cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An agent-based modelling approach to estimate error in gyrodactylid population growth

Abstract Comparative studies of gyrodactylid monogeneans on different host species or strains rely upon the observation of growth on individual fish maintained within a common environment, summarised using maximum likelihood statistical approaches. Here we describe an agent-based model of gyrodactylid population growth, which we use to evaluate errors due to stochastic reproductive variation in such experimental studies. Parameters for the model use available fecundity and mortality data derived from previously published life tables of Gyrodactylus salaris , and use a new data set of fecundity and mortality statistics for this species on the Neva stock of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar . Mortality data were analysed using a mark-recapture analysis software package, allowing maximum-likelihood estimation of daily survivorship and mortality. We consistently found that a constant age-specific mortality schedule was most appropriate for G. salaris in experimental datasets, with a daily survivorship of 0.84 at 13 °C. This, however, gave unrealistically low population growth rates when used as parameters in the model, and a schedule of constantly increasing mortality was chosen as the best compromise for the model. The model also predicted a realistic age structure for the simulated populations, with 0.32 of the population not yet having given birth for the first time (pre-first birth). The model demonstrated that the population growth rate can be a useful parameter for comparing gyrodactylid populations when these are larger than 20–30 individuals, but that stochastic error rendered the parameter unusable in smaller populations. It also showed that the declining parasite population growth rate typically observed during the course of G. salaris infections cannot be explained through stochastic error and must therefore have a biological basis. Finally, the study showed that most gyrodactylid-host studies of this type are too small to detect subtle differences in local adaptation of gyrodactylid monogeneans between fish stocks.
Early Quaker Writing, Oliver Cromwell, and the Nationalization of Conscience

Quakers’ extensive correspondence with Oliver Cromwell reveals how they hoped to make a precise intervention in the political sphere of the 1650s through their radical understanding of conscience. The language of conscience was central to Friends’ discourse of the ‘light within’ and their belief in that light as an alternative site of authority to both Church and state. This connection between the ‘light within’ and conscience also contributed to Quakers’ belief in the universal nature of conscience: not only was conscience available to all Englishmen and women, but also its dictates — when led by the light — were identical for all believers. Striving to effect national change, Friends aggressively used this idea of a universal conscience to advise, challenge, and reprimand Cromwell in person, in print, and in private letters. In this way, early Quakers transformed conscience into a tool through which they expected — and demanded — that Cromwell would shape the English nation into the Kingdom of God.
Rewrite rules for search database systems

The results of a search engine can be improved by consulting auxiliary data. In a search database system, the association between the user query and the auxiliary data is driven by rewrite rules that augment the user query with a set of alternative queries. This paper develops a framework that formalizes the notion of a rewrite program, which is essentially a collection of hedge-rewriting rules. When applied to a search query, the rewrite program produces a set of alternative queries that constitutes a least fixpoint (lfp). The main focus of the paper is on the lfp-convergence of a rewrite program, where a rewrite program is lfp-convergent if the least fixpoint of every search query is finite. Determining whether a given rewrite program is lfp-convergent is undecidable; to accommodate that, the paper proposes a safety condition, and shows that safety guarantees lfp-convergence, and that safety can be decided in polynomial time. The effectiveness of the safety condition in capturing lfp-convergence is illustrated by an application to a rewrite program in an implemented system that is intended for widespread use.
Response to Letter Regarding Article “Extracardiac Progenitor Cells Repopulate Most Major Cell Types in the Transplanted Human Heart”

We thank Drs Kaye and Esler for their comments on our recent article1 exploring recipient-derived cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and Schwann cells in sex-mismatched heart transplant patients. Using the Y chromosome to track male cells in the female heart, we concluded that 11.2% of Schwann cells were derived from extracardiac sources, suggesting that recipient-derived circulating progenitor cells play a role in the reparative process of peripheral nerves in the transplanted heart. The Schwann cell data came from autopsy specimens taken 9 to 50 months after transplantation (Table …
Response to Andrew Gilbert’s Review of Going against the Grain: Supporting the Student-Centered Teacher

(2002). Response to Andrew Gilbert’s Review of Going against the Grain: Supporting the Student-Centered Teacher. Curriculum Inquiry: Vol. 32, No. 4, pp. 493-503.
What has happened to LSI: a supplier's view

Three years ago at the Solid-State Circuits Conference in Philadelphia, the concept of large-scale integration was already considered to be sufficiently far advanced as to be the main theme of the Conference, with a large number of technical papers showing beautiful colored slides of potential "products," containing several hundred transistors interconnected with two layers of metallization on a single chip of silicon. Related papers were presented at the Fall Joint Computer Conference that year, and semiconductor vendors had, for some time, been indicating the benefits that would accrue to the straightforward extension of the principles of planar integrated circuits to more complex "subsystems" on a single piece of silicon. The concept appeared to be clear---all that remained was its implementation; yet, as of the start of 1969, no major systems had been constructed with LSI and predictions of significant volume usage were still one to two years away. One can legitimately ask whether the darling of the industry a few short years ago has become the "bete noir" of today's computer industry, or whether most of the problems have been solved and we are well on the way to practical commercial utilization? This paper reviews some of the more significant problems that have required solution during the past four years, in order for LSI to now begin to play its role as a major element in new system design.
Characteristics of antinuclear antibodies in rheumatoid. arthritis

The immunologic specificities of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in sera from 97 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were studied. The frequency of ANA detected by immunofluorescence with mouse kidney sections as substrate was 60% (59/97) compared to 13% (7/55) in controls. IgM ANA was positive in 41% (40/97) of RA sera, IgG ANA in 40% (39/97), and IgA ANA in 33% (32/97). Specificities of antibodies in the ANA positive sera were examined by radioimmunoassay for antibodies to DNA and by immunodiffusion for antibodies to Sm antigen, nuclear ribonucleoprotein, and the SS-A and SS-B nuclear antigens. Antibodies to these nuclear antigens were found infrequently (1.7% to 6.8%). Sera were further investigated for antibodies to histones by an immunofluorecent method previously described using acid-extraced and histone reconstituted tissue section. Twinty-four percent of the ANA positive sera (14/55) reacted with a histone-dependent nuclear antigen. The relationship of rheumatoid factor to ANA was studied by isolating rheumatoid factors (RF) from aggregated IgG absorbant columns. Ten of 19 isolated RF showed ANA activity, which did not result from complexes of rheumatoid factor with IgG ANA since IgM rheumatoid factor, dissociated from IgG under acid conditions, continued to show ANA activity. In 8 of 16 RA sera tested, both ANA and rheumatoid factor activity could be inhibited by aggregated IgG. Five of the cross-reacting rheumatoid factors reacted specifically with a histone-dependent antigen in the reconstitution assay. These findings show that approximatley 50% of rheumatoid factors possess cross-reactivity with nuclear components, and histones are involved in a significant number of these reactions.
Coupling High Force Sensitivity and High Stiffness in Piezoresistive Cantilevers with Embedded Si-Nanowires

Using a single-mask add-on process module, two usually non-coexistent properties of cantilevers, large stiffness and large force sensitivity, are summoned in a single device. To achieve this, a stress-concentrating (SC) principle is used: instead of decreasing the cantilever thickness, which is the conventional approach in increasing its force sensitivity, the stress is locally concentrated in piezoresistive beams or wires. Hence, with a negligible decrease in stiffness, a higher sensitivity is obtained. Results of finite element simulations and experimental data confirm the feasibility of the proposed design. Fabricated cantilevers with implemented stress-concentrating silicon nanowires show a more than 5-fold improvement in force sensitivity compared to a conventional cantilever with the same dimensions, while maintaining the same stiffness. With thinner wires, the sensitivity increases 8-fold at the expense of a 15% decrease in stiffness.
An Empirical Evaluation of the Predictive Mean Matching Method for Imputing Missing Values

This article reports empirical explorations of how well the predictive mean matching method for imputing missing data works for an often problematic variable—income—when income is used as an explanatory variable in a substantive regression model. It is found that the performance of the predictive mean method varies considerably with the predictive power of the imputation regression model and the percentage of cases with missing data on income. In comparisons of single-value with multiple-imputation methods, it also is found that the amount of bias and the loss of precision associated with single-value methods is considerably less than that associated with a weak imputation model. Situations in which using imputed data can lead to seriously biased estimates of regression coefficients (and related statistics) and situations in which the bias is so minimal as to be nonproblematic are identified.
Radon tracing of groundwater input into Par Pond, Savannah River Site

Abstract The groundwater contribution into Par Pond, a former cooling reservoir for two nuclear reactors located on the Department of Energy's Savannah River Site (South Carolina), was estimated using a standard hydrologic budget as well as one augmented by a natural tracer approach. We determined a geochemical budget for 222 Rn, normally found at much higher concentrations in groundwater than surface waters, to assist in constraining the hydrologic estimates. The radon budget accounted for all quantifiable surface sources and sinks including the flux across the sediment-water interface which was determined by application of an advection-diffusion model. All hydrologic parameters and radon concentrations were monitored seasonally from February 1994 to August 1995. Using the water balance approach alone, the average groundwater discharge entering the lake was estimated to have an upper limit of approximately 0.95 ± 0.13 m 3 s −1 . The groundwater contribution obtained using the combined hydrologic/ 222 Rn approach ranged from 0.17 to 0.76 m 3 s −1 with a best estimate of 0.35 ± 0.16 m 3 s −1 . Lake profiles show enhanced 222 Rn concentrations in some areas indicating that groundwater enters Par Pond mostly through a small region in the northern portion of the lake, probably via small seeps or springs. Estimates show that groundwater plays a significant role in the overall water budget of the lake, accounting for 10%–33% of the total estimated inflow from all measured sources. Our results show that supplementing a standard hydrological water balance with radon budget considerations helps to constrain estimated groundwater flow into surface reservoirs.
Biomass of Arthropod Trophic Levels on Tamarix ramosissima (Tamaricaceae) Branches

Tamarix ramosissima Ledebour (Tamaricaceae) is an invasive shrubby tree naturalized in riparian areas throughout the western United States. Biomasses of arthropod taxa on T. ramosissima branches were quantified as dry mass per plant dry mass on three trees at each of three sites near surface water at Las Vegas Wash, NV, during 2002 and 2003. Biomass of two phytophagous-arthropod taxa, Opsius stactogalus Fieber (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) and Chionaspis spp. (Homoptera: Diaspididae), comprised 97.7% of arthropod biomass and varied among sites and among trees within sites. Their biomass was positively related to percent water of branches. Biomass of O. stactogalus was strongly associated with those of its parasites, Polynema saga (Girault) (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) and Gonatopus sp. (Hymenoptera: Dryinidae), and predatory Dictynidae (Araneae) and weakly associated with those of omnivorous Attalus spp. (Coleoptera: Melyridae) and Formica xerophila M. Smith (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Biomass of Chionaspis spp. was only associated with biomass of predatory Cybocephalus californicus Horn (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae). Biomass of predatory Salticidae (Araneae) was not associated with that of either phytophagous arthropod taxon. Low percentage of secondary-consumer biomass and large fluctuations in biomasses of O. stactogalus and Chionaspis spp. between years suggest populations of phytophagous arthropods on T. ramosissima are not regulated by natural enemies. T. ramosissima branches offer vertebrates arthropod prey with low diversity and highly variable biomass.
Genetic Variation of Beta-carotene and Lutein Contents in Lettuce

ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS. carotenoids, chlorophyll, provitamin A, nutrition, HPLC, breeding, germplasm, Lactuca sativa, Lactuca serriola, Lactuca saligna, Lactuca virosa ABSTRACT. There is increasing medical evidence for the health benefi ts derived from dietary intake of carotenoid an- tioxidants, such as β-carotene and lutein. Enhancing the nutritional levels of vegetables would improve the nutrient intake without requiring an increase in consumption. A breeding program to improve the nutritional quality of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) must start with an assessment of the existing genetic variation. To assess the genetic variability in carotenoid contents, 52 genotypes including crisphead, leaf, romaine, butterhead, primitive, Latin, and stem lettuces, and wild species were planted in the fi eld in Salinas, Calif., in the Summer and Fall of 2003 with four replications. Duplicate samples from each plot were analyzed for chlorophyll (a and b), β-carotene, and lutein concentrations by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Wild accessions (L. serriola L., L. saligna L., L. virosa L., and primi- tive form) had higher β-carotene and lutein concentrations than cultivated lettuces, mainly due to the lower moisture content of wild lettuces. Among major types of cultivated lettuce, carotenoid concentration followed the order of: green leaf or romaine > red leaf > butterhead > crisphead. There was signifi cant genetic variation in carotenoid concentra- tion within each of these lettuce types. Crisphead lettuce accumulated more lutein than β-carotene, while other lettuce types had more β-carotene than lutein. Carotenoid concentration was higher in summer than in the fall, but was not affected by the position of the plant on the raised bed. Beta-carotene and lutein concentrations were highly correlated, suggesting that their levels could be enhanced simultaneously. Beta-carotene and lutein concentrations were both highly correlated with chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll concentrations, suggesting that carotenoid content could be selected indirectly through chlorophyll or color measurement. These results suggest that genetic improvement of carotenoid levels in lettuce is feasible.
PATTERNS OF PERCEPTUAL-MOTOR DYSFUNCTION IN CHILDREN: A FACTOR ANALYTIC STUDY.

Analysis of test scores made by 100 children with and 50 without suspected perceptual deficits lead to hypothesizing five syndromes characteristic of dysfunction: (a) developmental apraxia, distinguished by deficits in motor planning, tactile perception and finger identification; (b) tactile, kinesthetic and visual perceptual dysfunction in form and position in space; (c) tactile defensiveness, demonstrated by hyperactive-distractible behavior, faulty tactile perception and defensive responses to tactile stimuli; (d) deficit of integration of the two sides of the body, identified by difficulty in right-left discrimination, avoidance in crossing the mid-line, and incoordinate bilateral hand movements; (e) deficit of visual figure-ground discrimination.
Texture in the Melting Pot: Postmodernist Art and Art Therapy

AbstractPostmodernist theories and attitudes integrated with art therapy practice can increase the clinical application of art as healing. The purpose of this paper is to encourage art therapists to broaden their interpretive ideology utilizing the postmodernist view. This perspective incorporates societal issues, narrative approaches, and multiculturalism thus enriching the art therapy process. Case vignettes from clinical practice and current literature are paired with postmodernist applications, illustrating the potential expansion of client opportunities for interactions with society through participation in the creation of art with others.
The nature of the nerve receptor for the acid taste as indicated by the absorption of organic acids by fats and proteins

Distribution coefficients of thirteen organic acids between olive oil and water have been measured. The concentration in the water phase was about.02N. The acids were chosen so as to bring out the influence of certain polar groups, OH, CO, SO3H, NH2 and C=C. The effects of these groups are clearly marked, and are in general in the same direction and of the same order of magnitude as their effects on the concentration gradients of the same undissociated acids between water and the nerve receptor in the taste experiments ofTaylor, Farthing andBerman. Specific effects are noted for the NH2 and the phenyl groups.
Pediatric Cochlear Implant Mapping Via Telepractice

Several studies have empirically examined the feasibility and outcomes of remote programming for adults with cochlear implants. Results indicate that equivalent programming levels can be obtained in both the remote and in-person conditions, suggesting that distance technology is a viable alternative to traditional in-person programming methods. Young children, however, require different audiological testing methods to obtain the behavioral responses necessary for speech-processor programming. No studies have empirically evaluated the use of remote programming with the behavioral methods specific to testing young children. Further, young children present additional challenges to behavioral testing (e.g., ability to condition or cooperate) that can lead to the need for additional visits beyond those required for regular programming. This paper describes the potential benefits of remote programming over those achieved for adults, and describes the study design and preliminary results from our current study a...
Effect of stage of gestation, litter size and uterine space on the incidence of mummified fetuses in pigs.

Factors associated with incidence of mummified fetuses at 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15 wk of gestation were determined in a cross-sectional design involving 209 pregnant pigs. Percentage of observed mummies increased from 2.1 to 12.2% as gestation progressed. Incidence of mummies at 7 wk of gestation was not different between litters of nine fetuses or fewer and those of 10 fetuses or more. During the period of 7 to 15 wk of gestation, the incidence of mummies remained constant at about 1% in litters of nine fetuses or fewer, whereas in litters of 10 fetuses or more the incidence increased linearly from 1 to 12% (P less than .01). In litters of nine fetuses or fewer, a mummy occupied no less space than a live fetus until 13 wk of gestation. In litters of 10 fetuses or more, a mummy occupied less space than did a live fetus after 7 wk of gestation. An increase in the incidence of mummies in larger litters was associated with uterine space per fetus below that needed for development and survival. The 12% fetal loss in late gestation was associated with less uterine space per fetus. Length of uterine horns, litter size and stage of gestation together accounted for 12% of the variation in incidence of mummies (P less than .001). A longer uterus had greater space per fetus, a larger number of live fetuses and a lower incidence of mummies.
A Systematic Review on Low-cost Innovation Value Creation and Value Capture Capabilities

Low-cost innovations, defined as new products or services that organizations direct at consumers who have a lower willingness-to-pay, enable firm growth and help drive societies’ prosperity. Howeve...
Concurrence of endometrial stromal malignancy with ovarian theca cell tumor

The association of ovarian theca cell tumors with endometrial glandular hyperplasia and neoplasia is well established. A recognized association of these tumors with endometrial stromal neoplasia does not, however, appear to have emerged. The coexistence, on two occasions, of endometrial stromal neoplasia with theca cell tumors is herewith reported. Although no conclusion can be drawn from but two instances, the phenomenon is regarded as worthy of documentation in the event that further accumulation of similar evidence may permit of a definitive statement in the future.
Microdialysis-directed Intra-tumor Pharmacokinetic Modeling of Methotrexate in Mice and Humans.

Purpose. To develop a quantitative pharmacokinetic model to characterize the disposition of methotrexate (MTX) at tumor site in tumor-bearing mice and to predict MTX concentrations in the human tumor. Methods. The plasma profiles of MTX were obtained from normal mice, while microdialysis technique was employed to characterize the time course of MTX in tumor from breast tumor-bearing mice. Disposition profiles of plasma and tumor were analyzed by a hybrid physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (hPBPK) model that incorporates physiologically-relevant parameters such as tumor blood flow and volume, while plasma concentrations were used as a forcing input into the vascular-interstitial spaces of the tumor. The plasma profiles were initially described by a biexponential decay model to obtain a forcing function that enters into the vascular-interstitial spaces in the tumor. Using a defined forcing function, the tumor free concentrations were fitted to the hPBPK model. Based on the model developed, sensitivity analysis was conducted with a perturbation of PK parameters to predict different scenarios of intratumoral MTX transport. The relevant physiological PK parameters from the mouse model were then scaled-up and utilized to simulate human tumor concentrations. Results. The mouse hPBPK model adequately characterized the concentration-time profiles of MTX in both plasma and tumor and produced various transfer rate constants between plasma and tumor. Our model was also able to reasonably predict MTX concentrations in the human tumor when human physiological data were utilized. Conclusions. The hPBPK model was able to quantitatively characterize the atypical transport of MTX in the tumor, supporting the idea that microdialysis is a valuable tool to study tumor biodistribution of drugs and to predict tumor concentrations in humans based on the pre-clinical data. This information can ultimately aid in the development of anticancer drugs with improved PK profiles. This article is open to POST-PUBLICATION REVIEW . Registered readers (see “For Readers”) may comment by clicking on ABSTRACT on the issue’s contents page.
Rehabilitation of Peripheral Nerve Injuries

Rehabilitation of the patient with a peripheral nerve injury requires knowledge, understanding, and cooperation between the patient, the physician, and the therapist. Careful documentation of the patient's status prior to beginning rehabilitation and periodic follow-up assessments are of utmost importance. We have presented a detailed scheme for initial and follow-up evaluation. Prevention of unnecessary stiffness, swelling, and contractures is emphasized. Education of the patient to prevent the individual from doing further damage to the anesthetic area is important. Proper splinting techniques, from the postoperative splint and cast to splints that prevent deformities as well as overcome established contractures and improve function, will aid in the patient's recovery. Desensitization is an important aspect of sensory recovery, and sensory reeducation will aid in recovery of sensibility. Early tendon transfers are found to be particularly advantageous for high radial and median nerve palsies to gain functional recovery earlier and to allow the patient to become brace-free sooner.
Designing consumer health information systems: what do user-generated questions tell us?

Searching for health information has become a prevalent activity on the web. The information found online has a significant impact on people's decisions on whether to seek medical care and what treatments to undergo. However, existing studies consistently suggest that general consumers have various difficulties in formulating search queries using existing search engines and the queries were often not effective in retrieving personal- and situationalrelevant information. Understanding users' information needs is a gateway to designing effective information retrieval (IR) systems. In this study, we examined the types of information requested by users, the characteristics of consumers' expressions of their information needs, and their expectations for results by analyzing the questions that general users posted on Yahoo! Answers, a popular social Q&A site. Based on the results, we proposed design recommendations for facilitating users' ability to articulate their health information needs and recommendations for the presentation of information in health-related IR systems.
Finding Business Journal Articles from Citations on the World Wide Web

Abstract Business journal articles are available in various electronic formats. The purpose of this study was to examine a set of 100 such publications to determine whether and under what circumstances they are available on the World Wide Web. The effectiveness of various approaches and tools for finding known articles also was tested. Sixty-eight of the 100 articles were found to be available on the Web for no fee; additional articles are available on a per-article fee or subscription basis. Searching for specific articles at journal sites was the most effective method but this alone will not retrieve all available articles. The time and cost of obtaining these same 100 articles via DIALOG Web also were considered; more articles can be found via DIALOG Web in less time but at a somewhat higher total cost.
The insulin-sensitive glucose transporter.

Publisher Summary This chapter describes an insulin-sensitive glucose transporter and discusses the regulation of glucose transport proteins. In the study discussed in the chapter, insulin increased the quantity of transporter in the plasma membrane of rat adipocytes about threefold as determined by either cytochalasin B binding or reactivity with anti-erythrocyte glucose transporter antisera. The erythrocyte glucose transporter is expressed in adipocytes as well as the brain, and other tissues were viewed as evidence in support of a single transporter providing insulin-stimulatable and constitutive glucose transport. One of the most useful systems for studying the mechanism of action of insulin as well as the acquisition of insulin responsiveness is the murine adipocyte cell line 3T3-Ll. These cells are originally established as a subclone of Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts and have a remarkable characteristic of, under appropriate culture conditions, differentiating into adipocyte like cells. The murine adipocyte cells develop the markedly acute insulin-responsive glucose transport characteristic of authentic adipose tissue. An approach to understand the effects of insulin on glucose transport in vivo is to study animals during fasting, which, like diabetes, is characterized by hypoinsulinemia but differs in that blood glucose levels are low normal. Starvation leads to in vivo insulin resistance—that is, a decreased rate of glucose disposal at an equivalent concentration of circulating insulin.
Sawhney Lean Educational Maturity Model at the University of Tennessee

Lean manufacturing has been the key initiative in production for many years. In practice, many organizations have not been able to sustain it due to a misunderstanding as a cost-reduction project and not as a cultural transformation. Industry and academia play an important role in changing this approach. In this chapter, we discuss the academic role with the educational model followed at the University of Tennessee’s Industrial and Systems Engineering program, in pursuit of developing mature professionals in the field. Within this model, we address Lean manufacturing beyond the tools with a strategic deployment approach, understanding the interconnectedness between critical problem-solving skills, systems thinking and leadership. Lastly, we discuss the subjects that provide the platform that supports this model.
Fermented Mechanically Deboned Poultry Meat and Survival of Staphylococcus aureus.

Mechanically deboned poultry meat (MDPM) was used to formulate a fermented sausage product prepared by a natural lactic acid fermentation (fermentation by indigenous lactic acid bacteria). Salted MDPM (3% NaCl) stored at 5 C promoted growth of lactobacilli to a level of 106 cells/g after 12 days. During the same period the population of indigenous Staphylococcus aureus decreased to below a detectable level but no change was observed in the population of added S. aureus (107 cells/g). The MDPM attained a pH of 4.7 after 60 h of fermentation with a corresponding developed acidity of 1.6% expressed as lactic acid. The heat treatment given to the sausage (to attain an internal temperature of 60 C) brought about a reduction in the population of both the lactobacilli and S. aureus (4.1 and 5.6 log cycles, respectively); the latter was decreased to an undetectable level. Acid, sodium chloride and sodium nitrite in combination with a heat treatment (60 C, 60 min) gave the largest reduction of the population of S. aureus resulting with a D-value of 23.6 min. Succinic acid in combination with either a heat treatment (60 C, 60 min) or low temperature storage (7 C, 7 days) was the most effective treatment against S. aureus . Other acids active against S. aureus arranged in decreasing order of effectiveness were lactic, acetic and citric.
Survey of Voyager plasma science ions at Jupiter: 1. Analysis method

The Voyagers 1 and 2 spacecraft flew by Jupiter in March and July of 1979, respectively. The Plasma Science instrument (PLS) acquired detailed measurements of the plasma environment in the equatorial region of the magnetosphere between 4.9 and 4 RJ. While bulk plasma properties such as charge density, ion temperature, and bulk flow were reasonably well determined, the ion composition was only well constrained in occasional regions of cold plasma. The ion data obtained by the PLS instrument have been reanalyzed using physical chemistry models to constrain the composition and reduce the number of free parameters, particularly in regions of hotter plasma. This paper describes the method used for fitting the plasma data and presents the results versus time. Two companion papers describe the composition of heavy ions and present analysis of protons plus other minor ions.
Searching for The Key

After that conversation in the park, I decided to focus my research on Ranulfo’s dreams. If I was once again heeding the call of the coyote , Ranulfo was the best kind of coyote —one with a business plan.
Control diet in a high-fat diet study in mice: Regular chow and purified low-fat diet have similar effects on phenotypic, metabolic, and behavioral outcomes

Background: Differences in the composition of control diets may confound outcomes in studies investigating dietary effects.Objective: We compared the effects of two control diets commonly used in mice studies, chow (SD) and a purified low-fat diet (LFD), in relation to a chronic high-fat diet (HFD). We hypothesized that SD and LFD will have similar effects on phenotypic, metabolic, and behavioral outcomes.Methods: Fifty-four 5-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to one of the three dietary interventions (SD, LFD, or HFD) for 18 weeks. At week 16, mice were tested for behavioral changes. Glucose tolerance testing was conducted at week 17 and terminal blood collection at week 18.Results: SD and LFD mice exhibited no differences in cognitive performance on the Y-maze test and comparable anxiety-like behavior in the open-field and elevated zero maze tests. Significant declines in cognitive function and greater anxiety-like behavior were observed in the HFD group compared to both SD and LFD. Are...
How I diagnose and treat venous thromboembolism in sickle cell disease

The incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in adult patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) is high. However, overlapping features between the clinical presentation of VTE and SCD complications and a low index of suspicion for thrombosis can influence patient management decisions. VTE in SCD can therefore present management challenges to the clinical hematologist. Herein, we present 3 distinct clinical vignettes that are representative of our clinical practice with SCD patients. These vignettes are discussed with specific reference to the hypercoagulable state in SCD patients, recent VTE diagnosis and anticoagulant therapy guidelines from the general population, and evaluation of the risk of bleeding as a result of long-term exposure to anticoagulant therapy. We examine current diagnostic and treatment options, highlight limitations of the existing clinical prognostic models that offer personalized guidance regarding the duration of anticoagulation, and propose a clinical approach to guide the decision to extend anticoagulation beyond 3 months.
Mechanical Properties of Several Nickel-Base Alloys at Room and Cryogenic Temperatures

Nickel-base alloys are of particular interest for applications at cryogenic temperatures for a number of reasons. They possess a face-centered cubic crystal structure which is known to retain its toughness down to temperatures approaching absolute zero. Also the nickel-base alloys have excellent high temperature properties, thereby making it possible to have a material which may be employed for structural applications over the temperature range from — 423°F to 1300°-1600°F. The need for such materials in cryogenic fueled, recoverable space vehicles, as well as many other applications, is apparent.
A Data Specification for Software Project Performance Measures: Results of a Collaboration on Performance Measurement

Abstract : This document contains a proposed set of defined software project performance measures and influence factors that can be used by software development projects so that valid comparisons can be made between completed projects. These terms and definitions were developed using a collaborative, consensus-based approach involving the Software Engineering Institute's Software Engineering Process Management program and service provider and industry experts in the area of software project performance measurement. This document will be updated over time as feedback is obtained about its use. The appendix is a primer on benchmarks and benchmarking.
Mapping Coexistence Phase Diagrams of Block Copolymer Micelles and Free Unimer Chains

Block copolymer micelles can carry molecular cargo in a nanoscopic package that is tunable via polymer structure in combination with cargo and/or solution properties. We use NMR spectroscopy and diffusometry to investigate spherical micelles that self-assemble from diblock poly(ethylene oxide)-b-(e-caprolactone) (PEO–PCL) at 1% w/v in D2O–THF-d8 mixed solvents. For two series of micelles with block masses of 2 and 3 kg/mol (PEO and PCL, respectively) and 5 and 8 kg/mol, we quantify diffusion coefficients and relative populations of micelles and free unimers over a range of temperatures (21–50 °C) and solvent compositions (10–100 vol % THF-d8). Micelles and free unimers coexist over surprisingly large areas of these micelle–unimer phase diagrams and with a large variation of relative populations. This study provides a new avenue for understanding how inter- and intramolecular interactions fundamentally affect unimer exchange, cargo release, the thermodynamics of chain partitioning, and the tuning of micell...
Biofilm Structures of Borrelia burgdorferi Not Only Display More Tolerance to Lyme Antibiotics But Also Cause More Severe Pathology In a Mouse Arthritis Model: Implications for Understanding Persistence, PTLDS and Treatment

Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, is the most common tick-borne illness in US and Europe. While most patients can be cured with a 2-4 week antibiotic therapy, about 10%-20% patients continue to suffer persistent symptoms of fatigue, pain or joint and muscle aches, and neurocognitive despite the treatment, a condition called post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS). The cause for PTLDS is unclear but one possibility is persistent infection with B. burgdorferi. B. burgdorferi is known to develop morphological variant forms such as round bodies and aggregated biofilm-like microcolonies as a log phase culture consisting of spirochete forms grows into stationary phase. Here we isolated biofilm-like microcolony and planktopic form (spirochetal forms and round body) from stationary phase culture and found that the stationary phase planktonic form (SP) and microcolony form (MC) were much more tolerant to the current antibiotics for Lyme disease, doxycycline, ceftriaxone and cefuroxime than log phase spirochete form (LOG). In addition, we also compared the ability of the variant forms to cause disease in a mouse arthritis model. Surprisingly, the MC in particular and the SP caused a more severe arthritis with an earlier onset of inflammation and joint swelling than LOG. MC-infected mice showed significant joint swelling as early as 9 days post-infection, while the LOG and SP did not cause significant swelling. At 21 days, the joint swelling of the MC group dramatically increased and peaked, while the SP showed significant swelling at this time but less severe than the MC group. The LOG infected mice were just beginning to develop joint swelling at 21-day post-infection, with only slight swelling. At 30-day post infection, the SP group mice also developed similar severity of joint swelling as the MC group, but the LOG group still did not show significant swelling. However, at 35-day post infection, all three infected groups showed similar degree of significant joint swelling. Thereafter, the joint swelling of the three infected groups waxed and waned during the 90-day observation. Thus, we established a new biofilm-inocula mediated visual arthritis model that could facilitate more efficient evaluation of treatment regimens for persistent B. burgdorferi infections. Our findings provide new insight about disease pathogenesis and may have implications for understanding PTLDS and PTLDS treatment failure, due to possible biofilm inoculation during tick-bite. This biofilm/persister seeding model may be valid for different microbial infections and facilitate developing more effective treatments of persistent infections in general.
Socioeconomic Status Affects Outcomes After Severity-Stratified Traumatic Brain Injury.

Abstract Background Socioeconomic status (SES) and race have been shown to increase the incidence of being afflicted by a traumatic brain injury (TBI) resulting in worse posthospitalization outcomes. The goal of this study was to determine the effect disparities have on in-hospital mortality, discharge to inpatient rehabilitation, hospital length of stay (LOS), and TBI procedures performed stratified by severity of TBI. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with closed head injuries using the National Trauma Data Bank (2012-2015). Multivariate logistic/linear regression models were created to determine the impact of race and insurance status in groups graded by head Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS). Results We analyzed 131,461 TBI patients from NTDB. Uninsured patients experienced greater mortality at an AIS of 5 (odds ratio [OR] = 1.052, P = 0.001). Uninsured patients had a decreased likelihood of being discharged to inpatient rehabilitation with an increasing AIS beginning from an AIS of 2 (OR = 0.987, P = 0.008) to an AIS of 5 (OR = 0.879, P Conclusions Disparities in race and SES are associated with differences in mortality, LOS, and discharge to inpatient rehabilitation. Patients with more severe TBI have the greatest divergence in treatment and outcome when stratified by race and ethnicity as well as SES.
Economic value and water productivity of major irrigated crops in the Ogallala aquifer region

Abstract Crop water productivity and return after variable cost for three major crops (winter wheat, grain sorghum and maize) in the southwest Kansas were evaluated based on simulated yield using the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer - Cropping System Model (DSSAT-CSM). Winter wheat and grain sorghum were treated with four irrigation capacities (ICs) (zero, 1.7, 2.5 and 5 mm/day) and an automatic irrigation (irrigation when required). Maize was treated with three ICs (0, 2.5 and 5 mm/day) and an automatic irrigation. Long-term simulations showed that average winter wheat, grain sorghum and maize yields can be stabilized under 1.7–2.5, 2.5 and 5 mm/day ICs with corresponding irrigation of 100–150, 100–250 and 450–500 mm, respectively. The crop water productivities of winter wheat, grain sorghum and maize ranged from 9.8 to 11.8, 12.8–15.0 and 4.2–19.1 kg/ha/mm, respectively. Maize was found to be profitable when grown under both deficit and full irrigation conditions although optimal irrigation application for maize substantially increased the net return after variable cost (RAVC). The median net return after variable cost for rainfed wheat ($252/ha) and grain sorghum ($180/ha) was greater than that for irrigated wheat ($169–$192/ha) and grain sorghum ($104–$110/ha). The RAVC for wheat and grain sorghum did not rise with increase in irrigation and IC, whereas the RAVC for maize increased with irrigation and IC. The lowest and highest RAVC for maize corresponded to IC of 0 ($16/ha) and 5 mm/day ($530/ha). However, this income from growing maize under higher IC may not last long due to rapidly depleting groundwater levels in the underlying Ogallala aquifer. Therefore, the short-term benefits of growing maize under higher ICs need to be compared with the long-term environmental impact, food security and employment opportunities including sustaining the growing municipal and industrial water needs.
Definition and Meaning of Industrial AI

An overview of the origins, meaning, and values of Industrial AI followed by a detailed description of its technical elements, integrative architecture, and algorithms.
Understanding breast asymmetry and its relation to AIS.

Literature Review. Review the pathophysiology, causes, and treatment of breast asymmetry in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), as well as postoperative patient assessment and health-related quality of life. Female breast development begins at 35-day gestation and continues 2–4-year post-thelarche to achieve final volume and shape. During the post-pubertal period, errors in growth and development may result in breast asymmetry. Breast asymmetry typically attenuates with time, but can be pronounced in individuals with AIS. During adolescence, there is rapid development and, thus AIS patients are increasingly sensitive, physically and emotionally, to breast changes. While breast asymmetry can be monitored through radiographic measures and surface topography, pre- and postoperative patient assessment is also critical in determination of optimal patient treatment. A comprehensive literature review was performed on the pathophysiology, causes, and treatment of breast asymmetry. The advantages and limitations of various treatment options based on patient satisfaction were also investigated. Various treatment options exist for breast asymmetry correction in AIS patients. Surgical correction involves an aesthetic outcome, as well as social, physical, and psychological impact on the patient. Despite the benefit of correction surgery, in terms of function and self-image, patient-reported outcomes still appear lower postoperatively in the domains of pain and mental health. Breast asymmetry is very common, especially among AIS patients, and is often corrected with surgical augmentation. AIS correction surgery has been shown to aggravate breast asymmetry and negatively affect patient-reported outcomes. Other treatment modalities should thus be considered when presented with an adolescent patient. Understanding patient concerns and their relation to quality of life will help guide surgical and medical interventions in correction of AIS deformities. Long-term follow-up studies are necessary to determine whether such interventions are successful and if patients remain healthy. N/A.
In Defense of Interpretation: The Mind of the Movie/The World of the Film

Values-oriented defenses of literature have been a staple of literary history for centuries if not millennia. But while commitments to values of various sorts have surely underwritten a good deal of film criticism and theory, defenses of the filmic, or watching films, are rare. The most common and compelling arguments made on literature’s behalf, however, apply equally well to film. Like literary fictions, fiction films can be defended as offering distinctive bodies of knowledge and ways of knowing. Like literary fictions, fiction films have the capacity, at once, to reveal the sheer “thinginess” of the world and to provide access to the felt experience of other worlds and of other ways of being. Finally, fiction films, like literary fictions, furnish, in complex and multi-layered ways, staging grounds for encountering alterity—training, that is, in the ethics of both knowing and acknowledging others.
Observing the Impact of Online Outreach Versus Face to Face Outreach

In this study, we present our observations and comparisons between onsite (face to face) and online outreach activities. These outreach activities were facilitated through our service-based learning course, the Technology Ambassador Program (TAP). The goal is to determine if the online outreach activities, which teach programming skills using online block-based coding platforms, can be as effective as the onsite activities, which use hands-on technologies to teach the same programming skills. Surprisingly, in analyzing self-assessed learning, engagement, and difficulty, we found that there was really no significant difference in the effectiveness of these activities. Online workshops can be very effective and engaging if designed and executed well.
Renormalizing synapses in sleep: The clock is ticking.

Abstract Sleep has been hypothesized to renormalize synapses potentiated in wakefulness. This is proposed to lead to a net reduction in synaptic strength after sleep in brain areas like the cortex and hippocampus. Biological clocks, however, exert independent effects on these synapses that may explain some of the reported differences after wake and sleep. These include changes in synaptic morphology, molecules and efficacy. In this commentary, I discuss why no firm conclusions should be drawn concerning the role of sleep in synaptic renormalization until the role of circadian rhythms are isolated and determined.