cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chapter 44 – Modeling and Predicting Pesticide Exposures

Publisher Summary Models provide a means for representing a real system in an understandable way. Conceptual models help to identify the major influences on where a chemical is likely to be found in the environment, and as such, need to be developed to help target sources of data needed to assess an environmental problem. This chapter appraises the available models for predicting exposure to pesticide. In general, developing a model requires two main steps. First, a model of the domain and the processes being studied must be defined. Then, a model of the boundary conditions is especially needed to represent the environment surrounding the study domain. Research scientists often develop physical or dynamic models to estimate the location where a chemical would be expected to move under controlled conditions, only on a much smaller scale. Isolated systems are usually encountered only in highly controlled reactors, so are important in modeling pesticide formulation and manufacturing but are not directly pertinent to pesticide exposure modeling. Pesticide transport and fate models can be statistical (stochastic) and/or deterministic. Statistical models include the pollutant dispersion models, such as the Lagrangian models, which follow the movement of a control volume starting from the source to the receptor locations. Deterministic models are used when the physical, chemical, and other processes are sufficiently understood so as to be incorporated to reflect the movement and fate of chemicals. More comprehensive models provide realistic descriptions of the underlying processes and are invaluable for performing detailed analysis. Thus, the evolution of models will allow for more realistic scenarios, especially regarding personal exposures to pesticides.
Ambient and wearable sensors for human health monitoring

The world's population is aging, and with age comes the potential for an increase in chronic health conditions, a decrease in mobility and impaired senses. This population shift and the desire to provide quality care has resulted in an increasing interest in developing technology-based solutions for enabling and enhancing healthy independent living among older adults, while improving the effectiveness of disease-prevention strategies and access to health care. This interest is paired with the increased availability of new wearable and ambient technologies and an everimproving health information technology infrastructure. Advances in bioengineering and computing, coupled with demographic shifts, suggest a ripe opportunity for the design and development of appropriate ambient and mobile technologies that enable functional independence and improve quality of life for older adults. Home-health and mobile-health technologies are expected to function not only as monitoring devices, but as essential components in the delivery of health services.
Age-dependent impact of fluoroscopic radiation on the gender of off-spring: An international survey of cardiologists

Background – Fluoroscopic radiation has been implicated in reducing the sex ratio (M:F) by potentially damaging the Y chromosome. We examined the effects of exposure to fluoroscopic radiation on gender of offspring of cardiologists across the world. Methods - An internet based survey was e-mailed worldwide to 8000 physicians who practice invasive electrophysiology and/or interventional cardiology. Survey questions included age, race, sub-specialty, hours of exposure to radiation, number of children, gender of off-spring, miscarriages and mutations and exposure to radiation prior to conception of each child. Logistic regression analyses were performed on years of exposure and gender of offspring born post radiation exposure. Results – Responses of 377 cardiologists (84% male and 16% female) were reviewed. With a total of 398 males and 402 females born to 377 cardiologists, although reduced, the overall sex ratio (0.99) was not significantly different from that observed in the general population (1.05). Univariate logistic regression analysis identified higher male births with increasing hours of radiation exposure (OR 1.034, CI 1.003-1.067 p=0.03) and increasing paternal age (OR 1.05, CI 1.01-1.08, p=0.002). Subgroup analysis of children of male cardiologists revealed higher incidence of male births with increasing age and radiation exposure and multivariate analysis only identified paternal age as predictor of higher incidence of male births (OR 1.05, CI 1.01-1.089, p=0.0027). Conclusion – Exposure to ionizing radiation leads to a decrease in the sex ratio (M/F) in younger male cardiologists, while this effect is reversed with greater number of male births in older male cardiologists.
Chapter 1 – Overview

The objectives of Physical Chemistry: Concepts and Theory are presented. The book is organized in accordance with the mathematics used: continuum for thermodynamics; discrete for quantum theory; statistics and probabilities for statistical mechanics; and the mathematics for potential-driven changes at short and long times for kinetics. The Reader is presented with material developed from the fundamental mathematical form of differential equations rather than integrated expressions to provide a better understanding of the interrelationships between subfields within the area of physical chemistry. This approach reveals how experimental conditions and a judicious choice of theoretical expressions can reduce the equations to a suitable form for the system at hand. The introduction of how mathematics describes the world we experience is at three levels: Nature is Patterns, Nature is Numbers, and Nature is Recursion Relationships. Many objects in Nature are related to the Golden Ratio, such as apple seeds, spiral galaxies, and mollusk shells. Numbers give a quantitative description of Nature and the power of prediction. The complexity of Nature is embraced in the relationships between the numbers as manifested in recursion relationships, in which a few numbers can be used to generate a more complete description of Nature. The study of prime numbers is an example of how a scientific study on a system evolves through the use of mathematical models. It is through mathematics that information is gained about a system, which leads to a simple understanding as reflected in movies and television series such as Star Trek.
Accurate Spectral Testing With Arbitrary Noncoherency in Sampling and Simultaneous Drifts in Amplitude and Frequency

Accurate spectral testing plays a crucial role in modern high-precision analog-to-digital converters’ (ADCs’) evaluation process. One of the challenges is to be able to cost-effectively test the continually higher resolution ADCs accurately. Due to its stringent test requirement, the standard test method for ADCs can be difficult to implement with low cost. This paper proposes an algorithm that relaxes the requirements of precise control over source amplitude and frequency, and of the need to achieve coherent sampling. The algorithm divides the output data into segments, and estimates drift fundamental via Newton iteration. By removing the estimated drift fundamental and replacing with a coherent, nondrift fundamental in time domain, accurate spectral results can be achieved. Various simulation results have validated the accuracy of the proposed algorithm. The proposed algorithm is capable of tolerating various test condition variations such as any-level of noncoherency, various input frequency range and different numbers of segmentations. In addition, several measurement results from different ADCs have verified the accuracy of the proposed algorithm, which is able to accurately obtain spectral performance of an 18 b high-resolution ADC. Such algorithm relaxes the standard test requirement such as precise control over source frequency and amplitude, which dramatically reduces the test setup complexity and cost.
Scattering by a rough surface modelled as parallel conducting cylinders partially buried into a ground plane

The problem of bistatic scattering from a rough surface modelled as a regular or random arrangement of infinitely long perfectly conducting circular cylinders that are partially buriedinto a ground plane is studied with the help of the image principle. The solution for a single cylinder is obtained first for both the transverse magnetic (TM) and the transverse electric (TE) polarizations of the obliquely incident plane wave. The method of approach is based on the representation of the incident field, the specularly reflected field from the ground plane and the scattered fields from the cylinder and its image in the ground plane due to the image of the incident plane wave in terms of cylindrical vector wave functions. These wave functions satisfy the vector Helmholz equation and the Sommerfeld radiation condition at infinity. By imposing the boundary conditions on the surface of the cylinder, an infinite system of equations for the even and odd mode expansion coefficients of the scattered field is obtained. These equations are solved numerically for small and moderate size cylinders in the resonance region. The single cylinder solution is later incorporated into an equivalent Twersky model to obtain the results like the generalized reflection coefficient, the bistatic crosssection for the rough surface.
Airburst-Generated Tsunamis

This paper examines the questions of whether smaller asteroids that burst in the air over water can generate tsunamis that could pose a threat to distant locations. Such airburst-generated tsunamis are qualitatively different than the more frequently studied earthquake-generated tsunamis, and differ as well from tsunamis generated by asteroids that strike the ocean. Numerical simulations are presented using the shallow water equations in several settings, demonstrating very little tsunami threat from this scenario. A model problem with an explicit solution that demonstrates and explains the same phenomena found in the computations is analyzed. We discuss the question of whether compressibility and dispersion are important effects that should be included, and show results from a more sophisticated model problem using the linearized Euler equations that begins to addresses this.
Development of a clinical prediction algorithm for knee osteoarthritis structural progression in a cohort study: value of adding measurement of subchondral bone density

Risk prediction algorithms increase understanding of which patients are at greatest risk of a harmful outcome. Our goal was to create a clinically useful prediction algorithm for structural progression of knee osteoarthritis (OA), using medial joint space loss as a proxy; and to quantify the benefit of including periarticular bone mineral density (BMD) in the algorithm. Participants were from the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) Progression Cohort, with X-ray readings of medial joint space at 36- and 48-month visits, and a 30- or 36-month medial-to-lateral tibial BMD ratio (M:L BMD ratio) value. Loss of medial joint space was the outcome and clinically available factors associated with OA progression were employed in the base prediction algorithm, with M:L BMD ratio added to an enhanced prediction algorithm. The benefit of adding M:L BMD ratio was evaluated by change in area under the ROC curve (AUC), net reclassification improvement (NRI), and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI). Five hundred thirty-three participants were included; 51 (14%) had medial joint space loss; 47% were female; the mean (SD) age was 64.6 (9.2) years and BMI was 29.6 (4.8) kg/m2. The base algorithm model included age, BMI, gender, recent injury, knee pain, and hand OA as predictors and had an AUC value of 0.65. The algorithm adding M:L BMD ratio had an AUC value of 0.73, and the AUC, NRI and IDI were all significantly improved (p ≤ 0.002). This clinical prediction algorithm predicts structural progression in individuals with OA using only clinically available predictors supplemented by the M:L BMD ratio, a biomarker that could be made available at clinical sites.
Incidental Findings on Pediatric Abdominal Computed Tomography At A Pediatric Trauma Center

Abstract Background The increasing availability and use of computed tomography (CT) in pediatric abdominal trauma has increased the detection of incidental findings. While some of these findings are benign, others may require further evaluation for possible clinical importance. Objectives This study aimed to identify the frequency and type of incidental findings and their need for follow-up on abdominal CT in patients at a pediatric trauma center. Methods This was a retrospective, observational study on trauma patients ≤21 years of age who presented to the emergency department between January 1, 2004 and July 31, 2016 and underwent CT scans of the abdomen and pelvis. Findings were classified as benign anatomic variants, benign pathologic lesions, and pathologic lesions requiring additional work-up. Results There were 1073 patients included in the study population, with a mean age of 15.5 years; 707 (66%) were males. A total of 418 incidental findings were identified in 345 patients. Of these, 290 (69%) were benign and 60 (14%) were likely benign pathologic that required possible outpatient monitoring. Of those requiring additional evaluation, 5 (1%) patients warranted further evaluation before discharge. Conclusions Nearly one-third of patients had at least one radiographic finding unrelated to their injury. Of these, more than two-thirds did not require additional evaluation, but nearly one-third of patients required some form of further work-up.
Gushing about black gold: oil and natural gas tourism in Texas

ABSTRACTCoal mines, factories, and many other forms of industrial heritage have been well documented in terms of tourist motivations, economic impacts, and community attitudes, but little attention has been given to tourism associated with oil and natural gas, among the world’s most significant and controversial natural resources. Texas is arguably the US state most widely associated with the resource, economically, politically, and culturally. As the site of several historic oil booms, extensive onshore and offshore oilfields, and important contemporary oil and natural gas hubs, Texas has a strong associated heritage dating back over 100 years. This article is a discussion of the major discourses found in the interpretative material and site design at nine prominent oil and natural gas tourism sites in Texas. Major interpretive themes found across five or more of the tourism sites are analyzed in terms of similarities and differences in how they represent the heritage and influences of oil and natural ga...
An experimental study on the aerodynamic performances and wake characteristics of an innovative dual-rotor wind turbine

Abstract A novel dual-rotor wind turbine (DRWT) concept with an auxiliary upwind rotor and a bigger downwind rotor was introduced for improved turbine performance. An experimental study was performed in an Atmospheric Boundary Layer (ABL) wind tunnel with scaled turbine models to investigate the aerodynamic performances and wake characteristics of DRWTs in either co-rotating or counter-rotating configuration (i.e., CR-DRWT or CO-DRWT), in comparison to those of a conventional single-rotor wind turbine (SRWT). In additional to measuring the aerodynamic forces and power outputs, the wake flow characteristics behind DRWTs and SRWT were also quantified by using a high-resolution Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) system. In comparison to those of SRWT, while the aerodynamic force acting on the CR-DRWT was found to increase 13.3%, the power coefficient of the CR-DRWT design was improved by 7.2%. Faster wake recovery behind the DRWT designs was confirmed from both the measured power outputs of the same turbine model sited in the turbine wakes and the measured flow velocity at various downstream locations. The wake flow measurements were correlated with the aerodynamic force and power output data to elucidate underlying physics for the higher efficiency of DRWT designs in either isolation or wind farm settings.
SUPERNORMAL CONDUCTION: A RARE CASE OF ABERRANCY

Supernormal conduction(SNC) is a rare phenomenon where intermittent narrow QRS complexes can occur despite underlying bundle branch block(BBB) at a slower rate. Cellularly, this occurs if the ventricular rate is just beyond the effective refractory period of the septal myocardium, while at the same
Comments on “Travel and the National Parks: An Economic Study”

EDITOR'S NOTE: In January 1969, “Travel and the National Parks,” a study of the economic impact of the National Park System upon the national economy by Dr. Ernst W. Swanson, Professor Emeritus of ...
Other Mountains of the North Temperate Regions of the Old World

This chapter deals with the Altai Mountains, the Pyrenees, the Spanish Sierra Nevada, the Apennines, the Caucasus and other lesser mountains of the north temperate regions of the Old World. Compared to the great Alps-Himalayan Systems, the ecology and biogeography of the high altitude insects of these mountains are only very imperfectly understood at present. Strictly speaking from the biogeographical point of view, we should perhaps begin the chapter with the Altai Mountains, but with a view to maintain the continuity with the foregoing chapters, we shall take first the Pyrenees and proceed eastwards to the Altai region.
ETHICS IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT: Creating an Ethical Environment

This article discusses ethical issues that exist each and every day in interactions with patients, families, and fellow workers in the ICU, even in the absence of overt conflict or controversy. The creation of an ethical working environment in the ICU is a necessary precondition for dealing with the ethical issues raised by specific issues such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the limitation or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment, the special care of children with disabilities, brain death, and organ procurement, and triage. The creation of an ethical working environment requires developing a collaborative relationship with patients, families, staff, and other health care professionals.
Association Rules and Sequential Patterns

Association rules are an important class of regularities in data. Mining of association rules is a fundamental data mining task. It is perhaps the most important model invented and extensively studied by the database and data mining community. Its objective is to find all co-occurrence relationships, called associations, among data items. Since it was first introduced in 1993 by Agrawal et al. [2], it has attracted a great deal of attention. Many efficient algorithms, extensions and applications have been reported.
Effect of sugar on the fouling behavior of whey protein

Abstract Fouling is a serious problem in food processing especially in dairy industry. Sugar as a sweetener is very commonly added in various dairy products, however, severe fouling is found in on-site operations when processing sweetened dairy products. While milk fouling has been studied extensively, the compositional effect of sugar in dairy products on their fouling is still elusive. Here, we investigated the effect of different sugars (glucose, fructose and sucrose) on the fouling behavior of whey protein. Fouling formations were conducted using model solutions consisting of whey protein isolate (WPI) and sugars in a spinning disc apparatus under well-controlled temperatures and shear stresses. We found that, WPI fouling was reduced for the solutions with 10 wt% of sugar added by more than 30% in terms of fouling resistance and deposit mass, regardless of the type of sugar. We postulate that this reduction was because of the stabilizing effect of sugar on WPI, which was confirmed experimentally by the increased denaturation and aggregation temperatures of whey protein in the sugar-added WPI solutions. Increasing shear stress reduced the fouling of all test solutions, but no deposit sloughing was observed for the sugar-added WPI solutions. The addition of sugar in WPI solution also affected the composition and morphology of the deposits, which had lower protein in content and higher porosity in structure.
Alliance Portfolio Management Capability and Portfolio Performance

Firms in dynamic industries such as biotechnology, computers and telecommunications are increasingly engaged in a dense network of strategic alliances and inter-firm relationships. Consequently, th...
Flying in formation: The orbital dynamics of LISA's three spacecraft

LISA is a space-based gravitational wave observatory that is anticipated to launch in 2034. Its constellation of three spacecraft will be located at the vertices of an equilateral triangle that will follow the Earth about the Sun. The spacecraft will be deployed in three heliocentric elliptical orbits that, to first order in their eccentricity, maintain the observatory's size and configuration. How LISA accomplishes this is an ideal illustration of basic orbital dynamics. The physics underlying the choice of orbits is explained at a level suitable for introductory undergraduate physics students.
Stem cell therapy in heart failure: Where do we stand today?

Abstract Heart failure is a global epidemic that drastically cuts short longevity and compromises quality of life. Approximately 6 million Americans ≥20 years of age carry a diagnosis of heart failure. Worldwide, about 40 million adults are affected. The treatment of HF depends on the etiology. If left untreated it rapidly progresses and compromises quality of life. One of the newer technologies still in its infancy is stem cell therapy for heart failure. This review attempts to highlight the clinical studies done in ischemic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy and restrictive cardiomyopathy. A combined approach of simultaneous revascularization and stem cell therapy appears to produce maximum benefit in ischemic cardiomyopathy. Treatment of dilated cardiomyopathy with stem cells also holds promise but needs more definition with regards to timing, route of cell delivery and type of cell used to achieve reproducible results. The variability noted in response to stem cell therapy in patients could also be secondary to their co-morbidities. Abnormalities of glucose metabolism and diabetes in particular impair stem cell and angiogenic cell mobilization. This opens up a whole new area of investigation into exploring the biochemical microenvironment which could influence the efficacy of stem cell therapy. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Stem Cells and Their Applications to Human Diseases edited by Hemachandra Reddy.
Osteoblasts grown on microroughened titanium surfaces regulate angiogenic growth factor production through specific integrin receptors

Cellular attachment and response to biomaterials are mediated by integrin receptor binding to extracellular matrix proteins adsorbed onto the material surface. Osteoblasts interact with their substrates via several integrin complexes including fibronectin-binding α5β1 and collagen-binding α1β1 and α2β1. Knockdown of α2 or β1 integrin subunits inhibits the production of factors that promote an osteogenic microenvironment, including osteocalcin, osteoprotegerin, and TGFβ1. Osteoblasts also secrete several angiogenic growth factors such as VEGF-A (VEGF165), FGF-2, and angiopoietin 1, which are regulated by titanium surface topography and surface energy. Here, we examined whether signaling through integrin receptor complexes regulates production and secretion of angiogenic factors during osteoblast differentiation on microtextured Ti surfaces. To do this, integrin subunits α1, α2, α5, and β1 were stably silenced in MG63 osteoblast-like cells cultured on grit-blasted/acid-etched hydrophobic Ti (SLA) or on hydrophilic SLA (modSLA). VEGF-A production increased in response to Ti surface topography and energy in integrin α2, α5, and β1 silenced cells but decreased in α1-silenced cells. FGF-2 decreased on modSLA substrates in both α1 and α2-silenced cells but was unchanged in response to silencing of either α5 or β1. In integrin α1, α2, and β1-silenced cells, Ang-1 increased on modSLA but α5-silencing did not affect Ang-1 production during surface mediated differentiation. These results suggest that signaling through specific integrin receptor complexes during osteoblast differentiation on microstructured Ti substrates, regulates the production of angiogenic factors by those cells, and this is differentially regulated by surface hydrophilicity. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Successful implantation of synthetic biomaterials into bone depends on the biological process known as osseointegration. Osseointegration is a highly regulated communication of cells that orchestrates the migration of progenitor cells towards the implant site and promotes the deposition and mineralization of extracellular matrix proteins within the implant microenvironment, to tightly join the implant to native bone. In this process, angiogenesis functions as the initiation site of progenitor cell migration and is necessary for matrix deposition by providing the necessary nutrients for bone formation. In the present study, we show a novel regulation of specific angiogenic growth factors by integrin receptor complexes. This research is important to develop biomaterials that promote and maintain osseointegration through proper vascularization and prevent implant failure in patients lacking sufficient angiogenesis.
BRAIN Initiative: Cutting-Edge Tools and Resources for the Community

The overarching goal of the NIH BRAIN (Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies) Initiative is to advance the understanding of healthy and diseased brain circuit function through technological innovation. Core principles for this goal include the validation and dissemination of the myriad innovative technologies, tools, methods, and resources emerging from BRAIN-funded research. Innovators, BRAIN funding agencies, and non-Federal partners are working together to develop strategies for making these products usable, available, and accessible to the scientific community. Here, we describe several early strategies for supporting the dissemination of BRAIN technologies. We aim to invigorate a dialogue with the neuroscience research and funding community, interdisciplinary collaborators, and trainees about the existing and future opportunities for cultivating groundbreaking research products into mature, integrated, and adaptable research systems. Along with the accompanying Society for Neuroscience 2019 Mini-Symposium, "BRAIN Initiative: Cutting-Edge Tools and Resources for the Community," we spotlight the work of several BRAIN investigator teams who are making progress toward providing tools, technologies, and services for the neuroscience community. These tools access neural circuits at multiple levels of analysis, from subcellular composition to brain-wide network connectivity, including the following: integrated systems for EM- and florescence-based connectomics, advances in immunolabeling capabilities, and resources for recording and analyzing functional connectivity. Investigators describe how the resources they provide to the community will contribute to achieving the goals of the NIH BRAIN Initiative. Finally, in addition to celebrating the contributions of these BRAIN-funded investigators, the Mini-Symposium will illustrate the broader diversity of BRAIN Initiative investments in cutting-edge technologies and resources.
Multimorbidität und Punktespezifität — ein Patientenschicksal, das „unter die Haut geht“

Eine knapp 70-jahrige Patientin wird wegen Wirbelsaulenbeschwerden wiederholt und uber Jahre hinweg akupunktiert. Erst nach dem Setzen der Nadel in den Punkt Lu 7 („alte, klassische“ Lokalisation) erlebt die Patientin eine massive psychische Reaktion und beginnt, uber ein lange zuruckliegendes Trauma zu berichten. Der Grunder der Osterreichischen Gesellschaft fur Akupunktur (OGA), Johannes Bischko, lehrte seinen Schulern, dass Lu 7 als „Meisterpunkt des stillen Kummers“ in der Lage sei, in der Vergangenheit erlebte, bis dato nicht zu erkennende Trauer zum Ausdruck zu bringen und damit auf psychischer Ebene zu einer „Erlosung“ beizutragen. Diese Indikation kommt in der neuen Literatur nicht mit dieser Deutlichkeit zum Ausdruck und soll deshalb an dieser Stelle wieder in Erinnerung gebracht werden.
Quantitative Measurements of LRRK2 in Human Cerebrospinal Fluid Demonstrates Increased Levels in G2019S Patients

Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) mutations are among the most significant genetic risk factors for developing late onset Parkinson's disease (PD). To understand whether a therapeutic can modulate LRRK2 levels as a potential disease modifying strategy, it is important to have methods in place to measure the protein with high sensitivity and specificity. To date, LRRK2 measurements in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) have used extracellular vesicle enrichment via differential ultracentrifugation and western blot detection. Our goal was to develop a methodology which could be deployed in a clinical trial, therefore throughput, robustness and sensitivity were critical. To this end, we developed a Stable Isotope Standard Capture by Anti-peptide Antibody (SISCAPA) assay which is capable of detecting LRRK2 from 1 ml of human CSF. The assay uses a commercially available LRRK2 monoclonal antibody (N241A/34) and does not require extracellular vesicle enrichment steps. The assay includes stable isotope peptide addition which allows for absolute quantitation of LRRK2 protein. We determined that the assay performed adequately for CSF measurements and that blood contamination from traumatic lumbar puncture does not pose a serious analytical challenge. We then applied this technique to 106 CSF samples from the MJFF LRRK2 Cohort Consortium which includes healthy controls, sporadic PD patients and LRRK2 mutation carriers with and without PD. Of the 105 samples that had detectable LRRK2 signal, we found that the PD group with the G2019S LRRK2 mutation had significantly higher CSF LRRK2 levels compared to all other groups. We also found that CSF LRRK2 increased with the age of the participant. Taken together, this work represents a step forward in our ability to measure LRRK2 in a challenging matrix like CSF which has implications for current and future LRRK2 therapeutic clinical trials.
Reproducibility of echocardiographic indices of left atrial size in dogs with subclinical myxomatous mitral valve disease.

Background Reliability of echocardiographic measurements of left atrial (LA) size, an important marker of disease severity, has not been reported in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD). Objectives To define and compare reliability of left atrial dimension/diameter (LAD), LAD indexed to aortic valve diameter (LAD/AoD), left atrium-to-aortic root ratio (LA/Ao), left atrial volume acquired from a right parasternal long-axis (LAVRPLx ), and left apical view (LAVLAP ) in dogs with subclinical MMVD. Animals Nine dogs with subclinical MMVD. Methods Prospective reproducibility study. Dogs underwent 12 echocardiographic examinations by 2 operators on the mornings and afternoons of 3 nonconsecutive days within 1 week. Reliability (measurement variability) was quantified using coefficients of variation (CV) and 95% repeatability/reproducibility coefficients (95% RC). A mixed-model analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine if time of day, day, and operator were significant sources of variability for each index. Results Linear measurements (LAD, LAD/AoD, and LA/Ao) exhibited less within-day, between-day, and interoperator variability (CVs, 3.9%-12.5%) than did volume estimate measurements (LAVRPLx and LAVLAP ; CVs, 11.8%-17.9%). Of the linear measurements, LA/Ao exhibited greater variability (CVs, 9.9%-12.5%) compared to LAD and LAD/AoD (CVs, 3.9%-4.9%). Operator was a significant (P = .005) source of variability for LA/Ao. Conclusions and clinical importance Compared to other linear measurements, LA/Ao was the least reproducible and most dependent on operator. The 95% RC for each LA size index are provided to help identify clinically relevant changes (beyond intraoperator or interoperator variability) during serial echocardiographic examinations of dogs with subclinical MMVD.
Indoor Air Pollution and Respiratory Health

Worldwide, more than 4 million deaths annually are attributed to indoor air pollution. This largely preventable exposure represents a key target for reducing morbidity and mortality worldwide. Significant respiratory health effects are observed, ranging from attenuated lung growth and development in childhood to accelerated lung function decline and is determined by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease later in life. Personal exposure to household air pollutants include household characteristics, combustion of solid fuels, cooking practices, and household pest allergens. This review outlines important sources of indoor air pollution, their respiratory health effects, and strategies to reduce household pollution and improve lung health across the globe.
Comparative Virulence of Metarhizium anisopliae and Four Strains of Beauveria bassiana Against House Fly (Diptera: Muscidae) Adults With Attempted Selection for Faster Mortality

Entomopathogenic fungi such as Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin and Metarhizium anisopliae/brunneum (Metchnikoff)/Petch have shown promising results for managing the house fly, Musca domestica L. A primary challenge of using these biological control agents (BCAs) in field situations is the time required to induce high adult house fly mortality, typically 6–7 d post-exposure. In this study, virulence of M. anisopliae (strain F52) and four B. bassiana strains were compared. The B. bassiana strains GHA and HF23 are used in commercial products and those were compared with two strains that were isolated from house flies on dairy farms (NFH10 and L90). Assays were conducted by exposing adult house flies to fungal-treated filter paper disks for 2 h.The lethal time to 50% mortality (LT50) at the high concentration of 1 × 109 conidia ranged from 3.8 to 5.2 d for all five strains. GHA, NFH10, and L90 killed flies faster than M. anisopliae strain F52; HF23 did not differ from either the M. anisopliae or the other B. bassiana strains. Attempts with the NFH10 strain to induce faster fly mortality through selection across 10 fungal to fly passages did not result in shorter time to fly death of the selected strain compared with the unselected strain.
Effect of the New Donor Heart Allocation System on Waitlist Mortality among All Candidates Listed with Mechanical Circulatory Support

Purpose To evaluate the effect of the new donor heart allocation system on candidate waitlist morbidity and mortality in those listed with mechanical circulatory support (MCS). Methods The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database was queried for adults (≥18) listed for heart transplantation between October 2015 and September 2019. Candidates who were listed with any form of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) (intraaortic balloon pump (IABP), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), durable left ventricular assist device (LVAD), and others) were included. Candidates who did not have MCS at the time of listing or were listed between October 2017 and October 2018, were excluded to prevent inclusion of candidates who were listed under the old system and transplanted under the new system. Results Of the 4175 candidates included in this study, 2784 (66.7%) and 1391 (33.3%) were listed under the old and new system, respectively. Mean age and body mass index were similar, although candidates were slightly more likely to be female under the new system (23.0 vs. 20.4%, p=0.05). The proportion of inotrope-dependent candidates was significantly higher under the new system (24.4 vs. 18.5%, p Conclusion Candidates listed with MCS under the new donor heart allocation system experience less waitlist mortality. With regard to all candidates supported by MCS, the new system has achieved its goal.
Towards characterizing the $>\omega^2$-fickle recursively enumerable Turing degrees

Given a finite lattice $L$ that can be embedded in the recursively enumerable (r.e.) Turing degrees $\mathcal{R}_{\mathrm{T}}$, it is not known how one can characterize the degrees $\mathbf{d}\in\mathcal{R}_{\mathrm{T}}$ below which $L$ can be bounded. Two important characterizations are of the $L_7$ and $M_3$ lattices, where the lattices are bounded below $\mathbf{d}$ if and only if $\mathbf{d}$ contains sets of ``\emph{fickleness}'' $>\omega$ and $\geq\omega^\omega$ respectively. We work towards finding a lattice that characterizes the levels above $\omega^2$, the first non-trivial level after $\omega$. We considered lattices that are as ``short'' and ``narrow'' as $L_7$ and $M_3$, but the lattices characterize also the $>\omega$ or $\geq\omega^\omega$ levels, if the lattices are not already embeddable below all non-zero r.e.\ degrees. We also considered upper semilattices (USLs) by removing the bottom meet(s) of some previously considered lattices, but the removals did not change the levels characterized. This leads us to conjecture that a USL characterizes the same r.e.\ degrees as the lattice it is based on. We discovered three lattices besides $M_3$ that also characterize the $\geq\omega^\omega$-levels. Our search for a $>\omega^2$-candidate therefore involves the lattice-theoretic problem of finding lattices that do not contain any of the four $\geq\omega^\omega$-lattices as sublattices.
The Political Economy of the US Crop Insurance Program

Taxpayer support for the crop insurance industry has grown rapidly since 2000 even though total crop acres insured is stagnant and the number of policies sold has declined. Staunch support for the program by key members of Congress meant defeat for proposals in the 2008 Farm Bill to significantly reduce cost. These proposals included large changes in the formulas used to calculate industry reimbursement and for new programs that would be integrated with or reduce the amount of risk insured by the crop insurance program. The reason for this resilience is program complexity and biased analysis, which has allowed the industry to claim that they are undercompensated despite a doubling of taxpayer support. One unforeseen outcome of the strength of the crop insurance industry in protecting its interests is that a new insurance program called Average Crop Revenue Selection (ACRE) was passed in the farm bill. Large unintended consequences that could be brought about by ACRE include the likely demise of the marketing loan and countercyclical programs, increased risk that the United States will violate its amber box limits, and in the not-too-distant future, a complete change in the way that US crop insurance is delivered to farmers.
Hepatic Cytochrome P450 Enzyme Imprinting in Adult Rat by Neonatal Benzo[ a ]pyrene Administration

The effect of neonatal exposure to benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) on the hepatic cytochrome P450 of male and female adult rats has been examined. Newborn rats (< 24 h old) were injected with a single dose of BaP (1 mg/rat, s.c.) and killed after 110 days. In both sexes, body and liver weight, microsomal protein content, and total cytochrome P450 were unchanged. Cytochrome P450 1A2 protein content and 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity were significantly decreased (p < 0.05) in males, whereas these were unaltered in females. Male-specific cytochrome P450 2C11 of male rats was significantly increased as shown by Western blot and increased testosterone 2 alpha- and 16 alpha-hydroxylase activities by 29% (p < 0.01) and 22% (p < 0.05), respectively. Female-specific cytochrome P450 2C12 protein content was unaltered in females. In addition, the level of free hepatic glucocorticoid receptor in adult males was elevated by 35% after BaP exposure, whereas it was unchanged in adult females. These results indicate, for the first time, that neonatal BaP exposure results in gender-specific lasting effects on hepatic cytochrome P450 1A2, cytochrome P450 2C11, and glucocorticoid receptors in adult male rats, whereas these parameters are unchanged in adult female rats.
Improved successive cancellation of DS-CDMA signals using signal orthogonalization

In DS-CDMA communication systems, multiple access interference can be mitigated with multi-user receiver techniques. One such technique, successive cancellation, is limited in performance because cancelled signals are not entirely removed. An improvement to successive cancellation is proposed which employs orthogonalized signature sequences. This allows all cancelled signal energy to be removed. Alternatively, orthogonalized signature sequences can be used in the detection process, eliminating the need for the cancellation process. Simulation results demonstrate the improved performance of the proposed approach. Extensions of the approach for asynchronous signals, time-dispersed signals, and other forms of DS-CDMA are also discussed.
Catch TwentyWu The Oral Argument in Fisher v. University of Texas and the Obfuscation of Critical Mass

This Essay challenges the notion that critical mass emerged from the oral argument in Fisher v. University of Texas in a catch-22. Many of the conservative justices found that a failure to quantify critical mass meant that affirmative action programs were not narrowly tailored. However, if the university quantified critical mass, then it would be accused of using a quota.The Essay argues that there is no catch-22, and the justices’ questions during argument exhibited a fundamental flaw in their understanding of the definition of critical mass. Precedent has never barred the use of numbers or goals. The essay suggests that the justices' line of questioning on the critical mass issue can best be analogized to a concept in Zen philosophy - called a wu - that describes questions that have problematic foundations and no possible answer.
Electronic Communications Networks and Market Quality

We compare the execution quality of trades with market makers to trades executed on Electronic Communications Networks (ECNs). Average quoted, realized, and effective spreads are smaller for ECN trades than for market-maker trades even though ECN trades are more informative than trades with market makers. Increased trading on ECNs also improves most measures of overall market quality. In the cross section, more ECN trading is associated with lower quoted, effective, and realized spreads, both overall and on trades with market makers. More ECN trading is also associated with less quoted depth.
Abstract 3644: C-Jun N-terminal kinases and autophagy promote adenoviral and ectopic tumor-associated antigen presentation

Adenoviruses are innately immunogenic; thus, targeted immunotherapy with recombinant, oncolytic adenoviruses is under investigation for the treatment of cancer. Evidence indicates adenoviruses induce autophagy that is required for cancer cell lysis. Importantly, autophagy is known to promote the presentation of self and foreign antigens for immune cell activation. The molecular regulation of autophagy and antigen presentation in adenovirus- infected cells remains undefined. Our data indicates adenovirus infection triggered phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) in vitro and in vivo, which was essential for autophagy. JNK-dependent B cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) phosphorylation stimulated the dissociation of Bcl-2/beclin 1 heterodimers, enabling beclin 1 to initiate autophagy. Additionally, our data demonstrated for the first time that adenoviral epitopes were presented at the surface of infected cells through JNK- and autophagy-dependent mechanisms, as infected JNK- and autophagy-deficient cells were unable to activate splenocytes from adenovirus-immunized mice. Rapamycin, a chemical activator of autophagy, was able to enhance adenoviral antigen presentation. Contrary to starvation-induced autophagy, inhibiting adenovirus-mediated autophagy and antigen presentation required genetic knock-out of both JNK1 and JNK2 isoforms. We propose this unique mechanism for the processing of adenoviral antigens and consequent activation of immune cells can be leveraged in developing recombinant adenoviruses for the advancement of anti-tumor immunotherapy. Thus, we developed a novel adenovirus that expresses a chimeric fiber protein containing the cancer-specific, immunogenic epitope from the epidermal growth factor receptor variant III (EGFRvIII). We confirmed that the EGFRvIII epitope was presented at the surface of cells in an autophagy-dependent manner that could be enhanced by the pro-inflammatory cytokine, interferon gamma. Thus, we discovered molecular events regulating adenovirus-mediated autophagy and antigen presentation that differs from the conventional paradigm which could be employed for the advancement of adenovirus-based vaccines. Citation Format: Sarah Renee Klein. C-Jun N-terminal kinases and autophagy promote adenoviral and ectopic tumor-associated antigen presentation. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 3644. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-3644
Study of Mg K. cap alpha. x-ray multiplet structure observed in ion-atom collisions

High-resolution measurements of Mg K..cap alpha.. x-ray spectra excited by 1--3-MeV/amu H/sup +/, He/sup +/, O/sup 2 +/, Ne/sup 2 +/, and S/sup 4 +/ ions have been performed for Mg metal and some of its compounds. A detailed examination of the multiplet structure of the KL/sup 1/, KL/sup 2/, and KL/sup 3/ satellite groups revealed substantial variations in the intensities of various components as a function of projectile velocity and atomic number, and as a function of the chemical composition of the target. A theoretical spectrum was constructed using transition energies obtained from ''corrected'' single-configuration Hartree-Fock results and assuming a statistical population of all initial states belonging to the same electron configuration. This theoretical spectrum agreed quite favorably with the experimental spectrum for Mg metal obtained with 5.4-MeV He/sup +/ ions.
Integrating Energy Storage Devices Into Market Management Systems

Intuitively, the integration of energy storage technologies such as pumped hydro and batteries into vertically integrated utility and independent system operator/regional transmission operator (ISO/RTO)-scale systems should confer significant benefits to operations, ranging from mitigation of renewables generation variability to peak shaving. However, the realized benefits of such integration are highly dependent upon the environment in which the integration occurs. Further, integration of storage requires careful modeling extensions of existing market management systems (MMSs), which are currently responsible for market and reliability operations in the grid. In this paper, we outline the core issues that arise when integrating storage devices into an MMS system, ranging from high-level modeling of storage devices for purposes of unit comment and economic dispatch to the potential need for new mechanisms to more efficiently allow for storage to participate in market environments. We observe that the outcomes of cost-benefit analyses of storage integration are sensitive to system-specific details, e.g., wind penetration levels. Finally, we provide an illustrative case study showing significant positive impacts of storage integration.
How High Will Russian Aviation Fly

The study provides the historical context of the Russian aviation industry reflecting the periods of its growth and decline. It reveals the competitive advantage strategies that have been implemented by the Russian government in an attempt to revivify an enfeebled nation's aeronautic industry. The paper discusses the newly formed Joint Stock Company (JSC) United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) and its strategies to break into global markets, including UAC innovative product offerings. Whether or not, the recent efforts of the Russian government serve as a fulcrum for the Russian aviation industry that will leverage Russia into the global market, remains to be seen.