cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Silica Glass Toughened by Consolidation of Glassy Nanoparticles.

The brittleness of oxide glasses has dramatically restricted their practical applications as structural materials despite very high theoretical strength. Herein, using molecular dynamics simulations, we show that silica glass prepared by consolidating glassy nanoparticles exhibit remarkable tensile ductility. Because of dangling bonds at surfaces and high contact stresses, the pressure applied for consolidating glassy nanoparticles to achieve ductility is significantly lower than that required to toughen bulk glass via permanent densification. We have identified 5-fold silicon, with a higher propensity to carry out local shear deformation than 4-fold silicon, as the structural origin for the observed tensile ductility. Interestingly, the work hardening effect has been, for the first time, observed in thus-prepared silica glass, with its strength increasing from 4 GPa to ∼7 GPa upon cold work. This is due to stress-assisted relaxation of 5-fold silicon to 4-fold during cold work, analogous to transformatio...
Role of Sea Surface Temperatures in Forcing Circulation Anomalies Driving U.S. Great Plains Pluvial Years

AbstractIn the U.S. Great Plains (GP), diagnosing precipitation variability is key in developing an understanding of the present and future availability of water in the region. Building on previous...
Association Between Myomectomy and Placenta Accreta Spectrum

Study Objective To examine the relationship between prior myomectomy and placenta accreta spectrum (PAS). Design A retrospective chart review of all laparoscopic and abdominal myomectomies performed between 2014 - 2016. Obstetrical outcomes following surgery were collected through April 2019. Setting An academic hospital with a comprehensive fibroid treatment center and a multidisciplinary treatment team dedicated to the management of placenta accreta. Patients or Participants All patients who underwent a laparoscopic myomectomy (standard and robotic-assisted) or abdominal myomectomy between 2014 - 2016. Interventions Demographics, pelvic imaging, intraoperative findings, fibroid burden on final pathology, and future mode of delivery recommendations were collected for each procedure. Subsequent obstetrical outcomes including clinical pregnancy, antepartum imaging suspicious for PAS, mode of delivery, clinical diagnosis of PAS, and pathologic PAS were collected for all patients. Measurements and Main Results Of 315 patients who underwent myomectomy between 2014 - 2016, 43 patients subsequently became pregnant, resulting in 23 deliveries (7.3%). 16 of 20 patients underwent a cesarean delivery due to history of a prior myomectomy, 13 of which had a documented endometrial cavity entry at time of myomectomy. There were three cases of clinical PAS at time of delivery, all associated with a prior abdominal myomectomy. Two cases had PAS confirmed on final pathology. Two cases were associated with possible intrauterine synechiae identified during a uterine cavity evaluation following myomectomy, prior to conception. Only one case had antepartum imaging concerning for PAS. There were no cases of PAS amongst patients who had undergone a laparoscopic myomectomy. Conclusion PAS was associated with prior abdominal but not laparoscopic myomectomy. The subsequent development of intrauterine synechiae following abdominal myomectomy may be an identifiable finding during postoperative uterine cavity evaluation. This finding may help stratify the risk of PAS following myomectomy prior to conception, and better guide preoperative risk counseling prior to cesarean delivery.
Niche construction theory can link bark beetle-fungus symbiosis type and colonization behavior to large scale causal chain-effects

Bark beetles form a variety of symbioses with fungi. Recent studies reveal how the fungi influence beetle nutrition and detoxify tree defenses and provide insight into why these symbioses vary so greatly in their outcomes, not only for host and symbiont, but also for the forest ecosystems within which they exist. Here, I review recent advances in our knowledge of these systems. I then introduce how niche construction theory can provide a framework to use this knowledge to better understand how different symbiosis types result in a gradient of ecosystem effects ranging from massive and durable to those of little ecological consequence.
The Position of the Individual in International Law According to Emer de Vattel

Preliminary distinctions. — The title of Emer de Vattel’s great treatise, The Law of Nations or the Principles of Natural Law Applied to the Conduct and to the Affairs of Nations and of Sovereigns1 is more or less a definition of international law, as conceived by the author. The law of nations (droit des gens) is merely an application of the law of nature to the exclusion of any volitional human regulation, as long as possible. To limit the law of nations to rules established by the mutual consent of nations would mean, according to Vattel, to restrict within very narrow limits a law of wide extent and of great importance to the human race, and at the same time [this would degrade] its position by misconceiving its true origin. There is no doubt of the existence of a natural Law of Nations, inasmuch as the Law of Nature is no less binding upon States, where men are united in a political society, than it is upon the individuals themselves. Now an exact knowledge of this law can not be had by a mere understanding of what the Law of Nature prescribes for individual persons. When a law is applied to different subjects it must be applied in a manner suited to the nature of each subject. Hence it follows that the natural Law of Nations is a special science which consists in a just and reasonable application of the Law of Nature to the affairs and the conduct of Nations and of sovereigns. All those treatises, therefore, which confuse the Law of Nations with the ordinary natural law must fail to convey a distinct idea and a thorough knowledge of the sacred Law of Nations.2
The role of L-type calcium channels in neuronal excitability and aging

Over the last two decades there has been significant progress towards understanding the neural substrates that underlie age-related cognitive decline. Although many of the exact molecular and cellular mechanisms have yet to be fully understood, there is consensus that alterations in neuronal calcium homeostasis contribute to age-related deficits in learning and memory. Furthermore, it is thought that the age-related changes in calcium homeostasis are driven, at least in part, by changes in calcium channel expression. In this review, we focus on the role of a specific class of calcium channels: L-type voltage-gated calcium channels (LVGCCs). We provide the reader with a general introduction to voltage-gated calcium channels, followed by a more detailed description of LVGCCs and how they serve to regulate neuronal excitability via the post burst afterhyperpolarization (AHP). We conclude by reviewing studies that link the slow component of the AHP to learning and memory, and discuss how age-related increases in LVGCC expression may underlie cognitive decline by mediating a decrease in neuronal excitability.
Systematic Discovery of Pseudomonad Genetic Factors Involved in Sensitivity to Tailocins

Abstract Tailocins are bactericidal protein complexes produced by a wide variety of bacteria to compete against closely related strains. Like tailed bacteriophages, with whom they share an evolutionary and morphological relationship, tailocins bind and kill a narrow spectrum of target cells. Thanks to their high specificity, tailocins have garnered recent attention for their potential as precision antibacterial agents. Nevertheless, the field currently lacks a systematic investigation of genetic determinants of tailocin sensitivity. Here, we employed barcoded transposon-insertion mutant libraries and comparative genomics to assess genetic contributions to tailocin sensitivity in pseudomonads. Our mutant screens identified O-specific antigen (OSA) composition and display as most important in defining sensitivity to our tailocins. Additionally, the screens suggest lipopolysaccharide (LPS) thinning as a mechanism by which resistant strains can become more sensitive to tailocins. Our comparative genomics analyses show a loose relationship between OSA biosynthetic genes and tailocin sensitivity, as well as sensitivity nuances that require further investigation. Overall, our data reinforces the model that LPS molecules can act as either a receptor for, or shield against, tailocin binding and killing. This work offers insight into the specificity of tailocins and tailocin-mediated competition, informing the potential use of tailocins in microbiome manipulation and antibacterial therapy.
Current Utility of Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria as Biological Control Agents towards Plant-Parasitic Nematodes

Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPN) are among the most economically and ecologically damaging pests, causing severe losses of crop production worldwide. Chemical-based nematicides have been widely used, but these may have adverse effects on human health and the environment. Hence, biological control agents (BCAs) have become an alternative option for controlling PPN, since they are environmentally friendly and cost effective. Lately, a major effort has been made to evaluate the potential of a commercial grade strain of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) as BCAs, because emerging evidence has shown that PGPR can reduce PPN in infested plants through direct and/or indirect antagonistic mechanisms. Direct antagonism occurs by predation, release of antinematicidal metabolites and semiochemicals, competition for nutrients, and niche exclusion. However, the results of direct antagonism may be inconsistent due to unknown endogenous and exogenous factors that may prevent PGPR from colonizing plant's roots. On the other hand, indirect antagonism may occur from the induced systemic resistance (ISR) that primes whole plants to better fight against various biotic and abiotic constraints, actuating faster and/or stronger defense responses (adaption), enhancing their promise as BCAs. Hence, this review will briefly revisit (i) two modes of PGPR in managing PPN, and (ii) the current working models and many benefits of ISR, in the aim of reassessing current progresses and future directions for isolating more effective BCAs and/or developing better PPN management strategy.
Divide and Conquer: The Initiation and Proliferation of Meristems

In contrast to animals, which complete organogenesis early in their development, plants continuously produce organs, and structures throughout their entire lifecycle. Plants achieve the continuous ...
Licensed to Drive, but Not to Work: The Labor Market Effects of Driver Licenses for Unauthorized Immigrants

Private transportation is often a prerequisite for access to work in the USA. But until recently, driving legally was impossible for the about 11 million unauthorized immigrants in the country. How did unauthorized immigrants’ labor market outcomes change when some states allowed them to get driver licenses? This paper uses American Community Survey microdata from 2010 to 2019 to examine the labor market effects of a recent policy change in California that gave about 2.6 million unauthorized immigrants access to driver licenses. Focusing on unauthorized immigrants of Mexican origin, I find that driver licenses improve this population’s access to private transportation by increasing car ownership rates and the propensity of driving to work. While driver licenses do not improve employment rates among likely unauthorized Mexican immigrants, they raise hours worked and earnings among those who are already employed. The effect on likely unauthorized Mexican immigrants’ employment remains insignificant across genders, age groups, and measures of local labor market accessibility. A power analysis, a placebo test, and several alternative model specifications support the robustness of my results. The paper’s findings suggest that driver licenses have smaller benefits for unauthorized immigrants than for other populations. The lack of employment authorization prevents unauthorized immigrants from enjoying the full benefits of private transportation.
Ankylosis homologue mediates cellular efflux of ATP, not pyrophosphate

The plasma membrane protein Ankylosis Homologue (ANKH, mouse ortholog: Ank) prevents pathological mineralization of joints by controlling extracellular levels of the mineralization inhibitor pyrophosphate (PPi). It was long thought that ANKH acts by transporting PPi into the joints, but we recently showed that ANKH releases large amounts of nucleoside triphosphates (NTPs), predominantly ATP, into the culture medium. This ATP is converted extracellularly into PPi and AMP by the ectoenzyme Ectonucleotide Pyrophosphatase Phosphodiesterase 1 (ENPP1). We could not rule out, however, that cells also release PPi directly via ANK. We now addressed this question by determining the effect of a complete absence of ENPP1 on ANKH-dependent extracellular PPi concentrations. Introduction of ANKH in ENPP1-deficient HEK293 cells resulted in robust cellular ATP release without the concomitant increase in extracellular PPi seen in ENPP1-proficient cells. Ank-activity was previously shown to be responsible for about 75% of the PPi found in mouse bones. However, bones of Enpp1-/- mice contained < 2.5% of the PPi found in bones of wild type mice, showing that Enpp1-activity is also a prerequisite for Ank-dependent PPi incorporation into the mineralized bone matrix in vivo. Hence, ATP release precedes ENPP1-mediated PPi formation. We find that ANKH also provides about 25% of plasma PPi, whereas we have previously shown that 60-70 % of plasma PPi is derived from the NTPs extruded by the ABC transporter, ABCC6. Both transporters that keep plasma PPi at sufficient levels to prevent pathological calcification, therefore do so by extruding NTPs rather than PPi itself.
Chemically induced ion channels in nerve cell membranes.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses how application of fluctuation analysis, voltage-jump relaxation, and extracellular patch-clamp methods has increased knowledge of the action of agonists and other drugs at the membrane of nerve cells from both vertebrate and invertebrate preparations. Considerable technical problems exist in the application of the new biophysical methods to the study of transmitter actions on neurons in the intact vertebrate central nervous system (CNS). In the case of fluctuation analysis and voltage-jump relaxations, control of membrane voltage at higher frequencies may be difficult to achieve in nerve cells with complex geometries. A number of transmitter substances appear to utilize ion-permeable channels to induce a charge transfer across the postsynaptic membrane. It seems probable, then, that all three biophysical methods will be required to probe the action of putative transmitters on neurons in the intact vertebrate CNS. Within a few years, the elementary events induced by some transmitters in mammalian CNS neurons will become amenable to study without the need for cell dissociation and culture methods. This achievement will realize one of the long-standing goals of cellular neurobiology.
WE-G-BRD-02: Characterizing Information Loss in a Sparse-Sampling-Based Dynamic MRI Sequence (k-T BLAST) for Lung Motion Monitoring

Purpose: Rapid MRI is an attractive, non-ionizing tool for soft-tissue-based monitoring of respiratory motion in thoracic and abdominal radiotherapy. One big challenge is to achieve high temporal resolution while maintaining adequate spatial resolution. K-t BLAST, sparse-sampling and reconstruction sequence based on a-priori information represents a potential solution. In this work, we investigated how much “true” motion information is lost as a-priori information is progressively added for faster imaging. Methods: Lung tumor motions in superior-inferior direction obtained from ten individuals were replayed into an in-house, MRI-compatible, programmable motion platform (50Hz refresh and 100microns precision). Six water-filled 1.5ml tubes were placed on it as fiducial markers. Dynamic marker motion within a coronal slice (FOV: 32×32cm2, resolution: 0.67×0.67mm2, slice-thickness: 5mm) was collected on 3.0T body scanner (Ingenia, Philips). Balanced-FFE (TE/TR: 1.3ms/2.5ms, flip-angle: 40degrees) was used in conjunction with k-t BLAST. Each motion was repeated four times as four k-t acceleration factors 1, 2, 5, and 16 (corresponding frame rates were 2.5, 4.7, 9.8, and 19.1Hz, respectively) were compared. For each image set, one average motion trajectory was computed from six marker displacements. Root mean square error (RMS) was used as a metric of spatial accuracy where measured trajectories were compared to original data. Results: Tumor motion was approximately 10mm. The mean(standard deviation) of respiratory rates over ten patients was 0.28(0.06)Hz. Cumulative distributions of tumor motion frequency spectra (0–25Hz) obtained from the patients showed that 90% of motion fell on 3.88Hz or less. Therefore, the frame rate must be a double or higher for accurate monitoring. The RMS errors over patients for k-t factors of 1, 2, 5, and 16 were.10(.04),.17(.04), .21(.06) and.26(.06)mm, respectively. Conclusions: K-t factor of 5 or higher can cover the high frequency component of tumor respiratory motion, while the estimated error of spatial accuracy was approximately.2mm.
Plastic Capital: Credit Card Debt Financing Among Startups

This paper examines the increased use of credit cards for debt financing among startups. Credit cards are useful for startups because of their near-universal acceptance, accessibility and anonymity. But an increasing number of startups are relying exclusively on credit card debt for financing, which can have high carrying costs relative to traditional business loans. Using the Kauffman Firm Survey data several models are developed that analyze the differences in survival rates among startups depending on how heavily they rely on credit card debt for funding in their first four years in operation.
The role of endoscopic third ventriculostomy in the treatment of hydrocephalus.

Object Hydrocephalus remains a major public health problem. Conventional treatment has relied on extracranial shunting of CSF to another systemic site, but this approach is associated with a high rate of complications. Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is a novel treatment for select forms of hydrocephalus that can eliminate the need for implantation of a lifelong ventricular shunt system. However, the indications for ETV are contested and its long-term effectiveness is not well established. Methods The authors selected 100 consecutive patients who underwent ETV for hydrocephalus beginning in 1994. Patients were enrolled and treated at a single institution by a single surgeon. The primary outcome was success of ETV, with success defined as no need for subsequent surgery for hydrocephalus. Results Ninety-five patients satisfied the inclusion criteria. The mean follow-up period was 5.1 years (median 4.7 years) with follow-up data available for as long as 17 years. Patients commonly presented with heada...
Radiological Imaging of Patients With Suspected Urinary Tract Stones: National Trends, Diagnoses, and Predictors

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2011; 18:700–707 © 2011 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Abstract Objectives: Overutilization of computed tomography (CT) is a growing public health concern due to increasing health care costs and exposure to radiation; these must be weighed against the potential benefits of CT for improving diagnoses and treatment plans. The objective of this study was to determine the national trends of CT and ultrasound (US) utilization for assessment of suspected urolithiasis in emergency departments (EDs) and if these trends are accompanied by changes in diagnosis rates for urolithiasis or other significant disorders and hospitalization rates. Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of ED visits from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) between 1996 and 2007. The authors determined the proportion of patient visits for flank or kidney pain receiving CT or US testing and calculated the diagnosis and hospitalization rates for urolithiasis and other significant disorders. Patient-specific and hospital-level variables associated with the use of CT were examined. Results: Utilization of CT to assess patients with suspected urolithiasis increased from 4.0% to 42.5% over the study period (p 0.05), and admitted to the hospital (approximately 11%, p = 0.49) did not change significantly. The following characteristics were associated with a higher likelihood of receiving a CT scan: male sex (odd ratio [OR] = 1.83, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.22 to 2.77), patients presenting with severe pain (OR = 2.96, 95% CI = 1.14 to 7.65), and those triaged in 15 minutes or less (OR = 2.41, 95% CI = 1.08 to 5.37). CT utilization was lower for patients presenting to rural hospitals (vs. urban areas; OR = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.19 to 0.61) and those managed by a nonphysician health care provider (OR = 0.19, 95% CI = 0.07 to 0.53). Conclusions: From 1996 to 2007, there was a 10-fold increase in the utilization of CT scan for patients with suspected kidney stone without an associated change in the proportion of diagnosis of kidney stone, diagnosis of significant alternate diagnoses, or admission to the hospital.
Adulthood and Aging

People are inherently social beings. Although this need for social relationships is observed in people of all ages, the structure and relative importance placed on various members of the social network changes across the lifespan. The convoy model of social relations discusses both the stability and changes that occur in social network composition over time. According to the convoy model, an individual moves through life embedded within a network of people who provide aid, assistance, and support, as well as serve as a secure attachment base from which the individual may explore his or her world. The size of this network is posited to change predictably across the lifespan to reflect shifting social roles and family composition. These changes follow a curvilinear pattern, with numbers of close relationships lowest in early childhood, increasing throughout early and middle adulthood, and then decreasing in later adulthood (see review by Antonucci, Akiyama, & Takahashi, 2004). Keywords: social relationships; socioemotional selectivity; convoy model; well-being
13C Fourier transform studies of organotin compounds

Abstract 119 Sn- 13 C coupling constants have been measured for fourteen organotin compounds including aliphatic, unsaturated and cyclic derivatives yielding results which indicate that these parameters have great potential for revealing information concerning structures and conformations of organotin compounds and of other compounds into which organotin groups can be conveniently introduced.
A data mining approach for real-time corrective switching

Corrective transmission switching can improve the flexibility of power system. To avoid the computational complexity, a data mining approach for real-time corrective switching is proposed in this paper. A factorized expression that measures the approximate switching effects is first derived. The expression can be utilized to generate candidate transmission switching lists. Based on the factorized expression, an algorithm is proposed. The algorithm can be used to generate rank list of candidate switching actions. Since the algorithm bypasses the need to solve complex mixed integer optimization problems, it can provide candidate switching actions for real-time corrective control efficiently. The validity of the presented approach is demonstrated by tests conducted on IEEE RTS96 system.
A 6.6 MJ modulator for electrothermal chemical guns

The authors discuss a versatile 6.6 MJ modulator that is designed to be used in studies of electrothermal chemical (ET/C) guns. The modulator can provide megajoules of pulse energy of varying durations into significantly different impedances with efficiencies of 70% or greater. The system is housed in two trailers. The first contains a 1 MW diesel generator, a DC power supply, and a local control system. The other contains the capacitor banks, inductors, switches, and buswork. Coaxial cables connect the modulator to the gun some 10-15 m away. The system can be taken into the field where no power is locally available. The electrical design of the modulator is a C-type pulse forming network utilizing time-variable triggering of the various sections. The flexibility in the triggering system permits the modulator to provide a wide range of pulse shapes into significantly different loads. Computer-simulated output curves are presented showing operation into loads typical of ET/C guns, as well as indicating a range of possible impedances and pulse shapes. >
Notes on the Construction of the Moduli Space of Curves

The purpose of these notes is to discuss the problem of moduli for curves of genus g ≥ 31 and outline the construction of the (coarse) moduli scheme of stable curves due to Gieseker. The notes are broken into four parts.
Supervisor-Subordinate Directional Age Differences and Employee Reactions to Formal Performance Feedback: Examining Mediating and Moderating Mechanisms in a Chinese Sample

As a result of changing demographic trends in today’s workforce, employees of all ages can now be found in all career stages. Consequently, the pairing of a younger supervisor with a relatively older employee is becoming increasingly more common. Research in the United States has shown that such demographically ―non-normative‖ pairings have negative implications for employee attitudes and behaviors, and thus for employee performance management. However, little is known about the effects of such pairings in other nations and cultures, despite the fact that these demographic shifts are occurring on a global level. As such, this study examined the effects of these pairings on employee reactions to formal performance feedback episodes in a large organization in China, due to the nation’s similarly shifting demographic trends and its economic power in today’s global economy. A series of path analyses showed that being paired with a relatively younger supervisor did predict reduced employee feedback satisfaction and perceptions of feedback utility; but, contrary to the proposed model, these effects did not occur because of reduced interactional justice perceptions or reduced perceptions of leader-member exchange (LMX). Further, LMX did not moderate the study outcomes, demonstrating that having a DIRECTIONAL AGE DIFFERENCES IN CHINA ii better relationship with one’s supervisor did not alleviate the effects of supervisor relative age on employee feedback reactions. The conceptual and practical implications of these results are discussed in light of a rapidly changing workforce, and of cultural differences, in China. DIRECTIONAL AGE DIFFERENCES IN CHINA iii
Increased susceptibility of renal epithelial cells to TNFα-induced apoptosis following treatment with fumonisin B1

Previous studies have shown that tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) is involved in the pathogenic events following exposure to fumonisin B(1) (FB(1)), a potent inhibitor of ceramide synthase and sphingolipid biosynthesis. The intimate role of sphingolipid mediators in TNFalpha signaling and cellular death suggests that FB(1) may alter the sensitivity of cells to TNFalpha-induced apoptosis. We tested the hypothesis that FB(1) treatment will increase the sensitivity of porcine renal epithelial cells to TNFalpha. Porcine renal epithelial cells (LLC-PK(1)) were treated with FB(1) for 48 h prior to treatment with TNFalpha. A dose-dependent increase in TNFalpha-induced apoptosis was observed in cells pretreated with FB(1). Cells treated with FB(1) showed increased DNA fragmentation and terminal uridine nucleotide end labeling in response to TNFalpha treatment. FB(1) increased DNA synthesis and resulted in cell cycle arrest in the G(2)/M phase of the cell cycle. Flow cytometric analysis of the cell cycle indicated that TNFalpha predominantly killed cells in the G(2)/M phase. The activation of JNK, a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), was increased following 48 h exposure to FB(1). Phosphorylation of p38 and ERK remained unchanged following treatment with FB(1). FB(1) also increased free sphingoid base levels under identical treatment conditions. Results suggest that FB(1) increased free sphingoid base levels and the population of cells in the G(2)/M phase. This population was shown to be most susceptible to TNFalpha-induced apoptosis. Phosphorylation of pro-apoptotic JNK may play an important role in these effects.
The bionomics of Erwinia carotovora in North Dakota

A study into the ecology ofErwinia carotovora in North Dakota was performed to determine possible sources ofErwinia spp. which recontaminate stem cut derived seed stocks (SCDS).Erwinia carotovora pv.carotovora (Ecc) was found to overwinter in naturally infested agricultural soils that had been planted to potato the previous cropping season. However, this bacterium was only present in the 30–71 cm sampling depth.E. carotovora pv.atroseptica (Eca) and Ecc were also found in the rhizospheres of a few weed and crop species but the frequency of recovery was low. Ecc and other strains not identifiable to pathovar, but notE. chrysanthemi, were readily recovered from a variety of water sources and from sunflowers with stem and head soft-rot symptoms. AllErwinia strains were characterized, but not all could be identified to pathovar. WateringErwinia-free potato plants with water naturally infested withErwinia spp. resulted in progeny tubers contaminated withErwinia. The importance of this information with regard to the recontamination of SCDS is discussed.
Bovine TB and the 'singleton protocol': reward without risk.

A PIVOTAL balance for the design of disease control programmes is to achieve widescale benefits for populations based on regions/countries while minimising financial and operational burdens for individual producers. An assumption, formal or implicit, is that control programmes are periodically monitored to amend policy and procedures in accordance with changes in socioepidemiological factors. Principal control strategies for bovine tuberculosis (TB) include antemortem testing (primarily via tuberculin skin test and interferon-γ release assays), slaughter surveillance, isolation of affected herds, slaughter of infected animals or entire affected herds (depopulation or ‘stamping out’), movement control and movement testing policies. The ‘singleton protocol’ was initiated in 1996 by the Irish Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to address the shortfall in specificity of the single intradermal comparative cervical test (SICCT) for bovine TB. With the SICCT, Mycobacterium bovis purified protein derivative (PPD) and Mycobacterium avium PPD are administered intradermally at separate sites in the mid-cervical region of cattle. Seventy-two hours later, injection sites are measured for the level of reaction (induration) to provide a presumptive diagnosis concerning bovine TB infection status of the animal. As applied to cattle in Ireland, the SICCT has excellent relative specificity (ie, approximately 99.8 to 99.9 per cent [O'Reilly and MacClancy 1975]). As the test is not 100 per cent specific, a small fraction of reactors are falsely identified as M bovis -infected. The ‘singleton protocol’, as described by Murray and others (2012) in a paper summarised on p 516 of this issue, provides an opportunity for early restoration of health status for herds that meet epidemiological and test criteria as a singleton herd. Through analysis of postmortem results of cattle originating from herds with a single SICCT reactor, Murray and others …
Mechanical support for the failing cardiac allograft: a single-center experience.

Abstract Background: Mechanical support for pre-transplant stabilization is established, but its use in peri-operative graft failure (PGF) has not been well documented. With liberal acceptance criteria being used to enlarge the donor pool, an increased incidence of graft failure might be expected. We evaluated the incidence and outcome of PGF at our institution. Methods: A retrospective review of 462 consecutive adult heart transplants performed between January 1993 and December 1999 revealed 20 cases of PGF. Donor-, surgery- and device-related variables were evaluated for association with operative mortality, survival and successful device weaning. Results: Transplant recipients included 17 men and 3 women, median age 56.5 years (20 to 66 years). PGF etiology included primary graft failure ( n = 9); right heart failure (RHF) secondary to pulmonary hypertension, coagulopathy/intra-operative hemorrhage or sepsis ( n = 9); and hyperacute rejection ( n = 2). Device types included RVAD ( n = 11), LVAD ( n = 4), BIVAD ( n = 3) and IABP ( n = 2). The wean rate was 45%. Duration of device support ranged from 2 to 965 hours. Early ventricular recovery (within 96 hours) was associated with significantly better 30-day and 2-year survival. Weaned patients had an 88% 30-day and 67% 2-year survival, whereas the overall survival rate was 79% at 2 years ( p = not significant). Conclusions: Early ventricular recovery is an important predictor of successful weaning and survival. In view of the prohibitive mortality associated with PGF and the dismal prognosis with re-transplantation, we advocate aggressive use of mechanical assistance for PGF, with an acceptable survival benefit.
Maize growth and yield responses to seed‐inoculated N2‐fixing bacteria under Dryland production conditions

Abstract Maize (Zea Mays L.) seeds were inoculated with the N2‐fixing bacteria, Azospirillum brasilense and Azorhizobium caulinodans. Shoot growth, shoot nitrogen (N) concentration, and grain yield was determined under dryland production conditions in a silt loam. Fertilizer N was applied according to soil test recommendations at either 0, 50, 75, or 100% of the recommended N requirements for a 7,500 kg ha‐1 yield goal. Both A. brasilense and A. caulinodans increased shoot dry matter production, shoot N concentration, and grain yield somewhat at the lower N recommended rates. There was no agronomic benefit with either A. brasilense and A. caulinodans inoculations under dryland conditions for high N fertility soils under dryland production conditions in a subhumid or semi‐arid moisture regime.
Theoretical Calculation of the Liquid—Vapor Coexistence Curve of Water, Chloroform and Methanol with the Cavity-Biased Monte Carlo Method in the Gibbs Ensemble

Abstract The Gibbs ensemble computer simulation method of Panagiotopoulos is combined by the cavity-biased sampling technique used previously in the grand-canonical ensemble. The combined technique is applied to the determination of the liquid—vapor coexistence curve of the Lennard—Jones fluid as a test case, two water models (SPC and TIP4P) as well as methanol and chloroform, both described with the OPLS model. The application of the virial-based sampling technique, used earlier in the isobaric ensemble is also discussed.
Estimation of non-stationary spectra by simulated annealing

The simulated annealing method has been applied to the estimation of non-stationary spectra, hi the estimation, the simulated annealing method is used to minimize the mean square percentage error which is a nonlinear function with many local minima. The estimation based on simulated annealing has the advantage of being more reliable in finding the global minimum. Moreover, the method of simulated annealing requires much less prior knowledge on the non-stationary spectrum. Some concerns about the application of simulated annealing to the estimation of non-stationary spectra are also discussed in this paper
Drive 'Til You Qualify: Credit quality and household location

Abstract A deeper understanding of the credit-sorting process is essential when considering the extent to which home foreclosures are driven by price contagion or an underlying spatial pattern of mortgage quality. Adapting household location theory, we find that credit constrained households follow “drive-'til-you-qualify” behavior leading to rising credit quality with distance from the CBD while unconstrained households exhibit declining credit quality. Individual level mortgage loan-to-income data for the 100 largest MSAs show credit constrained behavior either throughout the urban area or concentrated in the suburbs. Meta analysis of the credit sorting estimates identify MSA characteristics associated with each pattern.
Neuropathology of chronic GM2 gangliosidosis due to hexosaminidase A deficiency.

Autopsy studies of late-onset GM2 gangliosidosis are sparse and only one adult case is on record. The case of partial Hex A deficiency presented here started in childhood as spinal muscular atrophy which progressed slowly over 4 decades. Cognitive function remained intact throughout the entire course, but during the last few years of life allodynia supervened. The patient died at 44 years of age. In good correlation with clinical observations the autopsy findings showed the most severe accumulation of lipid and consequent regressive change in the anterior horns of the spinal cord. Extensive but less severe storage was found in other spinal cord neurons, brain stem and selected basal ganglia. Cerebral cortex was virtually spared by storage but was the site of excessive formation of lipofuscin which was also present in many other neurons in the CNS. Marked storage and ganglionic loss was also found in the dorsal root ganglia, and the fasciculus gracilis was severely depleted of myelinated fibers. Electron microscopy showed accumulated gangliosides almost exclusively in the form of single and coalescing zebra bodies. In conclusion, the pathology in this case of chronic GM2 gangliosidosis, though in part conforming with previous observations, differed in several aspects. First, the cerebral cortex was - with only a few exceptions - free of ganglioside storage. Also spared was the cerebellum. In addition, homogeneous accumulation of zebra bodies contrasted with heterogeneity ofneuronal inclusions found in other chronic cases. Finally, the involvement of sensory neurons was prominent and potentially related to allodynia. Molecular study of HEXA gene in this patient showed an TATC1278/? genotype.
Glycaemic index values in the Finnish food composition database: an approach to standardised value documentation.

Glycaemic index values in the Finnish food composition database: an approach to standardised value documentation
Metabolic mapping of the brain during rewarding self-stimulation

Local rates of cerebral glucose utilization were measured in rats by the quantitative 2-deoxy-D-[14C]glucose autoradiographic method during electrical stimulation of the ventral tegmental area. Rats trained in intracranial self-stimulation showed a pattern of changes in forebrain metabolic activity distinctly different from the pattern seen in rats stimulated by the experimenter. These findings provide information about the distribution of local cerebral activity specific to reinforced instrumental behavior.
Applications of a rapid sampling vehicleborne magnetometer

A vehicleborne magnetometer enables high resolution magnetic surveying to be conducted with savings in time and labour. Established airborne systems are unsuitable for closely spaced traverses in high resolution mapping. To utilise the full sensitivity of currently available magnetometers on land it has been necessary to carry the instrument by hand and to record individually the data at discrete stations. Described is a method for simply overcoming the magnetic perturbation encountered in close proximity to a vehicle and thus enabling high fidelity analog or digital data to be recorded while driving over the ground. The unit is capable of a rapid rate of traversing, combined with the possibility of immediately investigating the geological significance of an observed anomaly. The technique lends itself ideally to "on site" data presentation providing "visual signal enhancement" of weak spatial anomalies hidden in temporal noise. Quantitative interpretation of the ground level profile may be automatically performed by applying a Hilbert Transform method and use of the "magnetic signature" of rocks is suggested for regional geological mapping.
How to overbook procedures in the endoscopy unit

Background Because nonattendance of outpatients scheduled for GI endoscopy is unavoidable, a frequently recommended solution involves overbooking patient appointments. Objective To provide a set of numerical guidelines of how to overbook patients scheduled for endoscopy. Design Cost-benefit analysis using stochastic modeling to estimate the total number of endoscopy appointments (including overbooking) that maximize the expected benefit from endoscopy. Patients Subjects scheduled for GI endoscopy. Main Outcome Measurements The number of endoscopies that should be scheduled under various scenarios of patient attendance rates, the number of available endoscopy slots, and the cost impact of missed appointments. Results Overbooking can increase the expected benefit but never quite reaches the benefit that would be achieved, if all patients were perfectly reliable in meeting their scheduled appointments. The expected benefit of overbooking always comes to lie between the low benefit without overbooking and the high benefit associated with perfectly reliable patients. The less reliable the patient population, the more overbooking needs to take place. Overbooking should also expand with a decreasing cost impact of overbooked endoscopies. Overbooking is most beneficial in large endoscopy units. This article provides a table with a large set of numerical examples for different scenarios of overbooking that cover endoscopy units of diverse sizes and patient attendance rates. Limitations The analysis does not take into account individual patient characteristics that may affect attendance rates. Conclusion This analysis yields a set of estimates for overbooking that can be readily applied to a large variety of endoscopic units.
Performance and microbial community dynamics of a sulfate-reducing bioreactor treating coal generated acid mine drainage.

The effectiveness of a passive flow sulfate-reducing bioreactor processing acid mine drainage (AMD) generated from an abandoned coal mine in Southern Illinois was evaluated using geochemical and microbial community analysis 10 months post bioreactor construction. The results indicated that the treatment system was successful in both raising the pH of the AMD from 3.09 to 6.56 and in lowering the total iron level by 95.9%. While sulfate levels did decrease by 67.4%, the level post treatment (1153 mg/l) remained above recommended drinking water levels. Stimulation of biological sulfate reduction was indicated by a +2.60‰ increase in δ34S content of the remaining sulfate in the water post-treatment. Bacterial community analysis targeting 16S rRNA and dsrAB genes indicated that the pre-treated samples were dominated by bacteria related to iron-oxidizing Betaproteobacteria, while the post-treated water directly from the reactor outflow was dominated by sequences related to sulfur-oxidizing Epsilonproteobacteria and complex carbon degrading Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes phylums. Analysis of the post-treated water, prior to environmental release, revealed that the community shifted back to predominantly iron-oxidizing Betaproteobacteria. DsrA analysis implied limited diversity in the sulfate-reducing population present in both the bioreactor outflow and oxidation pond samples. These results support the use of passive flow bioreactors to lower the acidity, metal, and sulfate levels present in the AMD at the Tab-Simco mine, but suggest modifications of the system are necessary to both stimulate sulfate-reducing bacteria and inhibit sulfur-oxidizing bacteria.
Differential cross section for molecular ionization by electron impact in the adiabatic approximation.

Molecular ionization by electron impact is examined in the Born-Oppenheimer approximation where the rotational and vibrational motions of the nuclei are considered separable. Expressions for the differential cross section, applicable to an exact treatment of the adiabatic electronic wave functions, are derived in terms of a momentum-transferred summation for three levels of experimental resolution, spatially unpolarized, spatially unpolarized and rotationally unresolved, and spatially unpolarized and rotationally and vibrationally unresolved. Several possible advantages of a momentum-transferred summation relative to a partial-wave summation are discussed. Most importantly, the expected relatively rapid convergence of the momentum-transferred summation effectively reduces the number of transition matrix elements which must be calculated. Additionally, the momentum-transferred summation involves an ''incoherent'' summation which, in general, is more easily computed. Lastly, we present explicit expressions for the transition probabilities in the plane-wave and distorted-wave Born approximations.
Integrated teleoperation and automation for nuclear facility cleanup

Purpose – The objective of this work was to demonstrate a novel approach to human machine interaction that seamlessly uses teleoperation and automation in a complex environment.Design/methodology/approach – This work leverages developments in the area of operational software Operational Software Components for Advanced Robotics (OSCAR), decision making, human‐machine interface, and motion planning. This demonstration uses a 17 degrees‐of‐freedom (DOF) dual arm robot that is equipped with modern tool changers, crash protectors, force‐torque sensors and electrical and pneumatic power at the tools. Four different end‐effector tools are also provided. These are electric grippers, electric rotary saw, electric drill, and a pneumatic spray gun. The system can be used both in teleoperation and automation mode. In teleoperation mode, the user has a choice of five different input devices. These are computer keyboard, spaceball and spacemouse, RSI manual controller and kraft force feedback controller. Automation is...
Protein-Protein interactions of light-harvesting pigment protein from spinach chloroplasts. I. Ca2+ binding and its relation to protein association

The role of divalent cations in the regulation of the distribution of excitation energy between the two photosystems involved in green plants photosynthesis has led us to search for a better understanding of how such phenomena might occur at the molecular level. Since small changes in orientation of and distance between pigment molecules could greatly affect the distribution of excitation energy, we have decided to study the effects of ions on the light-harvesting pigment protein from spinach chloroplasts. The light-harvesting pigment protein is shown to have two types of binding sites for Ca-2+. Binding studies and analytical ultracentrifugation indicate that site I (K-d equals 2.5 mu-M, n equals 1.5-4.0 mu-mol Ca-2+ bound/mg chlorophyll) is lost as the protein associates. Site II (K-d equals 32 mu-M, n equals 9,5 mu-mol Ca-2+/mg chlorophyll) is not affected by the association of the protein. This site is responsible, however, for a further divalent cation-dependent association of the protein. The possible role of this protein in grana stacking and control of spillover is discussed.