cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Source contributions to acid precipitation in Texas

Abstract Wet-precipitation-only sampling at Austin, Prairie View and Highlands, Texas, has been conducted in 1980–1981 to characterize the main sources of acid rain chemical composition. These results are compared with those of previous investigators to identify spatial distributions of source contributions. A chemical mass balance model is used to determine the spatial distributions of background crustal source alkalinity and sea salt contributions. Moisture from the Gulf of Mexico influences all three sites, as confirmed by bivariate analysis. Ammonia gas from biogenic/agricultural sources is found to be a poor buffer against further acidification in areas of local acid emissions.
Ready, Set, Go: African American Preadolescents' Sexual Thoughts, Intentions, and Behaviors.

Understanding of preadolescent sexuality is limited. To help fill this gap, we calculated frequencies, percentages, and confidence intervals for 1,096 preadolescents’ reports of sexual thoughts, intentions, and sexual behavior. Cochran-Armitage trend tests accounted for age effects. Findings show that 9-year-olds are readying for sexual activity, with sexual readiness increasing between ages of 9 and 12. Sexual thoughts increased with age (p < .001): 46% of 9-year-olds and 70% of 12-year-olds were ready to learn about sex, and 14% of 9-year-olds and 41% of 12-year-olds thought about having sex. Few 9-year-olds anticipated sexual debut, but this increased with age (p < .05): 25% of 12-year-olds were ready for sex, and 20% anticipated initiating sex within a year. Our results indicate that preadolescents are initiating dating relationships and anticipating intercourse, and some have engaged in risk behaviors. Thus preadolescence is a critical time to implement prevention programs.
27 Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass Using Linear Stapling Technique

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), originally described by Mason [1] as a loop technique, was later modified by him to a Roux limb, the technique of which was further popularized by Griffin [2]. MacLean [3] and others confirmed that dividing the stomach was superior to simply stapling it, eliminating the potential for staple line breakdown causing loss of restrictive capacity of the operation. Gastric bypass then underwent few major revisions until Wittgrove and Clark [4] first described the operation being performed laparoscopically. That is the approach now used in the vast majority of procedures.
Effect of early embryonic bursectomy on lymphocyte differentiation and maturation.

The hypothesis that the avian bursa of Fabricius is essential for the development of B lymphocytes has been questioned by studies in which the primordium of the bursa was removed from the embryo between 54 and 60 hr of development. Such early embryonically bursectomized chickens have been reported to develop B cells as well as serum immunoglobulins (Ig) (1–7). However, some controversy exists over the ability of these early embryonically bursectomized chickens to produce a humoral immune response (1, 3, 4, 7).
Sex-dependent changes in metabolism and behavior, as well as reduced anxiety after eliminating ventromedial hypothalamus excitatory output.

Objectives The ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH) regulates energy homeostasis as well as social and emotional behaviors. Nearly all VMH neurons, including those in the sexually dimorphic ventrolateral VMH (VMHvl) subregion, release the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate and use the vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (Vglut2). Here, we asked how glutamatergic signaling contributes to the collective metabolic and behavioral responses attributed to the VMH and VMHvl.
Molecular Mechanisms of Drug Action and Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic Models

Drug response triggered by receptor activation arises from a chain of events that are regulated by many factors. Molecular changes associated with drug sensitization or tolerance are currently being elucidated on the molecular level, e.g. for adenylate cyclase coupled systems. Despite the complexity of the drug-response mechanism, simple empirical pharmaco-dynamic models on the basis of the law of mass action are widely applicable to describe drug-effect relationships. In combination with a pharmacokinetic model and suitable delay functions, such models are capable of simulating the complete time course of drug action in vivo. The predictive potential of the pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic models should prove useful in evaluating pharmaceutical formulations with controlled drug delivery.
Molecular structure and conformations of 1,2-dimethoxycyclobutene-3,4-dione. An electron-diffraction investigation augmented by quantum mechanical and normal coordinate calculations.

The structure and conformations of 1,2-dimethoxycyclobutene-3,4-dione in the vapor at a temperature of 185 °C have been measured by gas-phase electron diffraction. The molecule exists in two forms, one of symmetry C2v with the methyl groups trans to the double bond, and one of Cs symmetry with a methyl group cis and the other trans to this bond (these forms hereafter designated as trans and cis). The molar ratio trans/cis is 68/32 with a 2σ uncertainty of about 24. Many of the parameter values for the two forms are very nearly alike and could not be measured experimentally. With the adoption of parameter differences calculated at the B3LYP/cc-pVTZ level, the following bond distances (r(g)/A) and bond angles (∠/deg) with estimated 2σ uncertainties were obtained for trans/cis: C1═C2 = 1.381(9)/1.381, C1-C4 = 1.493(11)/1.495, C3-C4 = 1.543(20)/1.545, C═O = 1.203(4)/⟨1.200⟩, C1-O = 1.316(6)/⟨1.320⟩, O-CH3 = 1.444(9)/⟨1.443⟩, C═C-C3 = 93.1(5)/⟨93.1⟩, C3-C4═O = 136.7(29)/⟨136.9⟩, C═C-O = 131.0(23)/137.5, and 131.8, C-O-C = 117.2(12)/118.2 and 116.9; the individual angle values for the cis form listed as averages differ very little. The bond distances and bond angles are in excellent qualitative agreement with prediction based on conventional ideas about the effects of conjugation and hybridization, and their relative values agree very well with predictions from quantum mechanical calculations.
Anomalous behavior during internal oxidation and nitridation

Internal oxidation, wherein species on the surface of an alloy diffuse into the material and react with a less-noble solute element, is a phenomenon that has produced many unexpected research results over the years. First studied extensively in the 1950s, internal oxidation has become better understood as work progresses. This article summarizes some recent anomalies in the work aimed at understanding the phenomenon.
Tuning the Redox Coupling between Quantum Dots and Dopamine in Hybrid Nanoscale Assemblies

We explored the charge transfer interactions between CdSe–ZnS core–shell quantum dots (QDs) and the redox active neurotransmitter dopamine, using covalently assembled QD–dopamine conjugates. We combined steady-state fluorescence, time-resolved fluorescence, and transient absorption bleach measurements to probe the effects of changing the QD size (thus the QD energy levels) and the conjugate valence on the rate of QD photoluminescence quenching when the pH of the medium was adjusted from acidic to alkaline. We measured substantially larger quenching efficiencies, combined with more pronounced shortening of the carrier dynamics of these assemblies for smaller size QDs and in alkaline pH. Moreover, we found that changes in the QD size alter the electron and hole relaxation of photoexcited QDs but with different extents. For instance, a pronounced change in the hole relaxation was measured in alkaline buffers. Moreover, the hole relaxation was faster for conjugates of green-emitting QDs as compared to their r...
Investigation on content of β-lactamase in raw milk in Gansu Province

Objective To investigate basal level and adding level of β-lactamase in raw milk in Gansu Province,so as to know the basal level and adding level in raw milk in Gansu Province.Methods Fifty samples of nipple milk,raw milk and milk products were collected from cow breeding farms and dairy manufactures,respectively.Cylinder plate method was used to qualitatively and semi-quantitatively detect for Sulbactam sensitive β-lactamase.Results Detection rate of β-lactamase was 2.0% of nipple milk,20.0% of raw milk and 6.0% of milk products,separately,including detection rate of 5.26% of raw milk samples from milk factory No.1 and milk brand No.1,both of which are national famous brands.For raw milk samples from milk factory No.2 and brand No.2,and milk factory No.3 and brand No.3,all of which are provincial brands,the detection rate was 23.5% and 35.7%,respectively.There were differences in internal management and test methods and the significant differences in detection rate of β-lactamase in raw milk between brand No.1,No.2 and No.3.Conclusions Intentionally adding β-lactamase into raw milk and milk products should be given serious attention.Therefore,supervision management of milk source should be consolidated in the future for further improvement of milk safety surveillance.
Research of Location Privacy Preservation Method of WSN in Internet of Things of Power System

This paper conducted a brief introduction to the concept of wireless sensor networks and what they can do in internet of things of power system,and pointed out the privacy issues in WSNs.Secondary,an overview of the location privacy was introduced,and an adversary model was given.Then,several location privacy preservation technologies were introduced for source node and sink node respectively,analyzed and compared their performance.In the last,some suggestions were proposed on the concern in location privacy preservation technologies of WSNs in internet of things of power system.
Studies on the Physiological Races of Rice Blast Fungi in Heilongjiang Province

189 monoconidial isolates collected from main rice regions in Heilongjiang provinces were identified during 2001～2006.The results showed that there were 28 physiological races of 7 groups.ZA,ZD and ZB were the main groups in Heilongjiang provinces and their occurrence frequencies were 42.3%,28.6% and 17.5%,respectively.ZA49 and ZD1 were the predominant races and their occurrence frequencies were 21.7% and 21.2%,respectively.The groups of ZA,ZD and ZB increased evidently and the groups of ZE and ZF declined quickly.
Destruction of Listeria monocytogenes Biofilms on Stainless Steel Using Monolaurin and Heat

Individual and combined antimicrobial effects of monolaurin and heat on planktonic, 1-day adherent, or 7-day adherent cells of Listeria monocytogenes were determined to evaluate biofilm removal from stainless steel. Planktonic cells were more sensitive to heat and monolaurin than were cells attached to stainless steel. Young (1-day) biofilm cells were more sensitive to each treatment than were old (7-day) biofilm cells. Adherent cells were destroyed by 50 μg/ml monolaurin combined with heating at 65°C for 5 min. Cells in a rich nutrient environment were more resistant to treatment than were cells in a depleted nutrient environment. Results demonstrate the usefulness of combining chemical and physical treatments to control L. monocytogenes biofilm problems in the food industry.
Figures of history: Interpreting Jewish pasts in Christian Papua New Guinea

This article examines two competing historical formations that expatriate missionaries and Papua New Guineans respectively have used to create connections between local ethnic groups and “the ancient Jews” of the Bible. In part through 1970s publications analyzed here, missionaries introduced redemptive and repetitive historicist models that established Melanesian ethnic groups as generically and iconically Jewish. The article then examines the ways in which Guhu-Samane Christians in rural Papua New Guinea take up these missionary narratives in order to produce indexical, genealogical connections to biblical Jews. Ancient Jews have become “figures” of Guhu-Samane history through interpretive discourses in which local people discover the prophetic revelations of their Jewishness that anticipate a future Christianity. Guhu-Samane Christians thus particularize their relationship to Christianity by taking up the history of another group, a Christian historical imagination that runs counter to secular forms of history that orient around issues of autonomous identity.
The Mammalian Vomeronasal System: Its Role in Learning and Social Behaviors

Over the past several years, we have conducted behavioral work with mice and guinea pigs to define the functions of the mammalian vomeronasal system. This chapter will review the status of some of our ongoing research by summarizing the results of experiments designed to determine the role of the vomeronasal system in chemosensory investigation of female guinea pig urine by male guinea pigs, male mouse reproductive behavior, aggression among mice, and chemosensory-evoked ultrasonic vocalizations in mice. We will show that the vomeronasal system appears to be critical for maintaining certain behaviors; in its absence, chemosensory-mediated responses diminish or extinguish. Hence, we suggest that stimulation of the vomeronasal system is itself inherently rewarding. We will also demonstrate that deafferentation of the vomeronasal system neonatally or prior to experience is more detrimental to an animal than deafferentation subsequent to experience and will propose that the importance of stimuli detected by chemosensory systems other than the vomeronasal system, most likely olfaction, is learned during social encounters. These learned cues can later elicit behaviors in the absence of a functional vomeronasal system.
Correction: G. Bradley Schaefer. Clinical Genetic Aspects of ASD Spectrum Disorders. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2016, 17, 180.

The author wishes to make a change to the published paper [1]. The title should read: “ClinicalGenetic Aspects of Autism Spectrum Disorders”. The author apologizes for any inconvenience thechange may cause.The change does not affect the scientiﬁc results. The manuscript will be updated and the originalwill remain online on the article webpage.
An algorithm for radar power line detection with tracking

In this paper we deal with the problem of power line detection from millimeter-wave radar video. We propose an algorithm that is based on Hough Transform, Support Vector Machine, and particle filter tracking. We explore the defining characteristics of the power lines in the radar video, and present an approach to utilize these characteristics together with the temporal correlation property of the power line objects. The particle filter framework naturally captures the temporal correlation of the power line objects, and the power-line-specific feature is embedded into the conditional likelihood measurement process of the particle filter. Experimental result validates the effectiveness of the power line detection approach.
Lymph Node Fluorescence During Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy With Indocyanine Green: Prospective Dosing Analysis

Abstract Objective To prospectively assess the ideal dosing and the value of fluorescent sentinel lymph node (LN) detection with indocyanine green (ICG) for the detection of LN metastases in intermediate- and high-risk patients undergoing robot-assisted prostatectomy and extended pelvic LN dissection (ePLND). Patients and Methods Twenty patients received transperineal prostatic injections of ICG. Patients were cycled through 5 doses (1.25, 2.5, 3.75, 5, and 7.5 mg) so optimal ICG dosing could be discovered early. Results ICG injection was able to identify fluorescent LN (FLN) packets in all 20 patients. Compared to the higher ICG doses, the 1.25 and 2.5 mg doses had fewer FLN packets and were abandoned after 1 dose each. The median number of FLN packets was 4.0, 6.0, and 4.5 for the respective doses of 3.75, 5.0, and 7.5 mg. The external iliac group was the most common site of fluorescence in 27.2% of patients, followed by the common iliac (21.3%), obturator (20.3%), internal iliac (18.5%), and node of Cloquet (7.7%). Seven (35%) of 20 patients had node-positive disease. Of the 5 patients that had fluorescent tissue outside of our ePLND template, 1 had a positive node present in the anterior bladder neck fat. Across all patients, ICG had 62% sensitivity, 50% specificity, 8% positive predictive value, and 95% negative predictive value in detecting LN metastases. Conclusion The low sensitivity of ICG for the detection of LN metastases highlights why FLN dissection with ICG does not represent an alternative to ePLND.
Serving Those That Serve A Practitioner Commentary on Health Promotion in the Military

Since 1986, health promotion has had a place within the U.S. Department of Defense. Emphasizing the leading health indicators of Healthy People, the role of health promotion has continued to support the U.S. Armed Forces in perhaps one of the most challenging decades of wartime operations. Serving a sizable population with both typical and mission-related health issues, health promotion plays a critical role in maintaining and improving health. The purpose of this article is to highlight military health promotion by offering insight into the day-to-day life of a “boots on the ground” military health educator, reviewing the challenges and opportunities of working with a unique population. A summary of a variety of military specific initiatives is provided. Additionally, the article highlights the barriers and benefits to military health promotion. Last, the article concludes with a call to action to consider the role of all health educators in serving those that serve.
GA Binding Protein (GABP) Is Required for Development and Maturation of Myeloid Cells.

GABP is an ets transcription factor that regulates transcription of key myeloid genes, including CD18 (beta2 leukocyte integrin), neutrophil elastase, lysozyme, and other key mediators of the inflammatory response; it is also known to regulate important cell cycle control genes. GABP consists of two distinct and unrelated proteins that, together, form a functional transcription factor complex. GABPalpha (GABPa) is an ets protein that binds to DNA; it forms a tetrameric complex by recruiting its partner, GABPbeta (GABPb), which contains the transactivation domain. GABPa is a single copy gene in both the human and murine genomes and it is the only protein that can recruit GABPb to DNA. We cloned GABPa from a murine genomic BAC library and prepared a targeting vector in which exon 9 (which encodes the GABPa ets domain) was flanked by loxP (floxed) recombination sites. The targeting construct was electroporated into embryonic stem cells, homologous recombinants were implanted into pseudopregnant mice, heterozygous floxed GABPa mice were identified, and intercrossing yielded expected Mendelian ratios of wild type, heterozygous, and homozygous floxed GABPa mice. Breeding of heterozygous floxed GABPa mice to CMV-Cre mice (which express Cre recombinase in all tissues) yielded expected numbers of hemizygous mice (only one intact GABPa allele), but no nullizygous (GABPa−/−) mice among 64 pups; we conclude that homozygous deletion of GABPa causes an embryonic lethal defect. To determine the effect of GABPa deletion on myeloid cell development, we bred heterozygous and homozygous floxed mice to LysMCre mice, which express Cre only in myeloid cells. These mice had a normal complement of myeloid cells but, unexpectedly, PCR indicated that their Gr1+ myeloid cells retained an intact (undeleted) floxed GABPa allele. We detected similar numbers of in vitro myeloid colonies from bone marrow of wild type, heterozygous floxed, and homozygous floxed progeny of LysMCre matings. However, PCR of twenty individual in vitro colonies from homozygous floxed mice indicated that they all retained an intact floxed allele. Breeding of floxed GABPa/LysMCre mice with hemizygous mice indicated that retention of a floxed allele was not due to incomplete deletion by LysMCre; rather, it appears that only myeloid cells that retain an intact GABPa allele can survive to mature in vitro or in vivo. We prepared murine embryonic fibroblasts from homozygous floxed mice and efficiently deleted GABPa in vitro. We found striking abnormalities in proliferation and G1/S phase arrest. We used quantitative RT-PCR to identify mechanisms that account for the altered growth of GABPa null cells. We found dramatically reduced expression of known GABP target genes that regulate DNA synthesis and cell cycle that appear to account for the proliferative defect. We conclude that GABPa is required for growth and maturation of myeloid cells and we identified downstream targets that may account for their failure to proliferate and mature in vitro and in vivo.
Interferometric SAR Multitemporal Processing: Techniques and Applications

SAR Interferometry (InSAR) is a technology that makes it possible to extract ground deformation measurements from spaceborne radar sensors with a centimeter level precision. By processing long series of SAR images, InSAR techniques can be pushed forward up to reaching the millimeter sensitivity. In this way, data acquired by SAR satellites can be effectively used for monitoring not only ground movements but also tiny displacement of structures, dams, buildings, bridges and more. In this chapter, written at the beginning of year 2014, we give a brief overview of the concepts behind InSAR and Multi-Temporal InSAR techniques. Examples of results and processing steps implemented by Sarproz (www.sarproz.com) are shown and the interested reader can deepen his understanding of the topic by carrying out exercises on his own.
Dietary nutrients associated with preservation of lung function in Hispanic and non-Hispanic white smokers from New Mexico.

Background COPD is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Cigarette smoking accelerates the age-related forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) decline, an important determinant for the genesis of COPD. Hispanic smokers have lower COPD prevalence and FEV1 decline than non-Hispanic whites (NHWs). Patients and methods A nutritional epidemiological study was conducted in the Lovelace Smokers cohort (LSC; n=1,829) and the Veterans Smokers cohort (n=508) to identify dietary nutrients (n=139) associated with average FEV1 and its decline and to assess whether nutrient intakes could explain ethnic disparity in FEV1 decline between Hispanics and NHW smokers. Results Nutrients discovered and replicated to be significantly associated with better average FEV1 included magnesium, folate, niacin, vitamins A and D, eicosenoic fatty acid (20:1n9), eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n3), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA; 22:5n3), docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n3), and fiber. In addition, greater intakes of eicosenoic fatty acid and DPA were associated with slower FEV1 decline in the LSC. Among omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, DPA is the most potent nutrient associated with better average FEV1 and slower FEV1 decline. Adverse effect of continuous current smoking on FEV1 decline was completely negated in LSC members with high DPA intake (>20 mg/day). Slower FEV1 decline in Hispanics compared to NHWs may be due to the greater protection of eicosenoic fatty acid and DPA for FEV1 decline rather than greater intake of protective nutrients in this ethnic group. Conclusion The protective nutrients for the preservation of FEV1 in ever smokers could lay foundation for designing individualized nutritional intervention targeting "optimal physiological levels" in human to improve lung function in ever smokers. Ethnic disparity in FEV1 decline may be explained by difference in magnitude of protection of dietary intakes of eicosenoic fatty acid and DPA between Hispanics and NHWs.
Abstract 135: Pim-1 Modification Reverses Senescent Phenotype Of Hcpcs From Patients With Heart Disease

Rationale: Adoptive transfer of human cardiac progenitor cells (hCPCs) can repair damaged myocardium and improve function in a pathologically challenged heart. hCPC’s isolated from multiple patients exhibit differences in growth kinetics, expression of cell cycle regulators and telomere length suggesting hCPCs with slow growth kinetics may compromise effective regeneration of damaged or aged myocardium. There is a dire need to reverse the senescent phenotype of hCPCs exhibiting slow growth kinetics to improve the outcome of regenerative therapy. Objective: Demonstrate that Pim-1 engineering reverses the senescent phenotype of human cardiac progenitor cells (hCPCs) with slow growth kinetics by increasing their telomere length and decreasing population doubling time and cell cycle inhibitors. Methods and Results: hCPCs positive for stem cell marker c-kit were isolated from heart biopsy samples from patients undergoing Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) implantation. hCPCs isolated from multiple patients were characterized for growth kinetics, telomere length, expression of cell cycling regulators. hCPCs with slow growth kinetics exhibit decreased telomere length concomitant with increased population doubling time and upregulation of senescent markers compared to hCPCs with fast growth kinetics. hCPCs were engineered to express Pim-1-GFP (hCPCeP), a fused GFP version of the kinase by using a lentivirus expression system. Cell cycling measured by population doubling time was decreased in hCPCeP. Similarly, telomere lengths in hCPCeP were significantly increased relative to control hCPCs expressing GFP (hCPCe). Similarly, the expression cell cycling inhibitors including p16 and p53 is down regulated indicative of reversal of senescent characteristics. Conclusion: Ex vivo gene delivery of Pim-1 in hCPCS enhances telomere length and decreases population-doubling time and senescent phenotype. These changes are more significant and distinct in hCPCs with slow growth kinetics. Pim-1 modification of hCPCs with slow growth kinetics from patients with heart failure can augments their ability to regenerate damaged myocardium and address current limitations associated with senescent phenotype of aged hCPCs.
Exposures to Air Pollution and Risk of Acute-onset Placental Abruption: A Case-crossover Study.

Background Despite abruption's elusive etiology, knowledge of triggers that precede it by just a few days prior to delivery may help to understand the underpinnings of this acute obstetrical complication. We examine whether air pollution exposures immediately preceding delivery are associated with acute-onset abruptions. Methods We applied a bidirectional, time-stratified, case-crossover design to births with an abruption diagnosis in New York City, 2008-2014. We measured ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). We fit distributed lag nonlinear models based on conditional logistic regression to evaluate individual exposure and cumulative exposures over lags 0-7 days before abruption, adjusted for temperature and relative humidity (similar lags to the main exposures). Results We identified 1,190 abruption cases. We observed increased odds of abruption for exposure to PM2.5 (per 10 μg/m) on lag day 3 (odds ratio [OR] 1.19, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.98, 1.43), lag day 4 (OR 1.21, 95% CI = 1.01, 1.46), and lag day 5 (OR 1.17, 95% CI = 1.03, 1.33). Similarly, the odds of abruption increased with exposure to NO2 (per 5 ppb) on lag day 3 (OR 1.16, 95% CI = 0.98, 1.37), lag day 4 (OR 1.19, 95% CI = 1.02, 1.39), and lag day 5 (OR 1.16, 95% CI = 1.05, 1.27). Exposures to PM2.5 and NO2 at other lags, or cumulative exposures, were not associated with abruption of acute onset. Conclusions This case-crossover study showed evidence of an association between short-term ambient air pollution exposures and increased abruption risk of acute onset.
Pharmaceutical Drug Testing in the Former Soviet Union: Contract Research Organizations as Broker-Dealers in an Emerging Testing Ground for America's Big Pharma

Developing countries are a fertile testing ground for the research and development of new drug products. Recently, Western pharmaceutical companies expanded their overseas drug testing from India and Africa to the former Soviet Union, where doctors in need of reliable income conduct clinical trials on subjects seeking access to medical care. Although U.S. government agencies monitor clinical drug trials sponsored by American pharmaceutical companies, the scope of governmental authority is effectively limited to the companies’ domestic activities. In October 2008, restrictions on the FDA’s supervisory powers were further reinforced by the agency’s substitution of the ethical research principles found in the Declaration of Helsinki with other, less subject-oriented standards. This revision threatens the health and safety of clinical trial participants in the former Soviet Union, where the medical needs of the ailing poor prevent local governments from imposing substantial restrictions on Western pharmaceuticals manufacturers. This Comment criticizes the practice of exploiting underprivileged populations for Western scientific progress, and argues that Congress must immediately respond to the FDA’s October 2008 resolution by acknowledging the Nuremberg Code as customary international law by which American pharmaceutical companies must abide.
DETECTION OF SHADOW BOUNDARIES FOR ADAPTIVE MESHING IN RADIOSITY

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the detection of shadow boundaries for adaptive meshing in radiosity. Radiosity algorithms attempt to compute the global interreflection of light in an environment composed of diffuse surfaces. Most implementations of the radiosity approach break the surfaces in a scene into patches in a meshing stage, and these patches are used as secondary illuminators in the course of the solution. Radiosity textures also have been used to encode the illumination information without complicating the geometrical description. The radiosity across a patch typically is interpolated bilinearly from radiosities at the vertices, which means that the accuracy of the illumination on a surface is influenced directly by the size of the mesh elements. Typically, one would like to concentrate smaller elements in the regions of sharp intensity variations, such as shadow boundaries, while limiting the subdivision of surfaces with gentle illumination variations.
An interactive workshop on web site privacy and security policies on e-commerce sites

The purpose of this workshop is to provide a "hands on" experience in assessing the privacy and security policies of e-commerce web sites. After a brief introduction to the salient issues of web site privacy and security, workshop participants will employ a modified version a questionnaire developed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The questionnaire encompasses areas of notice, choice, access and security. Participants will complete a sample set of questionnaires, discuss their results in small groups and report on their findings to the entire assembly.
D159 and S167 are protective residues in the prion protein from dog and horse, two prion-resistant animals.

Abstract Prion diseases are fatal neurodegenerative diseases caused by misfolding of the prion protein (PrP). These conditions affect humans and animals, including endemic forms in sheep and deer. Bovine, rodents, and many zoo mammals also developed prion diseases during the “mad-cow” epidemic in the 1980's. Interestingly, rabbits, horses, and dogs show unusual resistance to prion diseases, suggesting that specific sequence changes in the corresponding endogenous PrP prevents the accumulation of pathogenic conformations. In vitro misfolding assays and structural studies have identified S174, S167, and D159 as the key residues mediating the stability of rabbit, horse, and dog PrP, respectively. Here, we expressed the WT forms of rabbit, horse, and dog PrP in transgenic Drosophila and found that none of them is toxic. Replacing these key residues with the corresponding amino acids in hamster PrP showed that mutant horse (S167D) and dog (D159N) PrP are highly toxic, whereas mutant rabbit (S174 N) PrP is not. These results confirm the impact of S167 and D159 in local and long-range structural features in the globular domain of PrP that increase its stability, while suggesting the role of additional residues in the stability of rabbit PrP. Identifying these protective amino acids and the structural features that stabilize PrP can contribute to advance the field towards the development of therapies that halt or reverse the devastating effects of prion diseases.
Muscular effort differentially mediates perception of heaviness and length via dynamic touch

Our ability to perceive properties of handheld objects (e.g., heaviness, orientation, length, width, and shape) by wielding via dynamic touch is crucial for tooling and other forms of object manipulation-activities that are the basis of much human experience. Here, we investigated how muscular effort mediates perception of heaviness and length via dynamic touch. Twelve participants wielded nine occluded elongated objects of distinct moments of inertia and reported their perceptual judgments of heaviness and length. We measured the electromyography (EMG) activity of the participants' biceps brachii, flexor carpi radialis, and flexor carpi ulnaris muscles during wielding. Distinct single-valued functions of the eigenvalues I1 and I3 of the inertial tensor, I, closely predicted perceived heaviness and perceived length of the wielded objects. Perceived heaviness showed a direct and linear relationship with EMG activity of biceps brachii, flexor carpi radialis, and flexor carpi ulnaris. However, while perceived length showed a very weak relationship with EMG activity of biceps brachii, we found no association between perceived length and EMG activity of flexor carpi radialis and flexor carpi ulnaris. Our findings indicate that muscular effort contributes directly to perception of heaviness, but likely only serves as a medium for perception of length. While the same physical variable-i.e., the moment of inertia-provides the informational support for perception of heaviness and length, distinct psychophysiological processes underlie perception of heaviness and length via dynamic touch.
The Effect of Phase Continuity on Synchronous Antenna Tuning

Synchronously tuning a narrowband antenna at the symbol rate of a frequency shift keyed (FSK) modulation has been shown to increase the efficiency of the transmitter. When tuning by switching between a set of matching networks, it is important to not only have phase continuity between the symbols but to also switch at a precise phase in the transmitted signal, which restricts the usable FSK frequencies. When tuning by changing the reactance of a single tuning circuit, it is not obvious that strict phase control between symbols is necessary. This paper investigates the importance of the phase of a FSK signal at symbol transitions when synchronously tuning by changing the capacitance of a varactor diode on the antenna.
Associations among personal care product use patterns and exogenous hormone use in the NIEHS Sister Study

Background: It is hypothesized that certain chemicals in personal care products may alter risk of adverse health outcomes. The primary aim of this study was to use a data-centered approach to class...
250 MAXIMIZING MILK VOLUMES OF PUMP-DEPENDENT MOTHERS WITH BREAST MASSAGE.

The strongest determinant of the duration and exclusivity of breast-feeding the very low birth weight (VLBW, ≤ 1,500 g) infant is the volume of milk produced by the pump-dependent mother. Hill et al (2005) demonstrated that volumes level off 2 to 3 wks postpartum and then decline during the next 3 weeks and are lower in mothers of VLBW infants compared with mothers of term infants. In contrast, we have found that mean volumes continue to increase over 8 weeks and surpass, as reported by Hill, the mean production by mothers of preterm and term infants, who pumped with the same frequency. Therefore, we investigated whether the increases in milk volumes were associated with the use of breast massage/hand expression in conjunction with electrical pumping. Sixty-six mothers of VLBW infants (≤ 306/7 weeks9 gestation) were recruited and asked to record milk volumes and duration of each pumping session over an 8-week period. Fifty-five percent (36 of 66) recorded all measurements and completed at least two separate computerized pumping sessions using the Symphony pump (Medela Inc, Switzerland), during which they were instructed by a single breast-feeding expert to combine electrical pumping with breast massage/hand expression. The first instructional session occurred 19.8 ± 9.9 days postpartum. For each mother, mean daily volumes collected over 3 days preinstruction was compared with her mean volume collected postinstruction over the last 3 days of the 8-week study. Volumes were unchanged or decreased in 14% (5 of 36) of mothers. For 31 (86%) mothers, mean volumes pre- and postinstruction were 537 ± 333 and 862 ± 567 mL, respectively, with a mean percent increase of 93 ± 127% (range 2-611%). In all 36 mothers, there was no significant change in the frequency or duration of pumping sessions pre- and postinstruction. We conclude that increased milk volumes appear to be associated with completeness of emptying rather than with increased frequency or duration of pumping sessions. In contrast to Hill9s observations, these preliminary results suggest that mothers of preterm infants can attain and sustain high production levels by combining the use of breast massage/hand expression and electrical pumping. Furthermore, we speculate that reliance on electrical pumping alone may compromise milk production potential in pump-dependent mothers. Supported in part by National Institutes of Health grant M01 RR-00070 from the National Center for Research Resources and by Medela, Inc. We thank P. Hartsell, D. Inguillo, B. Kogut, and B. Piane for their contributions.
Early Word Learning

Words carry social information by reflecting the intentions and interests of individual speakers. In this chapter, we argue for the possibility that early developments in infants’ social understanding may support word learning in the first year of life. We begin by first focusing on the literature that has isolated the earliest time points at which infants’ segmentation and associative capacities have been found in laboratory environments. In the second half of this chapter, we discuss a diverse range of research in infant cognitive development to highlight the ways in which social information might aid even young infants’ ability to acquire and interpret words. Infants younger than 12 months may not spontaneously or accurately track others’ referential cues; however, existing research raises the important possibility that certain components of early word learning may be enhanced when intentions are made clear, available, and salient.
Distraction-Free Car Dashboard Control Through Gesture Recognition

In this paper, a gesture recognition-based human–vehicle interaction system has been developed which primarily aims to reduce driver distraction while operating dashboard controls in an automobile. This is achieved through simple gestures and camera positioning which ensures the driver keeps his eyes on the road and hands on the wheel. This method is also compared with other types of inputs which aim to achieve better ergonomics. These inputs include voice commands, physical inputs like steering-mounted controls and also existing gesture recognition methods. This method overcomes the limitations of the aforementioned input techniques by providing a simpler and effective alternative. Said system is found to be superior compared to existing dashboard control media on grounds of operability, execution time and ease of operation.
Abstract 4520: Lymphatic vessels regulate exosome trafficking from tumors

Prior to metastasis, tumor-draining lymph nodes and distant organs are altered by a number of tumor-derived factors that help to both suppress host immunity as well as form an environment that supports metastatic tumor cells, i.e., a pre-metastatic niche. Recent studies suggest that pre-metastatic niches are induced by vesicles, including exosomes, secreted by tumor cells and cells of the tumor microenvironment. Here, we investigated the contribution of lymphatic vessels, particularly the lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs), in the active regulation of tumor exosome production and trafficking. To track exosomes, we purified and fluorescently labeled exosomes from in vitro cultures of the mouse melanoma cell line B16 F10 and of the human melanoma cell line Me260LN. Upon injection into the mouse ear dermis, fluorescent exosomes were observed within minutes in draining lymphatics, but not in surrounding blood vessels. Using the B16 F10 melanoma model overexpressing the lymphangiogenic growth factor VEGF-C, we found that upon intratumoral injection of exosomes, LECs within the tumor microenvironment abundantly take up exosomes, and at higher levels than blood endothelial cells, delivering exosomes to draining lymph nodes and eventually to the blood. In transgenic mice lacking dermal lymphatics, exosomes injected intratumorally were absent in the lymph nodes and present in far lower amounts in the blood compared to those injected into wild type mice. Additionally, while the density of endogenous blood exosomes increased upon tumor growth in wild type mice, no significant change in blood exosome density was observed in transgenic mice. Using an in vitro model where LECs are seeded onto porous inserts, we found that LEC transport of tumor exosomes occurs preferentially from their basal to apical side, and that some of these exosomes were taken up and stored intracellularly. Together, these findings suggest that lymphatic vessels constitute a major route of tumor exosome distribution to the systemic circulation and that LECs actively regulate exosome transport by active uptake. Citation Format: Lea Maillat, Lambert Potin, Witold W. Kilarski, Melody A. Swartz. Lymphatic vessels regulate exosome trafficking from tumors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4520.
Comparison of Adductor Canal Block and Femoral Nerve Block for Early Ambulation After Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of adductor canal block (ACB) as compared to femoral nerve block (FNB) in ambulation distance, opioid consumption, and physical therapy participation on postoperative days (PODs) 1 and 2 after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We hypothesized ACB would have increased the ambulation distance and decreased the opioid consumption in comparison to FNB. Methods: All elective TKAs at a single institution, age 18 and older, without existing neurologic or anatomic deficit in the operative limb, were considered. Participants were randomized 1:1 to receive either an ACB (AC group) or a FNB (FN group), in addition to standard care. Visual analog pain scores (VAS) and oral morphine equivalents (OMEs) were recorded preoperatively, in post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), and on PODs 1 and 2. Postoperative ambulation distance was recorded on PODs 1 and 2. Patient satisfaction with analgesia and physical therapist-rated participation in therapy sessions was obtained as well. Results: From 2014 to 2015, 84 participants were recruited: 41 in FN, and 43 in AC. On POD 1, mean ambulation distances in AC and FN were 70.2 and 48.5 ft, respectively (p = 0.045). On POD 2, mean ambulation distances in AC and FN were 129.0 and 106.4 ft, respectively (p = 0.225). VAS, OME, satisfaction, and physical therapy participation were not significantly different. Conclusions: Ambulation after TKA is superior with ACB on the first POD, but there is no difference in VAS scores, OME, patient satisfaction, or ambulation on POD 2.
Influence of Induced Convection on Transformation Kinetics During Rapid Solidification of Steel Alloys: The Retained Damage Model

The Retained Damage Model successfully predicts the incubation delay during transformation from ferrite to austenite in the presence of an applied external flow field during rapid solidification of ternary stainless-steel alloys. The model incorporates two new features—conservation of the free energy associated with undercooling of the primary metastable phase, and use of a modified Read–Shockley approach to quantify defect energy induced by melt shear. Healing of the microstructure could reduce the amount of free energy retained, but, for the alloys considered in this work, it was found that the model is not sensitive to this phenomenon, and thus 100% of available free energy is retained to provide an additional transformation driving force, significantly shortening the incubation period. Use of a dimensionless approach allows comparison between systems with very different thermophysical properties, and highlights the similarity in response to local flow conditions over a wide range of compositions.
Developing a Community for Patients With Cancer Through Longer-Term Art Therapy.

PURPOSE:Art therapy (AT) improves quality of life and symptoms in patients with cancer. However, previous studies that have demonstrated these effects focused on time-limited interventions. The ben...
Distributed and Privacy Preserving Routing of Connected Vehicles to Minimize Congestion

With a large number of connected vehicles on the roads, there is an opportunity to leverage their connectivity to minimize congestion on roads by calculating fast routes for vehicles in a way that each vehicle contributes as little to the congestion as possible. The existing commercial and research based approaches of calculating routes for vehicles suffer from one or more of the following two limitations: 1) they are not privacy preserving in the sense that they receive destination addresses from users and may either store and use them for other commercial purposes or are at a risk of getting hacked and exposing these addresses to hackers; and 2) they require expensive infrastructure such as road side units (RSUs). To address these limitations, we propose a distributed and privacy preserving routing protocol, namely DPR, which the connected vehicles collaboratively and repeatedly execute to calculate fast routes to their destinations such that the overall congestion on the road network is significantly reduced and at the same time the privacy of the vehicles is preserved. The DPR protocol relies on direct vehicle to vehicle communication and does not need any new infrastructure such as RSUs. We have implemented and evaluated our DPR protocol through simulations on a real road network under several traffic conditions. Our results show that DPR reduces the average travel time of vehicles that travel a distance of 1000, 2500, and over 4000 meters by 15%, 32%, and 42%, respectively. This reduction in travel time is significant considering that this improvement results purely from software manipulations and without requiring any new infrastructure.
Pharmacogenomics of Medication-Induced Weight Gain and Antiobesity Medications

Obesity is a chronic, multifactorial disease associated with a large number of comorbidities. The clinical management of obesity involves a stepwise integrated approach, beginning with behavioral and lifestyle modification, followed by antiobesity medications, endobariatric procedures, and bariatric surgery. Weight gain and subsequent obesity are common side effects of medications, such as prednisone or antipsychotics. In this era of precision medicine, it is essential to identify patients at the highest risk of weight gain as a result of medication use. Pharmacogenomics could play an important role in obesity management by optimizing use of antiobesity medications as well as minimizing adverse weight gain. This review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the current literature on the role of pharmacogenomics in obesity and medication-induced weight gain. In summary, there are more robust studies of medication associated with weight gain and pharmacogenomics, and more studies are needed to understand the role of pharmacogenomics in antiobesity medications.