cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Coordinated sensor cueing for chemical plume detection

This paper describes an organic data fusion and sensor cueing approach for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) sensors. The Joint Warning and Reporting Network (JWARN) uses a hardware component referred to as the JWARN Component Interface Device (JCID). The Edgewood Chemical and Biological Center has developed a small footprint and open architecture solution for the JCID capability called JCID-on-a-Chip (JoaC). The JoaC program aims to reduce the cost and complexity of the JCID by shrinking the necessary functionality down to a small single board computer. This effort focused on development of a fusion and cueing algorithm organic to the JoaC hardware. By embedding this capability in the JoaC, sensors have the ability to receive and process cues from other sensors without the use of a complex and costly centralized infrastructure. Additionally, the JoaC software is hardware agnostic, as evidenced by its drop-in inclusion in two different system-on-a-chip platforms including Windows CE and LINUX environments. In this effort, a partnership between JPM-CA, JHU/APL, and the Edgewood Chemical and Biological Center (ECBC), the authors implemented and demonstrated a new algorithm for cooperative detection and localization of a chemical agent plume. This experiment used a pair of mobile Joint Services Lightweight Standoff Chemical Agent Detector (JSLSCAD) units which were controlled by fusion and cueing algorithms hosted on a JoaC. The algorithms embedded in the JoaC enabled the two sensor systems to perform cross cueing and cooperatively form a higher fidelity estimate of chemical releases by combining sensor readings. Additionally, each JSLSCAD had the ability to focus its search on smaller regions than those required by a single sensor system by using the cross cue information from the other sensor.
Maximizing Safety of Hospitalized Elders

The safety of elders in acute care settings has been a long-standing nursing concern; it is well known that elders are at a higher risk for injury and adverse events during hospitalization. Common sensory changes, comorbidities, and frailty of elders may contribute to injury and poorer outcomes. Confusion, delirium, falls, or adverse drug events experienced by hospitalized elderly also may contribute to injury and adverse hospital outcomes. Nurses may use strategies to protect hospitalized elderly from injury and optimize their outcomes by establishing a culture of safety. Approaches to foster safe hospital stays for elderly patients are outlined, and recommendations for institutional management and administration, policy and nursing practice, education, and research are identified.
Viscoelastic Behavior of Environmentally Sensitive Biomimetic Polymer Matrices

By incorporating polysaccharide−peptide interactions into poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogels, we created a unique polymer matrix exhibiting characteristics imparted by both covalent and physical cross-links. Dynamic mechanical testing revealed that the properties of this system were sensitive to temperature changes and thermally reversible. At lower temperatures and higher frequencies, the elastic response was dominated by physical cross-links created by associations between heparin and heparin binding peptides; the matrices were stabilized by covalent cross-links at higher temperatures. Furthermore, the strength of the physical cross-links depended on the relative affinity between heparin and heparin binding peptides. This system could serve as a model to investigate how the presence of both physical and covalent cross-links influences the viscoelastic behavior of biomimetic polymeric materials.
The effects of hydrogen on deformation and cross slip in a BCC titanium alloy

Abstract The effects of hydrogen on the deformation of a BCC Ti alloy surrounding nanoindentations are examined using scanning probe microscopy. The surface deformation patterns surrounding indentations with 2600 ppm hydrogen are significantly less than with 140 ppm hydrogen. The reduced pileup is attributed to hydrogen reducing the ability for cross slip to occur.
Studies in Carcinogenesis: II. The Detection of Dibenzanthracene in Mouse Tumors Induced by This Hydrocarbon

In an investigation of the role of 1:2:5:6–dibenzanthracene in the production of tumors Chalmers (1934) examined, spectrographically, tissues of fowls that had received injections of this hydrocarbon dissolved in fat. Similar spectrographic studies, on mouse tissues, have been carried on in this laboratory and obstacles similar to those reported by Chalmers have been encountered. Chalmers found that some extracts contained substances which showed “intense absorption in the ultraviolet.” Such substances would mask the dibenzanthracene spectrum; consequently the spectrographic analysis of those extracts was being held in abeyance, Chalmers stated, until the interfering substances could be removed. He found that extracts of tissue into which dibenzanthracene had been injected two years previously showed no selective absorption even though the extracts were concentrated “to the point of general absorption in the ultraviolet.” Chalmers then determined, on successive days, the quantity of dibenzanthracene remaining after injection and found that most of the hydrocarbon disappears from the site of injection within a week. Berenblum and Kendal (1934) injected a colloidal aqueous preparation of dibenzanthracene into the breast muscle of the fowl and, by means of the fluorescence spectrum, examined the muscle extracts for the presence of the hydrocarbon. The method was said to be sensitive to 0.02 mg. These investigators stated: “Since each of the 7 birds initially received 0.6 mg. of dibenzanthracene, while less than 0.02 mg. was present in the breast muscle at the end of the experiment, most of the dibenzanthracene must have disappeared from the site of injection during the course of the experiment.”
Excessive Antibiotic Use for Acute Respiratory Infections in the United States

Estimating the amount and cost of excess antibiotic use in ambulatory practice and identifying the conditions that account for most excess use are necessary to guide intervention and policy decisions. Data from the 1998 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, a sample survey of United States ambulatory physician practices, was used to estimate primary care office visits and antibiotic prescription rates for acute respiratory infections. Weight-averaged antibiotic costs were calculated with use of 1996 prescription marketing data and adjusted for inflation. In 1998, an estimated 76 million primary care office visits for acute respiratory infections resulted in 41 million antibiotic prescriptions. Antibiotic prescriptions in excess of the number expected to treat bacterial infections amounted to 55% (22.6 million) of all antibiotics prescribed for acute respiratory infections, at a cost of approximately $726 million. Upper respiratory tract infections (not otherwise specified), pharyngitis, and bronchitis were the conditions associated with the greatest amount of excess use. This study documents that the amount and cost of excessive antibiotic use for acute respiratory infections by primary care physicians are substantial and establishes potential target rates for antibiotic treatment of selected conditions.
The new rurality: Globalization, peasants and the paradoxes of landscapes

Deforestation captures most of the headlines, but there are also processes of forest expansion that are widespread in Latin America. This paper explores why this process is so invisible. Globalization plays an increasingly important role in structuring rural economies. This paper analyses how global integration of many types, ranging from remittances, state transfers, skilling and markets produced forest recovery in peasant landscapes.
A Dilemma in Assessing Stability of Feature Selection Algorithms

In realm, feature selection is an effective means for handling high-dimensional data that becomes increasingly abundant. The stability of a feature selection algorithm is becoming crucial for determining the fitness of the algorithm. Below, we review existing methods of stability assessment and analyse how they assess the stability of a feature selection algorithm. A common approach is to evaluate the similarity between the selected subsets of features produced by that algorithm over different training samples or over distributed datasets. We point out challenges facing the existing evaluation methods and suggest how to improve stability assessment of feature selection algorithms.
Controlled experiments on the web: survey and practical guide

The web provides an unprecedented opportunity to evaluate ideas quickly using controlled experiments, also called randomized experiments, A/B tests (and their generalizations), split tests, Control/Treatment tests, MultiVariable Tests (MVT) and parallel flights. Controlled experiments embody the best scientific design for establishing a causal relationship between changes and their influence on user-observable behavior. We provide a practical guide to conducting online experiments, where end-users can help guide the development of features. Our experience indicates that significant learning and return-on-investment (ROI) are seen when development teams listen to their customers, not to the Highest Paid Person's Opinion (HiPPO). We provide several examples of controlled experiments with surprising results. We review the important ingredients of running controlled experiments, and discuss their limitations (both technical and organizational). We focus on several areas that are critical to experimentation, including statistical power, sample size, and techniques for variance reduction. We describe common architectures for experimentation systems and analyze their advantages and disadvantages. We evaluate randomization and hashing techniques, which we show are not as simple in practice as is often assumed. Controlled experiments typically generate large amounts of data, which can be analyzed using data mining techniques to gain deeper understanding of the factors influencing the outcome of interest, leading to new hypotheses and creating a virtuous cycle of improvements. Organizations that embrace controlled experiments with clear evaluation criteria can evolve their systems with automated optimizations and real-time analyses. Based on our extensive practical experience with multiple systems and organizations, we share key lessons that will help practitioners in running trustworthy controlled experiments.
Decision analysis tools for GENCO dispatchers

This paper outlines a decision analysis procedure to guide dispatchers in applying corporate policy for economic decisions when risk is involved. These techniques enable dispatchers to implement corporate policies without waiting for an answer from another group or groups within accepted guidelines. The intent of the procedure is to reduce the guidelines to expert system rules, which may be applied without extensive analysis. Such a set of tools is often used in other industries by administrative staff instead of engineering staff. Tools such as the one reported here are needed for the new business environment for profit opportunities to be achieved while maintaining security. The tool described within this paper was designed for a mid-western generation company to handle reserve or contingent contract requests.
Designing optoelectronic integrated circuit (OEIC) receivers for high sensitivity and maximally flat frequency response

This paper examines previously overlooked, but a highly effective, optimization approach to designing transimpedance OEIC receivers based on heterojunction bipolar and field-effect transistors (HBT's & HFET's) with high sensitivity and maximally flat frequency response. It is shown that the 3-dB bandwidth of amplifiers involving single-transistor common-emitter (CE) and common-source (CS) input stages, and the corresponding cascoded input stages can be universally expressed as f/sub 3-dB//spl cong/1/2/spl pi//spl radic/(/spl tau/'(c/sub /spl mu//+c/sub L/)R/sub f/), where /spl tau/' is the effective transit time of the transistor including the effect of the photodetectors capacitance, c/sub /spl mu// is the feedback capacitance of the transistor, c/sub L/ is the capacitance in parallel to the collector or drain effective load conductance (g~/sub L/), and R/sub f/ is the feedback resistance of the amplifier that ensures a much greater than unity loop-gain. The gain-bandwidth product can also be universally expressed as R/sub f//spl times/f/sub 3-dB//spl cong/g/sub m///spl radic/2/spl pi/g~/sub L/c/sub in/, where gm is the transconductance of the transistor and c/sub in/ is the total capacitance appearing at the input of the respective amplifier. For the single-transistor CE and CS input stages the dependence of the optimum values of R/sub f/ on g~/sub L/ can be expressed as R/sub f/=2/spl tau/'(c/sub /spl mu//+c/sub L/)/(g~L/spl tau/'+c/sub /spl mu//)/sup 2/, whereas for the corresponding cascoded input stages the same expression also applies but with c/sub /spl mu//=0 in the denominator. Since designing high sensitivity OEIC receivers require high values of R/sub f/ and correspondingly low values of g~/sub L/, thus it follows that amplifying transistors must be operated at the lowest possible current but without degradation of their high frequency performance. A low-value of the base or gate bias current also ensures a low level of shot noise thus further enhancing the sensitivity. Because of a low g/sub m/ to drain current ratio in HFET's, receivers involving only the cascoded input stage, and not the single-transistor CS input stage, are capable of providing both high sensitivity and high bandwidth. In contrast, receivers based on HBT's involving either the simple CE input stage or the cascoded input stage are capable of providing both high sensitivity and high bandwidth. Design examples, using HBT's and HFET's with intrinsic unity current gain frequency f/sub /spl tau//=160 GHz and very low-capacitance msm photodetectors, indicate that high-speed receivers can be realized with bandwidth f/sub 3-dB//spl cong/20 GHz, and sensitivity as high as -28.7 dBm. >
The chemical composition of the volatile oil of the leaves of Picea rubens Sarg. and chemotaxonomic correlations with other North American spruce species

Abstract The volatile oil from two populations of red spruce was found to consist mainly of bornyl acetate (55 per cent). Smaller amounts of α- and β-pinene, camphene, 3-carene, myrcene, limonene, α- and β-phellandrene, p -cymene, 1:8-cineole, linalool, camphor, terpinen-4-ol, α-terpineol, borneol, piperitone, citronellyl and geranyl acetate, bisabolene and a mixture of γ- and δ-cadinene (“canadene”) were also isolated. Santene, tricyclene, γ-terpinene, thujone, isothujone and isoborneol were tentatively identified. The leaf oils of the foliage from black spruce (2 trees) white spruce (3 trees) and Colorado spruce (5 trees) were analysed by GLC and the data obtained were compared with those of red spruce. The close phylogenetic relationship of red and black spruce was found to be reflected in the chemical composition of their leaf oils, whereas significant chemical differences were observed with both white and Colorado spruce. Hypothetical pathways for the formation of the terpenes found in spruce leaf oils from a single precursor, such as geranyl pyrophosphate, are discussed. Piperitone, a C-3 oxygenated monoterpene, appears to take an exceptional position in such postulated sequences. Also, not all of the compounds expected from schemes involving carbonium-ion intermediates are found in the spruce leaf oils.
Lamb Wave Evaluation of the Effects of Thermal-Mechanical Aging on Composite Stiffness

Lamb wave methods offer a promising approach for evaluating damage in com- posite materials. The Lamb wave velocity is directly related to the material parameters, so an effective too) exists to monitor damage in composites by measuring the velocity of these waves. In this work, studies have been conducted which examine the effects of combined thermal and mechanical aging in thermoplastic composite samples using symmetric mode Lamb wave veloc- ity measurements. From the velocity measurements, the in-plane stiffnesses, A 11 and A 22 , are cal- culated. The samples examined include a baseline specimen with 0 hours, specimens which have been aged 3,500 and 5,000 hours, and one specimen with 1,000 hours of accelerated aging. The results of the Lamb wave measurements are compared to C-scans of the panels.
HLA alloimmunization is associated with RBC antibodies in multiply transfused patients with sickle cell disease.

Background Alloimmunization to minor red blood cell (RBC) antigens occurs commonly in sickle cell disease (SCD). Patients with alloimmunization demonstrate increased risk for new alloantibody formation with subsequent transfusion. Alloimmunization to human leukocyte antigens (HLA) can occur with RBC transfusion and may result in graft rejection during stem cell or organ transplantation. The prevalence and risk factors for HLA alloimmunization in multiply transfused pediatric SCD patients are unknown. Procedure A cross-sectional study of HLA alloimmunization in SCD patients aged 3–21 years with a history of ≥3 RBC transfusions was performed to test the hypothesis that HLA alloimmunization is associated with RBC alloimmunization. Antibodies to class I and class II HLA were measured by Flow Panel Reactive Antibody (FlowPRA®). Results Seventy-three SCD patients (30 with RBC antibodies) were tested. HLA antibodies were detected in 25/73 (34%) patients; class I HLA antibodies occurred in 24/73 (33%) and class II HLA antibodies occurred in 3 (4%). Among patients with RBC antibodies, 16/30 (53%) had HLA antibodies, while 9/43 (21%) patients without RBC antibodies had HLA antibodies (OR 4.32 [1.6–12.1]). In a multivariate analysis, antibodies to RBC antigens were an independent predictor of HLA alloimmunization (P = 0.041). The association of RBC and HLA immunization was strongest among patients with no history of chronic transfusion therapy. Conclusions This analysis is the first description of HLA alloimmunization in pediatric SCD patients who receive primarily leukoreduced RBC transfusions and demonstrates that HLA alloimmunization tendency is associated with antibodies to RBC antigens. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2010;54:552–558. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Impact of comorbidities on the measurement of health in patients with ankle osteoarthritis.

Background: Investigators seeking to understand the impact of musculoskeletal disorders commonly use validated outcome instruments to assess the effect of diseases on physical function and quality of life. However, the influence of concomitant systemic or musculoskeletal comorbidities on these scores has not been widely considered in orthopaedic research. The purpose of this study was to determine how morbidity unrelated to the ankle influences the perception of physical function and pain by patients with ankle osteoarthritis. Methods: Short Form-36 (SF-36) Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores, Ankle Osteoarthritis Scale (AOS) pain scale scores, demographic data, and systemic and musculoskeletal comorbidities were determined prospectively for 195 patients with ankle osteoarthritis and ninety-five age and gender-matched controls. The effect of systemic and musculoskeletal comorbidities on each of the scores was determined. Results: On the average, patients with ankle osteoarthritis had a relatively normal MCS score (47 ± 13 points) and a markedly diminished PCS score (32 ± 8 points). Both of these scores averaged 50 ± 9 points in the control group. The AOS pain score averaged 61 ± 23 points in the group with ankle osteoarthritis, whereas it averaged 10 ± 15 points in the control group. We found the perception of ankle pain by patients with ankle osteoarthritis to be significantly and linearly associated with the number of other musculoskeletal problems (not related to the foot or ankle). Conclusions: The degree of physical impairment associated with ankle osteoarthritis, as measured with the SF-36, is equivalent to that reported to be associated with severely disabling medical problems including end-stage kidney disease and congestive heart failure. The perception of ankle health status as measured with a validated, patient-oriented, anatomically specific instrument is influenced by the patients' perception of their overall musculoskeletal comorbidity status. The authors of clinical studies using these instruments should adjust for concomitant musculoskeletal disease.
Audit Documentation Methods: A Path Model of Cognitive Processing, Memory, and Performance

One result of Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Auditing Standard No. 3 Audit Documentation (AS No. 3) (PCAOB 2004) is that audit firms are using more detailed audit workpapers and fewer summary memos to document their procedures. We explore implications of the choice of these two documentation methods. Specifically, we develop and test a model showing how different forms of documentation affect the cognitive processes auditors use during audit testing, and how differences in cognitive processing affect auditors' memory and two performance measures (error detection and recognition of a potentially fraudulent pattern in the evidence). The results of path analysis show auditors who prepare detailed workpapers spend more total time on the task, and total time is associated with identifying more errors and better pattern recognition. Auditors who prepare summary memos examine the evidence items a greater number of times, which is associated with better pattern recognition and increased memory. The ove...
Electrochemical Etching of Crystalline Quartz

We present a method to electrochemically etch crystalline quartz. Electrochemical etching has not been previously explored as a method for processing quartz because of its insulating nature. By injecting energetic charge carriers into the quartz it can be made temporarily conductive, allowing currents which will affect the chemical etch rate. This was verified by etching samples of AT-cut quartz while bombarding the sample with electrons. Etch depths were plotted as a function of current density, showing variations of ±3× the control etch rate. The ability to increase and decrease the etch rate can be used to define quartz microstructures.
Examining English–German translation ambiguity using primed translation recognition

Many words have more than one translation across languages. Such translation-ambiguous words are translated more slowly and less accurately than their unambiguous counterparts. We examine the extent to which word context and translation dominance influence the processing of translation-ambiguous words. We further examine how these factors influence translation ambiguity stemming from two sources, specifically translation ambiguity derived from semantic ambiguity and from near-synonymy. Bilingual participants were presented with English–German word pairs that were preceded by a related or unrelated prime and were asked to decide if the word pairs were translations. Translation-unambiguous pairs were recognized more quickly and accurately than translation-ambiguous pairs. Related pairs and dominant translations were responded to more quickly than unrelated pairs and subordinate translations, respectively. We discuss the results in relation to models of bilingual memory and propose a new model that makes specific predictions about translation ambiguity, the Revised Hierarchical Model of Translation Ambiguity.
The pathogenesis of tuberculosis.

The basic pattern of tuberculous infection has been discussed. Various theories of the mechanisms involved have been purposely omitted in many instances, and indeed, many are unsolved. It is hoped that further research and clinical observations will serve to clarify further the evolution of this disease. Although we may not be able to state dogmatically that a given lesion is a progressive primary lesion or is the result of endogenous exacerbation or exogenous reinfection, a unified concept of the pathogenesis of tuberculosis will aid in the interpretation and management of each individual case.
Integration of Learning: A Grounded Theory Analysis of College Students’ Learning

This article presents a grounded theory of “integration of learning” among traditional aged college students, which is characterized by the demonstrated ability to link various skills and knowledge learned in a variety of contexts. The author analyzed 194 interviews with students at liberal arts colleges to investigate empirically the ways undergraduates bring knowledge and experiences together so that educators might be able to more intentionally promote the integration of learning. Three distinct types of integration of learning emerged during analysis: (a) connection, the discovery of a similarity between ideas that themselves remain distinctive; (b) application, the use of knowledge from one context in another; and (c) synthesis, the creation of new knowledge by combining insights.
Modeling the emission processes in blazars

Blazars are the most violent steady/recurrent sources of high-energy gamma-ray emission in the known Universe. They are prominent emitters of electromagnetic radiation throughout the entire electromagnetic spectrum. The observable radiation most likely originates in a relativistic jet oriented at a small angle with respect to the line of sight. This review starts out with a general overview of the phenomenology of blazars, including results from a recent multiwavelength observing campaign on 3C279. Subsequently, issues of modeling broadband spectra will be discussed. Spectral information alone is not sufficient to distinguish between competing models and to constrain essential parameters, in particular related to the primary particle acceleration and radiation mechanisms in the jet. Short-term spectral variability information may help to break such model degeneracies, which will require snap-shot spectral information on intraday time scales, which may soon be achievable for many blazars even in the gamma-ray regime with the upcoming GLAST mission and current advances in Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescope technology. In addition to pure leptonic and hadronic models of gamma-ray emission from blazars, leptonic/hadronic hybrid models are reviewed, and the recently developed hadronic synchrotron mirror model for TeV γ-ray flares which are not accompanied by simultaneous X-ray flares (“orphan TeV flares”) is revisited.
Thallium(III) Acetate–Bromine

[2570-63-0] C6H9O6Tl (MW 381.53) InChI = 1S/3C2H4O2.Tl/c3*1-2(3)4;/h3*1H3,(H,3,4);/q;;;+3/p-3 InChIKey = SMRRYUGQTFYZGD-UHFFFAOYSA-K [7726-95-6] Br2 (MW 159.80) InChI = 1S/Br2/c1-2 InChIKey = GDTBXPJZTBHREO-UHFFFAOYSA-N (brominating agent) Physical Data: see entries Thallium(III) Acetate and Bromine. Form Supplied in: generated in situ by simple admixture of the two commercially available components. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: all thallium compounds are extremely toxic to inhalation, skin contact, and ingestion. Toxicity is cumulative. Extreme caution should be used when handling these materials. Use in a fume hood.
A simple and flexible Holm gatekeeping procedure

Major objectives of a clinical trial are commonly stated in a hierarchical order as primary and secondary. The parallel gatekeeping testing strategy provides an opportunity to assess secondary objectives when all or partial primary objectives are achieved. The current available gatekeeping procedures have different pros and cons so users either need to justify the assumption associated with some procedures or tolerate suboptimal power performance of other procedures. By applying the Holm test with a flexible alpha splitting technique, we propose a procedure which (1) is powerful for assessing the primary objectives, (2) can be used when no assumption can be made on the dependency structure of test statistics, and (3) has the full flexibility to allocate user-preferred alpha to assess the secondary objectives based on the number of primary objectives achieved. A real clinical trial example is used for illustration of the proposed procedure.
Genomic inference accurately predicts the timing and severity of a recent bottleneck in a nonmodel insect population

The analysis of molecular data from natural populations has allowed researchers to answer diverse ecological questions that were previously intractable. In particular, ecologists are often interested in the demographic history of populations, information that is rarely available from historical records. Methods have been developed to infer demographic parameters from genomic data, but it is not well understood how inferred parameters compare to true population history or depend on aspects of experimental design. Here, we present and evaluate a method of SNP discovery using RNA sequencing and demographic inference using the program dadi, which uses a diffusion approximation to the allele frequency spectrum to fit demographic models. We test these methods in a population of the checkerspot butterfly Euphydryas gillettii. This population was intentionally introduced to Gothic, Colorado in 1977 and has as experienced extreme fluctuations including bottlenecks of fewer than 25 adults, as documented by nearly annual field surveys. Using RNA sequencing of eight individuals from Colorado and eight individuals from a native population in Wyoming, we generate the first genomic resources for this system. While demographic inference is commonly used to examine ancient demography, our study demonstrates that our inexpensive, all-in-one approach to marker discovery and genotyping provides sufficient data to accurately infer the timing of a recent bottleneck. This demographic scenario is relevant for many species of conservation concern, few of which have sequenced genomes. Our results are remarkably insensitive to sample size or number of genomic markers, which has important implications for applying this method to other nonmodel systems.
Inhibition of growth and cholesterol synthesis in breast cancer cells by oxidation products of β-carotene

Abstract We have isolated and chemically characterized a polar oxidation product of β-carotene and tested the effect of a highly enriched fraction containing this compound on the growth and metabolism of breast cancer (MCF-7) cells. This fraction strongly inhibits cell growth and cholesterol synthesis in MCF-7 cells. Pretreatment of the cells with mevalonate overcomes inhibition of cell growth by the oxidized fraction. Addition of the antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene protects against inhibition of the growth of MCF-7 cells by β-carotene but not by the oxidized fraction. Pretreatment of cells with mevalonate overcomes inhibition of cell growth by oxidation products of β-carotene but not by retinoic acid. The oxidized fraction neither stimulates activity nor inhibits binding of retinoic acid to its nuclear receptors (RXR-α, RXR-β, RXR-γ, RAR-α, RAR-β, RAR-γ, and peroxisome proliferation receptors) in transfection assays. Mevalonate does not protect retinoic acid-induced growth inhibition of MCF-7 cells. The major compound in the inhibitory fraction was identified by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy as 5,8-endoperoxy-2,3-dihydro-β-apocarotene-13-one. Our data suggest that the β-carotene oxidation products we have isolated represent a class of compounds not previously described with potential antineoplastic activity.
Differential effects on β-cell mass by disruption of Bardet–Biedl syndrome or Alstrom syndrome genes

Rare genetic syndromes characterized by early-onset type 2 diabetes have revealed the importance of pancreatic β-cells in genetic susceptibility to diabetes. However, the role of genetic regulation of β-cells in disorders that are also characterized by highly penetrant obesity, a major additional risk factor, is unclear. In this study, we investigated the contribution of genes associated with two obesity ciliopathies, Bardet-Biedl Syndrome and Alstrom Syndrome, to the production and maintenance of pancreatic β-cells. Using zebrafish models of these syndromes, we identified opposing effects on production of β-cells. Loss of the Alstrom gene, alms1, resulted in a significant decrease in β-cell production whereas loss of BBS genes, bbs1 or bbs4, resulted in a significant increase. Examination of the regulatory program underlying β-cell production suggested that these effects were specific to β-cells. In addition to the initial production of β-cells, we observed significant differences in their continued maintenance. Under prolonged exposure to high glucose conditions, alms1-deficient β-cells were unable to continually expand as a result of decreased proliferation and increased cell death. Although bbs1-deficient β-cells were similarly susceptible to apoptosis, the overall maintenance of β-cell number in those animals was sustained likely due to increased proliferation. Taken together, these findings implicate discrepant production and maintenance of β-cells in the differential susceptibility to diabetes found between these two genetic syndromes.
Connecting Mutually Influencing Bloggers.

The blogosphere shows the characteristics of a power law distribution where a small set of the bloggers (influentials) get the majority of readership and the vast majority receives little traffic. Blogger recommendation algorithms aim at finding influentials for recommendation, putting bloggers with limited readership at further disadvantage. These bloggers could benefit from mutual endorsement of each other with the eventual goal of forming strong local communities with broader readership. In this paper, we propose a recommendation algorithm to connect blogger pairs with the intent that once connected the bloggers would share a mutually influencing relationship between them. In particular, we compute bloggers' influence profile based on how much she influences her blog friends and recommend bloggers with similar influence profiles. We characterize bloggers into four different groups: global leaders, connectors, local leaders, isolates. Our result shows marginal benefit for isolates and significant benefit for local leaders. Our approach can be instructive in building intelligent recommendation engine for bloggers with limited readership to build strong local communities.
Dynamic Models of Learning That Characterize Parent-Child Exchanges Predict Vocabulary Growth.

Cumulative vocabulary models for infants and toddlers were developed from models of learning that predict trajectories associated with low, average, and high vocabulary growth rates (14 to 46 months). It was hypothesized that models derived from rates of learning mirror the type of exchanges provided to infants and toddlers by parents and caregivers. Slow and rapid growth models assume that rates of acquiring new vocabulary are proportional to (a) the child's current vocabulary and (b) the difference between maximum achievable vocabulary and the child's current vocabulary. These models produce (a) exponential growth and (b) bounded exponential growth, respectively. The third model (interactive engagement) results from the interaction of the two previous models and describes vocabulary growth trajectories with a logistic function. It describes the three empirical growth trajectories for average, slow, and rapid growth in the 14 to 46 month study, and for percentile growth rate trajectories of infants and toddlers between 16 and 30 months in a second study. A substantive outcome to the interactive engagement model is that it provided physically meaningful predictions when it was extended forward in time to 60 months and backward in time to 10 months. Although meaningful predictions of achievement can be made based on polynomial growth models (quadratic, and cubic) that fit empirical data, physically meaningful growth trajectories are obtained for logistic-model predictions beyond the empirical data. Excellent agreement between empirical data and model predictions provide evidence that additional birth through age three exchanges by parents and caregivers will narrow socioeconomic status gaps.
Optical heterodyne detected transient grating (OHD-TG) studies on the reactive and non-reactive resonant systems

Four-wave mixing spectroscopic methods such as the transient grating (TG) method have been widely applied to the study of photophysical and photochemical processes in the condensed phase. Conventional TG measurements are usually performed in a homodyne manner and the signal is proportional to the modulus sqaured of the third-order polarization P(3). The dynamic time constants were usually extracted by doubling the fitting results [1], which assumes that the real and imaginary components follow the same dynamics. In this work, we carried out heterodyne detection of the TG signals with a simplified diffractive optics method to measure the real and imaginary components of P(3) separately. Our results show that the above assumption is true in the simple two-level system, while very different real and imaginary response were observed for a multi-level system.
A Case of Sphenoid Sinus Metastasis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Sphenoid sinus metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been reported only rarely. We present a case of solitary sphenoid sinus metastasis of a 2.7 × 2.3 cm single HCC lesion. (Hepatology 2016;63:2050-2053).
LIQUID SYSTEM SCALE UP OF CARICA PAPAYA L. SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS

SummaryCarica papaya L. embryogenie calli cultured in a liquid phase maturation medium resulted in a significantly higher frequency of somatic embryogenesis (SE) and regeneration than parallel treatments on agar-solidified medium. An average of 455 somatic embryos per hypocotyl expiant were produced in a liquid system after 112 d as compared with 174 SE per expiant on solidified medium. Superior early-stage SE were produced in maturation medium with 6% sucrose, as compared with treatments with only 3% sucrose, as evidenced by a higher successful germination rate of embryos into plantlets. Medium containing 0.5 μM abscisic acid (ABA) in the maturation phase increased average embryo size from 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm. Somatic embryos developed into normal papaya plantlets.
Current Status of AIDS Epidemic in Renshou County and Control and Prevention Strategies

Objective To understand the epidemiological characteristics of people living with HIV/AIDS in Renshou and provide basic information for making scientific strategies of AIDS prevention and control.Methods The epidemiological characteristic 150 cases of HIV infection and AIDS were analyzed.Results The results indicated that the sex ratio of the cases was 3.29∶1(115 males and 35 females),and 40.00% of the cases(60) were farmers;57.33%(86) were married;72.67%(109) had education level of middle school;75.33%(113) were young adults of 25-45 years old,the youngest one was 3 years old,the oldest one was 66 years old.The major transmission route was sexual contact,intravenous drug use and mother-child transmission also caused infection.Voluntary counseling test for HIV and medical care seeking were the major detection ways.Conclusion The survey indicated that the AIDS epidemic was serious in Renshou,which had become a major threat to general population;therefore,enhanced and specific strategies of control and prevention should be applied to inhibit current epidemic of AIDS.
Fluctuation and Exchange in the Fractional Quantized Hall Effect

It is generally agreed that there is large positional fluctuation in the ground state in the fractional quantized Hall effect. This is illustrated by a series of correlated Gaussian trial wave functions, one of which possesses an energy comparable to the Laughlin wavefunction as well as a gap in the excitation spectrum. The multiparticle exchange integral of this wave function is found to increase as the number of particles exchanged is increased. The shear modulus for this wave function as well as that of the Laughlin type wave function is calculated and is found to be finite. The effect of exchange is illustrated by considering the fractional quantized Hall effect in narrow channels. It is found that for narrow channels a gap exist in the excitation spectrum for even denominator filling factors. As the channel width is increased, this gap goes to zero and then becomes finite again.
Autonomic neural regulation of intact Purkinje system of dogs.

To characterize autonomic influences on the Purkinje system in vivo, we measured Purkinje relative refractory period (PRRP) in response to sympathetic (SNS) and vagal nerve stimulation (VNS). Effects of SNS on PRRP were primarily mediated via beta-adrenergic mechanisms because shortening of PRRP during SNS [from 215 +/- 7 (SE) to 202 +/- 8 ms, P less than 0.01] was entirely blocked by metoprolol (1 mg/kg). Vagal influences in the ambient state did not prolong PRRP, even when effective refractory period of adjacent muscle did prolong. When VNS was augmented with physostigmine, PRRP prolonged from 205 +/- 12 to 212 +/- 13 ms, P less than 0.05. Similar provocation of parasympathetic effects on PRRP occurred when VNS was performed during SNS; PRRP prolonged from 188 +/- 9 to 193 +/- 9 ms, P less than 0.05. Also, when alpha-adrenergic stimulation was produced by phenylephrine infusion (25 micrograms.kg-1.min-1) in the presence of metoprolol (1 mg/kg), which prolonged PRRP from 242 +/- 8 to 246 +/- 9 ms, P less than 0.05, the addition of VNS further prolonged PRRP from 246 +/- 9 to 253 +/- 9 ms, P less than 0.05. Thus some refractory period responses in the Purkinje system were similar to adjacent muscle, because beta-adrenergic activation shortened refractory period and vagal stimulation antagonized the shortening. Findings unique to Purkinje tissue were refractory period prolongation by vagal stimulation when facilitated by concurrent prolongation of refractory period during alpha-adrenergic stimulation.
Weight Management: Weight Maintenance

Most adults in the USA are overweight or obese. Obesity negatively impacts on health and health care costs, and there is heightened awareness for the importance of achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. This article reviews observational and experimental studies on successful weight loss maintenance. A definition and the prevalence of weight loss maintenance are provided, and theories regarding why weight loss maintenance is difficult are discussed. Factors important for weight loss maintenance, identified from the National Weight Control Registry and from randomized controlled trials examining long-term weight loss, are described. General recommendations for weight loss maintenance are provided.
Efficient thermoelectric cooling for mobile devices

Mobile apps suffer large performance degradation when the underlying processors are throttled to cool down the devices. Fans or heat sinks are not a viable option for mobile devices, thus calling for a new portable cooling solution. Thermoelectric coolers are scalable and controllable cooling devices that can be embedded into mobile devices on the chip surface. This paper presents a thermoelectric cooling solution that enables efficient processor thermal management in mobile devices. Our goal is to minimize performance loss from thermal throttling by efficiently using thermoelectric cooling. Since mobile devices experience large variations in workloads and ambient temperature, our solution adaptively controls cooling power at runtime. Our evaluation on a smartphone using mobile benchmarks demonstrated that the performance loss from the maximum speed is only 1.8% with the TEC compared to 19.2% without the TEC.
Cigarette Smoking: An Accessory to the Development of Insulin Resistance:

Insulin resistance is a condition characterized by decreased sensitivity of a skeletal or adipose cell to insulin, resulting in decreased glucose uptake by the cell. This can lead to hyperinsulinemia and further reduce insulin sensitivity. Insulin resistance is one of the primary factors contributing to metabolic syndrome (MetS), causing elevated glucose and fatty acid concentrations in the blood. Smoking is associated with insulin resistance in a dose-dependent manner. It directly increases the risk for insulin resistance, mainly via hormone activation, and may indirectly cause insulin resistance due to its effects on abdominal obesity. Nicotine may be the factor underlying these potential mechanisms. With the prevalence of prediabetes and diabetes on the rise, and considering the role of smoking and its relationship to insulin resistance, smoking reduction or cessation may be a viable option for those who are at risk or already identified as insulin resistant. Therefore, smoking cessation or reduction would serve as a beneficial component in any diabetes prevention or treatment plan.
Providing meaningful information: Part A—Beyond the search

Abstract This chapter introduces scholarly publication and the informationst's role in supporting researchers embarking on this journey. It breaks down the scholarly communications lifecycle into three sections and illustrates techniques on how the informationist may assist in each stage. The Pre-Pre-Publishing section covers establishing a good research project, focusing the question, appropriate format for topic, reaching the target audience, authorship, and filing for patents. Pre-Publishing covers topics such as literature review, trustworthiness, determining publisher/sponsor longevity, pros and cons of impact factors, visibility/reach, open access considerations, and acceptance rate/time to publication. The Publishing: Navigating the submission process section, focuses on assisting the researcher with the “Instructions for authors,” choosing Keywords/subject headings, Copyright, and Open researcher and contributor ID (ORCID). The last section is a case study where assistance by an informationist is provided to a researcher whose manuscript has been returned by reviewers with a request for extensive edits.
Sexual Differentiation and the Growth Process

As adults, males are larger than females in most species with which we are familiar, but this generalization is not appropriate for all species (Ralls, 1976). In cattle, sheep, and swine, testicular secretions (testosterone and its metabolites) are associated with the greater size of males, but few discussions of growth in domestic farm animals address the total impact of these steroids on developmental processes. The influence of testicular steroids on growth and muscling during pubertal development is well documented (Tucker and Merkel, 1987), but when steers are produced by castration shortly after birth, they are not exposed to testicular secretions during postnatal development. Why then do steers grow faster and larger than heifers? A second point that has perplexed animal scientists is the inconsistency among cattle, sheep, and swine relative to body growth after castration of young males. From Hammond’s Farm Animals (Hammond et al., 1971) we quote, ‘‘While (at equal body weight) the castrated male, in sheep or cattle, has a higher proportion of muscle and less fat than the female, in pigs the position is reversed.” Trenkle and Marple (1983) reiterated this point: “The inconsistent ranking of the barrow as compared with the steer and wether is not easily explained.” We also are unable to fully explain this issue but speculate that this may relate to the time when sexual differentiation of the growth process occurs.