cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Behavioral Approaches and Liaison Psychiatry

In any disorder, behavioral as well as organic factors may play a role in instating or maintaining the problem, as in skin disorders. Both aspects need attention. Compliance is another area in which psychosocial factors can play an important role.
The road less traveled: how to grow a pancreas transplant program.

Purpose of review The volume of pancreas transplants performed annually in the United States (US) has steadily declined for more than a decade. In the face of this negative trend, efforts at several centers are underway to expand their pancreas transplant volumes through alterations in the structure and function of their pancreas transplant programs. We highlight these programmatic changes and emphasize the culture and characteristics of these high volume centers to serve as models for other centers to emulate. As the results of modern-day pancreas transplantation are excellent and continue to improve, pancreas transplant remains an outstanding option for selected patients suffering from diabetes mellitus and end stage renal disease (ESRD) or symptomatic hypoglycemic events (SHEs). Through strong leadership commitment and programmatic restructuring, the transformation of low-volume pancreas transplant centers into high-volume programs is achievable without the need for cost-prohibitive investment. Recent findings Multiple examples may be cited of transplant centers reinvigorating their pancreas transplant programs, increasing their pancreas transplant evaluations and transplant rates, through personnel reorganization and operational restructuring. As a means of providing a roadmap to encourage other transplant centers to re-energize their pancreas transplant programs, we will outline strategies that can be readily instituted to transform a pancreas transplant program, and delineate the basic steps that any transplant center can take to achieve high-volume success. Summary The negative trends in access to pancreas transplantation in the US may ultimately be addressed by low-volume pancreas transplant programs re-committing themselves through easily achievable institutional changes without substantial added capital investment, thereby maximizing access to pancreas transplantation for their diabetic patients and maintaining excellent outcomes.
RF and Low Power Analog Design for RFID

A passive RFID tag consists of an antenna and IC operating without a battery. The DC power required to operate the IC is generated by converting the incoming RF field to a DC supply using a rectifier. The minimum DC power available from the rectifier is on the order of a few micro-watts, and this is the power available to operate the tag, comprised of various sub-systems. Each sub-system is typically allocated only hundreds of nano-watts of DC power to operate. The basic functional analog sub-systems of the IC include rectifier, RF and DC power management, data receiver, backscatter modulator, non-volatile memory controller, and additional supporting sub-circuits. This paper addresses several aspects of the design of RF and Analog Front End circuits for RFID.
Cell Death: History and Future

Cell death was observed and understood since the 19th century, but there was no experimental examination until the mid-20th century. Beginning in the 1960s, several laboratories demonstrated that cell death was biologically controlled (programmed) and that the morphology was common and not readily explained (apoptosis). By 1990, the genetic basis of programmed cell death had been established, and the first components of the cell death machinery (caspase 3, bcl-2, and Fas) had been identified, sequenced, and recognized as highly conserved in evolution. The rapid development of the field has given us substantial understanding of how cell death is achieved. However, this knowledge has made it possible for us to understand that there are multiple pathways to death and that the commitment to die is not the same as execution. A cell that has passed the commitment stage but is blocked from undergoing apoptosis will die by another route. We still must learn much more about how a cell commits to death and what makes it choose a path to die.
Treatment or prevention of herpes simplex virus retinitis with intravitreally injectable crystalline 1-O-hexadecylpropanediol-3-phospho-ganciclovir.

PURPOSE To evaluate an intraocular drug delivery system consisting of the crystalline ammonium salt of 1-O-hexadecylpropanediol-3-phospho-ganciclovir (HDP-P-GCV) as a slow-release form of the drug. METHODS A dosage of 0.885, 1.57, 2.8, 4.486, or 8.85 micromol of ammonium salt HDP-P-GCV in 0.1 mL was intravitreally injected into rabbit vitreous. The toxicity and safety were evaluated with ophthalmoscopy, electroretinography, and pathology. Drug vitreous levels were determined at various time intervals by means of HPLC. The treatment efficacy and duration of efficacy were tested in a herpes simplex virus (HSV)-1 retinitis rabbit model. RESULTS Intravitreal injections of the compound revealed clear vitreous of optic axis, a desirable drug depot in the inferior vitreous cavity, and no clinical toxicity, except for variable mild local posterior subcapsular cataract and local retinal toxicity with high doses. HPLC analysis showed free ammonium salt of HDP-P-GCV in the upper vitreous at a level of 0.2 microM 12 weeks after the 2.8-micromol initial intravitreal dose. Drug concentration was still 1.95 microM 20 weeks after the 8.85-micromol initial intravitreal dose. These concentrations (0.2 and 1.95 microM) were 10 and 100 times higher, respectively, than the median inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) of HSV-1 (0.023 microM). Treatment with the highest nontoxic dose (2.8 micromol) and the highest dose (8.85 micromol) showed significant protection from HSV-1 infection (P < 0.05) and provided sustained antiviral effect after a single intravitreal drug injection. CONCLUSIONS The crystalline ammonium salt of HDP-P-GCV may be a very useful local therapy for herpes family viral retinitis.
Racial disparities in NCI Cancer Center (NCI-CC) care for multiple myeloma (MM).

e18061Background: Despite a favorable genetic profile, African-Americans (AAs) with mm have poorer outcomes secondary to inferior treatment. NCI-CCs provide the highest-quality of care and attendan...
Motivational orientations to mindfulness and wellbeing

Adopting self-determination theory as a guiding framework, this cross-sectional study examined how motivational orientations (perfectionistic strivings, perfectionistic concerns) relate to mindfulness, core self-evaluation, and outcomes of life satisfaction, depression, and anxiety. A total of 273 college students responded to measures of perfectionism, mindfulness, core self-evaluation, life satisfaction, depression, and anxiety. Results supported that mindfulness and core self-evaluation sequentially mediated the associations between perfectionistic concerns and outcomes, but the hypothesized serial mediation model was not supported for perfectionistic strivings. Findings suggest that de-centering with awareness may build positive self-evaluation and thus mitigate the effects of perfectionistic concerns on life satisfaction, depression, and anxiety. On the other hand, not mindfulness but positive self-evaluation alone functions as a binder in the association between perfectionistic strivings and outcome variables. This study concludes that perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns, each positioned to reflect autonomous motivational orientations and controlled motivational orientations, relate to wellbeing with or without the role of mindfulness.
On continued fractions and diophantine approximation in power series fields

1. Continued fractions in fields of series. While some deep work has been done on continued fractions in power series fields, there does not seem to exist a general introduction, or an easily accessible account of Serret’s Theorem or Lagrange’s Theorem in this case. We therefore will start with the (obvious) definitions, and set some notation. But see also [12]. Whenever possible, we will try to stay close to the approach in Perron’s classical treatise [19]. We define rational functions in variables Z0, Z1, . . . by (1) [Z0] = Z0, [Z0, Z1] = Z0 + 1/Z1, (1.1) [Z0, Z1, . . . , Zn] = [Z0, . . . , Zn−2, Zn−1 + 1/Zn] (n ≥ 2). (1.2)
Do Readers Judge Books by Author Gender? Results from a Randomized Experiment

We run a randomized experiment to examine gender discrimination in book purchasing with 2,544 subjects on Amazon’s Mechanical Turk. We manipulate author gender and book genre in a factorial design ...
Using hidden information and performance level boundaries to study student–teacher assignments: implications for estimating teacher causal effects

A common problem in educational evaluation is estimating causal effects of interventions from non‐experimental data on students. Scores from standardized achievement tests often are used to adjust for differences in background characteristics of students in different non‐experimental groups. An open question is whether, and how, these adjustments should account for the errors in test scores as measures of latent achievement. The answer depends on what information was used to assign students to non‐experimental groups. Using a case‐study of estimating teacher effects on student achievement, we develop two novel empirical tests about what information is used to assign students to teachers. We demonstrate that assignments are influenced by both information that is unobserved by the researcher, and error prone test scores. We develop a model that is appropriate for this complex selection mechanism and compare its results with common simpler estimators. We discuss implications for the broader problem of causal modelling with error prone confounders.
Philosophical “Fundamentalism” Today: On Return Statements—The Return of Religion in Contemporary Philosophy (EUP, 2016)

The chapter addresses the resurgence of explicitly Christian themes and authorities in contemporary continental philosophy, especially in the writings of French philosopher Jean-Luc Nancy and Italian theorist Giorgio Agamben, drawing upon the arguments of Lambert’s recent book: Return Statements: The Return of Religion in Contemporary Philosophy (Edinburgh University Press, 2016).
When Baby Just Won’t Sleep

Most parents believe that nighttime is for sleeping. They like to have 7 or 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep, and they want their children to go to bed without resistance and sleep soundly until the morning. Unfortunately, sleep problems occur in 20 to 30% of infants, and some form of nightly awakening has been reported in 19 to 33% of 1- to 5-year-old children (Beltramini and Hertzig, 1983).
The Current State of Research, Challenges, and Future Research Directions of Blockchain Technology in Patient Care: Systematic Review.

Background: Blockchain offers a promising new distributed technology to address the challenges of data standardization, system interoperability, security, privacy, and accessibility of medical records. Objective: The purpose of this review is to assess the research on the use of blockchain technology for patient care and the associated challenges and to provide a research agenda for future research. Methods: This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. We queried the Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PubMed, Excerpta Medica dataBASE (EMBASE), and Web of Science databases for peer-reviewed research articles published up to December 2019 that examined the implementation of blockchain technology in health care settings. We identified 800 articles from which we selected 70 empirical research articles for a detailed review. Results: Blockchain-based patient care applications include medical information systems, personal health records, mobile health and telemedicine, data preservation systems and social networks, health information exchanges and remote monitoring systems, and medical research systems. These blockchain-based health care applications may improve patient engagement and empowerment, improve health care provider access to information, and enhance the use of health care information for medical research. Conclusions: Blockchain health information technology (HIT) provides benefits such as ensuring data privacy and security of health data, facilitating interoperability of heterogeneous HIT systems, and improving the quality of health care outcomes. However, barriers to using blockchain technology to build HIT include security and privacy vulnerabilities, user resistance, high computing power requirements and implementation costs, inefficient consensus algorithms, and challenges of integrating blockchain with existing HIT. With 51% of the research focused on medical information systems such as electronic health record and electronic medical record, and 53% of the research focused on data security and privacy issues, this review shows that HIT research is primarily focused on the use of blockchain technologies to address the current challenges HIT faces. Although Blockchain presents significant potential for disrupting health care, most ideas are in their infancy.
Cigar-Smoking Patterns by Race/Ethnicity and Cigar Type: A Nationally Representative Survey Among U.S. Adults

Introduction Racial/ethnic minorities have a higher prevalence of past 30–day cigar smoking than White, non-Hispanics. Little is known, however, about racial/ethnic differences in advanced cigar-smoking patterns by cigar types. This research explores whether cigar-smoking patterns differ by race/ethnicity and cigar types. Methods This study used a nationally representative sample of adults (aged ≥18 years; N=28,148) from the Wave 3 survey (2015–2016) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study for analysis. Cigar-smoking patterns included past 30–day use, daily use, established use, past 12–month blunt use, use within 30 minutes of waking, and the number of cigars used per day. Weighted multivariable regressions were conducted in 2019 to examine the associations between race/ethnicity and cigar-smoking patterns by cigar types (traditional cigars, cigarillos, and filtered cigars), controlling for covariates. Results Compared with White, non-Hispanics, Black, non-Hispanics were more likely to smoke cigars in the past 30 days (AOR=2.27, 95% CI=2.03, 2.54) and daily (AOR=2.65, 95% CI=1.89, 3.70), have established cigar smoking (AOR=1.95, 95% CI=1.66, 2.29), and smoke blunts in the past 12 months (AOR=2.30, 95% CI=1.84, 2.88). This pattern was generally consistent across cigar types and was especially pronounced for cigarillos. Compared with White, non-Hispanics, Hispanics were more likely to smoke cigars within 30 minutes of waking (AOR=1.50, 95% CI=1.10, 2.06). Conclusions This study finds that Black, non-Hispanics and Hispanics have more advanced patterns of cigar smoking than White, non-Hispanics. Interventions and policies for minimizing cigar smoking may differentially benefit these populations and reduce disparities.
RNA Isolation from Articular Cartilage Tissue.

Isolation of high-quality RNA directly from tissues is desirable to obtain precise information of in vivo gene expression profiles in cells embedded within their extracellular matrix (ECM). It is well known that purification of RNA from cartilage tissues is particularly challenging due to low cell (chondrocyte) content and its dense ECM rich in large negatively charged proteoglycans that can copurify with RNA. Older methodologies to purify RNA from cartilage involved the use of concentrated denaturing solutions containing guanidinium isothiocyanate followed by ultracentrifugation in cesium trifluoroacetate. Such ultracentrifugation approaches are rarely used now since the emergence of more user-friendly mini spin column chromatography kits. For this chapter, we tested and compared three methods to isolate RNA from immature murine articular (femoral head) cartilage and found that the combination of TRIzol® reagent and spin column chromatography (Norgen Total RNA Purification Kit) was the best approach to generate higher quality RNA. Here, the average RNA Integrity Number (RIN), as determined by Bioanalyzer technology, was 7.1. We then applied this method to attempt to isolate RNA directly from human articular cartilage harvested from three osteoarthritic (OA) knee joint specimens. As expected, the concentration and quality of RNA obtained differed between samples. However, from one specimen, we were able to isolate approximately 3 μg of total RNA (including small noncoding RNAs) from 100 mg of human OA cartilage with a RIN = 7.9. Despite the patient-to-patient variabilities that are known to exist between cartilage specimens from OA joints, we have demonstrated that it is possible to obtain reasonably high levels of RNA from human OA articular cartilage at a quality suitable for downstream analyses including microarray and RNA-Seq. A detailed description of our preferred RNA purification methodology, which can be used to isolate RNA from human, bovine, or rodent cartilage tissue, is provided in this chapter.
Treatment patterns and systemic therapy outcomes for patients with salivary duct carcinoma and adenocarcinoma NOS.

6084Background: Salivary duct carcinoma (SDC) and adenocarcinoma, not otherwise specified (Adeno-NOS) are rare and aggressive subtypes of salivary gland cancers. Biomarker studies revealed targetab...
Tibial Neurectomy for the Correction of Spastic Paresis in Calves

The conventional treatment of spastic paresis by gastrocnemius and partial superficial flexor tenotomy or tenectomy is often disappointing due to recurrence of the clinical signs of an overextended hock joint some weeks later as a result of a fibrous union.
Database Design with Genetic Algorithms

The design of distributed databases requires a configuration of the data such that queries are satisfied by accessing a minimum number of locations and the system load is equitably distributed among all locations. This problem is called the File Design Problem. This problem is NP Hard and requires the optimization over conflicting objectives. A genetic algorithm based on multi niche crowding combines heuristics with parallel processing to provide a suitable approach to solve this problem. Performance of the algorithm is tested using multiple data sets on different system platforms. The new method holds promise in providing suitable solutions for this problem.
Single-Cell Protein: Engineering, Economics, and Utilization in Foods

Publisher Summary The chapter discusses that single-cell protein (SCP) is a generic term for crude or refined sources of protein whose origin is unicellular or multicellular microorganisms—bacteria, yeast, molds, and algae. One of the major advantages of SCP is the flexibility in choosing not only the organism to be produced, but also the substrate to serve as the primary carbon source. Production of SCP is carried out in technologically intensive processes that permit high volumetric rates of protein production. The major cost in SCP production is the carbon energy source. The overall utilization of SCP falls into two broad categories: food and feed. The use of protein products in feed is related primarily to nutritional value and balance of the ingredient, and the economic value is usually determined via a computer using linear programming techniques. Yeasts are marketed in a number of physical forms, including dry powders, autolyzates, and hydrolyzates. In a review of the functional properties of yeast by Pinkos, the desirable characteristics noted were related to color, flavor, and antioxidant properties. If whole-cell SCP can be used in food without any deleterious effect on health, the addition of whole cell without further treatment would be the simplest and thus, the most economical way to utilize this material. The development of a rationale for the design and formation of functional protein systems would be an important and necessary step for the effective utilization of SCP. This chapter discusses that it is important that the interaction of the protein with water be determined and analyzed.
Levels of urinary inter-α-trypsin inhibitor trimer as a function of age and sex-hormone status in males and females not forming stones

Objectives To determine if levels of inter-α-trypsin inhibitor (IαTI)-trimer differ in normal individuals based on age, gender or hormonal status, as the regulation of calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystallization inhibitors, e.g. by sex steroids, could be a mechanism contributing to the differences in CaOx urolithiasis between the sexes. Subjects and methods Voided urine samples were collected from normal males and females. In Experiment 1 samples were grouped by gender and age, i.e. paediatric (PED) ≤ 10 years, male (M) 21, female (F) 14; young adult (YGAD) 20–30 years, M 23, F 18; adults (AD), 35–50 year, M 25, F 13; adults aged ≥ 60 years (> 60), M 24, F 16 (totals, M 93, F 61). In Experiment 2 samples were grouped by gender, age and hormonal status, i.e. PED, M 24, F 17; AD , M 24, F 22; > 60 and not on hormonal therapy, M 23, F 30; M > 60 and on androgen deprivation therapy (ANDEP) 18; and F > 60 on oestrogen supplementation, F+EST, 18 (total M 89, F 85). Levels of urinary IαTI-trimer were determined by immunoblotting and enhanced chemiluminescence, and relative densities of the bands determined. Results In both experiments the relative levels of IαTI-trimer were 2–7 times higher in M-PED than in all other groups of males ( P ≤ 0.007). Among adult males, IαTI-trimer levels were similar in all groups, including ANDEP ( P ≥ 0.9). There were no differences in the relative levels of IαTI-trimer among any of the groups of females, regardless of age or hormonal status ( P ≥ 0.7). Conclusions In males a decrease in IαTI-trimer was associated with the onset of adulthood and entry into the ‘stone-forming years’. Females did not show this decrease, and neither sex showed an increase in IαTI-trimer in the > 60 group, when the incidence of CaOx urolithiasis is supposedly declining. While changes in urinary IαTI-trimer levels in males may reflect maturational changes in the kidney, overall these data do not support the hypothesis that the age-related changes in the incidence of urolithiasis are paralleled by changes in the expression IαTI-trimer. Additionally, the sex steroids do not appear to acutely regulate the expression of IαTI-trimer in adults, making differences in IαTI-trimer levels unlikely to be the reason for the disparity in the incidence of CaOx urolithiasis between the sexes.
Abstraction and depiction of sparsely scanned outdoor environments

This paper describes various techniques and applications of rendering three-dimensionally digitized outdoor en- vironments in non-photorealistic rendering styles. The difficulty in rendering outdoor environments is accommodating their inaccuracy, incompleteness, and large size to deliver a smooth animation without suggesting the underlying data deficiency. Standard rendering approaches often expose and inadvertently emphasize missing and noisy data, producing unpleasant images. Our use of non-photorealistic rendering allows us to de-emphasize these problems and produce aesthetically pleasing images. The key approach discussed in this paper employs artistic drawing techniques to illustrate features of varying importance and accuracy. We use point-based representations of the scanned environments and operate directly on the point-based models for abstraction and rendering. We de- velop a unified framework for producing sketchy, profile, painterly, cartoon, and intermingled styles. We describe a level-of-detail data structure, the continuous resolution queue, to promise coherent and consistent animation. We also leverage modern graphics hardware to achieve interactive rendering of large scenes.
Isomorphisms of row and column finite matrix rings

First published in Proceedings of the American Mathematical Society in vol. 125, no. 6, published by the American Mathematical Society.
Alkaloid studies. 53. The structures of nine new alkaloids from Aspidosperma dasycarpon A. DC.

Abstract The structures of twelve alkaloids (I–XII) isolated from Aspidosperma dasycarpon A. DC. are deduced. Nine of these indole alkaloids are new.
Disfluencies in Spoken Language

Speech disfluencies are phenomena that cause a break in the smooth flow of talk, affecting speaking and understanding. Everyone who talks produces disfluencies. Several decades of research have provided a good understanding of the types of disfluencies people produce, and a beginning understanding of why disfluencies occur and how they impact addressees. Keywords: ums and uhs; repetitions; replacements; restarts; pauses
Tourette's Syndrome and Pharmacotherapy

This chapter describes the neurobiology and the pharmacological treatment of Tourette's Syndrome (TS). The current understanding of the phenomenology, epidemiology, pathophysiology, neurochemical and neuroanatomical factors are reviewed, as well as the influence that comorbidities, genetic, environmental, and immunological factors may have on the clinical course of TS. Finally, an up to date overview of pharmacological and non pharmacological treatments for TS is described. Keywords: Tourette's syndrome; phenomenology; clinical course; epidemiology; comorbid disorders; genetics; environment; autoimmune; PANDAS; pathophysiology; neuroanatomical abnormalities; neurochemical abnormalities; second messenger systems; treatment; neuroleptics; antidopaminergic agents; α2 agonists; habit reversal; neuronal oscillations
Europe Will Form a Momentary Union ... Eventually

While I have just shown many problems along the EC's path to integration, I still feel positively about the formation of monetary union. Germany has continued to remain strong in its backing of the union and its support of it. France has even endured significant unemployment and social unrest due to its policy decisions aimed at being able to meet the convergence criteria. France and Germany have also shown cooperation in forming the union. This article is available in The Park Place Economist: http://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/parkplace/vol5/iss1/15 Europe Will Form a Monetary Union . . . Eventually
Ultrasound findings in horses with severe eyelid swelling, and recognition of acute dacryoadenitis: 10 cases (2004-2010).

Objective To report the sonographic findings, treatment, and outcome of horses with severe eyelid swelling, to describe the sonographic appearance of enlarged lacrimal glands, and to describe the clinical features of acute dacryoadenitis. Materials and methods Medical records of all horses with severe eyelid swelling that underwent an ultrasound evaluation of the globe and periorbital structures from 2004–2010 were examined. Cases were limited to those in which the eyelid swelling was so severe that the globe could not be visualized. Results Ten horses met the criteria for inclusion in the study. All cases were unilateral and acute. Marked enlargement of the lacrimal gland was found in five cases, and supported the diagnosis of acute dacryoadenitis. Eyelid abscessation was found in three horses, accompanied by mild to moderate lacrimal gland enlargement in two of the three. Enlarged lacrimal glands were slightly heterogeneous in appearance and could be differentiated from an abscess by imaging the protrusion of the gland from beneath the supraorbital rim. Only two cases of severe eyelid swelling were soley traumatic. Conclusions Severe eyelid swelling was often associated with dacryoadenitis and/or eyelid abscessation. The detection of marked lacrimal gland enlargement in horses with an acute onset of severe painful eyelid swelling is consistent with a diagnosis of acute dacryoadenitis. Ultrasonographic evaluation of eyelid swelling of any degree is warranted to determine if enlargement of the lacrimal gland, etiology notwithstanding, is an underlying or contributing cause.
ALIENATION AND NEGATIVE VOTING ON A SCHOOL LEVY

PROBLEM. Providing education for all has been firmly established policy in America for many, many years. In 1961-62,72.1 percent of school bond elections resulted in approval; in 1966-67 the rate was 66.6%; in 1971-72, 47.0% and in 1976-77, 55.6% (Grant &Eiden, 1981 75). This study was undertaken to determine the effect of both social structural and social psychological variables on negative voting on a school levy in a midwest industrial-type city of 42,000. It was conducted just prior to the third and finally successful attempt after two failures. It passed, in part, because the state legislature had in the meantime changed the law from requiring 55 percent approval to simple majority.
Genetic Control of Leaf Shape

The variability in leaf morphology is vast; therefore, an understanding of how leaves achieve this diversity has captured the attention of many developmental biologists. Genetic mechanisms that regulate leaf shape are repeated throughout both development and between species. Leaves initiate off the shoot apical meristem and development proceeds from cell division to cell elongation. Leaf initiation and the establishment of the three main axes of a leaf are largely directed by the plant hormone auxin. Work across species reveals that adjustments to the repeated interaction of auxin, gene expression changes and small ribonucleic acid (RNA) regulation allowed species-specific leaf shape differences to emerge. Further, genetic interactions leading to patterning in simple leaf development are reiterated during establishment of leaf complexity. To understand leaf development in an evolutionary context, future research must take advantage of the ever-expanding genomic tools in nonmodel organisms that exhibit leaf shape diversity. Key Concepts: Leaves originate from clusters of stem cells called meristems. The development of leaves occurs along three main axes: (1) adaxial/abaxial, (2) proximal/distal and (3) medial/lateral. The development of both meristems and leaves involve morphogenetic activity in zones which are defined by distinct gene expression and cell division/elongation patterns. The transport and concentration of the hormone auxin largely directs many aspects of leaf morphogenesis. Leaf and leaflet initiation first begin with the formation of auxin maxima. Recycling of genetic mechanisms is a theme that occurs throughout leaf development. Keywords: abaxial; adaxial; HDZIPIII ; KANADI ; leaf; marginal blastozone; miRNA; polarity; PIN-FORMED ; YABBY
Novel Trichoderma polysporum Strain for the Biocontrol of Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the Fungal Etiologic Agent of Bat White Nose Syndrome

White-nose syndrome (WNS), an emerging disease of hibernating bats, has rapidly spread across eastern North America killing millions of bats. Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), the sole etiologic agent of WNS, is widespread and persistent in bat hibernacula. Control of Pd in the affected sites is urgently needed to break the transmission cycle while minimizing any adverse impact on the native organisms. We isolated a novel strain of Trichoderma polysporum (Tp) from one of the caves at the epicenter of WNS zoonotic. Detailed experimental studies revealed: (1) Tp WPM 39143 was highly adapted to grow at temperatures simulating the cave environment (6°C-15°C), (2) Tp WPM 39143 restricted Pd colony growth in dual culture challenges, (3) Tp WPM 39143 caused four logs reduction of Pd colony forming units and genome copies in autoclaved soil samples from one of the WNS affected caves, (4) Tp WPM 39143 extract showed specific fungicidal activity against Pd in disk diffusion assay, but not against closely related fungus P. pannorum (Pp), (5) Tp WPM 39143 extract retained inhibitory activity after exposure to high temperatures, light and proteinase K, and (6) Inhibitory metabolites in Tp WPM 39143 extract comprised of water-soluble, high polarity compounds. These results suggest that Tp WPM 39143 is a promising candidate for further evaluation as a biocontrol agent of Pd in WNS affected sites.
Genetic Transformation of Biosynthetically Defective Neisseria gonorrhoeae Clinical Isolates

Abstract Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and chemically defined media were used in transformation tests of 51 strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae which exhibited various biosynthetic defects when isolated from patients. These auxotrophic gonococci had one or more nutritional requirements involving proline, methionine, arginine, hypoxanthine, uracil, and thiamine pyrophosphate (THPP). DNA from a clinical isolate which did not require these compounds for growth on defined medium transformed each of the auxotrophic markers of all 51 recipient populations. Ten isolates had defects involving the synthesis of THPP; four strains (designated Thp−) had a growth requirement that was satisfied only by THPP, whereas the requirement of six strains (designated Thi−) was satisfied by either thiamine or THPP. DNA from Thp− donors elicited transformation of Thp− as well as Thi− recipients. Reciprocally, DNA from a Thi− donor transformed both Thi− and Thp− recipients. Furthermore, DNA from other auxotrophic gonococci had transforming activity for some phenotypically similar auxotrophic recipients. The findings indicate the existence of various nonidentical genetic defects which block reactions in the biosynthesis of proline, methionine, arginine, hypoxanthine, and THPP. Routine cultures from patients with gonorrhea were the source of these auxotrophic strains of N. gonorrhoeae; the various nutritional requirements were identified by a recently described system of gonococcal auxotyping. The transformation test results verify the hereditary basis of the auxotypes, establish that many different mutations exist in potentially virulent gonococci, and illustrate the value of these auxotrophic mutants for studies of the genetic structure and evolution of natural populations of gonococci.
Multiobject tracking as maximum weight independent set

This paper addresses the problem of simultaneous tracking of multiple targets in a video. We first apply object detectors to every video frame. Pairs of detection responses from every two consecutive frames are then used to build a graph of tracklets. The graph helps transitively link the best matching tracklets that do not violate hard and soft contextual constraints between the resulting tracks. We prove that this data association problem can be formulated as finding the maximum-weight independent set (MWIS) of the graph. We present a new, polynomial-time MWIS algorithm, and prove that it converges to an optimum. Similarity and contextual constraints between object detections, used for data association, are learned online from object appearance and motion properties. Long-term occlusions are addressed by iteratively repeating MWIS to hierarchically merge smaller tracks into longer ones. Our results demonstrate advantages of simultaneously accounting for soft and hard contextual constraints in multitarget tracking. We outperform the state of the art on the benchmark datasets.
Reflectivity using neutrons or X-rays? A critical comparison

Abstract The relative advantages and disadvantages of neutrons and X-rays for reflectivity studies are discussed in terms of intensities, resolutions, backgrounds and selectivities. The general but important question of how to separate the true specular reflectivity from the diffuse background is addressed. Finally, certain special cases of diffuse scattering, such as scattering from liquid surfaces and from multiple interfaces with correlated roughness, are discussed in detail.
Size changes in single muscle fibers during fixation and embedding

Abstract During fixation of single muscle fibers with glutaraldehyde, the volume of the fiber shrinks 20%, recovers in rinse and osmium tetroxide to near normal volume and shrinks 20% again when staining with uranyl acetate. This suggests that osmotic properties of membranes may not have been completely lost during fixation, post-fixation and en bloc staining. Dehydration in ethanol and propylene oxide produces a further 10% shrinkage in volume. Infiltration and embedding with Epon causes an additional 15% change in volume. This gives a total shrinkage in volume of 45% which is nearly twice that of the apparent shrinkage in the volume of the myosin lattice as determined by electron microscopy.
Therapeutic Engagement as a Predictor of Retention in Adolescent Therapeutic Community Treatment.

The adolescent drug problem places a huge toll on society and a heavy burden on the criminal justice system. Research regarding the benefits of therapeutic community (TC) treatment for adolescents has shown it to be effective. Despite the ability of therapeutic communities to lower drug relapse and reduce criminality, a great deal remains unknown in terms of how the process of treatment actually works for adolescents. Using data collected as part of the Drug Abuse Treatment Outcomes Study-Adolescent, this study examines the relationship between therapeutic engagement and treatment retention. The primary findings are that measures of therapeutic engagement had a significant association with whether or not an adolescent completed treatment. Findings suggest that instruments that evaluate therapeutic engagement are important in assessing involvement in treatment, and that programming designed to engage the adolescent in TC treatment should be utilized in order to reduce the risk of premature treatment dropout.
Child adaptational development in contexts of interparental conflict over time

This multi-method study sought to identify parameters of developmental change and stability of child reaction patterns to interparental conflict in the context of family relations in a sample of 223 6-year-old children and their parents followed over the course of one year. Consistent with the sensitization hypothesis, interparental withdrawal and hostility each consistently and uniquely predicted child distress reactions to conflict even after analytically controlling for parental warmth. Associations were found across multiple domains of child responding (i.e., overt negative affect, subjective negative affect, internal representations) and both concurrent and prospective, autoregressive analyses. Results of the autoregressive path analyses indicated moderate stability in each of the domains of conflict reactivity over the 1-year longitudinal period.
Side Branch Interaction With Main Line Standing Waves and Related Component Load Definition

Side branch resonance can cause standing waves in the main line. The main line standing wave modifies the acoustic boundary condition between the side branch and the main line. This interaction leads to drift in the side branch resonant frequency, and to sensitivity in the side branch and main line resonant amplitude as a function of branch position along the main line standing wave. In many cases the mainline standing wave is not stationary, leading to temporal modulation of the side branch frequency and amplitude. These features are examined using novel signal interrogation techniques that expose frequency and amplitude variation in time. Data from a low pressure air test facility are used to reinforce the theory and demonstrate the system behavior. Finally, the connection between the dynamic pressure signal features and methods for main line and branch component endurance prediction is developed. Components such as steam dryers, safety relief valves, and heat exchangers would be candidates for endurance prediction using these methods.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Explosive nucleosynthesis in the galaxy

The hypothesis that most of the naturally occurring nuclei in the mass range 20≤A≤62 were produced by nuclear detonation in supernova explosions is examined in the context of different galactic histories.
THE EFFECT OF SPAYING ON BODY GROWTH AND THE ORGAN WEIGHTS OF THE ALBINO RAT

It seems of great interest at the present time to know the exact results of removal of the ovaries since so much work is being done on the ovarian hormones. In the experiment presented here, it seemed desirable to extend observations over a larger number of organs than had been done heretofore. A number of workers between the years 1900 and 1910 were engaged in spaying experiments. Much of their work may be criticized on the grounds that most of their experiments involved only a small number of test animals with inadequate controls. No attempt was made by these investigators to include observations on a maximal number of organs, particularly the abdominal and thoracic viscera. The only experiments comprising a Avider range of data are those of Marassini and Luciani (1911), Hatai (1913, 1915), and Livingston (1916). To the publications of the latter two authors reference is made for a review of most of the literature up to their time. None of these authors applied modern biometrical methods to their data. ...
Electric field effects on the surface tension of air/solution interfaces

Abstract The surface tensions of pure water, sodium chloride (NaCl) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) solutions at the air/water interface under an applied electric field were measured through propagating capillary waves. We found that the wavelengths of capillary waves always decrease with increasing applied electric field. However, the changes in surface tension of all solutions studied, for fields up to 10 kV cm−1, are found to be insignificant and can not be detected within the experimental sensitivity (about 0.1 dyn cm−1).
Chemically enhanced filtration and dewatering of narrow-sized coal particles

Abstract An experimental study of the filtration and dewatering of fine coal with and without additives was carried out. Filtration and dewatering behavior were determined using a vacuum filtration cell. The variables studied included the driving force, solids concentration, filter area, particle size and slurry pH. The effects of several flocculants, surfactants and hydrophobing additives (oils) on final moisture content of the filter cakes were determined. The investigations included determination of the rates of filtration and dewatering, assessment of the effects of additive type (anionic, cationic and nonionic), and establishment of optimum dosage of additives. Overall, it was found that the filtration and dewatering behavior were enhanced by increased driving force, higher initial slurry concentration, larger filtration area, larger particle size and lower slurry pH. Among surfactants and flocculating additives the anionic types were found to do the best job of filtration enhancement. At optimum dosages, the final cake moisture contents were reduced by 3.6% and 5.8% by weight using the appropriate surfactant and flocculant, respectively. However, the best filtration enhancements were achieved by addition of oils, which yielded cake moisture reductions of approximately 10% by weight.
Stable carbon-isotope record of shallow-marine evaporative epicratonic basin carbonates, Ordovician Williston Basin, North America

Secular variations in stable carbon-isotope values of marine carbonates are used widely to correlate successions that lack high-resolution index fossils. Various environmental processes, however, commonly may affect and alter the primary marine carbon-isotope signal in shallow epicratonic basins. This study focuses on the marine carbon-isotope record from the carbonate–evaporite succession of the upper Katian (Upper Ordovician) Red River Formation of the shallow epicratonic Williston Basin, USA. It documents the carbon-isotope signal between the two major Ordovician positive shifts in δ13C, the early Katian Guttenberg and the Hirnantian excursions. Eight δ13C stages are identified based on positive excursions, shifts from positive to negative values and relatively uniform δ13Ccarb values. A correlation between carbon-isotope trends and the relative sea-level changes based on gross facies stacking patterns shows no clear relation. Based on the available biostratigraphy and δ13C trends, the studied Williston Basin curves are tied to the isotope curves from the North American Midcontinent, Quebec (Anticosti Island) and Estonia, which confirm the Late Katian age (Aphelognathus divergens Conodont Zone) of the upper Red River Formation. The differences in the δ13C overall trend and absolute values, coupled with the petrographic and cathodoluminescence evidence, suggest that the carbon-isotope record has been affected by the syndepositional environmental processes in the shallow and periodically isolated Williston Basin, and stabilized by later burial diagenesis under reducing conditions and the presence of isotopically more negative fluids.
Low temperature co-pyrolysis of hexabenzylditinsulfide and selenium. an alternate route to Sn(SxSe1−x)

Benzyl-substituted tin chalcogenides (Bn{sub 3}Sn){sub 2}S (1) and (Bn{sub 3}Sn){sub 2}Se (2) yield polycrystalline-phase pure SnS and SnSe in good ceramic yields when pyrolyzed with S and Se, respectively, at 275 C. Heating mixtures of (1) and elemental selenium produce solid solutions of the formula Sn(S{sub x}Se{sub 1{minus}x}). Combustion analysis showed less than 1% residual carbon in all ceramic products. This methodology allows the complete conversion of tin-to-tin chalcogenides and eliminates the need to synthesize organosulfur and organoselenium intermediates.
Reliability improvement of power distribution system through feeder reconfiguration

This paper describes a method for reliability improvement of power distribution system via feeder reconfiguration. The work presented here is developed based on a linearized network model in the form of DC power flow and linear programming model in which current carrying capacities of distribution feeders and real power constraints have been considered. The optimal open/close status of the sectionalizing and tie-switches are identified using an intelligent binary particle swarm optimization based search method. The probabilistic reliability assessment is conducted using a method based on higher probability order approximation. Several case studies are carried out on a small 33-bus radial distribution system, which is extensively used as an example in solving the distribution system reconfiguration problem. Further, the effect of embedded generation has been considered in one case scenario. The obtained results are reported, discussed, and thoroughly analyzed.
Determining true particulate organic carbon: Bottles, pumps and methodologies

The primary means of determining particulate organic carbon (POC) concentrations in aquatic environments is by filtering from water bottles or by in situ filtration with pumps and analyzing the filters. The concentrations measured by these two methods, however, can differ by a factor of 1.2–5 in temperate waters, and by factors as large as 200 in cold, high-latitude waters. Here we report that the ratio of bottle POC to pump POC ranged between 20 and 200 in the Ross Sea during early spring and between 5 and 50 during summer. In the Antarctic Polar Front the ratio ranged between 2 and 25 in spring. A new approach to constraining POC concentrations is to use high-temperature combustion (HTC) of water samples (rather than filters), POC being the difference between measurements of total and dissolved organic carbon. POC concentrations determined by bottle filtration are in reasonable agreement with the POC concentrations obtained by HTC, independent biomass measurements, and beam-attenuation/bottle POC ratios that are similar to previous studies, thus lending credibility to the bottle POC values. Data from several studies suggest that the most likely reasons for differences between bottle and pump POC are the use of slightly larger pore-size filters with in situ pumps and higher pressure differentials across the filter during in situ pump filtration, resulting in particulate carbon being pulled through the filters. The one-to-two orders of magnitude differences in high-latitude, cold-water environments needs further investigation. If accurate measurements of POC can be obtained for calibration, beam attenuation profiles using transmissometers offer a way to quantify rapidly the distribution of POC. The JGOFS protocols for POC filtration must be modified to include a blank that accounts for DOC adsorption onto filters. The largest impact of DOC adsorption will be when POC concentrations are below B2mmol/l, which includes most sub-euphotic zone waters. These findings have important ramifications for any programs involving the particulate portion of the carbon cycle.