cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
THE EFFECT OF AEROBIC MESOPHILIC MICROFLORAL LEVELS ON THE ISOLATION OF INOCULATED LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES STRAIN LM82 FROM SELECTED FOODS

The effect of aerobic mesophilic microfloral concentration on the isolation of Listeria monocytogenes LM82 was studied in 31 (18 cheeses and 7 noncheese) retail foods having standard plate counts of 101 to 108 colony forming units (CFU)/g. Foods were spiked with L. monocytogenes and enriched at 30°C for 24 h in a selective enrichment broth used in a U.S. Food and Drug Administration method. Inoculum levels for isolation on modified McBride agar ranged from 0.1 to > 5 × 103 with a geometric mean value of 5 inoculated CFU/g or 1.4 CFU/g. Pure Enterococcus (Streptococcus) faecalis (0 to 6 × 106 inoculated CFU/mL) in the absence of food matrix had no effect on the enrichment of L. monocytogenes. Ease of isolation of LM82 was independent of the food microflora concentration both generally and in the specific food type of 9 Brie cheeses. Competition, when it occurs, therefore, may be due to specific bacterial competitors rather than bacterial numbers.
The intracellular localization of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol in liver and its effects on drug metabolism in vitro

Abstract In the hepatic cell Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is localized in nuclei and microsomes. The intracellular binding of THC affects hepatic drug metabolism: nuclei markedly reduce the metabolism of THC by hepatic microsomes; THC inhibits the microsomal oxidation of aminopyrine and hexobarbital, the conjugation of estradiol and p -nitrophenol and enhances the reduction of p -nitrobenzoic acid. The metabolism of THC, in vitro , is strikingly inhibited by SKF-525A but not by desipramine, nortriptyline and iprindole which are potent inhibitors of the oxidation of other drugs.
INTENSE SOURCES OF HIGH-ENERGY NEUTRONS.

In reviewing the status of new intense sources which produce neutrons of energies above 10 MeV I deviate from the principal theme of this conference. For most studies of nuclear structure with neutrons, sources that have been available for some time have had adequate intensity. Although higher intensity is helpful in many measurements, especially if high precision is required or if a very small cross section has to be determined, the great effort presently under way in developing new intense sources of high-energy neutrons is motivated primarily by demands from two quite different disciplines, i. e. medicine and fusion power engineering. On the other hand, as new intense sources become available, they will undoubtedly be used in nuclear structure research also.
Role of the Na(+)/H(+) exchanger in short-term atrial electrophysiological remodeling.

Background —The pathophysiology underlying electrophysiological remodeling (ER) from rapid atrial rates is unknown. We tested the hypothesis that activation of the Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE) by ischemia contributes to ER. Methods and Results —Twenty-eight dogs were studied under autonomic blockade. In 15 closed-chest dogs, atrial fibrillation was simulated by right atrial pacing at 600 bpm over 5 hours. Of these, 9 (pace/NHEI) received HOE642, a selective inhibitor of the NHE, and 6 (pace/control) received saline. In pace/controls, atrial effective refractory period (AERP) at a drive cycle length (DCL) of 400 ms shortened from 143±7 to 118±5 ms (1 hour) and to 122±17 ms (5 hours). Shortening of AERP was prevented in the pace/NHEI group ( P =0.02 compared with pace/controls). At baseline in all 15 dogs, pacing at shorter DCL resulted in shortening of AERP (physiological rate adaptation), which was lost at 5 hours in pace/controls. In pace/NHEI animals, rate adaptation was maintained despite 5 hours of pacing ( P =0.02). In 13 other open-chest dogs, right atrial ERP was determined before and after occlusion of the right coronary artery. Five received HOE642 (ischemia/NHEI), 5 saline (ischemia/control), and 3 intravenous glibenclamide. In ischemia/controls, AERP400 decreased (156±30 to 130±32 ms). Shortening of AERP was not prevented by glibenclamide (180±20 to 153±33 ms) but was prevented in ischemia/NHEI dogs (169±12 to 184±19 ms, P =0.001 compared with ischemia/controls and ischemia/glibenclamide). Rate adaptation was lost in ischemia/controls and preserved in ischemia/NHEI dogs ( P =0.02). Conclusions —Activation of the NHE is one mechanism underlying short-term ER.
Light Requirement for AgNO3 Inhibition of Ethrel-Induced Leaf Abscission from Cuttings of Vigna radiata

To obtain information regarding the antiethylene properties and binding site of Ag+, studies were initiated to define conditions under which Ag+ does or does not inhibit ethylene action. AgNO3, applied as a leaf spray, inhibited 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid (Ethrel)-induced leaf abscission from green cuttings of Vigna radiata in white light but lost considerable activity in the dark. In the absence of Ethrel, AgNO3 stimulated abscission in the dark. When cuttings were dark-aged for 24 hours prior to treatment with AgNO3 and aged for an additional 24 hours in the dark after treatment, good inhibition of subsequent Ethrel-induced abscission was restored by returning the cuttings to light. However, when dark aging was preceded by far-red irradiation, considerably less inhibition of Ethrel-induced abscission was restored in the light. AgNO3 was completely inactive on cuttings aged in the dark and treated with Ethrel in the dark. Light is required for the antiethylene activity of AgNO3 with regard to leaf abscission of Vigna.
Intra-alkali matrix effects in the inductively coupled plasma

Spatial profile studies are used to determine the interference effects of alkali matrix elements on the observed emission of alkali analyte elements in the inductively coupled plasma. These interferences are referred to as intra-alkali matrix effects. It is found that significant enhancement of the analyte emission occurs low in the plasma in the initial radiation zone where atomic emission is most intense and that a slight downward shift in the vertical position of the emission peak is caused by the presence of the alkali matrix. A
Disparities in Gastric Cancer Outcomes Among Asian Ethnicities in the USA

Background Survival for gastric cancer is reportedly higher in Asians than for other races. It is unclear whether differences in outcome exist among Asian ethnicities. Our objective was to assess gastric cancer survival in Asian ethnic groups in a large heterogeneous population.
A predictive-kinetic method for the quantitation of amino acids with ninhydrin

Abstract The development and evaluation of a predictive-kinetic method for quantifying amino acids based on reactions with ninhydrin are described. Conditions are developed for which reactions are pseudo-first-order in the amino acid. Absorbance vs. time data from the kinetic region of the reaction (1–3 half-lives) are fitted to a first-order model to predict the total absorbance change that would occur if the reaction were monitored to completion. Computed absorbance changes vary linearly with amino acid concentration between 1 × 10 −5 and 5 × 10 −5 mol l −1 . Results are virtually independent of changes in temperature (± 1° C) and ninhydrin concentration (± 3 × 10 −3 mol l −1 ).
A descriptive pattern recognition system applied to pictorial patterns where the discriminating information is carried in the object shape

A descriptive classifier has been developed for silhouetted pictorial patterns. It has the capability of recognition with inherently high discriminatory power between an essentially unlimited number of discrete pattern classes. The user is allowed substantial latitude in determining what pictorial instances of objects should be admitted to the same pattern category with pattern class constraints than can be adjusted in an iterative fashion. The user can also generate and display random instances of a pictorial pattern class until, according to subjective evaluation, the pattern class defined within the machine is the same as that envisioned by the user. Pictorial classification is performed using a system-generated figure classification number. The figure classification number defines a unique point within a classification space having an assigned pattern class name. The pattern class can, by user selection, be made to include many or few unique figure classification states. The system's performance is illustrated by classification of a series of pictorial silhouettes. >
Phase transformation in Si from semiconducting diamond to metallic β-Sn phase in QMC and DFT under hydrostatic and anisotropic stress

Silicon undergoes a phase transition from the semiconducting diamond phase to the metallic -Sn phase under pressure. We use quantum Monte Carlo calculations to predict the transformation pressure and compare the results to density-functional calculations employing the local-density approximation, the generalizedgradient approximations PBE, PW91, WC, AM05, PBEsol, and the hybrid functional HSE06 for the exchangecorrelation functional. Diffusion Monte Carlo predicts a transition pressure of 14.0 1.0 GPa slightly above the experimentally observed transition pressure range of 11.3–12.6 GPa. The HSE06 hybrid functional predicts a transition pressure of 12.4 GPa in excellent agreement with experiments. Exchange-correlation functionals using the local-density approximation and generalized-gradient approximations result in transition pressures ranging from 3.5 to 10.0 GPa, well below the experimental values. The transition pressure is sensitive to stress anisotropy. Anisotropy in the stress along any of the cubic axes of the diamond phase of silicon lowers the equilibrium transition pressure and may explain the discrepancy between the various experimental values as well as the small overestimate of the quantum Monte Carlo transition pressure.
Generation and Characterization of a Novel Cyp2a(4/5)bgs-Null Mouse Model

Knockout mouse models targeting various cytochrome P450 (P450 or CYP) genes are valuable for determining P450’s biologic functions, including roles in drug metabolism and chemical toxicity. In this study, a novel Cyp2a(4/5)bgs-null mouse model was generated, in which a 1.2-megabase pair genomic fragment containing nine Cyp genes in mouse chromosome 7 (including, sequentially, Cyp2a5, 2g1, 2b19, 2b23, 2a4, 2b9, 2b13, 2b10, and 2s1) are deleted, through Cre-mediated recombination in vivo. The resultant mouse strain was viable and fertile, without any developmental deficits or morphologic abnormalities. Deletion of the constitutive genes in the cluster was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction analysis of the genes and the mRNAs in tissues known to express each gene. The loss of this gene cluster led to significant decreases in microsomal activities toward testosterone hydroxylation in various tissues examined, including olfactory mucosa (OM), lung, liver, and brain. In addition, systemic clearance of pentobarbital was decreased in Cyp2a(4/5)bgs-null mice, as indicated by >60% increases in pentobarbital-induced sleeping time, compared with wild-type (WT) mice. This novel Cyp2a(4/5)bgs-null mouse model will be valuable for in vivo studies of drug metabolism and chemical toxicities in various tissues, including the liver, lung, brain, intestine, kidney, skin, and OM, where one or more of the targeted Cyp genes are known to be expressed in WT mice. The model will also be valuable for preparation of humanized mice that express human CYP2A6, CYP2A13, CYP2B6, or CYP2S1, and as a knockout mouse model for five non-P450 genes (Vmn1r184, Nalp9c, Nalp4a, Nalp9a, and Vmn1r185) that were also deleted.
DHX9 Pairs with IPS-1 To Sense Double-Stranded RNA in Myeloid Dendritic Cells

The innate immune system is equipped with many molecular sensors for microbial DNA/RNA to quickly mount antimicrobial host immune responses. In this paper, we identified DHX9, a DExDc helicase family member, as an important viral dsRNA sensor in myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs). Knockdown of DHX9 expression by small heteroduplex RNA dramatically blocked the ability of mDCs to produce IFN-α/β and proinflammatory cytokines in response to polyinosine-polycytidylic acid, influenza A, and reovirus. DHX9 could specifically bind polyinosine-polycytidylic acid via its double-strand RNA binding motifs. DHX9 interacted with IPS-1 via the HelicC-HA2-DUF and CARD domains of DHX9 and IPS-1, respectively. Knockdown of DHX9 expression in mDCs blocked the activation of NF-κB and IFN regulatory factor 3 by dsRNA. Collectively, these results suggest that DHX9 is an important RNA sensor that is dependent on IPS-1 to sense pathogenic RNA.
Outpatient Radiographic Exposure in the First Five Years of Life

Young children receive a variety of diagnostic radiographs over time. In some cases the exposure to radiation may be unwarranted because the films may yield confusing results, or may also need to be repeated because of poor technical quality. Even when the results are clearly negative, the subsequent treatment may proceed as if the film had been positive because of the child's clinical condition. The cumulative effect of such low-dose radiation on infants and children over time is unknown.The number and types of outpatient radiographs received by a cohort of poor children from a hospital-based continuity clinic during their first 5 years of life were reviewed. Also noted were the reason for obtaining the film, whether it was positive for that reason or another, whether the child had a chronic condition that prompted the use of radiograph, and the child's sex, race, and age when the film was obtained.Of the 218 children, 132 (60.6%) received 349 sets of films in their first 5 years. There was no difference...
Toward a research agenda for the study of business practices in information industries

This research considers business practices in the Information Age. We present an economic-theory based view that defines products as bundles of goods, services, and information. Products that consist solely of information, that which is recorded about something, are information products. Organizations or business units that produce and/or sell only information are information-only businesses. Information industries consist of organizations that produce and/or sell primarily information products. Research into the business practices of the organizations that make up information industries is scant at best. Current business thinking is still rooted in the Industrial Age, which was concerned with producing and delivering physical goods. This paper summarizes the results of a literature survey identifying information industry business practices. These results, in conjunction with interview-based research in progress, form the basis for further research into information-only business practices.
Effects of hormonally active agents on steroid hormone receptor expression and cell proliferation in the myometrium of ovariectomized macaques.

Hormone replacement therapy and selective estrogen receptor modulators have been controversial treatment options for postmenopausal women because of their potential health benefits and/or risks. In this study, we determine the effects of the hormonally active compounds, conjugated equine estrogens (CEE), medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), CEE þ MPA, and tamoxifen (TAM) on the myometrium of ovariectomized macaques. Immunoexpression of estrogen receptor-a (ERa), progesterone receptor (PR), and Ki-67 in the myometrium is assessed. We found no significant difference in ERa myometrial expression in the CEE, MPA, and CEE þ MPA treatment groups, but there was a significant decrease in expression in animals administered TAM versus controls. Conjugated equine estrogen–, TAM–, and CEE þ MPA-treated animals had significantly increased expression of PR in myometrial cells and there was no difference in PR expression in cells from MPA-treated animals versus control animals. Myometrial cell proliferation did not significantly differ between the controls and any of the treatment groups, although normalized Ki-67 values were somewhat higher in the CEE and TAM groups. These data suggest that ERa and PR expression in the myometrium is influenced by treatment with hormonally active agents.
A balanced scorecard analysis of performance metrics

Abstract Many organizations have invested substantial resources in recent years to implement a balanced scorecard of performance metrics. From a historical focus exclusively on financial metrics of performance, the emphasis has shifted recently to a consideration of a portfolio of nonfinancial performance metrics related to customers, business process and technology. In this paper, we investigate the best practice frontier relationship between a financial performance metric (return on assets––ROA) and three nonfinancial performance metrics (number of access lines per employee, percentage of digital access lines and percentage of business access lines) reported and used in the US telecommunications industry. Analyzing detailed data from over fifty local exchange carriers for a period of five years (from 1993 to 1997), we find that managers must tradeoff contemporaneous ROA when increasing the percentage of business access lines. We also find that managers do not have to trade off ROA with the other two nonfinancial performance metrics because these metrics are contemporaneously congruent.
Association Between Hyperglycemia and Increased Hospital Mortality in a Heterogeneous Population of Critically Ill Patients

Objective To investigate the relationship between hyperglycemia and hospital mortality in a heterogeneous group of critically ill patients. Patients and Methods Retrospective data were reviewed for 1826 consecutive patients whose glucose values were obtained during their intensive care unit stay at The Stamford Hospital in Stamford, Conn, between October 1, 1999, and April 4, 2002. Results Mean and maximum glucose values were significantly higher among nonsurvivors than among survivors for the entire group ( P Conclusion Even a modest degree of hyperglycemia occurring after intensive care unit admission was associated with a substantial increase in hospital mortality in patients with a wide range of medical and surgical diagnoses. Analysis of glucose values added predictive power above that achieved by APACHE II scores alone. These results have important implications for the glycemic management of critically ill patients.
Impact of a Multidisciplinary Team Review of Potential Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy Prior to Discharge from an Academic Medical Center

Background::Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) is frequently prescribed at hospital discharge, often without infectious diseases (ID) clinician oversight. We developed a multidisciplinary team, including an ID pharmacist, to review OPAT care plans at hospital discharge to improve safety, clinical efficacy, practicality, and appropriateness of the proposed antimicrobial regimen.Objective:To evaluate the impact of the OPAT team on regimen safety, efficacy, and complexity; calculate the economic benefits of the service by avoiding hospital discharge delay, central venous catheter placement, or need for OPAT; and evaluate the discharge environment among OPAT referrals.Methods:In an observational design, we analyzed the impact of an OPAT team from July 2009 through June 2010 at a large academic tertiary care hospital. All patients with plans for continued parenteral therapy after discharge referred to the OPAT team were included in the analysis. Patients were excluded if OPAT was cancelled prio...
Strongest Evidence: Maximum Apparent Phylogenetic Signal as a New Cladistic Optimality Criterion☆

A new method for phylogenetic inference, Strongest Evidence (SE), is described. In this method, a character's support for a phylogenetic hypothesis, its apparent phylogenetic signal, is greatest when the amount of implied homoplasy is most remarkably small given background knowledge alone. Because evolutionary rates are not assumed to be slow, background expectations for character length can be derived through modeling complete dissociation between branching pattern and character state assignments. As in unweighted parsimony, SE holds that fewer required evolutionary steps in a character indicates stronger support for a tree. However, in SE, the relationship between steps and support differs by unlabeled tree topology and character state distribution. Strongest evidence is contrasted in detail with both unweighted parsimony and Goloboff's method of implied weights. An iterative process is suggested for incrementally resolving a phylogenetic hypothesis while conducting cladistic analyses at increasingly local levels.
Metanephric mesenchyme contains multipotent stem cells whose fate is restricted after induction

At least fourteen epithelial cell types of the mammalian nephron develop from the metanephric mesenchyme. To distinguish whether this single embryological primordium contains a heterogenous population of committed renal cell lines or a multipotent stem cell, the lac-Z gene was introduced into individual renal progenitors by retroviral mediated gene transfer. The differentiated fate of lac-Z-tagged daughters derived from single metanephric mesenchymal cells was characterized after cytodifferentiation. We found that the metanephric mesenchyme contains multipotent stem cells that can generate at least three distinct cell types; glomerular, proximal and distal epithelia. After induction the fate of this multipotent cell becomes restricted to populate a single nephron segment.
Treatment of refractory myositis: A randomized crossover study of two new cytotoxic regimens

Objective To assess the clinical usefulness of 2 novel therapies for treatment-resistant myositis. Methods Thirty patients with refractory myositis, of whom 25 had an inadequate or no response to previous cytotoxic therapy, were randomized to begin either a combination of weekly oral methotrexate and daily azathioprine (MTX/AZA) or intravenous methotrexate with leucovorin rescue (IV MTX) every 2 weeks for 6 months. Crossover to the alternate therapy occurred according to defined rules; evaluations of muscle strength and functional abilities were performed at the beginning, and after 3 and 6 months, of each treatment. Results Of the 15 patients initially randomized to oral MTX/AZA, 8 improved with oral therapy and 1 improved with IV MTX during the crossover period. Of the 15 patients initially randomized to IV MTX therapy, 3 improved with the IV therapy and 4 with the oral combination during the crossover period. Although the study lacked the power to directly compare both treatments, intention-to-treat analysis showed a trend in favor of those patients who first received oral combination therapy (P = 0.025). There were 0.09 adverse events per patient-month with oral combination therapy and 0.16 per patient-month with IV therapy (P = 0.09). Conclusion Combination oral MTX/AZA may benefit patients with treatment-resistant myositis, including those who previously had inadequate responses to either MTX or AZA alone. IV MTX with leucovorin rescue may also benefit some patients with refractory myositis.
Radiation detection evaluation: RadAssessor characterizes integrated findings

Radiation handheld instruments perform an integral role in first responder programs to detect illicit radioactive materials and reduce terrorist attacks. A comprehensive understanding of each commercial instrument's performance facilitates rapid and accurate data interpretation and threat assessment. RadAssessor was developed as a radiation detector database to characterize and evaluate commercial handheld instrument findings. Under laboratory conditions, previously reported instrument performance data have been expanded both in terms of the number of instruments tested and sources measured as well as including gamma isotope identification and neutron response findings. Instrument performance data and findings captured within RadAssessor include: radiation detectors, radioactive sources, shielding, experiments, detailed measurements, spectra, and measurement performance categorizations. Measurement performance categorizations are an approach to categorizing gamma identification results based on defining the most abundant isotopes (MAIs) identified during a measurement. There are two category systems that provide both a high-level understanding of instrument performance and a more detailed understanding with additional granularity. RadAssessor features a web-based interface for selecting instruments, isotopes, and shielding combinations. Users are provided with dynamically generated screens based on the most recent data loaded in the RadAssessor database. Graphical and textual results are generated and presented instantaneously for enhanced decision aides
Recent Incarceration History Among a Sheltered Homeless Population

This study examined incarceration histories and shelter use patterns of 7,022 persons staying in public shelters in New York City. Through matching administrative shelter records with data on releases from New York State prisons and New York City jails, 23.1% of a point-prevalent shelter populationwas identified as having had an incarceration within the previous 2-year period. Persons entering shelter following a jail episode (17.0%) exhibited different shelter stay patterns than did those having exited a prison episode (7.7%), leading to the conclusion that different dynamics predominate and that different interventionsare called for in preventinghomelessness amongpersons released from jail and from prison.
The Health Consequences of Cultural Consonance: Cultural Dimensions of Lifestyle, Social Support, and Arterial Blood Pressure in an African American Community

Cultural dimensions of health and behavior have been difficult to study because of limited theoretical and methodological models linking the cultural, the individual, and the biological. We employ a cognitive theory of culture to understand culture and health in an African American community in the southern United States. First, cultural consensus analysis is used to test for shared cultural models of lifestyles and social supports within the community. Then, the theoretical and operational construct of "cultural consonance" is used to assess the degree to which individuals behave in a way consistent with cultural models. Findings indicate that cultural consonance in lifestyle and social support combine synergistically in association with blood pressure. These associations of cultural consonance and health are not altered by taking into account a variety of other variables, indicating an independent association of cultural dimensions of behavior with health status. Implications of these results for culture theory are discussed, [culture theory, culture consensus analysis, cultural consonance, African American community, arterial blood pressure]
Medicare Post-Acute Care Episodes and Payment Bundling

BACKGROUND The purpose of this paper is to examine service use in an episode of acute and post-acute care (PAC) under alternative episode definitions and to look at geographic differences in episode payments. DATA AND METHODS The data source for these analyses was a Medicare claims file for 30 percent of beneficiaries with an acute hospital initiated episode in 2008 (N = 1,705,794, of which 38.7 percent went on to use PAC). Fixed length episodes of 30, 60, and 90 days were examined. Analyses examined differences in definitions allowing any claim within the fixed length period to be part of the episode versus prorating a claim extending past the episode endpoint. Readmissions were also examined as an episode endpoint. Payments were standardized to allow for comparison of episode payments per acute hospital discharge or PAC user across states. RESULTS The results of these analyses provide information on the composition of service use under different episode definitions and highlight considerations for providers and payers testing different alternatives for bundled payment.
The plausibility of maternal toxicant exposure and nutritional status as contributing factors to the risk of autism spectrum disorders.

Recent research suggests the maternal environment may be especially important for the risk of developing autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In particular maternal infections, micronutrient deficiencies, obesity, and toxicant exposures are likely to interact with genetic risk factors to disrupt fetal brain development.Objectives: The goal of this paper is to investigate the plausibility of maternal toxicant exposure and nutritional status as causal factors in the development of ASD.Methods: This paper reviews current research investigating the hypothesis that maternal toxicant exposure and prenatal micronutrient intake are important modifiable risk factors for ASD.Results: Zinc, copper, iron, and vitamin B9 are identified as specific micronutrients with relevance to the etiology of ASD. Specific toxicants induce a maternal inflammatory response leading to fetal micronutrient deficiencies that disrupt early brain development. Importantly, maternal micronutrient supplementation is associated with reduced risk ...
Protecting privacy with “heightened” notice and choice

The 2014 White House paper on privacy and Big Data signaled that the Obama administration might recognize that efforts to limit data collection through a notice and choice regime have failed and instead work toward developing a privacy regime that focuses more on the purpose of data collection in an attempt to limit its use post-collection. When it came to proposing legislation, however, the administration retreated from its earlier rhetoric, and in 2015 proposed a privacy "Bill of Rights" that wholly embraced notice and choice, albeit in an enhanced or "heightened" stage for certain kinds of data collection. The first section of this paper discusses the proposed privacy legislation and its inclusion of a heightened notice and choice framework. The second part explains why even "heightened" notice and choice fails to protect legitimate privacy interests online. The third section explores what a regime based on permissible uses of data might look like and includes suggestions on how we might get there.
Effects of Storage on the Molecular Weight of Rubber Contained in Guayule

Abstract Although this was a limited study based on only two guayule varieties, the trends relating to rubber degradation with storage time and temperature condition are clear. Whole guayule plants, and especially chopped guayule awaiting processing, cannot be stored for long periods at elevated temperatures without at least partial degradation of the molecular weight of the rubber in the plant. These studies are now being expanded to determine if the observed differences in stability are, in fact, attributable to variety or are the result of postharvest treatment or agronomic practices.
Prediction of Game Behavior Based on Culture Factors

This paper investigates the cultural differences in values and decision making in on-line surveys and games, comparing subjects from the United States and India. The empirical data validates the existence of cultural differences seen previously for in-person game performance 㬀 there are also VLJQLILFDQWGLIIHUHQFHVLQDQVZHUVWR� +RIVWHGH∑V� 9DOXHV� 6XUYH\� 0RGHOV� questions, the derived Hofeste dimensions, and our own values questions. We also use this data to make predictions of game play, country of origin, and values, based on other features. We are also able to predict the national culture of the participants by considering their behavior in the game. The results show that our value model is significantly better than other indicators such as Hofstede∑s dimensional values at predicting game play, but Hofstede questions are best at predicting country of origin.
Reliability of scores on the summative performance assessments

ABSTRACTThe authors address the reliability of scores obtained on the summative performance assessments during the pilot year of our research. Contrary to classical test theory, we discussed the advantages of using generalizability theory for estimating reliability of scores for summative performance assessments. Generalizability theory was used as the framework because of the flexibility this approach provides for examining sources of inconsistency within a complex assessment. Two major sources of inconsistency on scores considered in this study were raters and agencies (teachers' rating vs. researchers' rating). Overall, results showed that the inconsistency in scores attributable to raters and agencies was relatively small. Suggestions regarding improvement of consistency in the subsequent years of our research were provided.
Estimating return on investment for grid scale storage within the economic dispatch framework

There is a global trend of deploying distributed grid scale storages in power systems for specific applications like, renewable integration, peak load management, congestion management, etc. Due to high capital investment, return on investment (ROI) for grid scale storage for any specific application is not lucrative enough for investors. However, if these storages are used across multiple applications, ROI could be more attractive than expected. In this paper, we focus on exploring the ROI when storage devices are used for applications such as transmission and distribution (T&D) system upgrade deferral and mitigation of renewable energy curtailment. We formulate an optimization problem to trade off the economic advantage of using storage devices versus its loss of life. While the formulation is generic and can handle any kind of storage, we focus on battery storage. We use detailed formulations to estimate loss of battery life to estimate capital expenditure (capex) on battery storage, on a per-day basis.
Blood acquisition and processing by three Anopheles (Diptera: Culicidae) species with different innate susceptibilities to Plasmodium falciparum

Anopheles freeborni Aitken, An. gambiae Giles, and An. albimanus Weidemann exhibit excellent, good, and poor susceptibility to Plasmodium falciparum Welch, respectively. To determine why they differ, 5 variables relating to blood-feeding behavior and 10 variables associated with bloodmeal processing were evaluated for each species. The 3 Anopheles species did not differ in their probing behavior, but An. gambiae took 1.7 times longer to complete engorgement than either An. freeborni or An. albimanus. No interspecific differences were seen in patterns of prediuresis, blood compaction time, midgut pH, bloodmeal clearance, ovarian development, and peritrophic matrix formation. In prediuretic fluid and in blood obtained from midguts soon after mosquito feeding, erythrocytes were agglutinated heavily in An. albimanus, agglutinated moderately in An. freeborni , and unagglutinated in An. gambiae. Erythrocyte hemolysis was greatest in An. gambiae. The significant differences in patterns of blood-feeding behavior and bloodmeal processing among the 3 Anopheles species did not adequately explain interspecific differences in susceptibility to P. falciparum. Therefore, the primary mosquito-related determinants of sporogonic development may operate after bloodmeal processing, and during or after the ookinete-to-oocyst developmental transition.
Noninvasive cell-based impedance spectroscopy for real-time probing inhibitory effects of graphene derivatives.

Three water-dispersible graphene derivatives, graphene oxide (GO), sulfonated graphene oxide (SGO), and sulfonated graphene (SG), were prepared and probed for their plausible cytotoxicity by non-invasive electric cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS). With Spodoptera frugiperda Sf9 insect cells adhered on gold microelectrodes as an active interface, it is feasible to monitor changes in impedance upon exposure to different graphene derivatives. Sf9 insect cells were then exposed to different concentrations of graphene derivatives and their spreading and viability were monitored and quantified by ECIS in real-time. On the basis of the 50% inhibition concentration (ECIS50), none of the graphene derivatives were judged to have any significant cytotoxicity with respect to the chosen cell line as the ECIS50 values were all above 100 μg/mL. However, all graphene derivatives exhibited inhibitory effects on the Sf9 response at the cell spreading level with the following order: SG (ECIS50 = 121 ± 8 μg/mL), SGO (E...
IN VIVO OPTICAL MOLECULAR - STRUCTURAL IMAGING OF CORONARY ARTERY STENT INFLAMMATION PREDICTS THE SITE-SPECIFIC RESTENOSIS RISK

Restenosis after coronary stent placement leads to repeat procedures and adverse outcomes. While inflammation tracks with neointimal smooth muscle cell ingrowth, a detailed in vivo understanding of local inflammation on stent restenosis is unknown. Using intravascular optical molecular-structural
The Programmable Calculator as a Pest Management Tool

Grower-oriented, pest management information may be divided into 2 general classes: (1) regional advisory recommendations, formulation of which requires specialized knowledge or facilities located only at a few central sites; and (2) farm-specific recommendations, which may modify the regional advisories. For example, Poston et al. (1978) developed a model for optimizing insecticide-application dates for the southwestern corn borer, Diatrea grandiosella Dyar on a country-by-country (i.e., regional) basis. It is probable, however, that all fields in a country might not possess economic infestations. Thus, the final decision to spray on the optimal date must be made at the individual farm level. Achieving this degree of resolution exceeds the capabilities of purely centralized pest-management systems (Croft et al. 1978).
Canine Malignant Lymphomas: Comparison of Morphologic and Immunologic Parameters

Twenty-three canine malignant lymphomas were studied to correlate morphologic and immunologic properties of the neoplastic cells. Morphotologic characterization included histologic classification of cell type and growth pattern, anatomic distribution of lesions, and transmission electron microscopic examination. Parameters examined to indicate B- or T-cell nature of lymphoma cells included demonstration of mitogen responsiveness, cell-surface Ig, spontaneous rosette formation with human red blood cells, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) examination of cell-surface features. Results indicated that the cells from histiocytic lymphomas were lymphocytes rather than histiocytes or macrophages. Most cells from lymphomas examined possessed cell-surface ig, indicating B-cell nature. The cell types represented by the different Ig-positive lymphomas were compatible with maturation arrest at different stages in normal lymphocyte differentiation. For the two most common histiologic cell types, nitogen responsiveness and the presence of cell-surface Ig indicated that diffuse, poorly differentiated lymphocytic cases were biologically heterogenous, whereas nodular histiocytic lymphomas were biologically homogenous. Most canine lymphomas had a multicentric anatomic distribution; however, one thymic and two alimentary forms were observed. Lymphomas with a nodular pattern in lymph nodes had multifocal splenic involvement centered on small arteries, whereas lymphomas with a diffuse pattern in lymph nodes had diffuse involvement of splenic white pulp. The cells of Ig-positive and Ig-negative neoplasms examined by SEM were predominantly of the smooth-cell type.
Application of Combined Left and Right Atrial Catheter for Monitoring Left Atrial Pressure Following Pediatric Cardiac Surgery

Objective To evaluate the feasibility,accuracy and safety of a new combined left and right atrial catheter for monitoring left atrial pressure in pediatric cardiac patients.Methods Forty patients,aged 1 to 4 years and weighted 8-15 kg,were observed following complex congenital heart defect repair.Anesthetic induction and maintenance were conducted by combined intravenous and inhalational agents.Patients were intubated and ventilated by mechanical mechine.After anesthetic induction,the combined catheter and single-lumen catheter were placed into left atrium in the same patient through right jugular vein.The combined catheter was made of a 5.5-F modified triple-lumen catheter and a longer microtube,which inserted into the central lumen of triple-lumen.The single lumen catheter was a regular 20 G single catheter for mornitoring left atrial pressure.The distal ends of microtube and single-lumen catheter were repositioned transseptally and advanced into the left atrium after repair of intracardiac defect.The eases of catheter placement and pressure measured by both catheters were compared.Results There were significant correlations between left atrial pressures measured by microtube and by single-lumen catheter at end of operation and Pediatric Intensive Care(r=0.974,0.949 Pa0.01).No mortality or catheter-related complication were observed.Conclusions Microtube inserted into the triple-lumen catheter might be an alternative to single-lumen catheter for monitoring left atrial pressure in pediatric cardiac surgery.
Pancreas Transplantation: An Alarming Crisis in Confidence

In the past decade, the annual number of pancreas transplantations performed in the United States has steadily declined. From 2004 to 2011, the overall number of simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK) transplantations in the United States declined by 10%, whereas the decreases in pancreas after kidney (PAK) and pancreas transplant alone (PTA) procedures were 55% and 34%, respectively. Paradoxically, this has occurred in the setting of improvements in graft and patient survival outcomes and transplanting higher-risk patients. Only 11 centers in the United States currently perform ≥20 pancreas transplantations per year, and most centers perform <5 pancreas transplantations annually; many do not perform PAKs or PTAs. This national trend in decreasing numbers of pancreas transplantations is related to a number of factors including lack of a primary referral source, improvements in diabetes care and management, changing donor and recipient considerations, inadequate training opportunities, and increasing risk aversion because of regulatory scrutiny. A national initiative is needed to "reinvigorate" SPK and PAK procedures as preferred transplantation options for appropriately selected uremic patients taking insulin regardless of C-peptide levels or "type" of diabetes. Moreover, many patients may benefit from PTAs because all categories of pancreas transplantation are not only life enhancing but also life extending procedures.
Analysis And Introduction Of A Technology: Ultrasound-Assisted Lipoplasty Task Force

This article provides an overview of the findings of the Ultrasound-Assisted Lipoplasty Task Force and presents its original and updated reports on the safety and efficacy of the new lipoplasty procedures. The author reviews the equipment, techniques, complications, and postoperative care associated with the latest procedures. Ongoing research and recommendations to the practitioner are addressed.
Computers as persuasive social actors

This chapter describes the role of computing products as persuasive social actors. These products persuade by giving a variety of social cues that elicit social responses from their human users. The chapter proposes five primary types of social cues cause people to make inferences about social presence in a computing product—physical, psychological, language, social dynamics, and social roles. Physical attractiveness has a significant impact on social influence. A computing technology that is visually attractive to target users is likely to be more persuasive as well. People are more readily persuaded by computing technology products that are similar to themselves; they feel the need to reciprocate when computing technology has done a favor for them. The chapter concludes that the social cues should be handled with care. The positive and negative outcome often depends on the user.
The natural historical attitude

What can we do but disdain the fake modesty: “I don't really believe in trilobites; it is just that I structure all my thoughts about the fossil record by accepting that they existed”? Simon Blackburn (2005, p. 195) Perhaps most people just assume, without thinking much about it, that whatever happened in the past must have happened independently of our thoughts, theories, and conceptual schemes – and independently of what scientists tell us about prehistory. Indeed, it may seem natural to assume that prehistory is not something scientists make. I have tried to show that this assumption, however natural it may seem, is indefensible. There are no good arguments for it at all: no good a priori arguments, because (contrary to what some philosophers have said) there is nothing absurd or crazy about the idea that the past depends on us. And there are no good a posteriori arguments, because the only arguments that realists have produced (for example, Devitt's basic abductive argument) are quite irrelevant to the question whether anything exists or occurs mind-independently. In philosophy of science today, the leading alternative to realism is the philosophical view that Bas van Fraassen has called constructive empiricism . In this chapter, I present van Fraassen's view and show how that view might apply to historical science. My aim in doing so is to use constructive empiricism as a foil for helping to understand the natural historical attitude.
Conflict Tactics Scale

Because violence usually happens in private, researchers and clinicians have had difficulty studying and diagnosing abusive relationships. The most popular and widely used measure of intimate violence in couples and families is the Conflict Tactics Scale, a self-report measure where respondents are asked to indicate whether they or their partner have engaged in certain behaviors over a specific time, such as the past year. The Conflict Tactics Scale is beneficial because it requires little time to complete, is easy to administer, and is a reliable measure. There is also a version for measuring maltreatment in parent–child relationships, the Conflict Tactics Scale Parent Child. Keywords: conflict; family; violence
Pseudomigraine Pleocytosis Syndrome

A series of 50 patients with a total of 164 episodes of pseudomigraine with temporary neurologic symptoms and CSF lymphocytic pleocytosis (PMP syndrome) is reported from the University Hospital Marques de Valdecilla, Santander, Spain.
Single-residue molecular switch for high-temperature dependence of vanilloid receptor TRPV3

Thermal transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, a group of ion channels from the transient receptor potential family, play important functions in pain and thermal sensation. These channels are directly activated by temperature and possess strong temperature dependence. Furthermore, their temperature sensitivity can be highly dynamic and use-dependent. For example, the vanilloid receptor transient receptor potential 3 (TRPV3), which has been implicated as a warmth detector, becomes responsive to warm temperatures only after intensive stimulation. Upon initial activation, the channel exhibits a high-temperature threshold in the noxious temperature range above 50 °C. This use dependence of heat sensitivity thus provides a mechanism for sensitization of thermal channels. However, how the channels acquire the use dependence remains unknown. Here, by comparative studies of chimeric channels between use-dependent and use-independent homologs, we have determined the molecular basis that underlies the use dependence of temperature sensitivity of TRPV3. Remarkably, the restoration of a single residue that is apparently missing in the use-dependent homologs could largely eliminate the use dependence of heat sensitivity of TRPV3. The location of the region suggests a mechanism of temperature-dependent gating of thermal TRP channels involving an intracellular region assembled around the TRP domain.