cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Implications of compensatory and additive mortality to the management of selected sportfish populations

The compensatory mortality hypothesis postulates that a population's total mortality remains unchanged at low to intermediate exploitation rates because natural mortality decreases to compensate for reduced density, whereas the additive mortality hypothesis postulates that any increase in exploitation mortality results in an increase in total mortality. Fishing and natural mortality rates have generally been assumed to be additive rather than compensatory. We reviewed mortality estimates for some prominent sportfish populations to identify evidence for compensatory or additive mortality. For largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides, total annual mortality increased with annual exploitation suggesting additive mortality. For crappies Pomoxis nigromaculatus and P. annularis, annual exploitation did not seem to affect annual mortality at low to moderate annual exploitation, but annual mortality increased with annual exploitation as it increased beyond 40%, conforming to the compensatory mortality hypothesis. Northern pike Esox lucius mortality estimates revealed no relation between annual mortality and annual exploitation, and highly variable annual mortality for a given annual exploitation. Evidence from the literature suggests that mortality of northern pike may be compensatory for fish smaller than 40 cm total length, but additive for larger fish. Because compensatory natural mortality reduces the managers’ability to control annual mortality, we suggest that further consideration of the compensatory mortality hypothesis be given to species that have shown variable mortality responses to reductions in annual exploitation.
Bioavailability and stability of mercury sulfide in Armuchee (USA) soil

Because of the adverse effects of elemental mercury and mercury compounds upon human health, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is engaged in an on-going effort to monitor and remediate mercury-contaminated DOE sites. In order to more cost effectively implement those extensive remediation efforts, it is necessary to obtain an improved understanding of the role that mercury and mercury compounds play in the ecosystem. We have conducted pilot scale experiments to study the bioavailability of mercury sulfide in an Armuchee (eastern US) soil. The effects of plants and incubation time on chemical stability and bioavailability of HgS under simulated conditions of the ecosystem have been examined, as has the dynamics of the dissolution of mercury sulfide by various extractants. The results show that mercury sulfide in contaminated Armuchee soil was still to some extent bioavailable to plants. After planting, soil mercury sulfide is more easily dissolved by both 4 M and 12 M nitric acid than pure mercury sulfide reagent. Dissolution kinetics of soil mercury sulfide and pure chemical reagent by nitric acid are different. Mercury release by EDTA from HgS-contaminated soil increased with time of reaction and soil mercury level. Chelating chemicals increase the solubility and bioavailability of mercury in HgS-contaminated soil.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
STOCK REPURCHASES AND SECURITYHOLDER RETURNS: A CASE STUDY OF TELEDYNE

This study examines securityholder returns around nine major repurchase announcements and 10 other repurchase-related announcements by the Teledyne Corporation between 1972 and 1984. Statistically significant positive excess returns to common stock and convertible preferred stockholders are documented. Contrary to prior research that investigated the average response to repurchase announcements, however, there is a wealth transfer from bondholders to stockholders. Bondholder returns around the repurchase announcements are significantly negative. These returns are examined for each announcement and each bond issue.
Long-term Follow-up with AlloDerm in Breast Reconstruction.

Summary:Little is known about the long-term fate of acellular dermal matrices in breast implant surgery. A 12-year follow-up case with tissue analysis of AlloDerm in revision breast reconstruction reveals retention of graft volume and integration with an organized collagen structure, minimal capsule
Interpretation of the far infrared laser oscillation in ammonia

Abstract The far infrared laser oscillation from ammonia gas is explained in terms of a transition involving excited states of the symmetric deformation mode v 2 of NH 3 . The reported wave numbers are in good agreement with calculations, although some questions remain on the intensities.
Question & Answer: Yoga in the Treatment of Disordered Eating and Body Image Disturbance: How can the Practice of Yoga be Helpful in Recovery from an Eating Disorder?

The ancient Indian practice of yoga has enjoyed a surge of popularity in the last several years, supported by an increasing awareness of the indisputable link between a person’s overall physical an...
Mild and Efficient Desymmetrization of Diynes via Hydroamination: Application to the Synthesis of (±)-Monomorine I

An efficient silver-catalyzed desymmetrization of amino diynes via hydroamination is reported. A variety of functionalized 1-pyrroline derivatives were synthesized in 73% to 88% isolated yields (>98% by 1H NMR in some cases). The usefulness of this mild hydroamination method was further shown by the desymmetrization of unprotected tert-hydroxy diynes. Structures of two transition states have been studied computationally. An application of this method was demonstrated by a short and efficient synthesis of (±)-monomorine I.
Histochemical localization of L-gulonolactone oxidase activity in tissues of several species.

SummaryA histochemical method was described which localized the activity of L-gulonolactone oxidase, the final oxidative step in synthesis of ascorbic acid from glucose. The enzyme was found to be active in the centrilobular cells of the rat liver and in selected portions of the mesonephric tubules of the frog kidney. It was absent from guinea pig kidney and liver, and from frog liver.
On semi-active enhancement of the dissipation provided by piezoelectric films

Light weight flexible structures designed for space application may be well served by an ability locally to tune the dissipation and stiffness of the structural element. The method investigated here is based on a combination of a piezoelectric strip and an operational amplifier based active circuit which enables control of the effective impedance over a wide range. In this paper, we discuss an analytical model substantially reformulated from our previous work to capture the direct link between membrane tension and voltage across the circuit. It is observed that when tuned for negative impedance, the circuit enables significantly enhanced dissipation of vibrations due to external loads. Theoretical and experimental results are discussed here for the response non-laminated films to line-impact loads. The analytical results presented here account for dissipation and added mass effects of air. A laser doppler vibrometer is used to provide a comparison for the voltage measurements across the piezoelectric strip electrodes.
Fatal Attraction: Turkey's Troubled Relationship with the European Union *

This paper examines the relationship of Turkey with the European Union and its predecessor. It addresses the following questions: Have the requirements of economic integration helped or hindered the process of economic reform in Turkey? Could greater assurance and support from Europe have impeded or enhanced the reform process? Could an alternative sequence of steps towards integration have rendered the process more productive? What role did Turkey's political and economic characteristics play in the process? The paper argues that there may have been a mismatch between the deals offered by the EC/EU and Turkey's needs and capabilities, which ruled out full compliance with those deals. Specifically, the opening of Turkish markets to increased foreign competition in the absence of effective fiscal and monetary institutions may have resulted in loss of macroeconomic discipline. Such difficulties entailed large costs and may have caused delays in Turkey's preparation for EU membership.
Nanometer-scale dimensional metrology with noncontact atomic force microscopy

Results from an extensive performance study on a noncontact scanning mode atomic fore microscope (AFM) are presented. The application of AFM to complement in-line CD metrology SEMs also is described.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection of bovine oocytes with stallion spermatozoa

Abstract Five experiments were designed to study the fertilizability and development of bovine oocytes fertilized by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with stallion spermatozoa. Experiment 1 determined the time required for pronuclear formation after ICSI. Equine sperm head decondensation began 3 h after ICSI; 42% were decondensed 6 h after ICSI. Male pronuclei (MPN) began to form 12 h after ICSI. Female pronuclei (FPN), however, formed as early as 6 h after ICSI. In Experiment 2, ionomycin, ionomycin plus 6-dimethylaminopurine (DMAP), and thimerosal were used to activate ICSI ova. None of the ICSI ova cleaved after treatment with thimerosal. Ionomycin activation after 24 and 30 h of oocyte maturation resulted in 29 and 48% cleavage rates, respectively. Ionomycin combined with DMAP resulted in 49, 6 and 3% cleavage, morula and blastocyst rates, respectively, when oocytes were activated after 24 h maturation. In Experiment 3, rates of cleavage (45–60%) and development to morulae (4–13%) and blastocysts (1–5%) stages following ICSI were not different ( P >0.05) among three stallions. Treatment of stallion spermatozoa with ionomycin did not affect cleavage or development of ova fertilized by ICSI. The chromosomal constitution of blastocysts derived from ICSI was bovine, not bovine and equine hybrids. In Experiment 4, to make male and FPN form synchronously, colchicine and DMAP were used for 4 h to inhibit oocytes at metaphase during activation; 63% of oocytes were still at metaphase 8 h after ICSI when treated with colchicine, and 50% of sperm nuclei were decondensed. About 18 h after ICSI, 21 and 50% male and FPN had formed, respectively, but cleavage rates were low, and only 1% developed to morulae. In Experiment 5, to test if capacitated equine sperm could fuse with the bovine oolemma, capacitated spermatozoa were injected subzonally (SUZI). Of the 182 SUZI oocytes, 49 (27%) contained extruded second polar bodies. After activation of oocytes with second polar bodies, 44, 22 and 15% developed to 2-, 4- and 8-cell stages, respectively, but development stopped at the 8-cell stage. None of the unactivated oocytes cleaved. In conclusion, equine spermatozoa can decondense and form MPN in bovine oocytes after ICSI, but subsequent embryonic development is parthenogenetic with only bovine chromosomes being found.
Role Of Glutamate On The Ventilatory Response To Hypoxia During Lactic Acid Infusion In Newborn Piglets. ♦ 1638

The hyperventilatory response to hypoxia is mediated by an increase in the CNS glutamate (GLU) levels. Metabolic acidosis decreases CNS GLU levels and thus may affect the ventilatory response to hypoxia. To evaluate the role of GLU on the ventilatory response to hypoxia during metabolic acidosis, 14 awake, unanesthetized and chronically instrumented newborn piglets(mean±SD; age, 6.6±3.2; wt, 1.9±0.5 kg) were studied before and after an infusion of either placebo (PL; n=7) or lactic acid (LA; n=7) at a mean dose of 19±4 mM/kg/h. The dose of LA was titrated to induce a progressive metabolic acidosis to achieve a base excess of -8 to -12 mEq/L in 120 min and to maintain an additional 60 min of steady state acidosis. Minute ventilation (VE), arterial blood pressure (ABP), arterial blood gases (ABG) and CNS glutamate levels were measured during normoxia (RA) and 15 min of hypoxia (FiO2=0.10). Extracellular GLU levels were measured in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) by microdialysis. Samples were collected at 5 min intervals and analyzed using HPLC with electrochemical detection. (See table).
An extracellular fibrillar matrix in gastrulating sea urchin embryos

Abstract Fine structural studies of fractured developing sea urchin embryos revealed the existence of a voluminous, fibrillar, extracellular matrix composed of fine filaments, twisting fibers and granules lining the blastocoel of midgastrula embryos. Glycine disaggregated embryos also exhibited this material. The fibrillar matrix is closely associated with the basal lamina of the ectodermal cells of the embryo and histochemical studies suggest it is composed mostly of sulfated glycosaminoglycans. The position of the matrix within the blastocoel as well as its organized association with embryonic cell surfaces is consistent with the hypothesis that it plays a major role in guiding the invaginating archenteron during gastrulation.
Changes in Respiration and Cyanide Sensitivity of the Barley Floret during Development and Maturation.

The 6-week period of development and maturation of the barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) floret from anthesis to harvest is characterized by two phases: an early phase of rapid increase in respiration rate and dry weight, and a late phase during which respiration decreased rapidly whereas dry weight remained unchanged. Consumption of O(2) by the embryo changed little during the entire developmental period, whereas O(2) uptake by the endosperm and the lemma and palea decreased significantly during the late phase.Maximal inhibition of O(2) uptake by cyanide in whole florets and floret parts coincided with maximal respiration and growth rates. Differences in sensitivity of embryo and endosperm to cyanide, as the floret matured, appeared to be related to developmental differences between these two tissues. Electron micrographs of embryo and endosperm cells are presented to illustrate some of their ultrastructural features, both at early and late stages of development. Increases in O(2) uptake and cyanide sensitivity of the caryopsis after the lemma and palea were removed suggested that the lemma, palea, and pericarp contributed partly to the increased resistance of the mature floret to cyanide by acting as barriers to gas exchange, thus restricting the movement of both cyanide and oxygen into the caryopsis.
Physical variation of water vapor, and the relation with carbon dioxide

Analysis of the long term NOAA carbon dioxide flask sample records to examine the exchange among the continental Antarctic air mass and other air masses shows a meteorological variation of carbon dioxide concentration. There is an inverse relation between the seasonal variation of carbon dioxide concentration and water vapor at all stations examined. Well established diffusion coefficients indicate an interaction of water and carbon dioxide vapor on the molecular scale. Laboratory experiments using a Fourier transform spectrometer show carbon dioxide to be removed from an airstream in proportion to water vapor precipitated. We propose that interaction of carbon dioxide and water vapor in the atmosphere provides temporary sinks that can influence the balance of the carbon dioxide budget.
Viral Interactions Lead to Decline of Blackberry Plants

Susaimuthu, J., Tzanetakis, I. E., Gergerich, R. C., Kim, K. S., and Martin, R. R. 2008. Viral interactions lead to decline of blackberry plants. Plant Dis. 92:1288-1292. Blackberry yellow vein disease (BYVD) poses a new threat to the blackberry industry in the United States. Blackberry yellow vein associated virus (BYVaV) was originally thought to be the sole cause of this disease. However, BYVaV has been found in several asymptomatic blackberry cultivars. An unusual member of the family Potyviridae was identified recently from symptomatic plants and named Blackberry virus Y (BVY). BVY has been shown to spread in the field and cause BYVD when co-infected with BYVaV. Both viruses are asymptomatic in single infections but are readily detectable in asymptomatic plants by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). However, in mixed infections, the titer of BYVaV is repressed, sometimes to levels undetectable by RT-PCR, while the concentration of BVY is increased several fold. Electron microscopy revealed a variety of viral inclusions in symptomatic leaf samples, but none could be found in single infections with either BVY or BYVaV. Although BYVaV has been consistently associated with BYVD in different geographical regions, the detection of BVY has thus far been restricted to northwest Arkansas. It has been hypothesized that BYVaV is the synergistic determinant of BYVD that causes symptoms in different cultivars at various locations during co-infection with other viruses.
Porto-systemic gradient of immunoreactive parathyroid hormone in man.

Systemic and portal levels of immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (iPTH) were evaluated as possible tumor markers for intraabdominal neoplasms in 170 patients. There was no significant difference between the systemic levels of iPTH in patients with pancreatic cancer, other intraabdominal tumors, or benign abdominal conditions. The portal iPTH levels were also comparable. In all patient groups the portal iPTH levels were consistently higher than the systemic levels; the mean portal iPTH for all patients was 31.3 ± 1.3 (SEM) μ l-eq/ml, significantly higher than the systemic level of 27.2 ± 1.1 μ l-eq/ml ( P t test). We conclude that iPTH is of no diagnostic value as a tumor marker in either portal or systemic blood. Our observations suggest a site of iPTH synthesis in the gastrointestinal tract drained by the portal venous system. APUD cells of the pancreas or gut are considered possible production sites of iPTH, and liver degradation of the hormone probably occurs in man.
Enhanced photochemical activity of α-Fe2O3 films supported on SrTiO3 substrates under visible light illumination

The visible light photochemical reactivity of a 50 nm thick α-Fe2O3(0001) (hematite) film on a SrTiO3(111) substrate is compared to the reactivities of bulk hematite and the same film supported by α-Al2O3(0001). The hematite film supported by SrTiO3(111) is far more reactive then the other two cases.
Full Field, ArF Immersion Projection Tool

Immersion lithography is rapidly approaching the manufacturing phase. A production-quality exposure tool system with NA = 1.07 (Nikon NSR-S609B) was constructed to target the start of immersion lithography for IC manufacturing in 2006. Its projection optics has very small wave-front aberration and lowest local flare levels. The overlay issue has been analyzed, and its cause was found to be evaporation cooling. With the tandem stage and local fill nozzle implemented in the S609B, we have successfully avoided the evaporation cooling so that the good wet-to-dry mix-and-match overlay data have been obtained. The major part of immersion specific defects is caused by dried water-droplets, i.e. water-marks. The local fill nozzle has eliminated this defectivity by avoiding airflow in the nozzle. In the future, water immersion with NA = 1.30 optics will be used for half-pitch 45 nm manufacturing
A Low-Complexity Algorithm for Antenna Selection in Space-Time Block Coded Systems

This paper presents a practical algorithm for antenna selection in multiple-input multiple-output wireless communication systems employing space-time block codes (STBC). It first shows that maximizing the channel Frobenius norm helps maximize the mutual information for both orthogonal STBC and quasi-orthogonal STBC. However, the computational complexity for finding the optimal antenna subset grows exponentially with the number of antennas. This paper identifies that the channel Frobenius norm maximization problem can be formulated as a quadratically constrained quadratic programming (QCQP) problem. Then, despite the fact that the problem is non-convex, a semidefinite relaxation of QCQP enables the problem to be solved approximately by semidefinite programming in polynomial time. Simulation results indicate that the loss of semidefinite relaxation is negligible. It is also shown that although the combination of STBC and antenna selection is not always beneficial, it is a robust transmission strategy in the high SNR regime when only imperfect channel information is available.
Resident Complaints About the Nursing Home Food Service: Relationship to Cognitive Status

Most nursing home (NH) residents are not interviewed about their satisfaction with the food service due to cognitive impairment. The purpose of this study was to determine the proportion of NH residents able to complete a structured interview to assess food complaints when no cognitive status criteria were used to exclude residents from interview. Eighty-nine percent of 163 residents were able and willing to complete the interview, and 65% expressed complaints about the NH food service. Residents who expressed complaints ate less of their meals, had less cognitive impairment, and had more depressive symptoms than those who did not. This study shows that the majority of NH residents are able to reliably answer questions about their satisfaction with the food service, regardless of cognitive status, and the presence of complaints is related to poor meal intake and depressive symptoms.
Maternal regulation of children's problem-solving behavior and its impact on children's performance

This study focused on a social interaction theory of the development of cognitive self-regulation. Specifically, the effect of mother-child interaction on the child's ability to problem solve was investigated. The general predictions were (1) children who interacted with their mothers throughout a problem-solving task would subsequently exhibit improved independent performance over practice-control children, who received corrective feedback from a female experimenter at the end of the task; (2) mothers would be more responsible for task activities, would more often regulate their child's task behaviors, and offer more specific verbal content when task demands on child competence increased than when they decreased. 60 3- and 5-year-olds either worked with their mothers or practiced alone and were given corrective feedback on a sorting task in which miniature pieces of furniture were placed in a doll house. As predicted, children who interacted with their mothers subsequently created more correct, adult-like groupings independently than children who received corrective feedback. Mothers displayed more task responsibility and regulation with younger children and when task demands on children of both age groups increased. Maternal verbal content became less specific when task demands decreased. Child performance was related to (1) variation in maternal regulation of the child; and (2) degree of specificity of maternal verbal content.
Call Admission Control and Traffic Engineering of VoIP

This paper presents an extension of the Erlang-B model for traffic engineering of voice over IP (VoIP). The Erlang-B model uses traffic intensity and grade of service (GoS) to determine the number of trunks in circuit-switched networks. VoIP traffic, however, is carried over packet-switched networks, and network capacity is measured in bits per second instead of the number of trunks. In this paper, we propose a new measurement scheme to translate network bandwidth into the maximum call load. With this new metric, the Erlang-B model is applicable to VoIP. We conducted experiments to measure the maximum call loads based on various voice codec schemes, including G.711, G.729A, and G.723.1. Our results show that call capacity is most likely constrained by network devices rather than physical connections. Based on this result, we recommend considering both packet throughput (pps) and bit throughput (bps) in determining the max call load. If network capacity is constrained by pps, codec schemes would have almost no effect on the maximum call load, while the sampling rate could easily double or half the call load.
Regional and Global Patterns of Population, Land Use, and Land Cover Change: An Overview of Stressors and Impacts

This paper provides an overview of land use and land cover (LULC) change and regional to global patterns of that change and responses. Human activities now dominate the Earth's global ecosystem and...
Persons With Developmental Disability Exposed to Interpersonal Violence and Crime: Approaches for Intervention

PURPOSE. Psychoeducational and psychotherapeutic interventions, by psychiatric advanced practice registered nurses and caregivers working with people with developmental disabilities exposed to interpersonal violence and crime, are recommended to help the individual resolve the intrapsychic trauma. CONCLUSIONS. Persons with developmental disabilities experience the full affective range of the effects of trauma and may benefit from a variety of interventions. What may be different in comparison to other survivors are the ways psychotherapeutic and psychoeducational interventions are adapted so that emotions, resultant actions, and ongoing concerns can be effectively expressed and addressed. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS. Advanced practice registered nurses have an important role in addressing the sequelae of trauma by employing flexible, creative, and direct therapy with individuals. Additionally significant is provision of educational and supportive measures for the caregivers, who have the potential to generate an ongoing socially therapeutic environment. Language: en
The influence of athletic experience and kinematic information on skill-relevant affordance perception

Humans can perceive affordances both for themselves and for others, and affordance perception is a function of perceptual-motor experience involved in playing a sport. Two experiments investigated the enhanced affordance perception of athletes. In Experiment 1, basketball players and nonbasketball players provided perceptual reports for sports-relevant (maximum standing-reach and reach-with-jump heights) and non-sports-relevant (maximum sitting height) affordances for self and other. Basketball players were more accurate at perceiving maximum reach-with-jump for another person than were nonbasketball players, but were no better at perceiving maximum reach or sitting heights. Experiment 2 investigated the informational basis for this enhanced perceptual ability of basketball players by evaluating whether kinematics inform perceivers about action-scaled (e.g., force-production dependent), but not body-scaled (i.e., geometrically determined), affordances for others, and whether basketball experience enhances sensitivity to kinematic information. Only basketball players improved at perceiving an action-scaled affordance (maximum reach-with-jump), but not body-scaled affordances (maximum standing-reach and sit) with exposure to kinematic information, suggesting that action-scaled affordances may be specified by kinematic information to which athletes are already attuned by virtue of their sport experience.
The menagerie of neurology: Animal signs and the refinement of clinical acumen.

Summary Neurology is a field known for “eponymophilia.” While eponym use has been a controversial issue in medicine, animal-related metaphoric descriptions continue to flourish in neurologic practice, particularly with the advent of neuroimaging. To provide practicing and trainee neurologists with a useful reference for all these colorful eponyms, we performed a literature review and summarized the various animal eponyms in the practice of neurology (and their etiologic implications) to date. We believe that the ability to recognize animal-like attributes in clinical neurology and neuroradiology may be attributed to a visual phenomenon known as pareidolia. We propose that animal eponyms are a useful method of recognizing clinical and radiologic patterns that aid in the diagnostic process and therefore are effective aidesmemoire and communicative tools that enliven and improve the practice of neurology.
A preliminary study of patients' perceptions of certain aspects of their physical therapy experience

Many sources recommend or mandate patient participation in setting goals and planning their therapeutic programmes, but little is known to what extent this occurs in clinical practice. This descriptive study was undertaken to explore three areas of concern: patients' perceptions of their involvement in goal-setting, in planning their treatment and in assessing outcomes. Data were also gathered as to these patients' perceptions of the value of physical therapy to them and of their relationship with their therapists.Semi-structured interviews were conducted, recorded, transcribed and analysed for 20 patients in physical therapy in four clinical sites. Of the three original questions, patient participation in assessing outcomes received the strongest support from our data; patient participation in the evaluation of what helped them therapeutically received somewhat less support; and patient involvement in goal-setting received the weakest support. Our sample volunteered strong affirmation of the significance...
Organophosphorus Insecticides Induce Airway Hyperreactivity by Decreasing Neuronal M2 Muscarinic Receptor Function Independent of Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition

We previously demonstrated that the organophosphorus (OP) insecticide chlorpyrifos potentiates vagally induced bronchoconstriction independent of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition by decreasing the function of neuronal M2 muscarinic receptors that normally inhibit acetylcholine release from parasympathetic nerves supplying airway smooth muscle. However, it has been reported that different OPs may not affect muscarinic receptors equally. To determine if the effects of chlorpyrifos on airway hyperreactivity can be generalized to other OPs, we tested whether parathion and diazinon also inhibit neuronal M2 receptor function resulting in airway hyperreactivity. In control animals, the M2 agonist pilocarpine inhibits vagally induced bronchoconstriction in a dose-related manner. Treatment of guinea pigs with either parathion (1-10 mg/kg, sc) or diazinon (0.75-75 mg/kg, sc) shifted pilocarpine dose-response curves significantly to the right, indicating loss of neuronal M2 receptor function. These OP treatments also significantly potentiated vagally induced bronchoconstriction. Treatments that did not decrease M2 receptor function (parathion at 0.1 mg/kg, sc, or the non-OP insecticide permethrin at 150 mg/kg, sc) also did not cause airway hyperreactivity. None of the OP treatments altered bronchoconstriction induced by iv acetylcholine or methacholine in vagotomized guinea pigs, suggesting that OP-induced airway hyperreactivity is not due to altered function of muscarinic receptors on airway smooth muscle or to AChE inhibition. AChE assays of lung, blood, and brain confirmed that parathion and diazinon decreased M2 function at concentrations that did not inhibit AChE. These data suggest that multiple diethyl phosphorothionate OPs cause airway hyperreactivity via a common mechanism of M2 receptor dysfunction independent of AChE inhibition.
“Deterrability” Among Gang and Nongang Juvenile Offenders: Are Gang Members More (or Less) Deterrable Than Other Juvenile Offenders?

This study investigates the effect of the threat of legal sanctions on intentions to commit three types of offenses with a representative sample of 744 officially adjudicated youth with varying histories of offenses and gang involvement. In a departure from previous research, the authors find small severity effects for property crimes that are not negated by past offending experience, morality, or anticipated loss of respect from adults or peers. Gang members appear to be vulnerable to the effects of certainty of punishment for vehicle theft. These results challenge the current crime policy of increased reliance on punishment to deter gang crime but suggest that increasing gang members’ certainty of apprehension might hold some promise for reduction of some gang crime.
Slow-drift motion of a two-dimensional block in beam seas

Because of the inherent nonlinearity in the boundary conditions on the free surface, water waves with frequencies from neighboring parts of the sea spectrum interact and force low-frequency oscillations at the second order. Since the physical phenomenon involves vastly different timescales, the perturbation method of multiple scales is applied here to a rectangular cylinder in beam seas. It will be shown that at the second order there are two kinds of long waves; one is locked to the envelopes of the incident, reflected and transmitted short waves, while the other propagates away from the body at the long-wave velocity [sq rt (gh)] . The latter contributes to the damping of slow-drift oscillations of the body. Analytical results for the displacement amplitudes of the slow sway and for the radiated long waves are derived. The transient evolution due to incident envelopes of finite and semi- finite duration is also predicted.
Motivational impacts of a game-based intelligent tutoring system

iSTART is an intelligent tutoring system (ITS) designed to improve students’ reading comprehension. Previous studies have indicated that iSTART is successful; however, these studies have also indicated that students benefit most from long-term interactions that can become tedious and boring. A new game-based version of the system has been developed, called iSTART-ME (motivationally enhanced). Initial results from a usability study with iSTART-ME indicate that this system increases engagement and decreases boredom over time.
Influence of nanoparticle surface chemistry on ion transport in polymer nanocomposite electrolytes

Abstract Using atomistic molecular dynamics simulations, we study the ion diffusivities and conductivities of polyethylene oxide polymer electrolytes doped with LiBF4 salt and containing dispersed Al2O3 nanoparticles. We consider nanoparticles of two different surface chemistries: (a) containing acid rich surface sites (α‐Al2O3); (b) containing roughly equal acidic and basic surface sites (γ‐Al2O3). We compare the ionic diffusivities and conductivities of such systems with our earlier results [Mogurampelly et al. Macromolecules 2015, 48, 2773–2786] for systems containing basic surface sites on the nanoparticles (β‐Al2O3). In the presence of α‐Al2O3 and γ‐Al2O3 nanoparticles, we observe a monotonic decrease of ionic conductivities and mobilities with particle loading. These results are consistent with our earlier findings in the context of β‐Al2O3 nanoparticles. Our analysis identifies that the ionic mobilities and conductivities correlate with the combined effects of the changes in polymer segmental dynamics and the modifications in the local environment of ionic species arising from the introduction of nanoparticles.
Organizations working on behalf of prostitutes: An analysis of goals, practices, and strategies:

Views on female prostitution are diverse and often hotly contested, both inside and outside academic circles. Some contend that prostitutes are universally exploited, while others argue that they are workers and should be recognized as such. Yet there is little analysis of the role that service-providing organizations play in this larger debate. This article examines programs that offer direct services to prostitutes–which we call prostitute-serving organizations (PSOs)–in order to document both the kinds of services they provide and to assess whether they engage in efforts to change larger social or legal arrangements that impact their constituents. The article draws on data from multiple sources, including the website content of 37 PSOs, 21 in-depth interviews with PSO staff members, and published secondary sources. The organizations are categorized in terms of their core perspective on sex work, which we link to one of the three main theoretical paradigms in the sex-work literature. We distinguish the ...
Incidence of Codling Moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in Packed Nectarines

Controlled experiments were conducted to determine the incidence of codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), in packed nectarines, Prunus persica (L.) Batsch var. nucipersica . We have demonstrated the existence of only extremely low levels of codling moth infestation in commercial nectarines. No eggs, pupae, or diapausing larvae were found. Only one live, third instar was found in 37,908 culled nectarines. Three live fourth instars were found in 326,625 packed nectarines. Only 22 codling moth males were trapped in 1,392 trap-nights in three nectarine orchards. It is apparent that nectarine is not a significant host of codling moth. We discuss the probability of a potential mating pair occurring in a shipment under several different scenarios and how this relates to meeting quarantine security requirements.
Anti-HEL cell monoclonal antibodies recognize determinants that are also present in hemopoietic progenitors

The characteristics of nine monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) produced using the uninduced cells of a human erythroleukemia line (HEL) as immunogen are described. These antibodies were grouped into four categories by their differences in recognition of normal cells and cells of hemopoietic cell lines. The four MoAbs of group A recognize determinants that are expressed in a large proportion of normal bone marrow cells and other mature cells. The two MoAbs of group B (53/5, 53/6) and the two MoAbs of group C (54/23, 54/39) recognize small proportions of bone marrow cells, whereas the single MoAb of group D (53/10) essentially recognizes only HEL cells. Competition experiments revealed two pairs of competing Abs (53/5 and 53/6; 54/23 and 54/39). In complement-dependent cytotoxicity of progenitors, 53/6 produced 90%-100% inhibition of CFU-E, BFU-E, and CFU-C growth; 54/39 30%-60% inhibition of BFU-E and CFU-C growth; 53/10 produced a variable degree of inhibition of CFU-E and BFU-E. Cell sorting using 53/6 resulted in approximately a 10-12-fold enrichment of CFU-E, BFU-E, and CFU-C among the positive cells. Cell sorting with 54/23 resulted in recovery of over 90% of BFU-E and 100% of CFU-C among the 23.5% of sorted cells showing strong or intermediate positivity. These findings suggest that HEL cells possess surface characteristics that are expressed in several classes of hemopoietic progenitors.
On the steady-state range of averaging dynamics

The steady-state range, or simply the range, of a network of multiple agents with fixed initial conditions refers to the intersection of all convex subsets of the state space, each containing all agent states as time grows. The notion of range is similarly defined for a subset of agents. Given the update rule of a network with unknown initial conditions, a subset of agents is said to be range-defining if, for any initial conditions, its range equals the range of the whole network. If, in addition, the subset remains range-defining regardless of its members' update rules-in the sense that the agents in that subset may or may not abide by their own update rules- the subset is said to be range-deciding. In this paper, minimal range-defining/-deciding sets given a general linear averaging update rule, which is uniquely characterized by a sequence of row-stochastic matrices, are investigated. More specifically, convergence properties of the sequence are employed to obtain a minimal range-defining/-deciding set and its size.
Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in special populations: Solid organ transplant recipients, stem cell transplant recipients, and patients with hematologic malignancies

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are a major global public health concern and pose a serious threat to immunocompromised hosts, particularly patients with hematologic malignancies and ...
Sequences and Series

In the first chapter, we defined a sequence in X to be a mapping from N to X. Let us broaden this definition slightly, and allow the mapping to have a domain of the form \(\left\{ {n \in {\rm Z}:m\underline m} \right\}\), for some m ∈ Z (usually, but not always, m = 0 or m = 1). The most common notation is to write n→ xn instead of n→ x(n). If the domain of the sequence is the finite set \(\left\{ {m,m + 1, \ldots ,p} \right\}\), we write the sequence as \(\left( {x_n } \right)_{n = m}^p\), and speak of a finite sequence (though we emphasize that the sequence should be distinguished from the set \(\left. {\left\{ {x_n :m\underline m} } \right\}\), we write it as \((x_n )_{n = m}^\infty\), and speak of an infinite sequence. Note that the corresponding set of values \(\left\{ {x_n :n\underline > m} \right\}\) may be finite. When the domain of the sequence is understood from the context, or is not relevant to the discussion, we write simply (xn). In this chapter, we shall be concerned with infinite sequences in R.
A pilot study demonstrating the efficacy of transcutaneous bilirubin meters to quantitatively differentiate contusions from Congenital Dermal Melanocytosis

Abstract Objective Congenital Dermal Melanocytosis (CDM) can be difficult to differentiate from contusions. The need for a prompt and accurate diagnosis is best illustrated in cases where child abuse and maltreatment is of concern. Transcutaneous bilirubin (TCB) spectrophotometry has been well established to measure bilirubin under the skin for jaundice in infants. The use of TCB spectrometry has not been used to identify or differentiate contusions from CDM. We hypothesized that bilirubin, a degradation product of hemoglobin, would be elevated in contusions but not in CDM thus demonstrating the efficacy of a novel diagnostic technique to compliment or improve on physical assessment alone. Methods Pilot study with thirty-seven infants and children noted to have CDM and fifty-six infants, children and adults with contusions underwent measurement of their lesion with TCB spectrometry. In each patient, the affected skin was scanned along with the adjacent unaffected native skin allowing an internal control for individual pigment variation. Results TCB measurements of CDM resulted in lower transcutaneous bilirubin values that were not significantly different from adjacent native skin pigmentation. This was in contrast to cutaneous contusions, which resulted in a higher measured value (mean 5.01 mg/dL) compared to adjacent native tissue (1.24 mg/dL) demonstrating a four-fold increase in measurement at the lesion site (P Conclusions TCB Spectrometry as a novel diagnostic technique has the potential to discern contusions from CDM and may therefore have the ability to compliment the use of physical assessment alone.
Direct activation of a phospholipase by cyclic GMP-AMP in El Tor Vibrio cholerae

Sensing and responding to environmental changes is essential for bacteria to adapt and thrive, and nucleotide-derived second messengers are central signaling systems in this process. The most recently identified bacterial cyclic dinucleotide second messenger, 3', 3'-cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP), was first discovered in the El Tor biotype of Vibrio cholerae The cGAMP synthase, DncV, is encoded on the VSP-1 pathogenicity island, which is found in all El Tor isolates that are responsible for the current seventh pandemic of cholera but not in the classical biotype. We determined that unregulated production of DncV inhibits growth in El Tor V. cholerae but has no effect on the classical biotype. This cGAMP-dependent phenotype can be suppressed by null mutations in vc0178 immediately 5' of dncV in VSP-1. VC0178 [renamed as cGAMP-activated phospholipase in Vibrio (CapV)] is predicted to be a patatin-like phospholipase, and coexpression of capV and dncV is sufficient to induce growth inhibition in classical V. cholerae and Escherichia coli Furthermore, cGAMP binds to CapV and directly activates its hydrolase activity in vitro. CapV activated by cGAMP in vivo degrades phospholipids in the cell membrane, releasing 16:1 and 18:1 free fatty acids. Together, we demonstrate that cGAMP activates CapV phospholipase activity to target the cell membrane and suggest that acquisition of this second messenger signaling pathway may contribute to the emergence of the El Tor biotype as the etiological agent behind the seventh cholera pandemic.
Focused Ion Beam-Assisted Nanoscale Processing and Thermoelectrical Characterization

In this report, we introduce a nanomanipulation and fabrication technology, which is useful to characterize thermoelectrical properties of individual one-dimensional nanosystems such as metallic or semiconducting carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and nanowires (NWs). For such characterization, a one-stop measurement platform was constructed by focused ion beam (FIB) nanolithography after which a freestanding NW was picked up from a bundle of NWs and placed on the platform using a nanomanipulator. As a unique and unparalleled control for nanoscale one-dimensional systems, FIB-assisted nanomanipulator could make a direct access to nanoscale materials and structures. Subsequently, the four-point 3-ω method combined with a nanoheater was used to obtain electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and Seebeck coefficient, with which one can estimate the figure of merit of β-silicon carbide (SiC) NWs. We found that the thermal conductivity of a single β-SiC NW was 82 ± 6 W/mK. The Seebeck coefficient was also successfully measured to be −1.21 mV/K. With a measured electrical conductivity of the NW, the dimensionless thermoelectrical figure of merit (ZT) was estimated to be 0.12.
Cholinergic innervation is necessary to shift reward timing activity in rodent visual cortex

While the biological analogue of prediction error has been well characterized in the midbrain dopaminergic system, the possibility of other neuromodulatory systems acting as global reinforcers is a topic of much debate. Reward timing, the phenomenon by which single unit responses in primary visual cortex (V1)reflect an operantly learned stimulus‐reward interval, offers a tractable preparation to investigate reinforcement learning in vivo: theoretical work suggests that reward timing results from the interaction of stimulus‐evoked recurrent network activity and a global reinforcement signal that indicates the time of received reward. We hypothesized that this signal is conveyed by cholinergic neurons arising from the basal forebrain (BF), a strong candidate system that projects globally to most cortical regions, has a known role in plasticity, and is involved in attention and the representation of salience. To test the necessity of such a signal in entraining reward timing in V1, rats were trained on an initial stimulus‐reward contingency, received a neurotoxin in V1 that eliminated BF cholinergic terminals, and subsequently trained on a second contingency. We found that extracellular single unit recordings from V1 of lesioned animals, but not saline‐infused controls, failed to show shifted neural reports of reward that matched the new contingency. Importantly, neurons of lesioned animals continued to display intervals associated with the initial contingency, arguing that cholinergic input is required to learn, but not to express, reward timing activity.
Suppression of Mamu-AG by RNA interference.

Problem The role of placental major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules in pregnancy is not well understood. Mamu-AG, the rhesus monkey homology of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-G expressed in the human placenta, was targeted for degradation by RNA interference (RNAi), a powerful tool to aid in determining gene function, to determine the effect that this knockdown has on NK cell function. Method of study A series of potential target short hairpin RNA (shRNA) sequences to suppress Mamu-AG expression was screened, which identified an optimal sequence to use in transfection experiments. Knockdown in two different Mamu-AG-expressing cell lines was measured by flow cytometry. Cytotoxicity assays were performed to correlate Mamu-AG expression with NK cell cytotoxicity. Results Decreased expression of Mamu-AG by short interfering RNA (siRNA) (70–80%) in cell types tested was associated with increased lysis of Mamu-AG target cells. Conclusion Target sequences have been identified that knocked down Mamu-AG expression by RNAi and increased lysis by NK cells. This supports the concept that NK cell receptors recognize this placental non-classical MHC class I molecule.