cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of Host Plant Ozone Stress on Colorado Potato Beetles

Effects of ozone (O3) stress of potato, Solanum tuberosum L., on fecundity, larval growth and survival of Colorado potato beetles, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), were measured in greenhouse and field experiments. Chronic O3 exposure caused moderate to severe foliar injury on an O3-sensitive cultivar (‘Red Norland’) but caused only minor injury an O3-resistant cultivar (‘Superior’). Foliar injury caused by O3 was greater on old than on young leaves but feeding by adult beetles was greater on young leaves in all experiments. Foliar analyses of the five uppermost leaves (nodes 1–5) showed higher carbon (C) and higher nitrogen (N) concentration in Superior than in Norland. There were no significant O3 effects on C or N and no cultivar × O3 interactions. Egg production by newly emerged adult beetles feeding on plants exposed to high O3 levels was not significantly different from egg production on plants exposed to low O3 levels, regardless of cultivar O3 sensitivity. Feeding and energy conversion efficiency of neonates and survival of larvae to the adult stage were not significantly affected by the O3 treatment. Although present levels of tropospheric O3 are high enough to significantly affect yield of sensitive potato cultivars, our results indicate no significant effect of ambient O3 concentrations on Colorado potato beetle populations.
Channel Assignment for Maximum Throughput in Multi-Channel Access Point Networks

We consider the uplink channel assignment problem in a multi-channel access point wireless network, with the goal of attaining maximum system throughput. In this setup, a set of orthogonal channels must be assigned to a set of users, where each user splits its power optimally across the channels allocated to it. While the optimal power allocation solution has a "water-filling" type structure, the optimal channel assignment problem is very challenging due to the non-linear dependence of user throughput on the set of channels assigned to it. Since the optimal channel allocations is computationally intensive to obtain in general, we analyze the system in the two extremal SINR regimes (very high and very low SINR) and show how the optimal solutions can be obtained in these regimes in a computationally efficient manner. Finally, we demonstrate that the best of the optimal solutions obtained for the two extremes shows excellent (close to optimal) performance over the entire SINR range.
Effects of Math Anxiety and Perfectionism on Timed versus Untimed Math Testing in Mathematically Gifted Sixth Graders

This study was designed to examine the effects of math anxiety and perfectionism on math performance, under timed testing conditions, among mathematically gifted sixth graders. We found that participants had worse math performance during timed versus untimed testing, but this difference was statistically significant only when the timed condition preceded the untimed condition. We also found that children with higher levels of either math anxiety or perfectionism had a smaller performance discrepancy during timed versus untimed testing, relative to children with lower levels of math anxiety or perfectionism. There were no statistically significant gender differences in overall test performance, nor in levels of math anxiety or perfectionism; however, the difference between performance on timed and untimed math testing was statistically significant for girls, but not for boys. Implications for educators are discussed.
A Petri net simulation tool

A user-friendly and highly-interactive graphical tool for drawing, editing and simulating translated Petri net models was developed. The tool was programmed in the C programming language under the UNIX operating system and the window-based SunView environment, on the SUN/13 workstation. This SunView-based tool allows simulation to be carried out in the step and run modes. In the run mode it produces a log file of the simulation run which consists of: (a) total number of tokens in the net; (b) names of the transitions that fired; and (c) the system state reached after each step's execution. The tool offers a means to rigorously model concurrent and interlocked systems such as computer systems, modular software, flexible manufacturing systems and communication protocols. >
Evaluation of an in vitro dialysis system to predict drug removal

Background Variation in the extent of drug removal under different dialysis conditions presents a challenge for prediction of drug elimination and dosage regimen adjustment during haemodialysis (HD). Dependence on clinical pharmacokinetic studies in HD patients for dosing guidelines is problematic given the increasing number of dialysers with variable rates of drug removal. Thus, the purpose of this study was to characterize drug removal using an in vitro system and to evaluate its reliability to predict in vivo elimination by HD using vancomycin (VANC) as a model drug. Methods In vitro dialysis was performed for 2 h (volume 4.0 l normal saline, initial VANC concentration 30 mg/l, flow rate 300 ml/min, dialysate flow 800 ml/min) using four different dialysers: polymethylmethacrylate (BK-2.1 U), polysulfone (F-80), AN69 (Filtral-20) and hemophan (COBE 700HE). The in vitro dialysis clearance for VANC (CL(D)) for the polysulfone dialyser was compared with values determined in eight HD patients. In vitro VANC CL(D) for all dialysers was compared with the clearance and KoA for B12 reported for each dialyser. Results In vitro VANC CL(D) values were 93+/-11 ml/min for the polymethylmethacrylate BK-2.1, 136+/-7 ml/min for the AN69, 65+/-9 ml/min for the hemophan COBE 700HE and 143+/-10 ml/min for the polysulfone F80. The CL(D) for the polysulfone F80 was not statistically different from the in vivo CL(D) of 135+/-18 ml/min (P = 0.48). In vitro VANC CL(D) correlated with the B12 CL(D) (r(2) = 0.77) and the B12 KoA (r(2) = 0.63) reported for each dialyser. Conclusion VANC CL(D) in HD patients for the polysulfone dialyser was correctly predicted using the in vitro dialysis system. Use of this system may be superior to estimations of drug CL(D) based on dialyser information provided by the manufacturer for compounds of similar molecular weight.
Endoscopic frontal sinus obliteration: a new technique for the treatment of chronic frontal sinusitis.

OBJECTIVES: Patients who fail endoscopic drainage procedures for chronic frontal sinusitis often require obliteration of the frontal sinus with abdominal fat. The purpose of this study was to evaluate an endoscopic technique for frontal sinus obliteration. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective case-control. Thirty-five patients underwent frontal sinus obliteration using either an endoscopic (n=10) or conventional osteoplastic flap (n=25) technique from 1994 to 2004 at an academic medical center. RESULTS: Patients undergoing endoscopic obliteration had less blood loss (P = 0.006), decreased operative time (P = 0.016), and a shorter hospital stay (P = 0.003) compared to osteoplastic control subjects. All 3 surgical complications occurred in the control group. No patients required additional surgery for frontal sinusitis. CONCLUSIONS: The endoscopic approach to frontal sinus obliteration appears to reduce patient morbidity and should be considered in the surgical management of advanced frontal sinus disease. SIGNIFICANCE: This is the first report of a minimally-invasive technique for frontal sinus obliteration.
The occurrence and phylogenetic implications of the ovipositor clip within the Figitidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Cynipoidea)

The presence of the ovipositor clip is surveyed throughout Figitidae. This morphological structure is postulated to restrain the parasitoid host during oviposition. All Figitinae and Eucoilinae that attack semi‐concealed dipterous hosts were found to possess the clip. Figitids that attack fully concealed hosts all lacked the ovipositor clip. It is hypothesized here that two subfamilies, the Anacharitinae and Aspicerinae, attack fully exposed hosts yet lack the clip in order to quickly oviposit and prevent fighting with the host. Mapping of the presence/absence of the ovipositor clip on to two competing phylogenies suggests this structure evolved in parallel in Figitinae and Eucoilinae. The evolution of the ovipositor clip is probably responsible for the successful colonization of semi‐concealed dipterous larvae by Eucoilinae.
Research Handbook Helps Principals Define Social Studies

Principals who are conscious of their instructional leader ship role in the school and classroom will find vital direc tion from a new handbook of social studies research.
Adipocyte-specific Gene Expression and Adipogenic Steatosis in the Mouse Liver Due to Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor γ1 (PPARγ1) Overexpression

Peroxisome proliferator activated-receptor (PPAR) isoforms, α and γ, function as important coregulators of energy (lipid) homeostasis. PPARα regulates fatty acid oxidation primarily in liver and to a lesser extent in adipose tissue, whereas PPARγ serves as a key regulator of adipocyte differentiation and lipid storage. Of the two PPARγ isoforms, PPARγ1 and PPARγ2 generated by alternative splicing, PPARγ1 isoform is expressed in liver and other tissues, whereas PPARγ2 isoform is expressed exclusively in adipose tissue where it regulates adipogenesis and lipogenesis. Since the function of PPARγ1 in liver is not clear, we have, in this study, investigated the biological impact of overexpression of PPARγ1 in mouse liver. Adenovirus-PPARγ1 injected into the tail vein induced hepatic steatosis in PPARα−/− mice. Northern blotting and gene expression profiling results showed that adipocyte-specific genes and lipogenesis-related genes are highly induced in PPARα−/− livers with PPARγ1 overexpression. These include adipsin, adiponectin, aP2, caveolin-1, fasting-induced adipose factor, fat-specific gene 27 (FSP27), CD36, Δ9desaturase, and malic enzyme among others, implying adipogenic transformation of hepatocytes. Of interest is that hepatic steatosisper se, induced either by feeding a diet deficient in choline or developing in fasted PPARα−/− mice, failed to induce the expression of these PPARγ-regulated adipogenesis-related genes in steatotic liver. These results suggest that a high level of PPARγ in mouse liver is sufficient for the induction of adipogenic transformation of hepatocytes with adipose tissue-specific gene expression and lipid accumulation. We conclude that excess PPARγ activity can lead to the development of a novel type of adipogenic hepatic steatosis.
Simplified method of determining transient response from frequency response of linear networks and systems

Knowing the frequency response of a linear system, a method is presented for obtaining the time response of the system to an impulse, step, or ramp function input, without performing graphical integrations. The transient response is of the form f(t) = \sum\min{i} A_{i}G(\omega_{i}t) where a different function G is used to determine the response to each of the three types of input. Tables of the functions G(x) are provided. An example is given to illustrate the simplicity and accuracy of this method. The results are compared with the exact time response.
Amino acid induced orotic aciduria.

Twenty amino acids were examined for their effects on urinary orotic acid excretion. Except for arginine and ornithine, all of the remaining amino acids tested induced a mild orotic aciduria in rats 2 hours post feeding. Two ammonium salts, and urease also acted as inducers of orotic aciduria. The ammoneogenic properties of the amino acids tested could not solely explain the induced excretion of orotic acid. Only serine, glutamine, NH.tCl, ( NH4) i>CO.s, and urease increased orotic acid excretion in the 24 hour fasted rat. Administration of 0.5 mmoles of arginine or orni thine ameliorated the mild orotic aciduria induced by either glycine or lysine. Arginine was shown to be more efficacious in preventing glycine induced orotic aciduria than was ornithine. Amino acid induced orotic aciduria is dependent upon the physiological state of the animal, varying with the state of digestion and the supply of arginine. J. Nutr. 108: 578-584, 1978.
An efficient model for near-ground wave propagation in the presence of building walls/indoor obstacles

A semi-analytic model for near-earth wave propagation in the presence of building walls or similar obstacles is devised. The method is based on physical optics type approximations used in conjunction with the volume equivalence principle. Norton surface waves that are typically neglected in more common indoor propagation techniques such as ray tracing are included in this method as they prove to be vital for the accurate prediction of fields especially for sources close to ground. Simulation results have shown that, this method gives much more accurate results than ray tracing and proves to be computationally better than a numerical method and hence could be used to analyze field propagation in indoor structures that are large in terms of wavelength.
Surface enrichment of niobium on Inconel 718 (100) single crystals

Abstract The surface composition of an Inconel 718 (100) single crystal was investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy over the temperature range 300 to 1000 K in ultra-high vacuum (UHV). The surface composition of an ion etched surface closely resembled the bulk alloy composition determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The composition of the ion etched surface remained close to the bulk composition until the temperature was raised above 800 K. At temperatures above 800 K, a dramatic enrichment of surface niobium (Nb) occurred. The extent of Nb enrichment was highly influenced by the presence of trace amounts of surface or subsurface oxygen. Numerous cycles of ion etching and annealing led to nearly complete removal of oxygen from the surface and subsurface region. Surface enrichment of Nb at high temperatures on these oxygen-free surfaces was greatly reduced. However, extensive Nb enrichment could be easily reintroduced by pre-exposure of the surface to oxygen prior to high-temperature vacuum annealing. The evolution of CO during the high-temperature anneal suggested that oxygen attack of the Nb carbide particles played a role in the mechanism of surface enrichment.
RIP1-dependent and independent effects of necrostatin-1 in necrosis and T cell activation.

Background: Programmed necrosis/necroptosis is an emerging form of cell death that plays important roles in mammalian development and the immune system. The pro-necrotic kinases in the receptor interacting protein (RIP) family are crucial mediators of programmed necrosis. Recent advances in necrosis research have been greatly aided by the identification of chemical inhibitors that block programmed necrosis. Necrostatin-1 (Nec-1) and its derivatives were previously shown to target the pro-necrotic kinase RIP1/RIPK1. The protective effect conferred by Nec-1 and its derivatives in many experimental model systems was often attributed to the inhibition of RIP1 function. Methodology/Principal Findings: We compared the effect of Nec-1 and siRNA-mediated silencing of RIP1 in the murine fibrosarcoma cell line L929. Treatment of L929 cells with the pan-caspase inhibitor zVAD-fmk or exogenous TNF induces necrosis. Strikingly, we found that siRNA-mediated silencing of RIP1 inhibited zVAD-fmk induced necrosis, but not TNFinduced necrosis. TNF-induced cell death in RIP1 knocked down L929 cells was inhibited by Nec-1, but not the caspase inhibitor zVAD-fmk. We found that PKA-C1 expression, but not Jnk or Erk activation, was moderately inhibited by Nec-1. Moreover, we found that Nec-1 inhibits proximal T cell receptor signaling independent of RIP1, leading to inhibition of T cell proliferation. Conclusions/Significance: Our results reveal that besides RIP1, Nec-1 also targets other factors crucial for necrosis induction in L929 cells. In addition, high doses of Nec-1 inhibit other signal transduction pathways such as that for T cell receptor activation. These results highlight the importance to independently validate results obtained using Nec-1 with other approaches such as siRNA-mediated gene silencing. We propose that some of the previous published results obtained using Nec-1 should be re-evaluated in light of our findings.
Integrating Locally Learned Causal Structures with Overlapping Variables

In many domains, data are distributed among datasets that share only some variables; other recorded variables may occur in only one dataset. While there are asymptotically correct, informative algorithms for discovering causal relationships from a single dataset, even with missing values and hidden variables, there have been no such reliable procedures for distributed data with overlapping variables. We present a novel, asymptotically correct procedure that discovers a minimal equivalence class of causal DAG structures using local independence information from distributed data of this form and evaluate its performance using synthetic and real-world data against causal discovery algorithms for single datasets and applying Structural EM, a heuristic DAG structure learning procedure for data with missing values, to the concatenated data.
Effect of Nozzle Geometry on Jet Noise Reduction Using Fan Flow Deflectors

We examine the effect of baseline nozzle shape on the ability of fan flow deflectors to reduce downward-emitted turbulent mixing noise of coaxial jets simulating the exhaust condition of a turbofan engine. Several deflector concepts were tested on a nozzle with parallel exit flow lines and a nozzle with convergent flow lines. In every comparison the nozzle with convergent flow lines produced superior acoustic benefit. Mean flow measurements indicate that the convergent lines help the deflectors reduce velocity gradients uniformly on the underside of the jet. In contrast, the parallel flow lines contributed to reduction in gradients in a narrow direction, with occasional increase of gradients in other directions that influence emission towards the ground.
Performance and reliability design issues for deep-submicrometer MOSFETs

Device design constraints, such as threshold voltage variation due to short-channel and drain-induced-barrier-lowering effects, off-state leakage current due to punchthrough and gate-induced drain leakage, hot-carrier effects such as hot-electron degradation and avalanche breakdown, and time-dependent dielectric breakdown, are examined. The current-driving capability, ring-oscillator switching speed, and small-signal voltage gain are examined. The impact that each of these factors has on the allowable choice of MOSFET channel length, oxide thickness, and power supply voltage is examined. Based on experimental results, a set of design curves, using a set of typical performance and reliability criteria, is presented for deep-submicrometer nonlightly doped drain (non-LDD) n-channel devices. From these curves, the relative importance of each particular performance/reliability mechanism for a given technology and design criteria can be determined. Because the performance and reliability issues addressed are also relevant to other MOSFET technologies, the design guidelines can also be extended to other technologies, including p-channel and LDD devices. >
Letters of Schutz to Eric Voegelin

Voegelin was a friend of Schutz from Vienna who also emigrated. He had a position in Lousiana and hence they seldom met in person and had to rely on letters to continue their personal and intellectual interaction. Political theory was the central but by no means the whole of what they discussed.
Wheat Acreage Response: Investigation a Regional Econometric Investigation

An econometric model of planted wheat acreage was estimated for five distinct production regions in the United States. This structural investigation represents an update of previous published work with specific attention given to policy program variables, weather, production cost, risk, market price influences, and program participation. Estimated results indicated regional divergence in responsiveness to government program variables. The most significant divergence occurred in the Cornbelt and Southeast—soft red winter wheat areas. Results indicate that management of the wheat program from the USDA level will contain countervailing production incentives unless these regional characteristics are taken into consideration in policy directives.
The Persistence of Rumor Communities: Public Resistance to Official Debunking in the Internet Age

Using E. E. Schattschneider’s (1975) model of conflict socialization, this study conceptualizes rumor communities, instead of the more typical rumor chains, engaged in a form of social and political activism similar to that of interest groups. It examines online user-generated commentary from the “vaccines cause autism” rumor community, a grassroots group that resists government-mandated vaccine requirements. Community members limit the scope of conflict by asserting authority to speak publicly and rejecting contributors with countering opinions as irrelevant. They sustain their threatened community by denying scientific evidence and demanding unattainable levels of scientific proof, and they socialize conflict by recruiting bystanders to enter the fray using appeals to wider social values. Understanding rumors as persuasive appeals that are socially constructed and maintained helps explain the survival of rumors and has implications for official debunking efforts. Schattschneider’s theory effectively models the behaviors of non-institutionalized groups but requires adaptation to the modern political communication environment and post-Reagan beliefs about government. Asserting the authority to speak publicly and maintaining group viability are necessary precursors to socializing conflict for grassroots interest groups. When citizens have been taught government is the problem rather than the solution, socializing political conflict may not be synonymous with federalizing it.
Establishment of practice standards in nomenclature and prescription to enable construction of software and databases for knowledge-based practice review

Abstract Introduction Establishment of standards within a practice and across disease site groups for nomenclatures, prescription formatting, and measured dose-volume histogram (DVH) metrics is a key enabling step for creating software and database solutions to make routine aggregation of dosimetric data for all patients treated in a practice, practical. A process of physician-driven, iterative dialogs coupled with development of technical tools is required to implement the cultural and procedural changes. The cumulative reward for this effort is a database that can be used for defining practice norms, benchmarking against national standards, and tracking dosimetric effects of longitudinal practice pattern changes. Methods and materials A 4-year project was carried out to develop and introduce standardizations, modify processes, and develop computer-based tools for reporting, aggregation, and analysis of prescription and DVH metrics. Physician disease site groups developed 42 target and 81 normal tissue templates. From the database of 32,002 DVH metrics, benchmarking was illustrated for a subgroup of breast (281) and prostate (324) patients treated with conventional fractionation over a 16-month period. Breast patients were segregated according to prescription template used: simple (S, tangents only) vs complex (C, tangents + supraclavicular ± intramammary nodes) and left (S-L or C-L) versus right (S-R or C-R). Results Prostate patients' median and 50% confidence intervals (CIs) for bladder, stated according to the nomenclature: the percentage of bladder volume receiving doses of ≥40 Gy (V40[%]), V65Gy[%], V70Gy[%], V75Gy[%], and V80Gy[%] were 45.5 (24.9-57.0), 15.6 (9.0-23.8), 7.6 (3.3-13.6), 2.0 (0.0-7.9), and 0.0 (0.0-1.4), respectively. Values for rectum: V50Gy[%], V60 Gy[%], V65Gy[%], V70Gy[%], and V75Gy[%] were 37.1 (27.8-43.5), 21.8 (15.6-25.5), 14.6 (9.6-18.0), 7.7 (1.9-12.3), and 1.0 (0–7.0), respectively. For breast patients, heart:mean Gray values were 1.5 (1.0-2.0), 3.1 (2.2-4.8), 0.4 (0.3-0.7), and 1.1 (0.8-2.2) for S-L, C-L, S-R, and C-R, respectively. Longitudinal, moving window plots of median, 50% CI, and 90% CI for 6-month periods demonstrated the effect of practice changes to reduce heart doses. Conclusions Standardization was challenging as a practice change, but has resulted in significant improvements for both our clinical and research efforts.
Gap reversal at filling factors 3+1/3 and 3+1/5: towards novel topological order in the fractional quantum Hall regime.

In the region of the second Landau level several theories predict fractional quantum Hall states with novel topological order. We report the opening of an energy gap at the filling factor $\ensuremath{\nu}=3+1/3$, firmly establishing the ground state as a fractional quantum Hall state. This and other odd-denominator states unexpectedly break particle-hole symmetry. Specifically, we find that the relative magnitudes of the energy gaps of the $\ensuremath{\nu}=3+1/3$ and $3+1/5$ states from the upper spin branch are reversed when compared to the $\ensuremath{\nu}=2+1/3$ and $2+1/5$ counterpart states in the lower spin branch. Our findings raise the possibility that at least one of the former states is of an unusual topological order.
Protein biomarkers identify patients unlikely to benefit from primary prevention implantable cardioverter defibrillators: findings from the Prospective Observational Study of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (PROSE-ICD).

Background—Primary prevention implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) reduce all-cause mortality, but the benefits are heterogeneous. Current risk stratification based on left ventricular ejection fraction has limited discrimination power. We hypothesize that biomarkers for inflammation, neurohumoral activation, and cardiac injury can predict appropriate shocks and all-cause mortality in patients with primary prevention ICDs. Methods and Results—The Prospective Observational Study of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (PROSe-ICD) enrolled 1189 patients with systolic heart failure who underwent ICD implantation for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death. The primary end point was an ICD shock for adjudicated ventricular tachyarrhythmia. The secondary end point was all-cause mortality. After a median follow-up of 4.0 years, 137 subjects experienced an appropriate ICD shock and 343 participants died (incidence rates of 3.2 and 5.8 per 100 person-years, respectively). In multivariableadjusted models, higher interleukin-6 levels increased the risk of appropriate ICD shocks. In contrast, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α receptor II, pro–brain natriuretic peptide (pro-BNP), and cardiac troponin T showed significant linear trends for increased risk of all-cause mortality across quartiles. A score combining these 5 biomarkers identified patients who were much more likely to die than to receive an appropriate shock from the ICD. Conclusions—An increase in serum biomarkers of inflammation, neurohumoral activation, and myocardial injury increased the risk for death but poorly predicted the likelihood of an ICD shock. These findings highlight the potential importance of serum-based biomarkers in identifying patients who are unlikely to benefit from primary prevention ICDs. Clinical Trial Registration—URL: clinicaltrials.gov; Unique Identifier: NCT00733590. (Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol. 2014;7:1084-1091.)
Comparative Study of Rhodium and Iridium Porphyrin Diaminocarbene and N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes

Iridium meso-tetratolylporphyrinato (TTP) mono- and bis-diaminocarbene complexes, [Ir(TTP)[═C(NHBn)(NHR)]2–x(C≡NBn)x]BF4, where R = Bn, n-Bu and x = 1, 0, were synthesized by nucleophilic addition of amines to the bis-isocyanide complex [Ir(TTP)(C≡NBn)2]BF4. Rhodium and iridium porphyrinato N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes M(TTP)CH3(NHC), where NHC = 1,3-diethylimidazolylidene (deim) or 1-(n-butyl)-3-methylimidazolylidene (bmim), were prepared by the addition of the free NHC to M(TTP)CH3. The NHC complexes displayed two dynamic processes by variable-temperature NMR: meso-aryl–porphyrin C–C bond rotation and NHC exchange. meso-Aryl–porphyrin C–C bond rotation was exhibited by both rhodium and iridium complexes at temperatures ranging between 239 and 325 K. Coalescence data for four different complexes revealed ΔG⧧ROT values of 59 ± 2 to 63 ± 1 kJ·mol–1. These relatively low rotation barriers may result from ruffling distortions in the porphyrin core, which were observed in the molecular structures of...
Sampling Aerially Dispersing Arthropods: A High-Volume, Inexpensive, Automobile- and Aircraft-Borne System

Densities of aerially dispersing arthropods are on the order of only hundredths to single individuals per 1,000 m3. Therefore, an understanding of the atmospheric dynamics of dispersal requires active sampling of high volumes of air. We describe a system for active sampling in the surface boundary layer, from which arthropods ascend, and the planetary boundary layer, in which arthropods are transported by winds. The sampler, a net with a diameter of 0.62 m, was carried by an automobile in the surface boundary layer and a slowflying fixed-wing aircraft (Piper Cub) in the planetary boundary layer. The slow airspeeds characteristic of this aircraft permit large sampling rates without the need for expansion chambers in the samplers, which would require aircraft modification. It is also one of the least expensive aircraft to maintain and fly. At 72.4 km/h, a speed that does not destroy small specimens as traditional aircraft sampling speeds may, the two aircraft nets sampled at the rate of 38,910 m3/h. At the same speed, the single automobile net sampled at the rate of 21,420 m3/h.
Immunomodulatory Therapy for Rasmussen Syndrome

Investigators from the National Epilepsy Center, Shizuoka, Gifu University, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, and Okayama University School of Medicine, Japan, examined seizure, cognitive, and motor outcomes in 49 patients referred with Rasmussen encephalitis (RS) and recently had received initial immunomodulatory therapy: regular IV immunoglobulin (IVIg) at a dose of 100 mg/kg/day, methylprednisolone steroid pulse therapy at a dose of 30 mg/kg/day (children) for 3 days, and tacrolimus 0.1 mg/kg/day.
High-dose Methylprednisolone Affects Pulmonary Surfactant before and after Cardiopulmonary Bypass

[Objective] To study whether pulmonary surfactant would change after cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB)and whether high-dose methylprednisolone would affect pulmonary surfactant before and after CPB.[Methods] Twenty-one six-week-old 'Large White' male pigs,with average weight of(14.4±0.7)kg,were divided into 3 groups:the Control group(G1,n=6),the CPB group(G2,n=9),and the MP + CPB group(G3,n=6).In G1,all young animals underwent a 'sham' procedure of CPB.After intubation and sternal incision,all young pigs were heparinized for 120 min.Then protamine was given and the operation was ended in 180 min.In G2 and G3,after intubation and sternal incision,CPB was established with aortic clamping time 100 min and total CPB time 120 minutes.Then CPB was completed and protamine was given,and the operation was ended in 180 min.In G3,animals also received methylprednisolone dosed 30 mg/kg intramuscularly both 8 h and 1.5 hours before CPB.Among all animals,bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)collection was performed with a flexible pediatric fiberoptic bronchoscope inserted into a wedged position in a subsegment of different lobes before CPB,60 min afters CPB beginning,120 min after CPB beginning,and 180 min after CPB completion.The surfactant protein A(SP-A),total protein,phospholipids,saturate phosphatidylcholine,phospholipid in large aggregate(LA)and in small aggregate(SA),hemoglobin in BALF samples were tested.[Results] SP-A in G3 was more increased than those in G1 and in G2(P 0.05).In G2,SP-A levels at CPB 120 min and post-CPB 180 min were obviously lower than that before CPB;SP-A level at post-CPB 180 min was higher than that at CPB 120 min(P 0.05).In G2,total protein level at post-CPB 180 min was higher than those before CPB and at CPB 120 min(P 0.05).Phospholipid levels in G2 and in G3 were significantly higher than that in G1(P 0.05).In G2,phospholipid level at CPB 120 min was higher than others(P 0.05).There was no significant difference of satuate phosphatidylcholine level between every group and every time point of each group.SA/LA in G2 was significantly higher than in G1 and G3(P 0.05).Hemoglobin level in G2 was significantly higher than those in G1 and G3(P0.05).In G2,hemoglobin levels after CPB beginning were significantly higher than before CPB.At CPB 120 min and post-CPB 180 min,hemoglobin level were higher than that at CPB 60 min(P 0.05).[Conclusions]Cardiopulmonary bypss will have disadvantage infection on pulmonary surfactant.High-dose methylprednisolone can make the level of surfactant protein A higher.High-dose methylprednisolone used before CPB can protect pulmonary surfactant.
Flood events can reduce key fatty acid content of early-stage benthic algal assemblages in an urban stream

Effects of urbanization on stream chemistry and biota have been widely examined. However, few studies quantify the effect of urban stream characteristics on the biochemical properties of basal food resources, such as benthic algae, which can affect aquatic consumers and food webs. A common feature of urban streams is the high frequency of short floods, which may disrupt aquatic communities and their biotic controls. These disturbances can create algal assemblages low in biomass and which remain in early successional stages. This study examined the effects of frequent flood events and macroinvertebrate grazing on biomass, elemental stoichiometry, and essential fatty acid (EFA) concentration of early colonizing benthic algal assemblages in an urban stream. Over a 3-week period in which two flood events occurred, algal biomass (chlorophyll- a ) and EFA profiles were each affected by floods, but the responses were weakly correlated. Concentrations of EFA molecules essential for aquatic consumers, such as arachidonic acid (ARA) 20:4ω6), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) 20:5ω3), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) 22:6ω3) were greatly reduced after floods, potentially lessening algal nutritional quality. There were no statistically significant differences in biomass or stoichiometry of benthic algae in assemblages under different grazing regimes, suggesting hydrological factors played a greater role in their production and nutritional quality. This study provides evidence that flood-prone streams in urban landscapes may be susceptible to greatly altered biochemical profiles in early colonizing benthic algal assemblages. Results also suggest that biochemically important compounds, such as EFAs, offer valuable information on the quality of benthic algal assemblages under anthropogenic stress.
Financial Capability in Early Social Work Practice: Lessons for Today

During the profession's first decades, social workers tried to improve their clients’ financial capability (FC). This article describes the methods used by early social workers who attempted to enhance the FC of their clients, based on contemporary descriptions of their practice. Social workers initially emphasized thrift, later adding more sophisticated consideration of the cost of foods, rent, and other necessities. Social work efforts were furthered by home economists, who served as specialists in nutrition, clothing, interior design, and other topics related to homemaking. Early home economists included specialists in nutrition and family budgeting; these specialists worked with social services agencies to provide a financial basis for family budgets and assisted clients with family budgeting. Some agencies engaged home economists as consultants and as direct providers of instruction on home budgets for clients. By the 1930s, however, social work interest in family budget problems focused on the psychological meaning of low income to the client, rather than in measures to increase client FC. Consequently, social workers’ active engagement with family budget issues—engagement that characterized earlier decades—faded. These early efforts can inform contemporary practice as social workers are once again concerned about improving their clients’ FC.
Implementation of a high speed digital band-pass sigma-delta modulator for a wireless transmitter

Digital sigma-delta modulators are used extensively in CMOS wireless SoC designs to achieve high-resolution data conversion while controlling the quantization noise spectrum. This paper presents an implementation of a 90 nm CMOS digital band-pass sigma-delta modulator (SDM), running at 900 MHz. Conventional sigma-delta structures required to achieve such noise shaping are hardware intensive and do not meet the timing requirements when synthesized in 90 nm technology using a static CMOS implementation. In this work, we present an unrolled /spl Sigma//spl Delta/ architecture to achieve the necessary rate of operation. Unrolling is achieved by running two loops at half the frequency, while maintaining algorithmic equivalency between the original and proposed structures. The proposed architecture meets timing requirements of 900 MHz across all PVT corners at the cost of increase in area. The operating frequency for most of the hardware is halved, resulting in a 20% power consumption reduction.
ON THE RATE OF CONVERGENCE OF LOCAL ITERATIVE SCHEMES

Extended Abstract Let y = f(x) be a function of one real variable with a simple root at x =r. Many iterative methods for determining r exist in the literature; Traub's book [1] describes most of these, and analyzes their rates of convergence. The iterative process generates a sequence {x k } of approximations of r, where x k+1 depends on x k , x k-1 , … and the values of f and possibly some of its derivatives at these points. If the initial approximations are close enough to r then the sequence {x k } converges to r. (This makes the iterative method “local”). The secant method and Newton's method are examples of iterative schemes which are much used in practice. The various methods differ in the amount of information used, the particular way the information is used, and the rate at which {x k } converges to r.
Intravenous Voriconazole (IV-VORI) Prevents Invasive Fungal Infections (IFI) in Patients (pts) with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) and High-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS).

Abstract Background: IFI is the most frequent cause of mortality in pts with AML and MDS undergoing chemotherapy. None of the antifungal prophylactic regimens used since 1992 at MD Anderson Cancer Center appeared to be significantly superior in the prevention of IFI. Study Aims: To compare the efficacy and safety of IV-VORI versus IV-ITRA as antifungal prophylaxis in AML and MDS pts receiving chemotherapy Patients and Methods: Pts older than 18 years old receiving induction or salvage chemotherapy, without documentation of prior IFI were eligible. Pts were randomized on day 1 of chemotherapy to receive IV-VORI 400 mg q12 h x 2 days followed by 300 MG IV twice per day or IV-ITRA 200 mg q12 h x 2 days followed by 200 mg IV once per day. Prophylaxis continue until recovery from neutropenia, developed possible/proven IFI, complete remission, declared resistant or up to 35 days for induction pts and up to 42 days for salvage pts. Results: 114 pts were evaluable (49 on IV-ITRA, 65 on IV-VORI). Baseline characteristics were similar in both groups. 102 were induction pts and 12 were on first salvage. Median time on prophylaxis was 21 (induction) and 17 days (salvage) for both groups. 45% pts on IV-ITRA and 48% pts on IV-VORI completed prophylaxis without modification (p=ns). Two pts on IV-ITRA developed IFI (1 disseminated C. glabrata and 1 disseminated Fusarium) as oppose to none on the IV-VORI arm (p=0.101). No significant differences were seen in the number of pts that required empiric antifungal therapy due to persistent fever or possible fungal pneumonia (14% on IV-VORI, 18% on IV-ITRA). 15/49 pts on IV-VORI (23%) versus 4/49 (8%) on IV-ITRA discontinued prophylaxis due to side effects (p=0.036). Reversible increase in the liver function tests (9 on IV-VORI, 4 on IV-ITRA) and hallucinations (5 on IV-VORI) were the most frequent adverse events. Response to induction chemotherapy, overall induction mortality and survival were similar in both groups. Conclusions: 1) IV-VORI appears to be more efficacious than IV-ITRA in preventing IFI in AML and MDS pts receiving chemotherapy. More pts are needed to confirm this finding. 2) IV-VORI tends to be more toxic than IV-ITRA. The usage of high dose IV-VORI may explain the incidence of side effects.
Multilayer perceptron algorithms for cyberattack detection

A Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) is a machine learning algorithm capable of classifying large amounts of data and finding patterns in complex datasets. In this paper the MLP algorithm is used to perform intrusion detection based on the Knowledge Discovery and Datamining (KDD) dataset. The results show error minimization during training, as well as classification accuracy for a number of different perceptron topologies. These topologies differ in their number of hidden layers, and in the number of neurons within each hidden layer. The system presented is capable of performing intrusion detection at about 99.99% accuracy after an output bias is applied (with a false positive rate of about 10%).
Privacy and Telepresence Robotics: What do Non-scientists Think?

As the study of privacy specific to Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) develops, there is a need for empirical background work that is outside of the academic echo-chamber. This study aims to create a participatory discussion about privacy and how it should be addressed in a future with telepresence robots. In this short paper, we deliver some of the scientifically interesting topics our focus groups discussed and provide basic understanding of how telepresence systems are viewed by non-researchers.
Ectoparasitic mites of the genus Gigantolaelaps (Acari: Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) associated with small mammals of the genus Nephelomys (Rodentia: Sigmodontinae), including two new species from Peru

An extensive survey of small mammals and ectoparasites along an altitudinal transect in the Manu Biodiversity Reserve in Peru found the sigmodontine rodent genus Nephelomys infested by mites of the genus Gigantolaelaps Fonseca, 1939. Two distinct species co-occurred exclusively in the pelage of Nephelomys keaysi, G. inca Fonseca and G. minima n. sp. Nephelomys levipes, which replaces N. keaysi at higher elevations, was infested exclusively with a single new species, G. nebulosa n. sp. In this paper, we formally describe these new mite species, and provide more information on the morphology of G. inca.
A note on the linearization of the constitutive relations of non-linear elastic bodies

Abstract Within the context of the non-linear theory of Cauchy elastic bodies (hence Green elastic bodies which are a sub-set of Cauchy elastic bodies wherein the stress is derivable from a potential), linearization with regard to the gradient of displacement, in the sense that the squares of the norms of the gradient of displacement can be neglected in comparison tothe norm of the gradient of displacement, leads inexorably to the classical linearized elastic model. It is however common, especially in work related to inelastic bodies, to see expressions for the Cauchy stress as a nonlinear function of the linearized strain. Even though such models are outside the purview of purely elastic response, the nonlinear relationship between the stress and the linearized strain is also often assumed to hold in the elastic range also. While the linearized strain being a nonlinear function of the stress has no basis within the context of the classical Cauchy elasticity theory, we show that a proper justification can be provided for such models within the context of the new class of constitutive relations that have been developed to describe the response of elastic bodies by Rajagopal [19], and these models can be generalized to also describe the inelastic response in the small strain regime.
Insect Pests and Yield Potential of Vegetable Soybean (Edamame) Produced in Georgia

A series of replicated field experiments was conducted with vegetable soybean (edamame), Glycine max (L.) Merrill, to assess the impacts of cultivars, planting dates, and insecticidal controls on insect pest abundance, crop damage and yield potential. The velvetbean caterpillar, Anticarsia gemmatalis Hubner, was the most common lepidopteran defoliator in this study, causing heavy defoliation in some years when left untreated. Other lepidopterans observed included the soybean looper, Pseudoplusia includens (Walker), and the green clover-worm, Hypena scabra (F.). Stink bugs, primarily the southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (L.), also caused seed damage in some cultivars when left untreated. Stink bug damage exceeded expectations on edamame seeds when exposed to moderate stink bug densities (≤3 bugs per 25 sweeps). Other arthropods that were commonly observed included threecornered alfalfa hoppers, Spissistilus festinus (Say), grasshoppers, Melanoplus spp., and the potato leafhopper, Empoasca fabae (Harris). Arthropod infestations on edamame were similar to reported pest problems on conventional soybeans being produced for oil and meal. Midseason applications of the insecticides diflubenzuron plus l-cyhalothrin reduced insect pest populations, percentage of arthropod-induced defoliation and percentage of seeds damaged by stink bugs, but had little effect on edamame yields. Most defoliation and seed damage occurred during R5 development when seeds were approaching full size, thus only minimal yield reductions were noted. However, seed quality of the untreated vegetable soybeans would be unacceptable for the consumer. Total fresh green yields ranged from 2343-11,895 kg ha-1, depending on year, cultivar and planting date, whereas fresh green seed yields ranged from 1208-6,119 kg ha-1. Early-maturing edamame cultivars planted in April had fewer insect pests and less damage than the cultivars planted later. Avoidance of insect pests is an important production consideration for insect management, especially critical in an organic production system. The fresh green seed yields produced during this study demonstrate that this emerging alternative crop has the potential for economic success in the southern region, assuming that the arthropod pests are effectively managed to maintain acceptable edamame quality and yield.
Never mind the Sex Pistols: Here's French Punk or why didn't le punk français go global?

If the punk movement is considered to have originated in the United States and developed in the United Kingdom, relatively little attention has been paid to the scene in France from 1975–78. Yet several factors point to the need to address this oversight: the first major punk rock festival was held at Mont-de-Marsan (France) in August 1976 and the first release on the legendary British indie label Rough Trade was by the Parisian punk band Metal Urbain. Key figures such as Malcolm McLaren (manager of the Sex Pistols), Bernard Rhodes (manager of the Clash), and Tony Wilson (of Factory Records) were avid readers of French and other European intellectuals, whose thoughts on personal freedom, the individual, and the consumer society were a major influence on the British punk scene. But was there more to the French punk movement than an early festival, some intellectual concepts, and the handful of bands who crossed the English Channel, only to meet with limited critical and public acclaim? In this article, I examine the areas where French punk exerted significant international influence while also discussing how the music itself failed to take root both at home in France and abroad.