cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Combined hypertrophic subaortic stenosis and calcific aortic valvular stenosis

A well documented case of combined hypertrophic subaortic stenosis and calcific aortic stenosis is reported. Detection of multilevel involvement in cases of left ventricular outflow obstruction requires a high index of suspicion and precise hemodynamic and angiographic documentation. Careful analysis of the total data base is necessary for proper management of the patient. The pathogenesis of this combined lesion is unclear: Asymmetrical septal hypertrophy may occur as a consequence of the valvular stenosis, or it may be that abnormal leaflet motion in patients with hypertrophic obstruction produces leaflet thickening, calcification, deformity and stenosis.
Rotenone inhibition of tubulin self-assembly

Abstract Rotenone effectively inhibits the in vitro formation of microtubules from tubulin containing or lacking microtubules-associated proteins. In both cases a concentration of rotenone equal to that of tubulin present completely blocks assembly. The inhibition can be reversed by the addition of dimethylsulfoxide or by removing rotenone with charcoal.
A comparison and correction of light intensity loggers to photosynthetically active radiation sensors

Accurate light measurements are important in the analysis of photosynthetic systems. Many commercial instruments are available to determine light; however, the comparison of light estimates between studies is difficult due to the differences in sensor types and their calibrations. The measurement of underwater irradiance is also complicated by the scattering and attenuation of light due to interactions with particulates, molecules, and the bottom. Here, three sensor types are compared to evaluate the calibration of light intensity loggers to estimate photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). We present a simple calibration of light intensity loggers that agree within 3.8% to factory-calibrated scalar PAR sensors under a wide range of environmental conditions. Under the same range of conditions, two identical factory-calibrated PAR sensors showed a similar difference of 3.7%. The light intensity loggers were calibrated to a high-quality PAR sensor using an exponential fit (r2 = 0.983) that accounts for differences in sensor types with respect to the angle of incoming light, scattering, and attenuation. The light loggers are small, robust, and simple to operate and install, and thus well-suited for typical subsurface research. They are also useful for small-scale measurements, when broad spatial coverage is needed, or in research requiring multiple sensors. Many studies have used these simple light intensity sensors to estimate PAR, yet their limitations and advantages in mimicking PAR have not been well defined previously. We present these small and user-friendly loggers as an excellent alternative to more sophisticated scalar PAR sensors.
When There Are Only Two Who Can Tango: Ethical Concerns at the Juncture of Highly Novel Interventions and Precisely Targeted Research Populations

Among the many instructive features of the case study about the preventive trial for autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease is how it illustrates the impact of new technologies on research. Advance...
Small, anionic, and charge-neutralizing propeptide fragments of zymogens are antimicrobial

Some inactive precursor proteins, or zymogens, contain small, amino terminus, homopolymeric regions of Asp that neutralize the cationic charge of the active protein during synthesis. After posttranslational cleavage, the anionic propeptide fragment may exhibit antimicrobial activity. To demonstrate this, ovine trypsinogen activation peptide, and frog (Xenopus laevis) PYL activation peptide, both containing homopolymeric regions of Asp, were synthesized and tested against previously described surfactant-associated anionic peptide. Peptides inhibited the growth of both gram-negative (MIC, 0.08 to 3.00 mM) and gram-positive (MIC, 0.94 to 2.67 mM) bacteria. Small, anionic, and charge-neutralizing propeptide fragments of zymogens form a new class of host-derived antimicrobial peptides important in innate defense.
A Self-Managing Wide-Area Data Streaming Service using Model-based Online Control

Efficient and robust data streaming services are a critical requirement of emerging Grid applications, which are based on seamless interactions and coupling between geographically distributed application components. Furthermore the dynamism of Grid environments and applications requires that these services be able to continually manage and optimize their operation based on system state and application requirements. This paper presents a design and implementation of such a self-managing data-streaming service based on online control strategies. A Grid-based fusion workflow scenario is used to evaluate the service and demonstrate its feasibility and performance.
Role of the Rho pathway in regulating valvular interstitial cell phenotype and nodule formation

The differentiation of valvular interstitial cells (VICs) to a myofibroblastic or osteoblast-like phenotype is commonly found in calcific valvular stenosis, although the molecular-level mechanisms of this process remain poorly understood. Due to the role of the Rho pathway in various vascular diseases and in the expression of a myofibroblast phenotype, the present study was inspired by the hypothesis that Rho activation is involved in regulating cellular processes related to valve calcification. It was found that increased RhoA and Rho kinase (ROCK) activity was associated with increased nodule formation in VIC cultures in vitro, and intentional induction of RhoA activity led to a further increase in nodules and expression of α-smooth muscle actin. VICs treated with ROCK inhibitors were also examined for nodule formation, proliferation, apoptosis, and expression of myofibroblastic or osteoblastic markers. ROCK inhibition dramatically reduced myofibroblast-regulated nodule formation in VIC cultures, as evidenced by a decrease in nodule number, total nodule area, α-smooth muscle actin-positive stress fibers, apoptosis, and gene expression of myofibroblast-related phenotypic markers. Meanwhile, ROCK inhibition was less effective at reducing nodule formation associated with osteogenic activity. In fact, ROCK inhibition increased the expression of alkaline phosphatase and effected only a modest decrease in nodule number when applied to VIC cultures with higher osteogenic activity. Thus, the Rho pathway possesses a complex role in regulating the VIC phenotype and nodule formation, and it is hoped that further elucidation of these molecular-level events will lead to an improved understanding of valvular disease and identification of potential treatments.
NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF TURBULENT JETS

In this study, plane and circular turbulent non-buoyant jets are simulated numerically using a three- dimensional computational model. The aim of the study is to evaluate the accuracy of turbulent closure schemes employed in three-dimensional models. In particular, standard k−e and renormalized group k−e schemes with standard coefficients are evaluated. The modeled jets are deeply submerged, that is the impact of free surface and solid boundaries on jets are eliminated. The accuracy of the turbulent schemes is assessed by analyzing the decay of centerline velocity, jet growth rates, similarity of longitudinal and vertical velocity profiles, and turbulent kinetic energy profiles. The results from the two turbulent closure schemes are compared with accepted experimental and theoretical studies to determine their accuracy. It is found that the k−e scheme with standard coefficient performs equally well and in some cases better than the renormalized group k−e scheme. Finally, the model is applied to analyze flow pattern in the Sampit River, South Caroline, USA, resulting from stormwater discharge in a recreational area. Various inlet designs are investigated and box inlet is found to provide a practical means of localizing high surface currents.
Intraoperative epicardial sonography as a useful adjunct to repair of coronary artery dissection.

CASE REPORTA 61-year-old man with a past medical history of systemic hyper-tension presented with a 1-month history of exertional chest pain andshortness of breath. A cardiac nuclear stress test showed exercise-induced anteroseptal, apical, and inferoposterior ischemia with a leftventricular ejection fraction of 36%. Coronary arteriography then wasperformed showing triple-vessel coronary artery disease. There werechronic total occlusions of the right coronary artery and the mid-LAD.The obtuse marginal arteries 1 and 2 also were found to have 50% to60% stenosis. No obvious collaterals were shown on the coronaryangiogram. The patient initially refused coronary artery bypass graft(CABG) surgery.The LAD lesion was crossed with a guidewire, but attempts atangioplasty resulted in an iatrogenic LAD dissection (Fig 1). Theprocedure was aborted, and the patient was referred for urgent surgery.He remained hemodynamically stable. Intraoperatively, the transesoph-ageal echocardiogram (TEE) showed 1 mitral regurgitation and in-ferior septal hypokinesis. Upon inspection of the epicardial surface, themidportionoftheLADhadabluishdiscoloration.AnL15-7ioepiaorticprobe (Phillips Medical, Andover, MA) was placed into a sterile sheathand used to evaluate the vessel. A dissection and intramural hematomawere visualized originating in the midportion of the LAD with no ﬂowin the false lumen (Figs 2 and 3). The LAD was stabilized and opened(Fig 4). The layers of the wall at the site of the arteriotomy werereapproximated to eliminate the false lumen. A left internal mammaryartery to LAD anastomosis then was constructed. Repeat ultrasoundevaluation showed excellent laminar ﬂow through the anastomosis andin the distal LAD (Fig 5). The right internal mammary artery then wasanastomosed to the right coronary artery, and vein grafts were placedto the 2 obtuse marginal arteries. The immediate postprocedure TEEshowed no signiﬁcant change. The patient remained hemodynamicallystable with no postoperative electrocardiographic or enzymatic changesand had an uneventful postoperative recovery. He remains asymptom-atic 3 years after surgery.DISCUSSION
The specialization of function: cognitive and neural perspectives.

A unifying theme that cuts across all research areas and techniques in the cognitive and brain sciences is whether there is specialization of function at levels of processing that are “abstracted away” from sensory inputs and motor outputs. Any theory that articulates claims about specialization of function in the mind/brain confronts the following types of interrelated questions, each of which carries with it certain theoretical commitments. What methods are appropriate for decomposing complex cognitive and neural processes into their constituent parts? How do cognitive processes map onto neural processes, and at what resolution are they related? What types of conclusions can be drawn about the structure of mind from dissociations observed at the neural level, and vice versa? The contributions that form this Special Issue of Cognitive Neuropsychology represent recent reflections on these and other issues from leading researchers in different areas of the cognitive and brain sciences.
Accelerating detailed simulations of an HVDC system based on modular multilevel converters in a multi-core environment

Recently, a modular multilevel converter (MMC) technology was introduced suitable to extend the application of voltage source converters to high power HVDC systems. The MMC technology is based on a modular topology which builds on elemental constituent parts called submodules (SMs). This modularity enables reduced switching losses and increased power quality. Concomitantly with the development and adoption of the MMC technology, there is an increasing need for simulation models capturing the behavior of the technology at different levels of granularity. Detailed models able to reproduce the dynamics of the SMs are essential to study voltage balancing algorithms which ensure stable operation of the converters. However, the large number of semiconductor switches utilized in this technology makes detailed models computationally burdensome. In this paper, the potential of parallel computing is explored by making use of a multi-core model implementation of an MMC-based HVDC system in the PSCAD/EMTDC environment. As demonstrated through different test cases, this approach achieves reduced computation times without resorting to approximated models.
The structure of the 5' terminal cap of the respiratory syncytial virus mRNA.

The 5′ terminal cap structure of the mRNAs of human respiratory syncytial virus synthesized in vitro in the presence of S-adenosyl-l-methionine consists of a 7-methyl guanosine linked to an unmethylated guanosine through a 5′-5′ pyrophosphate linkage formed by using the α and β phosphates of GTP. The complete cap structure is m7G (5′)ppp(5′)Gp… which is devoid of ribose 2′-O-methylation. Capping, including methylation, is coupled to transcription. These results constitute the first report of a pneumoviral mRNA cap structure.
Shape abstraction tools for modeling complex objects

Shape is a very important way of perceiving and reasoning about the world. The authors introduce some considerations about shape representation and abstraction tools and their interaction with analysis and synthesis processes. A generic architecture for shape-based modelling is also outlined. The concepts discussed in the first part of the article are also exemplified through the description of some significant applications developed at the Istituto per la Matematica Applicata.
Systematic studies of modified vocalization: the effect of speech rate on speech production measures during metronome‐paced speech in persons who stutter

Background: Metronome-paced speech results in the elimination, or substantial reduction, of stuttering moments. The cause of fluency during this fluency-inducing condition is unknown. Several investigations have reported changes in speech pattern characteristics from a control condition to a metronome-paced speech condition, but failure to control speech rate between conditions limits our ability to determine if the changes were necessary for fluency. Aims: This study examined the effect of speech rate on several speech production variables during one-syllableper-beat metronomic speech in order to determine changes that may be important for fluency during this fluency-inducing condition. Methods & Procedures: Thirteen persons who stutter (PWS), aged 18‐62 years, completed a series of speaking tasks. Several speech production variables were compared between conditions produced at different metronome beat rates, and between a control condition and a metronome-paced speech condition produced at a rate equal to the control condition. Outcomes & Results: Vowel duration, voice onset time, pressure rise time and phonated intervals were significantly impacted by metronome beat rate. Voice onset time and the percentage of short (30‐100 ms) phonated intervals significantly decreased from the control condition to the equivalent rate metronome-paced speech condition. Conclusions & Implications: A reduction in the percentage of short phonated intervals may be important for fluency during syllable-based metronome-paced speech for PWS. Future studies should continue examining the necessity of this reduction. In addition, speech rate must be controlled in future fluency-inducing condition studies, including neuroimaging investigations, in order for this research to make a substantial contribution to finding the fluency-inducing mechanism of fluency-inducing conditions.
Observation of EIT-like effect in a single high-Q microcavity

We study the coupling between a fiber-taper and two whispering-gallery modes simultaneously excited in a single PDMS-coated silica microtoroid theoretically and experimentally. The transmission spectrum of the fiber coupled two-mode resonator shows a sharp electromagnetically-induced-transparency-like window.
Electrical Isolation of the Superior Vena Cava: An Adjunctive Strategy to Pulmonary Vein Antrum Isolation Improving the Outcome of AF Ablation

PV isolation at the antrum (PVAI) has improved safety and efficacy of ablation procedures for atrial fibrillation (AF). AF triggers from the superior vena cava (SVC) may compromise the outcome of PVAI. Purpose: We evaluated the (1) incidence of SVC triggers, (2) feasibility of empiric SVC electrical isolation (SVCI) as an adjunct to PVAI, and (3) SVCI safety. Methods and Results: Of 190 patients (group I), 24 (12%) showed SVC triggers. Following PVAI, seven patients had AT originating from the SVC and three had AF. After SVCI, all 24 patients were arrhythmia-free 450 ± 180 days post procedure. In the subsequent 217 patients (group II), empirical SVCI was performed following PVAI. Sixty-six of all 407 patients (16%) experienced recurrence of AF. A repeat procedure in 25 of the 66 patients showed that five (20%) had AF recurrence initiated by SVC triggers, of whom four were among group I patients (4/190; 2%) and one was from group II (1/217; 0.4%), (P < 0.05). Transient diaphragmatic paralysis can be avoided by pacing at the lateral aspect of the SVC using high output (30 mA). There was no SVC stenosis on CT scans before or 3 months after the procedure. There was no sinus node injury. Conclusions: The SVC harbors the majority of non-PV triggers of AF. SVCI is feasible, safe, and may be considered as an adjunctive strategy to PVAI for ablation of AF. The long-term favorable outcome of this hybrid approach remains to be evaluated in a larger series of patients.
III. THE EFFECTS OF VARIOUS TREATMENTS UPON THE AGING OF A CERAMIC BODY

A preliminary study of the effects of various substances upon the aging of a ceramic body in the sterile and in the natural states is presented. The influence of each treatment on the growth of microorganisms is noted. In the case of tannic acid, the effect upon the physical properties of the body in the absence of microbial activity was especially pronounced. There is presented what is believed to be the first instance of the measurement of oxidation-reduction potential in a ceramic material. Oxidation-reduction potential is suggested as an index to microbiological activity in aging clay.
Mass transfer within oscillating liquid droplets

All existing relations describing mass transfer within oscillating droplets were critically compared with experimental data in which resistance to transfer is predominantly inside the droplet. Several new relations are also developed to estimate oscillating droplet extraction efficiencies, one of which is recommended in view of its theoretical appeal, accuracy, and ease of application. The most accurate relation currently available is an empirical expression developed by Skelland and Wellek.
Experimental Measurements of Material Damping in Free Fall with Tunable Excitation

An experimental method of measuring material damping of a specimen in free fall has been developed. An initially simply-supported test specimen was simultaneously excited and lofted into free fall with a spring-mass launcher. The launcher could be tuned to produce varying initial stress amplitude levels in the specimens. Damping information was obtained from the transient response of the specimens while in free fall in a vacuum. A dynamic model of the launch process was developed which indicates the range of frequency and initial specimen stress amplitude over which tests can be performed. To verify the facility, material damping was measured in 2024-T3 aluminum, and (+ or - 45)2s AS1/3501-6 graphite/epoxy. Free-free frequencies ranged from 20-357 Hz in aluminum, and from 18-171 Hz in the (+ or - 45)2s specimens. Damping values in aluminum were found to be close to theoretical values and independent of stress levels below 130 MPa (18.7 Ksi). Damping ratios in the (+ or - 45)2s graphite/epoxy specimens were found to be largely independent of stress levels below 43.8 MPa (6.35 Ksi) and only slightly dependent on frequency. A small dependence of the frequency of free vibration on specimen stress amplitude was also noted.
Autonomous driving for vehicular networks with nonlinear dynamics

In this paper, we introduce cooperative autonomous driving algorithms for vehicular networks with nonlinear mobile robot dynamics in urban environments that take human safety into account and are capable of performing vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) collision avoidance. We argue that “flocks” are multi-agent models of vehicular traffic on roads and propose novel autonomous driving architectures and algorithms for cyber-physical vehicles capable of performing autonomous driving tasks such as lane-driving, lane-changing, braking, passing, and making turns. Our proposed autonomous driving algorithms are inspired by Olfati-Saber's flocking theory. Though, there are notable differences between autonomous driving on urban roads and flocking behavior — flocks have a single desired destination whereas most drivers on road do not share the same destination. We refer to this collective behavior (driving) as “multi-objective flocking.” The self-driving vehicles in our framework turn out to be hybrid systems with a finite number of discrete states that are related to the driving modes of vehicles. Complex driving maneuvers can be performed using a sequence of mode switchings. We use near-identity nonlinear transformations to extend the application of particle-based autonomous driving algorithms to multi-robot networks with nonlinear dynamics. The derivation of the mode switching conditions that preserve safety is non-trivial and an important part of the design of autonomous driving algorithms. We present several examples of driving tasks that can be effectively performed using our proposed driving algorithms.
Molecular dynamics simulations of the interactions between TiO2 nanoparticles and water with Na+ and Cl-, methanol, and formic acid using a reactive force field

Simulations of TiO2(both rutile and anatase) nanoparticles with water, methanol, and formic acid were conducted using a ReaxFF reactive force field to investigate the characteristic behavior of reactivity to these organic solvents. The force field was validated by comparing water dissociative adsorption percentage and bond length between Na and O with density functional theory (DFT) and experimental results. In the simulations, 1-nm rutile and anatase nanoparticles with water, methanol, and formic acid were used, respectively. The numbers of attached hydroxyl with time and nanoparticles distortion levels are presented. We found that the rutile nanoparticle is more reactive than the anatase nanoparticle and that formic acid distorts nanoparticles more than water and methanol.
Transforming Growth Factor-β–Induced Inhibition of Myogenesis Is Mediated Through Smad Pathway and Is Modulated by Microtubule Dynamic Stability

The expression of muscle-specific genes associated with myogenesis is controlled by several myogenic transcription factors, including myogenin and MEF2D. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) has been shown to inhibit myogenesis, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying such inhibition are not known. In the present study, TGF-beta was shown to inhibit myogenin and MEF2D expression and myotube formation in C2C12 myoblasts cultured in differentiation medium in a cell density-dependent manner. Transfection of C2C12 cells with Smad7, an antagonist for TGF-beta/Smad signaling, restored the capacity of these cells to differentiate in the presence of TGF-beta or when cultured in growth medium at low confluence, conditions that hinder muscle differentiation. Moreover, nocodazole, a microtubule-destabilizing agent, enhanced the inhibition of myogenesis exerted by TGF-beta, an effect that could be restored by tubulin-polymerizing agent taxol, both of which have been shown to affect Smad-microtubule interaction and regulate TGF-beta/Smad signaling. Our results indicate that TGF-beta inhibits myogenesis, at least in part, via Smad pathway, and provide evidence that low-dose pharmacological agents taxol and nocodazole can be used as a means to modulate myogenesis without affecting cell survival.
Mothers modify eggs into shields to protect offspring from parasitism

Eggs are an immobile, vulnerable stage of development and their success often depends on the oviposition decisions of the mother. Studies show that female animals, and sometimes males, may invest parental resources in order to increase the survival of their offspring. Here, we describe a unique form of parental investment in offspring survival. The seed beetle Mimosestes amicus may lay eggs singly, or may cover eggs with additional egg(s). This egg stacking serves to significantly reduce the mortality of the protected egg from parasitism by the parasitic wasp, Uscana semifumipennis. The smaller top eggs serve only as protective shields; they are inviable, and wasps that develop in them suffer negative fitness consequences. Further, we found egg stacking to be inducible; M. amicus increase the number of stacks they lay when parasitoids are present. However, stacking invokes a cost. When wasps are absent, beetles lay more single eggs, and produce more offspring, highlighting the adaptive value of this extraordinary example of behavioural plasticity in parental investment.
Dextrous manipulation from a grasping pose

This paper introduces an optimization-based approach to synthesizing hand manipulations from a starting grasping pose. We describe an automatic method that takes as input an initial grasping pose and partial object trajectory, and produces as output physically plausible hand animation that effects the desired manipulation. In response to different dynamic situations during manipulation, our algorithm can generate a range of possible hand manipulations including changes in joint configurations, changes in contact points, and changes in the grasping force. Formulating hand manipulation as an optimization problem is key to our algorithm's ability to generate a large repertoire of hand motions from limited user input. We introduce an objective function that accentuates the detailed hand motion and contacts adjustment. Furthermore, we describe an optimization method that solves for hand motion and contacts efficiently while taking into account long-term planning of contact forces. Our algorithm does not require any tuning of parameters, nor does it require any prescribed hand motion sequences.
Effect of video amplifier rise time and CRT gamma on performance of a high-resolution monitor

In high-resolution CRT monitors driven from a digital refresh memory it has been observed that white vertical lines are narrower than horizontal lines, an effect most noticeable on single-pixel-wide lines. The letter offers reasons why this happens and describes a simple hardware solution of the problem.
Genomic expression patterns in medication overuse headaches.

Background: Chronic daily headache (CDH) and chronic migraine (CM) are one of the most frequent problems encountered in neurology, are often difficult to treat, and frequently complicated by medication-overuse headache (MOH). Proper recognition of MOH may alter treatment outcome and prevent long term disability.Objective: This study identifies the unique genomic expression pattern MOH that respond to cessation of the overused medication.Methods: Baseline occurrence of MOH and typical pattern of response to medication cessation were measured from a large database. Whole blood samples from patients with CM with or without MOH were obtained and their genomic profile was assessed. Affymetrix human U133 plus2 arrays were used to examine the genomic expression patterns prior to treatment and 6–12 weeks later. Headache characterisation and response to treatment based on headache frequency and disability were compared.Results: Of 1311 patients reporting daily or continuous headaches, 513 (39.1%) reported overusin...
Intact-plant screening for tolerance of nutrient-deficiency stress

Critical factors in the selection of appropriate screening procedures to detect different phenotypic responses to nutrient-deficiency stress are discussed. Various morphological, anatomical, and physiological plant factors responsible for adaptations to nutrient deficiency, particularly low-P stress, are reviewed. Also, the relative effectiveness of various screening culture techniques for detecting phenotypic efficiencies based on specific plant features are considered.
Assessing the Effects of the Naked Neck Gene on Chronic Heat Stress Resistance in Two Genetic Populations

Abstract The effect of the naked neck (Na) gene on resistance to chronic heat stress was studied in the F2 generation of two populations of chickens genetically differing in growth. The Na gene was introduced into the Athens-Canadian randombred (ACRB), a small BW population, and into a large BW commercial broiler population. Naked neck and normally feathered birds were maintained in either a chronic heat stress (32 C) environment or a control (21C) environment from 4 to 8 wk of age. Body weight, BW gain, feed consumption, and feed efficiency were calculated at 4, 6, and 8 wk. The 32 C environment significantly reduced gain and feed consumption at all age intervals in both populations. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was lower in the 32 C environment in the ACRB population, but in the broiler population FCR either was the same or increased when compared with the 21 C environment. In the F2 generation of both populations the naked neck birds were significantly larger than the normally feathered birds although the two types segregated from the same parents. In the ACRB population the relative growth response was not significantly different between naked neck and normal feathered birds, indicating that the Na gene did not confer resistance to chronic heat stress in the small BW population. In the broiler population, an assessment of the relative growth response in the 32 C environment showed that the naked neck birds had a smaller reduction in BW gain and better feed efficiency than the normally feathered birds, indicating that in the large BW broiler population the Na gene did confer resistance to chronic heat stress.
Cerebral artery KATP- and KCa-channel activity and contractility: changes with development

The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that in cerebral arteries of the fetus, ATP-sensitive (KATP) and Ca2+-activated K+channels (KCa) play an important role in the regulation of in...
Comparing direct and indirect methods to estimate detection rates and site use of a cryptic semi-aquatic carnivore

Abstract Monitoring animal populations can be challenging, particularly when working with species that are cryptic, rare, or occur at low densities. The northern river otter (Lontra canadensis) is a cryptic, semi-aquatic carnivore that has been intensively studied in recent decades, yet much of what is known about its ecology is a result of studies that have employed indirect methods of detection and monitoring. These indirect methods, such as latrine or other sign surveys, have been the primary approach used for studying distribution, abundance, and habitat use of otters, with minimal representation of direct methods. In this study, we compared direct (camera traps) and indirect (scat count surveys) methods of evaluating detection probabilities and site use patterns of otters at latrines. We found that the direct method produced a significantly greater monthly detection probability than the indirect method and that camera surveys resulted in fewer occurrences of false negatives than scat surveys. However, the number of scats deposited at a site was positively correlated with number of visits by otters at a site (Tau-b = 0.675). Thus, while cameras outperformed scat counts in terms of detection, the two methods were comparable in determining intensity of site use. We conclude that, depending on the parameter of interest, scat counts may be an acceptable surrogate for more direct methods of monitoring otters and other cryptic species. We caution, however, that in the absence of comparative methodological data, direct methods such as camera trapping should be preferred when making inferences about animal distribution, abundance, or habitat use.
A dynamic network analysis approach for evaluating knowledge dissemination in a multi-disciplinary collaboration network in obesity research

Effective knowledge dissemination is important to promote the adoption of new concepts and tools. This study aims to provide a framework that assesses strategies for successful knowledge dissemination in a research collaboration network. We propose a Markov-chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) approach along with Dynamic Network Analysis (DNA) to model a social network and understand how different knowledge dissemination strategies can be used in a research collaboration network. The proposed method was demonstrated through a case study that uses a multi-disciplinary collaboration network in obesity research at an academic medical center. To assess the impact of initial disseminators on knowledge dissemination, four different strategies were considered. The simulation results indicated that the best strategy to disseminate knowledge within this obesity research network may be to use central agents in clusters when considering the coverage and speed of knowledge dissemination.
Nature, Kant, and God

This paper draws on some lines of thought in Kant’s Critique of Judgment to construct an aesthetic counterpart to the moral argument for the existence of God that Kant formulates in the Critique of Practical Reason. The paper offers this aesthetic version as a theistic way of explaining how the natural world can be thought valuable independently of human desires and purposes. It further argues that such an argument must commend itself to anyone who is as deeply committed to the preservation of nature as to the promotion of justice.
The transport of CO2-induced warming into the ocean: an analysis of simulations by the OSU coupled atmosphere-ocean general circulation model

The OSU global coupled atmosphere-ocean general circulation model has been used to investigate a 2xCO2-induced climate change. A previous analysis of the simulated 2xCO2−1xCO2 temperature differences showed that the CO2-induced warming penetrated into the ocean and thereby caused a delay in the equilibration of the climate system with an estimatede-folding time of 50–75 years. The objective of the present study is to determine by what pathways and through which physical processes the simulated ocean general circulation produces the penetration of the CO2-induced warming into the ocean.
Predicting Recidivism With the Criminal Sentiments Scale: A Meta-Analysis of a Putative Measure of Criminal Thought Content

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the Criminal Sentiments Scale (CSS), a putative measure of criminal thought content, was capable of predicting recidivism in adult and juvenile offenders. Thirteen nonoverlapping samples from 10 different studies (total N = 1,789) were included in a meta-analysis in which the total CSS scale and its three subscales—Attitudes Toward the Law, Courts, and Police (LCP); Tolerance for Law Violations (TLV); and Identification With Criminal Others (ICO)—were used to predict reoffending. The total score, LCP, and TLV achieved modest to low moderate effect sizes and the ICO achieved a weak, but significant effect size. There were no signs of significant scatter between studies and no evidence of publication bias. It is concluded that the CSS may have value in predicting recidivism, although additional research is required to determine whether it has incremental validity relative to measures of criminal though process.
Impact of empagliflozin in patients with diabetes and heart failure

Heart failure (HF) is a common disease with increased risk for mortality and morbidity among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Optimal glycemic control in this patient population is challenging as many available therapies can potentially exacerbate symptoms of HF. Empagliflozin is one in a novel class of agents, the sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, that lowers blood glucose by increasing urinary glucose excretion and improves glycemic control and lowers body weight and blood pressure. In the recent EMPA-REG OUTCOME trial, empagliflozin was shown to improve cardiovascular outcomes in patients with T2DM and established cardiovascular risk where it reduced HF hospitalizations and cardiovascular death, with a consistent benefit among patients both with and without baseline HF. Here, we review the empagliflozin data on HF outcomes and discuss potential mechanisms for its benefits in HF with a focus on the potentially significant impact that empagliflozin may have on the care of patients with T2DM and HF in the future.
Improving handover between the transport team and neonatal intensive care unit staff in neonatal transports using the plan-do-study-act tool.

Objectives The aim was to achieve 100% effective handover from the critical care transport team to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) medical team. Study design All patients transferred from referring hospitals by the critical care transport team to the Level IV NICU were included. Data for each infant was collected prospectively. The percentage of transported patients for which medical team and nursing handover occurred was recorded. A quality improvement project was launched using the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) tool. We implemented several processes including call from the transport team before arrival and the completion of a transfer of care form on arrival to the NICU. The process measures and the outcome measure of completion of handover were monitored. Run charts of process measures and the outcome measure were analyzed. Results Completion of medical handover increased from 95% (baseline) to 100% after 3 PDSA cycles and this has been maintained for 18 consecutive months. Conclusion Medical handover from the critical care transport team to the NICU medical staff has been achieved and sustained for all neonatal transports.
Performance comparison and an ensemble approach of transcriptome assembly

Accurate transcriptome assembly using next-generation sequencing data is crucial in gene expression analysis. However, it has been observed that different assemblers generate significantly different outputs given the same RNA–Seq data. Even the same method often assembles different sets of transcripts when different sets of parameters are used. In this study, we performed comparative analysis of various transcriptome assemblers including four de novo and three genome-guided methods using simulated RNA–Seq data modeling Illumina Hi-Seq sequencing of Arabidopsis thaliana and Zea mays strain B73 transcriptomes. No assembler was able to reconstruct all of the reference transcripts correctly. A large number (∼30%) of transcripts were not assembled correctly by any assembler. Furthermore, each assembler produced a different set of reference transcripts with very few that are common among all. While the de novo tools were able to assemble similar numbers of transcripts correctly as genome-guided tools for one dataset, the former methods also produced much larger numbers of incorrectly assembled transcripts compared to genome-guided tools. These results indicate that there remains a large room for transcriptome assembly to be improved. Therefore, we further investigated a consensus-based ensemble approach. By taking the consensus contig set shared, for example, among three or more de novo assemblers, 10% more transcripts were correctly identified for Arabidopsis thaliana datasets. While the incorrect to correct contig ratio for the de novo assemblers ranged from 4.9 (for Trinity) to 10.7 (SOAPdenovo), for the genome-guided methods the ratios were from 1.3 to 1.7. Using the consensus de novo method, we successfully reduced the ratio to the level very close to or even lower than those obtained by the genome-guided methods (1.5). The results of this study provides us a direction to build a better ensemble approach that can reconstruct all the correct transcripts.
Ethics code for genetically modified ornamental and landscape plants

This paper proposes an ethics code for stakeholders on using Genetically Modified Ornamental Plants (GMOP). The advances in Genetically Modified (GM) plants had dramatic effect on increasing agricultural productivities. However, negative consequences were associated with GM plants such creating invasive and pervasive plants or pesticide tolerant plants. GM ornamental plants and grass created new colorful plants that can tolerate draught or salty water. Some GM grasses are herbicide resistant which allow using chemicals to kill weeds but do not effect the grass. However, GMOP are responsible for at least 30% of invasive species in the nature. The proposed ethics code will set the guidelines to benefit from the GMOP and reduce the risk associated with this technology.
Evaluation of an Ophthalmology Session for Third-Year Medical Students at the University of Colorado School of Medicine

Background Medical school ophthalmology education continues to be marginalized, creating the challenge of teaching students how to adequately diagnose and manage common ocular diseases in a limited time. Objective This study aimed to improve the ophthalmic medical knowledge and clinical skills of third-year medical students. Methods This curriculum was provided to 76 out of 124 third-year medical students in the 2016 class at the University of Colorado-Denver School of Medicine program. It was a half-day session that incorporated lectures, problem-based cases, and clinical skills. Participating students were given a self-reflection survey on their knowledge at the beginning and end of the session. Participating students were given a pre-test and post-test 6 months later via SurveyMonkey. Another quiz was given to all students within the class. Comparisons of pre- and post-tests, pre- and post-surveys, and quiz results in the participating and nonparticipating groups were made. Results Participating students' mean pre-test score was 61.8% (n = 76) and post-test score was 72.3% (n = 47), p Conclusion This session improved medical students' confidence and medical knowledge in ophthalmology.
Managing the science-policy boundary: implications for river restoration

Collaborations between researchers and stakeholders can facilitate novel and effective approaches to addressing water resource management challenges, such as restoring river systems. Managing the boundary between researchers and stakeholders is key to ensuring the credibility (produced by scientific inquiry), salience (value to stakeholders), and legitimacy (reflecting differing stakeholder perspective) of knowledge produced that informs restoration processes. Boundary organizations provide an institutionalized approach for stabilizing researcher-stakeholder collaborations. Using qualitative methods, we contrasted the science-policy boundary within two watersheds pursuing river restoration, focusing our research on factors contributing to the potential roles and emergence of boundary organizations. We found that perception of restoration state influenced the identified roles of boundary organizations. Stakeholders noted their value in shifting public perception and measuring restoration progress in more impaired systems, while also noting their importance in leveraging restoration gains into community benefits in more restored systems. Our research highlights the importance of flexibility in managing the science-policy boundary. As restoration gains are achieved, the role boundary organizations play may need to be reevaluated to leverage these gains. Researchers and stakeholders described time and resources as key barriers to transitioning informal researcher-stakeholder collaborations into new boundary organizations. Existing collaborative mechanisms can facilitate such transitions. We identified a potential role for students as boundary emissaries in managing the science-policy boundary. Our findings suggest students and student learning are important for fostering collaborations and stabilizing researcher-stakeholder partnerships that contribute to achieving river restoration gains.
Ethical Investment: Workable and Effective? The Case of the Norwegian Government Pension Fund

The Norwegian Government Pension Fund merits international attention, not only because of its size but also in terms of its mission. On the one hand, the Fund shall ensure that a reasonable portion of the country’s petroleum wealth benefits future generations, so it must generate a sound return in the long term. At the same time, the Norwegian Parliament does not want the Fund to contribute unethical acts or omissions, such as violations of fundamental humanitarian principles, serious violations of human rights, gross corruption or severe environmental damage. A Council on Ethics is established to prevent such risk. How are these two objectives pursued, and conflicts among them resolved? And what are we to make of such efforts to impose normative constraints on profit-seeking economic activity? The present article explores these issues. Sections 1 and 2 present the ethical constraints and shows how the Council decides. Section 3 then considers whether such actions by large investors can be said to be effective and legitimate responses to the new challenges wrought by economic globalization. Are ethical constraints on investments a plausible response to the reallocation of obligations of governments, companies, NGOs, investors and citizens? Section 4 draws some conclusions. The mandate of the Council on Ethics mainly seeks to avoid complicity in wrong-doing, but its work may also contribute to prevent the wrong-doing by others.
Genetic Evidence for Tetraspanin Functions

Tetraspanin proteins have been suggested to associate with many different cell surface partner proteins, and in vitro studies have suggested involvement in a wide variety of cellular functions. However, knockout phenotypes in mice have so far been relatively mild, and there have been few clear examples of human tetraspanin mutations having functional consequences. Nonetheless a range of sometimes subtle, but interesting phenotypes are emerging from studies of mouse knockouts, and from analysis of human mutations.
Path Planning for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Uncertain and Adversarial Environments

One of the main objectives when planning paths for unmanned aerial vehicles in adversarial environments is to arrive at the given target, while maximizing the safety of the vehicles. If one has perfect information of the threats that will be encountered, a safe path can always be constructed by solving an optimization problem. If there are uncertainties in the information, however, a different approach must be taken. In this paper we propose a path planning algorithm based on a map of the probability of threats, which can be built from a priori surveillance data. An extension to this algorithm for multiple vehicles is also described, and simulation results are provided.