cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nickel Utilization in Phytoplankton Assemblages From Contrasting Oceanic Regimes

Abstract In most oceanic environments, dissolved nickel (Ni) concentrations are drawn down in surface waters with increasing concentrations at depth, implying a role for biology in the geochemical distribution of Ni. Studies with phytoplankton isolates from the surface ocean have established the biochemical roles of Ni in the assimilation of urea and oxidative defense. To determine if these requirements are relevant in natural marine planktonic assemblages, bottle-based fertilization experiments were used to test the effects of low-level additions of Ni, urea, or both Ni and urea to surface waters at several locations offshore of Peru and California, as well as in the Gulf of California. Urea and Ni+urea additions consistently promoted phytoplankton growth relative to control and +Ni treatments, except in a coastal upwelling site and Peruvian water. No effect was observed in the upwelling site, but in Peruvian waters urea additions resulted in increased phytoplankton pigments and phosphate drawdown only when Ni was added concurrently, suggesting a biochemically dependent Ni–urea colimitation. In the Gulf of California, Ni additions without urea resulted in increased abundances of cyanobacteria, picoeukaryotes, and the corresponding pigments. As urea additions showed the overall phytoplankton community was also urea-limited, it appears that the cyanobacteria and potentially the picoeukaryotes were colimited by Ni and urea in a biochemically independent fashion. In parallel, radiotracer-based uptake experiments were used to study the kinetics and spatial variation of biological Ni assimilation. In these experiments, the added radiotracer rarely equilibrated with the natural Ni present, precluding estimates a determination of in situ Ni uptake rates and suggesting that much of the natural Ni was not bioavailable. The lack of equilibration likely did not preclude the measurement of community Ni uptake kinetics, nor the comparison of measured rates between locations. The highest VmaxKρ−1 values, which reflect a competitive advantage in Ni acquisition at low concentrations, were observed in stratified nitrogen-deplete communities, potentially linking Ni and nitrogen biogeochemistry in a manner consistent with the biochemical utilization of Ni. Overall, uptake rates were higher in the euphotic rather than non-euphotic zone communities, directly reconciling the nutrient-like depth profile of Ni. The Ni uptake rates observed at the nitrate-replete Fe-deplete Peru stations were an order of magnitude lower than the other sites. This result agrees with calculations suggesting that saturation of the cell surface with Ni and iron (Fe) transporters may limit uptake rates in low Fe waters.
Spatial patterns of functional divergence in old-field plant communities

Spatial patterns of functional traits have received little attention in community ecology but have the potential to provide insights into the processes that structure communities. In this study, I used semivariograms to describe spatial patterns of functional traits and evaluate processes (niche differentiation, environmental filtering, and dispersal limitation) driving functional divergence in old-field plant communities. I collected spatially explicit data on key plant functional traits (vegetative height, specific leaf area [SLA], and leaf dry matter content [LDMC]) and environmental variables (soil depth and soil moisture) across a range of spatial scales ( 90% of total divergence occurring within 1-m2 plots, demonstrating that high levels of functional divergence may occur at very fine spatial scales. Spatial patterns of intraspecific functional divergence differed among four common species (Solidago canadensis, Bromus inermis, Poa pratensis and Galium mollugo), indicating that species differed in their trait responses to environmental variation. This study provides novel descriptions of spatial patterns of functional traits in plant communities and demonstrates how these patterns can help understand the processes driving functional divergence across spatial scales.
INTRODUCTION HISTORY AND HABITAT VARIATION EXPLAIN THE LANDSCAPE GENETICS OF HYBRID TIGER SALAMANDERS

Genetic introgression from introduced species into native populations is a growing challenge for biological conservation, and one that raises unique practical and ethical issues. Here, we describe the extent of introgression between native California tiger salamanders (Ambystoma californiense) and introduced barred tiger salamanders (A. tigrinum mavortium) relative to habitat, distance from introduction sites, and watershed boundaries. We used ancestry informative markers (AIMs) to characterize the degree of introgression at 85 sites within the range of A. californiense. Eight unlinked markers showed concordant patterns, indicating that different chromosomal segments are introgressing at similar rates. The current distribution of introduced alleles is largely contained in the Salinas Valley, California. Within it, the distribution of nonnative alleles was best explained at a broad geographic scale by the history of introductions, with limited introgression beyond 12 km from multiple independent release sites. The spatial transition from highly admixed to nearly pure native populations was abrupt, suggesting either cryptic barriers to dispersal or locally rapid displacement of natives by an advancing hybrid swarm. At a more ecological level, highly modified perennial breeding ponds had higher introduced allele frequencies than more natural seasonal ponds, suggesting greater invasion success in perennial breeding ponds. Management favoring natural habitat characteristics may substantially decrease the rate of spread of introduced alleles.
Experiential and strain determinants of the estrogen-progesterone induction of sexual receptivity in spayed female mice.

2 seperate studies conducted by the authors at Emory University were concerned with the hormonal induction of sexual receptivity in female mice. The first study investigated estrogen-progesterone induction of receptivity in ovariectomized mice of the Swiss-Webster albino and C57B1/6 strains. The receptivity quotient for each female was calculated by dividing the total number of lordosis responses by the total number of mounts and multiplying by 100. While both strains showed significant improvement (i.e. greater receptivity) with hormonal therapy C57B1/6 females improved at a faster rate and demonstrated a greater capacity to respond to the stimulation. The second study investigated the roles of both experiential and hormonal factors in the progressive development of receptivity in ovariectomized Swiss-Webster females. It appears that the development of responsiveness to ovarian hormones in these mice reflects the additive effects of hormonal priming and experience. Moreover it appears that mating experience even in the absence of hormonal therapy and lordotic behavior facilitates later hormonal induction of receptivity.
Intelligent Nanoparticles for Advanced Drug Delivery in Cancer Treatment

Treatment of cancer using nanoparticle-based approaches relies on the rational design of carriers with respect to size, charge, and surface properties. Polymer-based nanomaterials, inorganic materials such as gold, iron oxide, and silica as well as carbon based materials such as carbon nanotubes and graphene are being explored extensively for cancer therapy. The challenges associated with the delivery of these nanoparticles depend greatly on the type of cancer and stage of development. This review highlights design considerations to develop nanoparticle-based approaches for overcoming physiological hurdles in cancer treatment, as well as emerging research in engineering advanced delivery systems for the treatment of primary, metastatic, and multidrug resistant cancers. A growing understanding of cancer biology will continue to foster development of intelligent nanoparticle-based therapeutics that take into account diverse physiological contexts of changing disease states to improve treatment outcomes.
Pancreatic duct stent placement prevents post-ERCP pancreatitis in patients with suspected sphincter of Oddi dysfunction but normal manometry results

Background Placement of a pancreatic duct (PD) stent reduces post-ERCP pancreatitis rates in high-risk patients. Patients with suspected sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD) who are found to have normal manometry results (SOM) are also at high risk for this complication. Objective Our purpose was to determine whether PD stent placement reduces pancreatitis rates in this patient population. Design Non-randomized, retrospective study. Setting Large, tertiary referral center. Patients From January 1999 to December 2005, patients who underwent ERCP with normal SOM were identified from our ERCP database. Incidence of patient/procedure risk factors for post-ERCP pancreatitis, trainee participation, and prior sphincter therapy were evaluated. Interventions PD stent placement. Main Outcome Measurement Pancreatitis rates. Results A total of 403 patients were available for analysis: 169 had a PD stent placed (group 1) and 234 did not (group 2). Overall, pancreatitis rates were 2.4% in group 1 and 9.0% in group 2 ( P = .006, odds ratio 4.1, 95% CI 1.4-12.0). Other than increased PD opacification in group 1 ( P P = .012). In patients with prior sphincter therapy, no benefit was seen from stent placement, although there was a trend to decreased pancreatitis rates in stented patients with prior pancreatobiliary sphincterotomy. Limitations Nonrandomized, retrospective design. Conclusion Temporary PD stent placement reduces pancreatitis rates in patients with suspected SOD but normal SOM and an intact papilla. Their routine use is recommended when evaluating this difficult, high-risk patient population.
A Welcome Antidote

John Mueller's observations may not be all that unusual, but they are nevertheless a welcome antidote to the seemingly endless speculative scenarios with which we have been regaled since September ...
U.S. energy conservation policy and the cities—an opportunity

Abstract It is demonstrated that a need exists to establish special federal energy-conservation programs dealing directly with the major urban centers of the country if the major objective of Carter's National Energy Plan of reducing the annual growth rate of energy consumption to 2% or less is to be met.
Assessment of contamination of fish by water‐soluble fractions of petroleum: A role for bile metabolites

Several conjugated metabolites were found to accumulate in the gall bladder bile of trout (Salmo gairdneri) exposed to No. 2 fuel oil, but no free metabolites could be detected. GC-MS analysis of the major resolved components resulted in the identification of at least eight metabolites, present as alcohols. Single-ion monitoring MS indicated the predominance of a fragment at m/e 152, and 1H-NMR spectroscopy provided information on the average structure of the mixture of hydrolyzed metabolites. The study demonstrated that focusing on specific two- and three-ring conjugated metabolites in the gall bladder bile of fish can provide a simple and rapid investigative tool for the monitoring and assessment of petroleum and fuel oil pollution.
A re-examination of the Ortega hypothesis: The Dutch case

Using data collected for a sample of 69 Dutch physicists, the present study employs a multivariate approach in order to re-examine the Ortega hypothesis. Stated succinctly, the Ortega hypothesis maintains that, in large measure, science has progressed through the efforts of many quite average scientists. Based on a combined citation search of 2763 source and reference authors, eminent scientists are shown to cite other eminent scientists, although not to the extent reported among American physicists in earlier research by theColes. The tendency for eminent scientists to cite other eminent scientists is a rather recent occurrence in The Netherlands, and may signal a major trend in the differential allocation of facilities and resources which, in turn, impact on the development of science in that country. In addition to the citation rate of source author's year of article's publication and length of source author's professional experience, are also shown to be significantly related to the eminence of reference authors cited, thereby signaling caution concerning rejection of the Ortega hypothesis.
The Citizen Professional: Working with Families and Communities on Problems People Care About

This paper gives an overview of the idea of the citizen professional and the author's development in this way of working with communities. Citizen professionals engage deeply and democratically with fellow community members in co-creating solutions to public problems. They see the traditional professional expert and provider/consumer models as inadequate for the complex problems we face in health care, human services, government, and education. Citizen professionals aim to restore the civic nature of the professions and revive the ethic of "we the people" tackling the problems of our time. The paper also describes the principles and main strategies of the Families and Democracy Model, and illustrates the model with several community projects. The central tenet of this approach is that the greatest untapped resources for improving the health and wellbeing of families and communities is the energy and experience of people who have faced challenging issues in their own lives.
Lost in Translation: expressions of human suffering, the language of human rights, and the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission

This essay examines what is gained and lost when expressions of human suffering are translated into a standardized language of human rights. I argue that South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission demonstrates the ways that this translation makes human suffering both legible and illegible. While the language of human rights functioned in powerful ways to establish a previously unacknowledged history in South Africa, identify and grant dignity to victims, and occasionally designate responsibility, I argue that it also disfigured the testimony of victims in ways that alienated them from their own experience and sometimes retraumatized them, and that it often proved more useful to perpetrators than to victims. I also contend that the promise of healing in which the Commission wrapped its human rights message prioritized national over individual forms of healing, and allowed the South African government to substitute spiritual and symbolic forms of reparation for material ones. Original in English.
Competing Imperialisms and Hawaiian Authority: The Cannonading of Lāāhaināā in 1827

Current historical and anthropological scholarship asserts that narratives of events are not necessarily historical ““truths”” but interpretations made by writers who are socially and culturally situated. This article analyzes multiple perspectives, including those of sailors, merchants, Natives, and missionaries, to gain insight into the ways in which imperial power in the Sandwich Islands was cultivated, negotiated, and redeployed. In particular, the article focuses on the 1827 firing of cannon at American missionaries in Lāāhaināā, Māāui, by the British ship John Palmer in response to several Native Hawaiian women who boarded the ship to engage in sexual relations, and to the protest by a converted Native chief. This article argues that, although Native women's bodies had been commodified since Capt. James Cook's time, by the 1820s they served as sites of desire, contestation, and economic gain.
Principle‐centered leadership and core value deployment

Organizations devote a great deal of attention to the cultivation and deployment of competencies which support their mission and vision. Of equal importance, but less‐attended to, are core values ‐ for cultures and economies rise and fall on the basis of these foundations. One core value which is consistently included in the criteria of various international quality prizes is that of employee empowerment. Coupled with enabling competencies and profound trust, fully deployed core values allow empowerment to be taken to its extreme logical conclusion ‐ systemic leadership, wherein all members of an organization share the burdens, privileges, and rewards of leadership. Leadership is regarded as a key enabler of business excellence. Leadership as developed in this paper fuses ethical core values, competencies, and empowerment. Effective deployment results in systemic leadership that is marked by unity of purpose, which in turn facilitates the journey to business excellence.
Synorogenic Quartz Sandstone in the Jurassic Mobile Belt of Western Nevada: Boyer Ranch Formation

The province of Lower Mesozoic layered rocks in western Nevada contains a diversity of marine lithologies whose deposition continued locally as late as Middle Jurassic time. At places in the province, mature quartz sandstone constitutes all or part of the highest stratigraphic units in sections of non-volcanic rocks and is believed to record the last deposition of terrigenous sediments before complete effacement of the marine basin by widespread orogeny. The sandstone was deposited early in the erogenic episode and at least locally in troughs created by folding of subjacent rocks. The sands are anomalously mature with respect to co-deposited clastic components and to coarse detrital materials in nearly all earlier Mesozoic rocks of the province. The problems are the source of the quartz sand and the reasons the sand was deposited synorogenically. The name, Boyer Ranch Formation, is formally proposed for a lithesome of homogeneous Jurassic quartz sandstone and basal conglomerate and limestone in the Dixie Valley region which is approximately in the northern third of the outcrop area of Jurassic quartz sandstone in western Nevada. The Boyer Ranch Formation contains up to 500 ft of sandstone, largely fine-grained calcareous quartz arenite, whose granulometric properties suggest eolian sorting, but whose bedding indicates quiet-water deposition. The sandstone lies above limestone and carbonate-pebble conglomerate with interstitial quartz sand. The inferred early Mesozoic geographic and tectonic histories in the Dixie Valley region suggest that the sands of the Boyer Ranch Formation accumulated at the eastern shoreline of the Mesozoic basin in western Nevada in late Early or Middle Jurassic time. Until the onset of orogeny, the sands remained unlithified, probably owing to eolian saltation, and followed a generally westerly regression of the shoreline. Postulated strong wave action prevented seaward movement of the sand. The late Early Jurassic or Middle Jurassic (or both) orogeny created local troughs which the sea reinvaded and provided an irregularly configured and low-energy shoreline environment such that movement of the sand into the water was no longer impeded. The sands may have evolved locally through the action of water and wind at the beach of the Early Mesozoic sea in western Nevada, or they may have been largely co-derived from a distant source with sands in Jurassic rocks of the eastern Cordillera and the Colorado Plateau.
Towards Controllable Distributed Real-Time Systems with Feasible Utilization Control

Feedback control techniques have recently been applied to a variety of real-time systems. However, a fundamental issue that was left out is guaranteeing system controllability and the feasibility of applying feedback control to such systems. No control algorithms can effectively control a system which itself is uncontrollable or infeasible. In this paper, we use the multiprocessor utilization control problem as a representative example to study the controllability and feasibility of distributed real-time systems. We prove that controllability and feasibility of a system depend crucially on end-to-end task allocations. We then present algorithms for deploying end-to-end tasks to ensure that the system is controllable and utilization control is feasible for the system. Furthermore, we develop runtime algorithms to maintain controllability and feasibility by reallocating tasks dynamically in response to workload variations, such as task terminations and migrations caused by processor failures. We implement our algorithms in a robust real-time middleware system and report empirical results on an experimental test-bed. We also evaluate the performance of our approach in large systems using numerical experiments. Our results demonstrate that the proposed task allocation algorithms improve the robustness of feedback control in distributed real-time systems.
A General Framework for State Estimation in High-Mix Semiconductor Manufacturing

In this work, the characteristics inherent in non- threaded state estimation problems, i.e., state estimation without segregating the process data into different bins, are analyzed for high-mix semiconductor manufacturing processes. A general framework is introduced for the non-threaded state estimation methods. The framework is based on the best linear unbiased estimate (BLUE) of a Gauss-Markov model, and non-threaded state estimation methods based on least squares, the Kalman filter and recursive least squares (RLS) are analyzed using the general framework. The three methods are compared analytically and by using a simulation example. Bayesian-enhanced adaptive versions for the Kalman filter-based and RLS-based methods are proposed and several examples demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed adaptive methods.
Durable 3-5 μm transmitting infrared window materials

Abstract Properties of 3–5 μm infrared-transmitting window materials are reviewed, with an emphasis on durable materials for applications in environments involving moisture, impact by solid and liquid particles, high temperatures and rapid heating rates. Infrared, visible and ultraviolet transmission windows are compared for MgF2, aluminum oxynitride, sapphire, spinel, MgO, Y2O3, calcium aluminate, SiO2, CaF2, LiF, ZnS, ZnSe, GaAs, GaP, Si and Ge. Emission at elevated temperature, reflection and optical scatter are also discussed. A comparison of mechanical and thermal properties is given, as is a brief discussion of rain and particle erosion resistance.
Non-invasive fetal electrocardiograph enhancement

The authors present an approach to enhance the fetal electrocardiogram (FECG) via a noninvasive procedure using a genetic algorithm (GA). Many different techniques have been developed for FECG detection and enhancement, all of which have some limitations. The proposed method has been designed to overcome most of the difficulties of previous methods for FECG enhancement without distorting and/or adding misleading information to the FECG. The genetic algorithm approach for FECG enhancement is based on substracting a pure maternal electrocardiogram (MECG) from an abdominal signal which contains the FECG and the MECG. The difference between straight subtraction and the genetic algorithm is the fact that the subtraction via a GA is a near-optimal subtraction which eliminates the MECG in the abdominal signal. Details of the techniques and results from clinical data are presented. >
Multiple alignment of rearranged genomes

The nature of large-scale evolutionary processes that shape genomes over time fundamentally differs from the forces governing local evolution within individual genes. Large-scale events such as horizontal transfer, genome rearrangements, gene duplication, and gene loss obscure the notion of orthology and have demanded new models of evolution. Multiple genome alignment tools must cope with such large-scale changes in addition to local changes such as nucleotide substitution and indels. Using simulated genomes containing both large and small-scale evolutionary changes, we present an alignment quality comparison of Mauve, a multiple genome aligner that considers large-scale evolutionary events, to alignments generated by other state-of-the-art genome alignment systems. Our results indicate that in the presence of large-scale rearrangement events, Mauve has superior accuracy. Mauve is available from http: //gel. ahabs.wise.edu/mauve.
Presence of Lps(d) mutation influences cytokine regulation in vivo by the Mycoplasma arthritidis mitogen superantigen and lethal toxicity in mice infected with M. arthritidis.

The Mycoplasma arthritidis mitogen (MAM) superantigen (SAg) is a potent activator of human and murine cells and is produced by an organism that is a cause of acute and chronic arthritis of rodents. It is phylogenetically unrelated to other bacterial SAgs and exhibits a number of unique features. We recently demonstrated that MAM differentially regulates the cytokine responses of different mouse strains following in vivo administration. Here we show that the presence in inbred C3H/HeJ mice of the mutant Lpsd gene, which is associated with a defect in Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), influences MAM regulation of cytokine profiles in vivo. Whereas the levels of type 1 cytokines (interleukin-2 [IL-2], gamma interferon, IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor alpha) were depressed in cells from MAM-injected wild-type C3H/HeSnJ mice, they were elevated in cells from C3H/HeJ mice. Furthermore, the levels of type 2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10) were elevated in Lpsn C3H/HeSnJ mice but depressed in Lpsd C3H/HeJ mice. The transcript for IL-12 p40 was highly expressed in C3H/HeJ but not C3H/HeSnJ mice. F1 mice exhibited the same cytokine profile as C3H/HeJ mice, indicating that the mutant gene exhibited dominant-negative inheritance. In addition, C3H/HeJ mice were highly susceptible to toxic death in comparison with C3H/HeSnJ mice after injection with live M. arthritidis organisms. Our results suggest that MAM interacts with the lipopolysaccharide signaling pathway, possibly involving TLR4 or a combinatorial Toll complex.
The response of Dendroctonus valens and Temnochila chlorodia to Ips paraconfusus pheromone components and verbenone

The red turpentine beetle, Dendroctonus valens LeConte, 1860 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae), is a common bark beetle found throughout much of North America and China. In 2004, we observed that attack densities of the California fivespined ips, Ips paraconfusus Lanier, 1970 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae), in logging debris were inversely related to D. valens attacks on freshly cut stumps, which led to the demonstration that components of the aggregation pheromone of I. paraconfusus inhibited the response of D. valens to attractant-baited traps. In this study, we test the response of D. valens and Temnochila chlorodia (Mannerheim, 1843) (Coleoptera: Trogositidae), a common bark beetle predator, to racemic ipsenol, racemic ipsdienol, and (−)-cis-verbenol (IPSR) in the presence and absence of two release rates of (−)-verbenone. The addition of a relatively low release rate of (−)-verbenone (4 mg/24 h) to attractant-baited traps did not affect catch and had no significant effect on the respon...
On-demand formation of Bluetooth scatternet

Contention based MAC protocols like IEEE 802. 11 have been shown to perform badly in multi-hop wireless ad hoc networks. Immediate alternative approaches are contention-free MAC protocols such as fixed TDMA and CDMA. The Bluetooth scatternet structure, integrating polling scheme and FHSS in its MAC layer, provides a contention-free environment for Bluetooth devices to access the medium and communicate over multi-hop paths. Detailed scatternet formation and scheduling mechanisms, which were left open by Bluetooth specification, call for intensified research activities. We propose an on-demand scatternet-route formation protocol. Important design issues such as route discovery, multi-hop link setup, local structure adjustment as well as a new route-based scatternet-scheduling algorithm are described in detail. We also examine the scatternet setup delay, end-to-end packet transfer delay, and the route throughput. Simulations verify the feasibility of our design and match well with our network performance analyses.
Age at graft loss after pediatric kidney transplantation: exploring the high-risk age window.

Summary Background and objective The risk of graft loss after pediatric kidney transplantation increases during late adolescence and early adulthood, but the extent to which this phenomenon affects all recipients is unknown. This study explored interactions between recipient factors and this high-risk age window, searching for a recipient phenotype that may be less susceptible during this detrimental age interval. Design, setting, participants, & measurements With use of Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients data from 1987 to 2010, risk of graft loss across recipient age was quantified using a multivariable piecewise-constant hazard rate model with time-varying coefficients for recipient risk factors. Results Among 16,266 recipients, graft loss during ages ≥17 and P P Conclusions No recipient subgroups are exempt from the dramatic increase in graft loss during late adolescence and early adulthood, a high-risk window that modifies the relationship between typical recipient risk factors and graft loss.
Segmentation and mapping of highly convoluted contours with applications to medical images

A method that simultaneously identifies the central layer of the human cortex and maps it onto the interval
EBNA2 Drives Formation of New Chromosome Binding Sites and Target Genes for B-Cell Master Regulatory Transcription Factors RBP-jκ and EBF1

Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) transforms resting B-lymphocytes into proliferating lymphoblasts to establish latent infections that can give rise to malignancies. We show here that EBV-encoded transcriptional regulator EBNA2 drives the cooperative and combinatorial genome-wide binding of two master regulators of B-cell fate, namely EBF1 and RBP-jκ. Previous studies suggest that these B-cell factors are statically bound to target gene promoters. In contrast, we found that EBNA2 induces the formation of new binding for both RBP-jκ and EBF1, many of which are in close physical proximity in the cellular and viral genome. These newly induced binding sites co-occupied by EBNA2-EBF1-RBP-jκ correlate strongly with transcriptional activation of linked genes that are important for B-lymphoblast function. Conditional expression or repression of EBNA2 leads to a rapid alteration in RBP-jκ and EBF1 binding. Biochemical and shRNA depletion studies provide evidence for cooperative assembly at co-occupied sites. These findings reveal that EBNA2 facilitate combinatorial interactions to induce new patterns of transcription factor occupancy and gene programming necessary to drive B-lymphoblast growth and survival.
Promoting healthy behaviors in pediatrics: motivational interviewing.

1. Andrew J. Barnes, MD, MPH* 2. Melanie A. Gold, DO† 1. *Assistant Professor, Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. 2. †Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh Student Health Service, Pittsburgh, PA. * Abbreviations: MI: : motivational interviewing MINT: : Motivational Interviewing Network Trainers After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Describe the spirit and principles of motivational interviewing (MI). 2. Know indications for using MI in the pediatric setting. 3. Apply MI to support behavioral change in pediatric patients at all stages of development. Please read the following and watch the video clip (Fig 1). Figure 1. Most pediatric clinicians realize that well-intentioned clinical plans can sometimes fall flat or backfire. Everyday practice is rife with times when one might wonder about which prescriptions go unfilled, whether home safety advice is being “tuned out,” or whether families will return for recommended follow-up visits. In pediatrics, in which “the family is the patient,” ensuring positive changes in health behaviors is daunting, especially in the face of perceived barriers such as lack of time and reimbursement for counseling. The true obstacles to high-quality care often are interpersonal and can include how practitioners deal (or fail to deal) with their feelings of discouragement or discomfort when faced with particularly “resistant” patients. Integrating motivational interviewing (MI) into one’s practice can be a very satisfying way to overcome some of these barriers. MI allows the clinician to stay more connected in a therapeutic relationship with patients by helping them identify how, when, and what behaviors they can change to improve their own health. MI is a supportive counseling style that guides patients toward positive health-related behaviors by helping them resolve ambivalence toward changing. (1) MI seeks to enhance the self-efficacy of patients to facilitate these changes, helping patients move through the continuum of change proposed in the Transtheoretical Model of James Prochaska and Carlo DiClemente, progressing from not yet …
Heme biosynthesis in copper deficient swine.

SummaryThe steps in the heme biosynthetic pathway were evaluated in normal and in copper deficient swine. As anemia developed, the activity of heme biosynthetic enzymes increased. These data suggest that the anemia of copper deficiency is not the result of defective heme biosynthesis and, therefore, that copper is not a cofactor in any of the reactions studied. Since the morphologic characteristics of the anemia of copper deficiency suggest defective hemoglobin synthesis, it is concluded that copper is essential either for the normal metabolism of iron or for the synthesis of globin.
Neuropathy Syndromes Associated With Antibodies Against the Peripheral Nerve

In the past 15 years, researchers have characterized a number of specific neuropathy syndromes associated with antibodies directed against components of the peripheral nerve. We will describe the neuropathy syndromes associated with antibody specificity to the peripheral nerve and provide guidance as to when to request these antibodies and how to interpret the results. This article is the second in a three-part continuing education series on neurology. Other articles focus on multiple sclerosis and stroke.
The Impact of Resident Participation in Outpatient Plastic Surgical Procedures

Ensuring patient safety along with a complete surgical experience for residents is of utmost importance in plastic surgical training. The effect of resident participation on the outcomes of outpatient plastic surgery procedures remains largely unknown. We assess the impact of resident participation on surgical outcomes using a prospective, validated, national database. We identified all outpatient procedures performed by plastic surgeons between 2007 and 2012 in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Multivariate regression models assessed the impact of resident participation when compared to attendings alone on 30-day wound complications, overall complications, and return to the operating room (OR). A total of 18,641 patients were identified: 12,414 patients with an attending alone and 6227 with residents participating. The incidence of overall complications, wound complications, and return to OR was increased with resident participation. When confounding variables were controlled for in multivariate analysis, resident participation was no longer associated with increased risk of wound complications. When stratified by year, incidence of overall complications, wound complications, and return to OR in the resident participation group are trending down and fail to be significantly different in 2011 and 2012. Multivariate analysis shows a similar trend. Resident participation is no longer independently associated with increased complications in outpatient plastic surgery in recent years, suggesting that plastic surgical training is successfully continuing to improve in both outcomes and safety. Additional prospective studies that characterize patient outcomes with resident seniority and the degree of resident participation are warranted. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .
Use of Recycled Concrete Aggregates in Precast/Prestressed Concrete☆

Abstract This paper describes a preliminary investigation on factors related to the use of recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) in precast/prestressed concrete applications. In particular, the effects of RCA are experimentally investigated for: 1) the bond between seven-wire prestressing steel strand and concrete; 2) the compression strength gain of concrete with time; and (3) the compression stiffness gain of concrete with time. The test specimens were made by replacing the natural course aggregates in the concrete mixtures with RCA from: 1) discarded/rejected precast concrete; and 2) returned ready-mix concrete. The data to-date show that the introduction of RCA results in an effect (decrease or increase) in the strand bond strength that is consistent with the effect of RCA on the compression strength of concrete. For the materials tested, RCA from precast concrete performed better than RCA from returned ready-mix concrete. The use of RCA did not have a significant effect on the rate of concrete compression strength gain with time. The results for the stiffness gain of concrete with time were somewhat more varied than the results for the strength gain.
"Government of da Peeps, for da Peeps, and by da Peeps": Revisiting the Contact Zone

In this article, I review contact zone pedagogy from a perspective of discursive positioning and with attention to two assignments that ask basic writers to play with the conventions of academic language. The first requires them to translate a passage of academic prose into a slang of their choice; the second, to compose a parody of academic style. Their responses afford these basic writers new, unusually powerful subjectivities: as deflating formality and pretension, as mocking those in power, and as de-naturalizing everyday texts and discourses to render them newly problematic. And they serve as counterpoint to studies that present the contact zone as opening up the classroom to the appeals of all parties, sexist, racist, or homophobic as they may be. Ultimately, I challenge an unspoken assumption of much writing pedagogy—that teaching on current social issues will eventually bring students around to their instructor's point of view—instead holding out the promise that in the contact zone, a teacher is just as likely to be moved and changed as a student. The above was produced by a student in a first-year writing class at a medium-sized state university. The class is a basic skills/first-year hybrid, a 4-credit course with the same completion requirements as the existing 3- credit first-semester course. The hybrid has all but replaced the not-for-credit basic skills course on campus, and accounts for more than one-fourth of all sections of first-semester writing there. Students are placed in the course
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infected gluteal compartment syndrome with rhabdomyolysis in a bodybuilder.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infected gluteal compartment syndrome with rhabdomyolysis in a bodybuilder
The Physico-Chemical Conditions Necessary to Produce Ultralow Interfacial Tension at the Oil/Brine Interface

In a petroleum sulfonate/isobutanol/dodecane/brine system, there are two regions of ultralow interfacial tension (IFT), one at low surfactant concentrations (0.1–0.2%) and the other at higher surfactant concentrations (4 to 10%). In the low concentration range, the oil/brine/surfactant/alcohol system is a two-phase system, whereas at high surfactant concentrations, it becomes a three-phase system in which a middle phase microemulsion is in equilibrium with excess brine and oil. For low surfactant concentration systems, we have shown that the ultralow IFT minimum corresponds to the onset of micellization and partition coefficient of surfactant near unity. This correlation was observed for the effect of surfactant concentration, salt concentration and oil chain length on the interfacial tension. The minimum in inter-facial tension corresponds to a maximum electrophoretic mobility of oil droplets. This correlation was also observed for the effect of caustic on several crude oils.
Analogous models of complexity: the Austrian theory of capital and Hayek's theory of cognition as adaptive classifying systems

By the 1950s, F. A. Hayek's contributions to a variety of disciplines seemed to be more clearly center around the concept of spontaneous order, or in more contemporary and more general language, “adaptive classifying systems.” In this chapter, I compare two such systems present in Hayek's thought: his contributions to the Austrian theory of capital and his work on the theory of cognition. This comparison reveals a number of very strong analogies between the two theories, which is not surprising as Hayek himself acknowledged that his work on capital influenced his thinking when he returned to theoretical psychology after completing The Pure Theory of Capital. Specifically, I argue that both capital and the mind are adaptive classifying systems characterized by: multiple classification/specificity, the centrality of structure, and a relational concept of order. The chapter concludes with some brief thoughts on the implications of the argument for the theory of the firm and for the place of methodological dualism in Hayek's thinking more generally.
Baylisascaris procyonis Demography and Egg Production in a California Raccoon Population.

Abstract California has more reported human raccoon roundworm cases than any other state due to large and overlapping human and raccoon populations. Infection by this parasite, Baylisascaris procyonis, is relatively benign in raccoons but can cause severe pathology in other species. Disease risk is driven by environmental egg contamination which increases with raccoon density, worm intensity, and worm prevalence. To improve knowledge about risk to humans and other species, 189 raccoons from southern California were examined to investigate how host age and season affect worm abundance, demography, and fecundity. Adult worms were present in animals as young as 10 wk and 100% of 4-mo-old raccoons were infected. Although 80% of sampled raccoons hosted adult B. procyonis, prevalence and abundance were lower in older animals. There were more worms in juvenile than in adult raccoons, resulting in a convex age-intensity profile. Coupled with raccoon demography, this drove fall peaks in parasite abundance and egg ...
Ear biometrics for patient identification in global health: a cross-sectional study to test the feasibility of a simplified algorithm

One of the greatest public health challenges in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is identifying people over time and space. Recent years have seen an explosion of interest in developing electronic approaches to addressing this problem, with mobile technology at the forefront of these efforts. We investigate the possibility of biometrics as a simple, cost-efficient, and portable solution. Common biometrics approaches include fingerprinting, iris scanning and facial recognition, but all are less than ideal due to complexity, infringement on privacy, cost, or portability. Ear biometrics, however, proved to be a unique and viable solution. We developed an identification algorithm then conducted a cross sectional study in which we photographed left and right ears from 25 consenting adults. We then conducted re-identification and statistical analyses to identify the accuracy and replicability of our approach. Through principal component analysis, we found the curve of the ear helix to be the most reliable anatomical structure and the basis for re-identification. Although an individual ear allowed for high re-identification rate (88.3%), when both left and right ears were paired together, our rate of re-identification amidst the pool of potential matches was 100%. The results of this study have implications on future efforts towards building a biometrics solution for patient identification in LMICs. We provide a conceptual platform for further investigation into the development of an ear biometrics identification mobile application.
How i learned to stop worrying and love flash endurance

Flash memory in Solid-State Disks (SSDs) has gained tremendous popularity in recent years. The performance and power benefits of SSDs are especially attractive for use in data centers, whose workloads are I/O intensive. However, the apparent limited write-endurance of flash memory has posed an impediment to the wide deployment of SSDs in data centers. Prior architecture and system level studies of flash memory have used simplistic endurance estimates derived from datasheets to highlight these concerns. In this paper, we model the physical processes that affect endurance, which include both stresses to the memory cells as well as a recovery process. Using this model, we show that the recovery process, which the prior studies did not consider, significantly boosts flash endurance. Using a set of real enterprise workloads, we show that this recovery process allows for orders of magnitude higher number of writes and erases than those given in datasheets. Our results indicate that SSDs that use standard wear-leveling techniques are much more resilient under realistic operating conditions than previously assumed and serve to explain some trends observed in recent flash measurement studies.
Physiology of Nausea

Nausea is an extremely common sensation but also a difficult symptom to describe. There are actually many different types of nausea, perceived in different locations and mediated by different pathways. Nausea can be studied in a laboratory using stimuli that range from the illusion of motion to ingestive disgust and bitter taste. Gastric electrical dysrhythmias and gastric accommodation abnormalities are two pathophysiological mechanisms that drive the symptom of nausea. Atypical GERD, small bowel bacterial overgrowth, and colonic dysfunction are distinct non-stomach pathophysiological entities that can evoke nausea. Different gut-brain and brain-gut pathways that mediate nausea require different treatment approaches, a goal that will require further laboratory and clinical investigations of the enigmatic sensation of nausea.
De facto Privatization and Inequalities in Educational Opportunity in the Transition to Secondary School in Rural Malawi

There has been a recent, rapid de facto privatization of education in many African countries, as the number of private secondary schools operating in the region has grown. The majority of these schools are "low-cost" private schools where tuition and fees are set as low as possible to cover operating costs and still generate profit. Proponents of low-cost private schools argue that these schools have proliferated in impoverished areas to meet unmet demand for access to education and where private schools may offer better quality than locally available public schools. Theories of inequality of educational opportunity suggest that if private schools offer better-quality education, students from more advantaged families will be more likely to enroll at these institutions, potentially exacerbating educational inequality in the region. This analysis uses data from a school-based longitudinal survey, the Malawi Schooling and Adolescent Study, to examine socio-economic inequalities in the transition to secondary school and on-time enrollment in upper secondary. My findings indicate that youth from non-poor households are not only more likely to enroll in secondary school than poor youth, but they are also more likely to substitute enrollment in private schools for enrollment in second-tier government schools. Enrollment at private schools, however, does not yield schooling advantages; relative to both tiers of government secondary schooling, students who initially enrolled at private schools were the least likely to enroll on time in upper secondary school. These patterns suggest that these schooling circumstances may yield less segregation of opportunity than might otherwise be assumed.