cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lipid-degrading enzyme activities associated with distribution and degradation of fatty acids in the mixing zone of Altamaha estuarine sediments

To examine the relationship between lipid-degrading enzyme activities and lipid composition in estuarine sediments, lipase activities and fatty acids in surface sediments at diAerent stations along the Altamaha River were determined during a high discharge period. Freshwater sandy sediments from upstream stations were characterized by low organic carbon and low lipid contents. Sediments from the strong mixing zone, where salinities were highly variable, were characterized by high organic carbon and high lipid contents with a predominance of long chain (>C20) saturated fatty acids, derived from terrestrial plants. At the river mouth, total fatty acids in the sediments were at intermediate concentrations, with a predominance of algal fatty acids. Lipase activity in the Altamaha River sediments was associated with certain fatty acid subgroups, i.e. monounsaturated, short-chain saturated, and branched-chain fatty acids. This indicates that these lipases probably were produced by bacteria. There was no significant correlation between lipase activity and terrestrial plant fatty acids (long-chain saturates) or algal fatty acids (polyunsaturates). A 3 month incubation of Altamaha River sediment, collected from the strong mixing zone, was carried out to determine changes in lipase activities and degradation rates of the various fatty acids. Solvent-extractable fatty acids were more readily degraded than bound fatty acids (fatty acids released from the extracted-sediment residue by saponification). Chain length and degree of unsaturation, which were linked to the lipid source, aAected fatty acid degradation rates. The presence of water overlying sediment resulted in increased sediment lipase activity during incubation, presumably due to stimulation of microbial processes at the sediment‐water interface. # 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Condensins Exert Force on Chromatin-Nuclear Envelope Tethers to Mediate Nucleoplasmic Reticulum Formation in Drosophila melanogaster

Although the nuclear envelope is known primarily for its role as a boundary between the nucleus and cytoplasm in eukaryotes, it plays a vital and dynamic role in many cellular processes. Studies of nuclear structure have revealed tissue-specific changes in nuclear envelope architecture, suggesting that its three-dimensional structure contributes to its functionality. Despite the importance of the nuclear envelope, the factors that regulate and maintain nuclear envelope shape remain largely unexplored. The nuclear envelope makes extensive and dynamic interactions with the underlying chromatin. Given this inexorable link between chromatin and the nuclear envelope, it is possible that local and global chromatin organization reciprocally impact nuclear envelope form and function. In this study, we use Drosophila salivary glands to show that the three-dimensional structure of the nuclear envelope can be altered with condensin II-mediated chromatin condensation. Both naturally occurring and engineered chromatin-envelope interactions are sufficient to allow chromatin compaction forces to drive distortions of the nuclear envelope. Weakening of the nuclear lamina further enhanced envelope remodeling, suggesting that envelope structure is capable of counterbalancing chromatin compaction forces. Our experiments reveal that the nucleoplasmic reticulum is born of the nuclear envelope and remains dynamic in that they can be reabsorbed into the nuclear envelope. We propose a model where inner nuclear envelope-chromatin tethers allow interphase chromosome movements to change nuclear envelope morphology. Therefore, interphase chromatin compaction may be a normal mechanism that reorganizes nuclear architecture, while under pathological conditions, such as laminopathies, compaction forces may contribute to defects in nuclear morphology.
Virulence Characterization of Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici Using a New Set of Yr Single-Gene Line Differentials in the United States in 2010

Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici causes stripe rust (yellow rust) of wheat and is highly variable in virulence toward wheat with race-specific resistance. During 2010, wheat stripe rust was the most widespread in the recorded history of the United States, resulting in large-scale application of fungicides and substantial yield loss. A new differential set with 18 yellow rust (Yr) single-gene lines was established and used to differentiate races of P. striiformis f. sp. tritici, which were named as race PSTv in distinction from the PST races identified in the past. An octal system was used to describe the virulence and avirulence patterns of the PSTv races. From 348 viable P. striiformis f. sp. tritici isolates recovered from a total of 381 wheat and grass stripe rust samples collected in 24 states, 41 races, named PSTv-1 to PSTv-41, were identified using the new set of 18 Yr single-gene differentials, and their equivalent PST race names were determined on the previous set of 20 wheat cultivar differentials. The frequencies and distributions of the races and their virulences were determined. The five most predominant races were PSTv-37 (34.5%), PSTv-11 (17.5%), PSTv-14 (7.2%), PSTv-36 (5.2%), and PSTv-34 (4.9%). PSTv-37 was distributed throughout the country while PSTv-11 and PSTv-14 were almost restricted to states west of the Rocky Mountains. The races had virulence to 0 to 13 of the 18 Yr genes. Frequencies of virulences toward resistance genes Yr6, Yr7, Yr8, Yr9, Yr17, Yr27, Yr43, Yr44, YrTr1, and YrExp2 were high (67.0 to 93.7%); those to Yr1 (32.8%) and YrTye (31.3%) were moderate; and those to Yr10, Yr24, Yr32, and YrSP were low (3.4 to 5.7%). All of the isolates were avirulent to Yr5 and Yr15.
DNA synthesis in the ooplasm of Drosophila melanogaster.

Tritiated thymidine was injected into 2-day-old Drosophila melanogaster females, and tissue sections were prepared from the ovary for radioautography with both the light and electron microscopes. Besides the expected incorporation of H3-thymidine into nuclei of nurse cells and follicle cells, there was a relatively high level of incorporation of label into ooplasmic DNA. The highest level of incorporation occurred at stage 12. At the same time, the 15 nurse cell nuclei also incorporate thymidine in spite of the fact that they are breaking down and degenerating. The label in the ooplasm is not removed by extraction with DNase (although this removes nuclear label) unless extraction is preceded by a treatment with protease. Electron microscopic radioautography revealed that 36% of the silver grains resulting from decay of H3-thymidine are found over mitochondria, with a further 28% being located within 0.25 µ of these organelles. The remaining 36% of the silver grains was not found to be associated with any organelles, and it probably represents synthesis in the cytoplasm by the "storage DNA" characteristic of many eggs. It is suggested that one mechanism acting throughout the egg chamber is responsible for the synchronous synthesis of DNA in the degenerating nurse cells, in the mitochondria of the egg, and in the "storage DNA" of the ooplasm.
A Density Management Diagram for Even-aged Ponderosa Pine Stands

We developed a density management diagram (DMD) for ponderosa pine using Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) data. Analysis plots were drawn from all FIA plots in the western United States on which ponderosa pine occurred. A total of 766 plots met the criteria for analysis. Selection criteria were for purity, defined as ponderosa pine basal area 80% of plot basal area, and even-agedness, as defined by a ratio between two calculations of stand density index. The DMD is relatively unbiased by geographic area and therefore should be applicable throughout the range of ponderosa pine. The DMD is intended for use in even-aged stands, but may be used for uneven-aged management where a large-group selection system is used. Examples of density management regimes are illustrated, and guidelines for use are provided. West. J. Appl. For. 20(4):205-215.
Fluorescence Lifetime Mapping of NADH Reveals DNA Repair Activity in Live Cells

Reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) is an important coenzyme that catalyzes many cellular functions including energy production and DNA damage repair. The ratio of free and bound NADH has recently emerged as a regulator of transcriptional activity and age-associated diseases. The DNA damage response, which requires NADH to gain full functionality, senses and repairs any breaks and errors in the genome. Uncovering the role of this ubiquitous molecule in response to DNA damage will further our understanding of how DNA protects itself and provide insight on how cancer cells evade these processes. In laser-induced damage experiments, HeLa cells were damaged with a femto-second pulsed two-photon laser at a wavelength of 780nm. Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) data was acquired and processed using the FLIM-phasor method. Induction of DNA damage and initiation of DNA repair were confirmed via immunostaining for γH2AX and PAR. The lifetime of NADH species in each pixel of FLIM images were transformed into polar coordinates on the phasor plot. The relative fraction of bound NADH was then calculated from the phasor plot and plotted over time. Low laser power damage resulted in a transient change toward a high fraction of bound NADH that was restored in approximately 8 hours. High laser power damage resulted in an immediate (∼5 minutes) and persistent (after 12 hours) shift toward a high fraction of bound NADH. The data show that the extent of DNA damage correlates to increases in the fraction of bound NADH in the nucleus owing to increased binding to DNA repair-associated substrates. Thus, monitoring NADH activity can be an intrinsic biosensor for DNA repair activity. Future studies will explore the role of NADH in chromatin remodeling to facilitate transcriptional regulation of DNA repair.
Influence of substrate processing and interfacial polymerization conditions on the surface topography and permselective properties of surface-patterned thin-film composite membranes

Abstract The influence of substrate topography and interfacial polymerization (IP) conditions were investigated during the fabrication of patterned thin-film composite (TFC) membranes. Aromatic and semi-aromatic polyamide layers were formed atop patterned ultrafiltration (UF) membrane supports by IP using different concentrations of m-phenylenediamine (MPD) or piperazine (PIP) in water of 0.01–2% w/v with a fixed concentration of trimesoyl chloride in hexane of 0.1% w/v. For all the conditions evaluated, TFC membranes with regular surface patterns were achieved by maintaining amine soaking time and IP reaction time within 120 s. Importantly, the surface topography of the patterned TFC membranes was determined to be independent of IP reaction time. Characterization of the morphological details suggests non-conformal growth of the barrier layer on the patterned UF substrates. Results indicate that the extent of such non-conformal growth can be reduced by decreasing the amine concentration as well as by choosing an amine monomer such as PIP that produces a thinner semi-aromatic barrier layer. The overall findings of this study provide a means for achieving desired surface features for specific membrane applications.
GR 38032F (Ondansetron), a selective 5HT3 receptor antagonist, slows colonic transit in healthy man

The newly recognized class of 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors (5HT3) may be involved in the induction of nausea, since their pharmacological antagonists are effective against emesis induced by chemotherapy. 5HT3 receptors are present on enteric neurons, and 5HT3 blockers may produce mild constipation; we thus hypothesized that 5HT3 receptors would modulate colonic motility. To determine if GR 38032F, a selective 5HT3 antagonist known to have antiemetic effects, influences colonic transit in health, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study was performed. Using a radiopaque marker technique, colonic transit was quantified in 39 healthy volunteers (19 men, 20 nonpregnant women) 18-70 years of age. On a standard 25-g fiber diet, 16 mg of GR 38032F was given orally thrice daily. Gastrointestinal peptides (peptide YY, human pancreatic polypeptide, neurotensin, motilin, gastrin-cholecystokinin, substance P) were also measured in plasma fasting and postprandially. Mean total colonic transit time on placebo was 27.8 hr, while on GR 38032F it was 39.1 hr (P less than 0.0005). Transit times through the left colon (P less than 0.0005) and rectosigmoid (P less than 0.05) were prolonged by the drug, but right colonic transit was not significantly altered. Transit times did not correlate with age or gender, but subjects with shorter transit times were significantly more affected than were those with longer transit times. The peak release of peptide YY was minimally decreased following GR 38032F (P less than 0.01), but the peak and integrated postprandial responses of human pancreatic polypeptide, neurotensin, motilin, gastrin-cholecystokinin, and substance P were not significantly altered by the drug.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Appraisal of Gold Mineral Resources With More Developed Value in Guizhou Province

Under guidance of the general theory and method of synthetic information of mineral appraisal,107 areas were classified by geological unit methods in Guizhou,taken 18 areas of Au deposit concentrated regions as model units and 89 areas of anomaly concentrated regions as prediction units, the theory of quantification IV was used to classify all the samples and established the model of orientation prediction for all the same samples by the way of character analysis.And extended the application of model units of Au deposit concentrated regions into the field of the Au anomaly concentrated regions.All the units base on the probabilities of forming gold mine were classified.22 working areas with more developed value in future were selected.The orientation prediction drawing of Au anomaly concentrated regions in Guizhou was finished.It provides some scientific proofs to the field in orientation prediction of large gold mineral deposit concentrated regions in Guizhou province.
Towards a Domain Independent Platform for Data Cleaning.

We present a domain independent platform for data cleaning developed as part of the Data Cleaning project at Microsoft Research. Our platform consists of a set of core primitives and design tools that allow a programmer to develop sophisticated data cleaning solutions with minimal programming effort. Our primitives are designed to allow rich domain and application specific customizations and can efficiently handle large inputs. Our data cleaning technology has had significant impact on Microsoft products and services and has been successfully used in several real-world data cleaning applications.
Disseminated giant cell arteritis

A 76-yr-old woman with widespread giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica is described. The patient had an unusual simultaneous involvement of the cranial (temporal) arteries demonstrated by biopsy, and of large elastic arteries (aorta and its major branches), medium-sized and small muscular arteries, arterioles and vasa vasorum found at autopsy. Coronary arteritis was responsible for the fatal myocardial infarction.
Slowing the progression of Alzheimer disease: ethical issues

Slowing the progression of Alzheimer disease (AD) can be regarded as an unambiguous benefit only up to a point. Beyond that point, the greater human good will involve letting the downward progression proceed. However, defining this point is not easy. It may be useful to distinguish the then-self, i.e., the intact self that relates past, present, and future, from the now-self, i.e., a state in which the demented individual recognizes only the present. In decisions involving treatment and the prolongation of life, many believe that the (precedently expressed wishes of the) then-self takes precedence. Decisions about slowing disease progression involve not only the then-self but the medical community and the caregivers. They, too, may agree that slowing the progression of AD beyond a critical point is unacceptable.
Contraceptives Scavenger Hunt: An Example of Experiential Learning in a Sexual and Reproductive Health College Class:

Teaching sexual and reproductive health in general, and contraceptives in particular, presents instructors with diverse challenges. While instructors need to cover textbook concepts, the classroom setting does not offer much context for a significant, experiential learning opportunity. We have developed and implemented a Contraceptives Scavenger Hunt assignment, designed to facilitate experiential learning and put class concepts into real-life context. Students were provided with three groups of sexual and reproductive health items that were discussed in class (contraceptives for males, contraceptives for females, and other interesting items). They had to choose one item from each group and hunt for it in local stores, pharmacies, sex shops, and so on. They reported on their overall experience and identified barriers they would not have thought of in class (e.g., transportation, cost, ease of access). Variations to this activity, its implications for experiential learning, challenges to its implementation...
Targeting CD30 in Hodgkin Lymphoma: Antibody-Drug Conjugates Make a Difference

CD30 expression is characteristic of the malignant Reed-Sternberg cell in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and several other lymphoid malignancies, such as anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL). Although unconjugated anti-CD30 antibodies have had minimal therapeutic activity in patients with HL as single agents, the CD30-directed antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) brentuximab vedotin has demonstrated activity that has resulted in its recent regulatory approval for the treatment of patients with relapsed HL and ALCL. Approximately 75% of patients with recurrent HL achieve objective responses, with the principal toxicity being peripheral neuropathy. Ongoing studies are evaluating treatment with this agent as part of first-line therapy, for patients with relapsed disease, and for patients with resistant disease and limited other options. Brentuximab vedotin demonstrates the therapeutic value of antibody-drug conjugation and serves as a model of how a novel, targeted approach can be employed to potentially further improve outcomes in settings where curative chemotherapeutic regimens are already available.
Characterizing Biophysical Features Driving the Self-Assembly of Microtubule Nano-Arrays

Microtubules (MTs) are biopolymeric filaments important in several cellular functions, including maintaining cell structure and providing platforms for intracellular transport. Biopolymers, including MTs, are being explored as nanostructure templates (i.e., for nanowire synthesis) due to their dimensions, self-assembly dynamics and versatile chemical functionalization. MTs have unique self-assembly processes scaling from polymerization of tubulin at the nanometer, to the head-to-tail micron-scale assembly of mature MTs, forming segmented nano-arrays. Controlling nano-array assembly requires characterization of the physicochemical properties driving self-assembly. Modelling studies have mapped the electrostatic potential of MTs and found that they are overall negatively charged with oppositely charged ends, suggesting electrostatically attractive interactions may drive assembly. Structural studies, however, suggest that end-to-end interactions of tubulin are driven by hydrophobic interactions. We demonstrate that biophysical features including electrostatics, hydrophobicity and temperature regulate the assembly of MT nano-arrays. Electrostatically shielding MTs, thus shielding the electrostatically polar ends, using salts resulted in increased rate of nano-array assembly. These results suggest that (1) decreasing the overall negative charge of MTs decreases electrostatic repulsion, increasing the probability of end-to-end interactions and (2) shielding electrostatically attractive ends of the MTs does not inhibit end-to-end interactions, suggesting that self-assembly is driven predominately by hydrophobic interactions. Finally, data exploring the role of temperature suggests that increasing temperature causes MT filaments to undergo a phase transition resulting in a discontinuous Arrhenius behavior. Together, these results provide insights into tunable parameters driving self-assembly of MT nano-arrays. Adjusting these parameters to optimize assembly will greatly aid in the application of biopolymeric templates for use in nanomaterials applications. Sandia National Laboratories is a multi-program laboratory managed and operated by Sandia Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation, for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-AC04-94AL85000.
Moral conscience in burkean thought: implication of diversity and tolerance in public administration

Sparked by the September 11 event, ethnic and religious diversity in the American culture has opened a new dialogue about tolerance to foreign cultures and religions. Using Burke’s views about morality and religious tolerance, this paper argues how ethical guidelines of public administrators ought to be sought from a universal moral law derived from natural principles and constitutional values of the regime. The argument focuses on Burkean prudence as a practical application of moral law and a guide for public administrators in a diverse global environment. Furthermore, it argues civil law to be inadequate in situations where the majority favors a particular opinion against a minority population. By acknowledging a universal moral law, public administrators can play a dual role as individuals building human relations in a diverse culture, and as public servants upholding Constitutional values to preserve the integrity of public institutions
Retributive Approaches to Transitional Justice: A Feminist Analysis of How International Law Shapes National and International Prosecutions

The distinguishing factor of retributive justice, in contrast with restorative justice, is its central emphasis on holding perpetrators legally accountable for their actions and administering punishment fitting the crime. This chapter provides a discussion on international law as pertaining to transitional justice, with specific analysis on the extent to which it is gender-sensitive. In doing so, the chapter highlights some of the critical gaps that currently exist and their consequences. The theoretical discussion here is accompanied by a brief analysis of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia (ICTY), and The Rome Statute. Although these are not full-fledged case studies, the definitional precedents set in ICTR, ICTY, and ICC are compared to highlight some salient lessons learned related to women’s inclusion, participation, and representation.
New-generation CCD controller requirements and an example: the San Diego State University generation II controller

New generation astronomical CCD controllers are being required to operate a variety of CCDs in a range of ground-based applications. These include simultaneous readout from two or four corners of the same CCD (multiple readout), operation of several CCDs in the same focal plane (mosaics), fast readout of small devices for wavefront sensing in adaptive optics systems, readout of only a small region or number of regions of a single CCD (sub-image or region of interest readout), merging the charge from neighboring pixels before readout (binning), continuous readout of devices for drift scan observations, and low contrast polarimetric or spectroscopic differential imaging. Most astronomical applications require that the controller electronics not contribute significantly to the readout noise of the CCD, that the dynamic range of the CCD be fully sampled, that the CCD be read out as quickly as possible from one or more readout channels, and that some flexibility in readout modes and device format exist. A further requirement imposed by some institutions is that a single controller design be used for all their CCD instruments to minimize maintenance and development efforts. The Generation II controller design recently completed at San Diego State University to address these requirements is reviewed. A user-programmable digital signal processor (DSP) operating as a sequencer and communications processor is combined with 12-bit digital-to-analog converters for setting all CCD voltages, a video processor chain with speeds of up to 1 MHz, 16-bit analog-to-digital converters, and a bussed backplane architecture for incorporating the control and readout of multiple CCDs by replicating the clock driver and video processing elements.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Hinterlands and Regional Dynamics in the Ancient Southwest, Alan P. Sullivan, James M. Bayman. The University of Arizona Press, Tucson, AZ (2007), 304 pages

The concept of “hinterland” has varied meanings across the social sciences. To historians, for example, it is usually associated under imperialism with the illegitimate claiming of land from a coas...
Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigens: Regulation of Lymphocyte Adhesions in Vitro and Immunity in Vivo

Antibodies to most cytolytic T lymphocyte (CTL) external membrane antigens have no effect on CTL-mediated killing in the absence of complement. However, antibodies which do inhibit killing have now been identified for 7 distinct molecular sites. Antibodies to 6 of these “lymphocyte function-associated antigens” (LFAs, also called “blocking sites”) inhibit when bound to the CTL, and to the 7th, when bound to the target cell. Mouse homologs have been identified for only 4 of the 7 human LFAs. 5 (probably 6) of the blocking sites inhibit by interfering with adhesion formation between the CTL and the target cell; the exception is T3. None of the presently identified blocking sites are believed to be lethal hit structures (CTL “toxin”).
A Study of the End Milling Process Under Varying Machining Conditions Using Neural Networks

Abstract Estimating the average resultant cutting force in end milling operations under varying machining conditions is considered in this study. Simulated results presented here show that a neural estimator can be trained to accurately estimate the cutting force without a priori knowledge of the system dynamics. Training of the neural estimator was accomplished using the backpropagation algorithm and the trained neural estimator could be used to train a neural controller to specify the input to the system which will yield the desired output.
Are Planning Programs Delivering What Planning Students Need? Perspectives on Planning Education from Practitioners

In our quest to determine the future needs of planning education, we asked three well-respected, long-time planning practitioners to provide their insights as to what planning students need to excel in their professional careers. These three individuals have all been honored with the designation of Fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners (FAICP) for their work and achievements in the field of planning. This chapter presents these three professionals’ views on their own planning careers and how their experiences in hiring and working with young planners have influenced their views on what university planning programs should be offering, in order to graduate the best prepared planning professionals.
EBITDA, EBITA, or EBIT?

Over the last thirty years there has been a strong positive trend in the magnitude of amortization charges, due to both economic and accounting changes. This trend has accelerated over the last decade, following the implementation of a revised accounting standard for business combinations. Concurrent with the recent trend, managers and external users of financial statements increasingly discuss operating performance focusing on earnings metrics that exclude amortization but include depreciation. This study compares earnings before interest, taxes and amortization (EBITA) with its two more common alternatives—EBIT and EBITDA. Consistent with the amortization trend, EBITA’s advantage over EBIT in explaining market values has gradually increased over time. However, throughout the sample period, EBITDA performed substantially better than both EBITA and EBIT. In terms of predicting stock returns, the three operating income measures performed well in the 1990s and 2000s, but not over the last decade.
Questioning the Brokerage Metaphor: Examining the Role of Reentry Organizations

The U.S. has reached the end of a mass incarceration crisis. With the demise of the Jim Crow era in 1965, the advent of off-shoring resulting in a surplus of low-wage U.S. workers starting in the 1980s, and the institutionalization of the War on Drugs also starting in the 1980s, the U.S. Prison Industrial Complex has been fed to the bursting point. Confronted with prison overcrowding and the untenable expense of re-incarcerating those whom it had “warehoused” with draconian prison sentences, the State now turns to reentry organizations as public-private partnerships, to which it delegates the task of reintegrating the formerly incarcerated. Much of the research on public-private partnerships has focused on the private partner, with investigations of either value appropriation by the private partner or of the social value the private partner imparts to the public partner. My case study of a reentry organization contributes to the literature on private-partnerships by allowing for an examination of how the ...
Incidentally Discovered Extranodal Marginal Zone B-Cell Lymphoma of Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue in the Colon

We present a case of colonic mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma in a 62-year-old woman diagnosed after a positive test for fecal occult blood.
Axial and oblique C2 pedicle diameters and feasibility of C2 pedicle screw placement: Technical note.

Background For C2 pedicle screw placement/instrumentation, it is critical to adequately measure the axial and oblique C2 pedicle diameters utilizing the intraoperative O-arm. Methods Thirty-three patients who underwent C2 pedicle screw placement (2013-2016) utilizing the O-arm with tri-planar reconstruction. As O-arm software does not allow calibrated measurements with the application's measurement tool, we directly measured axial and oblique widths of the C2 pedicles on the screen with a regular ruler (e.g., "screen width of C2 pedicle"). Results The axial width of the C2 pedicles ranged from 6 to 15 mm on the right (mean 10.44 ± 2.15 mm) to 7 to 14 mm (10.29 ± 1.72 mm) on the left. The oblique width of C2 pedicles ranged from 10 to 19 mm on the right (mean, 14.73 ± 1.85 mm) and from 12 to 19 mm on the left (mean, of 15.33 ± 1.67 mm). These measurements indicated that oblique screen widths of the C2 pedicles were 1.4 and 1.5 times higher than their axial screen widths on the right and left sides, respectively. Conclusions The oblique screen widths of the C2 pedicles better predict the feasibility of C2 pedicle screw placement vs. their axial screen width as measured with a regular ruler.
Creating Multimedia Teaching and Training Tools

Teaching and training users how to operate laboratory equipment is a time-intensive practice. Many new users are students, who have generally high turnover rates; after they complete a class project or degree program, they leave the facility, In addition, users often divide their time among a variety of techniques and equipment. With episodic usage, researchers tend to forget details of instrument operation and need to be retrained. Academic core facilities must balance their productivity against the time it takes to train and retrain an ever-changing parade of users. Site-specific multimedia teaching and training resources, such as films, CDs, videos, or DVDs, if easily available in the laboratory, would enable users to refresh and retrain themselves on equipment operation.
Turbine Engine Performance Improvements: A Proactive Approach

Turbine engine concepts for the future are placing ever-increasing demands on the design engineer. These future systems are seeking to increase performance while at the same time reduce costs. However, traditional engine design methods use large margins in the design process of a specific component in order to guarantee proper operation throughout the flight envelope over the life of the engine. These margins in fact reduce engine performance and increase the costs. In this paper, active control will be presented as one potential means of achieving the requirements for future turbine engines. In addition, specific active control applications will be discussed.Copyright © 2001 by ASME
Regional surveillance of parasitic infections in wild Northern Bobwhite Quail (Colinus virginianus) utilizing a mobile research laboratory platform

Northern bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus), a popular gamebird among hunters, have been declining over recent decades in the Rolling Plains ecoregion. Investigations in the past few years have revealed a high prevalence of eyeworms (Oxyspirura petrowi) and caecal worms (Aulonocephalus pennula) in this ecoregion, prompting a need to better understand their host–parasite interaction and other factors that influence infection. In this study, the efficiency of a mobile laboratory was tested by deploying it to three field sites in the Rolling Plains between July and August of 2017 and collecting cloacal swabs from bobwhites. The DNA was extracted from swabs for quantitative PCR and was run in the mobile and reference laboratory to specifically detect A. pennula and O. petrowi infection. When compared with the Wildlife Toxicology's reference laboratory, the mobile laboratory had a 97 and 99% agreement for A. pennula and O. petrowi, respectively. There were no significant differences in infection levels between field sites. Due to its efficiency, it is proposed that the mobile laboratory would be an effective way to monitor infection levels, in addition to factors that may affect infection such as climate, diapause, and intermediate host populations.
Sampling baseline androgens in free-living passerines: Methodological considerations and solutions.

Abstract Obtaining baseline hormone samples can be challenging because circulating hormone levels often change rapidly due to the acute stress of capture. Although field protocols are established for accurately sampling baseline glucocorticoid concentrations, fewer studies have examined how common sampling techniques affect androgens levels. Indeed, many studies focused on understanding the functional significance of baseline androgen levels use sampling methods known to activate the endocrine responses to stress. To understand how different field sampling protocols affect plasma androgen levels, we measured the androgen response to two types of capture stressors in a free-living tropical bird, the wire-tailed manakin (Pipra filicauda). First, we subjected males to a standardized capture and restraint protocol lasting either 15 or 30 min. Second, males were passively captured in nets that were filmed (to establish exact duration of time between capture and blood sampling) and checked every 30 min. The first study showed that circulating plasma androgen levels decreased significantly following both 15 and 30 min of restraint in a cloth bag, with a trend for the 30 min samples to be lower than the 15 min samples. Further, the change in androgen levels was dependent on an individual’s initial androgen levels, with the individuals with the highest initial levels registering the largest declines. The results of the second study suggest that hanging in a mist net for extended periods of time also leads to a decrease in circulating androgen levels, but this effect was weaker than that of capture and restraint in a cloth bag. Our findings demonstrate that, overall, circulating androgen levels decrease in response to common sampling techniques; a finding that has important implications for studies measuring baseline androgen levels in free-living birds. Future studies should prioritize sampling individuals immediately upon removal from the mist net, as handling and restraint have a strong negative effect on circulating androgen levels. When constant monitoring of the mist net is not possible, investigators should use video cameras to record the amount of time an individual spends in the net prior to blood sampling and then statistically control for the effect of this variable in analyses.
gganatogram: An R package for modular visualisation of anatograms and tissues based on ggplot2.

Displaying data onto anatomical structures is a convenient technique to quickly observe tissue related information. However, drawing tissues is a complex task that requires both expertise in anatomy and the arts. While web based applications exist for displaying gene expression on anatograms, other non-genetic disciplines lack similar tools. Moreover, web based tools often lack the modularity associated with packages in programming languages, such as R. Here I present gganatogram, an R package used to plot modular species anatograms based on a combination of the graphical grammar of ggplot2 and the publicly available anatograms from the Expression Atlas. This combination allows for quick and easy, modular, and reproducible generation of anatograms. Using only one command and a data frame with tissue name, group, colour, and value, this tool enables the user to visualise specific human and mouse tissues with desired colours, grouped by a variable, or displaying a desired value, such as gene-expression, pharmacokinetics, or bacterial load across selected tissues. gganatogram consists of 5 highly annotated organisms, male/female human/mouse, and a cell anatogram. It further consists of 24 other less annotated organisms from the animal and plant kingdom. I hope that this tool will be useful by the wider community in biological sciences. Community members are welcome to submit additional anatograms, which can be incorporated into the package. A stable version gganatogram has been deposited to neuroconductor , and a development version can be found on github/jespermaag/gganatogram . An interactive shiny app of gganatogram can be found on https://jespermaag.shinyapps.io/gganatogram/ , which allows for non-R users to create anatograms.
Bagging and deep learning in optimal individualized treatment rules

An ENsemble Deep Learning Optimal Treatment (EndLot) approach is proposed for personalized medicine problems. The statistical framework of the proposed method is based on the outcome weighted learning (OWL) framework which transforms the optimal decision rule problem into a weighted classification problem. We further employ an ensemble of deep neural networks (DNNs) to learn the optimal decision rule. Utilizing the flexibility of DNNs and the stability of bootstrap aggregation, the proposed method achieves a considerable improvement over existing methods. An R package "ITRlearn" is developed to implement the proposed method. Numerical performance is demonstrated via simulation studies and a real data analysis of the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia data.
Predicting trajectories of posttraumatic growth following acquired physical disability.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE This study examined predictors of trajectories of posttraumatic growth (PTG) among individuals with acquired physical disability across the first year after discharge from acute rehabilitation. Research Method/Design: Data were collected from participants (64 veterans with spinal cord injury and dysfunction, and 19 with brain injury) on various demographic and injury characteristics, appraisals of injury, and coping styles at baseline, as well as PTG at baseline and 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups. RESULTS Comparison of initial curvature models suggested that a cubic, or S-shaped, trend best fit the trajectory of PTG over time. Three hierarchical linear models (HLMs) were run to examine whether demographic and injury characteristics, appraisals of injury, and coping styles predicted height of PTG over time, and a final HLM examined whether any significant effects in the first HLMs interacted with time effects in the prediction of participants' PTG trajectories. Individuals with lower estimated premorbid IQ, older age, greater use of challenge appraisals, and greater use of reframing and religious coping experienced higher levels of PTG over the first year after discharge from rehabilitation. None of these predictors interacted with time effects in predicting participants' PTG trajectories. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS These findings point to ways in which clinical researchers can better understand PTG following acquired physical disability and investigate the honing of psychological interventions to more precisely target specific modifiable predictors of PTG. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
Local anesthetics and regional anesthesia versus conventional analgesia for preventing persistent postoperative pain in adults and children: A Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis update.

Abstract Background Regional anesthesia may mitigate the risk of persistent postoperative pain (PPP). This Cochrane review, published originally in 2012, was updated in 2017. Methods We updated our search of Cochrane CENTRAL, PubMed, EMBASE and CINAHL to December 2017. Only RCTs investigating local anesthetics (by any route) or regional anesthesia versus any combination of systemic (opioid or non-opioid) analgesia in adults or children, reporting any pain outcomes beyond three months were included. Data were extracted independently by at least two authors, who also appraised methodological quality with Cochrane ‘Risk of bias’ assessment and pooled data in surgical subgroups. We pooled studies across different follow-up intervals. As summary statistic, we reported the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals and calculated the number needed to benefit (NNTB). We considered classical, Bayesian alternatives to our evidence synthesis. We explored heterogeneity and methodological bias. Results 40 new and seven ongoing studies, identified in this update, brought the total included RCTs to 63. We were only able to synthesize data from 39 studies enrolling 3027 participants in a balanced design. Evidence synthesis favored regional anesthesia for thoracotomy (OR 0.52 [0.32 to 0.84], moderate-quality evidence), breast cancer surgery (OR 0.43 [0.28 to 0.68], low-quality evidence), and cesarean section (OR 0.46, [0.28 to 0.78], moderate-quality evidence). Evidence synthesis favored continuous infusion of local anesthetic after breast cancer surgery (OR 0.24 [0.08 to 0.69], moderate-quality evidence), but was inconclusive after iliac crest bone graft harvesting (OR 0.20, [0.04 to 1.09], low-quality evidence). Conclusions Regional anesthesia reduces the risk of PPP. Small study size, performance, null, and attrition bias considerably weakened our conclusions. We cannot extrapolate to other interventions or to children.
Networks of hybrid open systems

Abstract We generalize the results of Lerman (2018) to the setting of hybrid systems. In particular, we introduce the notions of hybrid open systems, their networks and maps between networks. A network of systems is a blueprint for building a larger system out of smaller subsystems by specifying a pattern of interactions between subsystems — an interconnection map. Maps between networks allow us to produce maps between complex hybrid dynamical systems by specifying maps between their subsystems.
Addressing Social Outcomes in Land and Water Management for Global Wine Regions

Land use planning and water management decisions impact both social and environmental sustainability. In wine-producing regions, preserving industry goals and natural resources like land and water can produce trade-offs that impact the social sustainability of those regions. This chapter draws on two case studies to illustrate how land use planning and water management decisions are impacting social sustainability outcomes in the wine regions of the Western Cape of South Africa and the Napa Valley in California. Social challenges for each case study’s wine industry range from shortages of affordable housing to economic empowerment of disadvantaged labourers. The land and water management in each wine region is discussed, as are the social outcomes of such decisions.
A Novel Approach to Estimate Doppler Frequency Using Robust Chinese Remainder Theorem

In the modern era, operational requirements of air defense system have been expanded for detection of multiple high speed targets such as, aircrafts, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAVs), ballistic missiles etc. Progression in technology for hostile targets calls for a modern air defense system with fast reaction time, large coverage area and advanced Electronic Counter Countermeasures (ECCM) features. Modern warfare and radar systems utilize an extensive range of technologies to fulfill the operational requirements of air defense system. Radar Technology is emerging exponentially and requires detection at High Speed and Long Range. Radars are designed to determine the parameters of the targets i.e. range and Doppler. Match filtering, Doppler processing and CFAR algorithms are generally used to determine these parameters. However, the performance of these algorithms is not adequate in terms of high speed target, interferences and accurate estimation of range and Doppler. In this study, a novel approach using Robust Chinese Remainder Theorem is presented. The proposed approach assures the accurate estimation of target's parameter with minimal error.
Tissue Expander Use for Reconstruction of Scalp Soft Tissue Sarcoma Wide Resection Defects

The potentially curative treatment for soft tissue sarcomas is wide resection. When located on the scalp, this can require removal of significant volumes of adjacent soft tissues as well as the sku...
Light duty vehicle choice models examining alternative fuel technology preferences among commercial fleet owners

Abstract Agent-based transportation models are valuable tools for evaluating energy use, emissions and mobility impacts of transportation. In this context, vehicle ownership models are critical for linking personal and commercial activities to their impacts on the transportation system. Further, predicting the fuel type that is chosen by an establishment when purchasing a vehicle is important for modeling the impacts of commercial transportation on energy consumption and related outputs. This study develops an econometric model that can be used to predict the fuel technology that is chosen by an establishment when purchasing a Light Duty Vehicle (LDV) for business purposes. Factor analysis was also used to gain insights into the underlying preferences and needs of establishments, which drive the fuel choice decision. The results can be used in agent-based models or other models in simulations of the transportation system and energy consumption. The outcomes are also useful for modeling the adoption of alternative fuels among commercial fleet owners over time, which is important from both a policy perspective as well as an automobile manufacturer perspective.
Microthrombi Correlates With Infarction and Delayed Neurological Deficits After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Mice

Background and Purpose: Delayed neurological deficits are a devastating consequence of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), which affects about 30% of surviving patients. Although a very serious concern,...