cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Novel Method for Non-Invasive Induction of a Middle-Ear Biofilm in the Rat

Otitis media and other middle ear diseases are extremely common among all children worldwide. Chronic otitis media is strongly associated with the presence of a bacterial middle ear biofilm, which if left untreated, may result in hearing loss or delays in the development of speech and language. Many animal models and methods used to study the progression of various middle ear diseases exist. However, there are no reported approaches to biofilm induction in which this infectious process can be investigated. Here we report a unique, non-invasive method of biofilm induction in the rat through repeated bacterial inoculations and pressure changes within the ear.
Estimates of fetch-induced errors in Bowen-ratio energy-budget measurements of evapotranspiration from a prairie wetland, Cottonwood Lake Area, North Dakota, USA

Micrometeorological measurements of evapotranspiration (ET) often are affected to some degree by errors arising from limited fetch. A recently developed model was used to estimate fetch-induced errors in Bowen-ratio energy-budget measurements of ET made at a small wetland with fetch-to-height ratios ranging from 34 to 49. Estimated errors were small, averaging −1.90%±0.59%. The small errors are attributed primarily to the near-zero lower sensor height, and the negative bias reflects the greater Bowen ratios of the drier surrounding upland. Some of the variables and parameters affecting the error were not measured, but instead are estimated. A sensitivity analysis indicates that the uncertainty arising from these estimates is small. In general, fetch-induced error in measured wetland ET increases with decreasing fetch-to-height ratio, with increasing aridity and with increasing atmospheric stability over the wetland. Occurrence of standing water at a site is likely to increase the appropriate time step of data integration, for a given level of accuracy. Occurrence of extensive open water can increase accuracy or decrease the required fetch by allowing the lower sensor to be placed at the water surface. If fetch is highly variable and fetch-induced errors are significant, the variables affecting fetch (e.g., wind direction, water level) need to be measured. Fetch-induced error during the non-growing season may be greater or smaller than during the growing season, depending on how seasonal changes affect both the wetland and upland at a site.
Myosin Binding Protein-C: A Regulator of Actomyosin Interaction in Striated Muscle

Myosin-Binding protein-C (MyBP-C) is a family of accessory proteins of striated muscles that contributes to the assembly and stabilization of thick filaments, and regulates the formation of actomyosin cross-bridges, via direct interactions with both thick myosin and thin actin filaments. Three distinct MyBP-C isoforms have been characterized; cardiac, slow skeletal, and fast skeletal. Numerous mutations in the gene for cardiac MyBP-C (cMyBP-C) have been associated with familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (FHC) and have led to increased interest in the regulation and roles of the cardiac isoform. This review will summarize our current knowledge on MyBP-C and its role in modulating contractility, focusing on its interactions with both myosin and actin filaments in cardiac and skeletal muscles.
Positive and negative geotaxis: sex-linked traits in Drosophila pseudoobscura.

Using a Hirsch classification maze, selection was made for positive and negative geotactic behaviors in three different strains ofDrosophila pseudoobscura. Hybridization studies were then carried out with flies from the diverged strains. The geotactic scores of the parents and F1 flies indicate that both negative and positive geotactic behaviors in these strains are strongly influenced by genes in the X chromosome. Additional hybridization studies using flies from strains with similar phenotypes suggest that the diverged strains contain similar alleles and the number of loci in the X chromosomes responsible for these types of behavior is limited. The loci may be highly organized in the X chromosome.
Outcome and complications of chronically implanted subdural electrodes for the treatment of medically resistant epilepsy.

Abstract Background Surgery for medically resistant epilepsy is safe and effective. However, when noninvasive techniques are insufficient, then consideration is given to invasive electrocorticography (EcoG). Objective The aim of the study was to analyze results and complications of subdural electrodes placement in the treatment of intractable epilepsy. Methods Ninety-one consecutive patients who underwent placement of subdural electrodes (1999-2010) were considered for this study. All patients underwent a standardized pre-operative evaluation. Invasive subdural electrode placement was considered when there were inadequate ictal recordings, there was discordance between EEG and neuroimaging or the epileptogenic zone was localized near eloquent cortex. Results Resective epilepsy surgery was performed in 70/91 patients (76.9%). Twenty-four out of seventy (34.3%) who underwent surgical resection were seizure-free (CL-I) at last follow-up. A statistical evaluation revealed a very strong trend for patients with positive lesional pre-operative MRI to have improved outcomes compared to normal brain MRI population ( p =.028). There were 10 surgical related complications (11%), but no mortality or permanent morbidity. Statistical analysis demonstrated that placement of a subdural grid in any combination was statistically significant ( p =.01) for surgical complications. Conclusions Invasive monitoring is a useful and necessary technique for the surgical treatment of intractable epilepsy. Careful surveillance is required during the monitoring period especially when the patient has undergone large subdural grid placement. A good working hypothesis can minimize complications and achieve better outcomes.
Comparison of temperature variability in observations and sixteen climate model simulations

Understanding how much, if any, of observed climate changes are anthropogenic depends upon understanding the magnitude and spatial patterns of natural climate variability. We have compared simulated surface air temperature (SAT) variability in 16 coupled ocean-atmosphere-sea ice climate model simulations to observed temperature variability. The majority of the simulations exhibit excessive air temperature variability over land while simulated temperature variability over oceans is generally too low. The ratio of variability over land to over oceans is too high in all the simulations, relative to observations. We have identified several factors which may contribute to the differences in temperature variability. In particular, many of the models use ”bucket” land surface schemes which produce greater temperature variability over land, due to lower levels of soil moisture, than more realistic land surface schemes produce.
Cdc34p Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzyme Is a Component of the Tombusvirus Replicase Complex and Ubiquitinates p33 Replication Protein

To identify host proteins interacting with Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) replication proteins in a genome-wide scale, we have used a yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) proteome microarray carrying 4,088 purified proteins. This approach led to the identification of 58 yeast proteins that interacted with p33 replication protein. The identified host proteins included protein chaperones, ubiquitin-associated proteins, translation factors, RNA-modifying enzymes, and other proteins with yet-unknown functions. We confirmed that 19 of the identified host proteins bound to p33 in vitro or in a split-ubiquitin-based two-hybrid assay. Further analysis of Cdc34p E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, which is one of the host proteins interacting with p33, revealed that Cdc34p is a novel component of the purified viral replicase. Downregulation of Cdc34p expression in yeast, which supports replication of a TBSV replicon RNA (repRNA), reduced repRNA accumulation and the activity of the tombusvirus replicase by up to fivefold. Overexpression of wild-type Cdc34p, but not that of an E2-defective mutant of Cdc34p, increased repRNA accumulation, suggesting a significant role for the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme function of Cdc34p in TBSV replication. Also, Cdc34p was able to ubiquitinate p33 in vitro. In addition, we have shown that p33 becomes ubiquitinated in vivo. We propose that ubiquitination of p33 likely alters its function or affects the recruitment of host factors during TBSV replication.
The Death of the Phillips Curve Reconsidered

I. A summary of the debate, 390.—II. The neoclassical contributions to the debate, 393.—III. An eclectic model of wage dynamics, 398.—IV. Empirical analysis of the basic equation, 403.—V. Conclusions, 411.—Appendix, 414.
Heterologous expression and purification of Arabidopsis thaliana VIM1 protein: In vitro evidence for its inability to recognize hydroxymethylcytosine, a rare base in Arabidopsis DNA

Abstract The discovery of 5-hydroxymethyl-cytosine (5hmC) in mammalian cells prompted us to look for this base in the DNA of Arabidopsis thaliana (thale cress), and to ask how well the Arabidopsis Variant in Methylation 1 (VIM1) protein, an essential factor in maintaining 5-cytosine methylation (5mC) homeostasis and epigenetic silencing in this plant, recognizes this novel base. We found that the DNA of Arabidopsis’ leaves and flowers contain low levels of 5hmC. We also cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli full-length VIM1 protein, the archetypal member of the five Arabidopsis VIM gene family. Using in vitro binding assays, we observed that full-length VIM1 binds preferentially to hemi-methylated DNA with a single modified 5mCpG site; this result is consistent with its known role in preserving DNA methylation in vivo following DNA replication. However, when 5hmC replaces one or both cytosine residues at a palindromic CpG site, VIM1 binds with approximately ⩾10-fold lower affinity. These results suggest that 5hmC may contribute to VIM-mediated passive loss of cytosine methylation in vivo during Arabidopsis DNA replication.
Internet Multicast Video Delivery

Internet video delivery has been motivating research in multicast routing, quality of service (QoS), and the service model of the Internet itself for the last 15 years. Multicast delivery has the potential to deliver a large amount of content that currently cannot be delivered through broadcast. IP and overlay multicast are two architectures proposed to provide multicast support. A large body of research has been done with IP multicast and QoS mechanisms for IP multicast since the late 1980s. In the past five years, overlay multicast research has gained momentum with a vision to accomplish ubiquitous multicast delivery that is efficient and scales in the dimensions of the number of groups, number of receivers, and number of senders. This work presents an overview of the issues facing both IP and overlay multicast and the approaches that researchers are taking to solve them. Many of these approaches take advantage of a rich interface, beyond a single rate video stream, between the coding and delivery mechanisms. The semantics of this interface is an important question for future research and we discuss this with insight from experience on delivery technologies.
The Stability of the Agonist β2-Adrenergic Receptor-Gs Complex: Evidence for Agonist-Specific States

A restricted version of the ternary complex model for receptor-G protein complex formation has recently been proposed. Known as the two-state model, this model proposes that in the context of agonist and G protein interactions, only two thermodynamic states exist for the receptor: active (R*) and inactive (R). One form of this model suggests that only the R* state of the receptor is capable of interacting with and subsequently activating G proteins. We directly tested the kinetic aspects of a strict two-state receptor model in a cell line containing the native β 2 -adrenergic receptor that is capable of inducing G s expression. We examined adenylyl cyclase activity in the presence of limiting GTP levels and concluded that there exists a different rate of heterotrimer dissociation (i.e., HR*G yields HR* + G*) for different β 2 -agonists. This finding is inconsistent with a strict two-state model in which R* is a characteristic of the receptor that is independent of the identity of the agonist. It implies that agonist activation of adenylyl cyclase is more complicated than a simple two-state model.
Identification and Correction of Residual Image in the $\hbox{O}_{2}$ A-Band of the Orbiting Carbon Observatory

The detector used for the O2 A-band (0.76 μm) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) employed a HyViSI Hawaii-1RG sensor, operating at 180 K in a rolling read-out mode. During the thermal vacuum testing of the flight instrument, it was discovered that the detector exhibited residual images that lasted for many seconds and were of sufficient magnitude to compromise the mission objectives. Independent testing of flight-spare detectors revealed that the problem was common to all and was not simply a fault of the flight detector. The residual image was found to depend upon even-order derivatives of the spectrum, and its decay was a function of the number of frames rather than time. An empirical model was developed, which represented the measured spectrum in terms of the true spectrum and a history of all previous changes in the spectra. On the basis of the model, an algorithm was devised to correct spectra for the effects of residual image, using a time-marching analysis of a history of previous spectra. The algorithm was tested with spectra acquired during the second thermal vacuum test of OCO and was found to reduce the effect of residual image to almost the noise level of the detector. Numerical simulations indicate that residual image has a negligible impact on retrieved concentrations of O2 and CO2 once the spectra have been corrected.
Contingent planning as AND/OR forward search with disjunctive representation

This paper introduces a highly competitive contingent planner, that uses the novel idea of encoding belief states as disjunctive normal form formulae (To et al. 2009), for the search for solutions in the belief state space. In (To et al. 2009), a complete transition function for computing successor belief states in the presence of incomplete information has been defined. This work extends the function to handle non-deterministic and sensing actions in the AND/OR forward search paradigm for contingent planning solutions. The function allows one, under reasonable assumptions, to compute successor belief states efficiently, i.e., in polynomial time. The paper also presents a novel variant of an AND/OR search algorithm, called PrAO (Pruning AND/OR search), which allows the planner to significantly prune the search space; furthermore, by the time a solution is found, the remaining search graph is also the solution tree for the contingent planing problem. The strength of these techniques is confirmed by the empirical results obtained from a large set of benchmarks available in the literature.
Dysphagia from diverticulum of the midthoracic esophagus.

Summary Very few diverticula of the midthoracic esophagus cause any symptoms or are of any clinical significance. Occasionally, however, a diverticulum in this region of the esophagus is responsible for symptoms and surgical treatment may be indicated. Not all midthoracic esophageal diverticula are of the traction type. An illustrative case of pulsion diverticulum of this region of the esophagus is reported. This patient, as is not uncommon, also had pathological findings in the upper abdomen which increased the difficulty in the preoperative evaluation of the esophageal lesion. Transthoracic resection of the diverticulum resulted in complete disappearance of the swallowing difficulty. Later surgery was required for a biliary tract lesion associated with gastritis, and the patient is now asymptomatic.
Repair of Avascular Meniscus Tears with Electrospun Collagen Scaffolds Seeded with Human Cells

The self-healing capacity of an injured meniscus is limited to the vascularized regions and is especially challenging in the inner avascular regions. As such, we investigated the use of human meniscus cell-seeded electrospun (ES) collagen type I scaffolds to produce meniscal tissue and explored whether these cell-seeded scaffolds can be implanted to repair defects created in meniscal avascular tissue explants. Human meniscal cells (derived from vascular and avascular meniscal tissue) were seeded on ES scaffolds and cultured. Constructs were evaluated for cell viability, gene expression, and mechanical properties. To determine potential for repair of meniscal defects, human meniscus avascular cells were seeded and cultured on aligned ES collagen scaffolds for 4 weeks before implantation. Surgical defects resembling "longitudinal tears" were created in the avascular zone of bovine meniscus and implanted with cell-seeded collagen scaffolds and cultured for 3 weeks. Tissue regeneration and integration were evaluated by histology, immunohistochemistry, mechanical testing, and magentic resonance imaging. Ex vivo implantation with cell-seeded collagen scaffolds resulted in neotissue that was significantly better integrated with the native tissue than acellular collagen scaffolds or untreated defects. Human meniscal cell-seeded ES collagen scaffolds may therefore be useful in facilitating meniscal repair of avascular meniscus tears.
Failure mode and effects analysis in a dual-product microsphere brachytherapy environment

Abstract Purpose We performed a failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) during the addition of a new microspheres product into our existing microsphere brachytherapy program to identify areas for safety improvements. Methods and materials A diverse group of team members from the microsphere program participated in the project to create a process map, identify and score failure modes, and discuss programmatic changes to address the highest ranking items. We developed custom severity ranking scales for staff- and institution-related failure modes to encompass possible risks that may exist outside of patient-based effects. Results Between both types of microsphere products, 173 failure mode/effect pairs were identified: 90 for patients, 35 for staff, and 48 for the institution. The SIR-Spheres program was ranked separately from the TheraSphere program because of significant differences in workflow during dose calculation, preparation, and delivery. High-ranking failure modes in each category were addressed with programmatic changes. Conclusions The FMEA aided in identifying potential risk factors in our microsphere program and allowed a theoretically safer and more efficient design of the workflow and quality assurance for both our new SIR-Spheres program and our existing TheraSphere program. As new guidelines are made available, and our experience with the SIR-Spheres program increases, we will update the FMEA as an efficient starting point for future improvements.
Mechanical Modeling of a WIPP Drum Under Pressure

Mechanical modeling was undertaken to support the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) technical assessment team (TAT) investigating the February 14th 2014 event where there was a radiological release at the WIPP. The initial goal of the modeling was to examine if a mechanical model could inform the team about the event. The intention was to have a model that could test scenarios with respect to the rate of pressurization. It was expected that the deformation and failure (inability of the drum to contain any pressure) would vary according to the pressurization rate. As the work progressed there was also interest in using the mechanical analysis of the drum to investigate what would happen if a drum pressurized when it was located under a standard waste package. Specifically, would the deformation be detectable from camera views within the room. A finite element model of a WIPP 55-gallon drum was developed that used all hex elements. Analyses were conducted using the explicit transient dynamics module of Sierra/SM to explore potential pressurization scenarios of the drum. Theses analysis show similar deformation patterns to documented pressurization tests of drums in the literature. The calculated failure pressures from previous tests documented in the literature vary more » from as little as 16 psi to 320 psi. In addition, previous testing documented in the literature shows drums bulging but not failing at pressures ranging from 69 to 138 psi. The analyses performed for this study found the drums failing at pressures ranging from 35 psi to 75 psi. When the drums are pressurized quickly (in 0.01 seconds) there is significant deformation to the lid. At lower pressurization rates the deformation of the lid is considerably less, yet the lids will still open from the pressure. The analyses demonstrate the influence of pressurization rate on deformation and opening pressure of the drums. Analyses conducted with a substantial mass on top of the closed drum demonstrate that the drums will still open provided the pressure is high enough. Investigation teams should look for displaced drum lids when searching for drums that have pressurized and failed. The mechanical modeling study for this program is summarized in the following memo. Following a brief introduction, there is a summary of a brief literature review of previous pressure testing of drums, an explanation of the model, presentation of the key results, some discussion, and concluding with a summary and key points. « less
Identification of the Larva of Melanotus indistinctus (Coleoptera: Elateridae)

The larva of Melanotus indistinctus Quate is described. Characters that distinguish the larva from those of other known species of Melanotus are discussed and illustrated, and the larva is incorporated into an existing key.
The Difficulties of Mercy: Reading Thomas Aquinas on Misericordia:

In the Questions on charity in the ST (2a2ae, qq. 23-46), Aquinas considers at length the vices opposed to charity, omitting altogether any Question on a vice opposed to mercy. What does the omission reveal about mercy and its difficulties? First, I reject ready-to-hand explanations of the omission. Second, I consider the relation between mercy and compassion, showing that for Thomas the primary impediments to compassion are less vices than psychological forces irreducible to any single vice. Third, I turn to a different set of obstacles to mercy – acts that can arise from compassion, but do not help (and often harm) the person in need. Given these difficulties, how can Thomas take the practice of virtuous mercy to be generally possible? I conclude with a discussion of suffering and the gift of wisdom.
Thyroxine-Enhanced Susceptibility of Mice to Klebsiella pneumoniae

SummaryBy injecting mice with PTU to block synthesis of endogenous thyroid hormone, and by injecting graded dosages of L-thyroxine for a 20-day period, the estimated normal TH level of these blocked animals was determined. Using Klebsiella pneumoniae as an acute infective agent, it was demonstrated that the hypothyroid state increases host resistance, whereas any increase in L-thyroxine decreases resistance. Several possible mechanisms are discussed.
Erythroid karyorrhexis in the peripheral blood smear in severe arsenic poisoning: a comparison with lead poisoning.

Three men with severe arsenic poisoning were hospitalized with working diagnoses, respectively, of peptic ulcer, pancreatitis, and viral gastroenteritis. In the first two patients, correct diagnosis was delayed until the return of heavy-metal screening tests ordered because of painful peripheral neuropathy in one and sudden flaccid paralysis, resembling Guillain-Barre syndrome, in the other. Both patients had coarsely stippled red blood cells with markedly abnormal nuclei in their peripheral blood smears. These distinctive hematologic features led to an early diagnosis in the third patient. The author's review of past cases of lead poisoning showed that red blood cell karyorrhexis also tends to occur in patients who consume illicit whiskey ("moonshine"). Karyorrhexis or marked dyserythropoiesis in the peripheral smear, not heretofore described in arsenic or lead poisoning, may indeed be a unique hematologic clue. Scrutiny of the peripheral blood and/or buffy coat smear in patients with perplexing gastrointestinal or neurologic symptoms may enable earlier diagnosis and better therapy of arsenic poisoning.
Mechanistic studies on the metabolic chiral inversion of R-ibuprofen in the rat

Deuterium labeling techniques and stereoselective GC/MS methodology have been employed to investigate the mechanism by which R-ibuprofen undergoes metabolic chiral inversion in the rat in vivo. Following oral administration of a mixture of R-ibuprofen (7.5 mg kg-1) and R-[ring-2H4; 2-2H]ibuprofen (R-[2H5]ibuprofen) (7.5 mg kg-1) to male Sprague-Dawley rats, the enantiomeric composition and deuterium excess of the drug were determined in serial plasma samples and in pooled urine collected over 10 hr. The results demonstrate that: (i) R-ibuprofen undergoes extensive inversion of configuration to its S antipode in the rat; (ii) chiral inversion of R-[2H5]ibuprofen yields S-[2H4]ibuprofen in a process that involves quantitative loss of the deuterium atom present originally at C-2; (iii) labeling of R-ibuprofen with deuterium at C-2 does not introduce a measurable kinetic deuterium isotope effect on the chiral inversion reaction; and (iv) metabolism of R-[2H5]ibuprofen leads to the appearance in plasma and urine of molecules of R-ibuprofen labeled with 4 atoms of deuterium. On the basis of these findings, a mechanism is proposed for the chiral inversion reaction that invokes the stereoselective formation of the coenzyme A thioester of R-ibuprofen as a key metabolite; conversion of this species to the corresponding enolate tautomer affords a symmetrical intermediate through which racemization of ibuprofen occurs in vivo.
Acid-catalyzed oxidative addition of a C-H bond to a square planar d⁸ iridium complex

While the addition of C-H bonds to three-coordinate Ir(I) fragments is a central theme in the field of C-H bond activation, addition to square planar four-coordinate complexes is far less precedented. The dearth of such reactions may be attributed, at least in part, to kinetic factors elucidated in seminal work by Hoffmann. C-H additions to square planar carbonyl complexes in particular are unprecedented, in contrast to the extensive chemistry of oxidative addition of other substrates (e.g., H2, HX) to Vaska's Complex and related species. We report that Bronsted acids will catalyze the addition of the alkynyl C-H bond of phenylacetylene to the pincer complex (PCP)Ir(CO). The reaction occurs to give exclusively the trans-C-H addition product. Our proposed mechanism, based on kinetics and DFT calculations, involves initial protonation of (PCP)Ir(CO) to generate a highly active five-coordinate cationic intermediate, which forms a phenylacetylene adduct that is then deprotonated to give product.
Autoantibodies as probes in cell and molecular biology

ConclusionsHuman sera containing autoantibodies that specifically recognize important cellular antigens are a key tool being used for studying cellular processes (summarized in Table I). Human autoantisera have been used as essential research probes that allowed for the identification of many important cellular proteins and for the elucidation of several biochemical processes. As has been shown in this Minireview, in certain instances, such as the processing of hnRNA to mRNA, human autoantisera have allowed for cellular events to be investigated in incredible detail and an exhaustive literature exists that summarizes these experimental studies. Human autoantibodies have been used for the identification and purification of the snRNP particles and for investigations into the assembly and workings of spliceosomes. However, studies of mRNA processing are more the exception than the rule. In most instances, human autoantibodies are only beginning to be realized as powerful experimental tools. Human autoantiser...
Revitalisation gone wrong: Mixed-income public housing redevelopment in Toronto’s Don Mount Court

This article challenges the presumed benevolence of mixed-income public housing redevelopment, focusing on the first socially-mixed remake of public housing in Canada, at Toronto’s Don Mount Court (now called ‘Rivertowne’). Between 2002 and 2012 the community was demolished and replaced with a re-designed ‘New Urbanist’ landscape, including replacement of public housing (232 units) and 187 new condominium townhouses. While mixed redevelopment is premised on the hope that tenants will benefit from improved design and mixed-income interactions, this research finds that many residents were less satisfied with the quality of their housing, neighbourhood design, and social community post-redevelopment. Drawing on in-depth qualitative interviews and ethnographic participant observation, this article finds that tenant interviewees missed their older, more spacious homes in the former Don Mount, and were upset to find that positive community bonds were dismantled by relocation and redevelopment. Challenging the ‘...
INTRODUCTION AND BASIC PRINCIPLES OF SUSPENSIONS

Particulate suspensions are important in a wide variety of natural and industrial processes. Basic principles and features of suspensions are described. Selected applications and research frontiers for suspensions are briefly reviewed
Olfactory Stimuli Increase Presence in Virtual Environments

Background Exposure therapy (EXP) is the most empirically supported treatment for anxiety and trauma-related disorders. EXP consists of repeated exposure to a feared object or situation in the absence of the feared outcome in order to extinguish associated anxiety. Key to the success of EXP is the need to present the feared object/event/situation in as much detail and utilizing as many sensory modalities as possible, in order to augment the sense of presence during exposure sessions. Various technologies used to augment the exposure therapy process by presenting multi-sensory cues (e.g., sights, smells, sounds). Studies have shown that scents can elicit emotionally charged memories, but no prior research has examined the effect of olfactory stimuli upon the patient’s sense of presence during simulated exposure tasks. Methods 60 adult participants navigated a mildly anxiety-producing virtual environment (VE) similar to those used in the treatment of anxiety disorders. Participants had no autobiographical memory associated with the VE. State anxiety, Presence ratings, and electrodermal (EDA) activity were collected throughout the experiment. Results Utilizing a Bonferroni corrected Linear Mixed Model, our results showed statistically significant relationships between olfactory stimuli and presence as assessed by both the Igroup Presence Questionnaire (IPQ: R2 = 0.85, (F(3,52) = 6.625, p = 0.0007) and a single item visual-analogue scale (R2 = 0.85, (F(3,52) = 5.382, p = 0.0027). State anxiety was unaffected by the presence or absence of olfactory cues. EDA was unaffected by experimental condition. Conclusion Olfactory stimuli increase presence in virtual environments that approximate those typical in exposure therapy, but did not increase EDA. Additionally, once administered, the removal of scents resulted in a disproportionate decrease in presence. Implications for incorporating the use of scents to increase the efficacy of exposure therapy is discussed.
Two cases of therapeutic failure associated with levothyroxine brand interchange

Objective:To report the loss of therapeutic control in 2 hypothyroid patients and remind clinical pharmacists and other healthcare professionals to remain cognizant of possible product quality differences within or bioequivalency differences between levothyroxine products.Case Summaries:Two patients with stable hypothyroidism experienced symptoms of hypothyroidism with increased serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations after switching from 1 levothyroxine product to another. One tablet from 1 of the patient's levothyroxine prescriptions was assayed, and its levothyroxine content was 74.5% of the label claim, a value outside of the United States Pharmacopeia requirements of 90–110%.Discussion:Two patients with hypothyroidism had remained euthyroid and stable while receiving 1 levothyroxine product, but became symptomatic with dramatically increased serum TSH concentrations while receiving what were thought to be comparable dosages of another levothyroxine product. Therapeutic control was rees...
The Revival of German Unions of Local Authorities After World War II

A democratic and peace-loving Germany must have sound political, economic, social, and ethical foundations. On the political side, this means, among other things, the restoration of local self-government, destroyed by Nazi rule and now in process of being rebuilt. Fortunately, Germany has a long tradition of local self-government on which to build. The tradition reaches back to the Middle Ages, but was lost in the centralizing absolutism of modern times. With the reforms of Stein in 1808, a new chapter in the history of local self-government began which lasted on down through the Bismarckian Empire and the Weimar Republic. One of the attributes of local self-government is freedom of association. In other words, local authorities may voluntarily unite in associations for the promotion of their mutual interests and the defense of their rights against encroachments by the state. For example, the United States has its state leagues of municipalities, federated into the American Municipal Association, France has its Union des Villes et Communes de France , and Britain has its Association of Municipal Corporations. The same was true of pre-Hitler Germany, with its various unions of cities ( Stadte ), rural counties ( Landkreise ), rural communes or municipalities ( Landgemeinden ), and provinces. The first German union of local authorities was the Hanover Stadteverein founded in 1866 while Hanover was still an independent kingdom. Thirty years later (1896), the cities of all Prussia formed the Preussischer Stadtetag . In that same year, the Bavarian cities were also organized. These various state unions were finally united (1905) into an all-German association known as the Deutscher Stadtetag . In addition to the state unions, larger cities were direct members of the organization—usually cities with more than 25,000 inhabitants and constituting Stadtkreise (city-counties or county-boroughs, to use the English terminology). In 1931, 279 cities held direct membership in the Deutscher Stadtetag .
Marketing Higher Educational Institutions to Academically Talented Students

The marketing challenge is becoming imperative and increasingly complex for American colleges and universities as the competition intensifies to enhance both student enrollments and quality levels. Strategic marketing plans to attract academically talented high school students and non-traditional students are assuming critical importance at many higher educational institutions. The current article presents the results of an empirical research study which focused on the hierarchy of criteria, "influentials" and primary information sources pertinent to the college choice process of academically talented students.
The Serotonergic System Tracks the Outcomes of Actions to Mediate Short-Term Motor Learning

Summary To execute accurate movements, animals must continuously adapt their behavior to changes in their bodies and environments. Animals can learn changes in the relationship between their locomotor commands and the resulting distance moved, then adjust command strength to achieve a desired travel distance. It is largely unknown which circuits implement this form of motor learning, or how. Using whole-brain neuronal imaging and circuit manipulations in larval zebrafish, we discovered that the serotonergic dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) mediates short-term locomotor learning. Serotonergic DRN neurons respond phasically to swim-induced visual motion, but little to motion that is not self-generated. During prolonged exposure to a given motosensory gain, persistent DRN activity emerges that stores the learned efficacy of motor commands and adapts future locomotor drive for tens of seconds. The DRN's ability to track the effectiveness of motor intent may constitute a computational building block for the broader functions of the serotonergic system. Video Abstract
Effect of condensed tannin extract supplementation on growth performance, nitrogen balance, gas emissions, and energetic losses of beef steers

Condensed tannins (CT) may decrease greenhouse gas emissions and alter the site of N excreted by ruminants. We evaluated the effect of top-dressing a steam-flaked corn-based finishing diet (14.4% CP and NEg 1.47 Mcal/kg) for beef cattle with a commercially available CT extract at 3 levels (0, 0.5, and 1.0% of diet, DM basis). Angus-crossbred steers ( = 27; 350 ± 32 kg initial BW) were individually fed via Calan gates for 126 d. Diet digestibility and N balance were estimated after 34 and 95 d on feed (Phase 1 and Phase 2, respectively) using titanium dioxide as a marker of fecal output and the creatinine:BW ratio as a marker for urine output. Ruminal CH and metabolic CO fluxes were measured using a GreenFeed system (C-Lock Inc., Rapid City, SD) for 2 sampling periods that coincided with fecal and urine sampling. Urine energy loss was estimated from urine N excretion, assuming all excreted N was urea. Oxygen consumption was estimated from CO production assuming a respiratory quotient of 1.05. Average daily gain (2.08, 2.14, and 2.08 kg/d for 0, 0.5, and 1.0% CT, respectively) and G:F did not differ ( = 0.88) among treatments. Starch intake and OM intake did not differ ( ≥ 0.42) among treatments during each phase. Apparent total tract starch digestibility during Phase 1 linearly decreased ( = 0.04) with inclusion of CT. Apparent total tract digestibility of OM and starch were not different among treatments ( ≥ 0.13) during Phase 2. Nitrogen intake did not differ ( ≥ 0.16) among treatments during each phase, but fecal N excretion linearly increased ( = 0.05) with inclusion of CT during Phase 1. Urinary N excretion was not different ( ≥ 0.39) among treatments during both phases, but urinary N as a proportion of total N excretion linearly decreased ( = 0.01) when CT was included in the diet during Phase 1. Retained N was not different ( ≥ 0.27) among treatments during each phase. Fluxes of CO were similar ( ≥ 0.37) among treatments during both phases. No differences ( ≥ 0.23) were observed for percentage of GE intake lost as CH (2.99, 3.12, and 3.09% in Phase 1 and 3.54, 3.55, and 4.35% in Phase 2) for 0, 0.5, and 1.0% CT, respectively. No difference ( ≥ 0.42) was observed for heat production lost as a percent of GE intake during both phases. Growth performance, gas emissions, and energetic losses were not affected by the inclusion CT in a steam-flaked corn-based finishing diet.
Habitat Use and Foraging Behavior of Eastern Bluebirds ( Sialia sialis) in Relation to Winter Weather

Abstract Population declines of songbirds following severe winters draw attention to a need to better understand behavioral responses to inclement weather. We used observations of radio-tracked Sialia sialis (Eastern Bluebird) wintering in Kentucky to examine the effects of weather on habitat use, group size, foraging behavior, and diet. Home ranges were smaller than published estimates, and consisted of more open than wooded habitat, in proportion to availability. Although habitat use appeared unchanged during inclement weather, Bluebirds increased group sizes, and shifted from insectivory to frugivory during periods of sub-freezing temperatures and snow cover. Fecal analysis confirmed the weather-driven shift of diet. Inclement winter weather likely lowers the efficiency of insectivory, leading to changes in social and foraging behaviors.
Biochemistry of Plant Selenium Uptake and Metabolism

Selenium (Se) is a trace element indispensable for humans, animals and some microorganisms. For plants its essentiality has not yet been established, despite its responsibility for a number of beneficial effects in several plant species. Plants take up Se mainly as selenate and selenite, using root high-affinity membrane transporters that normally mediate the influx of sulfate and phosphate ions, respectively. Once inside cells, Se can access the sulfur (S) assimilation pathway and be incorporated into the Se-amino acids Se-cysteine (SeCys) and Se-methionine (SeMet). Studies with transgenics showed that some enzymes working in this pathway are rate limiting for Se uptake, tolerance and accumulation in plants. Selenium at high concentration is toxic for plants, both due to oxidative stress and because Se-amino acids are non-specifically incorporated into proteins, which lose their folding and function as a result. Therefore, plants have evolved different strategies to cope with Se toxicity. They usually involve the conversion of Se-amino acids into less harmful volatile compounds. Specifically, plants that do not accumulate Se at high levels produce dimethylselenide (DMSe) using SeMet as a precursor, while Se-hyperaccumulators, i.e. plants able to tolerate and accumulate significant amounts of Se in their tissues, generate dimethyldiselenide (DMDSe) starting from the amino acid SeCys. Selenium hyperaccumulators have additional mechanisms to prevent SeCys misincorporation into protein, like methylation of SeCys to methylselenocysteine (MeSeCys) via SeCys methyltransferase (SMT), and breaking down of SeCys into elemental Se and alanine. In this chapter we review the main mechanisms implied in Se acquisition, assimilation and detoxification in plants.
Comments on the Reliability of Model Simulation of a Rapid Pressure Swing Adsorption Process for High-Purity Product

The uncertainty in the evaluation of the separation performance of a rapid pressure swing adsorption (RPSA) process for production of a high-purity product gas by using a numerical process model can be impractically high as a result of the theoretical or experimental uncertainty in the estimation of the high adsorbate mass transfer coefficient required by such a process. Actual experimental process performance data are required in order to judge the real value of the process.
Imperfect Price Competition in Networks

Network structures play a fundamental role in the modern economy. Examples vary from communication and transportation networks to supply chains and intermediation activities. Despite the economic relevance of these markets, the theoretical literature lacks an adequate framework to study price competition in these complex environments. In this paper we develop a model of imperfect price competition in networks. Our approach maps traditional concepts of market demand, market power and double marginalization into networks. We make three main contributions. First, we show the existence and uniqueness of an equilibrium price for a general class of networks. Second, we develop several comparative statics results which highlight the role of the network topology. Finally, we show that, contrary to traditional wisdom, vertical integration in networked markets may lead to a reduction in social welfare and outcomes that are not Pareto superior.
Seismic source spectral properties of crack-like and pulse-like modes of dynamic rupture†

Earthquake source properties such as seismic moment and stress drop are routinely estimated from far-field body-wave amplitude spectra. Some quantitative but model-dependent relations have been established between seismic spectra and source parameters. However, large variability is seen in the parameter estimates, and it is uncertain how the variability is partitioned among real variability in the source parameters, observational error and modeling error due to complexity of earthquake behaviors. Earthquake models with dynamic weakening have been found to exhibit two different modes of rupture: expanding crack and self-healing pulse modes. Four representative models are generated to model the transition from crack-like to pulse-like. Pulse-like rupture leads to development of a second corner frequency and the intermediate spectral slope is approximately 2 in most cases. The focal-sphere-averaged lower P and S wave corner frequencies are systematically higher for pulse-like models than crack models of comparable rupture velocity. The slip-weighted stress drop ΔσE exceeds the moment-based stress drop ΔσM for pulse-like ruptures, with the ratio ranging from about 1.3 to 1.65, while they are equal for the crack-like case. The variations in rupture mode introduce variability of the order of a factor of two in standard (i.e., crack-model based) spectral estimates of stress drop. The transition from arresting- to growing-pulse rupture is accompanied by a large (factor of ∼1.6) increase in the radiation ratio. Thus, variations in rupture mode may account for the portion of the scatter in observational spectral estimates of source parameters.
Tax Incentives and Target Demographics: Are Tax Incentives Effective in the Health Insurance Market?

ABSTRACT: The Affordable Care Act (ACA) employs personal income tax credits and surcharges to enforce its mandate for health insurance coverage. This initiative depends largely on the use of tax in...
Health impact and cost-effectiveness of a domestically-produced rotavirus vaccine in India: A model based analysis.

Background Currently, Indian officials are incorporating a domestically manufactured rotavirus vaccine (based on the 116E rotavirus strain) into the country’s universal immunization program; this vaccine will cost significantly less than western rotavirus vaccines. Here, we examine the public health impact, cost, and cost-effectiveness of universal vaccination in India using the 116E vaccine. This work will allow comparison of universal 116E vaccination with other approaches to child mortality reduction, shed light on the future burden of rotavirus disease in India, and help stakeholders understand future resource needs. Methods Using information from published literature, we developed a dynamic simulation model of rotavirus transmission, natural history, and related utilization among Indian infants followed until age five. Infection risk depended on the degree of viral shedding in the population. Infection risk and severity were influenced by age, number of previous infections, and vaccination history. Probabilities of inpatient and outpatient health services utilization depended on symptom severity. With the model, we compared a strategy of nationwide 116E vaccination to one of no vaccination. Costs were considered from the perspective of all payers (including families) and from the societal perspective. Results We estimated that an established 116E vaccination program would reduce symptomatic rotavirus infection by 13.0%, while reducing population-wide rotavirus mortality by 34.6% (over 34,000 lives annually). Rotavirus outpatient visits would decline by 21.3%, and hospitalization would decline by 28.1%. The cost per disability-adjusted life year (DALY) averted was estimated at 3,429 Rupees (approximately $56). Predicted mortality reduction in children born during the first five years of vaccination implementation was nearly identical to that in children born in later years (34.4% versus 34.6%). Conclusions 116E vaccination of Indian infants would likely substantially reduce rotavirus-related morbidity, mortality, and utilization at a cost considered highly cost-effective by standard criteria. Nearly the entire mortality reduction benefit of vaccination was attributable to direct protection of those vaccinated, as opposed to indirect “herd immunity” effects.