cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nafion/PVDF nanofiber composite membranes for regenerative hydrogen/bromine fuel cells

Abstract Nanofiber composite proton exchange membranes were fabricated and their properties measured, for possible use in a regenerative hydrogen/bromine fuel cell. The membranes were prepared from dual nanofiber mats, composed of Nafion® perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) ionomer for proton transport and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) for mechanical reinforcement. Two composite membranes structures containing Nafion volume fractions ranging from 0.30 to 0.65 were investigated: (1) Nafion nanofibers embedded in a PVDF matrix (N(fibers)/PVDF) and (2) PVDF nanofibers embedded in a Nafion matrix (N/PVDF(fibers)). The in-plane conductivity for films equilibrated in water and 2.0 M HBr scaled linearly with Nafion volume fraction for both morphologies. The through-plane proton conductivity of N(fibers)/PVDF membranes in water was lower than that of N/PVDF(fibers) films with the same Nafion content for films with less than 55 vol% Nafion, e.g., 0.03 S/cm for N(fibers)/PVDF membrane vs. 0.04 S/cm for N/PVDF(fibers) membrane at 40 vol% Nafion. N(fibers)/PVDF membranes exhibited excellent Br2/ Br 3 − barrier properties with a reasonable membrane resistance, e.g., a N(fibers)/PVDF membrane with 40 vol% Nafion and a thickness of 48 µm had the same area-specific-resistance as Nafion® 115 (0.13 Ω cm2) but its steady-state Br2/ Br 3 − crossover flux was 3.0 times lower than that of Nafion 115 (1.43×10−9 mol/s/cm2 vs. 4.28×10−9 mol/s/cm2).
Development of Sensors Testbed for Autonomous Vehicles

Autonomous Vehicle (AV) technology has the potential to provide enormous value to society. Thus, there is an urgent need to build comprehensive testing technology to prove efficacy under all environmental conditions of interest. In this paper, we will present the first step towards developing a comprehensive testbed for autonomous vehicles (AV) sensors testing and verification with a focus on the radar systems in the presence of rain. We will demonstrate the response of the radar systems onboard AVs based on multiple simulated scenarios. The simulated framework involves radars, target objects, and a stationary vehicle at specific environmental conditions using Matlab.
Thermal stress increases activity and risk-taking behavior but not anxiety in a livebearing fish

Characterizing the potential for, and mechanisms of, organismal response to environmental stress, particularly in the context of temperature, remains important for predicting effects of global change on natural populations. A number of studies have looked at changes in behavioral variation, focusing primarily on activity, boldness and aggression, while many behavioral traits have gone unexplored. In this study, I examine responses of a widespread neotropical livebearer, the barred killifish, to variation in water temperature. In addition to activity and boldness, I assayed variation in anxiety (measured as thigmotaxis – preference for edges) following a short-term exposure to thermal stress. Similar to other studies, elevated temperatures were associated with significant increases in activity and propensity for risk-taking behavior. There was no effect of thermal stress on anxiety, but males did have overall lower anxiety than females. An increase in activity and boldness may be a general response to thermal stress, even if competing hypotheses of the adaptive benefit remain unresolved. The insensitivity of thigmotaxis to thermal stress suggests that this measure of anxiety may be independent of variation along the shy-bold axis and therefore represent a useful measure for future studies of behavioral variation.
Bank Loans and Bond Prices

We test whether bank loans change public bond yields. A 10% increase in bank debt raises bond yields by 15bps, reflecting a trade-off between the benefits of bank cross-monitoring and higher bond risk. This effect is smaller for firms with no CDS and junk debt, where bank monitoring is most valuable. It is unlikely that firms with bank debt are riskier because they are less likely to be downgraded and have lower loan spreads. We find similar results using a natural experiment around the 2014 oil shock. Our results highlight how bond yields depend on incentive conflicts among creditors.
Moral Gridworlds: A Theoretical Proposal for Modeling Artificial Moral Cognition

I describe a suite of reinforcement learning environments in which artificial agents learn to value and respond to moral content and contexts. I illustrate the core principles of the framework by characterizing one such environment, or “gridworld,” in which an agent learns to trade-off between monetary profit and fair dealing, as applied in a standard behavioral economic paradigm. I then highlight the core technical and philosophical advantages of the learning approach for modeling moral cognition, and for addressing the so-called value alignment problem in AI.
Exploring Representation of Diverse Samples in fMRI Studies Conducted in Patients With Cardiac-Related Chronic Illness: A Focused Systematic Review

Introduction/Purpose: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide, and in the United States alone, CVD causes nearly 840,000 deaths annually. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), a tool to assess brain activity, researchers have identified some brain-behavior connections and predicted several self-management behaviors. The purpose of this study was to examine the sample characteristics of individuals with CVD who participated in fMRI studies. Methods: A literature search was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, and Scopus. No date or language restrictions were applied and research methodology filters were used. In October 2017, 1659 titles and abstracts were identified. Inclusion criteria were: (1) utilized an empirical study design, (2) used fMRI to assess brain activity, and (3) focused on patients with CVD-related chronic illness. Articles were excluded if they: were theory or opinion articles, focused on mental or neuropathic illness, included non-human samples, or were not written in English. After duplicates were removed (230), 1,429 titles and abstracts were reviewed based on inclusion criteria; 1,243 abstracts were then excluded. A total of 186 studies were reviewed in their entirety; after additional review, 142 were further excluded for not meeting the inclusion criteria. Forty-four articles met criteria and were included in the final review. An evidence table was created to capture the demographics of each study sample. Results: Ninety eight percent of the studies did not report the racial or ethnic composition of their sample. Most studies (66%) contained more men than women. Mean age ranged from 38 to 78 years; 77% reported mean age ≥50 years. The most frequently studied CVD was stroke (86%), while hypertension was studied the least (2%). Conclusion: Understanding brain-behavior relationships can help researchers and practitioners tailor interventions to meet specific patient needs. These findings suggest that additional studies are needed that focus on populations historically underrepresented in fMRI research. Researchers should thoughtfully consider diversity and purposefully sample groups by including individuals that are: women, from diverse backgrounds, younger, and diagnosed with a variety of CVD-related illnesses. Identifying and addressing these gaps by studying more representative samples will help healthcare providers reduce disparities and tailor interventions for all CVD populations.
National School Nurse Survey of Epinephrine Use in Schools

The below abstract was submitted and presented as a poster at AAAAI March 2017 Atlanta. Never submitted or presented for AAP. Title: National School Nurse Survey of Epinephrine Use in Schools Authors: Michael Pistiner, MD, MMSc1, Michele N. Pham, MD2 , Julie Wang, MD2 1Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, 2Division of Allergy and Immunology, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Background: Food allergy prevalence is estimated to be approximate 8% in children and rising. Prior studies …
Level Curve Tracking without Localization Enabled by Recurrent Neural Networks

Recursive neural networks can be trained to serve as a memory for robots to perform intelligent behaviors when localization is not available. This paper develops an approach to convert a spatial map, represented as a scalar field, into a trained memory represented by the long short-term memory (LSTM) neural network. The trained memory can be retrieved through sensor measurements collected by robots to achieve intelligent behaviors, such as tracking level curves in the map. Memory retrieval does not require robot locations. The retrieved information is combined with sensor measurements through a Kalman filter enabled by the LSTM (LSTM-KF). Furthermore, a level curve tracking control law is designed. Simulation results show that the LSTM-KF and the control law are effective to generate level curve tracking behaviors for single-robot and multi-robot teams.
Management of migraine in the emergency department: Findings from the 2010–2017 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Surveys

Abstract Objective The study objective was to describe trends in the medical management of migraine in the emergency department (ED) using the 2010—2017 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) datasets. Methods Using the 2010–2017 NHAMCS datasets, we analyzed visits with a discharge diagnosis of migraine. Drug prescription frequencies between years were compared with the Rao-Scott chi-squared test. Adjusted odds ratios of opioid administration from 2010 to 2017 were calculated using weighted multivariable logistic regression with sex, age, race/ethnicity, pain-score, primary expected source of payment, and year as predictor variables. Results Our analysis captured 1846 ED visits with a diagnosis of migraine from 2010 to 2017, representing a weighted average of 1.2 million US ED visits per year. Parenteral opioids were prescribed in 49% (95% CI: 40, 58) of visits in 2010 and 28% (95% CI: 15, 45) of visits in 2017 (p = 0.03). From 2010 to 2017, there was a 10% yearly decrease in opioid prescriptions. Metoclopramide and ketorolac were prescribed more frequently in years 2015 through 2017 than in 2010. Increased opioid administration was associated with female sex, older age, white race, higher pain score, and having Medicare or private insurance as the primary expected source of payment for all years. Conclusion Opioid administration for migraine in EDs across the US declined 10% annually between 2010 and 2017, demonstrating improved adherence to migraine guidelines recommending against opioids. We identified several factors associated with opioid administration for migraine, identifying groups at higher risk for unnecessary opioids in the ED setting.
Trends in Preserving and Enhancing the Value of Software

This position paper on the ICSM 2000 conference theme reviews five key questions about determining software value. Afterward it groups some major trend issues relevant to software value into four clusters. Then drawing upon existing practices, it notes trends in seven value-preserving and enhancing groups of processes. In conclusion, it points to the critical role of management in preserving and enhancing the value of software.
TROP-2 co-expression with androgen receptor splice variants as a new therapeutic target in prostate cancer.

5060Background: Tumor-associated calcium signal transducer 2 (TROP-2, TACSTD2) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that is highly expressed in many epithelial cancers. Overexpression of TROP-2 is postu...
Effects of accumulated host, social and environmental exposures on early childhood educational outcomes

Background: Persistent disparities in academic performance may result from a confluence of adverse exposures accruing disproportionately to specific subpopulations.Objective: To investigate how mul...
Health System Comparative Analysis: The United States and Uganda

A comparison of international healthcare systems provides unique insights beyond those attainable through an ethnocentric analysis. Through a global health education program provided by Child Family Health International, we spent eight weeks as students of Dr. Geoffrey Anguyo, the Founder and Executive Director of the holistic-minded development organization Kigezi Healthcare Foundation (KIHEFO), located in the Kabale District of Uganda. This partnership motivated and guided this comparative analysis of the health systems in the United States and Uganda, through which we are able to derive a more robust understanding of health and healthcare than that which could be achieved by studying either country in isolation. We begin with an overview of the structure and burden of disease in each respective country before further investigating prevalent topics in both healthcare systems including maternal health and child malnutrition. We find that differences in resources and primary health concerns derived from the oppression of the Global South by the Global North have shaped each of these healthcare systems to target distinct needs. However, both systems are united in their shared goal to improve the quality of life for their citizens, allowing us to draw connections and uplift from each country’s healthcare system general best-practices that can be molded to fit a country’s specific health needs. This study does not hold one system as superior to the other. Rather, through this comparison we seek to illuminate the strengths and weaknesses of both systems as they exist within their unique contexts to develop a stronger global understanding of health and healthcare.
AC measurements and simulations of hepatic radiofrequency ablation

INTRODUCTION The radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of liver cancer is a desirable treatment option, as it is minimally invasive. An accurate numerical simulation can greatly help physicians better plan their surgical protocols. Previously, the displacement current in the RFA process was considered negligible, and therefore RFA simulation was modeled as a direct current (DC) system instead of an alternating current (AC) system. Our study investigated the hypothesis that the displacement current in the RFA process should not always be considered negligible. METHODS AC measurements of ex vivo bovine liver ablation were performed, and numerical simulations were also conducted to test the hypothesis that the relative permittivity would significantly decrease after the liver tissue reached a high temperature. RESULTS The displacement current was observed to be a sizable fraction of the conduction current, especially before the onset of the first pause. The simulation results indicated that the relative permittivity is likely to decrease to several hundred or lower at elevated temperatures. CONCLUSIONS Our study results suggest that the DC model may be inadequate, especially before the first roll-off and that additional information could be available during RFA treatment by considering the AC nature of RFA, which could lead to improved numerical simulation. Additional measurements of tissue parameters are needed to reach the full potential of the AC model for further development of ablation control.
Boys' and Girls' Interactions With Same-Gender Friends and Other-Gender Friends: A Focus on Problem Disclosures.

The current study examines adolescents' subjective experiences interacting with same-gender and other-gender friends, with a focus on interactions involving disclosure about personal problems. Participants were 510 youth (65% White or European American, 26% Black or African American) in seventh grade (n = 244; M = 13.01 years; 51% girls) and tenth grade (n = 266; M = 16.03 years; 52% girls). Adolescents completed an event-contingent sampling assessment to record interactions with same-gender and other-gender friends. Results indicated that middle adolescents were more likely to interact with other-gender friends than early adolescents. Girls were more likely to report problem disclosure interactions than boys; however, boys reported more positive subjective experiences in problem disclosure interactions with other-gender friends than did girls.
The Clinical Basis for Discussion of Mechanisms of Manipulative Therapy

“There is no scientific basis for manipulative therapy,” has been the most commonly stated and the most damaging criticism levied against practitioners of manipulation (Crelin, 1973; Farfan, 1973). Many noted physicians and scientists, after reviewing the available literature and research, have come to the conclusion that “there is no justification for the use of manipulative therapy” (Nachemson, 1975; Pearce & Moll, 1967; Sham, 1974). On the other hand, practitioners of manipulation feel that their clinical results are indisputable (Gitelman, 1975; Maitland, 1973; Mennell, 1960), and that there is ample experimental evidence to support their theories on how manipulation works (Cyriax, 1975; Homewood, 1963; Janse, Houser & Wells, 1947; Maigne, 1972). One reason for this dichotomy of opinion is the fact that certain basic criteria requisite for the evaluation of the rationale for any treatment have been frequently neglected.
Historic Salvage and the Law of the Sea

* The research assistance of Joshua K Leader (Emory University School of Law, '95) is gratefully acknowledged. " Professor of Law, Emory University. A.B., Princeton University; M.Sc. (Sea-Use Law), London School of Economics; J.D., University of Virginia; Diploma, Hague Academy of International Law; Ph.D., University of London. The author has been a paid consultant to many historic salvors, representing their interests in litigation involving rights and access to historic shipwrecks. For a sampling of reported decisions in which he has served as counsel, see Steinmetz v. United States, 973 F.2d 212 (3d Cir. 1992), cert, denied, 507 U.S. 984 (1993); Falgout Bros. v. The PANGAEA, 966 F. Supp. 1143 (S.D. Ala. 1997) (court-appointed amici); Deep Sea Research, Inc. v. The BROTHER JONATHAN, 883 F. Supp. 1343, 1362 (N.D. Cal. 1995), affd, 102 F.3d 379 (9th Cir. 1996), affd in part, and remanded, 118 S.Ct. 1464 (1998).
Effect of praziquantel on the eggs of Schistosoma mansoni, with a note on the implications for managing central nervous system schistosomiasis.

The morphology of Schistosoma mansoni eggs in intestinal tissues (oograms), and egg hatching in faeces, were studied after parenteral administration of praziquantel (PZQ) to infected mice. PZQ was ...
Do Managers Influence their Pay? Evidence from stock price reversals around executive option grants

Using a database of 605,106 option grant filings by insiders between 1992 and 2002, we find significant abnormal stock return reversals around the grant date. Consistent with the hypothesis that managers influence their pay, the reversals are positively related to grant size and the seniority of the manager, and negatively related to the firm size. The reversals are also more pronounced for grants that are not awarded on a regular schedule. The returns following the grant date are negatively correlated to the returns prior to the grant date, indicating that some firms are attempting to influence the grant date stock price by more than just timing the grant date or timing information releases around the grant date. We find that the extent of reversals are positively related to the magnitude of the time interval between the grant date and the date the grants are reported to the SEC, suggesting that some firms are setting the grant date on a back-date basis, i.e., picking a date in the past with a lower stock price compared to that on the decision date.
Drag perturbations of near-circular orbits in an oblate diurnal atmosphere.

An improved theory is developed specifically for orbits of very small eccentricity (e = 0 to 0.01). Analytic expressions are derived which describe perturbation rates in orbit period, eccentricity, and perigee argument. The equations include the combined effects of earth flattening, oblate earth mass, and the diurnal bulge. Singularities and ambiguities encountered with existing theory are removed by employing mean orbital elements. Comparisons of analytical averaging with numerical integration methods demonstrate intrinsic perturbation accuracies to within 2%, with an accomplished improvement of two orders of magnitude in computation time.
Migration between continents: geographical structure and long‐distance gene flow in Porpidia flavicunda (lichen‐forming Ascomycota)

Historical and contemporary geographical distribution ranges with their associated gene flow patterns interact to produce the genetic diversity observed today. Often it is not possible to separate out the impacts of historical events, e.g. past fragmentation, and contemporary gene flow, e.g. long-distance dispersal. Porpidia flavicunda is a lichen-forming ascomycete occurring circumpolar in the boreal to arctic zones for which vegetation history suggests that its distribution pattern has stayed broadly the same over the past millennia. DNA-sequence diversity in P. flavicunda can, thus, be expected to predominantly represent geographical population differentiation and its contemporary migration rates. The population sample consists of 110 specimens collected in Northern Quebec, Baffin Island, Western Greenland and Northern Scandinavia. DNA-sequence data sets of three nuclear gene fragments (LSU, RPB2 and beta-tubulin) were analysed for genetic diversity within, and differentiation between, geographical regions. Tests of population subdivision employing analyses of molecular variance and exact tests of haplotype frequency distributions showed significant structure between the geographical regions. However, the lack of fixed nucleotide polymorphisms and the wide sharing of identical haplotypes between geographical regions suggest recurrent long-distance gene flow of propagules. Still, the means by which propagules are dispersed remain to be discovered. Inference of migration rates shows that in many cases a sufficiently high amount of migrants is exchanged between geographical regions to prevent drastic population differentiation through genetic drift. The observed haplotype distributions and migration rates point to a gene flow model of isolation by distance.
Plasma Albumin Synthesis in Perfused Rat Liver

14C labelled amino acids have been used extensively to study protein synthesis in vivo and in tissues. To evaluate the rate of synthesis from the 14C incorporation, it is necessary to know the specific activity of the amino acid at the site of synthesis. This is often difficult to establish. It has been frequently assumed that the specific activity of the amino acid in blood or tissue fluids equals that in the cell, but this may not be always true.
The linear MMSE estimation of an aliased random process

We consider the problem of linearly estimating in the sense of minimum mean-squared error a wide-sense stationary process in noise given uniformly spaced samples where the sampling interval is such that significant aliasing occurs. We derive the corresponding aliased Wiener filter and provide a technique for determining a closed form for the necessary power spectral density functions. We conclude with an example where both signal and noise are modelled as the output of a second-order linear system driven by white noise.
Biologic predictors of serologic responses to HPV in oropharyngeal cancer: The HOTSPOT study

Summary Objectives We hypothesized that viral and host factors impact the serologic responses to HPV early antigens in HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer (HPVOPC). Materials and methods We conducted a multicenter study to measure HPV16-specific IgG among patients with HPVOPC, their long-term sexual partners, and healthy volunteers. Risk factor surveys and rinse and gargle specimens were collected. Peripheral blood samples at diagnosis were evaluated for IgG Abs to HPV16 antigens using a programmable ELISA assay. Predictors for HPV16 serologic responses were evaluated using univariate and multivariable linear regression. Results 116 patients with HPVOPC, 43 partners, and 81 healthy volunteers were enrolled and had baseline sera for analysis. Cases were primarily male (90%), with a median age of 56 years. Abs to E1, E2, E6 or E7 antigens were detected more often in HPVOPC compared with volunteers or partner sera (p Conclusions HPV16 seroreactivity is commonly detected among patients with HPVOPC at diagnosis, but not among partners or healthy volunteers. Seroreactivity among cases are correlated with viral load and stage and not with other demographic or behavioral factors. Positive HPV16 serology was strongly associated with HPV 16 oropharyngeal cancer.
Identification of amino acids essential for calmodulin binding and activation of smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase.

Smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase (smMLCK) is a Ca(2+)-calmodulin (CaM)-dependent enzyme that phosphorylates the 20-kDa light chains of myosin. In a previous study (Bagchi, I.C., Kemp, B.E., and Means, A.R. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 15843-15849), we expressed in bacteria a 40-kDa fragment of smMLCK that displayed Ca(2+)-CaM-regulated catalytic activity. Initial mutagenesis experiments indicated that Gly811 and Arg812 were important for CaM-dependent activation of this 40-kDa enzyme. We have now carried out site-directed mutagenesis within the CaM-binding domain (Ser787 to Leu813) of this enzyme to identify amino acids that are critical for CaM binding and activation. Our studies reveal that the individual mutation of several hydrophobic amino acid residues such as Leu813, Ile810, and Trp800 and the glycine residue Gly804 also resulted in a severe decrease in or complete loss of CaM binding and activation of smMLCK. The hydrophobic residue (Trp800) and the basic residue (Arg812), both of which are mandatory for CaM binding to smMLCK, occur in analogous positions within the CaM-binding domain of a number of CaM-regulated enzymes. We conclude from these results that CaM binding by smMLCK is determined by an interplay of specific hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions which appear to be conserved among various target enzymes of CaM.
Hadronic B Decays

We review recent experimental results from CLEO and LEP experiments on hadronic decays of hadrons containing $b$ quarks. We discuss charm counting and the semileptonic branching fraction in $B$ decays and the color suppressed amplitude in $B$ decay. (to appear in the Proceedings of 1997 Heavy Flavors Conference in Santa Barbara)
The Short-Term Effects of Ketogenic Diet on Cardiac Ventricular Functions in Epileptic Children

Abstract Objective Our primary aim was to determine the short-term effects of a ketogenic diet on cardiac ventricular function in patients with refractory epilepsy. Methods Thirty-eight drug-resistant epileptic patients who were treated with a ketogenic diet were enrolled in this prospective study. Echocardiography was performed on all patients before beginning the ketogenic diet and after the sixth month of therapy. Two-dimensional, M-mode, color flow, spectral Doppler, and pulsed-wave tissue Doppler imaging measurements were performed on all patients. Results The median age of the 32 patients was 45.5 months, and 22 (57.8%) of them were male. Body weight, height, and body mass index increased significantly at the sixth month of therapy when compared with baseline values ( P P > 0.05). Doppler flow indices of mitral annulus and tricuspid annulus velocity of patients at baseline and month 6 showed no significant differences ( P > 0.05). Tricuspid annular E/A ratio was lower at month 6 ( P P > 0.05), there was a decrease in Ea velocity and Ea/Aa ratio gathered from tricuspid annulus at month 6 compared with baseline ( P Conclusion A 6-month duration ketogenic diet does not impair left ventricular functions in children with refractory epilepsy; however, it may be associated with a right ventricular diastolic dysfunction.
Porter vs. Porter: Modeling the technological competitiveness of nations

The author evaluates two major models of technological competitiveness of nations, and proposes a synthesized model based on their strengths and then complements it with additional measures. The paper addresses definition distinctions between the terms “competition” and “innovation”, discusses the differing views on whether certain statistics are either input or output indicators, and reconsiders the relevance of the unit of analysis.
Amplified quenching in metal–organic conjugated polymers

The luminescence from conjugated polyelectrolytes that contain pendant metal complex units is quenched very efficiently by oppositely charged electron acceptors.
Removing spurious reflections from CFD solutions by using the Complex Cepstrum

The Complex Cepstrum is shown to remove spurious reflections from artificial boundaries in computational fluid dynamic (CFD) solutions. First, the Complex Cepstrum theory is presented. A model time sequence consisting of a direct signal and reflections is analyzed theoretically with the Complex Cepstrum, and it is shown that the direct signal uncontaminated by reflections may be recovered in the time domain. Next, the Complex Cepstrum is applied to one- and three-dimensional CFD solutions, and spurious reflections from the boundary conditions are removed. By eliminating spurious reflections introduced by artificial boundary conditions, the applicability of CFD methods to aeroacoustic problems is greatly enhanced.
Near-Infrared Spectroscopic Method for Identification of Fusarium Head Blight Damage and Prediction of Deoxynivalenol in Single Wheat Kernels

Cereal Chem. 87(6):511–517 Fusarium Head Blight (FHB), or scab, can result in significant crop yield losses and contaminated grain in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Growing less susceptible cultivars is one of the most effective methods for managing FHB and for reducing deoxynivalenol (DON) levels in grain, but breeding programs lack a rapid and objective method for identifying the fungi and toxins. It is important to estimate proportions of sound kernels and Fusarium-damaged kernels (FDK) in grain and to estimate DON levels of FDK to objectively assess the resistance of a cultivar. An automated single kernel near-infrared (SKNIR) spectroscopic method for identification of FDK and for estimating DON levels was evaluated. The SKNIR system classified visually sound and FDK with an accuracy of 98.8 and 99.9%, respectively. The sound fraction had no or very little accumulation of DON. The FDK fraction was sorted into fractions with high or low DON content. The kernels identified as FDK by the SKNIR system had better correlation with other FHB assessment indices such as FHB severity, FHB incidence and kernels/g than visual FDK%. This technique can be successfully employed to nondestructively sort kernels with Fusarium damage and to estimate DON levels of those kernels. Single kernels could be predicted as having low ( 60 ppm) DON with ≈96% accuracy. Single kernel DON levels of the high DON kernels could be estimated with R 2 = 0.87 and standard error of prediction (SEP) of 60.8 ppm. Because the method is nondestructive, seeds may be saved for generation advancement. The automated method is rapid (1 kernel/sec) and sorting grains into several fractions depending on DON levels will provide breeders with more information than techniques that deliver average DON levels from bulk seed samples.
Effects of electrical stimulation of vagal afferents on spinothalamic tract cells in the rat.

Abstract The effects of electrical stimulation of cervical vagal afferents (VAS) on the background activity and on the responses of 25 spinothalamic tract (STT) neurons to noxious stimuli were studied in anesthetized rats. Background (spontaneous) activity of 9 (36%) STT neurons was inhibited by all intensities of VAS, 6 (24%) units were facilitated at lesser and inhibited at greater intensities of VAS, 5 (20%) units were only facilitated by all intensities of VAS, and 5 (20%) units were not affected by VAS. Responses of 8 (36%) STT neurons to noxious stimuli were only inhibited by VAS, 9 (41%) were facilitated at lesser and inhibited at greater intensities of VAS, and 5 units (23%) were only facilitated by VAS. There were no significant differences in VAS-produced modulatory effects between STT neurons and 16 unidentified lumbar spinal dorsal horn neurons studied under the same conditions. These results reveal that descending facilitatory and inhibitory pathways engaged by activation of vagal afferents modulate rostrally projecting nociceptive transmission neurons in the spinal cord, constituting an important regulatory network for nociception.
Enalapril-induced anemia in a renal transplant patient.

Side-effects of angiotensin converting enyzme (ACE) inhibitors, such as a slight decrease in hematocrit, are increasingly being reported. A 14-year-old renal transplant patient on enalapril therapy developed anemia with reticulocytosis. She was investigated for other causes of anemia and enalapril therapy was ceased. Her hemoglobin level increased and reticulocyte count decreased after cessation of therapy. No other cause of anemia was found. Although anemia in patients receiving ACE inhibitors such as enalapril has previously been reported, this is the first reported patient who developed anemia associated with mild reticulocytosis and macrocytosis.
Flattop focusing with full Poincaré beams under low numerical aperture illumination.

In this Letter, we propose and experimentally demonstrate the generation of second-order full Poincare beams and its applications in two-dimensional flattop beam shaping with spatially variant polarization under low NA focusing condition. High-quality flattop profiles with steep edge roll-off can be obtained with this technique. The experiment results also demonstrate that flattop profile can be maintained for different input beam sizes by conveniently rotating a half-wave plate.
Essential Role of SIRT1 Signaling in the Nucleus Accumbens in Cocaine and Morphine Action

Sirtuins (SIRTs), class III histone deacetylases, are well characterized for their control of cellular physiology in peripheral tissues, but their influence in brain under normal and pathological conditions remains poorly understood. Here, we establish an essential role for SIRT1 and SIRT2 in regulating behavioral responses to cocaine and morphine through actions in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), a key brain reward region. We show that chronic cocaine administration increases SIRT1 and SIRT2 expression in the mouse NAc, while chronic morphine administration induces SIRT1 expression alone, with no regulation of all other sirtuin family members observed. Drug induction of SIRT1 and SIRT2 is mediated in part at the transcriptional level via the drug-induced transcription factor ΔFosB and is associated with robust histone modifications at the Sirt1 and Sirt2 genes. Viral-mediated overexpression of SIRT1 or SIRT2 in the NAc enhances the rewarding effects of both cocaine and morphine. In contrast, the local knockdown of SIRT1 from the NAc of floxed Sirt1 mice decreases drug reward. Such behavioral effects of SIRT1 occur in concert with its regulation of numerous synaptic proteins in NAc as well as with SIRT1-mediated induction of dendritic spines on NAc medium spiny neurons. These studies establish sirtuins as key mediators of the molecular and cellular plasticity induced by drugs of abuse in NAc, and of the associated behavioral adaptations, and point toward novel signaling pathways involved in drug action.
A comparison of tracer methods for quantifying CO2 sources in an urban region

[1] The relative contribution of anthropogenic (natural gas and gasoline combustion) and biogenic (aboveground and belowground respiration) CO2 sources has previously been quantified with the 13C, 18O, and 14C isotopes of CO2. The unique combination of isotopic signatures of each source allows for top-down attribution of sources using atmospheric measurements. Other tracers of CO2 include carbon monoxide (CO), which is a direct tracer of fossil fuel combustion-derived CO2 as CO and CO2 are evolved at specific ratios (RCO/CO2) during combustion depending on fuel source and combustion efficiency. We used the 13C, 18O, and 14C tracers to partition between natural gas, gasoline, and aboveground and belowground respiration during four sampling events in the Los Angeles basin. Additionally, we compared the effectiveness of the independent CO tracer with the 14C tracer to distinguish between anthropogenic and biogenic CO2. The three isotope tracer results showed that during the sampling period, fossil fuel combustion was not a dominant source of CO2 and aboveground respiration contributed up to approximately 70% of CO2 sources during the spring. However, the percent fossil fuel CO2 calculated by the CO tracer was not entirely consistent with the fossil fuel CO2 calculated by 14C, which predicted up to ∼70% of winter CO2 from fossil fuel sources. The CO tracer was useful for showing diurnal patterns of CO2 sources. However, combustion RCO/CO2 values vary significantly, which poses a challenge for accurately identifying CO2 sources. Detailed local information about RCO/CO2 is required to effectively utilize the CO tracer for quantifying sources of CO2.
Effects of Virtual Reality Simulator Training Method and Observational Learning on Surgical Performance

Background Virtual reality (VR) simulators and Web-based instructional videos are valuable supplemental training resources in surgical programs, but it is unclear how to optimally integrate them into minimally invasive surgical training.
Salt marshes: biological controls of food webs in a diminishing environment

Abstract This essay reviews two important topics in coastal ecology: the work on the relative role of bottom–up and top–down controls in natural communities and the loss of wetlands worldwide. In salt marshes and other coastal wetlands, bottom–up and top–down mechanisms of control on natural communities are pervasive. Bottom–up effects through nutrient supply may propagate to upper trophic levels via better food quality, or indirectly by altering water and sediment quality. Top–down control by consumers alters lower trophic levels through consumption of primary producers, and indirectly by trophic cascades in which higher predators feed on grazers. The combined forcing of bottom–up and top–down controls govern assemblages of species in natural communities, mediated by physical and biogeochemical factors. Although there is much information about biological controls of coastal food webs, more information is needed. Even more important is that large losses of wetland are occurring along coastlines worldwide due to a variety of economic and social activities including filling, wetland reclamation, and sediment interception. Such losses are of concern because these wetlands provide important functions, including export of energy-rich material to deeper waters, nursery and stock habitats, shoreline stabilization, and intercept land-derived nutrients and contaminants. These important functions justify conservation and restoration efforts; barring such efforts, we will find it increasingly difficult to find coastal wetlands where we can continue to gain further understanding of ecology and biogeochemistry and lack the aesthetic pleasure these wetlands provide to so many of us.
Factor VIII Light Chain Contains a Binding Site for Factor X That Contributes to the Catalytic Efficiency of Factor Xase

Factor (F) VIII functions as a cofactor in FXase, markedly accelerating the rate of FIXa-catalyzed activation of FX. Earlier work identified a FX-binding site having μM affinity within the COOH-terminal region of the FVIIIa A1 subunit. In the present study, surface plasmon resonance (SPR), ELISA-based binding assays, and chemical cross-linking were employed to assess an interaction between FX and the FVIII light chain (A3C1C2 domains). SPR and ELISA-based assays showed that FVIII LC bound to immobilized FX (K(d) = 165 and 370 nM, respectively). Furthermore, active site-modified activated protein C (DEGR-APC) effectively competed with FX in binding FVIII LC (apparent K(i) = 82.7 nM). Western blotting revealed that the APC-catalyzed cleavage rate at Arg(336) was inhibited by FX in a concentration-dependent manner. A synthetic peptide comprising FVIII residues 2007-2016 representing a portion of an APC-binding site blocked the interaction of FX and FVIII LC (apparent K(i) = 152 μM) and directly bound to FX (K(d) = 7.7 μM) as judged by SPR and chemical cross-linking. Ala-scanning mutagenesis of this sequence revealed that the A3C1C2 subunit derived from FVIII variants Thr2012Ala and Phe2014Ala showed 1.5- and 1.8-fold increases in K(d) for FX, whereas this value using the A3C1C2 subunit from a Thr2012Ala/Leu2013Ala/Phe2014Ala triple mutant was increased >4-fold. FXase formed using this LC triple mutant demonstrated an ~4-fold increase in the K(m) for FX. These results identify a relatively high affinity and functional FX site within the FVIIIa A3C1C2 subunit and show a contribution of residues Thr2012 and Phe2014 to this interaction.
Long-term clinical consequences of acute kidney injury in the HIV-infected

To evaluate the long-term consequences of acute kidney injury (AKI) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons, we studied 17,325 patients in a national HIV registry during their first hospitalization. We determined the association of AKI with risk for heart failure, cardiovascular events, end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and mortality beginning 90 days after discharge. Based on AKI Network criteria, 2453 had stage 1; 273 had stage 2 or 3; and 334 had dialysis-requiring AKI. Over a mean follow-up period of 5.7 years, 333 had heart failure, 673 had cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), 348 developed ESRD, and 8405 deaths occurred. In multivariable-adjusted analyses, AKI stage 1 was associated with death and ESRD, but not heart failure or other CVD. Dialysis-requiring AKI had much stronger and significant associations with increased risk for long-term ESRD, and death in addition to heart failure and cardiovascular events. When AKI was reclassified to account for recovery, stage 1 with recovery was still associated with death, but not ESRD. Thus, in this national sample of HIV-infected persons, we found the clinical repercussions of AKI appear to extend beyond the hospital setting contributing to excess cardiovascular risks, ESRD, and mortality. Additionally, AKI affected almost one of six patients with HIV who survived at least 90 days following discharge.
Role of histology in the diagnosis of infectious causes of granulomatous lung disease.

Purpose of reviewHistologic examination and microbiologic cultures are the gold standards for the diagnosis of infectious granulomatous lung diseases. Although biopsies require invasive procedures, they often yield information that cannot be obtained by other methods. The aims of this article are to
In situ polymerase chain reaction: Localization of HSV-2 DNA sequences in infections of the nervous system

To detect and localize a herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) thymidine kinase gene sequence in paraffin sections of brains and trigeminal ganglia of infected mice, an in situ polymerase chain reaction (ISPCR) protocol was developed. Using a single pair of primers, a 110 base pair DNA target sequence, and incorporation of a digoxigenin-labelled nucleotide during amplification, this procedure permitted rapid, specific, reproducible detection of infected cells. During acute brain infection, cells labelled by ISPCR were in the same infected foci that, in adjacent sections, contained viral antigen. This, together with controls, gave evidence of method specificity. In mice surviving acute infection, latently infected cells were labelled by ISPCR. In brains, focal areas contained labelled cell nuclei, and in trigeminal ganglia, neuronal nuclei were likewise labelled. Latent infection was confirmed by several methods, including identification of an HSV-specific sequence in DNA extracts of brains and ganglia, virus isolation from explanted ganglia, and HSV-2 latency-associated transcript (LAT) RNA localization in ganglionic neurons by in situ hybridization. Evidence in brains of ISPCR-labelled cells in regions where HSV-2 LAT-positive cells were not detected, and in ganglia of more ISPCR-labelled neurons than were LAT-positive, indicated that ISPCR is more sensitive in detecting latently infected cells than previous methods.
Sweeteners from plants—with emphasis on Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) and Siraitia grosvenorii (Swingle)

In addition to their widely recognized use as dietary supplement ingredients, plant-derived compounds are increasingly used as natural sweeteners. The search for nonnutritive sweeteners has been stimulated over the last 20-30 years by concern over demonstrated or suspected relationships between consumption of sucrose and high-fructose corn syrups and a variety of health-related conditions. In the USA, there is increased use of plant extracts known to contain highly sweet terpenoids. Purified extracts of Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) containing the diterpene glycosides stevioside and rebaudioside A are popular as sweeteners and are also used as dietary supplements, and soft drinks and nutritional and energy shakes incorporating extracts of Siraitia grosvenorii (Swingle) fruits containing sweet triterpene glycosides such as mogroside V are also on the market. Here, we review recent studies on these two important sources of noncaloric natural sweeteners, including analytical methods used to identify and quantify specific constituents and structural features relating to their sweetness. We also review the generally recognized as safe status of specific components and their status with respect to review by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives.
Aspirin, Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs, Acetaminophen, and Pancreatic Cancer Risk: a Clinic-Based Case–Control Study

Aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) show indisputable promise as cancer chemoprevention agents. However, studies have been inconsistent as to whether aspirin has a protective effect in development of pancreatic cancer. To further evaluate the association between aspirin, NSAID, and acetaminophen use with pancreatic cancer risk, we used a clinic-based case-control study of 904 rapidly ascertained histologically or clinically documented pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cases, and 1,224 age- and sex-matched healthy controls evaluated at Mayo Clinic from April 2004 to September 2010. Overall, there is no relationship between non-aspirin NSAID or acetaminophen use and risk of pancreatic cancer. Aspirin use for 1 d/mo or greater was associated with a significantly decreased risk of pancreatic cancer (OR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.60-0.91, P = 0.005) compared with never or less than 1 d/mo. Analysis by frequency and frequency-dosage of use categories showed reduced risk (P = 0.007 and 0.022, respectively). This inverse association was also found for those who took low-dose aspirin for heart disease prevention (OR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.49-0.92, P = 0.013). In subgroup analyses, the association between aspirin use and pancreatic cancer was not significantly affected by pancreatic cancer stage, smoking status, or body mass index. Our data suggest that aspirin use, but not non-aspirin NSAID use, is associated with lowered risk of developing pancreatic cancer.
D-branes and production of strings

Abstract We review two types of D-branes processes where open strings are created. In the first type, a closed string incident on a collection of D-branes is converted into a number of open strings running along them. For the case of threebranes we compare the absorption rate with that in semiclassical gravity, and find exact agreement. The second type of process is creation of stretched open strings by crossing D-branes. We show that this is possible whenever a p -brane passes through an (8− p )-brane positioned orthogonally to it. The extra attractive force exerted by the stretched open string is crucial for finding that the net force cancels in this BPS system.