cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of Wheat Lines Having a Small Introgressed Segment Carrying Stem Rust Resistance Gene Sr22

The wheat stem rust resistance gene Sr22 confers resistance to Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici Pers. race TTKSK (also known as Ug99) that developed in Africa and is an immediate threat to world wheat production. The resistance gene is present on a chromosomal translocation derived from Triticum boeoticum Boiss., which has a genome that is partially homologous to the A genome of T. aestivum L. Sr22 has been deployed in a limited number of cultivars due to poor agronomic performance of lines carrying the resistance gene. Linkage analysis of simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers on chromosome 7A was performed to identify loci closely linked to Sr22. The most tightly linked proximal and distal SSR marker loci were Xcfa2123 and Xwmc633, respectively. A two-step process was then used to develop resistant lines having smaller chromosome segments derived from the diploid donor. First, individuals in which a single recombination event had occurred between wheat and the Sr22 introgression were identifi ed in the mapping populations. In spite of reduced recombination between T. boeoticum and T. aestivum chromosomes, suffi cient recombination events were found among 398 F 3:4 lines derived from recombinant F 2 progeny to recover multiple resistant individuals with smaller alien introgressions. Resistant lines were identifi ed having less than 6% of the chromosome arm derived from T. boeoticum. These lines may provide a more agronomically desirable source of Sr22 that can be readily deployed in cultivars resistant to Ug99.
Data element standards: communication standards for end users

Abstract Data element standards are a type of communication standard, as their function is to maximize the ease of data interchange among data systems. A new way of defining the concept of data element and related terms contributes to the view of a data element as a communications channel. Data element standards reduce data collection costs, and improve the consistency of data derived from different sources. The latter is essential for effective organizational decision-making. Data element standards are an essential component of information management. Important tasks in data element standardization are the specification of data types and naming conventions, the selection of organizational data elements, and the assignment of maintenance responsibilities. Decision-making in data element standardization must include organizational as well as technical considerations.
Reproductive failure of the red shiner (Cyprinella lutrensis) after exposure to an exogenous estrogen

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have been detected in surface waters worldwide and can lead to devel- opmental and reproductive disruption in exposed fishes. In the US Great Plains, EDCs are impacting streams and rivers and may be causing adverse reproductive effects. To examine how estrogenic EDCs might affect reproductive success of plains fishes, we experimentally exposed male red shiners (Cyprinella lutrensis) to exogenous 17b-estradiol. We character- ized the effects of estradiol on male gonadal histology and secondary sexual characteristics, determined whether exposure reduced reproductive success, and examined the effects of depuration. Adults were exposed to a mean concentration of 70 ngL -1 estradiol, a solvent control, or a water control for at least 83 days. Male exposure to estradiol resulted in ele- vated plasma vitellogenin concentrations, changes in spermatogenesis, reduced mating coloration and tubercles, altered mating behaviors, and reduced reproductive success with no viable progeny produced. Reproductive endpoints improved upon depuration (28 days). Exposure to estradiol had significant adverse effects on red shiners, indicating that wild popula- tions may face developmental and reproductive difficulties if they are chronically exposed to estradiol.
Complementary slip distributions of the largest earthquakes in the 2012 Brawley swarm, Imperial Valley, California

We investigate the finite rupture processes of two M > 5 earthquakes in the 2012 Brawley swarm by joint inversion of nearby strong motion and high-rate GPS data. Waveform inversions up to 3 Hz were made possible by using a small event (M_w3.9) for path calibration of the velocity structure. Our results indicate that the first (M_w5.3) event ruptured a strong, concentrated asperity with offsets of ~20 cm centered at a depth of 5 km. The subsequent M_w5.4 event occurred 1.5 h later with a shallower slip distribution that surrounds and is complementary to that of the earlier event. The second event has a longer rise time and weaker high-frequency energy release compared to the M_w5.3 event. Both events display strong rupture directivity toward the southwest and lack of very shallow (<2 km) coseismic slip. The hypocenters for these events appear to be near or in the bedrock, but most of the slip is distributed at shallower depths (<6 km) and can explain a large part of the GPS offsets for the swarm. The complementary slip distributions of the two events suggest a triggering relationship between them with no significant creep needed to explain the various data sets.
Photon induced noise in the SIS detector

The dominant source of noise in an SIS mixer is the noise in the photon-induced current. We have made accurate measurements of noise induced in SIS junctions by 95 GHz photons. The noise is measured at 1.5 GHz using a low-noise cryogenic measurement system. The measured photon-induced noise is compared to the noise predicted by Tucker's theory augmented by a vacuum/thermal noise term. For small to moderate rf powers, at which SIS mixers are operated, the measured noise is nearly perfectly predicted by this theory for all the devices measured. Measurements of series arrays of SIS junctions also agree with this theory showing that the noise of each SIS junction in the array is independent. At large rf powers, the measured noise was higher than the predicted noise, in devices with smaller capacitance. We also measured the noise in single junctions and arrays with no rf radiation. These measurements agreed very well with the predicted shot noise for most bias conditions. >
Adapting the process: Enablers and barriers to innovation in systems engineering and acquisition processes

Engineering and acquisition of information technology (IT) systems frequently involve high levels of uncertainty in requirements, design and technology. Addressing these uncertainties requires engineering and acquisition strategies and processes that are directed at garnering flexibility in the face of requirements and technology uncertainty. This paper reports on ongoing research to identify such candidate strategies with particular emphasis on insights gained from field research into the enablers and barriers to implementing non-traditional practices. A model of innovation readiness is presented and its applicability is described.
Familial Lymphocytic Thyroiditis: Analysis of Linkage with Histocompatibility and Blood Groups

ABSTRACT An association between Hashimoto's thyroiditis, the major histocompatibility loci and certain blood antigens has been sought. The diagnosis of thyroiditis was firmly established in 13 members of 4 families and in an additional 7 there was suggestive evidence of the disorder. Our investigation of HL-A antigens in these patients and other family members failed to reveal any consistent association with thyroiditis. There was also no linkage demonstrated between thyroiditis and blood or serum group antigens. Although linkage has been described between histocompatibility antigens and experimental thyroiditis in the mouse, such a relationship is lacking in Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
The inverse electromagnetic scattering problem for a partially coated dielectric

We use the linear sampling method to determine the shape and surface conductivity of a partially coated dielectric infinite cylinder from knowledge of the far field pattern of the scattered TM polarized electromagnetic wave at fixed frequency. A mathematical justification of the method is provided based on the use of a complete family of solutions. Numerical examples are given showing the efficiency of our method.
Genetic Divergence between North American Ancestral Soybean Lines and Introductions with Resistance to Soybean Cyst Nematode Revealed by Chloroplast Haplotype

Domesticated soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is a major crop with an established ancestral relationship to wild soybean (Glycine soja Sieb. & Zucc.) native to Asia. Soybean genetic diversity can be assessed at different levels by identification of polymorphic alleles at genetic loci, in either the plastid or nuclear genomes. The objective of this study was to evaluate genetic diversity based on chloroplast haplotypes for soybean genotypes present in the USDA germplasm resource collection. Shared chloroplast haplotypes represent broad groups of genetic relatedness. Previous work categorized three-quarters of the cultivated soybeans from Asia into a single haplotype group. Our results confirmed the close relationship of North American soybean ancestors and G. max plant introductions previously identified as representing potential sources of soybean genetic variation with the finding that these genotypes belonged to a single chloroplast haplotype group. Genetic diversity was identified in soybean genotypes determined to have a high density of single nucleotide polymorphisms and in a screen of accessions with resistance to soybean cyst nematode. Characterization of soybean plant introduction lines into chloroplast haplotype group may be an important initial step in evaluating the appropriate use of particular soybean genotypes.
Motor skill acquisition in a virtual world by older adults: Relationships between age, physical activity, and performance

Increased age and physical activity both affect motor learning (Colcombe & Kramer, 2003). However, it is unknown how differences in age and changes in daily physical activity affect motor skill acquisition and performance in a virtual world, where feedback on motor actions is offered visually via the software. Using a Nintendo Wii interactive gaming console (IGC), we examined motor skill acquisition in a virtual world for older adults ranging from the young-old (65-79) to the oldest-old (over 80), taking into account their daily reports of physical activity. Multi-level modeling will be used to determine how physical activity and age differences interact to predict success in the motor skill acquisition of a complex movement that results in an object throw in the virtual world. Analysis of results is in progress.
Borreliacidal OspC Antibodies Specific for a Highly Conserved Epitope Are Immunodominant in Human Lyme Disease and Do Not Occur in Mice or Hamsters

Humans produce highly specific borreliacidal antibodies against outer surface protein C (OspC) shortly after infection with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto. We previously demonstrated the epitope recognized by immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG OspC borreliacidal antibodies was located within the 50 amino acids nearest the carboxy (C) terminus. In this study, we show the immunodominant epitope is located in the highly conserved region within the seven C-terminal amino acids. Six early Lyme disease sera that contained borreliacidal activity and IgM and/or IgG OspC antibodies were chosen randomly and adsorbed with truncated OspC containing the 16 or 7 amino acids nearest the C terminus. Adsorptions with each truncated protein abrogated the borreliacidal activity completely. In addition, only small concentrations of OspC antibodies remained detectable by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blotting. Moreover, borreliacidal OspC antibodies were not induced in laboratory mice or hamsters despite heavy infections with B. burgdorferi spirochetes. These findings confirm that borreliacidal antibodies comprise the majority of the IgM and IgG OspC antibody response in human Lyme disease and that the epitope is located in the highly conserved C terminus. In addition, rodent animal models appear to be inappropriate subjects for assessing the effectiveness of the epitope for serodiagnosis or as a human Lyme disease vaccine.
The sources and evolution of inequality in Mexican ejidos

This paper examines the sources of inequality in the Mexican common property communities ( ejidos ), both in the past and in the present. It uses as a proxy of historical inequality the distribution of land at the time of the Agrarian Reform, and as a proxy for current distribution the number of cattle held by individuals. Possible hypotheses of factors affecting the distribution are pre-colonial population densities, differing eligibility rules through the course of the Agrarian Reform, and geography. Decomposition of the inequality measures shows that land inequality is much higher between than within ejidos , with the opposite being true for cattle inequality. Higher pre-colonial population densities are shown to decrease the average amount of privateland and of cattle held by ejido members, and to decrease within ejido -land inequality while they increase within- ejido cattle inequality. Ejidos formed during the early periodof the reform have significantly larger land endowments, and much greater inequality within them currently. Finally, geography is an important determinant of both land and cattle distribution within and between ejidos, even while controlling for other factors.This suggests roles for both geography and institutions in the determination of the distribution of assets in rural Mexico.
The Invention of the ‘Tropical Worker’: Medical Research and the Quest for Central African Labor on the South African Gold Mines, 1903–36

In 1903 the South African mining industry began recruiting African labor from Central Africa in order to shore up their labor supplies. From the outset, Central African recruitment was problematic, for Central African mine workers died at very high rates. The primary source of Central African mortality was pneumonia. In response to this high mortality the Union government threatened to close down Central African recruitment, a threat which they carried out in 1913. From 1911 to 1933, the mining industry fought to maintain, and then after 1913 to regain access to Central African labor. Of central importance in this struggle were efforts to develop a vaccine against pneumonia. While the mine medical community failed to produce an effective vaccine against pneumonia, the Chamber of Mines successfully employed the promise of a vaccine eventually to regain access to Central African Labor in 1934. The mines achieved this goal by controlling the terrain of discourse on the health of Central African workers, directing attention away from the unhealthy conditions of mine labor and toward the imagined cultural and biological peculiarities of these workers. In doing so the mines constructed a new social category, ‘tropical workers’ or ‘tropicals’. The paper explores the political, economic and intellectual environment within which this cultural construction was created and employed.
Observations on human follicular and tubal ova.

Abstract 1. Methods for obtaining and studying living follicular and tubal ova by means of phase contrast microscopy are presented. 2. A procedure for obtaining completely denuded follicular and tubal ova is outlined, and possible factors involved are stated. 3. Spermatozoan behavior about and penetration of follicular and tubal ova are described. 4. The constitutents of the zona pellucida and perivitelline space are shown and discussed. 5. Maturation stages of the follicular and tubal ovum are depicted, with special reference to polar body formation.
Beggars Can't Be Choosers: Compulsion and Contract in Postbellum America

In the late nineteenth century, anyone traveling on foot in an American city was likely to be accosted by a beggar asking for alms. Beggars had long been a familiar metropolitan sight, even in the New World. But, according to contemporaries, they were more commonplace in the years after the Civil War than ever before. With hands outstretched, they lined the streets, roved the parks, lingered on stoops. By all accounts, the most vexing specimen was the sturdy beggar, a man in the prime of life telling a pitiful tale of need. Should he be believed? Would alms help him or sink him deeper in pauperism by teaching him that he need not labor to live? Puzzling over the subject, the writer William Dean Howells described his own encounter with a street beggar in New York City. In the urban sketch "Tribulations of a Cheerful Giver," he recounted being torn between the pulls of "conscience" and "political economy." In the "presence of want," Howells observed, "there is something that says to me, 'Give to him that asketh."' But the question of alms was not so simple.
Research of Inter-harmonics Suppression Technology Based on Series Compensation

With the increase of non-linear loads and widely usage of power electronic technology in power grid,there have been a large number of harmonics and spread spectrum inter-harmonics in the grid recently.Inter-harmonics have caused more serious hazards than harmonics,such as voltage fluctuation and flicker.Studies of inter-harmonic are still at the stage of characteristic analysis and detective algorithm,without reliable and effective suppression method.This article presents a harmonic suppression technology based on a series of compensation,conducting simulations to demonstrate its effectiveness to suppress the inter-harmonic.The characteristic of voltage fluctuation caused by harmonic is first introduced;then the principle and structure of series compensation are pointed out;finally,by modeling and simulation,series voltage compensator is proved effective to suppress inter-harmonics.
Mortality and pulmonary mechanics in relation to respiratory system and transpulmonary driving pressures in ARDS.

Purpose The driving pressure of the respiratory system has been shown to strongly correlate with mortality in a recent large retrospective ARDSnet study. Respiratory system driving pressure [plateau pressure−positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP)] does not account for variable chest wall compliance. Esophageal manometry can be utilized to determine transpulmonary driving pressure. We have examined the relationships between respiratory system and transpulmonary driving pressure, pulmonary mechanics and 28-day mortality.
Ecological Congruence and the Identification of Learning Disabilities

In the debate about how to evaluate students suspected of having a learning disability, the role of context in learning has been consistently minimized in the United States. This article explores the implications of the current, deficit-based approach to the definition and assessment of learning disabilities and offers a more contextually and culturally responsive alternative. An examination of the epistemic foundation and the implicit assumptions that underpin current practices reveal the need for a contextualized approach to evaluate individuals that takes into account the interactive roles of the environment and the individual. Decontextualized methods of learning disabilities assessment have negative consequences for many students and contribute to the disproportionate representation of culturally and linguistically diverse students in special education services. This article describes a contextualized approach rooted in a model of ecological congruence that characterizes a student’s educational experiences and outcomes as a result of a dynamic process between the student and the classroom environment. Contextual and culturally responsive approaches to evaluation such as ecological congruence can provide a richer and more accurate view of how to remove barriers that impede academic progress.
What Would I Know About Mercy? Faith and Optimistic Expectancies Among African Americans.

A small body of research has begun to explore the association between faith and optimism among African Americans. However, missing from the extant work is an examination of the extent to which traditional indices of religious commitment work together with beliefs about God to shape optimism. The present study examines the utility of indices of social location, religious commitment (i.e., early and current religious service attendance, subjective religiosity), belief about the quality of one’s relationship with God (i.e., a belief that one is connected to a loving God), and beliefs about being the recipient of divine forgiveness for predicting dispositional optimism among a sample of community residing African American adults (N = 241). Age, subjective religiosity, and organizational religiosity were positively related to optimism in bivariate analyses. Hierarchical regression analyses demonstrated a significant association between age, subjective religiosity, and optimism; however, those associations were eliminated once relationship with God and belief in one’s forgiveness by God were entered into the model. Only belief in God’s love predicted optimism in multivariate analyses. Serial mediation analyses revealed that beliefs about the quality of one’s relationship with God and belief in divine forgiveness fully mediated the relationship between subjective religiosity and optimism, but that the relationship is driven largely by relationship with God. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Stereotactic body radiotherapy for pancreatic cancer: Analysis of toxicity.

436Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) carries a poor prognosis, with significant morbidity and mortality from local progression. Radiotherapy can be administered for local control,...
Broadband surface‐enhanced coherent anti‐Stokes Raman spectroscopy with high spectral resolution

Both the surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) are widely used methods in the bio-sensing field for improving the intensity of Raman scattering process. By combining the mechanisms of CARS (coherence and nonlinear process) and SERS (plasmon resonance), a multiplicative enhancement can be achieved through surface-enhanced CARS (SECARS). Besides sensitivity, high specificity with wide spectral bandwidth is also preferred for bio-sensing techniques but not well developed in SECARS setups reported in the literature. In this work, a broadband SECARS setup with high sensitivity and high spectral resolution is presented. Rhodamine 6G dye molecules and several biomolecules are used as the model system to benchmark the functionality of the SECARS system in terms of its sensitivity, the lowest detectable concentration, and the spectral resolution. Our setup rendered single-molecule sensitivity with spectral resolution of <35 cm−1. More than 102 times stronger signal-to-noise ratio compared with that of SERS is observed with the detection limit being 10−9 m. Different from the SECARS systems in the literature, our setup employs a unique graphene-Au pyramids hybrid platform. The graphene in this structure provides additional SERS enhancement and a bio-compatible surface. This powerful technique could be instrumental in furthering the understanding of various chemical and biological processes. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Future perspectives in physical chemistry the prediction of Chemical reactivity

The science of Physical Chemistry centers about the goal of understanding within a theoretical framework the physical properties and chemical transformations of matter. This in turn implies an ultimate ability to predict these phenomena quantitatively. The subject of the present paper will be an examination of our current progress in the areas of thermochemistry and chemical kinetics and the prospect for further advances in both of these areas in the near future.In this area of thermo chemistry, a successful theory must be able to predict the equilibrium constant K for any given stoichiometric reaction under any specific conditions (temperature, pressure, solvent, external fields, etc.). This is also the maximum information that a theory can provide in this area of equilibrium chemical behavior. It is the simpler of the two areas and appreciable progress has been made in achieving the desired goal. The important parameters in thermo chemistry can be reduced to entropy, heat of formation, heat capacity and intermolecular forces.In the area of chemical transformations, kinetics, the element of time enters, but formally one can make an analogy with the field of thermo chemistry in describing "equilibrium" elementary reactions by a thermal rate constant k, which is similar in theoretical structure to the equilibrium constant of thermo chemistry. This restricted but large area of kinetics has also seen major progress towards its goals.The important parameters in equilibrium kinetics can be shown to be reducible to entropy, heat of formation and heat capacity of a transition state and the intermolecular forces which this species may experience with other molecules. A non-thermo- dynamic question exists, identifiable with what is called "mechanism", the identification of all chemically significant transition states for any given elementary reaction.The area of non-equilibrium kinetics is the most active field "I terms of current research. It is less well understood than the equilibrium field but is an area in which much basic understands exists.
D-β-Hydroxybutyrate and melatonin for treatment of porcine hemorrhagic shock and injury: a melatonin dose-ranging study.

Treatment with a combination of d-β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) and melatonin (M) improves survival in hemorrhagic shock models. Our objective was to find the most effective melatonin concentration in combination with 4 molar BHB (4 M BHB). Survival and markers of organ injury were analyzed in pigs exposed to pulmonary contusion, liver crush injury, and hemorrhagic shock and treated with lactated Ringer’s solution; 4 M BHB/43 mM M; 4 M BHB/20 mM M; 4 M BHB/10 mM M; 4 M BHB/4.3 mM M; or 4 M BHB/0.43 mM M. This work is an extension of a previously published research study. Survival was highest in pigs receiving 4 M BHB/43 mM M (13/14), followed by lactated Ringer’s solution (11/16) and BHB/M with decreased melatonin concentrations (4 M BHB/20 mM M 3/6, 4 M BHB/10 mM M 2/6, 4 M BHB/4.3 mM M 3/6, 4 M BHB/0.43 mM M 1/6, p = 0.011). High mortality was associated with increases in serum lactate, higher liver and muscle injury markers and decreases in PaO2:FiO2 ratios. Our study indicates that treatment with 4 M BHB and melatonin concentrations below 43 mM lack the survival benefit observed from 4 M BHB/43 mM melatonin in pigs experiencing hemorrhagic shock and polytrauma.
Abstract LB-128: The aryl hydrocarbon receptor as driver of cancer immunity

The Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AHR) has been identified as a driver of cancer progression and cancer immunity in the tryptophan-IDO/TDO-kynurenine-AHR pathway. Over the last 10 years, studies from several laboratories have demonstrated that AHR ligand-mediated immunosuppression is effected, at least in part, through AHR regulation of inflammatory or inhibitory T cell subsets and immune suppressive MDSCs. These results suggest that the AHR is a driver of cancer immunity. To test this hypothesis, we used molecular and pharmacological approaches to regulate AHR activity in multiple murine cancer models and then measured multiple immune phenotypes. The resulting data indicate that a novel, non-toxic AHR inhibitor, HP163 (Hercules Pharmaceuticals), reduces tumor growth in orthotopic models of oral (MOC1), breast (4T1), and skin (B16) cancers in immunocompetent hosts. In the MOC1 model, HP163 significantly reduces the number of CD11b+PD-L1+ or CD11b+CCR2+ cells in the tumor draining lymph node. AHR knockdown in MOC1 cells with CRISPR/Cas9 decreases the percentage of CD11b+PD-L1+ tumor infiltrating cells and increases tumor infiltrating CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. This decrease in cells with an immunosuppressive phenotype is accompanied by a complete lack of orthotopic tumor growth. Furthermore, mice having received AHR- MOC 1 cells are resistant to a second challenge with wildtype AHR+ MOC1 cells several months after the primary inoculation. These data suggest that the presence of the AHR in the tumor itself is sufficient to induce immunosuppression. Preliminary data suggest that AHR+ myeloid cells mediate suppression of tumor immunity. These results collectively suggest that the AHR may be targeted for immunotherapy of several cancers and that HP163 may represent a novel approach to cancer therapy. Citation Format: David Sherr, Jessica Kenison-Whte, Zhongyan Wang. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor as driver of cancer immunity [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-128.
Introduction: The Relevance of the Great Religions for the Modern World

This papery here presented as an Introduction, was delivered by Dr. Smith as the concluding address of the First Spiritual Summit Conference, Calcutta, October 1968. In this its edited form it is dedicated hy Dr. Smith to Thomas Merton whose death a month after the Conference underscored how much his presence there had meant.
Estrogen Control of Progesterone Receptor Induction in Human Breast Cancer: Role of Nuclear Estrogen Receptor

Since the original identification of cytoplasmic estrogen receptors (ER) in human breast cancer (1), rapid progress has been made towards linking presence of the receptor with endocrine responsiveness of the tumor. It is now known that the likelihood of a successful response to endocrine therapy is increased at least 10-fold in patients whose tumors are positive for ER (2). However, not all ER containing tumors respond, and this has led to the concept that ER are necessary but not sufficient markers of hormone dependence.
Electrospun Polydioxanone, Elastin, and Collagen Vascular Scaffolds: Uniaxial Cyclic Distension

The development of vascular grafts requires the matching of material and viscoelastic properties to those of native artery. The hypothesis of this study was to subject electrospun tissue engineering scaffolds composed of polydioxanone, elastin, and collagen to cyclic loading in order to quantify the hysteretic properties, uniaxial tensile mechanical properties of conditioned scaffolds, and stress relaxation properties over a period of 400 cycles when compared to ePTFE, one of the most popular vascular prosthetic materials, and decellularized pig artery. In the electrospun graft, polydioxanone would provide a mechanical backbone, providing tensile support and preventing vessel rupture; while the elastin would provide elasticity and collagen would provide bioactivity (promote regeneration in vitro/in situ).
Poly(Butadiene-Co-Styrene)/Polystyrene IPN’s, Semi-IPN’s and Graft Copolymers: Staining Behavior and Morphology

Since the synthesis of interpenetrating polymer networks (IPN’s) in this laboratory in 1967,(1) the existence and importance of two-phase morphologies have become increasingly apparent.(2,3) A close relationship to graft copolymers has also been recognized. The research reported here is the first systematic study of the morphological relationships between IPN’s and graft copolymers of the solution graft type. Because of the critical role of staining in revealing morphologies on the 100 A scale, we have studied the kinetics of OsO4 staining as well.
Intelligence testing: the legitimation of a meritocratic educational science

Abstract This chapter addresses the origin, legacy, and persistence of intelligence testing in the United States as a process whereby education was colonized by the field of psychology. The convergence of events which fostered the development of intelligence tests and which maintain them in high standing link the history of schooling to the larger field of social change and reinforce the idea that schools are inseparable from the social climate of which they are a product. Intelligent tests were created as, and are, efficient sorting mechanisms in schools that reflect dominant values and contribute to social stability by justifying unequal educational outcomes as a natural and objective process. In spite of their seemingly meritocratic potential, intelligence tests are a primary mechanism for the reproductive role of schooling in society as reinforcing class, race, and ethnic biases.
Agency Theory and Work from Home

Wages for individuals working from home have converged toward, and even exceeded, those of office‐workers. I argue that these changes are driven by the ability of firms to monitor employees working from home. Using American Community Survey and Census data spanning 1980–2014, I find wage differentials have shifted from a 26 per cent penalty in 1980 to a 5 per cent premium in 2014. Furthermore, I find that higher wage variance (44 per cent greater in 1980) for home‐workers disappears by 2013. Changes in variance suggest that the falling cost of monitoring employee effort has made it less costly for firms to allow work from home. These findings support agency theory as a driver of the changes in wages and wage structure for individuals working from home.
Impact of Consumption of Bananas on Attraction of Anopheles stephensi to Humans.

Humans vary in attractiveness to mosquitoes, a phenomenon that is largely attributed to differences in physical cues such as heat and volatile odors emanating from breath and skin. Diet can change human odors but whether specific dietary components alter host attractiveness is largely unexplored. We identified bananas as a target for study following a survey of the internet for advice on avoiding mosquito bites. Human attractiveness to Anopheles stephensi Liston was measured using a glass vial bioassay where mosquito contacts were measured before and 1–3 h after ingestion of bananas or grapes. Consumption of grapes had no effect on the number of contacts but banana ingestion resulted in a significant increase in the overall number of contacts in spite of individual variation that included some subjects who showed no effect or decreases in contacts. Further tests with a single volunteer showed that the effect was repeatable and consistent across 15 trials. The magnitude of the increase was not affected by the number of bananas eaten. Increased contact counts after banana ingestion were also observed when A. gambiae Giles was tested. These results support the hypothesis that diet plays an important role in mediating host attractiveness to anopheline mosquitoes.
Drought’s potential influence on the increasing prevalence of celiac disease

Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune enteropathy triggered by the ingestion of gluten in genetically susceptible individuals. Although the global prevalence of CD is generally estimated at ...
Epigenomics and Transcriptomics in the Prediction and Diagnosis of Childhood Asthma: Are We There Yet?

Asthma is the most common non-communicable chronic disease of childhood. Despite its high prevalence, to date we lack methods that are both efficient and accurate in diagnosing asthma. Most traditional approaches have been based on garnering clinical evidence, such as risk factors and exposures. Given the high heritability of asthma, more recent approaches have looked at genetic polymorphisms as potential “risk factors”. However, genetic variants explain only a small proportion of asthma risk, and have been less than optimal at predicting risk for individual subjects. Epigenomic studies offer significant advantages over previous approaches. Epigenetic regulation is highly tissue-specific, and can induce both short- and long-term changes in gene expression. Such changes can start in utero, can vary throughout the life span, and in some instances can be passed on from one generation to another. Most importantly, the epigenome can be modified by environmental factors and exposures, and thus epigenetic and transcriptomic profiling may yield the most accurate risk estimates for a given patient by incorporating environmental (and treatment) effects throughout the lifespan. Here we will review the most recent advances in the use of epigenetic and transcriptomic analysis for the early diagnosis of asthma and atopy, as well as challenges and future directions in the field as it moves forward. We will particularly focus on DNA methylation, the most studied mechanism of epigenetic regulation.
High Surge Impedance Loading (HSIL) Lines: A Review Identifying Opportunities, Challenges, and Future Research Needs

Making old new again: next generation of self-reactive power compensation high surge impedance loading (HSIL) lines engaging transmission expansion planning (TEP) can be a game-changing technological innovation to overtake traditional overhead line designs. The paper summarizes, reviews, and presents motivations, opportunities, and challenges for developing HSIL designs. This study will provide a useful framework and point of reference for the future development of HSIL lines. It also proposes, for the first time, integration of TEP and line design to optimize the power transfer capability of a power system.
The use of internet sources for nutritional information is linked to weight perception and disordered eating in young adolescents

Abstract The internet serves as an accessible and confidential resource for young adolescents seeking nutritional information. However, the quality of information retrieved online is mixed and could have serious implications for users. Young adolescents who perceive themselves as overweight may be disproportionately affected as they are at greater risk for disordered eating. The current study aimed to (1) assess whether the frequency of use of different internet sources to obtain nutritional information differs between healthy weight young adolescents and those with overweight/obesity based on both objective and perceived weight status and (2) evaluate the relationships between different internet sources utilized for nutritional information and disordered eating. Young adolescents (n = 167; 10–15 years) completed the Children's Eating Attitudes Test (ChEAT; total disordered eating), indicated their perceived weight status, and reported how often they obtained nutritional information from the following internet sources: professional websites, personal websites, social media, commercial weight loss websites, and forums. Objective height and weight measurements were obtained. Young adolescents that perceived themselves to be a little overweight or overweight reported greater use of personal websites (p = .012), commercial weight loss websites (p = .011), and social media (p = .019) for nutritional information than those that did not perceive themselves to be a little overweight or overweight. The frequency of use of internet sources for nutritional information did not differ based on objective weight status. Greater use of each of the internet sources for nutritional information was related to greater disordered eating (p's
Smartphone health apps for tobacco Cessation: A systematic review.

Abstract Background Given the low retention and lack of persistent support by traditional tobacco cessation programs, evidence-based smartphone app-supported interventions can be an important tobacco control component. The objective of this systematic review was to identify and evaluate the types of studies that use smartphone apps for interventions in tobacco cessation. Methods We conducted a systematic review of PubMed (1946–2019), EMBASE (1974–2019), and PsycINFO (1806–2019) databases with keywords related to smartphone-supported tobacco cessation. Included articles were required to meet 3 baseline screening criteria: 1) be written in English, 2) include an abstract, and 3) be a full, peer-reviewed manuscript. The criteria for the second level of review were: 1) primary outcome of tobacco cessation, 2) intervention study, and 3) smartphone app as primary focus of study. Results Of 1973 eligible manuscripts, 18 met inclusion criteria. Most studies (n = 17) recruited adult participants (18 + years); one included teens (16 + years). Tobacco cessation was usually self-reported (n = 11), compared to biochemical verification (n = 3) or both (n = 4). There were 11 randomized controlled trials, 4 of which reported statistically significant results, and 7 single-arm trials that reported a mean abstinence rate of 33.9%. Discussion The majority of studies that use tobacco cessation apps as an intervention delivery modality are mostly at the pilot/feasibility stage. The growing field has resulted in studies that varied in methodologies, study design, and inclusion criteria. More consistency in intervention components and larger randomized controlled trials are needed for tobacco cessation smartphone apps.
Functions of parenting styles on patterns of general and serious delinquency trajectories: A mediated model of school climates and delinquent peer association.

Abstract Introduction This study partially tests Agnew’s (2005, 2011) general theory of crime and delinquency, drawing out the differential roles of parenting, constraints, and motivations when comparing general delinquency trajectories and serious delinquency trajectories. Methods Using data from a 7-year follow-up study of 927 South Korean male adolescents, the study incorporates a group-based trajectory modeling to identify subgroups, each having a unique pattern of trajectories, respectively. Results The models yielded 3 subgroups: Early onset & decreaser, Increaser & late peak, and Normative for general delinquency as well as Serious delinquent, Moderate delinquents, and Normative for serious delinquency. The results reveal that compared to Normative group, parenting styles were significant of both the Moderate and Serious delinquents groups for only serious delinquency even after controlling for constraints and motivations. The odds of belonging to both the Early-Onset & Decreaser and Increaser & Late Peak groups for general delinquency and the Moderate Delinquents group for serious delinquency were significantly higher for those who more frequently associated with delinquent peers. Depression was significant among members of the Early-Onset & Decreaser group, while school connectedness was significant among members of the Increaser & Late Peak group for general delinquency. There were no mediating role of constraints and motivations in the parent-delinquency prediction. Conclusions Intervention programs aimed at improving parenting skills can be developed to decrease the likelihood of delinquency.
Using Student Ratings of Teaching Quality in Feedback and Evaluation: An Overview of Policy and Practice

This chapter provides an overview of how survey-based ratings of teaching quality have been used in feedback and evaluation systems in the United States. Survey questionnaires are becoming increasingly popular as a mechanism for capturing information about instruction and other aspects of the learning environment. This chapter discusses the historical arguments in favor of using student ratings to assess teaching quality and describes the limitations of such ratings. Additionally, the current policy environment is described to provide a context for understanding the proliferation of survey-based ratings in states, districts, and schools. Two examples of survey feedback cycles are provided. The chapter concludes with a discussion of three areas for future research, raising issues that are important for practitioners to consider when using student ratings.
Application of fast multipole method to micromagnetic simulation of periodic systems

In this paper, we introduce a new iterative method for calculating the fields of the periodic images, which is simpler and more in the spirit of the FMM.
A Swarm of Bee Books

Robbing the Bees . A Biography of Honey: The Sweet Liquid Gold That Seduced the World. By Holley Bishop . Free Press, New York, 2005. 334 pp. $24, C$35. ISBN 0-7432-5021-4. Letters from the Hive . An Intimate History of Bees, Honey, and Humankind. By Stephen Buchmann with Banning Repplier . Bantam, New York, 2005. 288 pp. $24. ISBN 0-553- 80375-1. The Hive . The Story of the Honeybee and Us. By Bee Wilson . John Murray, London, 2004. 320 pp. £14.99. ISBN 0-7195-6409-3. An enthusiastic writer who has recently come to beekeeping; a researcher who has long worked on bees, flowers, and their ecosystems; and a historian of ideas (and food writer) offer their diverse perspectives on bees, honey, and humans.
Sustainable Agriculture: Food for the Future Farmland Stewardship: Can Ecosystems Stand Any More of it?

Second in my series of articles on farming and environmental policy, this article examines farmland stewardship rhetoric in light of the reality of extensive agricultural exemptions from environmental regulation.
Correlation of Succinate Metabolism and Virulence in Salmonella typhimurium

Abstract Herzberg, Mendel (University of Florida, Gainesville), and Mudhaffer J. Jawad, and Darrell Pratt. Succinate metabolism and virulence in Salmonella typhimurium. J. Bacteriol. 89:185–192. 1965.—A virulent, smooth strain of Salmonella typhimurium (Wild-7) grew slowly with succinate as sole carbon source (Suc-L). Old stock cultures yielded a smooth variant which grew rapidly (Suc-E). Visible colonies of Suc-E appeared in 24 hr, whereas Suc-L required 48 hr. Differences other than the response to succinate were not demonstrable between the two strains; ld50 values of both strains were similar, but equivalent numbers of Suc-E required longer periods of time to kill mice. Recovery of bacteria from liver and spleen homogenates revealed that Suc-L remains as such in vivo, but Suc-E populations change to Suc-L. By the eighth day of infection, the organisms were 93 to 100% Suc-L; thus, mortality was due to the Suc-L population developed in vivo and not the Suc-E of the original inoculum. Animal passage of a number of stock cultures of S. typhimurium of diverse origin, all Suc-E type, invariably yielded Suc-L. Slow utilization of succinate appears to be correlated with virulence.
The TTACOS project—laying the foundation for national technology standards for students in the United States

The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) is collaborating with professional organisations to develop technology standards for pre-college students. In the first phase of the project, basic assumptions and broad categories for the standards have been identified and distributed for public input. A key part of the process was the TTACOS Project in which educators across the nation provided their ideas about technology standards on-line. The standards project, including TTACOS, is one of a series of initiatives by ISTE to produce formal guidelines for technology teachers and learners in the United States. These efforts are described, with an emphasis on the multi-year standards project and the framework developed through the TTACOS Project.