cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dying in the Intensive Care Unit

The scenario is familiar. The patient, an elderly woman who lives in an assisted living facility, arrives at the hospital emergency room with pneumonia and a history of heart failure. She is intubated on the second day of hospitalization after a respiratory arrest and admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) in a comatose state. Although she had no advance directives, her family states that she has always been clear about not wanting to be kept alive by extraordinary means if there was little hope of recovery. After 4 days of care in the ICU, the medical team wants to continue aggressive treatment (including a cardiac catheterization), but the nurses and family are united in their insistence that the woman be taken off the ventilator and be kept comfortable. Is this situation the norm? Nurses and family members questioning aggressive treatment? Physicians eager to treat in the face of a dire prognosis? An elderly patient receiving aggressive diagnostic tests and care when there is little or no chance of recovery? If it is not the norm, this scenario (which is fictional) reflects many conversations we’ve heard during our combined decades of experience in the ICU. Physicians are often described as “flogging” patients when there is little hope of recovery. Nurses are usually cast as advocates for compassionate care, wanting to discontinue aggressive treatment and focus on symptom management. Certainly, words like “torture” and “suffering” appear to be used more often by nurses than physicians when assessing the effectiveness of intensive care treatment. Family members and patients, as the stereotype plays, are portrayed as united in their desire for palliative care and a peaceful death. Anyone who has spent time working in critical care knows that, like all stereotypical portrayals, the one described here does not represent the full picture. Yet, like all stereotypes, elements of truth exist. In many of our patients’ lives, care in the ICU will absorb their last months of life. In fact, most individuals will not experience the death that in repeated national surveys they say they want; instead, they will die in the hospital after numerous procedures and treatments. Nurses will provide care that, unfortunately, will exacerbate pain, not eliminate it. Colliding Cultures What does dying in the ICU mean from a nurse’s perspective? An article in this issue of the American Journal of Critical Care focuses on the moral distress that nurses working in one medical ICU experienced. 1
Device reliability study of GaN HEMTs using both low frequency noise and microwave noise temperature spectroscopy

Microwave noise temperature spectroscopy is performed on gated AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors as a function of gate and drain bias. The results are combined with low frequency noise (LFN) spectroscopy to understand device degradation and specific mechanisms responsible for it. It was found that channel noise temperature shows a strong dependence to channel voltage. On the other hand self-heating related power dissipation is weakly correlated to the measured noise temperature. This indicates that microwave noise temperature can act as a useful reliability characterization tool.
Transmission Delay Line Based ID Generation Circuit for RFID Applications

A transmission delay line based ID generation circuit is presented for radio frequency identification (RFID) applications. The ID generation circuit has been designed using microstrip transmission lines as delay lines for its operation at ultra high frequency (UHF: 915MHz). The layout has been realized on a flexible substrate using photolithography based fabrication techniques. The circuit has been tested with an on-off-key (OOK) modulated input signal and different combinations of 4bit ID code have been generated. Obtained results confirm the concept and its use in RFID applications
Possible mechanisms to explain dust overloading of the lungs

This paper briefly reviews the available evidence on dust overloading of the lungs, a condition which has come to the forefront in many recently reported chronic inhalation studies. A general hypothesis is developed that dust overloading, which is typified by a progressive reduction of particle clearance from the deep lung, reflects a breakdown in alveolar macrophage (AM)-mediated dust removal due to the loss of AM mobility. The inability of the dust-laden AMs to translocate to the mucociliary escalator is correlated to an average composite particle volume per alveolar macrophage in the lung. When this particulate volume exceeds approximately 60 micron3/AM, on the basis of a uniform distribution of particles over the AM pool size (approximately 2.5 X 10(7) cells) in the Fischer 344 rat, the overload effect appears to be initiated. When the distributed particulate volume exceeds approximately 600 micron3 per cell, the evidence suggests that AM-mediated particle clearance virtually ceases and agglomerated particle-laden macrophages remain in the alveolar region. This paper considers possible mechanisms why these particle-laden cells are immobilized, viz., one is based on excessive particle-cell, cell-cell chemotactic interactions, and migratory inhibition factors; the other considers the volumetric increase by phagocytized particles, per se, as leading to an inability of the AM to spread and migrate probably through a competitive requirement for surface membrane and cytoskeleton in both endocytotic and migratory functions.
Echo Suppression and Time Delay, A Subjective Evaluation

The combined effects of time delay and the action of a particular type of echo suppressor have been evaluated during a controlled experiment. Users performed a highly structured task designed to approximate real conversation either over a normal, control circuit or over one having 620 ms of delay and fitted with an echo suppressor. Little difference was noted in user reaction to, and acceptance of, the experimental circuit compared with the control circuit.
Use of low cost and easily regenerated Prussian Blue cathodes for efficient electrical energy recovery in a microbial battery

Microbial fuel cells can directly convert chemical energy into electrical energy, but significant energy losses result from the use of O2 as the cathode. Microbial batteries (MBs) replace conventional O2 cathodes with solid-state cathodes that can be re-oxidized under favorable conditions, enabling more efficient energy recovery. Previously, we demonstrated proof-of-concept for MBs with a silver oxide cathode. The high cost of silver and energy required for re-oxidation make this material impractical. In this work, we evaluate Prussian Blue (PB), a hexacyano-Fe complex material, as a low-cost solid-state cathode in a single-chamber, membrane-free MB. Microbial oxidation of organic matter at the anode drives the reduction of PB. Reduced PB is re-oxidized by exposure to air. MBs equipped with a PB electrode efficiently transfer charge to PB (85% charge transfer), achieving net energy recovery efficiencies of 18–33%, with no loss of capacity over 20 cycles of operation. The operating potential for the PB electrode creates a trade-off: increasing the PB electrode potential improves the efficiency of energy recovery, but more material is required to maintain power output and ensure efficient oxidation of organic matter. Operation is otherwise straightforward: energy is only required to move reduced PB into the air then back to the MB. We conclude that PB is a promising cathode material for single-chamber, membrane-free MBs.
Origin of 5‐Hydroxymethylfurfural Stability in Water/Dimethyl Sulfoxide Mixtures

In the present work, we combined vibrational spectroscopy with electronic structure calculations to understand the solvation of HMF in DMSO, water, and DMSO/water mixtures and to provide insights into the observed hindrance of HMF rehydration and aldol condensation reactions if it is dissolved in DMSO/water mixtures. To achieve this goal, the attenuated total reflection FTIR spectra of a wide composition range of binary and ternary mixtures were measured, analyzed, and compared to the findings of ab initio DFT calculations. The effect of solvent on the HMF C-O and O-H vibrational modes reveals significant differences that are ascribed to different intermolecular interactions between HMF and DMSO or water. We also found that DMSO binds to HMF more strongly than water, and interactions with the HMF hydroxyl group are stronger than those with the HMF carbonyl group. We also showed the preferential solvation of HMF C-O groups by DMSO if HMF is dissolved in DMSO/water mixed solvent. Frontier molecular orbital theory was used to examine the influence of the solvent on side reactions. The results show that HMF solvation by DMSO increases its LUMO energy, which reduces its susceptibility to nucleophilic attack and minimizes undesirable hydration and humin-formation reactions. This result, together with the preferential solvation of HMF by DMSO, provide an explanation for the enhanced HMF stability in DMSO/water mixtures observed experimentally.
Cortisol and Children’s Adjustment: The Moderating Role of Sympathetic Nervous System Activity

We examined relations among cortisol, markers of sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity (including salivary alpha-amylase and skin conductance level), and children’s adjustment. We also tested the Bauer et al. (Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 23(2), 102–113, 2002) hypothesis that interactions between the SNS and cortisol would be associated with internalizing and externalizing problems. Saliva samples were obtained from 8- to 9-year-olds before and after a laboratory assessment battery, and were assayed for cortisol and alpha-amylase (sAA). Basal skin conductance level (SCL) was measured during resting conditions. Parents reported on child adjustment. Interactions between basal SNS and cortisol levels explained moderate amounts of unique variance in children’s externalizing and internalizing problems. More specifically, higher basal cortisol levels were positively associated with higher internalizing and externalizing problems among children with higher SNS activity, as compared to children with lower SNS activity. Findings underscore the utility of including information about the coordination between hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) and SNS activity in biosocial models of atypical child development.
Adaptive Evolution in Rodent Seminal Vesicle Secretion Proteins

Proteins involved in reproductive fitness have evolved unusually rapidly across diverse groups of organisms. These reproductive proteins show unusually high rates of amino acid substitutions, suggesting that the proteins have been subject to positive selection. We sought to identify seminal fluid proteins experiencing adaptive evolution because such proteins are often involved in sperm competition, host immunity to pathogens, and manipulation of female reproductive physiology and behavior. We performed an evolutionary screen of the mouse prostate transcriptome for genes with elevated evolutionary rates between mouse and rat. We observed that secreted rodent prostate proteins evolve approximately twice as fast as nonsecreted proteins, remarkably similar to findings in the primate prostate and in the Drosophila male accessory gland. Our screen led us to identify and characterize a group of seminal vesicle secretion (Svs) proteins and to show that the gene Svs7 is evolving very rapidly, with many amino acid sites under positive selection. Another gene in this group, Svs5, showed evidence of branch-specific selection in the rat. We also found that Svs7 is under selection in primates and, by using three-dimensional models, demonstrated that the same regions have been under selection in both groups. Svs7 has been identified as mouse caltrin, a protein involved in sperm capacitation, the process responsible for the timing of changes in sperm activity and behavior, following ejaculation. We propose that the most likely explanation of the adaptive evolution of Svs7 that we have observed in rodents and primates stems from an important function in sperm competition.
Security and Architectural Issues for National Security Cloud Computing

Security concerns with respect to cloud computing haveimpelled the private sector to suggest a hybrid cloudarchitecture consisting of private and public clouds.For national security purposes, we advocate a hybridcloud model that consists of private, public andcommunity clouds. The community clouds in thisarchitecture are as defined by NIST, and will be usedfor inter-agency and community-of-interest (COI)information sharing and collaboration needs. Thesecurity requirements and characteristics of private andpublic clouds will not differ greatly from the privatesector. However, while the architecturalcharacteristics remain the same, we believe thatnational security community clouds will have differentsecurity features than the typical community cloud inorder to support COI requirements. In this paper, wefocus on the requirements and characteristics ofnational security community clouds that can meet theneeds of COIs.
Color anomaly detection and suggestion for wilderness search and rescue

In wilderness search and rescue, objects not native or typical to a scene may provide clues that indicate the recent presence of the missing person. This paper presents the results of augmenting an aerial wilderness search-and-rescue system with an automated spectral anomaly detector for identifying unusually colored objects. The detector dynamically builds a model of the natural coloring in the scene and identifies outlier pixels, which are then filtered both spatially and temporally to find unusually colored objects. These objects are then highlighted in the search video as suggestions for the user, thus shifting a portion of the user's task from scanning the video to verifying the suggestions. This paper empirically evaluates multiple potential detectors then incorporates the best-performing detector into a suggestion system. User study results demonstrate that even with an imperfect detector users' detection increased significantly. Results further indicate that users' false positive rates did not increase, though performance in a secondary task did decrease. Furthermore, users subjectively reported that the use of detector-based suggestions made the overall task easier. These results suggest that such suggestion-based systems for search can increase overall searcher performance but that additional external tasks should be limited.
Synthesis of Graphene-CNT Hybrid Nanostructures

Using chemical vapor deposition technique, a novel 3D carbon nano-architecture called a pillared graphene nanostructure (PGN) is in situ synthesized. The fabricated novel carbon nanostructure consists of CNT pillars of variable length grown vertically from large-area graphene planes. The formation of CNTs and graphene occurs simultaneously in one CVD growth treatment. The detailed characterization of synthesized pillared graphene shows the cohesive structure and seamless contact between graphene and CNTs in the hybrid structure. The synthesized graphene-CNT hybrid has a tunable architecture and attractive material properties, as it is solely built from sp2 hybridized carbon atoms in form of graphene and CNT. Our methodology provides a pathway for fabricating novel 3D nanostructures which are envisioned for applications in hydrogen storage, nanoelectronics, and supercapacitors.
The enzymic synthesis of amino acyl derivatives of ribonucleic acid. IV. The formation of the 3'-hydroxyl terminal trinucleotide sequence of amino acid-acceptor ribonucleic acid.

The previous papers (l-3) and reports from numerous laboratories (4-9) have demonstrated the enzymic synthesis of amino acyl ribonucleic acid derivatives. Studies by Zachau et al. (lo), Hecht et al. (ll), and ourselves (3) have established that each amino acid is linked to a specific polynucleotide chain through an ester linkage with either the 2’or 3’-hydrosyl group of the terminal nucleotide residue. In each instance where it has been investigated, the terminal nucleotide has been identified as adenylic acid (3, 10-12). In the amino acid-acceptor ribonucleic acid from mammalian liver it was reported that the adenylic acid unit is linked to a dinucleotide sequence of two cytidylic acid residues (11). In an attempt to define the nucleotide sequence required for amino acid acceptor activity, we have investigated methods for partially degrading the RNA chains and the requirements for reconverting such degraded preparations to their native state. Removal of one or a few nucleotides from the 3’-hydroxyl end of the polynucleotide chains with purified venom phosphodiesterase destroys the amino acid acceptor activity (3). Such a partially degraded RNA preparation, but not the native material, is an excellent primer for the incorporation of (Flabeled adenosine phosphate and Ci4-labeled cytidine phosphate from their respective triphosphates by an enzyme obtained from Escherichia coli. Depending upon the extent of degradation of the RNA, the purified enzyme forms part or all of the terminal trinucleotide sequence . . . pCpCpAl resulting in the restoration of amino acid acceptor activity. The incorporation of each nucleotide unit is accompanied by the liberation of one equivalent of inorganic pyrophosphate. As might be predicted from this finding, the enzyme catalyzes a net pyrophosphorolysis of the intact amino acid-acceptor RNA yielding adenosine triphosphate and cytidine triphosphate from the terminal trinucleotide. The studies reported here are in agreement with the findings of Hecht et al. (14). These workers reported that after inactivation of mammalian amino acid-acceptor RNA by preincubation with a “pH 5 fraction” from liver or ascites cell extracts,
Elastic deformation of composite cylinders with cylindrically orthotropic layers

This paper provides explicit analytical expressions for displacement and stress fields in a multilayered composite cylinder with cylindrically orthotropic layers subjected to homogeneous boundary conditions. The solutions are derived in the assumption of perfect bonding between layers. The components of displacement, strain and stress are expressed in terms of the integration constants found from boundary conditions by utilizing the transfer matrix approach. Several examples are considered. The approach is validated by comparing with previously known solutions.
The necessary junk: new functions for transposable elements

Transposable elements have been shaping the genome throughout evolution, contributing to the creation of new genes and sophisticated regulatory network systems. Today, most of genomes (animals and plants) allow the expression and accommodate transposition of a few transposon families. The potential genetic impact of this small fraction of mobile elements should not be underestimated. Although new insertions that happen in germ cells are likely to be passed to the next generation, mobilization in pluripotent embryonic stem cells or in somatic cells may contribute to the differences observed in genetic makeup and epigenetic gene regulation during development at the cellular level. The fact that these elements are still active, generating innovative ways to alter gene expression and genomic structure, suggests that the cellular genome is not static or deterministic but rather dynamic. In this short review, we collect a set of recent observations that point to a new appreciation of transposable elements as a source of genetic variation.
Rotational Osteotomy at the Base of the Fifth Metacarpal

The arc of flexion of the thumb is such that it normally opposes most easily to the long finger. In mutilating injuries of the hand in which the thumb and small finger are the only remaining normal or functional digits, a rotational osteotomy performed at the base of the fifth metacarpal may considerably improve pinch and grasp by allowing the remaining digital tips to oppose more easily. This osteotomy is done through a dorsal longitudinal incision, which may be curved or darted at the surgeon's discretion. The osteotomy is performed at the junction of the proximal metaphysis and the diaphysis, where secure fixation may be provided by a T-plate placed in the tension band (compression) mode (Figs. 59-1 A Figs. 59-1 B Figs. 59-1 C Figs. 59-1 D Figs. 59-1 E-L).
Section 1983 Litigation (Discussion from The Supreme Court and Local Government Law: The 1994-1995 Term Symposium)

At a Symposium entitled, “The Supreme Court and Local Government Law: The 1994-1995 Term,” the author gave out five “awards” to U.S. Supreme Court decisions issued during that Term, all of which together provided a rich array of important decisions dealing with Section 1983 litigation. The first award went to the most important Section 1983 decision of that Term, Johnson v. Jones, which clarifies when an official may pursue an interlocutory appeal from the denial of qualified immunity, and placed an important limitation upon the official's right to pursue an immediate immunity appeal. The next award went to the best supporting actor or actress, Swint v. Chambers County Commission, in which the Court ruled that when a public official takes an immediate interlocutory appeal from the denial of qualified immunity, a municipal entity may not tag along and take an interlocutory appeal on the issue of municipal liability. The award for best documentary of the term went to Lebron v. National Railroad Passenger Corp., better known as “Amtrak,” in which the Supreme Court said that Amtrak is part of the Federal Government for First Amendment purposes, even though the Congress previously had said it is not a federal agency or establishment. The Scrooge-of-the-term award went to the Supreme Court's decision in Sandin v. Conner, as the decision effectively abolished the notion of state-created prisoner liberty interests. Lastly, the no-sweat award was given to the Supreme Court's decision in National Private Truck Council v. Oklahoma Tax Commission, where the Court held that it violates principles of federalism for a state court to use a federal remedy in a way that disrupts state functions; although the author perceived the decision as a type of extension of the doctrine of federalism, to the Court, it was no sweat.
Adaptive Optics-OCT Imaging of the Retina

Ultrahigh resolution OCT with adaptive optics provides unprecedented 3-D resolution of the cellular retina in vivo. Here we investigate the utility of this instrument for imaging individual retinal nerve fiber bundles, retinal capillaries, and photoreceptors.
COX-2 modulates mammary tumor progression in response to collagen density

High breast density is linked to an increased risk of breast cancer, and correlates with changes in collagen. In a mouse model of mammary carcinoma in the context of increased collagen deposition, the MMTV-PyMT/Col1a1 tm1jae , there is accelerated mammary tumor formation and progression. Previous gene expression analysis suggests that increased collagen density elevates expression of PTGS2 (prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2), the gene for cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). To understand the role of COX-2 in tumor progression within a collagen-dense microenvironment, we treated MMTV-PyMT or MMTV-PyMT/Col1a1 tm1jae tumors prior to and after tumor formation. Animals received treatment with celecoxib, a specific COX-2 inhibitor, or placebo. Mammary tumors were examined for COX-2, inflammatory and stromal cell components, and collagen deposition through immunohistochemical analysis, immunofluorescence, multiplex cytokine ELISA and tissue imaging techniques. PyMT/Col1a1 tm1jae tumors were larger, more proliferative, and expressed higher levels of COX-2 and PGE2 than PyMT tumors in wild type (WT) mice. Treatment with celecoxib significantly decreased the induced tumor size and metastasis of the PyMT/Col1a1 tumors, such that their size was not different from the smaller PyMT tumors. Celecoxib had minimal effect on the PyMT tumors. Celecoxib decreased expression levels of COX-2, PGE2, and Ki-67. Several cytokines were over-expressed in PyMT/Col1a1 compared to PyMT, and celecoxib treatment prevented their over-expression. Furthermore, macrophage and neutrophil recruitment were enhanced in PyMT/Col1a1 tumors, and this effect was inhibited by celecoxib. Notably, COX-2 inhibition reduced overall collagen deposition. Finally, when celecoxib was used prior to tumor formation, PyMT/Col1a1 tumors were fewer and smaller than in untreated animals. These findings suggest that COX-2 has a direct role in modulating tumor progression in tumors arising within collagen-dense microenvironments, and suggest that COX-2 may be an effective therapeutic target for women with dense breast tissue and early-stage breast cancer.
Perceptual and Cognitive Aspects of Three-Dimensional Rotations for Computer Aided Design (CAD) Systems

The purpose of the research reported here Is to investigate human spatial and cognitive abilities for a computer aided design (CAD) rotation task. This goal Is accomplished by experimentally testing the two main competing theories, analogue versus propositional, which describe how perceptual Information Is represented In memory. The hypotheses are tested using a full factorial design with three levels of figure complexity, three axes of rotation (X, Y, Z) and four angles of rotation (0, 60, 120, 180 degrees) for a reaction time rotation task. In addition, the frequency of axis and angle errors are collected to provide a better understanding of human errors In CAD. Results revealed a significant effect for angle of rotation for reaction time but no significant effect for figure complexity thus providing support for the analogue theory.
Alone in the 1950s: Anne Parsons and the Feminine Mystique

A book of essays by Anne Parsons, entitled Belief, Magic and Anomie, Essays in Psychosocial Anthropology, appeared in 1969. It was edited by a number of well-known social scientists: Rose Laub Coser, the main editor, Renee C. Fox, Louisa P. Howe, Sidney Mintz, Jesse Pitts, and David Schneider, and one psychiatrist, Merton J. Kahne.1 From the editors' Introduction we learn that the author, Anne Parsons, worked on the staffs of a number of Boston-area hospitals and in Naples, Italy; that she had many colleagues and friends here and in France and Italy, particularly anthropologists and psychiatrists; and that she died prematurely in 1964 at the age of thirty-three. We do not learn from the Introduction that she was the daughter of the famous sociologist Talcott Parsons nor that she committed suicide. It does tell of her interest in the use of psychoanalytic and anthropological insight to explain behavior and her sensitivity to cross-cultural meanings, particularly the structural and psychodynamic characteristics of Southern Italian families. Anne Parsons was indeed concerned with the intersection of culture and personality, synthesizing a number of disciplines in her efforts to understand religion, mental illness, and family relationships. Her work, according to the editors and evident from the essays, was informed by a deep moral sense; she believed the social scientist had a responsibility to relate research to contemporary social problems.
Indentation of Strain -Hardening Materials: A New Expanding Cavity Model

†‡ A new expanding cavity model (ECM) is developed for describing indentation deformations of elastic strain -hardening materials. Closed -form formulas are prov ided for both conical and spherical indentations , which explicitly show that for a given indenter geometry indentation hardness depends on Young’s modulus, yield stress and strain hardening exponent of the indented material. The new model reduce s o Johnson ’s ECM for elastic -perfectly plastic materials when the strain -hardening effect is not considered. The sample numerical results obtained using the newly developed model reveal that the indentation hardness increases with the Young’s modulus and strain -hard ening level of the indented material. For conical indentations the values of the indentation hardness are found to depend on the sharpness of the indenter: the sharper the indenter, the larger the hardness. For spherical indentations it is shown that the hardness is significantly affected by the strai n-hardening level when the indented material is stiff and/or the indentation depth is large. When the indentation depth is small such that little or no plastic deformation is induced by the spherical indenter, the hardness appears to be independent of the strain hardening level.
Synthesis of Borophosphonate Cage Compounds: Influence of Substituent and Concentration Effects on Product Distribution in Condensation Reactions of Aryl Phosphonic Acids and Boronic Acids

Aryl borophosphonate cage compounds [ArPO3BAr′]n with n = 4 or 6 were synthesized by condensation reactions of ArP(O)(OH)2 and Ar′B(OH)2. (3,5-tBu2-Ph)P(O)(OH)2 (1) reacts with arylboronic acids that contain electron-withdrawing substituents to form borophosphonate tetramers [Ar1PO3BAr2]4 (Ar1 = 3,5-tBu2-Ph; Ar2 = o-Br-Ph, o-CF3-Ph, p-CF3-Ph, p-CHO-Ph; 3a–d) and hexamers [Ar1PO3BAr2]6 (Ar2 = p-CF3-Ph, p-CHO-Ph; 4c–d) in 80–93% NMR yield. For Ar2 = p-CF3-Ph and p-CHO-Ph, both products were observed, with the tetramer being favored under dilute reaction conditions and the hexamer favored under concentrated reaction conditions. Interconversion between tetramer (3c or 3d) and hexamer (4c or 4d) was observed at room temperature and above in toluene. The phosphine phosphonic acid (2-PPh2-Ph)P(O)(OH)2 (6) reacts with arylboronic acids that contain electron-withdrawing substituents to form tetramers [Ar1PO3BAr2]4 (Ar1 = 2-PPh2-Ph; Ar2 = p-CF3-Ph, p-CHO-Ph; 7c–d) in 70–75% NMR yield. The reactions of 1 or 6 with (...
Ant-Attended Nymphal Aggregations in the Enchenopa binotata Complex (Homoptera: Membracidae)

Females of Enchenopa binotata Say deposit eggs under the bark of branches and cover them with a white secretion (egg froth). Egg froth contains an ovipositional attractant which attracts females to branches that already have egg masses present. After oviposition is completed, egg masses are highly clumped on branches within the host plant. Aggregations of nymphs are formed when eggs hatch the following spring, with group size influencing ant attendance and nymphal survival. Survival of nymphs varies among trees due to variation in attendance by ants. I postulate that variation among individual trees in nymphal survival and ant attendance promotes disjunct insect distributions. Such distributions magnify microgeographic distances among insect populations on conspecific host plants as well as those on other host plant species. Such factors contribute to molding insect genotypic variation to a host plant species, and have facilitated the divergence of E. binotata into a complex of reproductively isolated species, one on each species of host plant.
The role of electronic and ionic conductivities in the rate performance of tunnel structured manganese oxides in Li-ion batteries

Single nanowires of two manganese oxide polymorphs (α-MnO2 and todorokite manganese oxide), which display a controlled size variation in terms of their square structural tunnels, were isolated onto nanofabricated platforms using dielectrophoresis. This platform allowed for the measurement of the electronic conductivity of these manganese oxides, which was found to be higher in α-MnO2 as compared to that of the todorokite phase by a factor of ∼46. Despite this observation of substantially higher electronic conductivity in α-MnO2, the todorokite manganese oxide exhibited better electrochemical rate performance as a Li-ion battery cathode. The relationship between this electrochemical performance, the electronic conductivities of the manganese oxides, and their reported ionic conductivities is discussed for the first time, clearly revealing that the rate performance of these materials is limited by their Li+ diffusivity, and not by their electronic conductivity. This result reveals important new insights relevant for improving the power density of manganese oxides, which have shown promise as a low-cost, abundant, and safe alternative for next-generation cathode materials. Furthermore, the presented experimental approach is suitable for assessing a broader family of one-dimensional electrode active materials (in terms of their electronic and ionic conductivities) for both Li-ion batteries and for electrochemical systems utilizing charge-carrying ions beyond Li+.
BCNU and Steroids in the Viral-Induced Dog Brain Tumor

Schmidt-Ruppin strain of Rous Sarcoma was inoculated intracerebrally into 27 newborn beagle dogs. Fourteen days after viral inoculation, 13 of the dogs were given intravenous BCNU (1 mg/kg). The other 14 were given the same volume of intravenous saline in a randomized, double-blinded fashion. Ninety percent of all dogs developed intracranial tumors. Radionuclide (mercury 197) brain scans were done on each dog at 2-week intervals. Median survival was 113 days in the BCNU group and 115 days in the placebo group (P > .99). Unequivocally positive radionuclide brain scans were detected in 5 dogs treated with BCNU and in 2 of the controls. There were no gross or microscopic differences at autopsy between treated and nontreated animals. BCNU, as given in this animal brain tumor model, did not demonstrate any oncolytic effect. An improvement in sequential brain scans was detected in 2 other dogs in response to Dexamethasone, which was given in a double-blinded, cross-over controlled fashion. Computerized tomography clearly demonstrated the tumor in two cases.
Recent advances in first-pass radionuclide angiography.

First-pass radionuclide angiography (RNA) stands out as the best technology available for the investigation of short duration phenomena, including peak exercise, that affect the left and right ventricles. Perhaps most importantly, the introduction of the Tc-99m sestamibi has made it possible to combine all the measurements of regional and global ventricular function and volume obtainable from first-pass data with high resolution tomographic myocardial perfusion imaging, thus providing the mostcomprehensive noninvasive evaluation ever available of the patient with known or suspected coronary heart disease.
Response to selection for fertility in a fall-lambing sheep flock

Selection for fertility in a fall lambing system was applied for 5 yr (1.45 generations) in a crossbred sheep population. Three flocks were involved: a fall-lambing selected (S) flock of 125 ewes and 10 rams, a fall-lambing environmental control (EC) flock of 55 ewes and five rams, and a spring-lambing genetic control flock of 45 ewes and five rams used to produce replacements for EC. Estimated breeding values for fertility (ewes lambing per ewe exposed) were calculated for animals mated in each year of the study using a single-trait animal model and increased more rapidly in S (.0138/yr) than in EC (.0067/yr). After accounting for genetic drift, EBV of ewes mated in S in the final year of the study averaged .070 +/- .032 (P = .08). A correlated response of .0087 lambs/yr was observed in S for fall litter size Genetic trends in all body weights were positive in EC, likely because of supplemental selection on body size in ram lambs used in EC. Ninety-day weight, maternal effects on weaning weight, and 90-d scrotal circumference increased in S, but direct effects on birth and weaning weights declined. In order to focus on realized selection response in fertility, EBV for fertility of 330 replacement ewe lambs from S and EC were calculated using only data collected after their birth. These realized EBV were then regressed on pedigree EBV calculated at the time the ewe lambs were born. The regression was significant when all relationships were used to calculate both EBV (.20 +/- .08) but only approached significance (.13 +/- .07) when only records of the ewe lambs themselves, their descendants, and their paternal half-sibs were used to calculate realized EBV. Also, EBV for all ewes were calculated at the start of each breeding season and were higher (P < .01) for ewes that subsequently lambed than for open ewes. These results suggest that selection can be used to improve fertility in fall-lambing sheep flocks.
Approximations of the information matrix for a panel mixed logit model

Information matrices play a key role in identifying optimal designs. Panel mixed logit models are more flexible than multinomial logit models for discrete choice experiments. For panel mixed logit models, the information matrix does not have a closed-form expression and is difficult to evaluate. We propose three methods to approximate the information matrix, namely, importance sampling, Laplace approximation, and joint sampling. The three methods are compared through simulations. Since our ultimate goal is to find optimal designs, the three methods are compared on whether they rank designs similarly, not on how accurate the approximations are. Although the Laplace approximation is not as accurate as the other two methods, it can still be used to rank designs accurately and it is much faster than the other two methods. When an optimal design search using an exchange algorithm takes days to run, the Laplace approximation may be the only viable choice to use in practice.
Quasi-chemical theory

An initial discussion of a quasi-chemical approach appeared in Section 4.6. This chapter gives a fuller development of those ideas. The idea of our initial discussion was to introduce a statistical model capable of a natural description of strong association phenomena in solutions, and the example of ion clustering in electrolyte solutions was considered. But the quasi-chemical approach may be founded on broader concepts, and given a more extensive development. The most primitive idea is to identify an inner-shell region from the rest of the neighborhood of a distinguished solute, and to rely on a painstaking treatment of the inner shell, with full molecular resolution. The remainder of the neighborhood of that distinguished solute – the outer-shell region – can be given an alternative statistical description, and then a proper matching of results for inner and outer shells must be accomplished. The pragmatic approach of using alternative methods for physically distinct spatial regions is important. Many problems of solution theory cry out for chemical treatment of an obvious inner shell. For example, complexes such as Fe(H 2 O) 6 3+ naturally present themselves as important solution structures when Fe 3+ (aq) is considered. But discussion of the thermodynamics of Fe 3+ (aq) on that basis requires a satisfactory parsing of the thermochemistry associated with the ligand species.
Behavioral evidence that select carbohydrate stimuli activate T1R-independent receptor mechanisms

Three decades ago Tony Sclafani proposed the existence of a polysaccharide taste quality that was distinguishable from the taste generated by common sweeteners and that it was mediated by a separate receptor mechanism. Since that time, evidence has accumulated, including psychophysical studies conducted in our laboratory, buttressing this hypothesis. The use of knockout (KO) mice that lack functional T1R2 + T1R3 heterodimers, the principal taste receptor for sugars and other sweeteners, have been especially informative in this regard. Such KO mice display severely diminished electrophysiological and behavioral responsiveness to sugars, artificial sweeteners, and some amino acids, yet display only slightly impaired concentration-dependent responsiveness to a representative polysaccharide, Polycose. Moreover, although results from gene deletion experiments in the literature provide strong support for the primacy of the T1R2 + T1R3 heterodimer in the taste transduction of sugars and other sweeteners, there is also growing evidence suggesting that there may be T1R-independent receptor mechanism(s) activated by select sugars, especially glucose. The output of these latter receptor mechanisms appears to be channeled into brain circuits subserving various taste functions such as cephalic phase responses and ingestive motivation. This paper highlights some of the findings from our laboratory and others that lend support for this view, while emphasizing the importance of considering the multidimensional nature of taste function in the interpretation of outcomes from experiments involving manipulations of the gustatory system.
Brief Report: Partial- and Full-Thickness Focal Cartilage Defects Contribute Equally to Development of New Cartilage Damage in Knee Osteoarthritis: The Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study

Objectives: To determine the risk of incident cartilage damage in unaffected subregions when one tibiofemoral compartment has a full-thickness vs. partial-thickness focal defects in knees with and without radiographic osteoarthritis. Methods: The Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study participants with semiquantitative MRI readings at baseline and 30-month were included. We estimated the risk of incident cartilage defects developing in tibiofemoral compartments with prevalent partial-thickness and full-thickness cartilage defects in a subregion within the compartment, using tibiofemoral compartments with no baseline cartilage defects as reference. Logistic regression with generalized estimating equations was used for all analyses with adjustments for confounders. Results: 374 compartments (359 knees) were included, of which 140 knees (39%) had radiographic osteoarthritis. Compared to compartments with no baseline cartilage defects, those with partial-thickness (aOR 1.62, 95%CI 1.06-2.47) and full-thickness cartilage defects (aOR 1.92, 95%CI 1.00-3.66) in a subregion had higher risk for incident cartilage defects in other subregions in the same compartment. Conclusions: Prevalent focal cartilage defects, regardless of defect depth, in a single subregion within a tibiofemoral joint compartment increase the risk for development of new cartilage damage in other subregions of the same tibiofemoral joint compartment for middle-aged to elderly persons with or at high risk of knee osteoarthritis. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Effects of Antiretroviral Therapy and Depressive Symptoms on All-Cause Mortality Among HIV-Infected Women

Depression affects up to 30% of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals. We estimated joint effects of antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation and depressive symptoms on time to death using a joint marginal structural model and data from a cohort of HIV-infected women from the Women's Interagency HIV Study (conducted in the United States) from 1998-2011. Among 848 women contributing 6,721 years of follow-up, 194 participants died during follow-up, resulting in a crude mortality rate of 2.9 per 100 women-years. Cumulative mortality curves indicated greatest mortality for women who reported depressive symptoms and had not initiated ART. The hazard ratio for depressive symptoms was 3.38 (95% confidence interval (CI): 2.15, 5.33) and for ART was 0.47 (95% CI: 0.31, 0.70). Using a reference category of women without depressive symptoms who had initiated ART, the hazard ratio for women with depressive symptoms who had initiated ART was 3.60 (95% CI: 2.02, 6.43). For women without depressive symptoms who had not started ART, the hazard ratio was 2.36 (95% CI: 1.16, 4.81). Among women reporting depressive symptoms who had not started ART, the hazard ratio was 7.47 (95% CI: 3.91, 14.3). We found a protective effect of ART initiation on mortality, as well as a harmful effect of depressive symptoms, in a cohort of HIV-infected women.
Culture as Ability: Organizing Enabling Educative Spaces for Humans and Animals

Drawing on a multispecies ethnographic encounter with a physically disabled feral kitten, Whiskey, I take an intersectional theoretical approach to place disability studies in conversation with ecofeminist perspectives. In so doing I ask: How does a culture that produces disabled and unwanted humans render animals deserving of the same label? And how might we reconfigure this culture through “retying knots” in educational spaces so as to divest animals of these labels? To conclude, I draw on a vignette from my own ethnographic research and teaching at the university level to offer possibilities for “enabling” cultural work in educational settings that explicitly draws on and engages ecofeminist and disability studies paradigms.
Spectra of Free Oscillations from an Aftershock Sequence

Summary The question arises as to whether the spectrum of oscillations generated by a main shock and its aftershock sequence differs from that of a single event. It is shown that a formal difference occurs if the probability of the occurrence of an aftershock and its magnitude are functions of time. When applied to an actual aftershock sequence, the discrepancy in frequency of the spectral peak is probably less than 0.01 minutes, although some skewing in the shape of the spectrum may occur.
FF OCT with a swept source integrating a SLD and an AOTF

A full-field optical coherence tomography with a swept source integrating a superluminescent diode and an acousto-optic tunable filter is designed, implemented, and tested. The center wavelength and the bandwidth of the swept source are 840nm and 50nm, respectively. There are estimated about 688 laser lines generated in a sweep cycle. For convenience, a Mirau objective lens is adopted to simplify the system structure. Some preliminary experiments were conducted by using the system, and an onion was adopted as the sample. Two clear restored 3D images of the onion were obtained by using two different algorithms. The differences between the two images were also compared with each other. Further improvement and experiments by using this system are still in progress.
Geotoxicology: Are Thermal Mercury and Sulfur Emissions Hazardous to Health?

Whether from natural or anthropogenic sources, geothermal gas emissions have only been critically characterized in terms of Occupational Safety and Ambient Air Quality standards. Nevertheless, the sense of “toxic,” is commonly extended to all biota. The association of malodorous gases with blast, heat and mechanical impacts reinforces the image of a harsh chemistry as a principal actor in volcanic devastation. There is no argument as to whether or not Hg, H2S, S02 and H2S04 can be toxic, given the appropriate circumstances, but each of these substances can also stimulate plant growth. Aside from the often catastrophic physical events associated with volcanic eruptions, geothermally active regions commonly release one, several or all of the above gases, more or less continuously. At Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii, vigorous native forests exist over an area of at least 25 000 ha around a caldera that produces 100–200 tons of S02 daily and ca 200 tons of Hg annually, together with H2S and a rainfall that reaches pH 2.9. Around Rotorua, New Zealand, pastures, gardens, parks, forests, and a major wildlife refuge exist in atmospheric H2S which ranges from 100 to 4000 parts per billion more or less continuously. From these and other examples, we seek to develop a more realistic picture of the phytotoxicology of natural geothermal emissions.
Examination of a complementary set of spiritual assessment tools for LDS clients

The importance of providing culturally competent services has been promoted in the social work profession. With the Latter-day Saints (LDS) Church being the fourth largest and one of the faster gro...
Trustworthy Sensing in an Untrusted IoT Environment

Contemporary IoT environments, such as smart buildings, require end-users to trust data collection policies published by the systems. There are several reason why such a trust is misplaced - IoT systems may not be honest, may inadvertently collect data without user’s knowledge, or may fall victim to cyberattacks that hijack IoT devices transferring user data to a malicious third-party leading to the loss of individual’s privacy. To address such concerns, we are developing IoTtrust, a framework to ensure trust and confidence in IoT systems (and applications). textbfIoTtrust includes a simple yet powerful policy language, contracts between subjects and IoT space, and mechanisms to empower each party to undeniably attest the contract validity.