cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MHC class II-restricted, CD4+ T-cell proliferative responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from Mycobacterium bovis-infected white-tailed deer

Abstract White-tailed deer are significant wildlife reservoirs of Mycobacterium bovis for cattle, predators, and, potentially, humans. Infection of cattle with M. bovis stimulates an antigen-specific T-cell response, with both CD4+ and CD8+ cells implicated in protective immunity. Few studies, however, have examined lymphocyte subset responses to experimental M. bovis infection of white-tailed deer. In this study, a flow cytometric proliferation assay was used to determine the relative contribution of individual peripheral blood mononuclear cell subsets of M. bovis-infected white-tailed deer in the recall response to M. bovis antigen. Naive deer were challenged with M. bovis by cohabitation with infected deer. These M. bovis-challenged deer developed significant in vivo (delayed-type hypersensitivity) and in vitro (proliferative) responses to M. bovis purified protein derivative (PPD). At necropsy, typical tuberculous lesions containing M. bovis were detected within lungs and lung-associated lymph nodes of infected deer. The predominant subset of lymphocytes that proliferated in response to in vitro stimulation with PPD was the CD4+ subset. Minimal proliferative responses were detected from CD8+, γδ TCR+, and B-cells. Addition of monoclonal antibodies specific for MHC II antigens, but not MHC I or CD1 antigens, abrogated the proliferative response. Together, these findings indicate that while CD4+ cells from infected deer proliferate in the recall response to M. bovis antigens, this response is not sufficient to clear M. bovis and immunologic intervention may require stimulation of alternate subsets of lymphocytes.
Inviting Reluctant Adolescent Readers Into the Literacy Club: Some Comprehension Strategies to Tutor Individuals or Small Groups of Reluctant Readers

Developing students' ability to read is a critical educational goal, necessary in order that students can become successful members of society. Proficiency in reading increases opportunities for higher education and promotes positive social change. Unfortunately, many students struggle with comprehension, especially in the content areas. Some have special learning needs, but others are simply reluctant learners. Direct systematic instruction in comprehension strategies and the use of enjoyable texts can encourage nonreaders to become part of our reading culture. This article describes strategies that •Enhance motivation •Develop prior knowledge •Improve vocabulary acquisition •Foster comprehension of both expository and narrative texts that students are likely to find in the content areas This article is also the source for a Class Acts podcast. Download “Supporting struggling adolescent readers” from •www.reading.orgresourcespodcastsindex.html
Comparison of wind-tunnel model and full-scale snow fence drifts

Abstract Snowdrift modeling research has been conducted in the Iowa State University environmental wind tunnel. As part of this research, a series of experiments were conducted on scale models of snowdrift controls on flat terrain (fences of various porosities, and simulated hedgerows). Information is presented on snowdrift geometry as a function of dimensionless time. Comparisons are made with measurements of drifts associated with full-scale snow fences.
Direct interaction between a membrane domain subunit and a connector subunit in the H+‐translocating NADH‐quinone oxidoreductase

Abstract When Paracoccus denitrificans membranes were treated with a crosslinker, m-maleimidobenzoyl-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (MBS), a cross-linked product of Mr ∼31 kDa was found which reacted with antibodies against the hydrophobic subunit Nqo7 and the connector subunit Nqo6. NaI treatment of the Paracoccus membranes before, but not after, the crosslinking step prevented the formation of the 31 kDa band. When Nqo7 and Nqo6 were coexpressed in Escherichia coli, both subunits were located in the membrane fraction. MBS treatment of the E. coli membranes generated the 31 kDa band as in the Paracoccus membranes. These results indicate that Nqo7 interacts with probable N2-binding Nqo6.
Renormalization of $ΔB=2$ Transitions in the Static Limit Beyond Leading Logarithms

Abstract The renormalization group evolution of ΔB = 2 transition operators is studied at leading order in heavy quark effective theory and at next-to-leading order in QCD. We calculate new contributions that were not taken into account in previous work and obtain the complete result to next-to-leading logarithmic accuracy. The various scheme and scale dependences and their cancellation in physical quantities are discussed explicitly.
2s 2 2p 5 –2s2p 6 transitions in fluorinelike ions from Zr 31+ to Sn 41+

Transitions of the type 2s2 2p5-2s2p6 have been observed in eight fluorinelike ions from Zr(31+) to Sn(41+). The spectra were produced by focusing light from the Nd:glass Omega laser at the University of Rochester onto solid targets and photographing the resultant plasmas with a 3-m grazing-incidence spectrograph. The identified transitions are in the region 24-60 A. The measured wavelengths are in good agreement with wavelengths calculated with the semiempirical formulas of Edlen (1983). Wavelengths for the 2s2 2p5 2P3/2-2P1/2 magnetic-dipole transitions are given for each ion.
Nerve growth factor and corneal wound healing in dogs

Nerve growth factor in the tear film and corneal epithelium is hypothesized to play an important role in ocular surface maintenance and corneal wound healing. The purpose of this study was to determine the expression of nerve growth factor and its high affinity (trkA) receptor in tears, cornea, and lacrimal glands of normal dogs, the modulation of nerve growth factor and its trkA receptor during corneal wound healing, and the effect of topical nerve growth factor application on canine corneal epithelial wound healing. In the first of three experiments, the nerve growth factor content of tears, corneal epithelium, lacrimal gland, and 3rd eyelid gland was determined in normal dogs by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the expression of nerve growth factor and its trkA receptor were evaluated in the cornea and lacrimal glands by immunohistochemistry. In a second experiment, unilateral corneal epithelial defects were created, and tissues were evaluated for changes in nerve growth factor or trkA expression for 1 week. In a third experiment, bilateral corneal epithelial defects were created and the right eyes in each animal were treated 4 times daily with either recombinant human nerve growth factor, murine nerve growth factor, or nerve growth factor-blocking antibody. The results of this study showed that nerve growth factor levels in normal dog tears, corneal epithelium, third eyelid gland and lacrimal gland were 15.4+/-4.6 ng ml(-1), 33.5+/-12.3, 52.4+/-17.4 and 48.8+/-9.4 ng g(-1), respectively. NGF and trkA receptors were identified by immunohistochemistry in all tissues examined. After unilateral corneal wounding, nerve growth factor concentration increased in the tears bilaterally for 3 days, especially in the wounded eye, and then returned to pre-wounding values. Nerve growth factor content, and immunohistochemical staining for nerve growth factor and trkA, increased significantly in the ipsilateral cornea epithelium following unilateral wounding. Nerve growth factor concentrations in lacrimal and third eyelid glands also increased bilaterally (p<0.01) after unilateral wounding. Time to wound closure and rate of epithelial migration did not differ significantly between nerve growth factor-treated, nerve growth factor antibody-treated, and control eyes. In conclusion, nerve growth factor is present under resting physiologic conditions in normal canine tears, and nerve growth factor and its trkA receptor are present under resting conditions in normal canine corneal epithelium, lacrimal gland and third eyelid gland. Nerve growth factor is elevated in the tears, cornea, and lacrimal glands after corneal epithelial wounding; however, topical application of nerve growth factor, or its blocking antibody does not modulate corneal wound healing in the normal dog eye.
COMPARING BENCHMARK METHODOLOGIES FOR POLICE-CITIZEN CONTACTS: TRAFFIC STOP DATA COLLECTION FOR THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE

The political and social pressure for police departments to collect race-based traffic and pedestrian contact information has led to the accumulation of abundant sources of police-citizen contact data. Many of the current data collection efforts, however, do not include accurate benchmarks for data comparisons. The strengths and limitations of the six most prominent benchmark measures used in current studies of police citizen contacts—census data, observations of roadway usage, official accident data, assessments of traffic violating behavior, citizen surveys, and internal departmental comparisons—are described. Focusing on the Project on Police-Citizen Contacts, a large-scale data collection effort of traffic stops for the Pennsylvania State Police, four different benchmarks for statewide comparisons are described. The continued improvement of data collection efforts at the local and state levels through the use of multiple benchmark measures is discussed.
Memetic algorithm for web service selection

Due to the changing nature of service-oriented environments, the ability to locate services of interest in such open, dynamic, and distributed environments has become an essential requirement. Current service-oriented architecture standards mainly rely on functional properties, however, service registries lack mechanisms for managing services' non-functional properties. Such non-functional properties are expressed in terms of quality of service (QoS) attributes. QoS for web services allows consumers to have confidence in the use of services by aiming to experience good service performance in terms of waiting time, reliability, and availability. This paper investigates the service selection process, and proposes two approaches; one that is based on a genetic algorithm, and the other is based on a memetic algorithm to match consumers with services based on QoS attributes as closely as possible. Both approaches are compared with an optimal assignment algorithm called the Munkres algorithm, as well as a Random approach. Measurements are performed to quantify the overall match score, the execution time, and the scalability of all approaches.
Comparison of VO2 thin films deposited by pulsed laser, electron-beam and sputter deposition

The optical performance and morphology of VO2 thins films deposited by electron beam evaporation, rf magnetron sputtering and pulsed laser deposition are compared. Laser-deposited films are strongly affected by substrate dewetting and epitaxial mismatch.
A computational study of the kinetics and mechanism for the reaction of HCO with HNO

The mechanism for the reaction of HCO with HNO has been studied at the G2M level of theory, based on the geometric parameters optimized by the BH&HLYP/6-311G(d, p) method. There are three direct hydrogen abstraction channels producing (1) H2CO + NO, (2) H2NO + CO, and (3) HNOH + CO with barriers of 3.7, 3.9, and 10.4 kcal/mol, respectively. Another important reaction channel, (4), involves an association process forming HN(O)CHO (LM1) with a very small barrier and the subsequent isomerization and decomposition of LM1 producing HNOH + CO as major products. The rate constants of the dominant reaction channels (1), (2), and (4) in the temperature range 200–3000 K have been predicted by the microcanonical RRKM and transition state theory calculations with Eckart tunneling corrections. The theoretical result shows that in the high temperature range ( T > 1500 K), k1 (H2CO + NO) and k2(H2NO + CO) are preponderant, while in the low temperature range, both k4(LM1) and k4(HNOH + CO) appear to be dominant at high and low pressures, respectively. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 36: 205–215, 2004
Supporting Information Seeking in Multinational Organizations: A Knowledge Portal Approach

As multinational organizations increasingly use the Web to seek information, there is a need for better support of searching the Web across different regions. However, support for Internet searching in non-English speaking regions is much weaker than that in English-speaking regions. To alleviate the problems, we propose a knowledge portal approach to supporting cross-regional searching of multinational organizations. The approach was used to build two Web portals in the Spanish business and Arabic medical domains. Experimental results show that our portals achieved significantly better performance (in terms of search accuracy and user satisfaction) than existing search engines in the corresponding domains. The encouraging findings point to a promising future of the approach to facilitating cross-regional searching in multinational organizations.
Predicting the combustion rate of pulverized fuel from its initial size distribution

It is assumed that for pulverized fuel, the weight fraction W with a size larger than x can be expressed as W = exp(−bxn). This paper describes the theoretical development and experimental evaluation using pulverized anthracite burning at 30 lb/hr of a method of predicting the combustion rate of a pulverized fuel from the constants b and n in the above equation.
Real-Time Control of I/O COTS Peripherals for Embedded Systems

Real-time embedded systems are increasingly being built using commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) components such as mass-produced peripherals and buses to reduce costs, time-to-market, and increase performance. Unfortunately, COTS interconnect systems do not usually guarantee timeliness, and might experience severe timing degradation in the presence of high-bandwidth I/O peripherals. To address this problem, we designed a real-time I/O management system comprised of 1) real-time bridges, and 2) a reservation controller. The proposed framework is used to transparently put the I/O subsystem of a COTS-based embedded system under the discipline of real-time scheduling. We also discuss computing a delay bound for I/O data transactions and determining worst-case buffer size. Finally, we demonstrate experimentally that our prototype real-time I/O management system successfully prioritizes I/O traffic and guarantees its timeliness.
One-year clinical outcomes of depressed public sector outpatients: a benchmark for subsequent studies.

Abstract Background The symptomatic outcomes of a cohort of public mental health sector depressed outpatients treated for 1 year are described to provide a benchmark for future long-term trials. Baseline moderators of outcome were evaluated. Methods Outpatients with nonpsychotic major depressive disorder (n = 118) scoring ≥30 on the 30-item Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology–Clinician Rating (IDS-C30) were treated with a medication algorithm and patient/family education package. Response and remission rates were assessed every 3 months with the IDS-C30. Logistic regression analyses evaluated several baseline features in relation to outcome. Results While response and remission rates increased from 3 to 12 months, the 1-year last observation carried forward (LOCF) response (26.3%) and remission (11.0%) rates were not impressive (sustained response = 14.4%; sustained remission = 5.1%). Younger patients and those with full-time employment (at baseline) were more likely to respond. A shorter length of illness tended to be associated with higher response and remission rates (p Conclusions Response and remission rates were modest when compared with outcomes in shorter duration efficacy trials in depressed outpatients with less chronicity, fewer concurrent general medical conditions, and less treatment resistance. Results support the need for more powerful treatments and/or the better delivery of available treatments.
Strategic decision processes in high velocity environments: four cases in the microcomputer industry

How do executives make strategic decisions in industries where the rate of technological and competitive change is so extreme that market information is often unavailable or obsolete, where strategic windows are opening and shutting quickly, and where the cost of error is involuntary exit? How do top management teams divide the decision making responsibility? And how is risk of strategic error mitigated? What we report here is a set of hypotheses induced from a field investigation of four microcomputer firms, where we studied how each of the top management teams went about making major decisions. Our goal was to extend prior work on strategic decision making to what we term high velocity environments. Our results consist of a set of paradoxes which the successful firms resolve and the unsuccessful firms do not. We found an imperative to make major decisions carefully, but to decide quickly; to have a powerful, decisive CEO and a simultaneously powerful top management team; to seek risk and innovation, but...
Regulation of type III secretion in Bordetella.

Summary The BvgAS virulence control system regulates the expression of type III secretion genes in Bordetella subspecies that infect humans and other mammals. We have identified five open reading frames, btrS, btrU, btrX, btrW and btrV, that are activated by BvgAS and encode regulatory factors that control type III secretion at the levels of transcription, protein expression and secretion. The btrS gene product bears sequence similarity to ECF (extracytoplasmic function) sigma factors and is required for transcription of the bsc locus. btrU, btrW and btrV encode proteins predicted to contain PP2C-like Ser phosphatase, HPK (His protein kinase)-like Ser kinase and STAS anti-sigma factor antagonist domains, respectively, which are characteristic of Gram-positive partner switching proteins in Bacillus subtilis. BtrU and BtrW are required for secretion of proteins that are exported by the bsc type III secretion system, whereas BtrV is specifically required for protein synthesis and/or stability. Bordetella species have thus evolved a unique cascade to differentially regulate type III secretion that combines a canonical phosphorelay system with an ECF sigma factor and a set of proteins with domain signatures that define partner switchers, which were traditionally thought to function only in Gram-positive bacteria. The presence of multiple layers and mechanisms of regulation most likely reflects the need to integrate multiple signals in controlling type III secretion. The bsc and btr loci are nearly identical between broad-host-range and human-specific Bordetella. Comparative analysis of Bordetella subspecies revealed that, whereas bsc and btr loci were transcribed in all subspecies, only broad-host-range strains expressed a functional type III secretion system in vitro. The block in type III secretion is post-transcriptional in human-adapted strains, and signal recognition appears to be a point of divergence between subspecies.
Rediscovery of the Holotype of Mastigodryas heathii (Cope) (Serpentes: Colubridae) and Additional Notes on the Species

ABSTRACT. The holotype of Drymobius heathii Cope (now Mastigodryas heathii) has remained unrecognized since the species was described in 1876. A review of specimens and associated data in the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia shows that one specimen, ANSP 11544, is very likely the holotype of this species. The presumptive holotype is redescribed and the coloration in life and natural history and other data for this species from northern Peru are presented. Mastigodryas heathii occurs in lowland coastal desert scrub and dry deciduous forests of the Pacific slope and interandean valleys. Its diet includes frogs, lizards, and rodents.
Energy-efficient communication in battery-constrained portable devices

Portable devices (such as personal digital assistants and laptops with wireless connectivity) are becoming ubiquitous. As their functionality and capabilities increase, their energy consumption requirements also increase. Yet, these devices have to operate on limited batteries. In order to maximize the battery lifetime, it is necessary to optimize the use of energy at various components of such a device. In this paper, we consider a single portable device operating on a limited battery that transmits information over an interference-limited wireless channel. We seek to optimize the power consumption on the communication radio in this device, by controlling both the operation mode and the transmission power. We model the general problem using dynamic programming, obtain the optimal solutions for insightful special cases and explore various design tradeoffs. Our work provides an analytical framework for stochastic modeling and optimization of energy spent for communications in battery-operated portable devices.
Quantitative Rotating Multisegment Slant-Hole SPECT Mammography With Attenuation and Collimator-Detector Response Compensation

Rotating multisegment slant-hole (RMSSH) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is suitable for detecting small and low-contrast breast lesions since it has much higher detection efficiency than conventional SPECT with a parallel-hole collimator and can image the breast at a closer distance. Our RMSSH SPECT reconstruction extends a previous rotation-shear transformation-based method to include nonuniform attenuation and collimator-detector response (CDR) compensation. To evaluate our reconstruction method, we performed two phantom simulation studies with 1) an isolated breast and 2) a breast phantom attached to the body torso. The reconstructed RMSSH SPECT images with attenuation and CDR compensation showed improved quantitative accuracy and less image artifacts than without. To evaluate the clinical efficacy of RMSSH SPECT mammography, we used a simulation study to compare with planar scintimammography in terms of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) value of a breast lesion. The RMSSH SPECT reconstruction images showed higher SNR value than the planar scintimammography images and even more so as we applied compensation for attenuation and collimator detector response. We conclude that attenuation and CDR compensation provide RMSSH SPECT mammography images with improved quality and quantitative accuracy.
Water-soluble polymer templates for high-resolution pattern formation and materials transfer printing

A new class of printing strategies is described for the manufacture of microstructures and nanostructures. This class collectively is referred to as molecular transfer lithography (MxL). The approach is based on the room-temperature fabrication of water-soluble polymer templates by spin casting a polyvinyl alcohol film-forming solution to replicate surface patterns. The templates are useful not only for pattern formation, but also for materials transfer printing, employing a low-cost, convenient, biocompatible chemical approach to high-resolution processing. Results are provided to demonstrate deep submicrometer feature sizes of holes, pillars and lines, 3-D patterns, materials transfer printing of metallic thin films, planarization of wafer topography, and water-soluble polymer templates for 100- and 200-mm wafer patterning. The alignment tooling is discussed and it is shown that MxL can be adapted for use on standard contact aligners with a replacement of the quartz photomask with a water-soluble polymer template to improve resolution without a change of equipment. A high-throughput alignment system for MxL is also discussed. The MxL class of pattern formation and materials transfer printing strategies is differentiated with respect to imprint lithography and soft lithography methods.
Persuasive linguistic devices in anonymous vs. identified computer supported groups: an exploratory study

An exploratory study was conducted to examine the differences in the use of persuasive linguistic devices used by anonymous and identified groups communicating electronically in order to achieve consensus on a jury decision-making task. Anonymous groups are found to cooperate together to create character identities for themselves, to make more errors of factual information and to request compromises directly. Further, anonymous groups were more flexible, and used a wider variety of linguistic devices than did identified groups. Identified groups used persuasive arguments and polling as the primary means of reaching consensus. The implications of these findings for future research are discussed. >
The code of many colors: relating threads to code and shared state

We introduce a thread colors model as a way to express design intent concerning the relationships between threads, executable code, and shared state. By expressing the model as annotations in code, it is possible to formally link the model with source code and to analyze the consistency of model and code in a composable manner. By using annotations as cut-points, APIs can be annotated and compliance with library threading policies can be evaluated. This is illustrated using case study examples from published code that show how thread coloring models can assist in assuring policy compliance and in identifying concurrency errors.
Induction of two types of non-photochemical chlorophyll fluorescence quenching in carbon-assimilating intact spinach chloroplasts : the effects of ascorbate, de-epoxidation, and dibucaine

Abstract We show with intact carbon-assimilating chloroplasts the induction of two types of rapidly reversible non-photochemical fluorescence quenching, distinguishable by the effects of ascorbate, de-epoxidation and dibucaine. In the presence of ascorbate, fluorescence quenching is antenna type and obligatory on violaxanthin de-epoxidation; in the absence of ascorbate, fluorescence quenching is reaction-center type and unrelated to violaxanthin de-epoxidation. The latter quenching type is inhibited by ascorbate, characterizing it as donor-side Photosystem II (PS II) inhibition. Consistent with current concepts of down-regulation of PS II efficiency by non-radiative energy dissipation, both types of quenching vary inversely to the putative ATP requirement of the carbon-substrate acceptors, although less clearly in the presence of ascorbate, presumably due to pseudocyclic electron transport by the Mehler-ascorbate-peroxidase reaction. It is concluded from the effects of dibucaine that reaction-center and antenna types of quenching are related to protons in different thylakoid compartments, the former to domains de-localized in the lumen and the latter to domains localized in the membrane. Antenna quenching, however, also requires lumen acidification for the obligatory violaxanthin de-epoxidase activity. No antenna quenching that is unrelated to de-epoxidation was observed. Since ascorbate is usually present in leaves, these results suggest that the prevailing mechanism for energy-dependent non-photochemical fluorescence quenching in vivo is de-epoxidation-dependent antenna quenching.
On the Fracture Energy, Rehealing Velocity and Refracture Energy of Cast Epoxy Resin

Abstract The fracture energy of cast epoxy resin was measured by a novel method in the presence of various agents. The crack spontaneously rehealed under heating to above the heat distortion temperature to give a fresh joint of about the same fracture energy as the virgin material.
Seismic velocities of Lewisian metamorphic rocks at pressures to 8 kbar: relationship to crustal layering in North Britain

Summary P- and S-wave velocities on a set of rocks from the Archaean Lewisian metamorphic complex, north-west Britain, have been measured in the laboratory at confining pressures to 8 kbar. From estimates of velocities at crustal pressures and temperatures, it is concluded that the composition of the three crustal layers below the Scottish Caledonides are most likely to be, in order of increasing depth: (1) mixed metamorphic rocks in amphibolite or lower facies, plus granites, (2) mixed pyroxene-granulite facies rocks, of overall intermediate composition and (3) mafic garnet granulites. Poisson's ratios of isotropic aggregates of mafic amphibolites and serpentinized peridotites in the Lewisian are high (0.28-0.31) because of the presence of hydrous minerals. Only a highly preferred orientation of minerals in such rocks in the lower crust would lead to observed values of Poisson's ratio of about 0.25.
Multivariate Analysis of MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Aerosol Retrievals and the Statistical Hurricane Intensity Prediction Scheme (SHIPS) Parameters for Atlantic Hurricanes

MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aerosol retrievals over the North Atlantic spanning seven hurricane seasons are combined with the Statistical Hurricane Intensity Prediction Scheme (SHIPS) parameters. The difference between the current and future intensity changes were selected as response variables. For 24 major hurricanes (category 3, 4 and 5) between 2003 and 2009, eight lead time response variables were determined to be between 6 and 48 h. By combining MODIS and SHIPS data, 56 variables were compiled and selected as predictors for this study. Variable reduction from 56 to 31 was performed in two steps; the first step was via correlation coefficients (cc) followed by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) extraction techniques. The PCA reduced 31 variables to 20. Five categories were established based on the PCA group variables exhibiting similar physical phenomena. Average aerosol retrievals from MODIS Level 2 data in the vicinity of UTC 1,200 and 1,800 h were mapped to the SHIPS parameters to perform Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) between each response variable against six sets of predictors of 31, 30, 28, 27, 23 and 20 variables. The deviation among the predictors Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) varied between 0.01 through 0.05 and, therefore, implied that reducing the number of variables did not change the core physical information. Even when the parameters are reduced from 56 to 20, the correlation values exhibit a stronger relationship between the response and predictors. Therefore, the same phenomena can be explained by the reduction of variables.
Habituation of Adult Magellanic Penguins to Human Visitation as Expressed through Behavior and Corticosterone Secretion

Abstract: Ecotourism is increasing worldwide; hence, it is important to know how wildlife are affected behaviorally and physiologically by human visitation. We studied the effects of human visitation on the Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) at Punta Tombo, Argentina, by monitoring changes in defensive head turns and plasma corticosterone (a hormone secreted in response to stress) for penguins with and without a history of tourist visitation. Habituation to human visitation was rapid. In penguins with no previous exposure to tourists, the number of defensive head turns and level of plasma corticosterone decreased significantly within 5 days of one 15-minute visit/day. Penguins living in tourist-visited and undisturbed areas secreted more corticosterone when captured and restrained than penguins visited by a person. Penguins in tourist areas, however, did not show as strong a corticosterone response to capture and restraint as did penguins in areas without tourists. This difference was due to a decreased capability of the adrenocortical tissue to secrete corticosterone in tourist-visited birds. Although our data show no direct negative effects of tourism on Magellanic Penguins at Punta Tombo, consequences of a modification of physiological capabilities (e.g., adrenocortical function) may not become apparent until much later in life. The physiological differences between tourist-visited and undisturbed groups of Magellanic Penguins emphasize the importance of monitoring the effects of anthropogenic disturbances on wildlife at multiple levels.
A computer modeling study of the localization of cardiac optical mapping at discrete depths below the tissue surface

Depth and radius of the region interrogated by cardiac optical mapping with a laser beam depend on photon travel inside the heart. It would be useful to limit range of depth and radius interrogated. Here the effects of a condensing lens to concentrate laser light at a target depth in the heart was modeled Monte Carlo computer simulations that incorporated a 0.55 NA lens in air and absorption and scattering of 488 nm laser light in 3-d cardiac tissue indicated the distribution of excitation light fluence. A subsequent computer simulation incorporating absorption and scattering of transmembrane voltage-sensitive fluorescence (669 nm) indicated locations in tissue from which fluorescence photons exiting the tissue surface originated The results indicate the heart can be interrogated at a discrete depth below the surface of myocardium with a condensing lens, although resolution is limited This may be applicable to laser scanner systems used for cardiac optical mapping.
Comparison of Exit -Site Infections in Disconnect versus Nondisconnect Systems for Peritoneal Dialysis:

ObjectiveTo determine if disconnect systems reduce the incidence of exit-site infections when compared to nondisconnect systems.DesignWe prospectively monitored exit-site infections and peritonitis...
International Organizations and Crisis Bargaining: The Case for Reasonable Doubt

What impact do international organizations (IOs) have on crisis bargaining? A prominent line of research suggests that IOs are effective at ameliorating commitment and information problems. I argue that these claims should be met with reasonable doubt. I show that two causal mechanisms often viewed as beneficial can impede signaling between bargainers, leading to longer disputes. Using a competing risk model, I find that IO involvement prolongs crises regardless of whether they end in victory, negotiated settlement, or stalemate. A salient critique of this finding is that it is simply an artifact of selection bias. I show that selection bias exists but it operates contrary to the claims of the conventional wisdom. Rather than picking the ‘tough’ crises which tend to last longer, IOs select themselves into crises based on unobservable factors that also shorten the length of disputes.
Computer program for comparing total costs of intravenous antibiotic regimens.

A computer program for estimating and comparing the costs of intravenous antibiotic therapy is described, and a cost comparison of two antibiotic regimens using the program is demonstrated. Data unique to each antibiotic (e.g., dosage regimen, duration of therapy, need for pharmacokinetic monitoring, and acquisition cost per dose) are entered into the first part of the program (ABDATA) and combined with preprogrammed hospital-specific data, such as personnel and material costs, to produce an itemized list of the total cost of therapy. With the second part of the computer program (ABCOMP), antibiotic regimen costs that have been entered into ABDATA can be compared. Cost comparisons are made with the assumption that the antibiotic regimens have similar efficacy and toxicity. A sample cost comparison was performed using data from a recent study comparing the use of ceftazidime or tobramycin-ticarcillin therapy in the treatment of nosocomial pneumonia and bacteremia. The computer-generated cost comparison showed that although the unit cost of ceftazidime was more than the combined unit cost of tobramycin and ticarcillin, the total cost of a 10-day course of therapy with ceftazidime (which included personnel and material costs) was less than the cost of therapy with a combination of tobramycin and ticarcillin. A computer program that incorporates hospital-specific personnel and material costs with unit drug costs can be used to facilitate comparisons of the overall cost of intravenous antibiotic regimens.
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: Screening and Diagnosis

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) represents a major health problem, affecting 2% to 3% of the obstetric population, or greater than 100,000 women annually in the United States. Recent data suggest a program of universal screening for GDM is a reasonable approach, as reliance upon historical and clinical risk factors as well as age cutoffs for screening does not appear sensitive enough. Screening should be accomplished by measuring blood glucose levels after a 1-hour time period after ingestion of a 50-g glucose load. A 3-hour diagnostic oral glucose tolerance test is performed if a screening threshold of 135 to 140 mg/dL (7.49 to 7.77 mmol/L) (plasma) is exceeded. The National Diabetes Data Group modification of the criteria of O’Sullivan and coworkers for the diagnosis of GDM should be employed until we can better define the level of glycemia that poses a risk for fetal and neonatal complications such as macrosomia.
Equivalence of convergence of modified Mann and Ishikawa iterations with errors in Banach spaces

It is researched that the equivalent problems of the convergence theorems of modified Mann and Ishikawa iterations with errors in real Banach spaces.
POST-HEPARIN PHOSPHOLIPASE AND FATTY ACID TRANSESTERIFICATION IN HUMAN PLASMA.

SUMMARY The incubation of post-heparin plasma and egg phosphatidyl ethanolamine in the presence of methanol, ethanol, or glycerol resulted in the synthesis of fatty acid esters of these alcohols. This synthesis requires fatty acids derived from the degradation of phosphatidyl ethanolamine. The fatty acid transesterification activity and the post-heparin phospholipase activity were found to involve the fatty acid at the I-position of egg phosphatidyl ethanolamine.
Effect of betel chewing on performance reaction time.

To test the validity of claims by users that betel chewing heightens alertness and improves motor responses, the effect of betel chewing on simple and choice reaction times (SRT and CRT) was investigated in habitual users. Control consisted of chewing gum and practice groups. Both SRT and CRT were correlated with age. In the SRT task, reaction times were not different among the three groups studied. In the CRT task, only betel and chewing gum groups showed a significant shortening of reaction time, but the betel group had a higher degree of statistical significance in this effect. It is concluded that shortening of CRT from betel chewing is probably partly due to chewing itself and partly due to a cholinergic arousal mechanism. Language: en
Purkinje cell loss in essential tremor: Random sampling quantification and nearest neighbor analysis

Introduction Purkinje cell loss has been documented in some, although not all, postmortem studies of essential tremor. Hence, there is considerable controversy concerning the presence of Purkinje cell loss in this disease. To date, few studies have been performed. Methods Over the past 8 years, we have assembled 50 prospectively studied cases and 25 age-matched controls; none were reported in our previous large series of 33 essential tremor and 21 controls. In addition to methods used in previous studies, the current study used a random sampling approach to quantify Purkinje cells along the Purkinje cell layer with a mean of 217 sites examined in each specimen, allowing for extensive sampling of the Purkinje cell layer within the section. For the first time, we also quantified the distance between Purkinje cell bodies—a nearest neighbor analysis. Results In the Purkinje cell count data collected from fifteen 100 × fields, cases had lower counts than controls in all three counting criteria (cell bodies, nuclei, and nucleoli; all P < 0.001). Purkinje cell linear density was also lower in cases than controls (all P < 0.001). Purkinje cell linear density obtained by random sampling was similarly lower in cases than controls in all three counting criteria (cell bodies, nuclei, and nucleoli, all P ≤ 0.005). In agreement with the quantitative Purkinje cell counts, the mean distance from one Purkinje cell body to another Purkinje cell body along the Purkinje cell layer was greater in cases than controls (P = 0.002). Conclusions These data provide support for the neurodegeneration of cerebellar Purkinje cells in essential tremor. © 2016 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Predicting chlorine demand of fresh and fresh-cut produce based on produce wash water properties

Abstract This study was conducted to develop models capable of predicting chlorine demand of different fresh and fresh-cut produce wash waters. Ten simulated fruit and vegetable wash waters having different chemical oxygen demands (COD) were prepared. The chlorine demand and wash water quality parameters including pH, oxidation reduction potential (ORP), ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm (UV254), COD, turbidity, total protein content, total phenolics content and color difference between deionized water and test samples (ΔE) were measured. The correlations between variables were determined. UV254 had the highest correlation coefficient with chlorine demand of various fresh produce wash waters (R = 0.77). Further analysis of chlorine demand with UV254 relation showed that two clusters exit, one for produce with high phenolics content and one for low phenolics content. The phenolics-to-protein/ΔE ratio (PPC) was created to identify in which cluster each produce wash water should be. Empirical equations for predicting chlorine demand were developed as chlorine demand = 295.23 × UV254 + 6.97, if PPC
Persistent Vascular Remodeling and Leakiness are Important Components of the Pathobiology of Re-bleeding in Hemophilic Joints: Two Informative Cases.

Objective It is unclear if vascular remodeling in hemophilic joints perpetuates bleeding because it is difficult to gauge leakiness in the setting of low clotting factor levels. Two patients provided the unique opportunity to demonstrate that vascular changes directly contribute to joint bleeding. Approach and Results Two patients had severe hemophilic arthropathies; joint vascularity and bleeding were studied during periods of normalized plasma clotting factor activities with MSKUS and PD. One patient was “cured” of hemophilia with liver transplantation. Abnormal elbow vascularization persisted despite normalization of coagulation status and was associated with severe bleeding years after transplant. Dynamic vascular changes were detected prior to and during bleeding; angiography revealed enlarged, thickened vessels consistent with remodeling, and required arterial embolization. The second patient had continued knee bleeding and fluctuating vascular changes for months following knee replacement, unresponsive to intense daily factor treatment. Subsequently, new bleeds developed in other joints associated with similar vascular changes despite continued factor replacement. Conclusions Vascular remodeling contributes to perpetuated hemophilic joint bleeding and therefore contributes to progressive arthropathy. Intra-articular or systemic administration of anti-angiogenic drugs, such as vascular endothelial growth factor antagonists, might be of benefit in such patients, but requires study.
Comparative effects of four prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors on the obstructed kidney in the dog.

Abstract Comparative effects of four prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors (PGSI) on the acutely obstructed kidney were studied using an intact canine model. Trigonal vesicostomies were constructed and totally implanted nephrostomy tubes were placed to monitor renal pelvic pressures. After recovery, experiments were run at weekly intervals with one drug administered each week in a random fashion. Complete ureteral obstruction was obtained using a Fogarty balloon catheter passed retrogradely into the distal ureter and inflated. When renal pelvic pressure reached 80 cm./H 2 O the designated PGSI was given and a repeat dose was given 30 minutes later. Mean blood pressure was also monitored during several experiments. With the first dose significant decreases in renal pelvic pressure were obtained with all drugs tested. Only ibuprofen showed a significant further decrease with the second dose. Ibuprofen showed the greatest decrease in pressure with the first dose, which was significantly greater than the other drugs tested. There was no association between mean blood pressure changes and the nadir of renal pelvic pressure.
Comparing Graphene-TiO2 Nanowire and Graphene-TiO2 Nanoparticle Composite Photocatalysts

We demonstrate that uniform dispersion of TiO2 on graphene is critical for the photocatalytic effect of the composite. The hydrothermal method was employed to synthesize TiO2 nanowires (NW) and then fabricate graphene-TiO2 nanowire nanocomposite (GNW). Graphene oxide (GO) reduction to graphene and hybridization between TiO2 NWs and graphene by forming chemical bonding was achieved in a one-step hydrothermal process. Graphene-TiO2 nanoparticle (NP) nanocomposite (GNP) was also synthesized. Photocatalytic performance and related properties of NP, NW, GNP, and GNW were comparatively studied. It was found that by incorporation of graphene, GNP and GNW have higher performance than their counterparts. More importantly, it was found that NWs, in comparison with NPs, have more uniform dispersion on graphene with less agglomeration, resulting in more direct contact between TiO2 and graphene, and hence further improved electron–hole pairs (EHPs) separation and transportation. The adsorbability of GNW is also found ...
The policy impact of new rules for loan participation on credit union returns.

Abstract In recent years, credit unions have increasingly purchased loan-participation agreements in order to diversify their loan portfolios and manage loan growth. Responding to high charge-off rates for these loans and concern for systemic risk, the National Credit Union Administration imposed in 2013 new rules on federally insured credit unions that limited the purchase of loan participations from a single originator to the greater of $5 million or 100% of net worth. This study uses a difference-in-difference framework to examine the effect the policy had on returns. As a result of the policy change, credit unions with a high share of net worth in loan participations earned, on average, a return on assets 47 basis points less than their counterparts. Further, we find evidence that suggests these lower returns were driven by a decline in participation loans with recourse provisions, liquidity issues, and relatively higher interest expenses.
Insights on the High-Temperature Operational Limits of ZrO 2 -Y 2 O 3 TBCs Manufactured via Air Plasma Spray

The effective high-temperature operation limit of a ZrO2-7-8 wt.%Y2O3 (YSZ) thermal barrier coating (TBC) manufactured via air plasma spray (APS) is considered to be ~1300 °C. This is related to the metastable tetragonal t′-phase formed during the rapid quenching of the YSZ particles during spraying. The t′-phase transforms into the equilibrium tetragonal and cubic phases at temperatures ≥~1300 °C, which can lead to the formation of the monoclinic phase of YSZ upon cooling to room temperature. This formation of the monoclinic phase is accompanied by a volume expansion that leads to TBC failure due to extensive micro-cracking. To further investigate this limitation, an APS YSZ TBC was sprayed on a CMSX-4 substrate. By using a thermal (laser) gradient cyclic testing, a temperature gradient was generated across the TBC/substrate system. The YSZ T-front and substrate backside T-back temperature levels were ~1500 and ~1000 °C, respectively. In cycle conditions (5-min or 1-h hot and 2-min cool), no TBC failure has been observed. This behavior was partially attributed to the unexpected absence of the monoclinic phase of the YSZ in the cycled coatings. Although preliminary, these results are promising regarding increasing the effective high-temperature operational limits of APS YSZ TBCs.