restricted developmental potential of the intermediate neural progenitors generated by type II neuroblasts in Drosophila larval brains. Although erm mutant intermediate neural progenitors are correctly specified and show normal apical-basal cortical polarity, they can dedifferentiate back into a neuroblast state, functionally indistinguishable from normal type II neuroblasts. Erm restricts the potential of intermediate neural progenitors by activating Prospero to limit proliferation and by antagonizing Notch signaling to prevent dedifferentiation. We conclude that Erm dependence functionally distinguishes intermediate neural progenitors from neuroblasts in the Drosophila larval brain, balancing neurogenesis with stem cell maintenance.
Delivery of nitric oxide by high-frequency percussive ventilation: System design and evaluation

Background: Inhaled nitric oxide (NO) improves oxygenation in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and may act synergistically with high-frequency ventilation. High-frequency p...
High Frequency Chest Compression Effects Heart Rate Variability

High frequency chest compression (HFCC) supplies a sequence of air pulses through a jacket worn by a patient to remove excessive mucus for the treatment or prevention of lung disease patients. The air pulses produced from the pulse generator propagates over the thorax delivering the vibration and compression energy. A number of studies have demonstrated that the HFCC system increases the ability to clear mucus and improves lung function. Few studies have examined the change in instantaneous heart rate (iHR) and heart rate variability (HRV) during the HFCC therapy. The purpose of this study is to measure the change of HRV with four experimental protocols: (a) without HFCC,(b) during Inflated, (c)HFCC at 6 Hz, and (d) HFCC at 21 Hz. The nonlinearity and regularity of HRV was assessed by approximate entropy (ApEn), a method used to quantify the complexities and randomness. To compute the ApEn, we sectioned with a total of eight epochs and displayed the ApEn over the each epoch. Our results show significant differences in the both the iHR and HRV between the experimental protocols. The iHR was elevated at both the (c) 6 Hz and (d) 21 Hz condition from without HFCC (10%, 16%, respectively). We also found that the HFCC system tends to increase the HRV. Our study suggests that monitoring iHR and HRV are very important physiological indexes during HFCC therapy.
InP-based quantum dash broadband emitters

Semiconductor broadband light sources are greatly in demand for highly-sensitive sensing, spectroscopy, optical telecommunications, eye-safe low-speckle sources for flash lidar and high resolution bio-imaging particularly optical coherence tomography (OCT). In this paper, we report on the observation of broadband lasing action from the InAs/InAlGaAs quantum dash (Qdash) structure. This novel device exhibits lasing action with emission wavelength coverage over 60nm at the center wavelength around ∼1.60 µm. By applying the quantum-dash intermixing (QDI) technique to the same material structure, we have successfully tuned the center lasing wavelength of the Qdash broadband laser to 1.54 µm and broadened its emission coverage over 80 nm, making it an attractive source for many novel applications in optical communications. The intrinsic response of Qdash lasers under optical modulation has been studied.
HELIOS photometer measurements of in-situ density enhancements

Abstract The HELIOS spacecraft zodiacal light photometers have been used to image coronal mass ejections and coronal streamers in the interplanetary medium. The HELIOS photometers have the ability to image such features beyond 90° angular distance from the Sun. This provides a unique opportunity to measure brightness enhancements which are also observed as density increases in situ by the HELIOS spacecraft plasma probes. Here, I compare the brightness enhancements and in situ density increases following shocks defined by the plasma and magnetic field data. Five well-observed shocks from 1976 and 1979 illustrate these comparisons. Each event can be followed in photometer data as it sweeps past the HELIOS spacecraft. To first order, the enhancements of brightness following shocks indicate structures which extend over many tenths of an astronomical unit and colors which are consistent with Thomson scattering of sunlight by electrons.
Efficacy and safety of caspofungin in obese patients

Safety and efficacy outcomes were retrospectively compared for obese versus non-obese patients who received standard caspofungin doses for different clinical conditions in nine clinical trials within the Merck caspofungin database. Favorable outcomes were as defined in specific protocols. Safety was assessed based on drug-related adverse experiences (AEs). The proportion of obese patients in the esophageal candidiasis and invasive aspergillosis studies was lower than seen in the invasive candidiasis and empirical therapy studies. The proportions of patients with a favorable response were generally similar in non-obese and obese patients with invasive candidiasis (73% versus 77%) or patients receiving empirical therapy (33% versus 40%). The efficacy analysis in patients with invasive aspergillosis or esophageal candidiasis was limited due to the small number of obese patients. The proportion of favorable responses in these two infections was similar among normal/underweight patients as compared to obese/overweight patients, i.e., esophageal candidiasis 81% versus 88% and invasive aspergillosis 48% versus 44%, respectively. AEs related to caspofungin occurred in similar proportions with non-obese and obese patients across all and within the four clinical conditions. The proportion of obese patients with serious drug-related AEs (1%) or caspofungin discontinuations due to toxicity (5%) was low. In the post-hoc analysis, caspofungin appeared to be as efficacious and well-tolerated in obese patients as in non-obese patients.
Spherical Fourier Cell and Application for Optical True Time Delay

A new optical configuration for switching light beams called a spherical Fourier cell is explained. Its use for optical true time delay is outlined. An experimental apparatus was constructed for a 6-bit delay system, with 2 bits demonstrated. Delays of 0, 2.1, 4.1, and 6.2 ns were measured. Loss and crosstalk measurements are also given.
Carotenoids, vitamin A, and vitamin E concentrations during egg development in panther chameleons (Furcifer pardalis)

Insects are known to be poor sources of preformed vitamin A, leading to the specu-lation that insectivorous species, including reptiles, may be able to convert caro-tenoid precursors to meet dietary requirements for this nutrient. This study wasconducted to indirectly evaluate carotenoid and vitamin A metabolism in the pantherchameleon (Furcifer pardalis). Eggs were obtained from females in Madagascar thatwere yolked either early or later in the breeding season, and carotenoid (α- and β-carotene, cryptoxanthin, lutein/zeaxanthin, and lycopene), vitamin A, and vitamin Econcentrations were measured in egg contents in early, middle, or late embryonicdevelopment. An overall trend of decreased nutrient concentration as eggs matured(from egg period 1 (yolks) to egg period 3 (embryos)) was seen within both clutchgroups. The season of clutch deposition was a significant influence on egg weight,α-carotene, and lutein/zeaxanthin concentrations, but on no other nutrients. Chame-leon yolks contained considerably higher levels of carotenoids than levels previouslyreported from two viviparous lizard species, and β-carotene concentrations were ofthe same magnitude as reported in grazing tortoises. β-Carotene and β-cryptoxanthinwere the predominant carotenoids in yolk and embryos, comprising about 95% oftotal carotenoids detected. Measurable concentrations of retinol at all stages of eggdevelopment in the chameleons suggests effective conversion from carotenoid pre-cursors, with concentrations similar to those measured in other lizard eggs. Informa-tion from eggs obtained in native habitats may provide baseline data on nutrientinteractions to improve and optimize captive dietary management; preliminary datasuggest that micronutrient environments may vary over the protracted breeding sea-son, with possible implications for embryo health and survival. Zoo Biol 21:295–303, 2002.
A Curriculum Study of Gifted-Student Learning in the Language Arts.

This curriculum study of gifted-student learning in the language arts explores questions of curriculum efficacy related to the nature of the learner, the type of grouping model employed, and the st...
Subleading corrections to parity-violating pion photoproduction

We compute the photon asymmetry Bγ for near threshold parity-violating (PV) pion photoproduction through subleading order. We show that subleading contributions involve a new combination of PV couplings not included in previous analyses of hadronic PV. We argue that existing constraints on the leading order contribution to Bγ—obtained from the PV γ-decay of 18F—suggest that the impact of the subleading contributions may be more significant than expected from naturalness arguments.
Initiation of the Autoxidation of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFA) by Ozone and Nitrogen Dioxide

The oxidation of fats in food produces rancidity, spoilage, and toxic compounds and is a problem of enormous economic consequences to man.1 The polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are among the compounds in food that are the most sensitive to slow deterioration resulting from oxidation by air (autoxidation). Our group has been interested in the mechanism of the autoxidation of PUFA both for this reason and because attack on PUFA in living systems causes membrane damage and cellular death.2–6 One of the most intriguing problems in this area is the source of the primordial radicals-- that is, the original radicals that initiate the autoxidation chains. We suggest that for many systems this initiation is caused by ubiquitous environmental pollutants, many of which are known to be able to generate radicals in organic materials.
Abstract 317: CETP Alters Routes of Total and HDL-derived Cholesterol Elimination in Mice

Objective: Transintestinal cholesterol excretion (TICE) is an alternative pathway to hepatobiliary secretion for cholesterol elimination. The cholesterol donors contributing to this pathway in plasma remain unclear, but appear to include both ApoA and ApoB lipoproteins. Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) facilitates the transport of cholesteryl esters and triglycerides between lipoproteins in plasma. Our study was aimed at determining the impact of CETP on cholesterol elimination pathways in mice. Methods and Results: We compared both hepatobiliary and intestinal cholesterol secretion rates in male wild-type (WT) and CETP transgenic (TG) mice at age of 12 weeks. WT and TG mice did not differ either biliary or intestinal cholesterol secretion rates when maintained on a standard chow diet. However, TG mice showed increased biliary cholesterol secretion rates and decreased intestinal cholesterol secretion rates compared to the WT group in response to high fat, high cholesterol Western diet. We next de...
Critical care of obese patients during and after spine surgery

Obesity is one of the most prevalent health problems facing the United States today, with a recent JAMA article published in 2014 estimating the prevalence of one third of all adults in the United States being obese. Also, due to technological advancements, the incidence of spine surgeries is growing. Considering these overall increases in both obesity and the performance of spinal surgeries, it can be inferred that more spinal surgery candidates will be obese. Due to this, certain factors must be taken into consideration when dealing with spine surgeries in the obese. Obesity is closely correlated with additional medical comorbidities, including hypertension, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, and diabetes mellitus. The pre-operative evaluation may be more difficult, as a more extensive medical evaluation may be needed. Also, adequate radiographic images can be difficult to obtain due to patient size and equipment limitations. Administering anesthesia becomes more difficult, as does proper patient positioning. Post-operatively, the obese patient is at greater risk for reintubation, difficulty with pain control, wound infection and deep vein thrombosis. However, despite these concerns, appropriate clinical outcomes can still be achieved in the obese spine surgical candidate. Obesity, therefore, is not a contraindication to spine surgery, and appropriate patient selection remains the key to obtaining favorable clinical outcomes.
Characterizing the Association Between Alcohol and HIV Virologic Failure in a Military Cohort on Antiretroviral Therapy.

Background The effects of at-risk drinking on HIV infection remain controversial. We investigated the impact of self-reported alcohol consumption on surrogate markers of HIV progression among individuals initiated on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Methods We analyzed individuals who were surveyed on alcohol use within a year of HAART initiation between 2006 and 2014. At-risk drinking was defined as consumption of at least 3 or 4 drinks/d, or 7 and 14 drinks/wk among women and men, respectively. We performed time-updated generalized estimating equation logistic regression to determine the effect of at-risk drinking on virologic failure (VF) and mixed-effects linear regression on CD4 count reconstitution, controlling for potential confounders. Results Of 801 individuals initiated on HAART, 752 individuals with alcohol survey data were included in the analysis. Of these, 45% (n = 336) met criteria for at-risk drinking at HAART initiation on at least 1 survey. The rates of VF were 4.30 per 100 person-years (95% CI [2.86, 6.21]) for at-risk drinkers and 2.45 per 100 person-years (95% CI [1.57, 3.65]) for individuals without at-risk drinking. At-risk drinking was not significantly associated with VF (OR 1.73, 95% CI [0.92, 3.25]) (p = 0.087) or CD4 reconstitution (CD4 increase 11.4; 95% CI [−19.8, 42.7]) in univariate analyses; however, in our multivariate model, a statistically significant relationship between VF and at-risk drinking was observed (OR 2.28, 95% CI [ 1.01, 5.15]). Conclusions We found a high proportion of at-risk drinking in our military cohort, which was predictive of VF in multivariate analysis. Given alcohol's effect on myriad HIV and non-HIV outcomes, interventions to decrease the prevalence of at-risk drinking among HIV-infected individuals are warranted.
“Am I Really a Bad Parent?”: Adolescent-to-Parent Abuse (AtPA) Identity and the Stigma Management Communication (SMC) Model

ABSTRACTApplying qualitative data from grounded theory research on adolescent-to-parent abuse (AtPA), we demonstrate the utility of Meisenbach’s (2010) Stigma Management Communication model. Originally developed for nonfamily contexts, this model provides an applied framework for studying stigma identity as an interactionist construct in families. Our theoretical explication and analysis of AtPA incorporates stigma, identity, and communication strategies to showcase the utility of this model for future family-focused research.
Clinical application and evaluation of vancomycin dosing in adults

Objective:To evaluate the accuracy of a vancomycin dosing method (study method) in estimating volume of distribution (Vd) and clearance of vancomycin (Clvanco) and the frequency with which it would...
Influence of nitrogen mustard upon reactions to bacterial endotoxins; Shwartzman phenomenon and fever.

Discussion and SummaryThe finding of Stetson and Good that the period of inhibition of the Shwartzman phenomenon which follows injection of HN2 in the rabbit coincides with the time of maximum depression of circulating leukocytes was confirmed. In addition, the prevention of severe leukopenia by cysteine resulted in retention of Shwartzman activity, further evidence for the role of the leukocyte in the Shwartzman reaction. Although injection of colloidal materials abolishes natural or acquired resistance to the Shwartzman phenomenon, thorotrast did not influence the Shwartzman non-reactivity produced by HN2. The failure of HN2-induced leukopenia to influence the febrile response of rabbits to pyrogenic bacterial materials indicates that pyrogen fever is not dependent upon the presence of normal numbers of circulating leukocytes.
Ineffectiveness of Antibiotic Treatment of Semen in the Prevention of Egg Transmission of Mycoplasma Meleagridis in Turkeys

Abstract A contributing factor in egg transmission of Mycoplasma meleagridis in turkeys is the seeding of the female genital tract with semen contaminated with M. meleagridis during artificial insemination (Yamamoto et al., 1966; Kumar and Pomeroy, 1969; Mohammed and Bohl, 1967; Yamamoto, 1967). Several studies have suggested that genitally infected males are more important in egg transmission than are genitally infected females (Kumar and Pomeroy, 1969; Yamamoto, 1967; Kleven and Pomeroy, 1971). However, Rhoades (1969) obtained a high incidence of egg transmission after a single intravaginal inoculation of M. meleagridis. Because M. meleagridis is sensitive in vitro to tylosin and oxytetracychne (Newman, 1967) a field trial was conducted to determine the effectiveness of these antibiotics incorporated into extended semen in reducing egg transmission of M. meleagridis. A commercial breeding flock was divided into two groups of approximately 2000 hens each just prior to the beginning of the breeding season and housed…
Evaluation of Solar Grade Silicon Produced by the Institute of Physics and Technology: Cooperative Research and Development Final Report, CRADA Number CRD-07-211

NREL and Solar Power Industries will cooperate to evaluate technology for producing solar grade silicon from industrial waste of the phosphorus industry, as developed by the Institute of Physics and Technology (IPT), Kazakhstan. Evaluation will have a technical component to assess the material quality and a business component to assess the economics of the IPT process. The total amount of silicon produced by IPT is expected to be quite limited (50 kg), so evaluations will need to be done on relatively small quantities (≈ 5 kg/sample).
Law, Interpretation and Authority: Ancient and Modern

This paper charts the idea of law in a brief historic framework and cross-cultural perspective. It endeavors to describe the efforts made by various cultures and societies over time to produce equitable rules for living and to deal with problems of behavior and crises.
Improved Rotor Hover Predictions Using Advanced Turbulence Modeling

The conventional helicopter rotor S-76 hover performance is numerically investigated using an unstructured grid Navier–Stokes computational fluid dynamics solver. Three S-76 rotor tip configurations, including rectangular straight tip, swept tapered tip, and swept tapered tip with anhedral are investigated, and the results are validated with the experimental data. The rotor figure of merit is predicted over a range of blade collective angles from 4 through 10 deg using a mesh deformation method. A local correlation-based transition model and a stall delay model are investigated with both Spalart–Allmaras’s turbulence model and Menter’s shear stress transport turbulence model to capture complex viscous flow phenomena. The numerical investigations indicate that sufficient numerical accuracy and correct turbulence modeling are both essential for capturing the hovering rotor physics and predicting the rotor performance for the entire collective range.
Peripartal rumination dynamics and health status in cows calving in hot and cool seasons

Our objective was to evaluate the effect of season of calving, associated with variable levels of heat stress, on the dynamics of rumination during the prepartum period and early lactation of cows that were healthy or affected by peripartal health disorders. Three weeks before the estimated due date, 210 multiparous Holstein cows at the University of Florida Dairy Unit were affixed with a neck collar containing rumination loggers, providing rumination time (RT) in 2-h periods. One blood sample was collected in a subpopulation of cows (n=76) at 12 to 48h postcalving to assess metabolic status by determining serum calcium, nonesterified fatty acid, and β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations. The occurrence of peripartal health disorders (dystocia, clinical ketosis, clinical hypocalcemia, metritis, and mastitis) was assessed by University of Florida veterinarians and trained farm personnel. We analyzed the dynamics of daily RT over ± 14d relative to parturition in cows that were healthy or affected by specific health disorders by season of calving [hot season, June to September (n=77); cool season, November to April (n=118)] using repeated measures analysis and comparison of least squares means at different time points relative to calving. Rumination was consistently reduced on the day of calving in both healthy and sick cows in both the hot and cool seasons. Only hot-season calvings had shorter average daily RT prepartum and postpartum in cows affected by severe negative energy balance and subclinical ketosis. Dystocia during the hot season was associated with shorter daily RT prepartum; for cool-season calvings, cows with dystocia had reduced RT postpartum. We also observed reduced RT in cows with ketosis prepartum and postpartum in both the hot and cool seasons. Daily RT was reduced postpartum in cows with hypocalcemia and mastitis that calved during the cool season, and it was shorter in cows with metritis in both the hot and cool seasons. Our results indicated that the effect of heat stress on changes in rumination patterns around calving for sick cows depends on the specific health disorder or metabolic condition.
The hyaloid vasculature facilitates basement membrane breakdown during choroid fissure closure in the zebrafish eye

A critical aspect of vertebrate eye development is closure of the choroid fissure (CF). Defects in CF closure result in colobomas, which are a significant cause of childhood blindness worldwide. Despite the growing number of mutated loci associated with colobomas, we have a limited understanding of the cell biological underpinnings of CF closure. Here, we utilize the zebrafish embryo to identify key phases of CF closure and regulators of the process. Utilizing Laminin-111 as a marker for the basement membrane (BM) lining the CF, we determine the spatial and temporal patterns of BM breakdown in the CF, a prerequisite for CF closure. Similarly, utilizing a combination of in vivo time-lapse imaging, β-catenin immunohistochemistry and F-actin staining, we determine that tissue fusion, which serves to close the fissure, follows BM breakdown closely. Periocular mesenchyme (POM)-derived endothelial cells, which migrate through the CF to give rise to the hyaloid vasculature, possess distinct actin foci that correlate with regions of BM breakdown. Disruption of talin1, which encodes a regulator of the actin cytoskeleton, results in colobomas and these correlate with structural defects in the hyaloid vasculature and defects in BM breakdown. cloche mutants, which entirely lack a hyaloid vasculature, also possess defects in BM breakdown in the CF. Taken together, these data support a model in which the hyaloid vasculature and/or the POM-derived endothelial cells that give rise to the hyaloid vasculature contribute to BM breakdown during CF closure.
A Lightweight Scheme of Differentiated Services for Home Networking

Lightweight mechanisms are included in the differentiated services architecture (diffserv) in order to provide differentiated services in the Internet. A Premium service lightweight scheme based on the delay ratio criterion with key-benefit a periodically developed conservative control mechanism is provided. Our model consists of a M/M/1/K queue for high priority (HP) packets and a finite queue birth---death (b---d) model for low priority streams. Simulation experiments under certain load and service conditions guarantee a constant delay ratio. The use of the algorithm is extended to different Home Networking Technologies (ADSL, Wireless Local Network, etc.) providing solutions to many of them.
Investigating Selection of Demethylation Inhibitor Fungicide-Insensitive Sclerotinia homoeocarpa Isolates by Boscalid, Flurprimidol, and Paclobutrazol

Dollar spot, caused by Sclerotinia homoeocarpa F.T. Bennett, is the most economically important disease of golf course turfgrass in the northern United States. Fungicide resistance, especially to demethylation inhibitor (DMI) fungicides, is common for S. homoeocarpa. Plant growth regulators (PGRs) are commonly applied on golf courses and have a similar chemistry to DMIs. Previous research has suggested multiple resistance among the PGRs flurprimidol and paclobutrazol, the succinase dehydrogenase inhibitor fungicide boscalid, and the DMI propiconazole, with evidence for the involvement of the multidrug efflux transporter gene, ShPDR1. The objective of this research was to investigate if flurprimidol, paclobutrazol, and boscalid select for DMI insensitivity in the field. We tested eight treatments: flurprimidol alone, tank-mixed with propiconazole, and rotated with propiconazole; paclobutrazol alone, tank-mixed with propiconazole, and rotated with propiconazole; propiconazole alone; and boscalid alone. S. homoeocarpa was isolated from infected turfgrass three times per year in 2010 and 2011 following treatment applications. A significant shift in DMI insensitivity was observed from the initial sampling in 2010 to the final sampling in 2011 for all treatments, except the PGRs alone and the untreated control. Both PGRs induced overexpression of ShPDR1, and we confirmed the functional involvement of ShPDR1 in reducing S. homoeocarpa sensitivity to PGRs using the ShPDR1 overexpressing yeast mutant. These results have important implications for managing DMI resistance, further investigating the fungistatic activity of PGRs, and developing new fungicides for S. homoeocarpa.