cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sport as socialization: A critique of methodological premises

Abstract According to some researchers, sports teach hard work, competitiveness and sacrifice — values rewarded in modern industrial society. Others counter that evidence for this is lacking. Moreover sports teach authoritarian values and unrealistic expectations. With one exception, the research designs are flawed in that children are not assigned randomly to the sports group or the control group. After extensively reviewing the literature, the article illustrates its conclusions with interviews of 40 boys and girls.
Ultraviolet absorption spectrum of GeF2

Abstract An electronic absorption spectrum of GeF 2 has been recorded in the region 2424 A to 2225 A. All progressions can be explained in terms of bending frequencies of the lower and upper electronic states, which are ν 2 ″ = 263 cm −1 and ν 2 ′ = 164 cm −1 ± 3 cm −1 , respectively. The 0,0,0-0,0,0 transition is thought to lie at 43 843 cm −1 ± 10 cm −1 (2280.1 A).
Phytohemagglutinin-stimulated human lymphocytes: DNA sedimentation behavior.

Abstract The sedimentation behavior of DNA from mitogen-stimulated human peripheral lymphocytes in alkaline sucrose density gradients suggests a unique intranuclear conformational organization. This is expressed by rapid denaturation of DNA at high pH under conditions of extraction which otherwise yield large, duplex DNA molecules. The data further suggest that lymphocytes contain DNA which lacks tertiary structure typical of chromation in other tissue cells. X-irradiation produced measurable damage in lymphocyte DNA and this damage was repaired, but at a much reduced rate. DNA repair was related to the cell cycle and it was found that pulse labelled lymphocytes accomplished repair more efficiently during DNA synthesis. Lymphocyte radiosensitivity may be related to DNA conformational factors rather than the absence of repair processes present in other mammalian cells.
Comparison of optical colonoscopy and CT colonography for polyp detection.

1289 ally seed the start and endpoints of the centerline, which could improve the accuracy of comparison with OC, but as Summers et al. [1] point out, this factor is small. The technique used by Summers et al. [1] requires the endoscopist to first reach the cecum and if the polyp was not found on the way in, the correction factor could be calculated to help find the polyp on the way out. The predicted polyp location would be computed by multiplying the normalized distance along the centerline (NDACC) at CTC by the total length of the colon at OC. The NDACC can be incorporated in the CTC report and calculated by dividing the distance from the anus to the polyp by the total length of the colon. However, normally endoscopists concentrate on reaching the cecum on the way in and on finding the polyps on the way out. I suspect that after reaching the cecum, the scope would be partially retracted and that retracted cecal distance would be the ideal total colon length used to make the NDACC calculation. It is unclear whether the retracted distance was used for the research. Duncan et al. [2] propose using correction factors: With the splenic flexure as a dividing point, for right-sided polyps the CTC distance would be “corrected” by multiplying by 0.59 and for left-sided polyps by 0.78. The sex, age, body habitus (and possibly history of hysterectomy) were not documented in this article, although these factors affect the length of the scope needed to reach the cecum [6]. How does the reliability of the two methods compare? Most endoscopes have marks every 10 cm. The method by Summers et al. [1] may be somewhat more accurate since it was based on a calculation for each individual polyp whereas Duncan et al. [2] used averages to divide polyps into proximal and distal groups and could easily incorporate that information into the radiology report without the need for additional calculation on the Comparison of Optical Colonoscopy and CT Colonography for Polyp Detection
Cholesterol in vitamin B12-deficient chick embryo.

SummaryThe cholesterol content (free and esterified) of the chicken egg during incubation did not differ from that of its Vit. B12-deficient counterpart. Under the conditions of this experiment where a marked B12 deficiency existed, Vit. B12 has no effect on cholesterol status of the developing chick embryo.
Ultrafast switching of antiferromagnets via spin-transfer torque

Picosecond switching of the staggered antiferromagnetic order is shown to be realizable through spin-transfer torques from a short current pulse. The coupled dynamics of sublattice magnetization is mapped onto a classical pendulum subject to gravity and a driving pulse, where switching occurs if the pendulum acquires sufficient kinetic energy during the pulse to overcome the maximum of the effective gravity potential. The optimal switching scheme is explored through the dependence of switch angle and magnetic loss on the duration and strength of the current pulse. The physics discussed here provides a general route towards multifunctional THz applications via the spin-transfer torque in antiferromagnetic materials.
Self-adaptive flexible antenna array system

In the last decade self-adaptive and reconfigurable antenna arrays gained a lot of interest, and the concept of converting a simple antenna element or antenna array into a smart system was one of the research growing areas.
CENTRUM DEVELOPMENT IN DIDYMELLA BRYONIAE

Early stages of pseudothecium development consist of small pseudoparenchymatous stromata in which ascogonia differentiate. Deeply staining cells in the apical region of the young pseudothecium elongate to form pseudoparaphyses, which grow down to fill the centrum. Ascogenous hyphae grow out from ascogenous cells, located in the basal plectenchyma, and croziers arise and proliferate from the ascogenous hyphae. Bitunicate asci grow up among the pseudoparaphyses and forcibly discharge two-celled hyaline ascospores at maturity. Because centrum development in Didymella bryoniae (Auersw.) Rehm is pseudoparaphysate, the causal agent of gummy stem blight in watermelon is properly placed in the order Pleosporales. The placement of this species in Didymella on the basis of the Ascochyta cucumis Fautr. et Roum. anamorph is supported by centrum structure. THERE IS CONFUSION in the literature concerning the correct taxonomic position of Didymella bryoniae (Auersw.) Rehm, the fungus causing gummy stem blight in watermelon and diseases of muskmelon, cucumber, and certain other Cucurbitaceae. The source of this confusion arises from conflicting reports on the presence or absence of pseudoparaphyses in the centrum. Because of this question and the previously reported variability in ascocarp size and shape (Chiu and Walker, 1949), different investigators have applied the names Didymella bryoniae (Auersw.) Rehm, Mycosphaerella citrullina Grossenb., Mycosphaerella cucumis Chiu et Walker and Mycosphaerella melonis (Pass.) Chiu et Walker to this fungus.
Diabetes-specific quality of life after a low-carbohydrate and low-fat dietary intervention.

PurposeThe purpose of the study was to examine the impact of a 12-month weight loss intervention with either a low-carbohydrate or a low-fat diet on quality of life (QOL) among obese patients with type 2 diabetes.MethodsParticipants were enrolled in a randomized trial comparing a low-carbohydrate to a low-fat diet in type 2 diabetes. QOL was assessed with the Diabetes-39 questionnaire, which measures QOL within 5 distinct scales: anxiety and worry, diabetes control, energy and mobility, social burden, and sexual functioning. Repeated measures ANOVA compared change in QOL scales at baseline and 6 and 12 months.ResultsForty-six participants completed all measures. Following 12 months, there was a significant reduction in the scores related to sexual function and energy and mobility, suggesting improvement in QOL related to these domains. These changes were not significantly different between dietary arms. Changes in weight, A1C, and dietary composition were not significantly correlated with changes in QOL.C...
Determination of Thallium in the USGS Glass Reference Materials BIR‐1G, BHVO‐2G and BCR‐2G and Application to Quantitative Tl Concentrations by LA‐ICP‐MS

Here, we present determinations of thallium (Tl) concentrations in the USGS reference materials BIR-1G, BHVO-2G and BCR-2G measured by solution ICP-MS. The Tl content in these three glasses spans a range of about 2–230 ng g−1, which is similar to the values published for the respective powder materials. The determined range of Tl concentrations in these three glass reference materials makes them ideal for investigating Tl concentrations in basaltic and andesitic volcanic glasses. We also performed a series of laser ablation ICP-MS measurements on the three samples, which show that this technique is able to determine Tl concentrations in glass samples with concentrations as low as 2 ng g−1. Nous presentons ici des determinations de concentrations en thallium (Tl) dans les materiaux de reference USGS BIR-1G, BHVO-2G et BCR-2G mesuree par solution ICP-MS. Les teneurs en Tl dans ces trois verres couvrent une gamme d'environ 2 a 230 ng g−1, ce qui est similaire aux valeurs publiees pour les poudres de ces materiaux. La gamme de concentration en Tl determinee dans ces trois verres de reference montre qu'ils sont ideals pour l'analyse des concentrations en Tl des verres volcaniques basaltiques et andesitiques. Nous avons egalement effectue une serie de mesure par laser ablation ICP-MS sur les trois echantillons qui montre que cette technique permet de determiner les concentrations en Tl dans des echantillons de verre a des niveaux concentrations aussi faibles que 2 ng g−1.
Andropause: a misnomer for a true clinical entity.

Purpose: A progressive decrease in androgen production is common in males after middle age. The resulting clinical picture has been erroneously named male menopause or andropause. A more appropriate designation is androgen decline in the aging male (ADAM). The syndrome is characterized by alterations in the physical and intellectual domains that correlate with and can be corrected by manipulation of the androgen milieu. We review the epidemiological aspects of aging and endocrinological manifestations of ADAM, and provide recommendations for treatment and monitoring of these patients. Materials and Methods: We performed MEDLINE, Pubmed, Current Contents and Pharmaceutical Abstracts searches of relevant peer reviewed publications on andropause, male climacteric, adult hypogonadism and aging. In addition, conference proceedings were researched to provide a more complete review of the literature. Information was scrutinized and collated, and contributory data were reviewed and summarized. Results: ADAM is a clinical entity characterized biochemically by a decrease not only in serum androgen, but also in other hormones, such as growth hormone, melatonin and dehydroepiandrosterone. Clinical manifestations include fatigue, depression, decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, and alterations in mood and cognition. Conclusions: The onset of ADAM is unpredictable and its manifestations are subtle and variable, which has led to a paucity of interest in its diagnosis and treatment. Urological practice commonly includes a large proportion of men older than 50 years. Therefore, it is important for urologists to recognize the manifestations of and be familiar with evaluations necessary to document ADAM as well as its treatment and monitoring.
A community-based approach to the medical humanities.

BACKGROUNDThis paper discusses the rationale behind, and an approach to, the development of a graduate level interdisciplinary curriculum in literature and health care that incorporates community-based learning. Such an innovative approach emerges from the recognition that professional training in b
Analysis of cis-sequence of subgenomic transcript promoter from the Figwort mosaic virus and comparison of promoter activity with the cauliflower mosaic virus promoters in monocot and dicot cells.

A sub-genomic transcript (Sgt) promoter was isolated from the Figwort mosaic virus (FMV) genomic clone. The FMV Sgt promoter was linked to heterologous coding sequences to form a chimeric gene construct. The 5′-3′-boundaries required for maximal activity and involvement of cis-sequences for optimal expression in plants were defined by 5′-, 3′-end deletion and internal deletion analysis of FMV Sgt promoter fragments coupled with a β-glucuronidase reporter gene in both transient protoplast expression experiments and in transgenic plants. A 301 bp FMV Sgt promoter fragment (sequence −270 to +31 from the transcription start site; TSS) provided maximum promoter activity. The TSS of the FMV Sgt promoter was determined by primer extension analysis using total RNA from transgenic plants developed for FMV Sgt promoter: uidA fusion gene. An activator domain located upstream of the TATA box at −70 to −100 from TSS is absolutely required for promoter activity and its function is critically position-dependent with respect to TATA box. Two sequence motifs AGATTTTAAT (coordinates −100 to −91) and GTAAGCGC (coordinates −80 to −73) were found to be essential for promoter activity. The FMV Sgt promoter is less active in monocot cells; FMV Sgt promoter expression level was about 27.5-fold higher in tobacco cells compared to that in maize cells. Comparative expression analysis of FMV Sgt promoter with cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter showed that the FMV Sgt promoter is about 2-fold stronger than the CaMV 35S promoter. The FMV Sgt promoter is a constitutive promoter; expression level in seedlings was in the order: root>leaf>stem.
Posttraumatic carotid artery dissection in children: not to be missed!

BACKGROUND Post-traumatic carotid artery dissection (PTCAD) may result in acute arterial ischemic stroke (AIS). Pediatric PTCAD is rarely diagnosed prior to onset of neurological symptoms. We report on neuroimaging findings in a series of children with PTCAD. METHODS Five children with head or neck trauma were included in this study. Clinical histories were reviewed for mechanism of trauma, symptoms, complications, therapy, and outcome. Computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and CT/MR angiography (CTA, MRA) studies were retrospectively evaluated for signs and complications of PTCAD and presence and extent of skull base fractures. RESULTS PTCAD was located at the level of the skull base in all children and was associated with a skull base fracture in two. The diagnosis was made in five children by combined MRI/MRA and in two by CTA. Air in the carotid canal suggested skull base injury with PTCAD in two children. PTCAD was complicated by AIS in three children. CONCLUSION PTCAD may result from neck and head trauma. To avoid secondary AIS, radiologists should be familiar with neuroimaging findings in children, especially as acute PTCAD may initially be clinically silent. Consequently, pediatric neuroradiologists should actively exclude PTCAD in children with head and neck trauma.
Reproductive Physiology in Chinese Meishan Pigs

Experiments were designed to examine: 1) age at puberty in Chinese Meishan (Ms) and Yorkshire (Y) gilts, 2) litter size in Ms and Y gilts and 3) ejaculate characteristics in Ms and Y boars. Ms gilts reached sexual maturity 105 da earlier than Y gilts and Ms gilts were in estrus almost 1 da longer than Y gilts for their first, second and third estrus. No differences were detected between breeds for cycle length on the first or second estrous cycle. Validation of the Coat A Count Progesterone RIA procedure resulted in an accurate, rapid and efficient method for quantification of porcine serum progesterone and has extended to swine a reliable, repeatable methodology to confirm visual estrous detection which allows for accurate prediction of first ovulation at puberty. Luteal phase concentrations of progesterone are greater in Meishan gilts than Y control gilts during the first 2 estrous cycles. Reciprocal cross females (Ms × Y and Y × Ms) had higher ovulation rates and numbers of fetuses than Ms and Y females, possibly due to hybrid vigor. However, length of the uterus was not influenced by their larger litter sizes suggesting that uterine capacity was not challenged at this reproductive age. It appears there is a key point for Ms females where physiological and reproductive age must coincide to maintain improved prolificacy over domestic breeds of females. Further, the mechanism of fetal survival may be different in crossbred Ms females than in purebred Ms females. Therefore, of ovulation rate, uterine and embryonic interactions, including uterine capacity, and reproductive age are all important in the greater prolificacy of Ms females over occidental breeds of females. There were higher concentrations of estradiol-17β (E2) and testosterone in the seminal plasma from Ms boars compared to seminal plasma from Y boars.
Prediction of Bank Erosion in a Reach of the Sacramento River and its Mitigation with Groynes

The paper reports on the prediction of flow in a reach of the Sacramento River with focus on a part of the river’s bank where serious erosion has occurred. The simulations were obtained using a three-dimensional Navier–Stokes solver which utilized body-fitted coordinates to represent the complex river bathymetry. Comparative predictions were obtained using a two-dimensional, depth-averaged formulation. Local (nested) mesh refinement was employed to provide the necessary resolution of the bank geometry in the region of interest. The study focuses on the assessment of the effectiveness of a particular arrangement of groynes which was found in physical model studies to significantly reduce the rate of erosion in the region under consideration. To validate the computational models, predictions were first obtained for the case of turbulent flow in a straight rectangular channel with one groyne. Measurements of velocity and boundary shear stress were used for model validation. For the reach of the Sacramento River under consideration, velocity measurements obtained in the large-scale physical model were also used to check the computational model prior to its use for prediction of the river flow with groynes. Here, too, both depth-averaged and three-dimensional computations were performed with the objective being to determine the influence of the groynes on the flow velocity. The bank erosion rate was estimated by coupling the ‘excess shear stress’ method to the computed mean velocity field. The results show that for the groynes configuration that was found optimal in the physical-model studies, and that was actually implemented in the Sacramento River, the groynes are effective in reducing the bank erosion of the affected zone but at the cost of transferring a far less severe problem further downstream.
Contextualism, Invariantism and Semantic Blindness

Epistemic contextualism, many critics argue, entails that ordinary speakers are blind to the fact that knowledge claims have context-sensitive truth conditions. This attribution of blindness, critics add, seriously undermines contextualism. I show that this criticism and, in general, discussions about the error theory entailed by contextualism, greatly underestimates the complexity and diversity of the data about ordinary speakers’ inter-contextual judgments, as well as the range of explanatory moves that are open to both invariantists and contextualists concerning such judgments. Contextualism does entail that some speakers suffer from semantic blindness; however, at its roots, this blindness concerns not the context-sensitivity of knowledge claims, but the question whether knowledge sentences possess context-independent truth conditions. I argue that this blindness should not be deemed problematic, but that invariantism entails an error theory that is, by comparison, much more troubling.
From resistance to acceptance and use of technology in academia

The phenomenon of faculty’s resistance to use technology in higher education is the focus of this research as a secondary reading of the existing relevant research with the purpose of analyzing factors of resistance and finding the solutions. This paper is an excerpt from a Doctoral dissertation and is focused on the causes of resistance and finding possible solutions to re-think resistance (Matrosova Khalil, 2011, 2012). It is hoped that the results of this study will contribute to the understanding of resistance factors, add to the development of the theoretical basis of re-thinking resistance, and to create a path for redirecting away from psychological defensive behavior expressed by faculty. This last aspect is characterized as part of emotional and behavioral resistance, which this research hopes to transform from a negative to a positive attitude towards change.
Effects of feeding, fasting, glucose or arginine on plasma prolactin levels in the bovine.

The present study was undertaken to measure acute physiological changes in levels of plasma prolactin in the bovine. Plasma prolactin levels in prepubescent heifers increased from 12 to 23 ng/ml within 6 hr after feeding and then declined to less than 2 ng/ml after 46 hr of fasting. Results from intravenous infusion of glucose (0.5 mmole/kg) or 2-deoxyglucose (50 mg/kg) suggested that glucose is not directly involved in regulating secretion of the hormone. Infusion of arginine monohydrochloride (0.5 g/ kg) caused an increase in plasma prolactin from undetectable levels to a mean of 94 ng/ml in fasted heifers and from 12 to 113 ng/ml in fed heifers. (Endocrinology 89: 730, 1971)
Confirmation of hybridity using GISH and determination of 18S rDNA copy number using FISH in interspecific F(1) hybrids of Tecoma (Bignoniaceae).

Interspecific hybridization in Tecoma Juss. was conducted to develop novel forms for the nursery industry. We report fertile hybrids from the cross T. garrocha Hieron. (pistillate parent) × T. stans (L.) Juss. ex Kunth. Leaf morphology of the F1 hybrids of T. garrocha × T. stans was intermediate between the parents. GISH also confirmed hybridity. The F1 hybrids were successfully backcrossed to both parents and self-pollinated to produce BC and F2 progeny. Tecoma garrocha, T. stans, and T. guarume A. DC. ‘Tangelo’ were self-fertile. The F1 hybrids also were crossed with T. capensis (Thunb.) Lindl. and T. guarume ‘Tangelo’, resulting in three-species hybrids. FISH conducted on F1 hybrids identified four copies of the 18S internal transcribed spacer region. Further analysis using FISH has the potential to provide information on the evolution of Bignoniaceae and the potential role of polyploidy.
Uropathogenic Escherichia coli Invades Host Cells via an HDAC6-modulated Microtubule-dependent Pathway

Strains of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) encode filamentous adhesive organelles called type 1 pili that promote bacterial colonization and invasion of the bladder epithelium. Type 1 pilus-mediated interactions with host receptors, including α3β1 integrin, trigger localized actin rearrangements that lead to internalization of adherent bacteria via a zipper-like mechanism. Here we report that type 1 pilus-mediated bacterial invasion of bladder cells also requires input from host microtubules and histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6), a cytosolic enzyme that, by deacetylating α-tubulin, can alter the stability of microtubules along with the recruitment and directional trafficking of the kinesin-1 motor complex. We found that disruption of microtubules by nocodazole or vinblastine treatment, as well as microtubule stabilization by taxol, inhibited host cell invasion by UPEC, as did silencing of HDAC6 expression or pharmacological inhibition of HDAC6 activity. Invasion did not require two alternate HDAC6 substrates, Hsp90 and cortactin, but was dependent upon the kinesin-1 light chain KLC2 and an upstream activator of HDAC6, aurora A kinase. These results indicate that HDAC6 and microtubules act as vital regulatory elements during the invasion process, possibly via indirect effects on kinesin-1 and associated cargos.
Evo–Devo in the Era of Gene Regulatory Networks

Advanced genomics tools enable powerful new strategies for understanding complex biological processes, including development. By extension, we should be able to use these methods in a comparative fashion to capture evolutionary mechanisms. This requires a capacity to go deep and broad, to analyze developmental gene regulatory networks in many organisms, especially nontraditional models. As we usher in a new era of next-generation GRN (gene regulatory network) analysis, it is important to ask how to evaluate the evolution of network interactions. Particularly problematic, as always, is defining "independence": Are two character traits found together because they are functionally linked or because of historical accident? The same basic question applies to understanding developmental GRN evolution. However, the essential difference here is that a GRN defines a causal chain of events. An understanding of causal relations--how Genes A and B work in concert to drive expression of Genes C and D to create a new Territory E--gives hope for establishing "trait independence" in a way that purely correlative arguments--the association of the expression of Gene D in Territory E--never could. Insight into causality provides the key to interpretation, as seen in this simplified scenario. Real-world networks bring new degrees of complexity, but the elucidation of causal relations remains the same. Has the day arrived when a single laboratory has the wherewithal to conduct multiorganism gene network projects in parallel? No. However, we argue that day is closer than one might suppose. We describe how a speedboat GRN project in one's favorite nonmodel organism(s) might look and provide a framework for comparative network analysis.
Assessment of membrane permeability in primary cultures of neurons and glia in response to osmotic perturbation.

In primary cultures of neurons and astrocytes from rat brain, the cellular contents of Kf and Na’ were used to assess plasma membrane permeability in response to osmotic shock. In contrast to trypan blue exclusion, the measure of ionic content reflected both transient and permanent membrane damage, and was also applicable to aggregates of cells. In steady state, the neurons and glia exhibited a K+ to Na+ ratio of 3-5, and the mean cellular contents (pEq/mg protein) of Kf and Na+ were 0.72 and 0.17 for astrocytes and 0.78 and 0.23 for neurons. Both hypo- and hypertonicity resulted in marked efflux of cell K+, but elevation of cellular Na+ occurred only under severe hypertonic conditions. Relative to neurons, astrocytes displayed considerably higher resistence to osmotic shock. During subsequent isotonic incubation, these cells were able to completely recover from transient membrane damage caused by a 10-min exposure to fourfold hypertonicity. Permanent changes in glial permeability were obtained only after a 20-min hypertonic shock. In contrast, 5 min hypertonic treatment of neurons decreased the ratio of cellular Kf to Na+ from 4.5 to 1. This ratio was restored twofold by isotonic incubation, but decreased permanently to below 1 after 10 min of hypertonic shock. The results describe marked differences in the osmotic fragility of neurons and glia and demonstrate that the determination of cellular K+ and Na+ provides a sensitive and accurate indicator of membrane permeability in neural cells propagated as surface-growing cultures. The approach has wide-ranging applicability.
Where's the drift in babbling drift? A cross-linguistic study

Previous research has suggested that infants' early listening experience affects their ability to perceive speech. Many psychologists and linguists have also suggested an early impact of listening experience on prelinguistic production. This belief was formalized in the babbling drift hypothesis (see, e.g., Brown, 1958), which predicts that babbling begins to approximate characteristics of the mother tongue as infants approach meaningful speech. In order to investigate this hypothesis, four experiments were conducted in which adult listeners' perception of the babbling of infants from different language backgrounds was tested. In the first two experiments monolingual English and bilingual English-Spanish adults judged the babbling of fourteen 7–10 month-old English- and Spanish-learning infants. The third and fourth experiments investigated the babbling drift hypothesis with older infants (11–14 months of age).For all experiments conducted during both the beginning and the end of the babbling period, adult judges were unable to identify language background significantly above chance level. Therefore, the findings do not support the babbling drift hypothesis. However, bilingual and monolingual judges showed consistently different patterns of judgment with regard to particular infants and utterances. Thus, it appears that judges are influenced by their language background even if the influence fails to improve their success in determining infant language environment.
Associations Between Compulsory Physical Activity During Military Service and Activity in Later Adulthood Among Male Veterans Compared With Nonveterans

Background: Military veterans provide a large and diverse population to examine the extent to which compulsory physical activity (PA) in early adulthood is associated with PA later in life. Methods: We assessed self-reported and objectively measured PA and sedentary time in the 900 veterans and 2036 nonveterans with valid data from the 2003–2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. Analyses were adjusted for the complex survey design and age, race/ethnicity, education, marital status, and poverty. Results: Based on self-report, the proportion of veterans and nonveterans meeting PA Guidelines did not differ significantly (51.1% vs. 43.9%, P = .26). However, a greater proportion of veterans reported regular vigorous leisure-time activity (30.4% vs. 19.6%, P = .04) and muscle-strengthening activities (24.4 vs. 16.7, P = .051). Based on objective PA monitoring, activity levels between veterans and nonveterans also did not differ significantly, although mean counts and minutes per day were numeri...
The Ssk1p Response Regulator and Chk1p Histidine Kinase Mutants of Candida albicans Are Hypersensitive to Fluconazole and Voriconazole

Hypersensitivity to the triazoles fluconazole and voriconazole associated with two-component signal transduction proteins has not been reported in Candida albicans. Herein, we show that strains of C. albicans lacking the response regulator Ssk1p or the Chk1p histidine kinase signal transduction proteins are hypersensitive to fluconazole and voriconazole compared to wild-type (wt) as well as gene-reconstituted strains, reflecting an increased hypersensitivity to these drugs of about 16- to 500-fold. In comparison to wt cells, both mutants had elevated levels of fluconazole accumulation and reduced viability upon incubation with either drug, suggesting that in the absence of Ssk1p or Chk1p, fluconazole and voriconazole have significantly increased fungicidal effects on C. albicans.
Synthesis and characterization of novel analogs of conjugated bile acids containing reversed amide bonds

New analogs of amino acid-conjugated bile acids were synthesized in which the amide bond was reversed from its normal configuration. These structural isomers of the beta-alanyl conjugates of cholic acid and ursodeoxycholic acid were synthesized by reaction of succinic anhydride with the 24-nor-23-amine derivatives of cholic acid and ursodeoxycholic acid. The chemical and physical properties of these reverse amide conjugated bile acid analogs were compared with those of the normal glycine and beta-alanine conjugates. The reverse amide analogs comigrated with their isomeric beta-alanine conjugates during thin-layer chromatography using a variety of solvent systems. However, the isomeric pairs could be resolved by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography, with the reverse amides having greater retention times compared to the beta-alanine conjugates. Critical micelle concentrations, solubility of undissociated forms, and acid dissociation constants were similar for the isomeric pairs. Significant differences in melting points were observed, however, While the isomeric pairs showed no significant differences in sensitivity to base hydrolysis, the reverse amides were not hydrolyzed by the cholylglycine hydrolase from Clostridium perfringens, even after long incubation periods.
A Testbed for Real-Time Autonomous Vehicle PHM and Contingency Management Applications

Autonomous unmanned vehicles are playing an increasingly important role in support of a wide variety of present and future critical missions. Due to the absence of timely pilot interaction and potential catastrophic consequence of unattended faults and failures, a real-time, onboard health and contingency management system is desired. This system would be capable of detecting and isolating faults, predicting fault progression and automatically reconfiguring the system to accommodate faults. This paper presents a robotic testbed that was developed for the purpose of developing and evaluating real-time PHM and Automated Contingency Management (ACM) techniques on autonomous vehicles. The testbed hardware is based on a Pioneer 3-AT robotic platform from Mobile Robots, Inc. and has been modified and enhanced to facilitate the simulations of select fault modes and mission-level applications. A hierarchical PHM-enabled ACM system is being developed and evaluated on the testbed to demonstrate the feasibility and benefit of using PHM information in vehicle control and mission reconfiguration. Several key software modules including a HyDE-based diagnosis reasoner, particle filtering-based prognosis server and a prognostics-enhanced mission planner are presented in this paper with illustrative experimental results. This testbed has been developed in hope of accelerating related technology development and raising the Technology readiness level(TRL)ofemergingACM techniques for autonomous vehicles.
An Exploratory Examination of Retaliatory Preannouncing

This article focuses on preannouncing and how consumer preferences are affected by new product preannouncements from competing firms. Elaboration likelihood, the discounting principle, and uncertainty effects are used to suggest how consumer preferences may form as a result of competing preannouncements. Undergraduate students participated in experiments that tested competing premmouncements in multiple product categories. Preferences for the product preannounced first versus the product preannounced second depended on initial reactions to the first preannouncement, information amount, and statements that engender or reduce uncertainty about product performance (p<0.05). Results offer preliminary insights on how preannouncements may be developed to encourage brand preference.
Capacity response sets for security-constrained unit commitment with wind uncertainty

Abstract Power systems face growing uncertainty from intermittent renewable resources. This uncertainty makes it harder to schedule generators efficiently because the economics depend on unknown outcomes. This research modifies security-constrained unit commitment to anticipate the cost of dispatching backup capacity if and when it is needed. The model uses capacity constraints to cover individual scenarios by defining scenario response sets, which are revised iteratively using a mixed-integer program. The approach provides a mathematical way to derive capacity requirements like those used today in CAISO and ISO-NE. Testing on the IEEE 73-bus test case demonstrates the capacity requirements are economical compared to other deterministic policies from the literature.
Educational Perspectives: Neonatology Job Search: Looking Beyond the Dollar Signs

After about a decade of graduate and postgraduate medical training, many long hours, and personal sacrifices, perhaps carrying significant debt, you are about to land that long-awaited first job out of fellowship. Coming from the perspective of a fellow’s salary, attending salaries may look like the Promised Land. Starting salaries in neonatology vary from region to region and by type of practice, but the once wide gap between private practice and academic salaries has shrunk in recent years, just as job descriptions have blurred in both venues. Although starting salary is important and often sets the baseline for future raises, there are many factors beyond salary that will influence your lifestyle, career opportunities, job satisfaction, and lifetime finances. This article is intended to educate graduating fellows and other junior faculty or recent graduates about a myriad of factors that should be considered, along with base salary, when negotiating your first (or subsequent) position out of fellowship.
Adding Fault Tolerance to NPB Benchmarks Using ULFM

In the world of high-performance computing, fault tolerance and application resilience are becoming some of the primary concerns because of increasing hardware failures and memory corruptions. While the research community has been investigating various options, from system-level solutions to application-level solutions, standards such as the Message Passing Interface (MPI) are also starting to include such capabilities. The current proposal for MPI fault tolerant is centered around the User-Level Failure Mitigation (ULFM) concept, which provides means for fault detection and recovery of the MPI layer. This approach does not address application-level recovery, which is currently left to application developers. In this work, we present a modification of some of the benchmarks of the NAS parallel benchmark (NPB) to include support of the ULFM capabilities as well as application-level strategies and mechanisms for application-level failure recovery. As such, we present: (i) an application-level library to "checkpoint" and restore data, (ii) extensions of NPB benchmarks for fault tolerance based on different strategies, (iii) a fault injection tool, and (iv) some preliminary results that show the impact of such fault tolerant strategies on the application execution.
Financial Products and Sources Basis Taxation: U.S. International Tax Policy at the Crossroads

The increasing use of derivatives to manage financial risks raises significant challenges for legislators and tax administrators in forging a coherent U.S. tax regime. Through the creative use of derivatives, taxpayers can transform a highly taxed return into an economically equivalent but lower taxed return. In the cross-border setting, the adroit use of derivatives by foreign investors can transform, for example, a U.S. source dividend taxed at thirty percent into an equivalent swap return taxed at zero percent. Although there are valid arguments to tax synthetic returns similarly as the returns to which they relate, This article argues that the United States should eschew such an approach with respect to cross-border users of financial products. Given the current exemption for foreign investors for capital gains and interest, any attempt to tax synthetic returns would require rules that would be frightfully complex, may violate tax treaty obligations, and could actually cost the United States tax revenue if other countries followed suit. Instead, The growth in derivatives may present an opportune time for tax administrators to re-evaluate U.S. international tax policy and consider, at least in the treaty context, the exemption from source basis taxation of all investment returns earned by foreign investors.
Tensile adhesion evaluation in a new universal test.

A tensile testing jig was designed to test adhesion between various materials and tooth surfaces, and between materials of various consistencies, modes of setting and properties. This study examined the adhesion of both flowable and condensable, light cured and chemically cured, direct and indirect restorative materials to dentin. All materials were mixed and placed according to manufacturer's directions. The bonds were tested in tension after 24 hours. The substrate was dentin, except in group 1. Results in MPa +/- SD: 1. Photobond & Photoposterior to enamel 15.84 +/- 3.93; 2. Superbond CB 3. SuperBond CB 4. All-Bond and metal inlay 4.46 +/- 1.16; 5. Mirage Bond and Newbond and amalgam 2.97 +/- 0.85; 6. Vitrebond 2.06 +/- 0.95; 7. Newbond and amalgam 1.70 +/- 0.61; 8. Ketac-Bond 0.73 +/- 0.40. The groups (2,3,4), (4,5), (5,6,7) and (6,7,8) were not significantly different at the 95% confidence level, calculated by the Student-Newman-Keuls test. The testing method was useful for all materials studied.
Diagonalization of a Linear System of PDEs

This chapter describes the diagonalization of a linear system of partial differential equations (PDEs). This technique is applicable to a linear system of partial differential equations in two independent variables of the form ut + Au x = 0, where A is a constant matrix, it yields a set of uncoupled equations. By diagonalizing the coefficient matrix, the equations can be uncoupled and then solved. Given the linear system of differential equations u t + Au x = 0 , the dependent variables are changed to decouple the system. If the matrix A is n × n and has the eigenvectors { v 1 , v 2 ,…, v n } (which are assumed to be linearly independent), then the matrix S is defined by S = ( v 1 , v 2 , . v n ). Changing variables in u t + Au x = 0 by u = Sw results in Sw t + ASw x = 0 , or w t + Aw x = 0, where A = S -1 AS is a diagonal matrix. The equations in w t + Aw x = 0 are now decoupled and can be solved separately for { w 1 ( x, t ) , w 2 ( x, t ) ,…,w n ( x, t )}. After they have been found, u may be determined from u = Sw.
Abstract A12: Developing PDeX (Patient Derived Explant) to determine the basis for response to AR-directed therapeutics

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common non-cutanenous cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in American men. Androgen receptor (AR) is a hormone-activated transcription factor that plays an important role in both the development and progression of PCa. Androgen deprivation therapy is a common first-line therapy. However, many patients become resistant to such therapy and the tumor recurs. Thus, there is a vital need for the development of novel, more effective drugs. One major hurdle in this aspect is the lack of adequate preclinical models. Current models do not effectively recapitulate the heterogeneity and the microenvironment of human PCa tumors hindering the ability to accurately predict therapeutic response. Our lab has generated a method to culture patient tumors ex vivo termed patient derived explant (PDeX). This approach maintains the integrity of the native tumor microenvironment, tumor tissue morphology, and molecular signaling. Intriguingly, our PDEX model can be targeted with various therapeutic agents or lentiviral-based shRNAs to determine specific responses on individual tumor growth. Furthermore, with this model we can quantitatively assess drug efficacy on numerous parameters (i.e. AR levels, Ki67 staining, apoptosis screening). Data to be discussed will assess the variances in response to AR-directed therapeutics and underlying mechanisms of action. In addition, we can potentially identify clinically relevant subpopulations of patients and molecularly profile their cultured tissue to uncover new pathways for therapeutic intervention. Thus, the PDeX model allows for a comprehensive evaluation of individual tumors in their native microenvironment to ultimately develop more effective therapies. Citation Format: Ayesha Shafi, Matthew Schiewer, Renee de Leeuw, Peter McCue, Ruth Birbe, Leonard Gomella, Costas Lallas, Edouard Trabulsi, Ganesh Raj, Karen Knudsen. Developing PDeX (Patient Derived Explant) to determine the basis for response to AR-directed therapeutics. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Patient-Derived Cancer Models: Present and Future Applications from Basic Science to the Clinic; Feb 11-14, 2016; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2016;22(16_Suppl):Abstract nr A12.
Cost-effectiveness of focused ultrasound, radiosurgery, and DBS for essential tremor.

Background Essential tremor remains a very common yet medically refractory condition. A recent phase 3 study demonstrated that magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound thalamotomy significantly improved upper limb tremor. The objectives of this study were to assess this novel therapy's cost-effectiveness compared with existing procedural options. Methods Literature searches of magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound thalamotomy, DBS, and stereotactic radiosurgery for essential tremor were performed. Pre- and postoperative tremor-related disability scores were collected from 32 studies involving 83 magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound thalamotomies, 615 DBSs, and 260 stereotactic radiosurgery cases. Utility, defined as quality of life and derived from percent change in functional disability, was calculated; Medicare reimbursement was employed as a proxy for societal cost. Medicare reimbursement rates are not established for magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound thalamotomy for essential tremor; therefore, reimbursements were estimated to be approximately equivalent to stereotactic radiosurgery to assess a cost threshold. A decision analysis model was constructed to examine the most cost-effective option for essential tremor, implementing meta-analytic techniques. Results Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound thalamotomy resulted in significantly higher utility scores compared with DBS (P < 0.001) or stereotactic radiosurgery (P < 0.001). Projected costs of magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound thalamotomy were significantly less than DBS (P < 0.001), but not significantly different from radiosurgery. Conclusions Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound thalamotomy is cost-effective for tremor compared with DBS and stereotactic radiosurgery and more effective than both. Even if longer follow-up finds changes in effectiveness or costs, focused ultrasound thalamotomy will likely remain competitive with both alternatives. © 2017 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Stoichiometry and Life-History Interact to Determine the Magnitude of Cross-Ecosystem Element and Biomass Fluxes.

Ecosystems are linked through the transfer of materials and energy. Studies examining material fluxes across habitat boundaries frequently quantify unidirectional flows of nutrients and energy. However, material fluxes can be multidirectional, and we lack a conceptual framework to describe how their quantity and stoichiometry influence the net transfer of individual elements between ecosystems. Here we develop a zero net transfer isocline (ZNTI) framework that integrates the relative mass and stoichiometry of fluxes into and out of an ecosystem. We then use case studies with amphibians and salmon to elucidate how life history, ontogenetic shifts in stoichiometry, and trophic interactions shape relative fluxes of nutrients between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Because they increase in both size and Ca content from ova to metamorphs, amphibian life histories strongly bias them towards net Ca export into the terrestrial environment. Because amphibian biomass, C, P, and Ca zero net transfer isoclines do not overlap, there is no value of survivorship where the net flux of biomass, C, P, and Ca are simultaneously balanced between terrestrial and aquatic habitats. The degree of iteroparity and semelparity in salmon strongly affects both the magnitude of net biomass and P flux between riverine and marine environments. While the net direction of biomass flux generally remains strongly biased towards import into the riverine system, net P flux can reach net export into the marine environment because of increasing adult breeding survival leading to reduced mass and %P of what they deposit in rivers (e.g., ova versus whole carcasses). These examples highlight how ontogenetic shifts in body size and stoichiometry result in asymmetric fluxes of elements and biomass that can lead to simultaneous net imports and exports of different elements within the same system. Furthermore, they demonstrate how changes in life-history characteristics and stage-specific survivorship can lead to changes in net elemental transport between ecosystems.