cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Explaining differences in operating costs among poison control centers: An exploratory study

Objectives. To explore the effects of population, staffing, location, and funding on cost per human poison exposure call; and organizational characteristics differentiating higher- and lower-cost centers. Methods. Data from 65 poison control centers (2001) were analyzed with linear multiple regression; qualitative data from 10 centers were compared. Results. The most important predictor of expenses per call was 24-hour coverage by Specialists in Poison Information ($15.70 of $40.53/call). Other factors increasing total expenses included northeast location and more health educator FTEs. Qualitative information revealed that more complex organizational forms, including multiple reporting and accountability relationships, characterized higher-cost centers. Surprisingly, having a wider range of reported activities (less specialization) was more common among lower-cost centers. Conclusions. Wide variability in cost per call suggests that inefficiencies exist. While elimination of inefficient poison control cen...
Quadratic estimators of quadratic functions of normal parameters

Abstract The estimation problem of a quadratic function of normal parameters θ = ξ2 + bσ2 is concerned. A necessary and sufficient condition for the admissbility under quadratic loss of quadratic estimator of the sample mean and sample standard deviation is given.
Applications of color holography

Color holograms are recorded on silver halide emulsion using multiple wavelengths. The images are reconstructed without shifts in wavelengths. This allows applications in three areas of holography: (a) display holograms yield images that closely resemble the original objects. (b) In holographic interferometry where no prior information is available concerning the locations of zero displacements, there has not been a convenient method which allows the determination of the locations of the zeroth order interference fringes. Using color holography, these fringes appear in white color; thus are automatically identified. (c) Holographic optical elements created using this method greatly enhance operations where multiple wavelengths are involved.
Effects of mitochondrial mutations on hearing and cochlear pathology with age.

Abstract Age-related hearing loss is a multi-factorial process involving genetic and environmental factors, including exposure to noise and ototoxic agents, as well as pathological processes. Among these is the accumulation of mitochondrial DNA mutations and deletions. The creation of a transgenic mouse with a loss-of-function deletion of the nuclear gene that encodes the polymerase required to repair damaged mitochondrial DNA (PolgA) enabled evaluation of age-related cochlear pathology associated with random mitochondrial DNA deletions that accrue over the lifespan of the mouse. In comparison with their wild-type or heterozygous counterparts, animals with mutated DNA polymerase gamma developed hearing loss most rapidly. Any loss of mitochondrial DNA polymerase function however, resulted in detrimental effects, as evidenced by hearing tests and histological investigation of transgenic heterozygotes. Cochlear pathology in transgenic animals at 10 months of age included loss of neurons and clumping of surviving neurons in the apical turn of the spiral ganglion. Mitochondrial mutations in young animals, on the other hand, were protective against the development of temporary threshold shift in response to relatively low level noise exposure. This supports the idea that temporary threshold shifts are the result of an active process involving mitochondria and respiratory chain activity. Our results indicate that mitochondrial mutation and deletion can certainly contribute to the development of an aging phenotype, specifically age-related hearing loss.
Truncation Bias and the Measurement of Income Inequality

(1988). Truncation Bias and the Measurement of Income Inequality. Journal of Business & Economic Statistics: Vol. 6, No. 3, pp. 335-337.
Projection Photolithography Of Large CCD Arrays

The topic of this presentation is the photolithographic aspect of fabricating CCD arrays. CCD stands for Charge-Coupled Device, which is a relatively new type of semiconductor device. The basic CCD device is an analog shift register. In the same manner a digital shift register is used to delay or buffer a stream of digital data, a CCD can be used to delay an analog signal.
Genetics of sex determination in the gynodioecious species Lobelia siphilitica: evidence from two populations

In order to determine whether interactions between multiple sex-determining genes might be partly responsible for the wide variation in female frequency among populations of Lobelia siphilitica, we used progeny sex ratios from field-collected plants and from controlled crosses within and between two populations. We demonstrate that multiple cytoplasmic male-sterility types are present in a gynodioecious population where female frequency exceeds 50%. These male-sterility types each have corresponding nuclear alleles that can restore pollen fertility. Restoration of one male-sterility type appears to be controlled by a single, dominant allele, but restoration of a second cytoplasmic type is not easily explained with simple genetic models — perhaps multiple nuclear loci and/or epistatic interactions are involved. In addition, the crosses show that pollen from some hermaphrodite plants in a population containing no females restores male fertility to plants from a geographically distant gynodioecious population that have male-sterile cytoplasm. Furthermore, some plants in that hermaphrodite population carry a male-sterile cytoplasm. Taken together, these results fit theoretical predictions that female frequency might be highly variable among populations when sex is determined by interactions between several nuclear and cytoplasmic genetic factors, some of which may not be present in all populations. The data also illustrate the need for more theoretical and empirical work investigating the evolutionary impact of nuclear restorer genes with complex action, and explaining the existence of nuclear restorers and cytoplasmic male-sterility genes in a population where females are very rare.
Photographic reproduction of out-of-focus and distorted ocular imagery.

Abstract The necessary settings and parameters were determined for ordinary camera and lens systems to faithfully reproduce out-of-focus and distorted imagery as it falls upon the retina of the human eye. Theoretic considerations of both geometric and physical optics were used to calculate the ‘relative blur’ and distortion produced by refractive error added to ordinary camera lenses as opposed to refractive error in an arbitrary thick-lens optical system bounded by air and fluid (i.e. the eye). In both the camera and the eye, ‘relative blur’ was determined to be directly proportional to dioptric defocus and to aperture size, and effectively independent of the focal length. Distortion of imagery was also found to be independent of the focal length. Photographs corroborate the theoretic findings. A given amount of relative blur, however, appeared somewhat greater when recorded on photographic film than when appreciated by the human eye. The Stiles–Crawford effect, the chromatic aberration of the eye, and neural processing probably each contribute to this difference. Previous investigators have grossly exaggerated blur and distortion in photographs intended to simulate ocular imagery and have drawn misleading conclusions from their results.
Meta-analysis of prognostic implications of dyspnea versus chest pain in patients referred for stress testing.

Previous studies have suggested that patients with dyspnea referred for stress testing have high mortality. However, it is not clear whether this is explained by high rates of ischemia. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the incidence of ischemia in patients with dyspnea compared with patients with chest pain referred for stress testing and assess the outcomes of such patients. We systematically searched the electronic databases, MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library, until December 2012 to identify studies of patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease undergoing stress testing. We extracted data on group-specific incidence of stress-induced ischemia and all-cause mortality. In our analyses, we identified and included 6 studies that evaluated a total of 5,753 patients with dyspnea and 24,491 patients with chest pain as the clinical indication for stress testing. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of ischemia on stress imaging in patients with dyspnea compared with patients with chest pain (37.4% vs 30.2%, odds ratio 1.43, 95% confidence interval 0.99 to 2.06, p = 0.06). However, during the follow-up period, patients with dyspnea had higher all-cause mortality rates compared with patients with chest pain (annual mortality 4.9% vs 2.3%), with odds ratio of 2.57 (95% confidence interval 1.75 to 3.76, p
Natriuretic peptide receptors on human trabecular meshwork cells

The effects of natriuretic peptides on cGMP formation and [125I]ANP binding in human trabecular meshwork cells were investigated. CNP at 1μM stimulated cGMP formation ∼18–25 fold, with a half maximal effective concentration ∼20–30nM. BNP at 1μM stimulated ∼7 fold, while ANP stimulated cGMP formation 2-fold at 1μM but had little or no effect at concentrations below 1μM. Displacement binding of [125I]ANP to intact TM cells in the presence of unlabeled ANP indicated a single binding site with a dissociation constant ∼ 0.15nM. c-ANP, which binds specifically to natriuretic peptide C receptors, displaced >95% [125I]ANP binding to surface receptor sites with a half-maximal effective concentration comparable to that of ANP or BNP. c-ANP had no inhibitory effect on CNP stimulation of cGMP formation. The data suggest that human TM cells possess natriuretic peptide B receptors as the primary guanylyl cyclase-containing subtype and C receptors as the numerically predominant subtype of natriuretic peptide receptors.
Interspecies scaling in pharmacokinetics: A novel whole-body physiologically based modeling framework to discover drug biodistribution mechanisms in vivo

ABSTRACT: Drug approval processes require extensive testing and have recently put more emphasis on understanding mechanistic drug action in the body including toxicity and safety. 1 Consequently, there is an urgent need in the pharmaceutical industry to develop mechanistic pharmacokinetic (PK) models able to both expedite knowledge gain from experimental trials and, simultaneously, address safety concerns. We previously developed a first principles based whole-body PK model, which incorporated physiological dimensions and drug mass transport. In this follow-up article, we demonstrate how the first principles model in combination with novel physiological scaling laws yields more reliable interspecies and intraspecies extrapolation of drug biodistribution. We show how experimental dose–response data in rats for immunosuppressant cyclosporin are sufficient for predicting the biodistribution of this drug in pigs, monkeys, and humans. The predicted drug concentrations extrapolated by interspecies scaling laws match well with the experimental measurements. These promising results demonstrate that the whole-body PK modeling approach not only elucidates drug mechanisms from a biochemical standpoint, but offers better scaling precision. Better models can substantially accelerate the introduction of drug leads to clinical trials and eventually to the market by offering more understanding of the drug mechanisms, aiding in therapy design, and serving as an accurate dosing tool.
Differential effects of satellite RNA on the accumulation of cucumber mosaic virus RNAs and their encoded proteins in tobacco vs zucchini squash with two strains of CMV helper virus.

Abstract The presence of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) satellite RNA usually reduces the yield of accumulated helper virus, although more so in solanaceous than in cucurbit hosts. The accumulation of viral RNA and viral-encoded proteins of two strains of CMV (Fny- and Sny-) known to differ in their ability to support satellite RNA in zucchini squash was examined in squash and tobacco to determine the effect of satellite RNA on the accumulation of viral-associated components. In the absence of satellite RNA, Fny- and Sny-CMV showed similar levels of accumulation of RNA at 7 days postinoculation (p.i.), but by 14 days p.i, the Fny-CMV RNAs accumulated to lower levels than did both strains at 7 days p.i., in either host. The levels of accumulated Sny-CMV-encoded proteins were higher than those encoded by Fny-CMV in tobacco, but not squash plants, at 7 days p.i. At 14 days p.i., for Fny-CMV vs Sny-CMV, there were differences in the levels of accumulation of most CMV-encoded proteins in both hosts, more exacerbated in tobacco vs squash. The effect of satellite RNA was to intensify these differences; that is, by 7 days p.i., satellite RNA reduced the accumulation of Fny-CMV RNAs 1 and 2 and their encoded proteins in both tobacco and squash but had little or no effect on the accumulation of Sny-CMV RNAs or encoded proteins. By 14 days p.i., the levels of accumulation of all Fny-CMV RNAs and encoded proteins were severely reduced in both hosts, and the levels of accumulation of Sny-CMV RNAs 1 and 2 and their encoded proteins were also reduced in tobacco, but not squash, Sny-CMV did not support satellite RNA accumulation in squash plants or protoplasts. Satellite RNA did not appear to have a direct effect on the movement of either CMV strain. Rather, accumulation studies in tobacco protoplasts indicated that the difference in response of Fny-CMV vs Sny-CMV to satellite RNA in tobacco was due to the extent to which satellite RNA affected the levels of RNA 1, and to a lesser extent RNA 2, and their encoded proteins, 1a and 2a, both components of the CMV replicase.
Applications of MODIS satellite data and products for monitoring air quality in the state of Texas

The Center for Space Research (CSR), in conjunction with the Monitoring Operations Division (MOD) of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), is evaluating the use of remotely sensed satellite data to assist in monitoring and predicting air quality in Texas. The challenges of meeting air quality standards established by the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) are impacted by the transport of pollution into Texas that originates from outside our borders and are cumulative with those generated by local sources. In an attempt to quantify the concentrations of all pollution sources, MOD has installed ground-based monitoring stations in rural regions along the Texas geographic boundaries including the Gulf coast, as well as urban regions that are the predominant sources of domestic pollution. However, analysis of time-lapse GOES satellite imagery at MOD, clearly demonstrates the shortcomings of using only ground-based observations for monitoring air quality across Texas. These shortcomings include the vastness of State borders, that can only be monitored with a large number of ground-based sensors, and gradients in pollution concentration that depend upon the location of the point source, the meteorology governing its transport to Texas, and its diffusion across the region. With the launch of NASA's MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), the transport of aerosol-borne pollutants can now be monitored over land and ocean surfaces. Thus, CSR and MOD personnel have applied MODIS data to several classes of pollution that routinely impact Texas air quality. Results demonstrate MODIS data and products can detect and track the migration of pollutants. This paper presents one case study in which continental haze from the northeast moved into the region and subsequently required health advisories to be issued for 150 counties in Texas. It is concluded that MODIS provides the basis for developing advanced data products that will, when used in conjunction with ground-based observations, create a cost-effective and accurate pollution monitoring system for the entire state of Texas.
Orthogonal coupling of unprotected peptide segments through histidyl amino terminus

Abstract We report a new scheme for orthogonal coupling of unprotected peptide segments through the anchimeric assistance of a proximally located histidine at the amino terminus.
Baculovirus-expressed Sapporo-like calicivirus capsid self-assembles into virus-like particles (VLPs) and can be used to detect antibody in children† 854

Baculovirus-expressed Sapporo-like calicivirus capsid self-assembles into virus-like particles (VLPs) and can be used to detect antibody in children† 854
Block grants and state discretion: A study of the implementation of the partnership for health act in three states

This article examines the use of federal funds provided to state health departments under a grant consolidation of eight previously categorical health programs in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Alabama in a comparative context. The primary question addressed is why the three states chose to describe their allocations of funds within the total health department budget differently, and what political, administrative, and bureaucratic factors explained the differences. Although certain factors were found to be at work in all states (e.g. each had an incentive to concentrate the reported use of federal funds to simplify federal audits) these factors combined with circumstances unique to each state to produce different expenditure patterns. After examining the experience of three states, general hypotheses are developed. For example, it is hypothesized that more volatile changes in allocations will result from grant consolidations in policy areas which do not address basic service needs. Finally the decision-making process with respect to block grant funds is characterized as one in which a small group of professionals determined allocations autonomously with relatively little input from interest groups or other actors within state government; nevertheless, the external political and administrative environment severely limited the possibilities of realistic choice in each of the three states studied.
Response of varactors containing DNA-conjugated polymer

We study the effect on the microwave S-parameters of adding a conjugated polymer layer to a deoxyribonucleic acid-based (DNA-based) biopolymer within a variable capacitor (varactor) using a capacitive test structure. The conjugated polymer we are using in this work is poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) and the DNA-based biopolymer is DNA-CTMA. The results are compared to both the baseline DNA-based biopolymer and the conjugated polymer layer added to a layer of polyvinyl alcohol. The addition of the conjugated polymer layer underneath the DNA-based biopolymer is found to most significantly improve the stability and dielectric tuning of the DNA-based biopolymer.
Quantitative Determination of Pentazocine Enantiomers in Human Serum Using Derivatized β-Cyclodextrin-modified Capillary Electrophoresis and Solid Phase Extraction

Abstract A high performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE) assay for the quantitation of (-) and (+) pentazocine in human serum was developed. Resolution of the pentazocine enantiomers was achieved using 15mM methyl-β-cyclodextrin (Me-β-CD) in 100mM phosphate buffer pH 2.5. A 72cm uncoated fused-silica capillary at a constant voltage of 20kV was used for the analysis and 0.03mM hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HTAB) was added to the buffer to decrease the adsorption of endogeneous substances onto the silica wall. The analytes of interest were extracted from serum using a solid phase extraction(SPE) procedure. The phenyl SPE cartridge gave good recoveries in excess of 90% for both (-) and (+) pentazocine, without any interferences.
GREB1 is a critical regulator of hormone dependent breast cancer growth

Summary Background. Estrogen plays a central role in breast cancer pathogenesis and many potent risk factors for the development of the disease can be explained in terms of increased lifetime exposure to estrogen. Although estrogen regulated genes have been identified, those critically involved in growth regulation remain elusive. Methods. To identify candidate genes involved in estrogen stimulated breast cancer growth, DNA microarray based gene expression profiles were generated from three estrogen receptor a (ERa) positive breast cancer cell lines grown under multiple stimulatory and inhibitory conditions. Results. Only three genes were significantly induced by 17b-estradiol (E2) relative to control in all three cell lines: GREB1, stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) and trefoil factor 1 (pS2). Quantitative real-time PCR assays confirmed that in all three cell lines, GREB1 was induced by E2, but not by the antiestrogens tamoxifen (TAM) or ICI 182,780. GREB1 expression level was strongly correlated with ERa positivity in 39 breast cancer cell lines of known ERa expression status. GREB1 induction by E2 was rapid (7.3 fold by 2 h for MCF-7) and mirrored the fraction of cells entering S-phase when released from an estrogen deprivation induced cell arrest. Suppression of GREB1 using siRNA blocked estrogen induced growth in MCF-7 cells and caused a paradoxical E2 induced growth inhibition. Conclusion. These data suggest that GREB1 is critically involved in the estrogen induced growth of breast cancer cells and has the potential of being a clinical marker for response to endocrine therapy as well as a potential therapeutic target.
Concerns about allegations of child sexual abuse against teachers and the teaching environment.

Abstract Objective: The major objective was to determine teachers’ awareness of the potential for child abuse allegations against themselves and the effects on the teaching environment. Method: Of 3,000 questionnaires sent out to a random sample of New York state teachers, 515 were returned. The responding teachers were similar to New York state teachers in terms of gender, age, and racial/ethnic distribution. Results: A large percent of the respondents (56%) were aware of false allegations made against a teacher in their school district. About a third (36.5%) expressed concern that a child abuse allegation could be made against them. In response to a vignette, forty-two (42%) advised a new teacher against being alone in a room with a student; 62% advised against casual touching; 70% advised against hugging or putting an arm around a student. Males more than female teachers, especially those teaching upper grades, advised against such contact. The more teachers expressed concern about abuse allegations against themselves, the more teachers advised against contact. Conclusions: Fear of abuse allegations are salient for teachers. Fears may cause teachers to limit contact with students with potentially adverse consequences for students and the teaching environment.
Competition between HMG-I(Y), HMG-1 and histone H1 on four-way junction DNA

High mobility group proteins HMG-I(Y) and HMG-1, as well as histone H1, all share the common property of binding to four-way junction DNA (4H), a synthetic substrate commonly used to study proteins involved in recognizing and resolving Holliday-type junctions formed during in vivo genetic recombination events. The structure of 4H has also been hypothesized to mimic the DNA crossovers occurring at, or near, the entrance and exit sites on the nucleosome. Furthermore, upon binding to either duplex DNA or chromatin, all three of these nuclear proteins share the ability to significantly alter the structure of bound substrates. In order to further elucidate their substrate binding abilities, electrophoretic mobility shift assays were employed to investigate the relative binding capabilities of HMG-I(Y), HMG-1 and H1 to 4H in vitro. Data indicate a definite hierarchy of binding preference by these proteins for 4H, with HMG-I(Y) having the highest affinity (Kd approximately 6.5 nM) when compared with either H1 (Kd approximately 16 nM) or HMG-1 (Kd approximately 80 nM). Competition/titration assays demonstrated that all three proteins bind most tightly to the same site on 4H. Hydroxyl radical footprinting identified the strongest site for binding of HMG-I(Y), and presumably for the other proteins as well, to be at the center of 4H. Together these in vitro results demonstrate that HMG-I(Y) and H1 are co-dominant over HMG-1 for binding to the central crossover region of 4H and suggest that in vivo both of these proteins may exert a dominant effect over HMG-1 in recognizing and binding to altered DNA structures, such as Holliday junctions, that have conformations similar to 4H.
Signal Honesty through Differential Quantity in the Female-Produced Sex Pheromone of the Moth Heliothis virescens

Over the last 50 years, female-produced sex pheromones of moths have been subjected to intensive study. Most work has focused on their role in mate recognition, and little on any role they may have in mate assessment. This is largely because it has been assumed that female, rather than male, moths are “choosy”, and invest larger amounts of carbon in eggs than in pheromone. Recently, we found that pheromone production in the moth Heliothis virescens depended on hemolymph trehalose concentration, and that sugar-stressed females produced less pheromone than unstressed ones. In this paper, we demonstrate, for the first time in moths, that a female-produced pheromone signal can allow H. virescens males to assess sugar resources (quality) of a female. This signal honesty is based on quantitative, rather than qualitative (component ratio), differences in pheromone, produced and released by sugar-stressed and unstressed females. Increasing marginal cost of pheromone production, as sugar resources are depleted, may ensure signal honesty.
Padé approximants and Adomian decomposition method for solving the Flierl–Petviashivili equation and its variants

Abstract In this paper, we present a reliable combination of Adomian decomposition algorithm and Pade approximants to investigate the Flierl–Petviashivili (FP) equation and its variants. The approach introduces an alternative framework designed to overcome the difficulty of the singular point at x = 0. We also investigate two generalized variants of the FP equation. The proposed framework reveals quite a number of remarkable features of the combination of the two algorithms.
Development of a real-time system of monitoring bacterial colony growth and registering the forward-scattering pattern

Early detection and classification of pathogenic bacteria species is crucial to food safety. The previous BARDOT (BActeria Rapid Detection by using Optical light scattering Technology) system is capable of classifying the bacterial colonies of around 1~1.5mm diameter within 24~36 hours of incubation. However, in order to further reduce the detection time and synchronize the detection operation with the bacterial cultivation, a micro-incubator is developed that not only grows bacteria at 37°C but also enables forward scatterometry. This new design feature enables us to continuously characterize the light scattering patterns of the bacterial colonies throughout their growing stages. Some experimental results from this new system are demonstrated and compared with the images obtained from phase contrast microscopy and a confocal displacement meter to show the possibility of earlier identification of bacteria species. Moreover, this paper also explains the updated optical and mechanical modules for the beam waist control to accommodate the smaller bacteria colony detection.
The Evaluation and Management of Persistent Nocturia

Nocturia, or waking at night to void, is a common symptom that leads to substantial morbidity. Men and women are both affected across a wide age range, such that the objective evaluation of nocturia remains a challenge, due largely to its multifactorial etiology. While for some patients, nocturia is caused by common structural conditions such as prostatic obstruction, for others it is due to a complex interplay between multiple underlying systemic diseases. For this reason, persistent nocturia merits particularly careful consideration. The purpose of this review is to describe the most recent salient research in the field of nocturia, with a particular emphasis on its evaluation and management.
Thermal Transport and Flow in High-Speed Optical Fiber Drawing

The thermal transport associated with optical fiber drawing at relatively high drawing speeds, ranging up to around 15 m/s, has been numerically investigated. A conjugate problem involving the glass and the purge gas regions is solved. The transport in the preform/fiber is coupled, through the boundary conditions, with that in the purge gas, which is used to provide an inert environment in the furnace. The zonal method, which models radiative transport between finite zones in a participating medium, has been employed to compute the radiative heat transfer in the glass. The flow of glass due to the drawing process is modeled with a prescribed free-surface neck-down profile. The numerical results are compared with the few that are available in the literature. The effects of important physical variables such as draw speed, purge gas velocity and properties, furnace temperature, and preform diameter on the flow and the thermal field are investigated. It is found that the fiber drawing speed, the furnace temperature, and the preform diameter have significant effects on the temperature field in the preform/fiber, while the effects of the purge gas velocity and properties are relatively minor. The overall heating of the preform/fiber is largely due to radiative transport in the furnace and the changes needed in the furnace temperature distribution in order to heat the glass to its softening point at high speeds are determined.
INFLUENCE OF OXIDATION‐REDUCTION REDUCTANTS ON SALMONELLA TYPHIMURIUM GROWTH RATES AFTER INITIAL pH ADJUSTMENT AND ZINC COMPOUND ADDITION

The objective of this study was to examine the separate influence of acidic pH, reductants (cysteine and sulfide) and zinc compounds (Zn acetate and Zn sulfate) during anaerobic growth of a S. typhimurium poultry isolate in rich or minimal media. The anaerobic growth of a S. typhimurium poultry isolate in TSB medium was significantly inhibited by either acidic initial pH or higher concentrations of Zn acetate. S. typhimurium anaerobic growth in M9 minimal medium was significantly inhibited by either acidic pH or higher concentrations of Zn acetate or Zn sulfate. Most anaerobic growth rates of the S. typhimurium poultry isolate in acidic media and with higher concentrations of Zn acetate or Zn sulfate were less than 0.10 h-1. The overall anaerobic growth rates of S. typhimurium were inhibited more in the presence (0.089 h-1) of reductants than in the absence (0.102 h-1) of reductants in M9 medium. Results in this study suggest that either increasing Zn concentration or decreasing initial pH can reduce growth rate of foodborne Salmonella under anaerobic growth conditions.
Discarded Wharton jelly of the human umbilical cord: a viable source for mesenchymal stromal cells

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are multi-potent cells that have the capability of differentiating into adipogenic, osteogenic, chondrogenic and neural cells. With these multiple capabilities, MSCs have been highly regarded as an effective transplantable cell source for regenerative medicine. A large bank of these cells can be found in several regions of the human umbilical cord, including the umbilical cord lining, the subendothelial layer, the perivascular zone and, most important, in Wharton jelly (WJ). These cells, all umbilical cord-derived MSCs, are durable, have large loading capacities and are considered ethical to harvest because the umbilical cord is often considered waste. These logistical advantages make WJ as appealing source of stem cells for transplant therapy. In particular, WJ is a predominantly good source of cells because MSCs in WJ are maintained in an early embryologic phase and therefore have retained some of the primitive stemness properties. WJ-MSCs can easily differentiate into a plethora of cell types leading to a variety of applications. In addition, WJ-MSCs are slightly easier to harvest compared with other MSCs (such as bone marrow-derived MSCs). The fascinating stemness properties and therapeutic potential of WJ-MSCs provide great promise in many aspects of regenerative medicine and should be considered for further investigations as safe and effective donor cells for transplantation therapy in many debilitating disorders, which are discussed here. We previously reviewed the therapeutic potential of WJ-MSCs and now provide an update on their recent preclinical and clinical applications.
Feasibility analysis of XSOLANTRA: A mission concept to detect exoplanets with an array of CubeSats

Seeking “nearby habitable worlds” was one of three science themes identified in the Astronomy Decadal Survey. Hundreds of extrasolar planets are known, but magnetic fields are likely required for these planets to be habitable. As of today, no direct constraints on the magnetic field characteristics of extrasolar planets exist. The ExtraSolar Observing Low-frequency Array of Nano Satellites for Radio Astronomy (XSOLANTRA), formerly known as XSOLARA is a feasibility study of a student designed, built, and tested micro-satellite mission to a Distant Retrograde Orbit (DRO) around Earth. XSOLANTRA will look at the Electron Cyclotron Maser Emission generated by the interaction between stellar wind and a planetary magnetosphere from which interior composition and atmospheric shielding can be inferred. The science instrument for XSOLANTRA is the entire array of fourteen CubeSats operating together as an interferometer. The fourteen CubeSats will be stacked on a SHuttle Expendable Rocket for Payload Augmentation (SHERPA) vehicle as a payload and will be deployed once arrived at DRO. A feasibility study was conducted to demonstrate that a CubeSat mission with cost of no more than $60 million is capable of detecting extrasolar planets. The study showed that a CubeSat mission within these constraints is possible; however, some questions still remain unanswered. This paper summarizes the mission concept starting from the science requirements, key mission design decisions, component level feasibility analysis and management and cost analysis
Quantum corrections and extended supersymmetry in new σ-models

Abstract It is shown that one-loop covariant counterterms for a class of N = 2 supersymmetric nonlinear σ-models with a Wess-Zumino-Witten term in two dimensions, calculated using an N = 1 superspace background-field method and the normal coordinate expansion, possess both supersymmetries of the classical action when the fields are on-shell. The full one-loop counter-action calculated with this method agrees with that calculated using a manifestly N = 2 supersymmetric perturbation theory. Members of a subclass of these models with N = 4 supersymmetry are shown ti be finite at one loop.
Physicochemical Characteristics of Patent Blue Violet Dye

Physicochemical data for patent blue violet dye (I) are reported. The pKa for protonation of the first diethylanilino group was 2.78 ± 0.03. The absorptivity values calculated for a 1% (w/v) solution of previously dried I at pH 7.4 were 1650, 170, and 250 at 638, 412, and 309 nm, respectively. A table of wavelength maxima and observed solution color as a function of pH and Ho and five spectra of I at certain pH and Ho values are included. The solution chemistry of I is explained, and a scheme showing its two protonated carbonium ions and its triphenylcarbinol derivative is presented. The distribution coefficients of I in n-octanol or chloroform and pH 7.4 phosphate buffer systems were 0.013 and 0.12, respectively. The approximate solubilities at 25° of I in six organic solvents and the solubility analysis of I in distilled water are reported. Results of the latter analysis suggest that I forms a lyotropic mesophase in high aqueous concentrations. Compound I is poorly lipid soluble. Samples of 1.000% I in 0.9% NaCl, formulated with and without 1% (v/v) benzyl alcohol and autoclaving, varied not more than 5% from the initial I content during storage in the dark and under constant fluorescent light at 25 ± 5° for 20 months. Data from the TLC of I in several eluents indicated a high degree of purity of the dye. The half-lives for the Joss of color in 5 × 10-4% I solutions in potassium hydroxide solutions of pH 13.7, 12.7, 11.3, and 10.0 were 1.2 hr, 17.0 hr, 9.5 days, and 180 days, respectively. The fraction of I bound to 4% (w/v) human serum albumin at 37° and pH 7.4 ranged from 0.05 to 0.83, corresponding to unbound I in the postdialysis concentration range of 1.7 × 10-4 to 2.0% (w/v). A Scatchard plot of the albumin binding data of I revealed one high-affinity binding site, K = 6235 M-1 and five low-affinity sites, with average affinity constants of 33 M-1. The data support the fact that the spectrophotometric determination of I at 639 ± 2 nm appears to comprise a stability-indicating assay.
Friendship and natural selection

More than any other species, humans form social ties to individuals who are neither kin nor mates, and these ties tend to be with similar people. Here, we show that this similarity extends to genotypes. Across the whole genome, friends’ genotypes at the single nucleotide polymorphism level tend to be positively correlated (homophilic). In fact, the increase in similarity relative to strangers is at the level of fourth cousins. However, certain genotypes are also negatively correlated (heterophilic) in friends. And the degree of correlation in genotypes can be used to create a “friendship score” that predicts the existence of friendship ties in a hold-out sample. A focused gene-set analysis indicates that some of the overall correlation in genotypes can be explained by specific systems; for example, an olfactory gene set is homophilic and an immune system gene set is heterophilic, suggesting that these systems may play a role in the formation or maintenance of friendship ties. Friends may be a kind of “functional kin.” Finally, homophilic genotypes exhibit significantly higher measures of positive selection, suggesting that, on average, they may yield a synergistic fitness advantage that has been helping to drive recent human evolution.
Linkage mapping of dopa–responsive dystonia (DRD) to chromosome 14q

Dopa-responsive dystonia (DRD) is an autosomal-dominant neurological disorder which appears to result from a genetically determined deficiency of striatal dopamine. Pathological evidence suggests that this may be due to the establishment of a reduced number of dopaminergic nerve terminals in the striatum, or to an excessive reduction (pruning) of these terminals in early development. We have mapped the DRD gene to chromosome 14 by linkage analysis in 3 families with a maximum 2-point lod score of 4.67 at 8.6 centiMorgans from D14S63; maximum multipoint lod scores > 6 were obtained for the intervals D14S47-D14S52 and D14S52-D14S63. The flanking loci D14S47 and D14S63 define a region of about 22 cM as containing the DRD gene.
The socioeconomic origins of physical functioning among older U.S. adults.

Abstract Mounting evidence finds that adult health reflects socioeconomic circumstances (SES) in early life and adulthood. However, it is unclear how the health consequences of SES in early life and adulthood accumulate—for example, additively, synergistically. This study tests four hypotheses about how the health effects of early-life SES (measured by parental education) and adult SES (measured by own education) accumulate to shape functional limitations, whether the accumulation differs between men and women, and the extent to which key mechanisms explain the accumulation. It uses data from the 1994–2010 Health and Retirement Study on U.S. adults 50–100 years of age ( N = 24,026). The physical functioning benefits of parental and own education accumulated additively among men. While the physical functioning benefits generally accumulated among women, the functioning benefits from one's own education were dampened among women with low-educated mothers. The dampening partly reflected a strong tie between mothers’ education level and women's obesity risk. Taken together, the findings reveal subtle differences between men and women in the life course origins of physical functioning. They also shed light on a key mechanism—obesity—that may help explain why a growing number of studies find that early-life SES is especially important for women's health.
Betaine, a promising new agent for patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: results of a pilot study

Betaine, a promising new agent for patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: results of a pilot study
Parasites of Lepidopterous Larvae in Insect Resistant and Susceptible Soybeans in South Carolina

Thirty-three species of parasites were reared from four species of lepidopterous larvae. Larvae collected from insect resistant and susceptible soybeans showed no differences in insect parasitism. Hosts and parasitism levels for 1976 and 1977 respectively were: green cloverworm, Plathypena scabra (F.), 11.2 and 8.5%; corn earworm, Heliothis zea (Boddie), 1.2 and 5.7%; soybean looper, Pseudoplusia includens Walker, 9.7 and 16.0%; and velvetbean caterpillar, Anticarsia gemmatalis Hubner, 0.4 and 1.9%. The most prevalent parasite reared from P. scabra , H. zea and P. includens was Apanteles marginiventris (Cresson). P. includens was a new host record for A. marginiventris . Meteorus autographae (Vier.) was the most prevalent parasite of A. gemmatalis . P. scabra was the only host exhibiting lower population levels in the insect resistant ED73-37l than in the susceptible soybean variety ‘Bragg’.
Distributed space-time communication for sensor networks

A key bottleneck in the vision of large numbers of networked sensor nodes is the energy-efficient collection of data from these nodes. In this paper, we provide two complementary approaches to this problem, both of which are fundamentally different from methods currently advocated in the literature: (1) virtual radar - in this method, complexity is moved to a collector node. The sensor nodes simply respond in precisely timed fashion to a beacon sent by the collector (e.g., an aircraft or vehicle), enabling the collector to use signal processing techniques similar to synthetic aperture radar (SAR) in order to construct an "image" of the activity in the sensor network. (2) distributed beamforming - in this technique, local clusters of nodes agree upon the data to be sent to a remote location, and coordinate their transmissions so as to form a beam in the desired direction. It is shown that even with moderate uncertainties in the locations of the sensor nodes, it is possible to get large increases in range for the same transmitted power.
Evaluation of Behavioral Skills Training to Prevent Gun Play in Children.

This study evaluated behavioral skills training (BST), in a multiple baseline across subjects design, for teaching firearm safety skills to 6 6- and 7-year-old children. Similar to previous research with 4- and 5-year-olds, half of the children acquired the safety skills following BST and half acquired the skills following BST plus in situ training.
On growth of Grigorchuk groups

We present an analytic technique for estimating the growth for groups of intermediate growth. We apply our technique to Grigorchuk groups, which are the only known examples of such groups. Our estimates generalize and improve various bounds by Grigorchuk, Bartholdi and others.
Image representation and retrieval using structure features

This paper proposes structural features for image representation and retrieval. Among various structural features are the water-filling features, which can be efficiently extracted from edge maps to represent the edge/structural information in the image. The advantages of the feature extraction algorithm include efficiency-it is a linear-time algorithm; and effectiveness-multiple feature components corresponding to different human perceptions can be extracted simultaneously. Since edge maps are usually not scale invariant, also proposed are the multiscale feature extraction and cross-scale matching schemes. Experiments show that the new features can catch salient edge/structure information and cross-scale matching improves the retrieval performance in a real-world image retrieval system.
Capturing the Power of a Campaign Event: The 2004 Presidential Debate in Tempe

Presidential debates are much more than just 90-minute events. They are followed by media analysis and interpretation, including interviews with experts, the discussion of instant polls, the replaying of highlights, and the commentary of candidate' spokespeople. It is a complicated mix to say the least. We seek to examine these competing influences for the final 2004 presidential debate with a unique and powerful design: a controlled experiment, a public opinion survey, and a content analysis of the debate and the news media's “instant analysis” immediately following the debate. Our findings, for example, suggest that citizens were influenced by the arguments presented directly by the candidates during the debate as well as by the media's instant analyses of the candidate' debate performance. Because we are able to take a closer look at this complicated campaign event, we are able to tell a more compelling and nuanced story about the effects of debates than previously told.
The children's wear consumer: an investigation of store patronage patterns in the U.S.A.

With a 1991 sales volume of over 820 billion. and recent annual sales increases ranging from 3 to 7%. understanding the patronage patterns of the children's wear consumer is becoming increasingly important to apparel retailers. This study. using responses from 953 midwestern households, analysed differences between shoppers and non-shoppers of seven different types of retail institution: discount store, mass merchandiser, department store, specially store. factory outlet, catalogue order, and used clothing store. Results from t-tests and logistic regression indicated that appearance. performance and functional factors. as well as marital status, education and income are important determinants of store choice. The results suggest the importance of recognizing the benefits sought by consumers when devising marketing strategies targeted towards the children's wear consumer.
On the Trustworthiness of Memory Analysis—An Empirical Study from the Perspective of Binary Execution

Memory analysis serves as a foundation for many security applications such as memory forensics, virtual machine introspection and malware investigation. However, malware, or more specifically a kernel rootkit, can often tamper with kernel memory data, putting the trustworthiness of memory analysis under question. With the rapid deployment of cloud computing and increase of cyber attacks, there is a pressing need to systematically study and understand the problem of memory analysis. In particular, without ground truth, the quality of the memory analysis tools widely used for analyzing closed-source operating systems (like Windows) has not been thoroughly studied. Moreover, while it is widely accepted that value manipulation attacks pose a threat to memory analysis, its severity has not been explored and well understood. To answer these questions, we have devised a number of novel analysis techniques including (1) binary level ground-truth collection, and (2) value equivalence set directed field mutation. Our experimental results demonstrate not only that the existing tools are inaccurate even under a non-malicious context, but also that value manipulation attacks are practical and severe. Finally, we show that exploiting information redundancy can be a viable direction to mitigate value manipulation attacks, but checking information equivalence alone is not an ultimate solution.