cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reduced parasite diversity and abundance in a marine whelk in its expanded geographical range

Aim To improve our understanding of how parasitism interacts with geographical range expansions by quantifying diversity and abundance of parasites in 25 populations of a large marine snail, Kellet's whelk (Kelletia kelletii), throughout its historical and recently expanded range, which are separated by a well-known biogeographical boundary. Location California coast (western North America). Methods Parasitological examinations were conducted on 199 whelks from 25 subtidal reefs throughout its expanded and historical ranges. We calculated infection risk, parasite intensity, and parasite species diversity. Abiotic (temperature, latitude, distance from range limit) and biotic (host density) variables were analysed as potential drivers of differential parasitism between expanded- and historical-range populations. Results Compared with historical-range whelks, expanded-range whelks were 20% as likely to be infected by parasites, and those that were infected had 6% the number of individual parasites. On average, expanded-range whelks had 14% the number of parasite species than the historical-range whelks. The marked decrease in species richness of parasites infecting expanded-range whelks was only partly explained by the low numbers of parasites. The reduced parasite abundance and diversity in the expanded-range whelks was not explained by the examined abiotic factors or by whelk density. Main conclusions Expanded-range populations of Kellet's whelk experience substantially lower parasite abundance and diversity than the historical-range populations, despite relatively poor demographic performance. The reduced parasitism observed resembles the enemy escape typically characterizing invasive species. A possible explanation for the observed ‘parasite escape’ is that the biogeographical boundary limits the movements or drives the low abundance of other host species (elasmobranchs) required to complete the life cycles of the ‘missing’ parasites. We suggest that parasite escape may generally characterize range-margin expansions and be important in permitting expansions into what may otherwise be marginal habitats. This parasite escape may directly counter the spread of infectious diseases associated with global warming-induced range shifts.
Coupled atmosphere–ocean data assimilation experiments with a low-order model and CMIP5 model data

Coupled atmosphere–ocean data assimilation (DA) experiments are performed for estimating the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC). Recovery of the AMOC with an ensemble Kalman filter is assessed for a range of experiments over observation availability (atmosphere, upper and deep ocean) and for assimilating high-frequency observations compared to time averages. For an idealised low-order coupled climate model, the traditional DA approach using an ensemble of model trajectories to estimate covariances is compared to a simplified “no-cycling” approach involving climatological covariances derived from a single long model integration. Robustness of the no-cycling method is also tested on data from a millennial-scale simulation of a comprehensive coupled atmosphere–ocean climate model. Results show that the no-cycling approach provides a good approximation to the traditional approach, and that assimilation of time-averaged observations improves AMOC recovery using drastically smaller ensembles than would be required for the case of instantaneous observations. Even in the limit of no ocean observations, the no-cycling approach is capable of recovering the low-frequency AMOC with time-averaged observations; assimilation of noisy instantaneous atmospheric observations fails to recover decadal-scale AMOC variability.
Explanation for the Disparity among Absorption and Action Spectra of Eumelanin

The optical properties of eumelanin (from Sepia officinalis) are found to vary with particle size. The absorption spectrum for small eumelanin particles agrees quantitatively with the reported action spectra for photoinduced oxygen consumption and free radical generation by eumelanin. These small particles, unlike the large ones, generate long-lived reactive intermediates upon absorption of UV light. The data presented suggest that the small eumelanin particles may be involved in UV-A-induced photochemical processes believed to lead to DNA damage in skin cells, whereas the large particles efficiently dispose of UV-A energy through rapid nonradiative decay processes. These results provide new insight into the dichotomy that eumelanin is both photoprotective and photosensitizing. This size-dependent photoreactivity may be one of the contributing factors to the observed variations in skin cancer rates among different skin types.
Endogenous rationality and distributions of competence

Abstract When decision-making is costly, distributions of competence, endogenous rationality, may arise across buyers and sellers in a market. An adaptive game is used to make the point.
Iatrogenic lipid emulsion overdose in a case of amlodipine poisoning.

Introduction. Intralipid therapy has been used successfully as “rescue therapy” in several cases of overdose. We present a case of iatrogenic lipid emulsion overdose because of a dosing error. Case Report. A 71-year-old female overdosed on 27 tablets of 5 mg amlodipine. Although initially stable in the Emergency Department, she became hypotensive, oliguric, and respiratory failure developed despite medical therapy. The primary treating team felt that meaningful recovery was unlikely to occur without rapid improvement in clinical status, and 12.5 h after presentation, intralipid rescue therapy was initiated. A protocol for intralipid specifying a maximum infusion of 400 mL of 20% lipid emulsion was faxed, but the infusion was continued until 2 L of lipid emulsion was infused. There were no detectable adverse hemodynamic effects of the intralipid infusion. After this time, laboratory values were difficult to obtain. Three hours after the infusion, a metabolic panel was obtained from ultracentrifuged blood s...
The flavin‐containing monooxygenase in mouse lung: Evidence for expression of multiple forms

The flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO) was purified from mouse lung microsomes. On SDS-PAGE, the purified enzyme separated as two bands, a major band of 58,000 daltons and a minor band of 59,000 daltons. Antibodies to mouse liver FMO cross-reacted with both bands in the purified preparations, whereas antibodies to rabbit lung FMO cross-reacted only with the major band. In microsomal preparations the major band was recognized by both antibodies, but neither antibody detected the minor band in microsomes. A cDNA encoding the pig liver FMO hybridized with mRNA isolated from mouse liver, kidney, and lung, whereas cDNA encoding the rabbit lung FMO hybridized only with mouse lung and kidney mRNA. Thermal stability studies showed that the FMO preparation purified from mouse lung consisted of a heat-stable and a heat-labile component. The heat-labile component of lung FMO was inhibited competitively by imipramine, whereas the heat-stable component was insensitive to the presence of imipramine. Immunoprecipitation of purified mouse lung FMO with anti-rabbit lung FMO completely removed the protein band reactive to anti-rabbit lung FMO while leaving reactivity to anti-liver FMO. The catalytic and immunochemical differences seen between FMO from rabbit lung and mouse lung appear to result from the expression of at least two forms of FMO in the mouse lung, one similar to the rabbit pulmonary form and one similar to the major mouse liver form of FMO.
Bacteruria and Urinary Tract Infections in the Elderly

Both urinary tract infection (UTI) and asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) are common problems among elderly adults and represent a significant health care burden. Despite their frequency, differentiating between ASB and true UTI remains controversial among health care providers. Several challenges exist in the evaluation of urinary symptoms in the elderly patient. Symptoms of UTI are variable; problems are encountered in the collection, testing, and interpretation of urine specimens; and results of urinalysis are often misinterpreted and mishandled. Multiple studies have shown no morbidity or mortality benefit to antibiotic therapy in either community or long-term care facility residents with ASB.
The problem of assessing brain damage in psychiatric samples: use of personality variables in prediction of WAIS-R scores.

Detection of IQ decrements due to brain injury in patients with preexisting psychiatric disorders was examined. Subjects included 280 male and female adult psychiatric patients who were free of identified neurological disorders. Subjects were administered the MMPI and WAIS-R. Original (Barona, Reynolds, & Chastain, 1984) and revised (Barona & Chastain, 1986) Barona formulae were used to calculate premorbid IQ based on demographic variables. Multiple regression analyses were utilized to predict Wechsler IQ scores from the predicted Barona (original and revised) IQ scores along with MMPI clinical and validity scale raw scores for the experimental group (N = 186). The Barona equations overpredicted current IQ scores. The addition of MMPI variables when predicting current IQs resulted in significant increments in R2(p < .01). Cross-validation on a second sample (N = 94) yielded similar results when MMPI variables were added to all the original Barona formulae and the Barona PIQ revised formula. The MMPI may provide a means of incorporating pathology and personality characteristics into the detection of brain damage in psychiatric patients.
Structures for phase classification

Most programs are repetitive, where similar behavior can be seen at different execution times. Proposed algorithms automatically group these similar intervals of execution into phases, where all he intervals in a phase have homogeneous behavior and similar resource requirements. In this paper we examine different program structures for capturing phase behavior. The goal is to compare the size and accuracy of these structures for performing phase classification. We focus on profiling the frequency of program level structures that are independent from underlying architecture performance metrics. This allows the phase classification to be used across different hardware designs that support the same instruction set (ISA). We compare using basic blocks, loop branches, procedures, opcodes, register usage, and memory address information for guiding phase classification. We compare these different structures in terms of their ability to create homogeneous phases, and evaluate the accuracy of using these structures to pick simulation points for SimPoint.
Detecting Blickets: How Young Children Use Information about Novel Causal Powers in Categorization and Induction

Three studies explored whether and when children could categorize objects on the basis of a novel underlying causal power. To test this we constructed a "blicket detector," a machine that lit up and played music when certain objects were placed on it. First, 2-, 3- and 4-year-old children saw that an object labeled as a "blicket" would set off the machine. In a categorization task, other objects were demonstrated on the machine. Some set it off and some did not. Children were asked to say which objects were "blickets." In an induction task, other objects were or were not labeled as "blickets." Children had to predict which objects would have the causal power to set off the machine. The causal power could conflict with perceptual properties of the object, such as color and shape. In an association task the object was associated with the machine's lighting up but did not cause it to light up. Even the youngest children sometimes used the causal power to determine the object's name rather than using its perceptual properties and sometimes used the object's name rather than its perceptual properties to predict the object's causal powers. Children rarely categorized the object on the basis of the associated event. Young children also sometimes made interesting memory errors-they incorrectly reported that objects with the same perceptual features had had the same causal power. These studies demonstrate that even very young children will easily and swiftly learn about a new causal power of an object and spontaneously use that information in classifying and naming the object.
Coupled lubrication and Stokes flow finite elements

A method is developed for performing a local reduction of the governing physics for fluid problems with domains that contain a combination of narrow and non-narrow regions, and the computational accuracy and performance of the method are measured. In the narrow regions of the domain, where the fluid is assumed to have no inertia and the domain height and curvature are assumed small, lubrication, or Reynolds, theory is used locally to reduce the two-dimensional Navier–Stokes equations to the one-dimensional Reynolds equation while retaining a high degree of accuracy in the overall solution. The Reynolds equation is coupled to the governing momentum and mass equations of the non-narrow region with boundary conditions on the mass and momentum flux. The localized reduction technique, termed ‘stitching,’ is demonstrated on Stokes flow for various geometries of the hydrodynamic journal bearing—a non-trivial test problem for which a known analytical solution is available. The computational advantage of the coupled Stokes–Reynolds method is illustrated on an industrially applicable fully-flooded deformable-roll coating example. The examples in this paper are limited to two-dimensional Stokes flow, but extension to three-dimensional and Navier–Stokes flow is possible. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Improved Template Preparation for PCR-Based Assays for Detection of Food-Borne Bacterial Pathogens

Shigella flexneri, Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium, and Listeria monocytogenes were applied to FTA filters, and the filters were used directly as templates to demonstrate their sensitivity and applicability in PCR-based detection assays. With pure cultures, the sensitivities of detection by FTA filter-based PCR were 30 to 50 and 200 CFU for the gram-negative enterics and Listeria, respectively. Different numbers of S. flexneri cells were used in controlled contamination experiments with several different foods (produce, beef, and apple cider). Aliquots from concentrated food washes subsequently spotted onto FTA filters and assayed by PCR gave consistently positive results and detection limits similar to those observed with pure-culture dilutions. This universal method for PCR template preparation from bacterial cells is rapid and highly sensitive and reduces interference from food-associated inhibitors of PCR. In addition, its broad applicability eliminates the need for multiple methods for analysis of food matrices.
Closing the achievement gap in higher education: An organizational learning perspective

The author uses the theory and process of organizational learning to make a case for how to understand and address the cultural and structural barriers that preclude colleges and universities from producing equitable educational outcomes for students.
CHOICE OF DELTA IN EQUIVALENCE TESTING

A valid interpretation of an active control equivalence study without a concurrent placebo control depends on the assumptions that 1. The active control is effective in the current trial (ie, assay sensitivity), and 2. The effect size is the same across the studies (ie, constancy assumption). The equivalence margin 8 should be a small fraction (eg, 0.2) of the therapeutic effect of the active control as compared to placebo. However, a larger 8 can be justified if the objective is to establish the efficacy of the experimental treatment as compared to placebo through its comparison to the standard therapy without claiming equivalence. The proposed 8 may be interpreted as preserving a percentage of the active control effect as compared to placebo. The assumption that the active control effect is constant across studies may be discounted by using a smaller 8. Preservation and discounting are two distinct concepts, although they are indistinguishable mathematically. Placebo controls are not necessarily unethical when known effective therapy exists for a condition. When a placebo control is ethical, it is a clear choice if the study objective is to establish the efficacy of the test treatment. A three-arm trial (test treatment, active control, and placebo) would be an ideal design if the study objective is to establish the efficacy of the test treatment relative to an active control. When a placebo control is unethical and there can be no concurrent placebo, an evaluation of the efficacy of the test treatment depends on the discount factor to be used. The discount factor is often difficult to justify. In such a situation, an evaluation of the efficacy of the test treatment may be supplemented by other designs such as an “add on” design or an early escape design. In fact, a hybrid of the active control design with the “add on” design (test treatment, active control, and combination) is an ideal design when the test treatment and the active control possess different pharmacologic mechanisms. On the other hand, the discounting factor plays a less important role in an evaluation of the relative efficacy of the test treatment.
Dysfunction of TGF-β signaling in Alzheimer’s disease

Accumulation of β-amyloid peptide (Aβ) in the brain is believed to trigger a complex and poorly understood pathologic reaction that results in the development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Despite intensive study, there is no consensus as to how Aβ accumulation causes neurodegeneration in AD. In this issue of the JCI, Tesseur et al. report that the expression of TGF-β type II receptor (TβRII) by neurons is reduced very early in the course of AD and that reduced TGF-β signaling increased Aβ deposition and neurodegeneration in a mouse model of AD (see the related article beginning on page 3060). Intriguingly, reduced TGF-β signaling in neuroblastoma cells resulted in neuritic dystrophy and increased levels of secreted Aβ. Collectively, these data suggest that dysfunction of the TGF-β/TβRII signaling axis in the AD brain may accelerate Aβ deposition and neurodegeneration.
Intelligent extensible routing for overlay networks with embedded constraint resource planning shell: a case study with deadline based packet forwarding

This paper presents a fast near linear run-time system for customizable criteria based packet forwarding and route lookup. It presents the case for deadline line based packet forwarding. This system has been designed after the constraint resource planning (CRP) methodology for algorithm designs. The resulting near-optimum algorithm operates within an extensible CRP shell and uses two pluggable scheduling and forwarding heuristics to produce near-optimal performance. In this paper, we present the shell architecture, the algorithm, and the simulation results of this system for dead-line based packet forwarding
Arcuate nucleus injection of an anti-insulin affibody prevents the sympathetic response to insulin

Accumulating evidence suggests that insulin acts within the hypothalamus to alter sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) and baroreflex function. Although insulin receptors are widely expressed across the hypothalamus, recent evidence suggests that neurons of the arcuate nucleus (ARC) play an important role in the sympathoexcitatory response to insulin. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether circulating insulin acts directly in the ARC to elevate SNA. In anesthetized male Sprague-Dawley rats (275–425 g), the action of insulin was neutralized by microinjection of an anti-insulin affibody (1 ng/40 nl). To verify the efficacy of the affibody, ARC pretreatment with injection of the anti-insulin affibody completely prevented the increase in lumbar SNA produced by ARC injection of insulin. Next, ARC pretreatment with the anti-insulin affibody attenuated the lumbar sympathoexcitatory response to intracerebroventricular injection of insulin. Third, a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp increased lumbar, but not renal, SNA in animals that received ARC injection of a control affibody. However, this sympathoexcitatory response was absent in animals pretreated with the anti-insulin affibody in the ARC. Injection of the anti-insulin affibody in the adjacent ventromedial hypothalamus did not alter the sympathoexcitatory response to insulin. The ability of the anti-insulin affibody to prevent the sympathetic effects of insulin cannot be attributed to a general inactivation or nonspecific effect on ARC neurons as the affibody did not alter the sympathoexcitatory response to ARC disinhibition by gabazine. Collectively, these findings suggest that circulating insulin acts within the ARC to increase SNA.
Contact intervals, survival analysis of epidemic data, and estimation of R0

S UMMARY We argue that the time from the onset of infectiousness to infectious contact, which we call the “contact interval,” is a better basis for inference in epidemic data than the generation or serial interval. Since contact intervals can be right censored, survival analysis is the natural approach to estimation. Estimates of the contact interval distribution can be used to estimate R 0 in both mass-action and network-based models. We apply these methods to 2 data sets from the 2009 influenza A(H1N1) pandemic.
Dynamics and innovations within oomycete genomes: insights into biology, pathology, and evolution

The eukaryotic microbes known as oomycetes are common inhabitants of terrestrial and aquatic environments and include saprophytes and pathogens. Lifestyles of the pathogens extend from biotrophy to necrotrophy, obligate to facultative pathogenesis, and narrow to broad host ranges on plants or animals. Sequencing of several pathogens has revealed striking variation in genome size and content, a plastic set of genes related to pathogenesis, and adaptations associated with obligate biotrophy. Features of genome evolution include repeat-driven expansions, deletions, gene fusions, and horizontal gene transfer in a landscape organized into gene-dense and gene-sparse sectors and influenced by transposable elements. Gene expression profiles are also highly dynamic throughout oomycete life cycles, with transcriptional polymorphisms as well as differences in protein sequence contributing to variation. The genome projects have set the foundation for functional studies and should spur the sequencing of additional species, including more diverse pathogens and nonpathogens.
Women's Work Attitudes, Aspirations, and Workforce Participation Before and After Relocation from Public Housing

For the past decade or so, public housing policies have focused on moving residents from concentrated housing developments into newly designed mixed-income developments or, through housing choice vouchers, into neighborhoods with lower concentrations of poor. These newer programs are driven by research that suggests public housing residents will have greater opportunity for financial self-sufficiency and, although not openly discussed, will better appreciate the importance of work when they live among higher income working residents. Using panel data collected from public housing residents relocated following the closure of a public housing development, this study explores the relationship between individual characteristics, neighborhood characteristics, and work attitudes, aspirations, and actions. The findings reveal that public housing residents are no different from the non-poor in their attitudes about work, but that when residents move into high income neighborhoods, their dreams of satisfying careers become more solid.
Additions to the flora of the southern mountains of Papua New Guinea: Begonia chambersiae sp. nov. (Begoniaceae), Kibara renneriae sp. nov. (Monimiaceae), and distributional records of four rarely seen taxa

Begonia chambersiae (Begoniaceae) and Kibara renneriae (Monimiaceae) are described from the southern mountains of Papua New Guinea. The first species is apparently a limestone endemic. Distributional records are also reported for Alyxia pugio (Apocynaceae), Aporosa decipiens (Phyllanthaceae), Glochidion urceolare (Phyllanthaceae), and Kibara archboldiana .
53 – Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common of the inflammatory arthritides and, combined with its multiple systemic effects and complications of therapy, causes significant morbidity. As with many autoimmune diseases, women are at greater risk of developing RA than men . Beyond gender differences in incidence rates, there is also a complex relationship among rheumatoid arthritis, female sex hormones, and reproductive status in modulating both the risks for disease and its clinical course in women. Genetic susceptibility also plays a role, with increased disease risk and severity in certain Human Leukocyte Antigen haplotypes. These factors make understanding the epidemiology of RA particularly relevant in discussion of women's health issues. RA can be a fatal illness. One study found mortality was increased twofold in people with RA, resulting in a decrease of seven to ten years in lifespan. Mortality directly due to RA represented only 10% of the deaths and was from causes such as respiratory failure or cervical spine instability.
A Miniature Protein Stabilized by a Cation-π Interaction Network.

The design of folded miniature proteins is predicated on establishing noncovalent interactions that direct the self-assembly of discrete thermostable tertiary structures. In this work, we describe how a network of cation−π interactions present in proteins containing “WSXWS motifs” can be emulated to stabilize the core of a miniature protein. This 19-residue protein sequence recapitulates a set of interdigitated arginine and tryptophan residues that stabilize a distinctive β-strand:loop:PPII-helix topology. Validation of the compact fold determined by NMR was carried out by mutagenesis of the cation−π network and by comparison to the corresponding disulfide-bridged structure. These results support the involvement of a coordinated set of cation−π interactions that stabilize the tertiary structure.
On Belay the Auto-Belay Way!

This article describes an alternative method for both safety and extra opportunities for climbing-wall access throughout the year, when no belayer is present: auto-belay systems.
MOLECULAR EVIDENCE FOR A MISSING WILD RELATIVE OF MAIZE AND THE INTROGRESSION OF ITS CHLOROPLAST GENOME INTO ZEA PERENNIS.

I report a case of introgression of the chloroplast genome involving a perennial wild relative of maize, perennial teosinte
Detection of trends in surface ozone in the presence of climate variability

Trends in trace atmospheric constituents can be driven not also by trends in their (precursor) emissions but also by trends in meteorology. Here we use ground-level ozone as an example to highlight the extent to which unforced, low-frequency climate variability can drive multidecadal trends. Using output from six experiments of the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory chemistry-climate model (CM3), we demonstrate that 20 year trends in surface ozone driven by climate variability alone can be as large as those forced by changes in ozone precursor emissions or by anthropogenic climate change. We highlight regions and seasons where surface ozone is strongly influenced by climate variability and thus where a given forced trend may be more difficult to detect. A corollary is that this approach identifies regions and seasons of low variability, where measurement sites may be most effectively deployed to detect a particular trend driven by changing precursor emissions. We find that the representative concentration pathways 4.5 (RCP4.5) and RCP8.5 forced surface ozone trends in most locations emerge over background variability during the first half of the 21st century. Ozone trends are found to respond mostly to changes in emissions of ozone precursors and unforced climate variability, with a comparatively small impact from anthropogenic climate change. Thus, attempts to attribute observed trends to regional emissions changes require consideration of internal climate variability, particularly for short record lengths and small forced trends.
Identification and methionine analog tolerance of environmental bacterial isolates selected on methionine analog containing medium.

Methionine is the first limiting amino acid in poultry feed. Currently, methionine supplement is synthesized from an expensive chemical process requiring hazardous chemicals. Therefore, the objectives of this study were isolation of methionine producing bacteria from environmental samples and quantification of methionine production in these isolated bacteria. MCGC medium was selected as the isolation medium for methionine-producing bacteria by using Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC13032 and Escherichia coli ATCC23798 as the positive and negative controls, respectively. Thirty-nine bacterial strains were obtained from environmental samples. Only strains A121, A122, A151 and A181 were able to tolerate up to 0.1% (w/v) of ethionine or norleucine. These isolated strains were identified by sequencing small subunit rRNA genes. The results revealed that bacterial strains A121, A122, A151and A181 were Klebsiella species, Acinetobacter baumannii, A. baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively. When methionin...
Quantitative systematic review of the effects of non-pharmacological interventions on reducing apathy in persons with dementia

Aim To review the quantitative evidence concerning the effects of non-pharmacological interventions on reducing apathy in persons with dementia. Background Apathy, a prevalent behavioural symptom among persons with Alzheimer Disease, is defined as a disorder of motivation with deficits in behavioural, emotional and cognitive domains and is associated with serious social and physical obstacles. Non-pharmacological interventions show promise as symptom control modalities among persons with dementia. Design Quantitative systematic review. Data sources CINAHL, PubMed, PSYCHinfo and Cochrane Trials databases were searched for published English language research inclusive through December 2014, with no early year limiters set. Review methods Comprehensive searches yielded 16 international randomized controlled trials or quasi-experimental studies based on inclusion criteria and a rigorous quality appraisal process. Results A narrative summary analysis revealed that non-pharmacological interventions for apathy varied substantially and lacked specificity, conceptual clarity and were methodologically heterogeneous. Select interventions demonstrated effectiveness, but lacked systematic long-term follow-up. Limitations include publication bias and lack of a meta-analytic approach due to the methodological heterogeneity of included studies. Conclusion Study results demonstrate promise for the use of non-pharmacological interventions, particularly music-based interventions, in reducing apathy levels in individuals with dementia. Intervening to reduce apathy may have a positive clinical impact and healthcare providers should be encouraged to incorporate positive sources of interest and intellectual stimulation into care. However, future research is needed to examine the aetiologic mechanism and predictors of apathy, to improve evidence-based interventions and specificity and to optimize dosage and timing of non-pharmacological interventions across the disease trajectory.
Ca2+-activated K+ channels in cultured medullary thick ascending limb cells

The conductive properties of a clone of medullary thick ascending limb (MTAL) cells (GRB-MAL1) were assessed using conventional microelectrodes and the patch clamp technique. The apical cell membrane potential (Va) of MTAL cells was -46 +/- 3 mV. Addition of Ba2+ (1 mM) to the apical solution induced a 22 +/- 2 mV depolarization of Va, whereas furosemide hyperpolarized Va by -5 +/- 1 mV. In the cell-attached patch configuration, the most frequently occurring channel had a single channel conductance of 121 +/- 5 pS and carried outward current. In excised patches, current movement was down the electrochemical K+ gradient. Fluctuations were activated by depolarization of Va and by increasing Ca2+ concentration on the intracellular face. Micromolar amounts of Ba2+ on the intracellular face of the membrane inhibited channel activity. We conclude that cultures of MTAL cells GRB-MAL1 retain at least two of the properties of the mature phenotype, namely, an apical K+ conductance and a sensitivity to loop diuretics; the most frequently occurring channel in the apical cell membrane is a Ca2+-activated, maxi-K+ channel; and, finally Ca2+-activated K+ channels may play a role in generating the apical K+ conductance in cultured MTAL cells.
Radiative heat transfer exceeding the blackbody limit between macroscale planar surfaces separated by a nanosize vacuum gap

Using Rytov’s fluctuational electrodynamics framework, Polder and Van Hove predicted that radiative heat transfer between planar surfaces separated by a vacuum gap smaller than the thermal wavelength exceeds the blackbody limit due to tunnelling of evanescent modes. This finding has led to the conceptualization of systems capitalizing on evanescent modes such as thermophotovoltaic converters and thermal rectifiers. Their development is, however, limited by the lack of devices enabling radiative transfer between macroscale planar surfaces separated by a nanosize vacuum gap. Here we measure radiative heat transfer for large temperature differences (∼120 K) using a custom-fabricated device in which the gap separating two 5 × 5 mm2 intrinsic silicon planar surfaces is modulated from 3,500 to 150 nm. A substantial enhancement over the blackbody limit by a factor of 8.4 is reported for a 150-nm-thick gap. Our device paves the way for the establishment of novel evanescent wave-based systems. Evanescent coupling between surfaces separated by a distance smaller than the thermal wavelength can lead to radiative heat transfer greater than the blackbody limit. Here, the authors demonstrate this between two macroscopic-scale surfaces, paving the way to harnessing the effect in thermal devices.
An On-line Data Acquisition And Analysis System To Determine Cardiac Output: A One-step C0/sub 2/ Rebreathing Technique

This paper presents a computer-based automated data acquisition and analysis system to help determine cardiac output using a one-step CO, rebreathing technique. The one-step technique generates all the data required to solve the Fick equation for CQ by continuously monitoring expired CQ concentrations at the mouth during a 20-25 second rebreathing maneuver. Through use of digital signal processing techniques, the data points required are automatically determined. Computergenerated cardiac output determinations agreed well with those of an experienced laboratory technician.
How Fortune 1000 Firms View Economic Valued Added (EVA)

Since its general introduction in the early 1990’s, Economic Value Added (EVA) has generated considerable debate primarily in academia. We survey CFOs of Fortune 1000 firms to learn their views about purported strengths and weaknesses of EVA. The key findings of the paper are as follows. With regard to EVA’s strengths, respondents tend to agree that EVA 1) is a reliable internal measure; (2) provides correct incentives for allocating resources; and (3) is better than traditional accounting measures. Regarding weaknesses, respondents strongly agree with the statement that it is not appropriate for all firms. Among other weaknesses, they also tend to agree that: (1) the computational process of EVA is complex; and (2) EVA is a short-term measure. A general agreement exists on the statement that EVA is more effective when used with other measures.
Modeling and flight control of a commercial nano quadrotor

This work presents the flight test validation of an autonomous nano quadrotor called Crazyflie 2.0 in arbitrary trajectory tracking. The complexity of the control tasks were due to the low rigidity and high flexibility of propellers and airframe components, high sensitivity of vehicle inertial dynamic model to the battery location, uncalibrated motors, and unsteady battery depletion rate. Keeping the Crazyflie embedded inner control loop system, different outer loop guidance logics were designed for trajectory following. The guidance logics were running on an external computer and communicated via a radio link with the quadrotor in real-time. Attitude estimations were done using OptiTrack position information. An accurate dynamic model of aircraft was developed using principal moments of inertia and motor performance parameters. The Crazyflie dynamic model was used for the 6-DOF simulations and LQR and MPC implementations. All three guidance techniques, PID, LQR, and MPC, were validated through actual flight tests and fulfilled tracking tasks with an acceptable performance.
Can placing lead-rubber inferolateral to the light beam diaphragm limit ionising radiation to multiple radiosensitive organs?

Abstract Introduction This article investigates a practical method of reducing the impact of scattered radiation during a lateral radiographic projection of the elbow. The light beam diaphragm (LBD) is generally accepted to limit ionising radiation using horizontal and longitudinal lead shutters, yet this article evidences further dose limitation by placing lead-rubber inferolateral to the LBD device. Methods Using an anthropomorphic phantom and arm construction scattered radiation was recorded at multiple radiosensitive organs. A 15 cc ionisation chamber (model 10100 AT TRIAD) was placed on each radiosensitive organ (eye, thyroid, breast, testes, spleen and ovaries) measuring exposure rate (μGy/s). Dose readings were recorded before and after the placement of lead-rubber inferolateral to the LBD. A paired two sample t- test was undertaken affirming how likely dose limitation was attributable to chance ( p Results Descriptive and inferential statistics demonstrate dose reduction to radiosensitive organs (right eye 53%, right breast 53%, left eye 39%, thyroid 13%, left ovary 9%, testes 6%, left breast 3% and spleen 2%) upon placement of the lead-rubber inferolateral to the LBD. The paired two sample t- test demonstrated statistically significant dose limitation ( t = 2.04, df = 7, p = 0.04) thus significant for radiographic practice. Conclusion Placement of lead-rubber inferolateral to the LBD limits dose to multiple radiosensitive organs. Right (53%) and left (39%) eye lens, right breast (53%), thyroid (13%), left ovary (9%), testes (6%), left breast (3%) and spleen (2%) statistically demonstrate dose limiting opportunities to patients.
Hydrometeorology of the catastrophic Blanco river flood in South Texas, May 2015

Abstract Study region This study was carried out along the Blanco River in south-central Texas which drains approximately 1100 km2. Study focus Unprecedented rainfall across the state of Texas in May 2015 produced flooding that claimed at least 24 lives across the state. The most devastating single event over this period occurred on 23–24 May along the Blanco River, where a fast moving floodwave resulted in eleven fatalities in the town of Wimberley. The storm event resulted in the flood of record at the USGS gauge in Wimberley which has collected data since the 1920s. New hydrological insights Meteorological observations, high-resolution rainfall estimates, and physics-based distributed hydrological modeling provide the opportunity to examine the hydrometeorological mechanisms accompanying the extreme storm and subsequent flood. Additionally, transpositions of the radar rain fields forced through the hydrologic model allow for analysis of the effect of position of the centroid of the storm relative to the catchment on floodwave propagation. Two major controls on the flood response are identified and analyzed: the position of heavy storm cells over the headwaters with subsequent slow movement downstream and the extremely moist antecedent conditions prior to the onset of the event.
Distributed design of optimal structured feedback gains

We study the problem of designing optimal structured feedback gains for large-scale systems in a distributed manner. We quantify performance using the H 2 norm and introduce regularization functions to promote desired structural properties in the controller. The key challenge is to evaluate the objective function and its gradient without solving the large-scale Lyapunov equations. We exploit the square-additive property of the H 2 norm and provide an equivalent consensus-based characterization that is convenient for distributed implementation. The resulting constrained optimal control problem is in general non-convex and we solve it using an algorithm based on the alternating direction method of multipliers. This algorithm exploits separability of the objective function and is guaranteed to converge to a local minimum. For the optimal control of symmetric systems and undirected consensus networks we establish convexity and demonstrate how the underlying structure can be exploited to further simplify computations.
Integrating GIScience Application Through Mashup

An increasingly rich array of geographic information, such as real-time sensor data, public web pages, social media data, and dynamic maps, are available over the Internet tobe integrated by multiple geographic information science (GIScience) applications that were not possible in the past. The conventional tightly coupled development approach is not suitable to integrate such widely distributed and dynamic data sources. The strictly standards-compliant interoperability, across all distributed geospatial information services, is inadequate; and it is not practical to satisfy the massive needs forvalue-added GIScience application integration from users and developers. Mashup has begun to play a major role in integrating applications. This chapter systematically examines the scientific and technical importance of mashup and illustrates how it enables the development of value-added GIScience applications. The Loma Linda University Medical Center (LLUMC) Advanced Emergency GIS (AEGIS)is used to demonstrate a mashup approach. AEGIS provides a Web-based visualization and decision-support tool to monitor emergencies, track victims and emergency-response personnel, and evaluate factors that impact emergency response. AEGIS achieves near-real-time map-based integration of data from more than a dozen disparate sources, including hospital locations and emergency room diversion status, highway traffic and incidents, location and availability of air ambulances and rescue airships, status of mobile telemedicine vehicles, and weather conditions, all with different data formats and update frequencies. AEGIS demonstrates the use of mashup as an effective means to achieve interoperability, and highlights the new conceptualization of geographic information as dynamic, distributed, and diverse.
New Developments in Bioconvection in Porous Media: Bioconvection Plumes, Bio-Thermal Convection, and Effects of Vertical Vibration

This chapter reviews new developments in bioconvection in a fluid saturated porous medium caused by either gyrotactic or oxytactic microorganisms. Bioconvection arises as a result of an unstable density stratification caused by upswimming microorganisms. This unstable density stratification occurs when the microorganisms, heavier than water, accumulate in the upper regions of the fluid. This hydrodynamic instability may lead to the development of bioconvection plumes, which in case of oxytactic microorganisms transport cells and oxygen from the upper fluid region to the lower fluid regions. The presented modeling is limited to the situation when the average pore size is much larger than the size of a microorganism; therefore, local vorticity generated by flow through the pores does not affect the ability of microorganisms to reorient.
Minority Family Agendas: The Home-School Interface and Alternative Schooling Models

Educational policies in the United States are moving from a more paternalistic compensatory attitude of earlier years toward a healthier notion of cultural democracy. This latter philosophy supports and emphasizes the concept that the home, community, and school share in the socialization experiences of all children, regardless of their cultural background, and are valuable in their own right. With this movement has emerged a new educational theme, the “new pluralism” or “new ethnicity”, which is bringing about curricular reforms in the public schools. This “new ethnicity” has brought about multicultural activities and ethnic heritage programs; however, the future effect of these programs on the school remains uncertain. Whether intense and aggressive assertions of ethnic cultural autonomy and self-determination of ethnic minorities can be absorbed into the present system of public education is difficult to assess at this time (Olneck and Lazerson, 1980). With this awakening and recognition of educational policies that emphasize cultural democracy, a new national consciousness could emerge embodying principles of respect and appreciation of all people who compose the rich ethnic mosaic in the United States.
Longitudinal factor analysis of the Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire among parents of preschool-aged children

Abstract Introduction The Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire (CFPQ) assesses 12 specific parent feeding practices (Musher-Eizenman & Holub, 2007). However, the original 12-factor structure may not be consistent across age groups, and no studies have yet evaluated the factor structure of the CFPQ over time. Therefore, the aim of the current study is to evaluate the model fit of the original and alternative CFPQ factor structures at two time points in early childhood. Method Mothers (n = 260) of preschoolers completed validated surveys assessing parent feeding practices and child eating behaviors when children were on average 37 months of age at Time 1 (T1), and 57 months of age at Time 2 (T2). Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) procedures were used to evaluate the original CFPQ factor structure, and to identify and evaluate modified factor structures at both time points. Results The original 12-factor CFPQ model did not adequately fit the data at T1 or T2. EFA identified a 7-factor model at T1, and a 5-factor model at T2. Bivariate correlations provided preliminary evidence for the validity of the modified scales. Discussion Overall, these findings suggest that parent feeding measures should the developmental significance of specific feeding practices, and/or that parents' reliance on certain feeding practices may shift as children age. Thus, a developmental framework to conceptualize how feeding changes during early childhood is sorely needed.
Hereditary Motor Sensory Neuropathies

Hereditary motor sensory neuropathies (HMSNs) result from myelin gene mutations and are associated with a range of peripheral motor, sensory, and autonomic symptoms. These disease effects can have significant impact on the course and outcomes of pregnancy, such as fetal complications and postpartum bleeding, in addition to presenting unique challenges to the obstetric anesthesiologist. Such considerations include respiratory insufficiency, difficult airway, abnormal response to muscle relaxants, and spinal deformities.
Real-Time Reference for Frequency-Shifted Fourier-Transform Spectrometers Using an Arbitrary-Wavelength CW Reference Laser

Frequency-shifted interferometers enable significant reduction of the measurement noise in Fourier-transform spectrometry and distance metrology. We demonstrate a real-time solution for referencing these interferometers with nanometer precision using an arbitrary-wavelength CW reference laser. © 2019 The Author(s)