cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Contact toxicity of some chemical and biological pesticides to several insect parasitoids and predators

Eight pesticides; methyl parathion, malathion (organo-phosphates), toxaphene (chlorinated hydrocarbon), carbaryl (carbamate), pyrethrin (plant derivative),Bacillus thuringiensis, nuclear polyhedrosis virus (Heliothis) (microbial insecticides), and 2,4-DB (postemergence herbicide) were evaluated at the minimum recommended field dose and reduced dosages for contact toxicity toBrachymeria intermedia (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae), Campoletis sonorensis (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), Chelonus blackburni (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), Meteorus leviventris (Braconidae), Voria ruralis (Diptera: tachninidae), Chrysopa carnea (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), andHippodamia convergens (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). At minimum field dosages, percent mortality of parasitoids and predators was>27%, for the chemical insecticides. Mortality from pyrethrin was carbaryl > toxaphene > methyl parathion.
Aggression proneness: Transdiagnostic processes involving negative valence and cognitive systems.

Abstract Aggressive behavior is observed in persons with various mental health problems and has been studied from the perspectives of neuroscience and psychophysiology. The present research reviews some of the extant experimental literature to help clarify the interplay between domains of functioning implicated in aggression proneness. We then convey a process-oriented model that elucidates how the interplay of the Negative Valence and Cognitive System domains of NIMH's Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) helps explain aggression proneness, particularly reactive aggression. Finally, we report on a study involving event-related potential (ERP) indices of emotional and inhibitory control processing during an emotional-linguistic go/no-go task among 67 individuals with histories of violence and criminal offending (30% female, 44% African-American) who reported on their aggressive tendencies using the Buss–Perry Aggression Questionnaire. Results provide evidence that tendencies toward angry and aggressive behavior relate to reduced inhibitory control processing (no-go P3) specifically during relevant threat-word blocks, suggesting deterioration of cognitive control by acute or sustained threat sensitivity. These findings highlight the value of ERP methodologies for clarifying the interplay of Negative Valence and Cognitive System processes in aggression proneness.
Qualitative reasoning for system reconstruction using Lebesgue discretization

System reconstruction refers to the following problem: given a behaviour system, viewed as an overall system, determine which sets of its subsystems are adequate for reconstructing the given system with an acceptable degree of approximation. The reconstruction problem can be solved by finding multiple variable relationships in complex data. To deal with this problem, we apply the idea of qualitative reasoning as discussed in artificial intelligence. The basic idea is to convert continuous data into discrete data (e.g. through clustering) so that qualitative rules can be constructed. In this paper a method of compressing data (called the Lebesgue discretization) is proposed to establish relationships between the dependent variable and other variables. Qualitative rules can be constructed from this relationship and then stored in a knowledge base. This technique also facilitates automated knowledge acquisition.
The azomethine nitrene. I. Pyrolysis and photolysis of Δ2 1,2,4-oxadiazoline-5-ones

Both photolytic and pyrolytic fragmentation of the oxadiazolone ring produces carbon dioxide and a residue which may exist in part as an intermediate azomethine nitrene and may react with or without rearrangement and/or further fragmentation. Rearrangement produces carbodiimides 2 and cyanamides 6. Thermal and photo-isornerization of carbodiimides into cyanamides provides a key step in an explanation for the formation of the latter from an oxadiazolone. A highly selective cyclization produces a benzimidazole 3 when a suitable aryl subsliluent is at nitrogen. The formation of N-phenylbenzamidine 7a from 3-phenyl-4-benzyloxadiazolone 5c requires a 1,4-migration from carbon to nitrogen followed by hydrolysis. The same or similar migration of hydrogen and subsequent ring-closure with dehydrogenation provides the formation of 2-phenyl-quinazoline 8. Products which require no rearrangement of the residue include amidines 7 and triazoles 10. A portion of each triazole corresponds to a nitrile, in turn a product along with a simple nitrene;, of more extensive fragmentation of the; oxadiazolone ring. Phenyl, benzyl, and cyclohexyl nitrenes are respectively detected by the isolation of aniline, benzaldehyde and cyclohexanone. Other recombination reactions bring about the formation of triphenyltriazine 13 and triphenylimidazole 14.
Voltage-gated calcium channels in adult rat inferior colliculus neurons.

Abstract The inferior colliculus (IC) plays a key role in the processing of auditory information and is thought to be an important site for genesis of wild running seizures that evolve into tonic–clonic seizures. IC neurons are known to have Ca 2+ channels but neither their types nor their pharmacological properties have been as yet characterized. Here, we report on biophysical and pharmacological properties of Ca 2+ channel currents in acutely dissociated neurons of adult rat IC, using electrophysiological and molecular techniques. Ca 2+ channels were activated by depolarizing pulses from a holding potential of −90 mV in 10 mV increments using 5 mM barium (Ba 2+ ) as the charge carrier. Both low (T-type, VA) and high (HVA) threshold Ca 2+ channel currents that could be blocked by 50 μM cadmium, were recorded. Pharmacological dissection of HVA currents showed that nifedipine (10 μM, L-type channel blocker), ω-conotoxin GVIA (1 μM, N-type channel blocker), and ω-agatoxin TK (30 nM, P-type channel blocker) partially suppressed the current by 21%, 29% and 22%, respectively. Since at higher concentration (200 nM) ω-agatoxin TK also blocks Q-type channels, the data suggest that Q-type Ca 2+ channels carry approximately 16% of HVA current. The fraction of current (approximately 12%) resistant to the above blockers, which was blocked by 30 μM nickel and inactivated with τ of 15–50 ms, was considered as R-type Ca 2+ channel current. Consistent with the pharmacological evidences, Western blot analysis using selective Ca 2+ channel antibodies showed that IC neurons express Ca 2+ channel α 1A , α 1B , α 1C , α 1D , and α 1E subunits. We conclude that IC neurons express functionally all members of HVA Ca 2+ channels, but only a subset of these neurons appear to have developed functional LVA channels.
From early to late adolescence: alcohol use and anger relationships.

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the longitudinal relationship of alcohol use in early adolescence to anger in late adolescence. Methods: Data were collected in Indianapolis, Indiana, from 1987 to 1993 as part of a large drug abuse prevention trial. Fifty percent of the 1201 students were female, 75%, white, and 69%, low socioeconomic status, who were surveyed in grades 6/7, 9/10, and 11/12. Subjects were asked four anger-related questions: "When I have a problem, I get mad at people," "When I have a problem, I do bad things or cause trouble," "When I have a problem, I say or do nasty things," and "I am a hotheaded person." Two additional items asked subjects to report the number of alcoholic drinks consumed and frequency of drunkenness in the past 30 days. Odds ratios (OR) were used to assess the predictive relationship of alcohol use in early adolescence to anger in late adolescence. Results: Early use of alcohol increased the odds of later anger. Specifically, alcohol use in the past month in grade 6/7 increased the odds in grade 11/12 of saying or doing nasty things (OR = 8.23, p p p p p p p p p Conclusions: The present study showed that alcohol use in early adolescence was associated with increased anger, both in middle and late adolescence, controlling for gender, age, and socioeconomic status. The findings suggest that alcohol and drug prevention programs delivered in early adolescence may have the capacity to prevent risk for later anger and related violent behavior.
Relativistic scattered wave calculations of hexachloro‐ and hexabromoiridate (IV)

Dirac scattered‐wave (DSW) calculations are reported for the ground and several excited states [IrCl6]2− and [IrBr6]2−, and comparisons are made to electron spin resonance, optical absorption, and magnetic circular dichorism spectra. Metal and ligand‐centered contributions to the Zeeman and hyperfine tensors differ from those estimated from ligand field theory, although both calculations are in qualitative agreement with experiment. The predicted symmetries and spin‐orbit splittings of ligand‐to‐metal charge transfer transitions are approximately correct, but the estimated transitions energies are too low by 0.2–0.7 eV. The implications of this behavior for future relativistic Xα calculations are discussed, with an emphasis on various approximate methods of including spin‐polarization effects in relativistic calculations.
Air Bearing Flying Characteristics on Patterned Media

The air bearing steady-state flying characteristics on patterned media has been studied with a proprietary air bearing simulation code. Variation of minimum fly height with relative pattern-to-slider skew has been characterized at slider positions (ID, MD, OD). The results show that at the steady state minimum fly heights drop with introducing the pattern. Furthermore, the pattern-to-slider skew angle has a noticeable effect on the fly height drop, while the maximum fly height drop occurs on radial servo patterns.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Children with cochlear implants and developmental disabilities: A language skills study with developmentally matched hearing peers

The number of children receiving cochlear implants (CIs) with significant disabilities in addition to their deafness has increased substantially. Unfortunately, children with additional disabilities receiving CIs have largely been excluded from studies on cochlear implant outcomes. Thus limited data exists on outcomes in this population to guide pre-implant counseling for anticipated benefits. The study objectives were: (1) evaluate differences in post-cochlear implant language skills between children with cochlear implants and developmental disabilities and age/cognitively matched controls; (2) quantify possible discrepancies between language level and cognitive level. Fifteen children with a developmental disability who received a CI were matched 1:1 on nonverbal cognitive ability and age to hearing controls. Language was evaluated using Preschool Language Scale-IV and reported as language quotients. Multivariable mixed models for matched pairs analyzed differences in language levels between groups. No significant differences were seen between CI and control groups regarding insurance, maternal education, or family income level. Results of the multivariable models indicated that compared to matched controls, the CI group had significantly lower mean receptive (24.6 points, p=0.002) and mean expressive (21.9 points, p=0.001) language quotients after controlling for confounders such as number of therapies and weekly hours in therapy. Significant discrepancies between language level and cognitive level were seen among CI participants only. Compared to age- and cognitively matched controls, children with CIs had significantly lower language levels with delays disproportionate to their cognitive potential. Mechanisms behind this performance-functional gap need to be understood to deliver appropriate intervention strategies for this special population.
Validation of a New Brief Physical Activity Survey among Men and Women Aged 60–69 Years

The Stanford Brief Activity Survey (SBAS), a new two-item physical activity survey, and the Stanford Seven-Day Physical Activity Recall (PAR) questionnaire were administered to men and women, aged 60-69 years, in the Atherosclerotic Disease VAscular functioN and genetiC Epidemiology (ADVANCE) Study. Frequency distributions of SBAS activity levels, as well as a receiver operating curve, were calculated to determine if the SBAS can detect recommended physical activity levels of 150 or more minutes/week at moderate or greater intensity, with PAR minutes/week. Data were collected between December 2001 and January 2004 from 1,010 participants (38% women) and recorded. Subjects were 65.8 (standard deviation: 2.8) years of age, 77% were married, 55% were retired, 23% were college graduates, and 68% were Caucasian. SBAS scores related significantly in an expected manner to PAR minutes/week (p < 0.01), energy expenditure (kcal/kg per day) (p < 0.01), and selected cardiovascular disease risk biomarkers (p < 0.01). The SBAS of physical activity at moderate intensity had a sensitivity of 0.73 and a specificity of 0.61. The SBAS is a quick assessment of the usual amount and intensity of physical activity that a person performs throughout the day. The SBAS needs further validation in other populations but demonstrated the potential of being a reasonably valid and inexpensive tool for quickly assessing habitual physical activity in large-scale epidemiology studies and clinical practice.
Chronic ankle instability and corticomotor excitability of the fibularis longus muscle.

Context: Neuromuscular deficits are common in people with chronic ankle instability (CAI). Corticomotor pathways are very influential in the production of voluntary muscle function, yet these pathw...
Medication education task force providing valuable resources to CPNP members

1Vice Chair and Associate Professor Department of Pharmacy Practice College of Pharmacy, Nursing and Allied Sciences North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 2Pharmacy Clinical Specialist, Psychiatry The Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital Adjunct Assistant Professor of Psychiatry The University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 3Assistant Professor The University of Arizona College of Pharmacy Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, Tucson, AZ 4MHRRTP Pharmacist (retired) Bay Pines VAHCS, Bay Pines, FL
Cytofluorometric detection of B cell clonal excess: a new approach to the diagnosis of B cell lymphoma

A sensitive cytofluorometric technique, the "kappa-lambda test," permits detection of small numbers of monoclonal B lymphocytes (clonal excess). Such a method might represent a new diagnostic tool for diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, potentially providing definitive evidence of lymphomatous involvement in cases equivocal by standard immunologic methods. To determine the significance of detecting B cell clonal excess in lymphoid tissues, we applied the kappa-lambda test to cell suspensions from 60 consecutive specimens suspected to involvement by malignant lymphoma. Results were correlated with the pathologic diagnosis and with standard cell marker studies in each case. B cell clonal excess was observed in 24 of the 25 cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of B cell origin, including a single case involving early detection of recurrence. None of the remaining cases, including benign reactive hyperplasia, T cell lymphoma, and Hodgkin's disease, showed evidence of B cell clonal excess. Selective examination of cell subpopulations was also achieved using this cytofluorometric method. We conclude that the detection of B cell clonal excess by the kappa-lambda test represents a new approach to the diagnosis of B cell lymphoma, which provides certain advantages over more standard methods of cell marker analysis.
Contribution of Exogenous Genetic Elements to the Group A Streptococcus Metagenome

Variation in gene content among strains of a bacterial species contributes to biomedically relevant differences in phenotypes such as virulence and antimicrobial resistance. Group A Streptococcus (GAS) causes a diverse array of human infections and sequelae, and exhibits a complex pathogenic behavior. To enhance our understanding of genotype-phenotype relationships in this important pathogen, we determined the complete genome sequences of four GAS strains expressing M protein serotypes (M2, M4, and 2 M12) that commonly cause noninvasive and invasive infections. These sequences were compared with eight previously determined GAS genomes and regions of variably present gene content were assessed. Consistent with the previously determined genomes, each of the new genomes is ∼1.9 Mb in size, with ∼10% of the gene content of each encoded on variably present exogenous genetic elements. Like the other GAS genomes, these four genomes are polylysogenic and prophage encode the majority of the variably present gene content of each. In contrast to most of the previously determined genomes, multiple exogenous integrated conjugative elements (ICEs) with characteristics of conjugative transposons and plasmids are present in these new genomes. Cumulatively, 242 new GAS metagenome genes were identified that were not present in the previously sequenced genomes. Importantly, ICEs accounted for 41% of the new GAS metagenome gene content identified in these four genomes. Two large ICEs, designated 2096-RD.2 (63 kb) and 10750-RD.2 (49 kb), have multiple genes encoding resistance to antimicrobial agents, including tetracycline and erythromycin, respectively. Also resident on these ICEs are three genes encoding inferred extracellular proteins of unknown function, including a predicted cell surface protein that is only present in the genome of the serotype M12 strain cultured from a patient with acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis. The data provide new information about the GAS metagenome and will assist studies of pathogenesis, antimicrobial resistance, and population genomics.
RESPONDING IN THE SQUIRREL MONKEY UNDER FIXED RATIO SCHEDULES OF STIMULUS TERMINATION1

Key pressing was maintained under a fixed-ratio schedule in which electric shock was scheduled for delivery at a fixed time (t seconds) after each stimulus onset, and every nth response terminated the stimulus and initiated a timeout from shock. Under this procedure, the higher the rate of responding, the briefer the duration of the stimulus presentation and the lower the frequency of shock delivery. The effects of several schedule parameters were studied to determine whether the maintenance of responding was dependent on an inverse relation between response rate and shock frequency. Shock rate and shock frequency were made independent of response rate by decreasing the value of t to 0.5 second and delivering shock only during the first presentation of the stimulus after a fixed time, including stimulus and timeout durations, had elapsed since the previous shock. The experiments showed that shock frequency and response rate are inversely related when t is of relatively long duration compared to the value of the fixed-ratio parameter, but that a decrease in shock rate or frequency due to a high rate of responding is not necessary for the maintenance of responding under a fixed-ratio schedule of stimulus termination.
Amphiphilic, tri-block copolymers provide potent membrane-targeted neuroprotection

SPECIFIC AIMSThe aim of our study was to investigate the potential neuroprotective effects of Poloxamer 188 (P188), one of a class of amphiphilic tri-block copolymers, on neuronal survival after st...
Epsilon nets and union complexity

We consider the following combinatorial problem: given a set of n objects (for example, disks in the plane, triangles), and an integer L ≥ 1, what is the size of the smallest subset of these n objects that covers all points that are in at least L of the objects? This is the classic question about the size of an L/n-net for these objects. It is well known that for fairly general classes of geometric objects the size of an L/n-net is O(n/L log n/L). There are some instances where this general bound can be improved, and this improvement is usually due to bounds on the combinatorial complexity (size) of the boundary of the union of these objects. Thus, the boundary of the union of m disks has size O(m), and this translates to an O(n/L) bound on the size of an L/n-net for disks. For m fat triangles, the size of the union boundary is O(m log log m), and this yields L/n-nets of size O(n/L log log n/L). Improved nets directly translate into an upper bound on the ratio between the optimal integral solution and the optimal fractional solution for the corresponding geometric set cover problem. Thus, for covering k points by disks, this ratio is O(1); and for covering k points by fat triangles, this ratio is O(log log k). This connection to approximation algorithms for geometric set cover is a major motivation for attempting to improve bounds on nets. Our main result is an argument that in some cases yields nets that are smaller than those previously obtained from the size of the union boundary. Thus for fat triangles, for instance, we obtain nets of size O(n/L log log log n). We use this to obtain a randomized polynomial time algorithm that gives an O(log log log k)-approximation for the problem of covering k points by the smallest subset of a given set of triangles.
Left-right asymmetry: lessons from Cancún

The satellite symposium on ‘Making and breaking the left-right axis: implications of laterality in development and disease’ was held in June 2013 in conjunction with the 17th International Society for Developmental Biology meeting in Cancun, Mexico. As we summarize here, leaders in the field gathered at the symposium to discuss recent advances in understanding how left-right asymmetry is generated and utilized across the animal kingdom.
Generalized Method of Analysis of Simultaneous Faults in Electric Power System

This paper describes two methods to analyze any combination of simultaneous balanced and unbalanced faults in a power system. The first method can be used to calculate the symmetrical components and phase components for any bus voltage and branch current of a faulted power system. Using the second method, an equivalent network connected to the positive sequence network can be obtained.
Actions of Parathyroid Hormone on Isolated Renal Tubules

Studies of the action of PTH on transport events in specific segments of the rabbit nephron correlate accurately with observations on the presence or absence of PTH-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity. Uncertainties remain, however, as to whether PTH via cyclic AMP affects the transport of phosphate or of calcium directly or whether these effects are secondary events. In the proximal tubule, the most striking effect of PTH is the inhibition of bicarbonate transport. The response of phosphate transport is modified by the dietary intake of phosphate. In the cortical ascending limb, PTH may stimulate calcium absorption directly or alter membrane permeability and the voltage-dependent transfer of calcium. At this point, we recognize no single transport event that underlies the common response of all sensitive segments in terms of increased cyclic AMP.
Comment on Letter “On the excitation of the Earth's polar motion”

The use of modern global meteorological data in the investigation of the extent to which atmospheric processes contribute to the observed short-term and other changes in polar motion (and length of the day) and the determination, by subtraction, of changes in the Earth's rotation of non-meteorological origin was initiated several years ago. It is unfortunate that Chao (1985), in a confused article reviewing some of that work, has succeeded in misrepresenting not only its scope and objectives but also the methods used, principal findings and other aspects, thereby confusing the recent literature on fluctuations of the Earth's rotation.
Differential Levels of Glutamate Dehydrogenase 1 (GLUD1) in Balb/c and C57BL/6 Mice and the Effects of Overexpression of the Glud1 Gene on Glutamate Release in Striatum:

We have previously shown that overexpression of the Glud1 (glutamate dehydrogenase 1) gene in neurons of C57BL/6 mice results in increased depolarization-induced glutamate release that eventually leads to selective neuronal injury and cell loss by 12 months of age. However, it is known that isogenic lines of Tg (transgenic) mice produced through back-crossing with one strain may differ in their phenotypic characteristics from those produced using another inbred mouse strain. Therefore, we decided to introduce the Glud1 transgene into the Balb/c strain that has endogenously lower levels of GLUD1 (glutamate dehydrogenase 1) enzyme activity in the brain as compared with C57BL/6. Using an enzyme-based MEA (microelectrode array) that is selective for measuring glutamate in vivo, we measured depolarization-induced glutamate release. Within a discrete layer of the striatum, glutamate release was significantly increased in Balb/c Tg mice compared with wt (wild-type) littermates. Furthermore, Balb/c mice released approx. 50-60% of the amount of glutamate compared with C57BL/6 mice. This is similar to the lower levels of endogenous GLUD1 protein in Balb/c compared with C57BL/6 mice. The development of these Glud1-overexpressing mice may allow for the exploration of key molecular events produced by chronic exposure of neurons to moderate, transient increases in glutamate release, a process hypothesized to occur in neurodegenerative disorders.
ANTI-EGG ALBUMIN ANTIBODY IN THE HORSE

The reaction between three times recrystallized egg albumin and its antibody in the horse has been studied. The reaction exhibits a behavior typical of the Ramon diphtheria flocculation reaction.
Optimum Robot Control for 3D Virtual Fixture in Constrained ENT Surgery

In ENT surgery, the operating volume is very limited. This is especially true in sinus surgery, when the instrument passes through the sinus cavity to reach the pathological area. The sinus bones impose geometric constraints on the work volume. During the surgery, the surgeon needs to take care of the motion of the instrument tip to accomplish some delicate procedure; meanwhile he/she needs to avoid hitting anatomic constraints. In this paper, we present a method to assist the path following task in a constrained area. We project instrument tip motion, boundary information on the joint displacement via robot kinematics, and then use a constrained quadratic optimization algorithm to compute the optimal set of corresponding joint displacements. In the preliminary study, we show that the optimization constrained control can avoid collision with geometric constraints on the work volume, while keeping the precision of the tool motion.
Connections: using context to enhance file search

Connections is a file system search tool that combines traditional content-based search with context information gathered from user activity. By tracing file system calls, Connections can identify temporal relationships between files and use them to expand and reorder traditional content search results. Doing so improves both recall (reducing false-positives) and precision (reducing false-negatives). For example, Connections improves the average recall (from 13% to 22%) and precision (from 23% to 29%) on the first ten results. When averaged across all recall levels, Connections improves precision from 17% to 28%. Connections provides these benefits with only modest increases in average query time (2 seconds), indexing time (23 seconds daily), and index size(under 1% of the user's data set).
A local authentication control scheme based on AAA architecture in wireless networks

In this paper, we propose a novel control scheme to locally authorize inter-domain roaming users for efficient authentication in wireless networks, which is based on authentication, authorization, accounting (AAA) architecture. We develop a detailed procedure to establish local security associations (SAs) for authentication and determine a threshold to trigger the proposed scheme. By considering the traffic and mobility patterns of a mobile user (MU), as well as the number of hops between the MU and its home AAA server, we demonstrate that the performance of the proposed scheme outperforms DIAMETER protocol with respect to authentication latency and cost for macro-mobility users with a high volume of authentication requests.
Enacting classroom inquiry: Theorizing teachers' conceptions of science teaching

Translating written curricular materials into rich, complex, learning environ- mentsisanundertheorizedareainscienceeducation.Thisstudyexaminestwocriticalcases of teachers enacting a technology-rich curriculum focused on the development of complex reasoning around biodiversity for fifth graders. Two elements emerged that significantly impact teacher enactment—their conceptions of authenticity (authentic learning/authentic science) and their view of science (descriptive/inferential). The results suggest that dis- entangling the common conflation of these two elements supports a broader definition of inquiry science teaching that is more sensitive to context and individual teacher enactment.
Improved motor recovery after stroke and massive cortical reorganization following Constraint-Induced Movement therapy

Constraint-Induced Movement therapy (CI therapy) has been demonstrated to improve motor function and upper extremity (UE) use of persons with hemiparesis resulting from chronic stroke through two separate but linked mechanisms, overcoming learned nonuse, and facilitating use-dependent cortical reorganization. The principles of CI therapy and adaptations of the basic techniques have been used successfully with diagnostic categories other than stroke that involve disability greater than what is warranted by the organic condition of the individual. Because neuroimaging and transcranial magnetic stimulation studies indicate that many of these conditions involve abnormalities of cortical organization, CI therapy might therefore be viewed as a technique that achieves clinical efficacy by correcting disorders of brain plasticity. CI therapy constitutes a new approach to neurorehabilitation and, with continued investigation, elaboration, and application to clinical settings, it seems to hold considerable promise.
Using social network theory to elucidate the impact of diversity on the social processes in design

Engineering design is understood to be a social activity, and requires collaboration and negotiation with diverse groups of people. Group communication literature suggests that team member interactions and communication have a major impact on a team's decision-making abilities. Furthermore, these interactions and decision-making processes are impacted by the diversity makeup of the team. In this study, we examine the ways in which communication and social processes relate to ethical issues and decisions, which we envision as interwoven throughout the design process and arise on a day-to-day basis in engineering design. Thus, this work-in-progress paper describes preliminary results about how diversity and ethics interact within engineering design contexts through the use of social network analysis.
O queijo e os vermes: o cosmo de um historiador do século XX

O queijo e os vermes: o cosmo de um historiador do seculo XX foi originalmente publicado em History & Criticism, de 1985, coletânea de ensaios de Dominick LaCapra. Abertamente polemico, realiza uma leitura cerrada de um texto classico da historiografia do seculo XX, O queijo e os vermes (1976), de Carlo Ginzburg, buscando, por ai, explicitar e problematizar certas tendencias, entao - e ainda -, predominantes na profissao historica. O proposito de LaCapra e chamar a atencao dos historiadores para a necessidade de refletir sobre sua pratica e desenvolver modos de interpretacao mais criticos e autocriticos, num dialogo mais proximo com a critica literaria e a filosofia contemporânea. Ao traduzi-lo para o portugues, visamos contribuir para tornar a obra de LaCapra mais disseminada entre o publico academico brasileiro.
Chlamydia pneumoniae: Prospects and Predictions for an Emerging Pathogen

Chlamydial diseases have long been recognized as a significant cause of morbidity in humans. Although acute disease is rarely fatal, chronic infections with their associated sequelae have an enormous impact both on the economy and on the quality of life of those who suffer from these conditions. For Chlamydia trachomatis, acute infections include conjunctivitis and the sexually transmitted diseases; chronic infections can lead to trachoma, tubal factor infertility, pelvic inflammatorydisease, and reactive arthritis. The identification and speciation of Chlamydia pneumoniae about 15 years ago and the recognition that a large percentage of the world’s population has been exposed to this organism have led many investigators to inquire into certain diseases with unknown etiology, some of which were not thought to have an infectious component. For Chlamydia pneumoniae, acute infections are localized to the airways, with pneumonia and bronchitis being the most common disease conditions. Chronic sequelae, developing from acute or asymptomatic infections, cannot be definitively attributed to C. pneumoniae at this time, although evidence is accumulating to suggest that C. pneumoniae infection may also lead to debilitating (asthma) and even fatal (heart disease) conditions. Table I shows acute diseases caused by C. pneumoniae and the chronic diseases with which it has been associated. Possible pathological associations are also listed. C. pneumoniae, like other members of the genus, has the characteristic biphasic life cycle between the infectious, metabolically inert elementary body (EB) and the noninfectious, metabolically active reticulate body (RB). EBs are
Longitudinal Dispersion in Open Channels

The effects of cross-sectional geometry and velocity distribution on the dispersion process in straight, uniform open channels with large width-to-depth ratio are investigated. The method of investigation follows Taylor’s approach and thus the results apply after the elapse of an initial period during which a constant dispersion coefficient has developed. The results of the analysis show that under the assumed conditions the longitudinal dispersion coefficient can be described by the general expresion \IK\N = \ICRu\N\D*\N; in which \IR\N = the hydraulic radius, \Iu\N\D*\N = the shear velocity, and \IC\N = a factor. The variation of \IC\N with basic geometric and dynamic parameters is presented in the form of equations and diagrams for two velocity profiles (logarithmic and power law), and two cross-sectional shaped (triangular and circular arc). It is found that \IC\N varies significantly with cross-sectional shape, width-to-hydraulic radius ratio, and the Reynolds number. The calculated values of \IC\N and its pattern of variation are compared to available data for open channels with irregular cross section.
Water Supply in Selected Mega Cities of Asia

Adequate and reliable sources of water supply are essential for the economic progress of urban and regional centers. In developed countries like the United States the growth of cities such as Phoenix in Arizona, Las Vegas in Nevada and the cities of California may eventually be limited by the lack of adequate water supply. The harsh politics of water supply control and development in western United States has recently been addressed by the book, Cadillac Desert (Reisner, 1986). The developing countries of Asia, containing the world’s largest numbers of people, also lack adequate supplies of water. They are primarily dependent on natural sources of water and thus suffer from strong seasonality and insufficiency of rainfall. Thus Asian cities are faced with increasing water supply and water quality problems. These issues, critical to the preservation of health and development of modern economies, have to be addressed and taken care of by planners at all levels — local, regional, national, or international.
I Spy Something Useful: The Short Life and Senseless Death of Louisiana Senate Bill 250

During the 2015 Louisiana Regular Legislative Session, Senate Bill Number 250 was introduced. Senate Bill 250 sought to create a Statewide Motor Vehicle Theft and Uninsured Motorist Identification Program. The bill sought to implement a pilot program using automatic-license-plate-recognition systems (ALPR) for the purpose of identifying stolen vehicles and uninsured motorists, and assisting with investigations concerning felony offenses. Although Senate Bill 250 was successfully passed in the house and the senate, a gubernatorial veto prevented the bill from becoming law. In a veto letter, then-Governor, Bobby Jindal said that ALPR technology presents problems concerning privacy. He also reasoned that the systems are vulnerable to misuse and infiltration. In reviewing federal cases, the author learned courts do not consider the use of ALPR technology a violation of the Fourth Amendment. Furthermore, Louisiana courts have held law enforcement’s use of information obtained from a license plate does not violate Article, 1 Section 5 of the Louisiana Constitution. With respect to the potential for misuse, Senate Bill 250 included provisions that would make it a criminal offense for any user to misappropriate information acquired through use of the system. Additionally, strict standards were included in Senate Bill 250 requiring the main ALPR systems to be stored in a physically secure location in accordance with federal security standards. Few law enforcement agencies in Louisiana currently use ALPR systems. They have done so in a responsible manner. The agencies using ALPR technology in Louisiana are demonstrating ALPR technology is having a positive impact in reducing crime, and the need for expansion seemed apparent. Senate Bill 250 would have simply expanded the use of ALPR technology in Louisiana and would have established legislative guidelines in doing so. The author looked to other states currently using ALPR technology and documented specific instances where the technology is proving to be successful in keeping society safe. The author concluded using ALPR technology does not violate Fourth Amendment rights nor does it infringe upon privacy rights articulated in Louisiana’s constitution. Additionally, proven benefits of using this technology greatly outweigh the mere potential for misuse and system vulnerability.
Ultrasound-guided aspiration of wrist ganglions: a follow-up survey of patient satisfaction and outcomes:

BackgroundGanglion cysts are one of the most frequently occurring masses of the wrist, often causing pain and interfering with daily activity. Ultrasound (US)-guided aspiration is a treatment for g...
Testosterone and Sexual Function

Testosterone and sexual function are related. Current evidence suggests that testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) may improve sexual dysfunction. Sexual dysfunction in men who are hypogonadal, mixed, or eugonadal have all been examined through numerous studies. The most recent large analysis showed an overall improvement in sexual function outcomes in men treated with TRT. This improvement is difficult to measure and seems to differ based on the baseline hormonal status of the patient at the beginning of treatment.
The Influence of Dietary Furazolidone on Egg Production, Hatchability, Fertility, and Feed Efficiency of Laying and Breeding Hens

ABSTRACT THE feeding of low levels of chemicals which improve growth rate in broilers and in some cases the rate of reproduction of the mature fowl has become a common practice with poultrymen. Typical of these chemicals are antibiotics and arsenicals. The action of these substances is believed to be due to their effect on unrecognized species of undesirable microorganisms present in poultry environments (Jukes and Williams, 1953). Another substance having antimicrobial properties is furazolidone, chemically known as N-(5-nitro-2-furfurlyidene)-3-amino-2-oxazolidone, a new member of the nitrofuran series of antibacterial compounds. Considerable evidence concerning the chick growth promoting properties of furazolidone has been published. Libby and Schaible (1955) found that during the early growth of chicks, growth rate and efficiency of feed utilization were slightly improved by addition of approximately 7.5 grams of this compound per ton of feed. These workers further concluded that the greatest response was obtained when it was used . . .
Database-aided distributed channel assignment in spectrum sharing

Databases have been considered in the context of spectrum sharing systems to collect information on spectrum usage by primary users and to provide information on spectrum opportunities to secondary users. We develop a database-aided distributed channel assignment protocol (CAP) for secondary access control in a spectrum sharing system. Based upon a slotted, multichannel random access system model, we describe several secondary CAPs with varying levels of information from the database. We analyze handshake performance within a single slot based upon a given number of secondary users and a limited number of available channels, and we study the system transient performance for reaching steady state. System throughput and delay are also derived based on the number of secondary users and available channels. Finally, we propose dynamic channelization within the system bandwidth based upon the number of secondary users to maximize throughput.
Genomic and Phylogenetic Analysis of the Complete Plastid Genome of the California Endemic Seaweed Wildemania schizophylla (Bangiaceae)

Abstract Recent genetic studies of the Bangiales (Rhodophyta) led to the resurrection of the marine red algal genus Wildemania De Toni. To gain a better understanding of the phylogenetic history of this genus and its plastid genome structure, the holotype specimen of Wildemania schizophylla (Hollenberg) S. C. Lindstrom was analyzed using next generation sequencing technology. The plastid genome of W. schizophylla is 193,008 bp in length and contains 249 genes, including 47 ribosomal, 34 tRNA, 29 photosystem, 27 open reading frames, 25 hypothetical proteins, 10 phycobiliprotein, 8 ATP synthase, and 8 cytochrome b/f complex genes. The plastid genome shows similar organization and content to other Bangiaceae, except that it lacks the typical 16S and 23S ribosomal RNA repeat. Phylogenetic analysis of the W. schizophylla plastid genome against other Bangiaceae places W. schizophylla in a robustly supported position, intermediate between Porphyra C. Agardh and Pyropia J. Agardh. These data support the recent re...
An Examination of Practical Granger Causality Inference.

Learning temporal causal structures among multiple time series is one of the major tasks in mining time series data. Granger causality is one of the most popular techniques in uncovering the temporal dependencies among time series; however it faces two main challenges: (i) the spurious effect of unobserved time series and (ii) the computational challenges in high dimensional settings. In this paper, we utilize the confounder path delays to find a subset of time series that via conditioning on them we are able to cancel out the spurious confounder effects. After study of consistency of different Granger causality techniques, we propose Copula-Granger and show that while it is consistent in high dimensions, it can efficiently capture non-linearity in the data. Extensive experiments on a synthetic and a social networking dataset confirm our theoretical results.
Warm Season Dry Spells in the Central and Eastern United States: Diverging Skill in Climate Model Representation

AbstractWarm season dry spells over the central and eastern United States are classified into three canonical types via a hierarchical cluster analysis for the period 1950–2005. Four CMIP5 models exhibit diverging skill in representing the observed behavior, ranging from southern Great Plains dry spells that are reasonably simulated by all four models to southeastern U.S. dry spells that are only accurately captured by one model. A model’s skill in representing a particular dry spell cluster is positively correlated with the model’s ability to simulate the large-scale meteorological patterns (LMPs) accompanying the dry spell. The interannual variability and overall observed decreasing trend in dry spell days are represented with varying degrees of accuracy by the four models. The results 1) highlight existing shortcomings in the climate model representation of regional dry spells and 2) illustrate the importance of properly simulating the observed spectrum of LMPs in minimizing these shortcomings.
Electrophysiological observations of acute His bundle injury during permanent His bundle pacing.

Abstract Background Permanent His bundle pacing (HBP) is a physiological alternative to right ventricular pacing (RVP). Catheter manipulation during HBP can cause trauma to the His bundle during implantation. We sought to determine acute and long-term incidence of His bundle (HB) injury with HBP. Methods Patients undergoing permanent HBP at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center from 2006 to 2014 formed the study group. Patients with pre-existing His-Purkinje disease (HPD) were excluded from the study. Any development of new bundle branch block (BBB) or AV block (B) during acute HBP lead-induced block was recorded. Resolution of AVB and/or BBB was documented. Results HBP was attempted in 450 patients. In 358 patients without HPD, 28 (7.8%) developed acute HB injury in the form of complete AVB (4, 1.1%), RBBB (21, 5.9%) or LBBB (3, 0.8%) during HBP lead placement. In all 7 patients with AVB or LBBB, conduction completely recovered. The HB electrogram from the lead displayed injury current in all 7 patients. Lead-induced RBBB resolved in 12 of 21 patients and persisted in 9 (2.5%) patients. Pacing from the HBP lead resulted in correction of acute conduction block in 27 of 28 patients and 8 of 9 patients with chronic RBBB. None of the patients with transient conduction block developed new conduction disease during follow-up of 21 ± 19 months. Conclusions Despite acute trauma to HB in 7.8% of patients undergoing permanent HBP, complete resolution of conduction block occurred in 19 of 28 patients (68%). RBBB persisted in 9 patients (32%) but mostly normalized with HBP.
Evaluation of impact of an external breast shield (FlexiShield) in electronic brachytherapy for breast IORT: A phantom study.

Abstract Purpose To investigate Axxent (iCAD, Inc., San Jose, CA) electronic brachytherapy balloon deformation and its dosimetric impact because of an external flexible shield (FlexiShield [FS]; iCAD, Inc.). Methods and Materials Prostheses breast tissue phantom overlaid three spherical balloon applicators to simulate three clinical scenarios depending on minimum skin-to-balloon surface spacing (SS): balloon with SS of 2 cm, 1 cm, and balloon with 1 cm SS and touching the chest wall. Two sets of megavoltage CT (MVCT) scans were obtained with or without FS for 15 different sizes of balloons. For 45 pairs of MVCT scans, balloon deformation was measured in superior–inferior (d SI ) dimension on coronal and sagittal planes and anterior–posterior (d AP ) and lateral (d LAT ) dimensions on the equatorial plane of balloon. SS was also compared. A treatment plan was made on each MVCT scan. Doses at four balloon surface points and skin were compared. Conformity index value was also compared to evaluate three-dimensional dose distribution. Clinically, 20 Gy was prescribed to the surface of balloon. Results Balloon deformation was observed with compression in SI and AP dimensions and expansion in lateral dimension. Average SI compression was 0.5 mm. Average d Lat - d AP was 2.4 mm, which resulted in elevated point doses at AP dimension by 10.8% of prescribed dose and reduced point doses at lateral dimension by 4.6%. FS decreased SS by 1.8 mm, increasing skin dose by 1.2 Gy, on average. Conformity index value was decreased from 0.922 to 0.908, on average. Conclusions This phantom study demonstrates that use of skin shielding during breast intraoperative radiation therapy can cause balloon deformation and SS reduction, resulting in dosimetric changes that are disregarded in current practice.