cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of a New Disinfection Approach: Efficacy of Chlorine and Bromine Halogenated Contact Disinfection for Reduction of Viruses and Microcystin Toxin

Contaminated drinking water is responsible for causing diarrheal diseases that kill millions of people a year. Additionally, toxin-producing blue-green algae associated with diarrhea and neurologic effects continues to be an issue for many drinking water supplies. Disinfection has been used to reduce these risks. A novel gravity-fed household drinking water system with canisters containing N-halamine bromine or chlorine media was challenged with MS2 bacteriophage and microcystin. Chlorine and bromine systems were effective against this virus, with an mean +/- SE reduction of 2.98 +/- 0.26 log(10) and 5.02 +/- 0.19 log(10), respectively. Microcystin toxin was reduced by 27.5% and 88.5% to overall mean +/- SE concentrations of 1,600 +/- 98 ng/L and 259 +/- 50 ng/L for the chlorine and bromine canisters, respectively. Only the bromine units consistently produced microcystin effluent < 1,000 ng/L (the World Health Organization recommended level) when challenged with 2,500 ng/L and consistently surpassed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency virus reduction goal of 99.99%.
Inadequate Hydration or Normal Body Fluid Homeostasis

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Prevalence of inadequate hydration among US children and disparities by gender and race/ethnicity: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2009-2012" by Erica L. Kenney and colleagues on the publication's website, along with a reply from the authors.
Spin-dependent deuterium isotope effect on the decay of the triplet state of a porphyrin free base. NH vibrations as promoting modes

Abstract The radiationless decay rate constants of the zero field spin sublevels of the lowest triplet state of meso-tetra (m-fluoro-phenyl)porphin free base are reported. The values for the base deuterated at the N—H positions are also given. Deuteration affects the fast in-plane spin state more than the slow in-plane spin state, (khα/kdα) : (khβ/kdβ = 0.75. The role of out-of-plane N—H vibrations as promoting modes is discussed in terms of the theory of Metz and co-workers.
TWENTY YEARS OF RESEARCH ON ROLE‐MOTIVATION THEORY OF MANAGERIAL EFFECTIVENESS

Research related to the various hypotheses of managerial role-motivation theory is reviewed. In general this research supports the theory, although there are numerous areas that require further investigation. A total of 21 studies have been conducted to test the theory's validity and all have yielded significant results; 5 of these studies are predictive. Similar studies conducted outside the theoretical domain have uniformly failed to produce significant findings. Research carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of managerial role motivation training has indicated positive effects in 16 of 17 instances, and the construct validity of the primary measure used to operationalize the theory's variables, the Miner Sentence Completion Scale, has been established in relation to a number of other instruments. Relationships to other theories of motivation and leadership are considered, suggestions for future research are presented, and certain proposals for theoretical extensions are set forth.
Testosterone Regulation of Renal α2B-Adrenergic Receptor mRNA Levels

Abstract Androgens regulate blood pressure and renal α2-adrenergic receptors in a parallel fashion in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). The present studies investigated whether this regulation of renal α2B-adrenergic receptors occurs at the mRNA level. Male and female SHR were gonadectomized at 4 weeks of age. The gonadectomized rats were implanted with or without testosterone propionate. Sham- gonadectomized rats served as controls. Total kidney RNA was purified, and α2B-adrenergic receptor mRNA was quantified with a reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. The assay uses a mimic RNA added at known concentrations to the sample RNA. The mimic was constructed from the target sequence in the α2B-adrenergic receptor mRNA plus a 20-bp insertion of a random nucleotide sequence. The amount of α2B-adrenergic receptor mRNA present in each sample was obtained by determining the equivalence point between the amount of RT-PCR product formed in the target band versus the mimic band, which were resolved by gel electrophoresis. Intact males had more than two times as much α2B-adrenergic receptor mRNA as intact females. Castration of males reduced the male-female difference by more than 60%. Ovariectomy slightly increased the α2B-adrenergic receptor mRNA level compared with that of intact females. Treatment with testosterone elevated α2B-adrenergic receptor mRNA levels of gonadectomized males and females to the level of intact males. The α2B-adrenergic receptor mRNA levels correlated remarkably well with renal α2-adrenergic receptor density. We conclude that testosterone regulates renal α2B-adrenergic receptor gene expression at the mRNA level in the SHR.
The Effect of Ascorbic Acid Supplementation on the Blood Lead Levels of Smokers

Background: The study subjects were 75 adult men (20 to 30 years of age), who smoked one pack of cigarettes per day (minimum) and had no clinical signs of ascorbic acid deficiency or lead toxicity. None had a history of industrial exposure to lead, and the blood-lead levels were anticipated to be below 1.45 μmol/L, the minimum blood level associated with toxicity symptoms.Methods: The men were randomly assigned to three study groups of 25, and each group was provided a four-week supply of one level of daily ascorbic acid supplements (placebo, 200 mg or 1000 mg of ascorbic acid). We measured baseline and weekly serum and urine ascorbic-acid levels as well as blood and urine lead levels. The weekly group means and variations of the measured data were statistically compared by means of ANOVA and Pearson’s correlation.Results: The serum ascorbic-acid levels of the groups receiving ascorbic acid increased significantly after one week (p ≤ .001). There was no effect of placebo or 200 mg ascorbic-acid supplement...
A physiological approach to quantifying thermal habitat quality for Redband Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri) in the south Fork John Day River, Oregon

We examined tissue-specific levels of heat shock protein 70 (hsp70) and whole body lipid levels in juvenile redband trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri) from the South Fork of the John Day River (SFJD), Oregon, with the goal of determining if these measures could be used as physiological indicators of thermal habitat quality for juvenile redband trout. Our objectives were to determine the hsp70 induction temperature in liver, fin, and white muscle tissue and characterize the relation between whole body lipids and hsp70 for fish in the SFJD. We found significant increases in hsp70 levels between 19 and 22°C in fin, liver, and white muscle tissue. Maximum hsp70 levels in liver, fin, and white muscle tissue occurred when mean weekly maximum temperatures (MWMT) exceeded 20–22°C. In general, the estimated hsp70 induction temperature for fin and white muscle tissue was higher than liver tissue. Whole body lipid levels began to decrease when MWMT exceeded 20.4°C. There was a significant interaction between temperature and hsp70 in fin and white muscle tissue, but not liver tissue. Collectively, these results suggest that increased hsp70 levels in juvenile redband trout are symptomatic of thermal stress, and that energy storage capacity decreases with this stress. The possible decrease in growth potential and fitness for thermally stressed individuals emphasizes the physiological justification for thermal management criteria in salmon-bearing streams.
Investigating insurance fraud using social media

Since the social media hype started in the early 2000s, the Internet has bloomed with user-generated data. The content generated by users in social media varies from blogs, forums, social network platforms, and video sharing communities. This data has a special emphasis on the relationships among users of the community. As a consequence, social media data contains significant information about their creators and people around them. For this reason, law enforcement and insurance companies, among others, are starting to explore ways of using this data to identify unlawful or fraudulent activities. In this work, we present a solution to extract and analyze social media data in pursuit of identifying insurance fraud. We describe and evaluate an initial prototype of our solution that has been implemented on top of the CometCloud framework. We show how our solution is driven by the insights obtained from the data and it is able to extract data relevant to the investigators.
Image sets for the training of image processing systems

State of the Art image compression algorithms utilize Discrete Wavelet Transforms (DWTs), to losslessly compress raw images for storage and transmission. These techniques form the basis for image formats such as JPEG2000, as well as the storage of medical images, such as ultrasound and CT scans. The transmission of defense and aerospace images, such as those taken by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and satellites, is also built upon these techniques. Recent research has shown that image compression filters can be optimized through the use of evolutionary algorithms (EAs). The images used to train these optimized EAs must be chosen to reflect the likely applications of the image processing system. This paper presents a set of 50 images, for use as training images for UAV and satellite image processing systems. The image set is taken from a diverse range of satellite images, including airports, cities, and military bases considered representative of likely targets for reconnaissance missions. We first evolve filters using each image, and then identify the most effective training images based on average mean squared error (MSE) improvement over existing wavelets when each filter is applied across the entire set of images. The resulting subset of images will provide a starting point for the evolution of other defense application image pro
Drying-Induced Evaporation of Secondary Organic Aerosol during Summer.

This study characterized the effect of drying on the concentration of atmospheric secondary organic aerosol (SOA). Simultaneous measurements of water-soluble organic carbon in the gas (WSOCg) and particle (WSOCp) phases were carried out in Baltimore, MD during the summertime. To investigate the effect of drying on SOA, the WSOCp measurement was alternated through an ambient channel (WSOCp) and a “dried” channel (WSOCp,dry) maintained at ∼35% relative humidity (RH). The average mass ratio between WSOCp,dry and WSOCp was 0.85, showing that significant evaporation of the organic aerosol occurred due to drying. The average amount of evaporated water-soluble organic matter (WSOM = WSOC × 1.95) was 0.6 μg m–3; however, the maximum evaporated WSOM concentration exceeded 5 μg m–3, demonstrating the importance of this phenomenon. The systematic difference between ambient and dry channels indicates a significant and persistent source of aqueous SOA formed through reversible uptake processes. The wide-ranging implic...
Employee Retaliation Claims Under the Supreme Court's Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway Co. v. White Decision: Important Implications for Employers

This article explores Title's VH's anti-retaliation provision and what standard courts use to resolve employee charges of employer retaliation. These cases typically feature charges where employers demote or re-assign employees as retaliation for employee actions including organizing activities, complaints, and so forth. The circuit courts of appeal differed in their decisions and so the Supreme Court decided the Burlington Northern case, concluding that the standard for actionable retaliation is when a plaintiff shows that a reasonable employee would have found the employer's action be so materially adverse that it acts to dissuade employees from asserting statutory rights.
Broadening the Scope of Methodological Research on Mail Surveys

Methodological studies on mail surveys typically assess the effectiveness of a device with respect to only one dependent variable—response rate. Other factors in the use of mail surveys, i.e. respo...
Survival of Deciduomata During Lactation in the Rat

ConclusionsDeciduomata have a limited survival period during lactation in the rat. Their duration tends to be shorter when produced after the eleventh postpartum day.
Subordinates’ Views of Ineffective Executive Behavior

The article provides information on a survey that explored certain aspects of executive behavior and ineffective supervision. The survey was made by use of a seven-item questionnaire given to a var...
Isolation, Identification, and Synthesis of the Gypsy Moth Sex Attractant

The sex attractant of Porthetria dispar (L.), called disparlure, was isolated from a crude fraction of 78,000 abdominal tips of the female moth. Activity of the fraction was monitored by both field and laboratory bioassay. After partial purification of the crude fraction by saponilication and column and thin-layer chromatography (TLC), the attractant was characterized by thin-layer and gas chromatographic tests as an epoxide with 18-20 carbon atoms. Because insufficient attractant was available, all attempt to find and isolate an olefin precursor of the epoxide was made. and it proved successful. The olefin was identified by microozonolysis, TLC, micro hydrogenation, and mass spectral analysis as 2-methyl- cis -7-octadecene. The sex attractant is therefore cis 7,8-epoxy-2-methyloctadccane. It was synthesized in 4 steps with an overall yield of 60%. The synthetic compounds were identical to the natural precursor and sex lurc by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The sex attractant was very active in field tests. Eight compounds closely related to disparlure were synthesized, but they were far less active than disparlure.
Identification of essential arginine residues of Escherichia coli DedA/Tvp38 family membrane proteins YqjA and YghB

Escherichia coli DedA/Tvp38 family proteins YghB and YqjA are putative membrane transporters with 62% amino acid identity and overlapping functions. An E. coli strain with nonpolar Δ yghB and Δ yqjA mutations displays cell division defects and temperature sensitivity and is sensitive to antibiotics and alkaline pH. In this study, we performed site-directed mutagenesis on conserved, charged amino acids of YqjA and YghB. We discovered two conserved predicted membrane embedded arginines (R130 and R136) that are critical for function in both proteins as defined by their ability to complement BC202 phenotypes when expressed from a plasmid. Lysine can substitute for arginine at position R130 indicating a charge dependence at this position, but could not substitute at R136. In light of the established role that arginine plays in the translocation mechanism of numerous membrane transporters, we hypothesize that these amino acids play a role in the transport mechanism of these DedA/Tvp38 family proteins.
Accuracy of Judging Affect and Accuracy of Judging Personality: How and When Are They Related?

Objectives The present research is concerned with the relation between accuracy in judging targets' affective states and accuracy in judging the same targets' personality traits. In two studies, we test the link between these two types of accuracy with the prediction that accuracy of judging traits and of judging states will be associated when fundamental affective qualities are shared. Method In Study 1, affective states and personality traits of 29 targets were rated by 124 judges whose individual accuracy was scored as the correlation between their ratings and target criterion scores (across targets). In Study 2, a comparable analysis was done using 30 different targets and 330 different judges. Results Accuracy in judging distressed affect was significantly positively correlated with accuracy in judging Neuroticism in both studies, as well as in a meta-analysis across the two studies. Accuracy in judging positive affect was significantly positively correlated with accuracy in judging Extraversion in one of the two studies, with the meta-analysis across the two studies being significant. Conclusions These findings provide preliminary evidence for a new model (State and Trait Accuracy Model) that outlines when concordance in accuracy across traits and states should be expected.
Xanthogranulomatous Pyelonephritis and Amyloidosis: A Rare Association

The coincidence of systemic amyloidosis and xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis has been reported previously only once. Clinical findings, such as the nephrotic syndrome, cardiac and autonomic nervous system dysfunction, and adrenal insufficiency, are suggestive and a thorough investigation to rule out other causes of secondary amyloidosis is warranted. We report a case of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis associated with secondary systemic amyloidosis and the nephrotic syndrome. Treatment consisted of nephrectomy and intensive supportive care. The unique clinical, radiographic and pathological aspects of this case are discussed.
TU-H-CAMPUS-TeP2-04: Measurement of Stereotactic Output Factors with DNA Double-Strand Breaks

Purpose: Radiotherapy treatment is specified by radiation dose prescriptions, but biological DNA damage actually controls treatment effectiveness. It is impractical to directly measure dose in the clinic, so we measure quantities, such as collected charge, and calculate the relationship to dose. At small fields, such as those in stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), charged-particle equilibrium (CPE) breaks down and the accuracy of the measurement for delivered dose decreases. By measuring DNA double-strand breaks (DSB) directly, we believe treatment accuracy could improve by providing a more meaningful measurement. Methods: A DNA dosimeter, consisting of magnetic streptavidin beads attached to 4 kilobase pair DNA strands labeled with biotin and fluorescein amidite (FAM) on opposing ends, was suspended in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Twenty µL samples were placed in plastic micro-capillary tubes inside a water tank setup and irradiated with 10 cm, 3 cm, 1.25 cm, 0.75 cm, and 0.5 cm radiation field sizes, where the three smallest sizes were cones. After irradiation, the dosimeters were mechanically separated into beads (intact DNA) and supernatant (broken DNA/FAM) using a magnet. The fluorescence was read and the probability of DSB was calculated. This was used to calculate the output factor for an SRS beam and compared to that measured using a diode detector. Results: The output factors relative to a 10 cm field were 0.89±0.07, 0.76±0.08, 0.59±0.04, and 0.78±0.12 for the field sizes of 3 cm, 1.25 cm, 0.75 cm, and 0.5 cm, respectively. Some of the diode measurements do not fall within these uncertainties. Conclusion: This was the first attempt to measure output factors in a water tank with the DNA dosimeter. Although differences compared to the diode were observed, the uncertainty analysis ignored systematic errors. For future work, we will repeat this experiment to quantify and correct systematic errors, such as those caused by positional alignment and sample contamination. This work was funded in part by CPRIT (RP140105).
Experimentelle Bestimmung der optischen Konstanten von Metallen

Fallt linear polarisiertes Licht auf eine Metalloberflache, so ist das reflektierte Licht in der Regel elliptisch polarisiert1. Die meisten Methoden zur Messung der optischen Konstanten von Metallen beruhen in irgendeiner Form auf der Analyse dieses reflektierten, elliptisch polarisierten Lichtes. Deshalb soll in diesem Abschnitt an die Grundtatsachen der Polarisation erinnert werden.
Is the coefficient of variation a valid measure for detecting sincerity of effort of grip strength

The wide use of the coefficient of variation in detecting sincerity of effort is puzzling since existing research findings regarding its effectiveness are contradictory. The lack of empirical support in the literature raises the question of whether or not the coefficient of variation is a valid measure for detecting sincerity of effort. Many clinicians, especially those who use a computer software to calculate the coefficient of variation, may not understand how the coefficient of variation is derived and what it is based on. The coefficient of variation is a measure of relative variability and would be used correctly only if the average and the standard deviation of grip strength trials increased proportionally. This case study, however, demonstrated that the average and standard deviation of grip strength are independent. Thus, the coefficient of variation is not a valid measure of sincerity of effort. In addition, this study indicated that the coefficient of variation may be inflated in individuals after carpal tunnel release surgery. The author, therefore, cautions clinicians against the use of the coefficient of variation as a measure of sincerity of effort especially in injured individuals with compromised hand strength.
Support for using five attributes to describe spirituality among families with a parent in hospice.

Objective: The importance of spirituality in the dying process is well documented. However, what spirituality means in these situations is hard to discern because few people (patients, families, researchers, or caregivers) will view spirituality in the same way. The present research supports the use of a spiritual framework consisting of five common attributes (meaning, beliefs, connections, self-transcendence, and value) as a mechanism for viewing spirituality for people nearing the end of life. Using qualitative interviews from two related studies, our study aims to describe the prevalence of spirituality and its nature according to these five spiritual attributes. Methods: Data from two previous studies were analyzed. The first employed the methods of grounded theory to understand the strategies adolescents used to manage the impending death of a parent. Some 61 participants from 26 families were interviewed, including ill parents/patients, well parents/caregivers, and adolescents. The second study consisted of 15 interviews with the surviving parent and adolescents from 6 of these families after the death of the parent. Results: The original research from which these data were drawn did not seek to describe spirituality. However, spiritual themes were prevalent in the stories of many participants and included each of the five spiritual attributes. Significance of Results: Our findings demonstrate the prevalence of spirituality in the everyday lives of these families and supports the use of the spiritual framework according to the five common attributes to describe spirituality.
Blockchain: Emergent Industry Adoption and Implications for Accounting

ABSTRACT: Blockchain is a distributed ledger technology poised to transform the accounting practice. In this paper, we provide an initial examination of the technology itself and discuss the associated opportunities and limitations. We also present an overview of the current blockchain-related practices in large accounting firms and trace significant milestones in this technology's emergence. Finally, we discuss some potential areas that future research could address.
Technological Aspects of World Security

The chapter emphasizes the unprecedented danger represented by nuclear weapons in the history of humanity. Nuclear weapons are described as true weapons of mass destruction with catastrophic, indiscriminate and disproportioned effects. It analyses the complex relationship between technology and the arms race, making a strong case in favour of getting an independent scientific community involved in the ‘rational’ study of and engagement with issues so potently related to world security.
A Prospective Comparison of 18F-Sodium Fluoride PET/CT and PSMA-Targeted 18F-DCFBC PET/CT in Metastatic Prostate Cancer

The purpose of this study was to compare the diagnostic performance of 18F-DCFBC PET/CT, a first-generation 18F-labeled prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted agent, and 18F-NaF PET/CT, a sensitive marker of osteoblastic activity, in a prospective cohort of patients with metastatic prostate cancer. Methods: Twenty-eight prostate cancer patients with metastatic disease on conventional imaging prospectively received up to 4 PET/CT scans. All patients completed baseline 18F-DCFBC PET/CT and 18F-NaF PET/CT scans, and 23 patients completed follow-up imaging, with a median follow-up interval of 5.7 mo (range, 4.2-12.6 mo). Lesion detection was compared across the 2 PET/CT agents at each time point. Detection and SUV characteristics of each PET/CT agent were compared with serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels and treatment status at the time of baseline imaging using nonparametric statistical testing (Spearman correlation, Wilcoxon rank). Results: Twenty-six patients had metastatic disease detected on 18F-NaF or 18F-DCFBC at baseline, and 2 patients were negative on both scans. Three patients demonstrated soft tissue-only disease. Of 241 lesions detected at baseline, 56 were soft-tissue lesions identified by 18F-DCFBC only and 185 bone lesions detected on 18F-NaF or 18F-DCFBC. 18F-NaF detected significantly more bone lesions than 18F-DCFBC (P 0.5, P 0.1). When PSA levels were combined with treatment status, patients with below-median levels of PSA (<2 ng/mL) on androgen deprivation therapy (n = 11) demonstrated more lesions on 18F-NaF than 18F-DCFBC (P = 0.02). In PSA greater than 2 ng/mL, patients on androgen deprivation therapy (n = 8) showed equal to or more lesions on 18F-DCFBC than on 18F-NaF. Conclusion: The utility of PSMA-targeting imaging in metastatic prostate cancer appears to depend on patient disease course and treatment status. Compared with 18F-NaF PET/CT, 18F-DCFBC PET/CT detected significantly fewer bone lesions in the setting of early or metastatic castrate-sensitive disease on treatment. However, in advanced metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer, 18F-DCFBC PET/CT shows good concordance with NaF PET/CT.
Teaching Teamwork in Information Systems

Teamwork is very important in information systems development. Therefore, most courses in systems analysis and design and many programming courses require students to work on group projects. However, a project group is not the same thing as a team. Furthermore, for a group to become a team, there are several important characteristics that must be developed. These characteristics do not always develop automatically. This chapter discusses the requirements for effectively forming, building, managing, and evaluating teams in information systems courses. Students should be taught these concepts in addition to the regular course content. This chapter also addresses two special issues that deal with team development and team management: managing cultural diversity and managing virtual teams, where the team members are geographically separated. INTRODUCTION Teamwork has been the norm for the development of many information systems (IS) projects since the early days of computing. Teamwork is also known to be an effective teaching and learning technique. Therefore, many IS classes in systems analysis and design, and also in programming, use student teams for class projects. However, just because students are required to do This chapter appears in the book, Challenges of Information Technology Education in the 21st Century by Eli Cohen. Copyright © 2002, Idea Group Publishing. 701 E. Chocolate Avenue, Hershey PA 17033-1117, USA Tel: 717/533-8845; Fax 717/533-8661; URL-http://www.idea-group.com ITB7077 IDEA GROUP PUBLISHING
Depression, hopelessness, and suicidal behavior in Chinese and American psychiatric patients

The authors compared 37 patients in the People's Republic of China and 46 patients in the United States who were having difficulty with suicidal thinking or behavior. Hopelessness, reasons for living, and suicidal efficacy showed none of the expected relationships with suicidal intent among the Chinese patients, but the two groups were similar on many variables theoretically related to suicidality. Chinese patients were less likely to communicate suicidal intent and rated suicide as less effective at solving problems. The authors examine such variations in the light of possibly different cultural approaches to suicidal behavior. Language: en
Optometric education and optometry in Africa.

BACKGROUND For the vast majority of people in Africa, eye care services are not available. Optometrists have long been practicing in parts of Africa, but optometric teaching institutes have only recently appeared in several African nations. METHODS Utilizing interviews, site visits, and a literature review this article presents a survey of the current status of optometric education, the profession of optometry, and eye care needs in Africa. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Four countries in Africa have optometric teaching institutes: South Africa, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Ghana. Most of these programs are struggling in difficult economic and/or political environments. The difficulties facing these programs are likely to remain, but the recent dramatic developments in communication and cooperation between these four countries will be a positive force towards seriously addressing the need for more optometric practitioners throughout the African continent.
A Size Threshold for Enhanced Magnetoresistance in Colloidally Prepared CoFe2O4 Nanoparticle Solids

The phenomenon of granular magnetoresistance offers the promise of rapid functional materials discovery and high-sensitivity, low-cost sensing technology. Since its discovery over 25 years ago, a major challenge has been the preparation of solids composed of well-characterized, uniform, nanoscale magnetic domains. Rapid advances in colloidal nanochemistry now facilitate the study of more complex and finely controlled materials, enabling the rigorous exploration of the fundamental nature and maximal capabilities of this intriguing class of spintronic materials. We present the first study of size-dependence in granular magnetoresistance using colloidal nanoparticles. These data demonstrate a strongly nonlinear size-dependent magnetoresistance with smaller particles having strong ΔR/R ∼ 18% at 300 K and larger particles showing a 3-fold decline. Importantly, this indicates that CoFe2O4 can act as an effective room temperature granular magnetoresistor and that neither a high superparamagnetic blocking temperature nor a low overall resistance are determining factors in viable magnetoresistance values for sensing applications. These results demonstrate the promise of wider exploration of nontraditional granular structures composed of nanomaterials, molecule-based magnets, and metal-organic frameworks.
A moderate oestradiol level enhances neutrophil number and activity in muscle after traumatic injury but strength recovery is accelerated

Key points The female hormone oestrogen may protect muscle from injury by reducing inflammation but this is debatable. In this study, the inflammatory response of injured muscle from oestrogen-replete mice was comprehensively compared to that from oestrogen-deficient mice. We show that oestrogen markedly promotes movement of neutrophils, an inflammatory white blood cell type, into muscle over the first few days after injury but has only a minor effect on the movement of macrophages, another inflammatory cell type. Despite the enhancement of inflammation by oestrogen in injured muscle, we found strength in oestrogen-replete mice to recover faster and to a greater extent than it does in oestrogen-deficient mice. Our study and others indicate that lower doses of oestrogen, such as that used in our study, may affect muscle inflammation and injury differently from higher doses. Abstract Oestrogen has been shown to protect against skeletal muscle injury and a reduced inflammatory response has been suggested as a possible protective mechanism. There are, however, dissenting reports. Our objective was to conduct an unbiased, comprehensive study of the effect of oestradiol on the inflammatory response following muscle injury. Female C57BL6/J mice were ovariectomized and supplemented with and without oestradiol. Tibialis anterior muscles were freeze injured and studied primarily at 1-4 days post-injury. Oestradiol supplementation increased injured muscle gene expression of neutrophil chemoattractants (Cxcl1 and Cxcl5) and to a lesser extent that of monocyte/macrophage chemoattractants (Ccl2 and Spp1). Oestradiol markedly increased gene expression of the neutrophil cell surface marker (Ly6g) but had less consistent effects on the monocyte/macrophage cell surface markers (Cd68, Cd163 and Cd206). These results were confirmed at the protein level by immunoblot with oestradiol increasing LY6G/C content and having no significant effect on CD163 content. These findings were confirmed with fluorescence-activated cell sorting counts of neutrophils and macrophages in injured muscles; oestradiol increased the proportion of CD45+ cells that were neutrophils (LY6G+ ) but not the proportion that were macrophages (CD68+ or CD206+ ). Physiological impact of the oestradiol-enhanced neutrophil response was assessed by strength measurements. There was no significant difference in strength between oestradiol-supplemented and -unsupplemented mice until 2 weeks post-injury; strength was 13-24% greater in supplemented mice at 2-6 weeks post-injury. In conclusion, a moderate level of oestradiol supplementation enhances neutrophil infiltration in injured muscle and this is associated with a beneficial effect on strength recovery.
H.A. BORTHWICK AND S.B. HENDRICKS – PIONEERS OF PHOTOMORPHOGENESIS

This chapter lists some of the major accomplishments of H.A. Borthwick and S.B. Hendricks in the field of photomorphogenesis. In 1946, in one of the studies with Parker, they carefully examined the spectral sensitivity of inhibition of flowering by a light break in the middle of the night in two short-day plants, which were Biloxi soybean and cocklebur. Two years later came an action spectrum for night interruption in Wintex barley, which showed for the first time flowering promotion in a long-day plant under non-inductive photoperiod. In the next year, H.A. Borthwick and S.B. Hendricks were joined by F.W. Went to measure the action spectrum for leaf enlargement and stem growth inhibition in dark-grown pea seedlings. They, thus, obtained the first of many by now familiar action spectra for vegetative responses to phytochrome phototransformation. A year later, appeared another study of Parker, Hendricks and Borthwick on a long-day plant, Hyoscyamus . They then turned their attention to light-promoted lettuce seed germination, a system first discovered by Flint and McAlister in the mid-1930s at the Smithsonian Institution.
Does the Attitudinal Model Explain Unanimous Reversals

There is little doubt that the political attitudes of the justices on the Supreme Court have a significant impact on many outcomes adopted by the Court. But a third or more of Supreme Court decisions are unanimous, and in more than a fifth of their cases every year the Supreme Court unanimously reverses the decision below. The Attitudinal Model suggests that the reason for unanimity is that the political policy made by the court below is “extreme” when compared to the ideological range of the entire Supreme Court. We test the basic claim of the most prominent proponents of the Attitudinal Model that the political preferences of the justices provide a complete explanation for all of their decisions, including those decided unanimously. We find that none of the predictions of the Attitudinal Model are supported. Thus, while the ideology of the justices may drive many of their decisions, the Attitudinal Model does not provide an adequate explanation for unanimous decisions.
Reducing wind-induced vibrations of road sign structures through aerodynamic modifications: A computational pilot study for a practical example

Abstract In this article, we illustrate the potential of aerodynamic modifications of road signs to reduce wind-induced vibrations. Using a real-world sign structure operated by the Minnesota Department of Transportation, we focus on two modification variants, one based on the simple removal of secondary panels and one based on the addition of drag reducing rear extensions to the main panel. Our main analysis tool is a computational fluid dynamics framework based on the finite element method, which is validated against experiments with a scaled sign model that were conducted in the towing tank and the wind tunnel of the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory. We demonstrate computationally that aerodynamic modifications constitute an effective way of reducing the vibration amplitude in the example structure for head wind at the average operating wind speed. The present study can be seen as a first step towards establishing the use of aerodynamic devices for road sign structures.
Teaching Honors Courses: Perceptions of Engagement from the Faculty Perspective:

Research suggests that honors students are more likely to be engaged in some, but not all, aspects of the college experience, although there is less information available from the faculty perspecti...
Characterization of Reactive Intermediates in Silicon Etching and Deposition Using Laser Techniques

Plasma reactive etching and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) are widely used techniques in the fabrication of semiconductor microelectronic devices. Both processes are complex and difficult to characterize because of the large number of reactive components which may be present; in addition, the field gradients present in plasmas and the temperature gradients present in CVD reactors must be considered in any general model of these processes. The use of optical probes for plasma [1,2] and CVD [1,3] processes has begun to provide important information on the elementary reactions taking place in these systems. The high sensitivity and time and energy resolution afforded by laser spectroscopic techniques, in particular, have been extremely valuable for this purpose.
Error sources, compensation, and probe path optimization for on-machine metrology of freeform optics

As on-machine metrology for freeform optics becomes increasingly popular, error analysis and compensation techniques and probe path optimization must evolve in response. For this work, a four axis Moore Nanotech Universal Measuring Machine (based on a diamond turning machine design) is used with a Precitec chromatic confocal probe. The system is set up in a thermally controlled enclosure, and a LabVIEW data acquisition program is used to record probe data, time, and machine positioning data directly from the machine scales. Issues addressed include probe testing and calibration, thermal errors, data age, compensation methods, and probe path optimization for error reduction. The combined error reduction/compensation approach improves on-machine metrology for freeform optics.
Shame and Self-compassion as Risk and Protective Mechanisms of the Internalized Weight Bias and Emotional Eating Link in Individuals Seeking Bariatric Surgery

Emotional eating in bariatric surgery patients is inconsistently linked with poor post-operative weight loss and eating behaviors, and much research to date is atheoretical. To examine theory-informed correlates of pre-operative emotional eating, the present cross-sectional analysis examined paths through which experienced weight bias and internalized weight bias (IWB) may associate with emotional eating among individuals seeking bariatric surgery. We examined associations of experienced weight bias, IWB, shame, self-compassion, and emotional eating in patients from a surgical weight loss clinic (N = 229, 82.1% female, M. BMI: 48 ± 9). Participants completed a survey of validated self-report measures that were linked to BMI from the patient medical record. Multiple regression models tested associations between study constructs while PROCESS bootstrapping estimates tested the following hypothesized mediation model: IWB ➔ internalized shame ➔ self-compassion ➔ emotional eating. Primary analyses controlled for adverse childhood experiences (ACE), a common confound in weight bias research. Secondary analyses controlled for depressive/anxiety symptoms from the patient medical record (n = 196). After covariates and ACE, each construct accounted for significant unique variance in emotional eating. However, experienced weight bias was no longer significant and internalized shame marginal, after controlling for depressive/anxiety symptoms. In a mediation model, IWB was linked to greater emotional eating through heightened internalized shame and low self-compassion, including after controlling for depressive/anxiety symptoms. Pre-bariatric surgery, IWB may signal risk of emotional eating, with potential implications for post-operative trajectories. Self-compassion may be a useful treatment target to reduce IWB, internalized shame, and related emotional eating in bariatric surgery patients. Further longitudinal research is needed.
Abolition of a National Paradigm: The Case Against Benedict Anderson and Maria Todorova’s Raceless Imaginaries

The “geography” of the Balkans is “prisoner” to a double discursive “incarceration”: externally, within the field of balkanism and internally, within the national paradigm. “Geography” is a symboli...
Host plant quality and male wheat stem sawfly (Hymenoptera: Cephidae) fitness.

The size of male Cephus cinctus Norton (Hymenoptera: Cephidae) adults did not significantly increase with the size of host stems in which larvae developed. Larger adult male sawflies had higher lon...
Monthly Employment Reports and the Pricing of Firm-Level Earnings News

I use the monthly release of the Employment Situation by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to examine the impact of macroeconomic uncertainty on the pricing of firm-level earnings news. Uncertainty about employment conditions is high the day before the employment report is released and is resolved just after the release of the report. I find a muted initial response to earnings announcements made the day before the employment report. This effect is stronger when ex-ante uncertainty about the contents of the employment report is high. The muted initial response is followed by a stronger-than-usual earnings-return relation measured two days after the earnings announcement, or the day after the release of the employment report. These results are consistent with investors applying less weight to earnings signals when there is high uncertainty about macroeconomic conditions, and increasing the weight applied to these signals after the resolution of macroeconomic uncertainty. Additional results show that earnings announcements made on employment-report Fridays have a muted initial market response followed by greater-than-usual post-earnings-announcement drift, and that the proportion of bad news earnings announcements (negative unexpected earnings) is significantly higher on employment-report Fridays than on other days, including other Fridays.
Brand Placement Recognition

Abstract This study examines the impact of adding an audible reference to a visually prominent brand placement on recognition of the brand placed. Facilitated recognition scores were used to control for the effects of brand familiarity on brand placement recognition. Subjects exposed to one of two complete movies were asked to indicate recognition of brands that were or were not placed in their movie. Results indicate that brand placement recognition levels achieved by audio-visual prominent placements exceed the recognition rates achieved by visual-only prominent placements. Additionally, familiar brands achieve higher levels of recognition than unfamiliar brands, even when the recognition scores for familiar brands are adjusted for the guessing and constructive recognition that may result from inferences associated with familiar brands.
A novel anti‐anti‐activator mechanism regulates expression of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa type III secretion system

Summary Expression of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa type III secretion system (TTSS) is coupled to the secretion status of the cells. Environmental signals such as calcium depletion activate the type III secretion channel and, as a consequence, type III gene transcription is derepressed. Two proteins, ExsA and ExsD, were shown previously to play a role in coupling transcription to secretion. ExsA is an activator of TTSS gene transcription, and ExsD is an anti-activator of ExsA. In the absence of environmental secretion cues, ExsD binds ExsA and inhibits transcription. Here, we describe the characterization of ExsC as an anti-anti-activator of TTSS expression. Transcription of the TTSS is repressed in an exsC mutant and is derepressed upon ExsC overexpression. The dependence on exsC for transcription is relieved in the absence of exsD, suggesting that ExsC and ExsD function together to regulate transcription. Consistent with this idea, ExsC interacts with ExsD in bacterial two-hybrid and co-purification assays. We propose a model in which the anti-anti-activator (ExsC) binds to and sequesters the anti-activator (ExsD) under low Ca2+ conditions, freeing ExsA and allowing for transcription of the TTSS. The P. aeruginosa system represents the first example of an anti-activator/anti-anti-activator pair controlling transcription of a TTSS.
Volatile anesthetics gate a chloride current in postnatal rat hippocampal neurons.

A volatile anesthetic-gated current was characterized in patch-clamped cultured postnatal rat hippocampal neurons. In this preparation, the major volatile anesthetics, isoflurane, halothane, and enflurane, open an anion-selective conductance. This volatile anesthetic-gated current exhibits anion selectivity with a chloride-to-acetate permeability ratio of 15, shows outward rectification well described by the constant field equation, and is activated in a dose-dependent fashion with half-maximal response to isoflurane at 0.8 mM (0.032 atm). The current persists in the absence of external Ca2+ and is not blocked by strychnine, a glycine antagonist. However, the gamma-aminobutyric acidA (GABAA) antagonists, bicuculline and picrotoxinin, and the nonspecific anion channel blocker, 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS), completely block the response. These observations suggest that volatile anesthetics, like several other general anesthetics such as barbiturates, steroids, and etomidate, have ...
El arte rupestre de la cuenca del río Coclé del Sur, Panamá

One of the goals of the «Proyecto Arqueologico Cocle» is the study of rock art in the Cocle Sur Basin. Our purpose is to inventory petroglyphs emphasizing subject matter, and stylistic and technological attributes, with a view to comparing their imagery with that of Gran Cocle polychrome pottery and thus determine whether we can identify a stylistic/technology sequence through time. We have made a map of recorded petroglyphs and their designs, created with G.I.S. This procedure has enabled us to identify relationships between the petroglyphs motifs and designs and their geographic and topographic location.